Albumin-induced circular dichroism in Congo red: applications for studies of amyloid-like fibril aggregates and binding sites

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

Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus: Distinct acute phase proteins vary during infestations according to the genetic composition of the bovine hosts, Bos taurus and Bos indicus

Tick bites may trigger acute phase responses. Positive and negative acute phase proteins were measured in infested cattle genetically resistant and susceptible to ticks. During heavier infestations levels of haptoglobin increased significantly in susceptible bovines; levels of serum amyloid A increased in resistant bovines; levels of alpha-l-acid glycoprotein decreased significantly in resistant bovines; levels of transferrin decreased significantly in susceptible bovines.In conclusion, tick infestations trigger acute phase responses and enhancement of specific acute phase proteins differs according to the genetic composition of hosts. Acute phase proteins may constitute useful biological signatures for monitoring the stress induced by tick infestations. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effects of oxidation of lysozyme by hypohalous acids and haloamines on enzymatic activity and aggregation

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

Expression of odontogenic ameloblast-associated protein, amelotin, ameloblastin, and amelogenin in odontogenic tumors: immunohistochemical analysis and pathogenetic considerations

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

SIRT1 Deacetylase Activity and the Maintenance of Protein Homeostasis in Response to Stress: An Overview

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

Identification of sexually dimorphic gene expression in brain tissue of the fish Leporinus macrocephalus through mRNA differential display and real time PCR analyses

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

Neuroimaging in dementias

Purpose of reviewTo critically review data on the use of neuroimaging tools in the clinical diagnostic investigation of dementias.Recent findingsFor many years, the use of neuroimaging tools in the evaluation of dementias has been restricted to excluding neurosurgical lesions that may account for the cognitive decline. However, modern neuroimaging extends beyond this traditional role of excluding other conditions and has a key role in the clinical investigation of Alzheimer's disease and of other degenerative cortical dementias. MRI, PET with fluorodeoxyglucose, and single-photon emission computed tomography are topographic markers of neural damage and enable the identification of specific lesional patterns that characterize Alzheimer's disease and other cortical dementias. More recently, PET amyloid markers have enabled the in-vivo assessment of amyloid load, a key feature in the physiopathology of Alzheimer's disease.SummaryThe combined use of neuroimaging examinations with clinical, neuropsychological, and cerebrospinal fluid markers can improve the specificity of the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, even at early stages of the disease. In the following years, progress in research will provide standardized and validated imaging markers of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, which may increase their application in clinical settings.

Primary cutaneous amyloidosis: Clinical, laboratorial and histopathological study of 25 cases. Identification of gammaglobulins and C3 in the lesions by immunofluorescence

25 cases of primary cutaneous amyloidosis are studied. 16 patients had macular amyloidosis (MPA) and 9 lichen amyloidosus (LPA). γ-Globulins were increased in 50% of the patients. IgG and IgA were increased in the serum of 5 and 3 patients with MPA and 4 and 2 patients with LPA, respectively. Volume of amyloid deposits was similar in both forms. By direct immunofluorescence we demonstrated IgG in the amyloid deposits of 21 of the 25 cases and C3 in 13; IgM was present in 9 cases of MPA and in 3 cases of LPA. MPA was more frequent than LPA; histologically, it was impossible to distinguish MPA from LPA; correlation between serum levels of γ-globulins and their presence in amyloid deposits was weak; MPA and LPA seem to be distinct clinical manifestations of the same disease and itching does not cause transformation of MPA in LPA.

Mild cognitive impairment (part 2): Biological markers for diagnosis and prediction of dementia in Alzheimer's disease

To present a critical review of publications reporting on the rationale and clinical implications of the use of biomarkers for the early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Methods: We conducted a systematic search of the PubMed and Web of Science electronic databases, limited to articles published in English between 1999 and 2012, and based on the following terms: mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's disease OR dementia, biomarkers. We retrieved 1,130 articles, of which 175 were reviews. Overall, 955 original articles were eligible. Results: The following points were considered relevant for the present review: a) rationale for biomarkers research in AD and mild cognitive impairment (MCI); b) usefulness of distinct biomarkers for the diagnosis and prediction of AD; c) the role of multimodality biomarkers for the diagnosis and prediction of AD; d) the role of biomarkers in clinical trials of patients with AD and MCI; and e) current limitations to the widespread use of biomarkers in research and clinical settings. Conclusion: Different biomarkers are useful for the early diagnosis and prediction of AD in at-risk subjects. Nonetheless, important methodological limitations need to be overcome for widespread use of biomarkers in research and clinical settings. © 2013 Associação Brasileira de Psiquiatria.

Quantificação de proteínas de fase aguda em éguas doadoras de embrião da raça quarto de milha

Pós-graduação em Ciência Animal - FMVA

Obtenção de hibridos lapdesf fur-fd e atividade anti-inflamatória com potencial atividade neuroprotetora

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Isolamentos e caracterização de DETs(Differentially Expressed Transcripts) em espécies de peixes: Leporinus macrocephalus(Characiformes) e Danio rerio (Cypriniformes)

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

New treatment strategies for Alzheimer's disease: is there a hope?

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive and irreversible neurodegenerative disease, and corresponds to the most common cause of dementia worldwide. Although not fully understood, the pathophysiology of AD is largely represented by the neurotoxic events triggered by the beta-amyloid cascade and by cytoskeletal abnormalities subsequent to the hyperphosphorylation of microtubule-associated Tau protein in neurons. These processes lead respectively to the formation of neuritic plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, which are the pathological hallmarks of the disease. Clinical benefits of the available pharmacological treatment for AD with antidementia drugs (namely cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine) are unquestionable, although limited to a temporary, symptomatic support to cognitive and related functions. Over the past decade, substantial funding and research have been dedicated to the search and development of new pharmaceutical compounds with disease-modifying properties. The rationale of such approach is that by tackling key pathological processes in AD it may be possible to attenuate or even change its natural history. In the present review, we summarize the available evidence on the new therapeutic approaches that target amyloid and Tau pathology in AD, focusing on pharmaceutical compounds undergoing phase 2 and phase 3 randomized controlled trials.

Oxidação de lisozima por haloaminas: caracterização química e efeitos biológicos

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

PSEN1 and PSEN2 Gene Expression in Alzheimer's Disease Brain: A New Approach

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