Influência das proteínas Yops de Yersinia pseudotuberculosis na resposta imune humoral murina

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Analysis of the Virulence of an Atypical Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli Strain In Vitro and In Vivo and the Influence of Type Three Secretion System

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

Dysregulation of Anti-Inflammatory Annexin A1 Expression in Progressive Crohns Disease

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Decreased rate of protein synthesis, caspase-3 activity, and ubiquitin-proteasome proteolysis in soleus muscles from growing rats fed a low-protein, high-carbohydrate diet

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Contribuições na modelagem dinâmica e no controle neural de um braço robótico com elos flexíveis

Em geral, estruturas espaciais e manipuladores robóticos leves têm uma característica similar e inerente que é a flexibilidade. Esta característica torna a dinâmica do sistema muito mais complexa e com maiores dificuldades para a análise de estabilidade e controle. Então, braços robóticos bastantes leves, com velocidade elevada e potencia limitada devem considerar o controle de vibração causada pela flexibilidade. Por este motivo, uma estratégia de controle é desejada não somente para o controle do modo rígido mas também que seja capaz de controlar os modos de vibração do braço robótico flexível. Também, redes neurais artificiais (RNA) são identificadas como uma subespecialidade de inteligência artificial. Constituem atualmente uma teoria para o estudo de fenômenos complexos e representam uma nova ferramenta na tecnologia de processamento de informação, por possuírem características como processamento paralelo, capacidade de aprendizagem, mapeamento não-linear e capacidade de generalização. Assim, neste estudo utilizam-se RNA na identificação e controle do braço robótico com elos flexíveis. Esta tese apresenta a modelagem dinâmica de braços robóticos com elos flexíveis, 1D no plano horizontal e 2D no plano vertical com ação da gravidade, respectivamente. Modelos dinâmicos reduzidos são obtidos pelo formalismo de Newton-Euler, e utiliza-se o método dos elementos finitos (MEF) na discretização dos deslocamentos elásticos baseado na teoria elementar da viga. Além disso, duas estratégias de controle têm sido desenvolvidas com a finalidade de eliminar as vibrações devido à flexibilidade do braço robótico com elos flexíveis. Primeiro, utilizase um controlador neural feedforward (NFF) na obtenção da dinâmica inversa do braço robótico flexível e o calculo do torque da junta. E segundo, para obter precisão no posicionamento... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo)

Identification and characterization of ISXax2, a TN3-like transposable element potentially related with the virulence and pathogenicity of Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Genética e Melhoramento de Plantas) - FCAV

Impairment of neutrophil migration to remote inflammatory site during lung histoplasmosis

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

MicroRNA 21 is a homeostatic regulator of macrophage polarization and prevents prostaglandin E-2-mediated M2 generation

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

A Tale of transposition: tn3-like transposons play a major role in the spread of pathogenicity determinants of xanthomonas citri and other xanthomonads

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Phospho-mTOR in non-tumour and tumour bladder urothelium: Pattern of expression and impact on urothelial bladder cancer patients

Urothelial bladder carcinoma (UBC) is heterogeneous in its pathology and clinical behaviour. Evaluation of prognostic and predictive biomarkers is necessary, in order to produce personalised treatment options. The present study used immunohistochemistry to evaluate UBC sections containing tumour and non-tumour areas from 76 patients, for the detection of p-mTOR, CD31 and D2-40 (blood and lymphatic vessels identification, respectively). Of the non-tumour and tumour sections, 36 and 20% were scored positive for p-mTOR expression, respectively. Immunoexpression was observed in umbrella cells from non-tumour urothelium, in all cell layers from non-muscle-invasive (NMI) tumours (including expression in superficial cells), and in spots of cells from muscle-invasive (MI) tumours. Positive expression decreased from non-tumour to tumour urothelium, and from pTl/pTis to pT3/pT4 tumours; however, the few pT3/pT4 positive cases had worse survival rates, with 5-year disease-free survival being significantly lower. Angiogenesis occurrence was impaired in pT3/pT4 tumours that did not express p-mTOR. In conclusion, p-mTOR expression in non-tumour umbrella cells is likely a reflection of their metabolic plasticity, and extension to the inner layers of the urothelium in NMI tumours is consistent with an enhanced malignant potential. The expression in cell spots in a few MI tumours and absence of expression in the remaining tumours is intriguing and requires further research. Additional studies regarding the up- and downstream effectors of the mTOR pathway should be conducted.

Epigenetic and oncogenic regulation of SLC16A7 (MCT2) results in protein over-expression, impacting on signalling and cellular phenotypes in prostate cancer

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

Eferocitose na presença de PAMP estimula ativação de macrófagos de perfil misto M1/M2

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

Correlações entre padrões hematológicos, parasitológicos e desempenho animal de ovelhas suplementadas com gordura protegida

The development of populations of gastrointestinal parasites resistant to antihelmintics has led to seeks new alternatives its control. Stimulation of natural immunity by means of animal nutrition has shown promising results in controlling nematodes in sheep. The addition of protected fat sources, containing essential fatty acids, may be an alternative due to many effects, among them, regulation of immunity expression and regulation of the inflammatory response by immune effectors. The aim of this study was to estimate correlations between haematological and parasitological patterns, animal performance through weight and body condition, under the influence of protected fat in ewes. Fifty Santa Ines sheep, in the final third of pregnancy or postpartum, in paddocks of Panicum maximum, received, individually, 200 g per day of concentrate, isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets, with or without the addition of protected fat. In general, except for total leukocytes and eosinophils, almost all of Pearson correlation coefficients of other variables were significant. However, the protected fat, in the amount offered, had no antihelmintic effect.

DESIGN AND ANALYSIS OF MULTIFUNCTIONAL ROBOT FOR NOTES

The elimination of all external incisions is an important step in reducing the invasiveness of surgical procedures. Natural Orifice Translumenal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES) is an incision-less surgery and provides explicit benefits such as reducing patient trauma and shortening recovery time. However, technological difficulties impede the widespread utilization of the NOTES method. A novel robotic tool has been developed, which makes NOTES procedures feasible by using multiple interchangeable tool tips. The robotic tool has the capability of entering the body cavity through an orifice or a single incision using a flexible articulated positioning mechanism and once inserted is not constrained by incisions, allowing for visualization and manipulations throughout the cavity. Multiple interchangeable tool tips of the robotic device initially consist of three end effectors: a grasper, scissors, and an atraumatic Babcock clamp. The tool changer is capable of selecting and switching between the three tools depending on the surgical task using a miniature mechanism driven by micro-motors. The robotic tool is remotely controlled through a joystick and computer interface. In this thesis, the following aspects of this robotic tool will be detailed. The first-generation robot is designed as a conceptual model for implementing a novel mechanism of switching, advancing, and controlling the tool tips using two micro-motors. It is believed that this mechanism achieves a reduction in cumbersome instrument exchanges and can reduce overall procedure time and the risk of inadvertent tissue trauma during exchanges with a natural orifice approach. Also, placing actuators directly at the surgical site enables the robot to generate sufficient force to operate effectively. Mounting the multifunctional robot on the distal end of an articulating tube provides freedom from restriction on the robot kinematics and helps solve some of the difficulties otherwise faced during surgery using NOTES or related approaches. The second-generation multifunctional robot is then introduced in which the overall size is reduced and two arms provide 2 additional degrees of freedom, resulting in feasibility of insertion through the esophagus and increased dexterity. Improvements are necessary in future iterations of the multifunctional robot; however, the work presented is a proof of concept for NOTES robots capable of abdominal surgical interventions.

KCNQ Channels Determine Serotonergic Modulation of Ventral Surface Chemoreceptors and Respiratory Drive

Chemosensitive neurons in the retrotrapezoid nucleus (RTN) regulate breathing in response to CO2/H+ changes. Their activity is also sensitive to neuromodulatory inputs from multiple respiratory centers, and thus they serve as a key nexus of respiratory control. However, molecular mechanisms that control their activity and susceptibility to neuromodulation are unknown. Here, we show in vitro and in vivo that KCNQ channels are critical determinants of RTN neural activity. In particular, we find that pharmacological block of KCNQ channels (XE991, 10 mu M) increased basal activity and CO2 responsiveness of RTN neurons in rat brain slices, whereas KCNQ channel activation (retigabine, 2-40 mu M) silenced these neurons. Interestingly, we also find that KCNQ and apamin-sensitive SK channels act synergistically to regulate firing rate of RTN chemoreceptors; simultaneous blockade of both channels led to a increase in CO2 responsiveness. Furthermore, we also show that KCNQ channels but not SK channels are downstream effectors of serotonin modulation of RTN activity in vitro. In contrast, inhibition of KCNQ channel did not prevent modulation of RTN activity by Substance P or thyrotropin-releasing hormone, previously identified neuromodulators of RTN chemoreception. Importantly, we also show that KCNQ channels are critical for RTN activity in vivo. Inhibition of KCNQ channels lowered the CO2 threshold for phrenic nerve discharge in anesthetized rats and decreased the ventilatory response to serotonin in awake and anesthetized animals. Given that serotonergic dysfunction may contribute to respiratory failure, our findings suggest KCNQ channels as a new therapeutic avenue for respiratory complications associated with multiple neurological disorders.