Absence of carcinogenic and anticarcinogenic effects of annatto in the rat liver medium-term assay

Annatto (Bixa orellana L.) is a natural food colorant extensively used in many processed foods, especially dairy products. The lower cost of production and the low toxicity, make annatto a very attractive and convenient pigment in substitution to the many synthetic colorants. In the present study we investigate the carcinogenic and anticarcinogenic effects of dietary annatto in Wistar rat liver using the preneoplastic glutathione S-transferase (GST-P) foci and DNA damage biomarkers. Annatto, containing 5% bixin, was administered in the diet at concentrations of 20, 200, and 1000 ppm (0.07; 0.80 and 4.23 bixin/kg body wt/day, respectively), continuously during 2 weeks before, or 8 weeks after DEN treatment (200 mg/kg body wt, i.p.), to evaluate its effect on the liver-carcinogenesis medium-term bioassay. The comet assay was used to investigate the modifying potential of annatto on DEN (20 mg/kg body wt)-induced DNA damage. The results showed that annatto was neither genotoxic nor carcinogenic at the highest concentration tested (1000 ppm). No protective effects were also observed in both GST-P foci development and comet assays. In conclusion, in such experimental conditions, annatto shows no hepatocarcinogenic effect or modifying potential against DEN-induced DNA damage and preneoplastic foci in the rat liver. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Progression of articular and extraarticular damage in oligoarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Seed predation and fruit damage of Solanum lycocarpum (Solanaceae) by rodents in the cerrado of central Brazil

Although neotropical savannas and grasslands, collectively referred to as cerrado, are rich in seed-eating species of rodents, little is known about seed predation and its determinants in this habitat. In this study, we investigated seed predation and damage to fruits of the widespread shrub Solarium lycocarpurn. In addition, the influence of two possible determinants (distance from the parental plant and total crop size) on the feeding behaviour of Oryzorrys scotti (Rodentia, Sigmodontinae) was also examined. O. scotti were captured more frequently close to the shrubs or on shrub crops, indicating that these rodents were attracted to the shrubs and that seed predation was probably distance-dependent. Moreover, the proportion of damaged fruit on the plant decreased as the total crop size increased; consequently, more productive plants were attacked proportionally less by rodents. This pattern of fruit damage may reflect predator satiation caused by the consumption of a large amount of pulp. Alternatively, secondary metabolites in S. lycocarpum fruits may reduce the pulp consumption per feeding event, thereby limiting the number of fruits damaged. (c) 2006 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

EXPRESSION OF C-ERB B-2 PROTEIN AND DNA-PLOIDY IN BREAST CARCINOGENESIS

Objective.-to examine the c-erb B-2 expression and nuclear DNA content in samples of breast lesions to ascertain any relationship between c-erb B-2 expression and aneuploidy in the different types of proliferative breast lesions and in intraductal and invasive carcinomas.Design and Setting.-lmmunohistochemical analysis of c-erb B-2 expression and cytometric nuclear DNA assessment were performed in a series of 39 cases of intraductal hyperplasia without atypia, 7 cases of intraductal hyperplasia with atypia, 64 cases of intraductal carcinoma, and 85 cases of invasive breast carcinoma (30 of which had extensive intraductal component).Results.-Overexpression of c-erb B-2 was seen only in cases of carcinoma: 28 (43.7%) intraductal carcinomas and 15 (17.6%) invasive carcinomas. Aneuploidy was demonstrated in 3 (43.0%) cases of intraductal hyperplasia with atypia, in 54 (84.4%) cases of intraductal carcinoma, and in 63 (74.2%) cases of invasive carcinoma. All cases of intraductal hyperplasia without atypia were euploid and none expressed c-erb B-2. Among the carcinomas (intraductal and invasive) there was a strong relationship between aneuploidy and c-erb B-2 expression. In most instances, the intraductal and invasive components of the 30 invasive carcinomas with extensive intraductal component displayed similar DNA content and c-erb B-2 immunoreactivity; whenever there was a difference, the intraductal component tended to be aneuploid (five out of six cases) and c-erb B-2 positive (one case), in contrast to the respective invasive component.Conclusions.-The higher frequency of aneuploidy and c-erb B-2 expression in intraductal carcinomas in comparison with invasive carcinomas suggests there is not a linear relationship between DNA content abnormalities and neoplastic progression and that some invasive breast carcinomas evolve without an identifiable intraductal phase or are unrelated to disturbances at the c-erb B-2 locus.

Biological and DNA evidence of two dissimilar populations of the Rhipicephalus sanguineus tick group (Acari : Ixodidae) in South America

In this work, the biology, mitochondrial DNA and fertility of hybrids from two strains of Rhipicephalus sanguineus, from Brazil and Argentina, were compared. Engorged larvae, nymphs and adults from Argentina weighed more and the engorgement period of adult females was significantly longer than those of their Brazilian counterparts, whereas adult female tick yield rate was higher for the Brazilian strain. High intraspecific divergence of mitochondrial DNA was detected between R. sanguineus from Brazil and Argentina. on the other hand, a strong genetic relationship was detected between European and Argentinean R. sanguineus populations while the Brazilian population appeared to be related to the African Rhipicephalus turanicus. Adult hybrid females laid eggs, which were mostly unviable, whereas a mean of more than 1400 larvae hatched per egg mass from pure Brazilian and Argentinean strains. These results showed that differences between these strains are greater than previously assumed and that the biosysternatic status of R. sanguineus ticks from South America should be re-evaluated. Wide variations, such as these might account for the reported worldwide differences in biology and vector capacity of this species. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

CYTOGENETIC AND DNA CONTENT STUDIES OF ARMORED CATFISHES OF THE GENUS CORYDORAS (PISCES, SILURIFORMES, CALLICHTHYIDAE) FROM THE SOUTHEAST COAST OF BRAZIL

Cytogenetic and DNA content studies were done on six nominal species of Corydoras from the southeast coast of Brazil. The data show that several nominal species present local populations with differences in karyotype or DNA content. There are at least two groups of Corydoras species with similar karyotypic structure in this region: the first composed by C. ehrhardti, C. nattereri and C. paleatus and the second composed of C. barbatus, C. macropterus and C. prionotos. These two groups of species are probably not derived directly from the same ancestral line. The speciation process of Corydoras species from the southeastern coast of Brazil is discussed.

CYTOGENETIC AND DNA CONTENT IN 6 GENERA OF THE FAMILY CALLICHTHYIDAE (PISCES, SILURIFORMES)

Cytogenetic studies involving conventional Giemsa staining, C-banding analysis and silver staining of NORs were performed on nine species belonging to six genera of the family Callichthyidae. The diploid number ranged from 2n = 44 to 2n = 100, the number of chromosomal pairs with NORs ranged from 1 to 4 and constitutive heterochromatin was mainly distributed in the centromeric and/or pericentromeric position of the chromosomes. The DNA content of erythrocytes from six species studied ranged from 1.18 +/- 0.07 to 2.77 +/- 0.22 pg/nucleus. The extensive variability in karyotypes and in nuclear DNA content detected are in accordance with the initial hypothesis that chromosome rearrangements and polyploidy have played a significant role in the evolutionary history of Callichthyidae.

Evidence of Leishmania spp. antibodies and DNA in bush dogs (Speothos venaticus) in Brazil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

2006 GEP-ISFG collaborative exercise on mtDNA: reflections about interpretation, artefacts, and DNA mixtures

We report the results of the seventh edition of the GEP-ISFG mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) collaborative exercise. The samples submitted to the participant laboratories were blood stains from a maternity case and Simulated forensic samples, including a case of mixture. The success rate for the blood stains was moderate (similar to 77%); even though four inexperienced laboratories concentrated about one-third of the total errors. A similar success was obtained for the analysis of mixed samples (78.8% for a hair-saliva mixture and 69.2% for a saliva-saliva Mixture). Two laboratories also dissected the haplotypes contributing to the saliva-saliva mixture. Most of the errors were due to reading problems and misinterpretation of electropherograms, demonstrating once more that the lack of a solid devised experimental approach is the main cause of error in mtDNA testing. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Non-linear analysis of reinforced concrete plates by the boundary element method and continuum damage mechanics

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Chronic Ethanol Consumption Alters All-Trans-Retinoic Acid Concentration and Expression of Their Receptors on the Prostate: A Possible Link Between Alcoholism and Prostate Damage

Background: Ethanol (EtOH) alters the all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) levels in some tissues. Retinol and ATRA are essential for cell proliferation, differentiation, and maintenance of prostate homeostasis. It has been suggested that disturbances in retinol/ATRA concentration as well as in the expression of retinoic acid receptors (RARs) contribute to benign prostate hyperplasia and prostate cancer. This study aimed to evaluate whether EtOH consumption is able to alter retinol and ATRA levels in the plasma and prostate tissue as well as the expression of RARs, cell proliferation, and apoptosis index. Methods: All animals were divided into 4 groups (n = 10/group). UChA: rats fed 10% (v/v) EtOH ad libitum; UChACo: EtOH-naïve rats without access to EtOH; UChB: rats fed 10% (v/v) EtOH ad libitum; UChBCo: EtOH-naïve rats without access to EtOH. Animals were euthanized by decapitation after 60 days of EtOH consumption for high-performance liquid chromatography and light microscopy analysis. Results: EtOH reduced plasma retinol concentration in both UChA and UChB groups, while the retinol concentration was not significantly different in prostate tissue. Conversely, plasma and prostate ATRA levels increased in UChB group compared with controls, beyond the up-regulation of RARβ and -γ in dorsal prostate lobe. Additionally, no alteration was found in cell proliferation and apoptosis index involving dorsal and lateral prostate lobe. Conclusions: We conclude that EtOH alters the plasma retinol concentrations proportionally to the amount of EtOH consumed. Moreover, high EtOH consumption increases the concentration of ATRA in plasma/prostate tissue and especially induces the RARβ and RARγ in the dorsal prostate lobe. EtOH consumption and increased ATRA levels were not associated with cell proliferation and apoptosis in the prostate. © 2012 by the Research Society on Alcoholism.

Synthesis, cytotoxic activity and DNA interaction of Pd(II) complexes bearing N′-methyl-3,5-dimethyl-1-thiocarbamoylpyrazole

A new series of complexes of general formulae [PdX2(tmdmPz)] {X = Cl (1), Br (2), I (3), SCN (4); tmdmPz = N′-methyl-3,5-dimethyl-1- thiocarbamoylpyrazole} have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, molar conductivities, IR, 1H and 13C{ 1H} NMR spectroscopy. In these complexes, the tmdmPz coordinates to Pd(II) center as a neutral N,S-chelating ligand. The geometries of the complexes have been optimized with the DFT method. Cytotoxicity evaluation against LM3 (mammary adenocarcinoma) and LP07 (lung adenocarcinoma) cell lines indicated that complexes 1-4 were more active than cisplatin. The binding of the complexes with a purine base (guanosine) was investigated by 1H NMR and mass spectrometry, showing that the coordination of guanosine occurs through N7. Electrophoretic DNA migration studies showed that all of them modify the DNA tertiary structure. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Lesão no DNA e terapia fotodinâmica em neoplasia mamária de ratas (Sprague-Dawley) induzida quimicamente

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)