Macrophage Activation Syndrome in Juvenile Systemic Lupus Erythematosus A Multinational Multicenter Study of Thirty-Eight Patients

Objective. To describe the clinical and laboratory features of macrophage activation syndrome as a complication of juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).Methods. Cases of juvenile SLE-associated macrophage activation syndrome were provided by investigators belonging to 3 pediatric rheumatology networks or were found in the literature. Patients who had evidence of macrophage hemophagocytosis on bone marrow aspiration were considered to have definite macrophage activation syndrome, and those who did not have such evidence were considered to have probable macrophage activation syndrome. Clinical and laboratory findings in patients with macrophage activation syndrome were contrasted with those of 2 control groups composed of patients with active juvenile SLE without macrophage activation syndrome. The ability of each feature to discriminate macrophage activation syndrome from active disease was evaluated by calculating sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve.Results. The study included 38 patients (20 with definite macrophage activation syndrome and 18 with probable macrophage activation syndrome). Patients with definite and probable macrophage activation syndrome were comparable with regard to all clinical and laboratory features of the syndrome, except for a greater frequency of lymphadenopathy, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia in patients with definite macrophage activation syndrome. Overall, clinical features had better specificity than sensitivity, except for fever, which was highly sensitive but had low specificity. Among laboratory features, the best sensitivity and specificity was achieved using hyperferritinemia, followed by increased levels of lactate dehydrogenase, hypertriglyceridemia, and hypofibrinogenemia. Based on the results of statistical analysis, preliminary diagnostic guidelines for macrophage activation syndrome in juvenile SLE were developed.Conclusion. Our findings indicate that the occurrence of unexplained fever and cytopenia, when associated with hyperferritinemia, in a patient with juvenile SLE should raise the suspicion of macrophage activation syndrome. We propose preliminary guidelines for this syndrome in juvenile SLE to facilitate timely diagnosis and correct classification of patients.

Differential MMP-2 and MMP-9 Activity and Collagen Distribution in Skeletal Muscle from pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) During Juvenile and Adult Growth Phases

Here, we evaluated collagen distribution and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities in skeletal muscle of pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) during juvenile and adult growth phases. Muscle samples from juvenile and adult fishes were processed by histochemistry for collagen system fibers and for gelatin-zymography for MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities analysis. Picrosirius staining revealed a myosept, endomysium, and perimysium-like structures in both growth phases and muscle types, with increased areas of collagen fibers in adults, mainly in red muscle. Reticulin staining showed that reticular fibers in the endomysium-like structure were thinner and discontinuous in the red muscle fibers. The zymography revealed clear bands of the pro-MMP-9, active-MMP-9, intermediate-MMP-2, and active-MMP-2 forms in red and white muscle in both growth phases. MMP-2 activity was more intense in juvenile than adult muscle fibers. Comparing the red and white muscle types, MMP-2 activity was significantly higher in red muscle in adult phase only. The activity of MMP-9 forms was similar in juvenile red and white muscles and in the adult red muscle, without any activity in adult white muscle. In conclusion, our results show that, in pacu, the higher activities of MMP-2 and -9 are associated with the rapid muscle growth in juvenile age and in adult fish, these activities are related with a different red and white muscle physiology. This study may contribute to the understanding muscle growth mechanisms and may also contribute to analyse red and the white muscle parameters of firmness and softness, respectively, of the commercial product. Anat Rec, 292:387-395, 2009. (C) 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Differential expression of myogenic regulatory factor MyoD in pacu skeletal muscle (Piaractus mesopotamicus Holmberg 1887: Serrasalminae, Characidae, Teleostei) during juvenile and adult growth phases

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

Population size and survivorship for juvenile lemon sharks (Negaprion brevirostris) on their nursery grounds at a marine protected area in Brazil

Os tubarões enfrentam muitos obstáculos para sobreviver nos primeiros anos de vida e muitas espécies ocupam áreas de berçário. Embora estimativas de sobrevivência, particularmente para jovens, sejam essenciais para acessar, monitorar e manejar efetivamente populações animais, existem poucos cálculos destas estimativas para populações de tubarões e poucas estimativas baseadas em métodos diretos para estes animais em suas áreas de berçário. Métodos de marcação e recaptura foram utilizados no presente estudo para estimar o tamanho populacional e a sobrevivência de jovens tubarões-limão (Negaprion brevirostris) em uma área de berçário na Reserva Biológica do Atol das Rocas, Brasil. Os indivíduos foram amostrados entre 1999 e 2003 e as estimativas de tamanho populacional variaram entre 12 a 100 indivíduos jovens e a taxa de sobrevivência entre 24 e 54%, com média de 44,6% durante o período de amostragem mais robusto. A população destes tubarões jovens diminuiu ao longo de nosso estudo, ainda que as taxas de sobrevivência tenham aumentado durante o mesmo período. Mesmo um nível moderado de pesca e a remoção de fêmeas maduras em áreas adjacentes podem afetar dramaticamente pequenas populações de tubarões num berçário pequeno e isolado como o Atol das Rocas. As taxas de sobrevivência e tamanho populacional relativamente mais baixos em Rocas podem ser resultado das diferenças nas características físicas deste berçário, comparadas a outros utilizados pela espécie no Atlântico norte-ocidental. Tais parâmetros comparativamente mais baixos no Atol das Rocas sugerem a fragilidade da população jovem de tubarões-limão neste berçário.

B lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia transformation in a child with juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia, type 1 neurofibromatosis and monosomy of chromosome 7 - Possible implications in the leukemogenesis

This report describes the case of an 8-month-old infant with a diagnosis of juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML) and type I neurofibromatosis that presented progression to B lineage acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL). The same rearrangement of gene T-cell receptor gamma (TCRgamma) was detected upon diagnosis of JMML and ALL, suggesting that both neoplasias may have evolved from the same clone. Our results support the theory that JMML may derive from pluripotential cells and that the occurrence of monosomy of chromosome 7 within a clone of cells having an aberrant neurofibromatosis type 1 (NFI) gene may be the cause of JMML and acute leukemia. (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. Ltd. All rights reserved.

Persistent organic pollutants in juvenile Magellan penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) found on the northern shore of the state of São Paulo and southern shore of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

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

Early juvenile development of Armases rubripes (Rathbun 1897) (Crustacea, Brachyura, Sesarmidae) and comments on the morphology of the megalopa and first crab

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

Juvenile development and growth patterns in the mud crab Eurytium limosum (Say, 1818) (Decapoda, Brachyura, Xanthidae) under laboratory conditions

The post-larval development of the mud crab Eurytium limosum was studied under laboratory conditions by using the offspring of ovigerous females collected at the Comprido River mangrove, SP, Brazil. The first crab stage is fully described and the juvenile development, until crab stage 10, is examined with emphasis on morphological change, sexual differentiation and growth patterns. The carapace of the first crab stage is nearly square as observed in other xanthids, becoming similar to adults only at stage 15. The sexes can be distinguished from stage four, based on the number of pleopods and their morphology. While the intermoult period increases, the moult percentage decreases at each stage. The abdominal allometric growth is sex-dependent, with males showing a negative (b=0.71) and females an isometric (b=0.95) relative growth pattern. Male gonopods undergo a positive allometric growth, and their shape changes remarkably until sexual maturity. The cheliped dentition can be observed after stage 4. Regardless of sex, most crabs have a molariform right cheliped, which is thought to aid the handling of asymmetric prey such as gastropods.

The megalopa and juvenile development of Pachygrapsus transversus (Gibbes, 1850) (Decapoda, Brahyura) compared with other grapsid crabs

Megalopae were reared in the laboratory to the 7(th) crab stage. The megalopa and 1(st) crab stage are described and juvenile development was studied with emphasis on pleopodal differentiation. The megalopal phase, is easily identified, and shares with those of other Grapsinae and Plagusiinae big size, the presence of many natatory setae, and a series of conspicuous teeth on the inner margin of the dactyli from the 2(nd) to 4(th) walking leg. These features are regarded as adaptive for settlement in a wave-swept environment, such as the rocky marine intertidal where most of those species live. Fast development of juvenile pleopods is another characteristic of these subfamilies. In Pachygrapsus transversus, the sexes can be distinguished from the 2(nd) crab stage. Gonopod differentiation in males and the basic segmentation of all four pleopod pairs in females are already concluded at the 5(th) instar. A review of the available information indicated that settlement of large megalopae and fast juvenile development, preceding a precocious sexual maturity, are trends in Grapsinae and Plagusiinae. on the other hand, the Sesarminae pass through a more extensive juvenile instar sequence and presumably a delayed maturity.

The megalopa and early juvenile development of Hepatus pudibundus (Crustacea: Brachyura: Aethroidea) reared from neuston samples

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

Abundance and distribution of juvenile pink shrimps Farfantepenaeus spp. in a mangrove estuary and adjacent bay on the northern shore of São Paulo State, southeastern Brazil

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

Juvenile development of the crab Bathyrhombila sp (Crustacea, Decapoda, Pseudorhombilidae) from megalopae obtained in the neuston

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

Juvenile development of Callinectes ornatus Ordway, 1863 (Crustacea : Decapoda : Portunidae), from megalopae obtained in the neuston

The juvenile development of Callinectes ornatus was studied from megalopae collected in the neuston off Ubatuba, São Paulo State, Brazil. The animals were raised in the laboratory under constant temperature (25 +/- 1 degrees C), filtered sea water (35 parts per thousand) from the sampling location, and the natural photoperiod. Eleven stages of the juvenile phase were obtained. The main features of the first juvenile stage diagnostic of the species are: the number of segments in the antenna; number of setae on the exopod, endopod, basal endite and coxal endite of the maxilla, on the exopod, endopod, basal endite, coxal endite and epipod of the 1(st) maxilliped, and on the exopod, endopod and epipod of the 2(nd) maxilliped. Sexual dimorphism becomes apparent from the fourth juvenile stage onwards.

Ultrastructural modifications in the venom glands of workers of Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera : Apidae) promoted by topical application of juvenile hormone

The present study analyzed, the influence of the treatment with juvenile hormone on the ultrastructure of Apis mellifera L. workers' venom glands. Newly emerged workers received topical application of 1 mu l of juvenile hormone diluted in hexane, in the concentration of 2 mu g/mu l. Two controls were used; one control received no treatment (group C1) and other received topical application of 1 mu l of hexane (group C2). The aspect of the glandular cells, in not treated newly emerged workers, showed that they are not yet secreting actively. Cellular modifications happened according to the worker age and to the glandular area considered. The most active phase of the gland happened from the emergence to the 14th day. At the 25th day the cells had already lost their secretory characteristic, being the distal area the first to suffer degeneration. The treatment with juvenile hormone and hexane altered the temporal sequence of the glandular cycle, forwarding the secretory cycle and degeneration of the venom gland.

Alterations induced by the juvenile hormone in glandular cells of the Apis mellifera venom gland: Applications on newly emerged workers (Hymenoptera, Apidae)

Histological and histochemical analyses were carried out in order to evaluate the influence of the topical application of a synthetic juvenile hormone on the secretory cycle and degeneration of the venom gland of Apis mellifera. Newly emerged workers received the topical application of synthetic hormone and the results were compared to the normal development of the secretory cycle in virgin and mated queens. The first worker group received the juvenile hormone diluted in hexane (2 mu g/mu L), the second received only mu L of hexane, and the third did not receive any kind of application. After the application the workers were returned to the colony and collected at the ages of 14 and 25 days of adult life. The groups with virgin queens and the other with mated queens, did not receive the treatment. The results show that the individuals treated with juvenile hormone and with pure hexane presented differences in the histological and cytochemical aspects of the secretory cells of the venom gland. The data indicate that both the juvenile hormone and hexane accelerate the activity of the secretory cycle and the degeneration of the venom gland; however, the juvenile hormone proved to be more effective than hexane. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.