Fluoxetine effect on kidney water reabsorption

Background. The pathogenesis of hyponatraemia caused by fluoxetine (Fx) use in the treatment of depression is not well understood. It has been attributed to a SIADH, although ADH-enhanced plasma level has not yet been demonstrated in all the cases reported in humans. This experiment aimed at investigating the effect of fluoxetine on the kidney and more specifically in the inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD). Methods. ( 1) In vivo study: ( a) 10 rats were injected daily i. p. with 10 mg/kg fluoxetine doses. After 10 days, rats were sacrificed and blood and kidneys were collected. (b) Immunoblotting studies for AQP2 protein expression in the IMCD from injected rats and in IMCD tubules suspension from 10 normal rats incubated with 10(-7) M fluoxetine. ( 2) In vitro microperfusion study: The osmotic water permeability (P-f, mu m/s) was determined in normal rats IMCD (n = 6), isolated and perfused by the standard methods. Results. In vivo study: ( a) Injected rats with fluoxetine lost about 12% body weight; Na+ plasma level decreased from 139.3 +/- 0.78 mEq/1 to 134.9 +/- 0.5 mEq/1 ( p < 0.01) and K+ and ADH plasma levels remained unchanged. ( b) Immunoblotting densitometric analysis of the assays showed an increase in AQP2 protein abundance of about 40%, both in IMCDs from injected rats [ control period (cont) 99.6 +/- 5.2 versus Fx 145.6 +/- 16.9, p < 0.05] and in tubule suspension incubated with fluoxetine ( cont 100.0 +/- 3.5 versus 143.0 +/- 2.0, p < 0.01). In vitro microperfusion study fluoxetine increased Pf in the IMCD in the absence of ADH from the cont 7.24 +/- 2.07 to Fx 15.77 +/- 3.25 ( p < 0.01). Conclusion. After fluoxetine use, the weight and plasma Na+ level decreased, and the K+ and ADH plasma levels remained unchanged, whereas the AQP2 protein abundance and water absorption in the IMCD increased, leading us to conclude that the direct effect of fluoxetine in the IMCD could explain at least in part, the hyponatraemia found sometime after this drug use in humans.

Effect of the toxic milk mutation (tx) on the function and intracellular localization of Wnd, the murine homologue of the Wilson copperATPase

Wilson disease is an autosomal recessive copper transport disorder resulting from defective biliary excretion of copper and subsequent hepatic copper accumulation and liver failure if not treated. The disease is caused by mutations in the ATP7B (WND) gene, which is expressed predominantly in the liver and encodes a copper-transporting P-type ATPase that is structurally and functionally similar to the Menkes protein (MNK), which is defective in the X-linked copper transport disorder Menkes disease. The toxic milk (tx) mouse has a clinical phenotype similar to Wilson disease patients and, recently, the tx mutation within the murine WND homologue (Wnd) of this mouse was identified, establishing it as an animal model for Wilson disease. In this study, cDNA constructs encoding the wild-type (Wnd-wt) and mutant (Wnd-tx) Wilson proteins (Wnd) were generated and expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. The fx mutation disrupted the copper-induced relocalization of Wnd in CHO cells and abrogated Wnd-mediated copper resistance of transfected CHO cells. In addition, co-localization experiments demonstrated that while Wnd and MNK are located in the trans-Golgi network in basal copper conditions, with elevated copper, these proteins are sorted to different destinations within the same cell, Ultrastructural studies showed that with elevated copper levels, Wnd accumulated in large multivesicular structures resembling late endosomes that may represent a novel compartment for copper transport. The data presented provide further support for a relationship between copper transport activity and the copper-induced relocalization response of mammalian copper ATPases, and an explanation at a molecular level for the observed phenotype of fx mice.

Nintendo Wii: uso terapêutico no controlo postural em indivíduos que sofreram um acidente vascular cerebral

Mestrado em Fisioterapia.

COMPARISON OF SIX COMMERCIALLY-AVAILABLE DNA POLYMERASES FOR DIRECT PCR

SUMMARYThe use of a “direct PCR” DNA polymerase enables PCR amplification without any prior DNA purification from blood samples due to the enzyme's resistance to inhibitors present in blood components. Such DNA polymerases are now commercially available. We compared the PCR performance of six direct PCR-type DNA polymerases (KOD FX, Mighty Amp, Hemo KlenTaq, Phusion Blood II, KAPA Blood, and BIOTAQ) in dried blood eluted from a filter paper with TE buffer. GoTaq Flexi was used as a standard DNA polymerase. PCR performance was evaluated by a nested PCR technique for detecting Plasmodium falciparum genomic DNA in the presence of the blood components. Although all six DNA polymerases showed resistance to blood components compared to the standard Taq polymerase, the KOD FX and BIOTAQ DNA polymerases were resistant to inhibitory blood components at concentrations of 40%, and their PCR performance was superior to that of other DNA polymerases. When the reaction mixture contained a mild detergent, only KOD FX DNA polymerase retained the original amount of amplified product. These results indicate that KOD FX DNA polymerase is the most resistant to inhibitory blood components and/or detergents. Thus, KOD FX DNA polymerase could be useful in serological studies to simultaneously detect antibodies and DNA in eluents for antibodies. KOD FX DNA polymerase is thus not limited to use in detecting malaria parasites, but could also be employed to detect other blood-borne pathogens.

Getting the carry trade's jackpot

This Working Project studies five portfolios of currency carry trades formed with the G10 currencies. Performance varies among strategies and the most basic one presents the worst results. I also study the equity and Pure FX risk factors which can explain the portfolios’ returns. Equity factors do not explain these returns while the Pure FX do for some of the strategies. Downside risk measures indicate the importance of using regime indicators to avoid losses. I conclude that although using VAR and threshold regression models with a variety of regime indicators do not allow the perception of different regimes, with a defined exogenous threshold on real exchange rates, an indicator of liquidity and the volatilities of the spot exchange rates it is possible to increase the average returns and reduce drawdowns of the carry trades

Structural analysis of the masonry envelope of Ica Cathedral, Peru

Dissertação de mestrado em Structural Analysis of Monuments and Historical Constructions

Structural analysis of the timber structure of Ica Cathedral, Peru

Dissertação de mestrado em Structural Analysis of Monuments and Historical Constructions

Programa domiciliar de exercícios: efeitos de curto prazo sobre a aptidão física e pressão arterial de indivíduos hipertensos

OBJETIVO: Observar a influência de quatro meses de um programa domiciliar não-supervisionado de exercícios sobre a pressão arterial (PA) e aptidão física em hipertensos. MÉTODOS: Foram observados um grupo experimental com 26 homens e 52 mulheres e um grupo controle, com 9 homens e 7 mulheres, com idades entre 25 e 77 anos. O grupo experimental submeteu-se a um programa domiciliar de exercícios, com atividades aeróbias (60-80% da FC máxima para a idade, 30min de caminhadas no mínimo três vezes por semana), exercícios de flexibilidade. Orientações sobre a ficha de controle e o treinamento eram dadas a cada reavaliação. Foram acompanhados por quatro meses, com reavaliações a cada dois meses, observando-se: PA em repouso; peso corporal, relação cintura-quadril (RCQ), percentual de gordura (%G), somatório de dobras cutâneas (SOMD) e relação central e periférica de dobras (P/C); flexibilidade de tronco (FX); relação entre freqüência cardíaca e carga de trabalho durante teste submáximo em ciclo-ergômetro (FC/W), traduzida pela inclinação da curva de regressão entre ambas (a). RESULTADOS: O grupo experimental exibiu alterações significativas para o peso (-3,7 kg), RCQ (-0,03), SOMD (-12 mm), %G (-4,4%), FX (+2,3 cm), FC/W (-0,02) e PA (-6 e -9 mmHg para pressão sistólica e diastólica, respectivamente). O grupo controle teve pequenas alterações no peso (+1,3 Kg) e %G (+1,7%). CONCLUSÃO: Programas domiciliares não supervisionados de exercícios, podem exercer efeito positivo sobre a PA e aptidão física de hipertensos.

Nutrição mineral da seringueira: II. Recrutamento de micronutrientes no período de quatro anos na região de Rio Branco, AC

Com o objetivo de obter dados referentes a concentração e acúmulo de micronutrientes em função da idade da planta, foram coletadas amostras de folhas, galhos secos, ponta e base de galhos primários, e ponta, meio e base do tronco de plantas de seringueira clone Fx 3864 com 1 a 4 anos de idade situadas sobre Latossol Vermelho-Amarelo, textura argilosa na área da BONAL S.A. localizada na região de Rio Branco, AC Os resultados mostraram que: 1. As maiores concentrações de nutrientes ocor rem nas folhas com exceção do cobre e zinco; 2. A extração de nutrientes por hectare no quarto ano foi de: B-29,4 g, Cu-18,3 g, Fe - 140 g, Mn - 437,7 g e Zn - 52,2 g; 3. A extração total de nutrientes, em ordem decrescente foi: Fe Mn Zn B Cu.

Efeito da adubação no desenvolvimento da seringueira em formação (Hevea brasiliensis Muell, Arg.) no sul do estado da Bahia

Foi feito um experimento para avaliar os efeitos da adubação envolvendo nitrogênio, fósforo, potássio, enxofre, micronutrientes e calagem em seringueira. Osolo é Latossolo Vermelho Amarelo da Estação Experimental Una, Estado da Bahia. O delineamento experimental foi o fatorial NPK 3x3x3, tendo o solo recebido, previamente, um tratamento com enxofre e micronutrientes. Em área anexa que não recebeu o tratamento mencionado acima foram estabelecidos tratamentos adicionais com enxofre, micronutrientes e calcário. Cada parcela constou de 9plantas do clone Fx 2804 no espaçamento de 7m x 3m. Os parâmetros de avaliação foram circunferência do tronco e espessura da casca. Os resultados mostraram que o N e o K não afetaram tais parâmetros. O P apresentou efeito quadrático sendo que as melhores doses de P2O5, determina das foram: a. circunferência do tronco: 26 kg/ha para o primeiro ano; 45kg/ha para o segundo, terceiro e quarto anos; 112Kg/ha para o quinto ano; b. espessura da casca: no primeiro ano o efeito foi linear; 44kg/ha para o segundo, terceiro e quarto anos. Os tratamentos com enxofre e micronutrientes não diferiram entre si, mas superaram a testemunha. O tratamento com calcário não diferiu dos tratamentos com enxofre e com micronutrientes e superou a testemunha a partir do terceiro e quarto anos, respectivamente, no que se refere à espessura da casca e circunferência do tronco. O ensaio foi conduzido durante 6 anos.

Produção de latex por clones de seringueira (Hevea spp) no planalto e litoral do Estado de São Paulo

A partir dos dados de produção em volume de látex, extraído de clones de seringueira (Hevea spp.), durante 17 anos no Centro Experimental Theodureto de Camargo (Campinas, região de planalto) e 16 anos na Estação Experimental Vale do Ribeira (Pariquera-Açú, região litorânea), ambos pertencentes ao Instituto Agro_ nômico do Estado de São Paulo, Campinas, foi estudado o comportamento da produção de cada clone. Pelo teste de Tukey foi possível determinar, considerando-se as duas regiões, os melhores clones quanto ao potencial produtivo dado pelas médias de produção. Entre os melhores encontram-se: RRIM 600 e BSA 20. 0 primeiro pertence a Estação Experimental e o segundo ao Centro Experimental. Em seguida tem-se um grupo intermediário, formado pelos clones CA 1328, Tjir 16, C 228, RRIm 526, C 297, LCB 510 e Fx 25, todos pertencentes ao Centro Experimental. Os menos produtivos foram: Fx 25, C 290 e RRIM 600, todos pertencentes ao Centro Experimental. 0 clone Fx 25 apresentou baixa produção nas regiões estudadas, porém sua produção na Estação Experimental foi superior à do Centro Experimental, bem como às dos clones C 290 e RRIM 600, cultivados no Centro Experimental.

The Signalling Channel of Central Bank Interventions: Modelling the Yen/US Dollar Exchange Rate

This paper presents a theoretical framework analysing the signalling channel of exchange rate interventions as an informational trigger. We develop an implicit target zone framework with learning in order to model the signalling channel. The theoretical premise of the model is that interventions convey signals that communicate information about the exchange rate objectives of central bank. The model is used to analyse the impact of Japanese FX interventions during the period 1999 -2011 on the yen/US dollar dynamics.

The Signalling Channel of Central Bank Interventions: Modelling the Yen/US Dollar Exchange Rate

This paper presents a theoretical framework analysing the signalling channel of exchange rate interventions as an informational trigger. We develop an implicit target zone framework with learning in order to model the signalling channel. The theoretical premise of the model is that interventions convey signals that communicate information about the exchange rate objectives of central bank. The model is used to analyse the impact of Japanese FX interventions during the period 1999 -2011 on the yen/US dollar dynamics.

Modeling Dependence Structure and Forecasting Portfolio Value-at-Risk with Dynamic Copulas

We study the asymmetric and dynamic dependence between financial assets and demonstrate, from the perspective of risk management, the economic significance of dynamic copula models. First, we construct stock and currency portfolios sorted on different characteristics (ex ante beta, coskewness, cokurtosis and order flows), and find substantial evidence of dynamic evolution between the high beta (respectively, coskewness, cokurtosis and order flow) portfolios and the low beta (coskewness, cokurtosis and order flow) portfolios. Second, using three different dependence measures, we show the presence of asymmetric dependence between these characteristic-sorted portfolios. Third, we use a dynamic copula framework based on Creal et al. (2013) and Patton (2012) to forecast the portfolio Value-at-Risk of long-short (high minus low) equity and FX portfolios. We use several widely used univariate and multivariate VaR models for the purpose of comparison. Backtesting our methodology, we find that the asymmetric dynamic copula models provide more accurate forecasts, in general, and, in particular, perform much better during the recent financial crises, indicating the economic significance of incorporating dynamic and asymmetric dependence in risk management.