Distribution of NADPH-diaphorase-positive neurons in the prefrontal cortex of the Cebus monkey

We studied the distribution of NADPH-diaphorase (NADPH-d) activity in the prefrontal cortex of normal adult Cebus apella monkeys using NADPH-d histochemical protocols. The following regions were studied: granular areas 46 and 12, dysgranular areas 9 and 13, and agranular areas 32 and Oap. NADPH-d-positive neurons were divided into two distinct types, both non-pyramidal. Type I neurons had a large soma diameter (17.24 +/- 1.73 pm) and were densely stained. More than 90% of these neurons were located in the subcortical white matter and infragranular layers. The remaining type I neurons were distributed in the supragranular layers. Type II neurons had a small, round or oval soma (9.83 +/- 1.03 mu m), and their staining pattern varied markedly. Type II neurons were distributed throughout the cortex, with their greatest numerical density being observed in layers II and III. In granular areas, the number of type II neurons was up to 20 times that of type I neurons, but this proportion was smaller in agranular areas. Areal density of type II neurons was maximum in the supragranular layers of granular areas and minimum in agranular areas. Statistical analysis revealed that these areal differences were significant when comparing some specific areas. In conclusion, our results indicate a predominance of NADPH-d-positive cells in supragranular layers of granular areas in the Cebus prefrontal cortex. These findings support previous observations on the role of type II neurons as a new cortical nitric oxide source in supragranular cortical layers in primates, and their potential contribution to cortical neuronal activation in advanced mammals. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Occurrence of yeasts, enterococci and other enteric bacteria in subgingival biofilm of HIV-positive patients with chronic gingivitis and necrotizing periodontitis

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

Fluctuation of annexin-A1 positive mast cells in chronic granulomatous inflammation

Objective: We have applied here a model of chronic granulomatous inflammation to study the profile of mast cell activation and their expression of annexin-A1 in the nodular lesion.Materials: Granulomatous inflammation was induced by injection of croton oil and Freund's complete adjuvant (CO/FCA) into the dorsal air-pouches of mice. Skin tissue samples were collected from control group (24 h time-point; i.e. before disease development) and 7, 14, 21, 28 and 42 days post-CO/FCA treatment.Results: Histopathological analyses revealed an on-going inflammation characterized by an increased number of activated mast cells at sites of the chronic inflammatory reaction in all experimental groups. Immunohistochemical analysis showed skin mast cells highly immunoreactive for annexin-A1, both at an initial (day 7) and a delayed (day 28) phase of the inflammatory reaction.Conclusions: The observed time-dependent modulation of mast cell activation, during the granulomatous injury, indicates that multiple pathways centred on annexin-A1 might become activated at different stages of this chronic inflammatory response, including the delayed and pro-resolving phase.

Proliferation and apoptotic rates and increased frequency of p63-positive cells in the prostate acinar epithelium of alloxan-induced diabetic rats

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Oral colonization by yeasts in hiv-positive patients in Brazil

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

Frequency of Candida spp. in the Oral Cavity of Brazilian HIV-Positive Patients and Correlation with CD4 Cell Counts and Viral Load

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

Research on Candida dubliniensis in a Brazilian yeast collection obtained from cardiac transplant, tuberculosis, and HIV-positive patients, and evaluation of phenotypic tests using agar screening methods

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

In vitro antifungal susceptibility of Candida spp. oral isolates from HIV-positive patients and control individuals

Oropharyngeal candidiasis is the most common fungal infection among HIV-positive patients. This condition can be treated with either systemic or topical antifungal agents; treatments are usually indicated empirically on the basis of clinical data. The knowledge of in vitro antifungal susceptibility is important to determine correct therapeutic guides for the treatment of fungal infections. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the antifungal susceptibility profile of oral Candida isolates from HIV-positive patients and control individuals. Amphotericin B, fluconazole, flucytosine, nystatin and ketoconazole were tested according to the methodology of microdilution proposed by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI); results were recorded in values of minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC). A total of 71 Candida isolates from HIV-positive patients were examined with the following species represented: C. albicans (59), C. tropicalis (9), C. glabrata (1), C. guilliermondii (1) and C. krusei (1). A total of 15 Candida isolates were evaluated from control individuals comprised of 11 C. albicans and 4 C. tropicalis samples. Our results demonstrated that the tested antifungal agents showed good activity for most isolates from both groups; however, variability in MIC values among isolates was observed.

Oral Candida albicans isolates from HIV-positive individuals have similar in vitro biofilm-forming ability and pathogenicity as invasive Candida isolates

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

Staphylococcus spp., Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonadaceae oral isolates from Brazilian HIV-positive patients. Correlation with CD4 cell counts and viral load

The aim was to evaluate the presence of Staphylococcus spp., Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonadaceae in the oral cavities of HIV-positive patients. Forty-five individuals diagnosed as HIV-positive by ELISA and Western-blot, and under anti-retroviral therapy for at least 1 year, were included in the study. The control group constituted 45 systemically healthy individuals matched to the HIV patients to gender, age and oral conditions. Oral rinses were collected and isolates were identified by API system. Counts of microorganisms from HIV and control groups were compared statistically by a Mann-Whitney test (alpha = 5%). The percentages of individuals positive for staphylococci were similar between the groups (p = 0.764), whereas for Gram-negative rods, a higher percentage was observed amongst HIV-positive (p = 0.001).There was no difference in Staphylococcus counts between HIV and control groups (p = 0.1008). Counts were lower in the oral cavities of patients with low viral load (p = 0.021), and no difference was observed in relation to CD4 counts (p = 0.929). Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequently isolated species in HIV group, and Staphylococcus epidermidis was the prevalent species in the control group. Significantly higher numbers of enteric bacteria and pseudomonas were detected in the oral cavities of the HIV group than in the control (p = 0.0001). Enterobacter cloacae was the most frequently isolated species in both groups. Counts of enteric bacteria and pseudomonas were significantly lower in patients with low CD4 counts (p = 0.011); however, there was no difference relating to viral load. It may be concluded that HIV group showed greater species diversity and a higher prevalence of Enterobacteriaceae/Pseudomonadaceae. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Positive tension 3-branes in an AdS(5) bulk

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

Isolation of Mycobacterium spp. in milk from cows suspected or positive to tuberculosis

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

OUTPUT CONTROL WITH DYNAMIC COMPENSATORS AND STRICTLY POSITIVE REAL SYSTEMS

We present new results on the output control of uncertain dynamical systems. The design method uses dynamical compensators to turn the compensated plant into a strictly positive real system, and then chooses the control law-for example, a sliding mode control. This result is compared with another result from the literature which uses static compensators. An example is presented where the control with dynamic compensation works while a static compensation does not.