Obstructive apneas induce early activation of mesenchymal stem cells and enhancement of endothelial wound healing

Background: The aim was to test the hypothesis that the blood serum of rats subjected to recurrent airway obstructions mimicking obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) induces early activation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) and enhancement of endothelial wound healing. Methods: We studied 30 control rats and 30 rats subjected to recurrent obstructive apneas (60 per hour, lasting 15 s each, for 5 h). The migration induced in MSC by apneic serum was measured by transwell assays. MSC-endothelial adhesion induced by apneic serum was assessed by incubating fluorescent-labelled MSC on monolayers of cultured endothelial cells from rat aorta. A wound healing assay was used to investigate the effect of apneic serum on endothelial repair. Results: Apneic serum showed significant increase in chemotaxis in MSC when compared with control serum: the normalized chemotaxis indices were 2.20 +- 0.58 (m +- SE) and 1.00 +- 0.26, respectively (p < 0.05). MSC adhesion to endothelial cells was greater (1.75 +- 0.14 -fold; p < 0.01) in apneic serum than in control serum. When compared with control serum, apneic serum significantly increased endothelial wound healing (2.01 +- 0.24 -fold; p < 0.05). Conclusions: The early increases induced by recurrent obstructive apneas in MSC migration, adhesion and endothelial repair suggest that these mechanisms play a role in the physiological response to the challenges associated to OSA.

Efeito da adubação com nitrogênio, fósforo e potássio no desenvolvimento, na produção e na qualidade de frutos do abacaxi 'Vitória'

A cultivar de abacaxi 'Vitória' tem como principais características a resistência à fusariose, ausência de espinhos nas folhas, frutos de forma cilíndrica e de polpa branca. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de doses de N, P2O5 e K2O no desenvolvimento da folha "D", massa dos frutos, produtividade, produção de mudas e qualidade da polpa do fruto - sólidos solúveis (SS) e acidez titulável (AT). Os tratamentos foram constituídos de cinco níveis de N: 0; 214; 428; 642 e 856 kg ha-1; cinco níveis de P2O5: 0; 75; 150; 225 e 300 kg ha-1, e cinco níveis de K2O: 0; 150; 300; 450 e 600 kg ha-1 dispostos em fatorial fracionado do tipo (1/5) 5³ em blocos. Doses crescentes de N promoveram maior crescimento da folha "D", produção de mudas, desenvolvimento do fruto e produtividade. A produtividade e a massa média do fruto com coroa alcançaram os valores máximos de 65,0 t ha-1 com 647 kg ha-1 de N e 1.247 g com 660 kg ha-1 de N, respectivamente. Os valores de AT e SS cresceram linearmente em função das doses de potássio implementadas, ao passo que a elevação das doses de nitrogênio apresentou efeito oposto. Mesmo com a baixa disponibilidade de P, não houve resposta a este nutriente.

Viabilidade da cultura do morangueiro no Paraná - BR

Avaliou-se a viabilidade da exploração do morangueiro, no Paraná, em duas áreas, 0,3 ha (área média cultivada pela agricultura familiar) e 1 ha, por um ano. Elaborou-se uma planilha de fluxo de caixa a partir da qual se calcularam: Período de Recuperação do Capital (PRC), Retorno sobre Investimento (RI), Valor Presente Líquido (VPL) e Taxa Interna de Retorno (TIR). Todos para Custo Operacional Efetivo (COE), Custo Operacional Total (COT) e Custo Total de Produção (CTP). Para uma situação considerada normal, os indicadores de rentabilidade calculados foram (Tipo de custo: VPL área-padrão (TIR área- padrão) / VPL área efetiva (TIR área efetiva)) COE: US$ 17.856,55 (42%) / US$ 4.795,85 (39%); COT: US$ 5.182,40 (11%) / - US$ 1.691,97 (-13%); CPT: US$ 4.846,26 (10%) / -US$ 1.792,80 (-14%). Fez-se a análise de cenários para os fatores produtividade, preço de venda e mão de obra, analisando o VPL e a TIR. Verificou-se que o tamanho da área influenciou na viabilidade econômica, mostrando a importância de se determinar anualmente a área mínima viável para a agricultura familiar. Os resultados indicaram que a cultura é viável em curto prazo, quando considerado o COE como parâmetro de análise, mas pode não se sustentar em prazos maiores quando se consideram o COT, o CTP e a variação de alguns fatores de produção. Pela análise de cenários definidos pelos fatores de produção analisados, o VPL e a TIR alteram-se para níveis que oferecem risco à exploração.

Integrin-Specific Mechanoresponses to Compression and Extension Probed by Cylindrical Flat-Ended AFM Tips in Lung Cells

Cells from lung and other tissues are subjected to forces of opposing directions that are largely transmitted through integrin-mediated adhesions. How cells respond to force bidirectionality remains ill defined. To address this question, we nanofabricated flat-ended cylindrical Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) tips with ~1 µm2 cross-section area. Tips were uncoated or coated with either integrin-specific (RGD) or non-specific (RGE/BSA) molecules, brought into contact with lung epithelial cells or fibroblasts for 30 s to form focal adhesion precursors, and used to probe cell resistance to deformation in compression and extension. We found that cell resistance to compression was globally higher than to extension regardless of the tip coating. In contrast, both tip-cell adhesion strength and resistance to compression and extension were the highest when probed at integrin-specific adhesions. These integrin-specific mechanoresponses required an intact actin cytoskeleton, and were dependent on tyrosine phosphatases and Ca2+ signaling. Cell asymmetric mechanoresponse to compression and extension remained after 5 minutes of tip-cell adhesion, revealing that asymmetric resistance to force directionality is an intrinsic property of lung cells, as in most soft tissues. Our findings provide new insights on how lung cells probe the mechanochemical properties of the microenvironment, an important process for migration, repair and tissue homeostasis.

Metal dealing at the origin of the Chordata phylum: The metallothionein system and metal overload response in Amphioxus.

Non-vertebrate chordates, specifically amphioxus, are considered of the utmost interest for gaining insight into the evolutionary trends, i.e. differentiation and specialization, of gene/protein systems. In this work, MTs (metallothioneins), the most important metal binding proteins, are characterized for the first time in the cephalochordate subphylum at both gene and protein level, together with the main features defining the amphioxus response to cadmium and copper overload. Two MT genes (BfMT1 and BfMT2) have been identified in a contiguous region of the genome, as well as several ARE (antioxidant response element) and MRE (metal response element) located upstream the transcribed region. Their corresponding cDNAs exhibit identical sequence in the two lancelet species (B. floridae and B. lanceolatum), BfMT2 cDNA resulting from an alternative splicing event. BfMT1 is a polyvalent metal binding peptide that coordinates any of the studied metal ions (Zn, Cd or Cu) rendering complexes stable enough to last in physiological environments, which is fully concordant with the constitutive expression of its gene, and therefore, with a metal homeostasis housekeeping role. On the contrary, BfMT2 exhibits a clear ability to coordinate Cd(II) ions, while it is absolutely unable to fold into stable Cu (I) complexes, even as mixed species. This identifies it as an essential detoxification agent, which is consequently only induced in emergency situations. The cephalochordate MTs are not directly related to vertebrate MTs, neither by gene structure, protein similarity nor metal-binding behavior of the encoded peptides. The closest relative is the echinoderm MT, which confirm proposed phylogenetic relationships between these two groups. The current findings support the existence in most organisms of two types of MTs as for their metal binding preferences, devoted to different biological functions: multivalent MTs for housekeeping roles, and specialized MTs that evolve either as Cd-thioneins or Cu-thioneins, according to the ecophysiological needs of each kind of organisms.

COMPORTAMENTO DE GENÓTIPOS DE ABACAXIZEIRO RESISTENTES À FUSARIOSE EM COMPARAÇÃO A CULTIVARES COMERCIAIS SUSCETÍVEIS

A fusariose é a doença mais severa na cultura do abacaxi no Brasil, e as cultivares mais plantadas, ‘Pérola’ e ‘Smoth Cayenne’, são suscetíveis, com perdas estimadas em 30 a 40% dos frutos. O uso de genótipos resistentes à doença abre grande perspectiva para a solução do problema. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar, em experimento de campo, o potencial produtivo, as características das plantas e a qualidade de frutos de novos híbridos deabacaxi resistentes à fusariose: EC-105, EC-93, cv. BRS Vitória e cv. BRS Imperial, comparando o desempenho destes genótipos com as cultivares ‘Pérola’, ‘Smooth Cayenne’ e ‘Gold (MD-2)’, suscetíveis à doença. O delineamento experimental foi o em blocos casualizados, com cinco repetições. A cv. BRS Imperial apresenta características importantes de qualidade de fruto, com maiores valores de SS e ratio. A cv. BRS Vitória reúne características favoráveis, como massa de frutos semelhante à da ‘Pérola’, reduzido diâmetro do eixo central do fruto, baixos índices de aderência de mudas “filhote” ao fruto e de tombamento de frutos, e boa produção de mudas aproveitáveis. Os demais híbridos resistentes à fusariose apresentam características negativas que limitam sua recomendação como cultivar comercial.

La influència de les dinàmiques de grup en la millora de la cohesió de grup i l’estabilitat emocional dels infants

En aquest estudi qualitatiu s’investiga la influència de les dinàmiques de grup en la millora de la cohesió de grup i l’estabilitat emocional dels infants. La mostra està constituïda per 24 infants, d’edats compreses entre els 5 i 6 anys, i per una mestra de 58 anys. Es realitza una intervenció educativa, basada en quatre dinàmiques de grup diferents, per tal d’avaluar la seva incidència en relació a la cohesió de grup i l’estabilitat emocional dels infants. Els instruments utilitzats són de naturalesa qualitativa, concretament, l’entrevista i l’observació, que s’apliquen pre i post intervenció per tal d’identificar possibles canvis. En els resultats, no es poden observar grans canvis a nivell de cohesió de grup ni d’estabilitat emocional dels infants, però sí, una actitud positiva i de motivació en relació a l’aplicació de dinàmiques de grup. La curta durada de la intervenció educativa ha estat la principal limitació d’aquesta investigació, fet pel qual no s’han pogut extreure uns resultats significatius. És per això que a les conclusions es mostren un seguit d’aspectes a tenir en compte en futurs estudis.

L'Institut Català d'Arqueologia Clàssica (ICAC): un centre de recerca i formació

L’Institut Català d’Arqueologia Clàssica (ICAC) és un consorci públic creat l’any 2000 pel Departament d’Universitats, Recerca i Societat de la Informació de la Generalitat de Catalunya i la Universitat Rovira i Virgili. La seva seu, inaugurada el setembre del 2003, està ubicada en ple centre històric de Tarragona. L’objectiu de l’Institut és la recerca i la formació avançada en el camp de l’arqueologia clàssica. Una recerca que parteix de l’arqueologia, és a dir, de l’estudi dels vestigis materials que encara ens queden de la civilització grecoromana, però treballant en col·laboració, i integrant-ne els resultats amb les altres ciències de l’antiguitat, com la filologia clàssica, la numismàtica i l’epigrafia, la història de l’art i del pensament. L’ICAC és un institut encara jove que ha començat a desplegar una activitat notable, engegant nombrosos programes i projectes de recerca, i liderant un programa oficial de postgrau interuniversitari. Aquesta presentació exposa els aspectes més rellevants de la seva organització i activitat, posant l’èmfasi, a tall d’exemple, en alguns dels projectes de recerca que s’estan portant a terme.

The p38/MK2/Hsp25 pathway is required for BMP-2-induced cell migration.

Background: Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) have been shown to participate in the patterning and specification of several tissues and organs during development and to regulate cell growth, differentiation and migration in different cell types. BMP-mediated cell migration requires activation of the small GTPase Cdc42 and LIMK1 activities. In our earlier report we showed that activation of LIMK1 also requires the activation of PAKs through Cdc42 and PI3K. However, the requirement of additional signaling is not clearly known. Methodology/Principal Findings: Activation of p38 MAPK has been shown to be relevant for a number of BMP-2¿s physiological effects. We report here that BMP-2 regulation of cell migration and actin cytoskeleton remodelling are dependent on p38 activity. BMP-2 treatment of mesenchymal cells results in activation of the p38/MK2/Hsp25 signaling pathway downstream from the BMP receptors. Moreover, chemical inhibition of p38 signaling or genetic ablation of either p38¿ or MK2 blocks the ability to activate the downstream effectors of the pathway and abolishes BMP-2-induction of cell migration. These signaling effects on p38/MK2/Hsp25 do not require the activity of either Cdc42 or PAK, whereas p38/MK2 activities do not significantly modify the BMP-2-dependent activation of LIMK1, measured by either kinase activity or with an antibody raised against phospho-threonine 508 at its activation loop. Finally, phosphorylated Hsp25 colocalizes with the BMP receptor complexes in lamellipodia and overexpression of a phosphorylation mutant form of Hsp25 is able to abolish the migration of cells in response to BMP-2. Conclusions: These results indicate that Cdc42/PAK/LIMK1 and p38/MK2/Hsp25 pathways, acting in parallel and modulating specific actin regulatory proteins, play a critical role in integrating responses during BMP-induced actin reorganization and cell migration.

Gestió dels residus alimentaris municipals procedents de les activitats comercials del municipi de Montmeló per tal de reduir, reutilitzar i reciclar-los

En el present treball es proposa com lluitar contra el malbaratament alimentari que es genera al llarg de tota la cadena alimentària, sent aquest degut a causa d'una planificació poc adequada. L'objectiu principal és planificar i implantar un sistema de gestió per tal de recuperar l'excedent alimentari que es genera als comerços i les indústries del municipi de Montmeló, elaborant així un protocol per tal de poder redistribuir aquest aliment als sectors de la població en situacions econòmiques més precàries. Com a objectius secundaris, es pretén conscienciar, fomentar i potenciar el treball en xarxa entre els diferents agents implicats, com ara: la ciutadania, les entitats socials (Càritas Parroquial Montmeló), sector privat (establiments alimentaris del municipi, mercat municipal, indústries del sector alimentari) i el sector públic (departament de serveis socials, medi ambient, comerç i brigada municipal). A l'hora de planificar i implantar un sistema de gestió per tal de recuperar l'excedent alimentari, s'ha analitzat i valorat el camí que hi realitza, des d'on es genera fins al beneficiari final. Aquest s'ha gestionat per etapes, en les que s'han identificat els generadors, el tipus i quantitat d'aliment que malbaraten. S'ha proposat un nou sistema de recollida d'informació i les pautes que han de seguir per garantir el bon estat de l'aliment com: una taula de conservació, un protocol de funcionament, un document d'entrega i una fitxa de control de les condicions d'higiene. Per tal d'assolir una bona coordinació entre totes les parts, s'han realitzat reunions conjuntes entre els generadors, serveis socials i Càritas on s'ha acabat signant un acord de col·laboració. Entre les conclusions més rellevants cal destacar que ha servit per establir un precedent d'aprofitament alimentari al municipi de Montmeló, aconseguint alimentar a un gran nombre de famílies amb greus problemes econòmics. A més s'ha arribat a disminuir la quantitat de residus generats, amb el conseqüent estalvi de recursos econòmics i materials on s'ha recuperat un total de 5.760 Kg d'aliments aptes pel consum.

Barrier-protective effects of activated protein C in human alveolar epithelial cells

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a clinical manifestation of respiratory failure, caused by lung inflammation and the disruption of the alveolar-capillary barrier. Preservation of the physical integrity of the alveolar epithelial monolayer is of critical importance to prevent alveolar edema. Barrier integrity depends largely on the balance between physical forces on cell-cell and cell-matrix contacts, and this balance might be affected by alterations in the coagulation cascade in patients with ALI. We aimed to study the effects of activated protein C (APC) on mechanical tension and barrier integrity in human alveolar epithelial cells (A549) exposed to thrombin. Cells were pretreated for 3 h with APC (50 mg/ml) or vehicle (control). Subsequently, thrombin (50 nM) or medium was added to the cell culture. APC significantly reduced thrombin-induced cell monolayer permeability, cell stiffening, and cell contraction, measured by electrical impedance, optical magnetic twisting cytometry, and traction microscopy, respectively, suggesting a barrier-protective response. The dynamics of the barrier integrity was also assessed by western blotting and immunofluorescence analysis of the tight junction ZO-1. Thrombin resulted in more elongated ZO-1 aggregates at cell-cell interface areas and induced an increase in ZO-1 membrane protein content. APC attenuated the length of these ZO-1 aggregates and reduced the ZO-1 membrane protein levels induced by thrombin. In conclusion, pretreatment with APC reduced the disruption of barrier integrity induced by thrombin, thus contributing to alveolar epithelial barrier protection.

Circulating progenitor cells during exercise, muscle electro-stimulation and intermittent hypobaric hypoxia in patients with traumatic brain injury. A pilot study

BACKGROUND: Circulating progenitor cells (CPC) treatments may have great potential for the recovery of neurons and brain function. OBJECTIVE: To increase and maintain CPC with a program of exercise, muscle electro-stimulation (ME) and/or intermittent-hypobaric-hypoxia (IHH), and also to study the possible improvement in physical or psychological functioning of participants with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). METHODS: Twenty-one participants. Four groups: exercise and ME group (EEG), cycling group (CyG), IHH and ME group (HEG) and control group (CG). Psychological and physical stress tests were carried out. CPC were measured in blood several times during the protocol. RESULTS: Psychological tests did not change. In the physical stress tests the VO2 uptake increased in the EEG and the CyG, and the maximal tolerated workload increased in the HEG. CPC levels increased in the last three weeks in EEG, but not in CyG, CG and HEG. CONCLUSIONS: CPC levels increased in the last three weeks of the EEG program, but not in the other groups and we did not detect performed psychological test changes in any group. The detected aerobic capacity or workload improvement must be beneficial for the patients who have suffered TBI, but exercise type and the mechanisms involved are not clear.