Possible influence of the ENSO phenomenon on the pathoecology of diphyllobothriasis and anisakiasis in ancient Chinchorro populations

Current clinical data show a clear relationship between the zoonosis rates of Diphyllobothrium pacificum and Anisakis caused by the El Niño Southern Oscillations (ENSO) phenomenon along the Chilean coast. These parasites are endemic to the region and have a specific habitat distribution. D. pacificum prefers the warmer waters in the northern coast, while Anisakis prefers the colder waters of Southern Chile. The ENSO phenomenon causes a drastic inversion in the seawater temperatures in this region, modifying both the cool nutrient-rich seawater and the local ecology. This causes a latitudinal shift in marine parasite distribution and prevalence, as well as drastic environmental changes. The abundance of human mummies and archaeological coastal sites in the Atacama Desert provides an excellent model to test the ENSO impact on antiquity. We review the clinical and archaeological literature debating to what extent these parasites affected the health of the Chinchorros, the earliest settlers of this region. We hypothesise the Chinchorro and their descendants were affected by this natural and cyclical ENSO phenomenon and should therefore present fluctuating rates of D. pacificum and Anisakis infestations.

Minimização da erosão em função do tamanho e localização das áreas de floresta no contexto do programa "conservador das águas"

Com os crescentes conflitos de uso da água no Brasil, a implantação de políticas para a mitigação desses problemas tornou-se crucial. Nesse sentido, o conceito de Pagamentos por Serviços Ambientais (PSA) tem se difundido ao redor do mundo e, consequentemente, no Brasil. O município de Extrema, em Minas Gerais, implantou a primeira iniciativa municipal brasileira de PSA, conhecida como programa "Conservador das Águas". Neste trabalho, objetivou-se avaliar a perda de solo na sub-bacia das Posses, onde se iniciou o programa "Conservador das Águas", visando determinar a potencialidade que o conceito adotado nesse programa terá para a conservação do solo e otimizar o provimento desse serviço ambiental em função do tamanho e da localização da área de floresta. Quatorze diferentes cenários de uso e cobertura do solo foram analisados, utilizando-se um Sistema de Informações Geográficas e a Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation. A expectativa de perda de solo na sub-bacia das Posses antes e após a implementação do programa "Conservador das Águas" foi de 30,63 e 7,06 Mg ha-1 ano-1, respectivamente. A otimização da conservação do solo pode ser feita adotando-se práticas conservacionistas na pastagem e alocando-se a área de floresta de maneira mais otimizada.

INFLUENCE OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF CONSUMING FRUIT ON CONSUMER PREFERENCES IN TEMUCO, REGION OF THE ARAUCANÍA

ABSTRACT With the aim of identifying strategies to increase fruit consumption in Temuco, consumer segments were classified according to the importance and preference of theattributes type of fruit, package/ brand, benefit associated with fruit consumption and price. A survey was applied to 400 people in Temuco,Chile, distributed using a simple allocation: 200 working adults and 200university students. The questionnaire included the SWFL (Satisfaction with Food-related Life) scale, respondents’ fruit consumption habits and their characteristics. Using conjoint and cluster analyses, three segments were distinguished: Group 1 (22.0%) gave greatest importance to the package/brand and preferred themessage “prevents diseases” and “without information”; Group 2 (47.5%) gave greatest importance to the package/brand and preferred the message “prevents diseases”; Group 3 (30.5%) assigned greatest importance to the price and preferred the message “contains antioxidants”. The segments differed in their level of satisfaction with food-related life, self-declared lifestyle, age and presence of university students. The results provide input to promote fruit consumption in working adults and university students.

Estrategias en el desarrollo de métodos analíticos para la determinación simultánea de compuestos orgánicos por espectrofotometría derivada

In this work is proposed, a simple experiment for the simultaneous determination of losartan (L) and hydrochlorothiazide (H) in synthetic and real samples by derivative spectrophotometry technique. For the students it is relevant to know this technique for simultaneous determinations of drugs, allowing that the students recognize that this technique is simple, rapid and applicable to quality control. This experimental work, it is proposed in order to being applied to undergraduates into laboratories of analytical chemistry. Furthermore, it is given the integration of the theoretical knowledge with the experimental work; this correlation is of interest for the students.

METHANE DRY REFORMING OVER Ni SUPPORTED ON PINE SAWDUST ACTIVATED CARBON: EFFECTS OF SUPPORT SURFACE PROPERTIES AND METAL LOADING

The influence of metal loading and support surface functional groups (SFG) on methane dry reforming (MDR) over Ni catalysts supported on pine-sawdust derived activated carbon were studied. Using pine sawdust as the catalyst support precursor, the smallest variety and lowest concentration of SFG led to best Ni dispersion and highest catalytic activity, which increased with Ni loading up to 3 Ni atoms nm-2. At higher Ni loading, the formation of large metal aggregates was observed, consistent with a lower "apparen" surface area and a decrease in catalytic activity. The H2/CO ratio rose with increasing reaction temperature, indicating that increasingly important side reactions were taking place in addition to MDR.

Modelagem da distribuição diamétrica de espécies florestais em um fragmento de floresta ombrófila mista

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o desempenho das funções densidade de probabilidade (fdp) Weibull 3 Parâmetros (3P) e Beta ajustadas pelo método da Máxima Verossimilhança para descrever a distribuição diamétrica de espécies arbóreas de um fragmento de Floresta Ombrófila Mista. A área de estudo faz parte da Floresta Nacional de Irati (FLONA), onde foram instaladas 25 parcelas permanentes (100 m x 100 m) com área total amostrada de 25 ha e, para os ajustes, foram utilizados dados de todas as árvores com diâmetro à altura do peito (DAP) superior ou igual a 10 cm. Os ajustes foram feitos para as 20 espécies com maior valor de importância (VI) com dados agrupados em classes de 5 cm de DAP. A programação não linear (PNL) foi utilizada com o objetivo de minimizar os desvios entre valores observados e estimados. Para avaliação dos ajustes, foram utilizados os testes de aderência de Kolmogorov-Smirnov e de Hollander-Proschan, além do Erro-Padrão de Estimativa (%) e Índice de Reynolds. Os resultados indicaram que as funções Weibull 3P e Beta apresentaram resultados satisfatórios, que ambas poderiam ser recomendadas para avaliar a distribuição diamétrica das espécies consideradas e que o uso da PNL nem sempre melhorou os ajustes.

Situação dos recursos hídricos nas bacias hidrográficas dos rios Piracicaba, Capivari e Jundiaí utilizando modelo desenvolvido em dinâmica de sistemas

Utilizou-se modelo desenvolvido em dinâmica de sistemas, especificamente para as Bacias Hidrográficas dos Rios Piracicaba, Capivari e Jundiaí (BH-PCJ), com cinco simulações para 50 anos de horizonte, como ferramenta para auxiliar na gestão dos recursos hídricos. O modelo estimou as ofertas e demandas de água, e a geração de águas residuárias dos diversos consumidores existentes nas BH-PCJ. Realizou-se simulação utilizando-se das taxas de consumo e de oferta existentes em 2004, e as precipitações com os valores médios constantes. Sob essas premissas, foi encontrado que as demandas de água aumentarão cerca de 76%, que aproximadamente 39% do volume de água disponível terá origem no reúso das águas residuárias, a carga contaminante aumentará em 91%. O Índice de Falkenmark mudará de 1.403 m³ habitante-1 ano-1, em 2004, para 734 m³ hab-1 ano-1 em 2054; e o Índice de Sustentabilidade de 0,44 para 0,20. Foram explorados outros quatro cenários: com fator de mudanças nas precipitações anuais de 90 e 110%; considerando vazão ecológica equivalente a 30% da vazão média diária, e sem nenhuma mudança nas taxas dos outros fatores, somente na vazão ecológica e no consumo domiciliar de água. Todos eles mostraram tendência à futura crise nos recursos hídricos nas BH-PCJ.

Epístolas Sacrílegas. Las declaraciones públicas de líderes evangélicos chilenos ante el gobierno militar de Pinochet (1974 y 1986)

Resumen La relación establecida entre el mundo evangélico y la dictadura militar chilena es uno de los episodios más significativos de la historia política y religiosa reciente en Chile. Si bien este fenómeno ha sido investigado tanto por las ciencias sociales como por la teología, sus posturas han tendido a desarrollarse de manera desvinculada, ofreciendo una imagen parcelada de la problemática. El presente artículo intenta ser un aporte en este ámbito específico, para lo cual se ha fijado un objetivo concreto: analizar los elementos ideológicos y políticos distintivos de las declaraciones públicas realizadas por el mundo evangélico ante el gobierno militar, vinculándolas con los contextos ideológicos en los cuales se emitieron estas declaraciones. Para ello, metodológicamente se han analizado dos declaraciones fundamentales realizadas por los líderes y pastores evangélicos ante el régimen militar chileno (fuentes primarias), lo cual permitirá complejizar la imagen que se posee sobre la relación entre el mundo evangélico y la dictadura militar chilena.

Isolation and culture of umbilical vein mesenchymal stem cells

Bone marrow contains a population of stem cells that can support hematopoiesis and can differentiate into different cell lines including adipocytes, osteocytes, chondrocytes, myocytes, astrocytes, and tenocytes. These cells have been denoted mesenchymal stem cells. In the present study we isolated a cell population derived from the endothelium and subendothelium of the umbilical cord vein which possesses morphological, immunophenotypical and cell differentiation characteristics similar to those of mesenchymal stem cells isolated from bone marrow. The cells were isolated from three umbilical cords after treatment of the umbilical vein lumen with collagenase. The cell population isolated consisted of adherent cells with fibroblastoid morphology which, when properly stimulated, gave origin to adipocytes and osteocytes in culture. Immunophenotypically, this cell population was found to be positive for the CD29, CD13, CD44, CD49e, CD54, CD90 and HLA-class 1 markers and negative for CD45, CD14, glycophorin A, HLA-DR, CD51/61, CD106, and CD49d. The characteristics described are the same as those presented by bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. Taken together, these findings indicate that the umbilical cord obtained from term deliveries is an important source of mesenchymal stem cells that could be used in cell therapy protocols.

Nucleotide-sugar transporters: structure, function and roles in vivo

The glycosylation of glycoconjugates and the biosynthesis of polysaccharides depend on nucleotide-sugars which are the substrates for glycosyltransferases. A large proportion of these enzymes are located within the lumen of the Golgi apparatus as well as the endoplasmic reticulum, while many of the nucleotide-sugars are synthesized in the cytosol. Thus, nucleotide-sugars are translocated from the cytosol to the lumen of the Golgi apparatus and endoplasmic reticulum by multiple spanning domain proteins known as nucleotide-sugar transporters (NSTs). These proteins were first identified biochemically and some of them were cloned by complementation of mutants. Genome and expressed sequence tag sequencing allowed the identification of a number of sequences that may encode for NSTs in different organisms. The functional characterization of some of these genes has shown that some of them can be highly specific in their substrate specificity while others can utilize up to three different nucleotide-sugars containing the same nucleotide. Mutations in genes encoding for NSTs can lead to changes in development in Drosophila melanogaster or Caenorhabditis elegans, as well as alterations in the infectivity of Leishmania donovani. In humans, the mutation of a GDP-fucose transporter is responsible for an impaired immune response as well as retarded growth. These results suggest that, even though there appear to be a fair number of genes encoding for NSTs, they are not functionally redundant and seem to play specific roles in glycosylation.

Mesenchymal stem cells from patients with chronic myeloid leukemia do not express BCR-ABL and have absence of chimerism after allogeneic bone marrow transplant

Bone marrow is a heterogeneous cell population which includes hematopoietic and mesenchymal progenitor cells. Dysregulated hematopoiesis occurs in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), being caused at least in part by abnormalities in the hematopoietic progenitors. However, the role of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in CML has not been well characterized. The objectives of the present study were to observe the biological characteristics of MSCs from CML patients and to determine if MSCs originate in part from donors in CML patients after bone marrow transplantation (BMT). We analyzed MSCs from 5 untreated patients and from 3 CML patients after sex-mismatched allogeneic BMT. Flow cytometry analysis revealed the typical MSC phenotype and in vitro assays showed ability to differentiate into adipocytes and osteoblasts. Moreover, although some RT-PCR data were contradictory, combined fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis showed that MSCs from CML patients do not express the bcr-abl gene. Regarding MSCs of donor origin, although it is possible to detect Y target sequence by nested PCR, the low frequency (0.14 and 0.34%) of XY cells in 2 MSC CML patients by fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis suggests the presence of contaminant hematopoietic cells and the absence of host-derived MSCs in CML patients. Therefore, we conclude that MSCs from CML patients express the typical MSC phenotype, can differentiate into osteogenic and adipogenic lineages and do not express the bcr-abl gene. MSCs cannot be found in recipients 12 to 20 months after BMT. The influence of MSCs on the dysregulation of hematopoiesis in CML patients deserves further investigation.

Overexpression of hsa-miR-125b during osteoblastic differentiation does not influence levels of Runx2, osteopontin, and ALPL gene expression

Multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) were first isolated from bone marrow and then from various adult tissues including placenta, cord blood, deciduous teeth, and amniotic fluid. MSCs are defined or characterized by their ability to adhere to plastic, to express specific surface antigens, and to differentiate into osteogenic, chondrogenic, adipogenic, and myogenic lineages. Although the molecular mechanisms that control MSC proliferation and differentiation are not well understood, the involvement of microRNAs has been reported. In the present study, we investigated the role of miR-125b during osteoblastic differentiation in humans. We found that miR-125b increased during osteoblastic differentiation, as well as Runx2 and ALPL genes. To study whether the gain or loss of miR-125b function influenced osteoblastic differentiation, we transfected MSCs with pre-miR-125b or anti-miR-125b and cultured the transfected cells in an osteoblastic differentiation medium. After transfection, no change was observed in osteoblastic differentiation, and Runx2, OPN, and ALPL gene expression were not changed. These results suggest that the gain or loss of miR-125b function does not influence levels of Runx2, OPN, and ALPL during osteoblastic differentiation.

Chemical markers and antifungal activity of red propolis from Sergipe, Brazil

The aim of this study was to analyze the physicochemical properties and antifungal activities of the red propolis samples from Sergipe, Brazil, and also evaluate their variability throughout the year. The characterization of the hydroalcoholic extract (HPE) of the red propolis samples was performed monthly from October 2009 to September 2010. The concentrations of the bioactive compounds varied during the year, but their chromatographic profiles were similar. Four compounds were identified by comparison with authentic standards. Formononetin was one of the predominant compounds in all propolis extracts. In our study, it was observed that all the propolis samples inhibited the growth of Candida species. Multivariate analysis confirmed the variations in chemical composition and color of the HPEs throughout the year. The biological activities of the HPEs were statistically significant (p<0.05), and all samples exhibited antifungal properties.

Acceptance of a food of animal origin obtained through genetic modification and cloning in South America: a comparative study among university students and working adults

AbstractWith the aim of comparing the acceptance of milk obtained from cloned, genetically modified (GM) and conventionally bred cows among working adults and university students, and identifying and characterizing typologies among both subsamples in terms of their preferences, a survey was applied to 400 people in southern Chile, distributed using a simple allocation among the subsamples. Using a conjoint analysis, it was found that consumers preferred milk from a conventional cow. Using a cluster analysis, in both subsamples two segments sensitive to production technology were identified. Rejection of cloning was greatest among university students, whereas a higher proportion of working adults rejected GM. The segments differed in terms of area of residence, knowledge about GM, and milk consumption habits. Contrary to what was expected, no differences were found according to education, gender or degree of satisfaction with food-related life.