Modulation of translation factor's gene expression by histone deacetylase inhibitors in breast cancer cells

The histone deacetylase inhibitors sodium butyrate (NaBu) and trichostatin A (TSA) exhibit anti-proliferative activity by causing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. The mechanisms by which NaBu and TSA cause apoptosis and cell cycle arrest are not yet completely clarified, although these agents are known to modulate the expression of several genes including cell-cycle- and apoptosis-related genes. The enzymes involved in the process of translation have important roles in controlling cell growth and apoptosis, and several of these translation factors have been described as having a causal role in the development of cancer. The expression patterns of the translation mechanism, namely of the elongation factors eEF1A1 and eEF1A2, and of the termination factors eRF1 and eRF3, were studied in the breast cancer cell line MCF-7 by real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction after a 24-h treatment with NaBu and TSA. NaBu induced inhibition of translation factors' transcription, whereas TSA caused an increase in mRNA levels. Thus, these two agents may modulate the expression of translation factors through different pathways. We propose that the inhibition caused by NaBu may, in part, be responsible for the cell cycle arrest and apoptosis induced by this agent in MCF-7 cells.

Modèles animaux pour l’évaluation préclinique des dispositifs médicaux en radiologie interventionnelle au CR21 AP-HP INRA

Dissertação de Mestrado, Engenharia Zootécnica, 14 de Maio de 2015, Universidade dos Açores.

Designing a vaccination strategy against dengue

In this work we propose a mathematical approach to estimate the dengue force of infection, the average age of dengue first infection, the optimum age to vaccinate children against dengue in a routine fashion and the optimum age interval to introduce the dengue vaccine in a mass vaccination campaign. The model is based on previously published models for vaccination against other childhood infections, which resulted in actual vaccination programmes in Brazil. The model was applied for three areas of distinct levels of endemicity of the city of Recife in Northeastern State of Pernambuco, Brazil. Our results point to an optimal age to introduce the dengue vaccine in the routine immunization programme at two years of age and an age interval to introduce a mass vaccination between three and 14 years of age.

Separation of bioactive peptides by electrodialysis with ultrafiltration membranes: membrane characteristics, ex-situ and in-situ digestion and their impact on peptide migration

Dissertation presented to Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa for obtaining the master degree in Membrane Engineering

Development of a dextrin-based hydrogel for bone regeneration

[Excerpt] Bone tissue engineering is a very challenging and promising field, which handles with the limitations of bone regenerative capacity and the failure of current orthopedic implants [1]. This work describes the preparation and characterization of an injectable dextrin-based hydrogel (oDex) able to incorporate nanoparticles, cells, biomolecules or Bonelike~ granules [2]. (...)

Artes dos novos media

Artes dos novos media: interatividade entre o corpo do visitante e a obra de arte; Hipertexto; O espaço da galeria ou do evento enquanto elemento estético; Autoria; O visitante como co-autor. Digitextualidade: A digitextualidade do corpo; Convergência / digitextualidade; Convergência de media e textos do sujeito e do objeto. Audiência ativa. Estratégias estéticas digitais: arte genómica e biomedia; a Genética nas Ciências e nas Artes; Stelarc: braço mecânico; Stelarc: o corpo é um híbrido; Stelarc: implantação de orelha em braço; ‘Ciborguização’ dos corpos; genética: nuvem semântica; Arte pós-humana; Biocibernética; Christa Sommerer e Laurent Mignonneau; Obras; Eduardo Kac; Obras; Uma arte trans-animal?

Pulse wave velocity distribution in a cohort study: from arterial stiffness to early vascular aging

BACKGROUND: By contrast with other southern European people, north Portuguese population registers an especially high prevalence of hypertension and stroke incidence. We designed a cohort study to identify individuals presenting accelerated and premature arterial aging in the Portuguese population. METHOD: Pulse wave velocity (PWV) was measured in randomly sampled population dwellers aged 18-96 years from northern Portugal, and used as a marker of early vascular aging (EVA). Of the 3038 individuals enrolled, 2542 completed the evaluation. RESULTS: Mean PWV value for the entire population was 8.4?m/s (men: 8.6?m/s; women: 8.2?m/s; P??10?m/s). Logistic regression models indicated gender differences concerning the risk of developing large artery damage, with women having the same odds of PWV above 10?m/s 10 years later than men. CONCLUSION: The population PWV values were higher than expected in a low cardiovascular risk area (Portugal). High prevalence rates of EVA and noteworthy large artery damage in young ages were found.

Estudo pomológico comparativo das cultivares de cucurbita

O presente trabalho teve por finalidade descrever comparativamente as características morfológicas dos frutos e das sementes de 13 cultivares de Cucurbita. Para identificar e classificar botanicamente as espécies das cultivares em estudo, servimo-nos da chave descrita por Bailey, que considera entre outras, as características dos pedúnculos dos frutos e as características das sementes. Desta maneira separamos as cultivares em três espécies: Cucurbita moschata Duchesne com as seguintes cultivares: 'Menina-verde', Taça', 'Tatui', Menina-amarela', 'Canhão', 'Redonda-de-amparo' e 'Menina-creme'. Da espécie Cucurbita maxima Duchesne estudamos os frutos e as sementes das cultivares 'Exposição', 'Coroa', Όn-de-ganso' e 'Mogango-verde' e para Cucurbita pepo Linneu as cultivates 'Small-sugar' e 'Cas-erta'. Realizamos o referido trabalho no Campo Experimental do Departamento de Agricultura-Horticultura da ESALQ, em Piracicaba, e as cultivares estudadas são as mais recomendadas pela Secção de Olericultura do Instituto Agronômico de Campinas. Foram semeadas de cada cultivar 3 a 5 sementes por cova e repetidas por 10 vezes. De cada planta adulta colhemos 3 frutos e nos frutos anotamos as seguintes características morfológicas: coloração do epicarpo, forma, resistência da casca, dimensões e peso; semente: dimensões, número de sementes normais e anormais, peso das sementes.

Germinação de sementes e desenvolvimento de plântulas de cultivares de Cucurbitáceas

São relatados os resultados obtidos num trabalho sobre a influência de ambientes e substratos na germinação de sementes e desenvolvimento de plântulas de cultivares de Cucurbita moschata Duchesne e Cucurbita maxima Duchesne. Os melhores resultados alcançados foram com os substratos areia de rio e vermiculite e, dos ambientes, a casa de vegetação foi superior aos demais.

A new frog of the genus Kassina from Northern Rhodesia.

v.44:no.18(1963)