Clinical and Molecular Characterization of Diastrophic Dysplasia in the Portuguese Population

SLC26A2-related dysplasias encompass a spectrum of diseases: from lethal achondrogenesis type 1B (ACG1B; MIM #600972) and atelosteogenesis type 2 (AO2; MIM #256050) to classical diastrophic dysplasia (cDTD; MIM #222600) and recessive multiple epiphyseal dysplasia (rMED; MIM #226900). This study aimed at characterizing clinically, radiologically and molecularly 14 patients affected by non-lethal SLC26A2-related dysplasias and at evaluating genotype-phenotype correlation. Phenotypically, eight patients were classified as cDTD, four patients as rMED and two patients had an intermediate phenotype (mild DTD - mDTD, previously 'DTD variant'). The Arg279Trp mutation was present in all patients, either in homozygosity (resulting in rMED) or in compound heterozygosity with the known severe alleles Arg178Ter or Asn425Asp (resulting in DTD) or with the mutation c.727-1G>C (causing mDTD). The 'Finnish mutation', c.-26+2T>C, and the p.Cys653Ser, both frequent mutations in non-Portuguese populations, were not identified in any of the patients of our cohort and are probably very rare in the Portuguese population. A targeted mutation analysis for p.Arg279Trp and p.Arg178Ter in the Portuguese population allows the identification of approximately 90% of the pathogenic alleles.

Internamento em Endocrinologia. Casu��stica (1983-1987)

Os autores procederam �� an��lise retrospectiva dos internamentos em Endocrinologia no per��odo de 1983-1987. Dos 877 internamentos, 64% eram do sexo feminino. Sessenta e dois por cento dos homens e vinte e oito por cento das mulheres foram admitidos pelo servi��o de urg��ncia. Verificou-se redu����o da demora m��dia de 1983 para 1984. A Diabetes Mellitus, pelas suas complica����es ou como patologia associada, representou o maior n��mero de diagn��sticos ��� 70% no sexo masculino e 39% no sexo feminino. Das restantes patologias sobressaem as doen��as da tiroideia (21%), com predom��nio das formas graves da Doen��a de Graves. �� feita uma an��lise cr��tica dos resultados.

The association of Schistosoma mansoni infection with hepatocellular carcinoma

The association of Schistosoma mansoni infection with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was studied in Espirito Santo State, Brazil. Schistosoma infection was diagnosed by stool examinations or by histological finding at autopsy. HCC was diagnosed by biopsy, laparoscopy and biopsy or at autopsy. Among 45 cases of HCC six had Schistosoma mansoni infection (13.04%). The occurrence of Schistosoma infection among HCC HBs Ag positive or negative was similar (13.3 3% and 13.63% respectively). The chi squared comparison showed no significant differences between the frequency of schistosomiasis in patients with HCC and the frequency of Schistosoma infection among people living in the Espirito Santo State (5.9% among children of elementary school from all the counties of the State and 6.7% in people that attended medical care in Vitoria, the capital of the State). Therefore, the authors believe that the association of schistosomiasis mansoni with HCC may be casual, specially in areas where the Schistosoma mansoni infection is frequent.

Automatic delimitation of the clinical region of interest in ultra-wide field of view images of the retina

Retinal ultra-wide field of view images (fundus images) provides the visu-alization of a large part of the retina though, artifacts may appear in those images. Eyelashes and eyelids often cover the clinical region of interest and worse, eye-lashes can be mistaken with arteries and/or veins when those images are put through automatic diagnosis or segmentation software creating, in those cases, the appearance of false positives results. Correcting this problem, the first step in the development of qualified auto-matic diseases diagnosis programs can be done and in that way the development of an objective tool to assess diseases eradicating the human error from those processes can also be achieved. In this work the development of a tool that automatically delimitates the clinical region of interest is proposed by retrieving features from the images that will be analyzed by an automatic classifier. This automatic classifier will evaluate the information and will decide which part of the image is of interest and which part contains artifacts. The results were validated by implementing a software in C# language and validated through a statistical analysis. From those results it was confirmed that the methodology presented is capable of detecting artifacts and selecting the clin-ical region of interest in fundus images of the retina.

A les��o de isqu��mia/reperfus��o em transplante hep��tico: an��lise gen��tica, morfol��gica e correla����o cl��nica

RESUMO: O transplante hep��tico ortot��pico �� uma terap��utica aceite para casos selecionados de fal��ncia hep��tica terminal. O procedimento tem-�����se aperfei��oado, evidenciado pelo aumento da taxa de sobrevida de 30 para 75% aos 5 anos, mas cerca de 13 a 27% dos enxertos desenvolve fal��ncia prim��ria (PNF) ou disfun����o prim��ria (DF) ap��s o transplante. As consequ��ncias s��o devastadoras para a sobrevida do doente e do enxerto. A sua etiologia �� multifactorial, incluindo factores relacionados com o dador e o receptor, tempos de isqu��mia, agress��es cir��rgicas, bem como caracter��sticas anatomopatol��gicas do enxerto. A les��o de isqu��mia/reperfus��o mantem-�����se como um factor de risco intra operat��rio, com implica����es directas sobre toda a evolu����o do transplante : existe uma rela����o ��ntima entre a PNF e a DF, a preserva����o do enxerto, a les��o de isqu��mia/reperfus��o, e a fal��ncia do transplante. Al��m disso, est�� comprovada evid��ncia que sugere que a les��o de I/R torna um aloenxerto mais vulner��vel por aumento da imunogenicidade, aumentando a probabilidade de epis��dios de rejei����o precoce e tardia. Com base na pr��tica cl��nica quotidiana do CHBPT HCC, estudaram-�����se 54 casos de transplante hep��tico, agrupados segundo grupos por aloca����o do enxerto respectivo: Grupo 1(n=27): dador cad��ver para receptor cirr��tico, Grupo 2 (n=15): dador cad��ver para receptor PAF, Grupo 3 (n=12): dador PAF para receptor cirr��tico. Observaram-�����se as altera����es histol��gicas e moleculares sobre o enxerto at�� ao final da opera����o do receptor, e as suas consequ��ncias cl��nicas,avaliando: -����� As diferentes capacidades de resist��ncia e cada enxerto �� les��o de isqu��mia/reperfus��o. -����� As situa����es em que os factores do receptor se sobrep��em ��s do enxerto na defini����o do progn��stico, e vice versa. -����� A relev��ncia das les��es histol��gicas e moleculares precoces no tecido hep��tico na evolu����o do enxerto e do receptor. Foram colhidas bi��psias por agulha dos 54 enxertos hep��ticos,42 provenientes de cad��ver com cora����o batente(morte cerebral) e 12 provenientes de dador vivo com PAF, em tr��s tempos diferentes do processo de colheita e transplante hep��tico: ����� A primeira(T0)antes da clampagem da aorta do dador -����� A segunda (T1) no final da isqu��mia fria -����� A terceira (T2) ap��s a reperfus��o do enxerto, durante o encerramento da parede abdominal. A estas amostras foi extra��do RNA total, convertido em cDNA por transcri����o reversa e feita a an��lise da express��o dos genes da CTLA4, IL-�����1��, IL-�����4, IL-�����6, IL-�����13, TNF-�������, Perforina, Selectina, (SELE), Fas-�����ligando, Granzima-�����B, Heme-�����Oxigenase 1(HO1)e ��xido N��trico Sintetase(iNOS2A)por PCR quantitativo segundo o m��todo do Ct comparativo, utilizando como refer��ncia a express��o dos genes da amostra n��o-�����isqu��mica ���T0. Os fragmentos de todas as bi��psias foram seccionados, para envio de amostra comparativa para processamento histol��gico habitual, sem qualquer altera����o ao protocolo seguido habitualmente na Unidade de Transplanta����o do Hospital Curry Cabral. A presen��a de alguns par��metros histol��gicos definidos, como esteatose, necrose, vacuoliza����o, congest��o sinusoidal e infiltra����o neutrof��lica, foi registada e contabilizada numa classifica����o num��rica. O seguimento cl��nico e laboratorial, bem como o acompanhamento de eventuais complica����es, foi registado e correlacionado com os dados das colheitas de ��rg��os e com os dados das bi��psias. Foram consideradas as seguintes vari��veis, como as mais relevantes e objectivas para a interpreta����o da evolu����o cl��nica, tendo sido comparadas estatisticamente com os dados recolhidos, laboratoriais e cl��nicos: disfun����o do enxerto, 207 p��s operat��rias, n��mero de internamentos igual ou superior a 2 e rejei����o cr��nica e/ou morte do receptor. Foram identificadas caracter��sticas cl��nicas menos favor��veis, a considerar, nalgumas circunst��ncias: g��nero feminino do receptor (sobretudo associado a enxerto masculino, p=0,077), isqu��mia fria superior a 500 minutos (p=0,074), isqu��mia quente superior a 90 minutos (p=0,099). Na an��lise laboratorial, distinguiram-�����se duas caracter��sticas histol��gicas desfavor��veis e irrevers��veis, como ��ndice de mau progn��stico: a necrose e a baloniza����o (p=0,029); no painel gen��tico escolhido neste estudo,a express��o basal de IL-�����1��(p=0,028), de SELE p=0,013)e de FAS-�����L (p=0,079)relacionaram-�����se com pior progn��stico. Algumas caracter��sticas protectoras intr��nsecas dos enxertos s�� se revelaram indirectamente, como menor infiltra����o neutrof��lica e maior express��o de HO1 e de iNOS nos enxertos PAF, n��o tendo sido poss��vel provar uma interfer��ncia directa nos resultados cl��nicos. N��o se obteve express��o mensur��vel de genes anti-����� inflamat��rios nas biopsias hep��ticas processadas neste estudo, como a IL13 e a I 4: assim, com a metodologia utilizada, n��o foi poss��vel obter um perfil de express��o gen��tica associado a boa evolu����o cl��nica. O perfil inverso foi sugerido apenas pela express��o basal dos 3 genes mencionados (FAS-�����L,IL-�����1�� e SELE)no mesmo painel, com o protocolo seguido neste conjunto de 54 doentes. As caracter��sticas do receptor sobrepuseram-�����se ��s do enxerto no caso de: -����� diagn��stico de PAF no receptor, que determinou uma maior predisposi����o para a disfun����o do enxerto, o que, por sua vez, determina uma menor sobrevida. No entanto, o diagn��stico de PAF no receptor exibe uma curva de sobrevida mais favor��vel. -����� receptores com um baixo balan��o de risco (BAR)definiram caracter��sticas favor��veis para enxertos com n��veis baixos e moderados de esteatose, fazendo que esta caracter��stica, definida como um risco acrescido, n��o s�� n��o se manifestasse clinicamente,como parecesse um factor favor��vel. As caracter��sticas do enxerto sobrepuseram-�����se ��s do receptor no caso de: -����� tempo de isqu��mia fria superior a 500 minutos -����� baloniza����o, necrose, FAS-�����L,IL-�����1�� e SELE em T0 A integra����o dos resultados moleculares e morfol��gicos com a evolu����o cl��nica, real��a o papel da mobiliza����o precoce de neutr��filos nos desempenhos menos favor��veis do enxerto hep��tico. -------------ABSTRACT: Orthotopic liver transplantation is na accepted therapeutic procedure for selected cases of terminal liver failure. The procedure has been improved, evidenced by the rise of survival rates from 30 to 70% at 5 years, but 13 to 27% of the liver grafts develops primary non function (PNF) or primary dysfunction (PDF) after transplantation. The consequences are devastating for the survival of the patient and of the graft. Its etiology is multifactorial, including factos related with the donor and with the recipient, ischemic times, surgical aggressions, as well as the histological characteristics of the graft. The ischemia/reperfusion lesion is still an intraoperative risk factor, with direct implications in the whole transplant outcome: there is a close interrelation between PNF and DF, graft preservation, ischemia / reperfusion lesion and graft failure. Beyond his, there is proved evidence that suggests that I/R lesion turns the allograft more vulnerable by increasing its immunogenity, increasing the probability of precocious and late rejection episodes. Based on the daily clinical practice at CHBPT /HCC, 54 cases of hepatic transplantation have been studied, grouped by allocation of each graft: Group (n=27):deceased do nortocirrhotic recipient, Group 2 (n=15): deceased donor to FAP recipient, Group 3 (n=12): FAP living donor to cirrhotic recipient. The histologic and molecular changes in the liver graft were observed until the end of the recipiente operation,together with its clinical consequences, evaluating:-�����The different capacity of resistance of each graft to the ischemia / reperfusion lesion -����� The situations where the recipiente factos overlap the ones of the graft, in the definition of prognosis, and vice versa.-����� The relevance of the precocious histologic and molecular lesions of the hepatic tissue in the clinical outcome of the graft and the recipient. Needle biopsies were obtained from 54 liver grafts, 42 deceased brain dead donors and 12 from FAP living donors, at three diferente times of the harvesting and the hepatic transplantation: The first one (T0) before clamping the donor aorta -����� The second one (T2) in the end of cold ischemia time -����� The third one (T) after the reperfusion of the graft, during the closure of the abdominal wall. Total RNAwas extracted to these samples, converted to cDNA by reverse transcription and the analysis of gene expression was made for CTLA4,IL-�����1��,IL-�����4,IL-�����6,IL-�����13,TNF-�������,Perforin,E Selectin (SELE),Fas-�����ligand,Granzyme-�����B,Heme-�����oxigenase 1 (HO1) and Nitric Oxide Sintetase (iNOS2A) by quantitative PCR, according with the Ct comparative method, using the expression of the non ischemic sample ��� T0. The fragments of all the biopsies were divided, to send a comparative sample to the usual histologic processement, keeping the same usual protocol at the Transplantation Unit of Curry Cabral Hospital. The presence of some defined histologic parameters, such as steatosis, necrosis, vacuolization, sinusoidal congestion and neutrophilic infiltration, was registered and catalogued in a numeric classification. The clinical and laboratory follow-�����up, as well as the following of eventual complications, was registered and correlated with the data from organ procurement operations and with the data from the biopsies. The following variables were considered as the most relevant and objective ones, to the interpretation of the clinical evolution, being statistically compared with the clinical and laboratorial collected data: graft dysfunction, post-�����operative complications, number of readmissions of 2 or more and chronic rejection and /or recipiente death. There were identified some unfavorable clinical characteristics, to be considered under certain circumstances: recipiente female gender (specially associated with malegraft, p=0,077), cold ischemia time of more than 500 minutes (p=0,074), warm ischemia time of more than 90 minutes (p=0,099). In the laboratory analysis, two histologic characteristics were identified as unfavorable and irreversible, associated with bad prognosis: necrosis and balonization (p=0,029); in the gene panel selected in this study, the basal expression of IL-�����1�� (p=0,028), SELE (p=0,013) and FAS-�����L (p=0,079)were related with worse prognosis.Some intrinsic protective characteristics of the grafts were only indirectly revealed, such as less neutrophilic infiltration and bigger expression of HO1 and iNOS in FAP grafts, being impossible to prove any direct inte ference in the clinical results. A relevant and measurable expression of the anti inflammatory genes IL13 and IL4 was not obtained: with the used methodology, it was impossible to obtain a gene expression profile associated with a favorable clinical outcome.The inverse profile was suggested only by the basal expression of the three mentioned genes (FAS-�����L, IL-����� 1�� e SELE) in the same gene panel, according with the followed protocol in this group of 54 patients. The characteristics of the recipient overlapped those from the graft, in the case of :-����� FAP diagnosis in the recipient, which determined a bigger predisposition to graft dysfunction, which by itself determines a shorter survival. However, FAP diagnosis in the recipiente depicts a more favorable survival curve. -����� Recipients with a low balance risk ��ndex (BAR) defined favorable characteristics to grafts with low and moderate grades of steatosis, making that this characteristic, associated with bad prognosis, looked like a favorable factor, and with no clinical interference. The graft characteristics overlapped those from the receptor in the case of: -����� Cold ischemic time more than 500 minutes -����� Balonization, necrosis, FAS-�����L, IL-�����1�� and SELE at T0. The integration of molecular and morphologic results with the clinical evolution, stresses the role of a precocious neutrophils mobilization in the worse outcomes of liver grafts.

Hepatitis virus and hepatocellular carcinoma in Brazil: a report from the State of Esp��rito Santo

IntroductionFew studies have examined hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Brazil, and the incidence and risk factors for this type of malignancy vary greatly geographically. In this paper, we report several risk factors associated with HCC diagnosed at the University Hospital in Vit��ria, ES, Brazil.MethodsWe reviewed 274 cases of HCC (January 1993 to December 2011) in which hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) virus infection and chronic alcoholism were investigated. A diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma was confirmed by histology or by the presence of a characteristic pattern on imaging.ResultsHCC with associated liver cirrhosis was noted in 85.4% of cases. The mean ages of men and women were 56.6 years and 57.5 years, respectively. The male-to-female ratio was 5.8:1. Associated risk factors included the following: HBV, 37.6% (alone, 23.4%; associated with chronic alcoholism, 14.2%); HCV, 22.6% (alone, 13.5%; associated with chronic alcoholism, 9.1%), chronic alcoholism, 17.1%, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, 2.6% and cryptogenic, 19.3%. The male-to-female ratio was higher in cases associated with HBV or chronic alcoholism compared with HCV-associated or cryptogenic cases. In 40 cases without associated cirrhosis, the male-to-female ratio and mean age were lower than those in cirrhosis-associated cases.ConclusionsThese results demonstrate that the main risk factor associated with HCC in the State of Esp��rito Santo is HBV. Chronic alcoholism is an important etiological factor, alone or in association with HBV or HCV infection.

AVALIAÇÃO DE GENÓTIPOS DE SERINGUEIRA (Hevea spp.) AO Microcyclus ulei VISANDO À IDENTIFICAÇÃO DE FONTES DE RESISTÊNCIA HORIZONTAL

Avaliou-se, sob condições controladas, a resistência de genótipos de seringueira ao mal-das-folhas. Empregaram-se dois isolados de Microcyclus ulei, pertencentes aos grupos I e II. Utilizaram-se mudas em sacos plásticos e inocularam-se folíolos nos estádios B1/B2 com uma suspensão de 2 χ 105conídios/ml. Incubaram-se as mudas em câmara úmida a 24° C por 24 horas. Determinaram-se o período latente (PL), diâmetro das lesões (DL), tipo de lesão (TL) e tipo de reação (TR). A maioria dos genótipos testados foi suscetível a pelo menos um isolado do patógeno. Os genótipos que apresentaram resistência moderada, com maior período latente e menor esporulação a um isolado, em geral, foram suscetíveis ao outro. Apenas o genotipo AM/86/271 exibiu resistência incompleta, caracterizada por maior PL, menor DL e baixa esporulação. Entretanto, o número de isolados testados não assegurou o caráter da resistência. Com base nos resultados obtidos concluiu-se que os genótipos avaliados não apresentaram perspectivas para utilização em programas de melhoramento visando resistência ao M.ulei.

Resistência de piperáceas nativas da Amazônia á infecção causada por Nectria haematococca f. sp. piperis

A rea&#231;&#227;o de resist&#234;ncia das esp&#233;cies Piper aduncum, P. arboreum, P. carniconnectivum, P. colubrinum, P. hispidinervium, P. hispidum, P. hostmannianum, P. tuberculatum, P. nigrum e Piper sp. &#224; infec&#231;&#227;o causada por dois isolados de Nectria haematococca f. sp. piperis foi determinada em condi&#231;&#245;es de telado, atrav&#233;s do cultivo em solo infestado e de inocula&#231;&#245;es no intern&#243;dio de mudas com tr&#234;s meses de desenvolvimento. Mudas de P. nigrum (pimenta-do-reino) foram usadas como controle, devido a alta suscetibilidade ao pat&#243;geno. Aos 110 dias observou-se que o isolado Adu obtido de &#929;. aduncum n&#227;o causou podrid&#227;o das ra&#237;zes em todas as esp&#233;cies, com exce&#231;&#227;o de Piper sp. e de P. nigrum, enquanto que o isolado Nig obtido de P. nigrum causou infec&#231;&#227;o apenas nas ra&#237;zes desse hospedeiro. Diferen&#231;as significativas (p<0,01) foram observadas no n&#237;vel de resist&#234;ncia entre as esp&#233;cies, sendo as esp&#233;cies nativas mais resistentes &#224; infec&#231;&#227;o causada pelo fungo. Os isolados apresentaram varia&#231;&#227;o para virul&#234;ncia (p<0,01), sendo o isolado Nig mais virulento do que o Adu. N&#227;o ocorreu, por&#233;m, intera&#231;&#227;o entre Piper spp. e os dois isolados de N. haematococca f. sp. piperis. Concluiu-se, portanto, que o isolado Adu n&#227;o tem habilidade de infectar os tecidos radiculares das esp&#233;cies estudadas e que pelo menos sete esp&#233;cies nativas apresentam uma alta resist&#234;ncia ao pat&#243;geno, podendo ser utilizadas como porta-enxertos resistentes para controlar doen&#231;as radiculares da pimenta-do-reino.

Biologia e controle microbiano de Urbanus acawoios (Williams, 1926) (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae): II. patologia e susceptibilidade em larvas infectadas por Bacillus thuringiensis Var. kurstaki (H-3a:3b)

Devido &#224; falta de informa&#231;&#245;es sobre Urbanus acawoios (Williams, 1926) (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae), e pelos danos severos por ele causados em &#225;rvores de Clitoria racemosa, o presente trabalho foi desenvolvido sob condi&#231;&#245;es de laborat&#243;rio para verificar a possibilidade de utilizar Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki (H-3a:3b) como agente microbiano para o seu controle. O pH do intestino m&#233;dio do hesper&#237;deo mostrou ser bastante alcalino, variando de 8,4 a 9,2 (m&#233;dia de 8,7), indicando a possibilidade das larvas serem suscept&#237;veis ao pat&#243;geno. Os ensaios confirmaram a alta susceptibilidade a dosagens equivalentes a 110 g / ha, resultando em tempos letais medianos (TL50) de 42,28, 37,18, 28,00 e 51,87 horas para larvas de 3o, 4&#176;, in&#237;cio e final do 5&#186; &#237;nstares, respectivamente. Tr&#234;s outras dosagens (80, 150 e 280 g/h) foram aplicadas para larvas do 3&#186; &#237;nstar, resultando em TLs50 de 42,62, 30,77 e 30,06 horas, respectivamente. Descri&#231;&#245;es detalhadas sobre os sintomas externos nas larvas infectadas foram dadas. As altera&#231;&#245;es histol&#243;gicas do intestino m&#233;dio afetado pela d-endotoxina de B. thuringiensis foram descritas. Os resultados obtidos no presente trabalho revelam a grande possibilidade de controlar esta praga utilizando-se produtos e formulados &#224; base desta bact&#233;ria.

Nutritional status and food intake at workplace as health indicators for industrial workers

This study aimed to verify the correlation among the nutritional composition of the food consumed in the work environment, the energy expenditure and the nutritional status of workers from different sectors (administration and production) in different industries. The anthropometric data, in addition to the energy expenditure and food intake at lunch were evaluated for 292 workers, all of them included in the Brazilian Worker Food Program (also called PAT). The food consumption was assessed from the direct observation of the meal, for five consecutive days. The obtained data were analyzed by Pearson correlation test and by a Principal Components Analysis. Prevalence of overweight was detected in the studied population, according to the Body Mass Index (BMI). A statistically significant difference was found in terms of the energy expenditure of physical activity and daily energy expenditure in relation to gender and the working sector. The obtained results indicate that there is significant positive correlation (p < 0.01) between the following variables: body weight and BMI (r = 0.84), weight and daily energy expenditure (DEE) (r = 0.52), BMI and DEE (r = 0.27), DEE and energy (r = 0.38), and energy and lipid intake (r = 0.50). These findings seems to indicate the importance of ensuring an adequate balance of nutrients at meals, due to the heterogeneity of workers, in particular in the case of those workers who perform tasks or functions requiring less energy expenditure.

Perce����o e produ����o de sons conson��nticos do portugu��s europeu por aprendentes chineses

Disserta����o de mestrado em Portugu��s L��ngua N��o Materna (PLNM): Portugu��s L��ngua Estrangeira (PLE) Portugu��s L��ngua Segunda (PL2)

Electroqu��mica de sustancias de inter��s en los sistemas agroalimentario y de sanidad animal. Desarrollo de biosensores electroqu��micos. Aplicaciones anal��ticas.Electrochemistry of substances of interest in agroalimentary and animal health systems. Development of electrochemical biosensors. Analytical applications.

Se estudiar��n los mecanismos de reacci��n electroqu��mica de las micotoxinas (metabolitos t��xicos generados por hongos) citrinina (CIT), patulina (PAT) y moniliformina (MON), de los antioxidantes naturales alfa, beta, gama y delta tocoferoles, de los flavonoides fisetina (FIS), morina (MOR), luteolina (LUT), rutina (RUT), buteina (BUT), naringenina (NAR) y miricetina (MIR) y de las hormonas esteroides estradiol (EDIOL), estrona (EONA) y estriol (ETRIOL). Por otra parte, se implementar��n t��cnicas electroanal��ticas para la detecci��n y cuantificaci��n de estos sustratos en muestras de matrices naturales que los contengan. Se realizar�� el dise��o y caracterizaci��n de biosensores enzim��ticos a partir de peroxidasas y/o fosfatasa alcalina para la determinaci��n de la micotoxina CIT y de los flavonoides y, por otro, de inmunosensores para las micotoxinas ocratoxina A (OTA) y PAT y hormonas. Para el anclaje de enzimas y/o anticuerpos, se estudiar��n las propiedades de electrodos modificados por monocapas autoensambladas, nanotubos de carbono y part��culas magn��ticas. Se usar��n las t��cnicas de voltamperometr��a c��clica, de onda cuadrada y de redisoluci��n con acumulaci��n adsortiva, espectroscop��as de impedancia electroqu��mica, electr��lisis a potencial controlado, uv-vis e IR, microbalanza de cristal de cuarzo y microscop��as de alta resoluci��n (SEM, TEM, AFM). La importancia de este proyecto apunta a la obtenci��n de nuevos datos electroqu��micos de los sustratos indicados y conocimientos relacionados con la aplicaci��n de electrodos modificados en la preparaci��n de biosensores y en el desarrollo de t��cnicas alternativas para la determinaci��n de los analitos mencionados precedentemente. Electrochemical reaction mechanisms of mycotoxins (toxic metabolites generated by fungi) citrinin (CIT), Patulin (PAT) and moniliformin (MON), natural antioxidants alpha, beta, gamma and delta tocopherols, flavonoids fisetin (FIS), morin (MOR), luteolin (LUT), rutin (RUT), butein (BUT), naringenin (NAR), miricetin (MIR) and steroid hormones estradiol (EDIOL), estrone (EONA) and estriole (ETRIOL) will be explored. On the other hand, electroanalytical techniques for the detection and quantification of these substrates in samples of natural matrices will be implemented. The design and characterization of enzymatic biosensors from peroxidases and/or from alkaline phosphatase for the determination of CIT and flavonoids, and also of inmunosensors for ochratoxin A (OTA) and PAT and hormones will be performed. For the anchor of enzymes and/or antibody, properties of electrodes modified by self assembled monolayers, carbon nanotubes and magnetic particles will be explored. Cyclic, square wave and adsorptive stripping voltammetries, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, controlled potential electrolysis, uv-vis and IR, quartz crystal microbalance and high-resolution microcopies (SEM, TEM, AFM) will be used. The importance of this project is aimed at obtaining new electrochemical data for the indicated substrates and knowledge on the application of modified electrodes in preparation of biosensors and in the development of alternative techniques for the determination of the above-mentioned analytes.

search for a novel diagnostic marker or therapeutic target for gastrointestinal cancer

Gastrointestinal cancers, HCC, ectopeptidases, differential display, gasdermin-like

Co-administration of Apelin and T4 Protects Inotropic and Chronotropic Changes Occurring in Hypothyroid Rats

AbstractBackground:One of the most important thyroid hormone targets is the cardiovascular system. Hemodynamic changes, such as decreased resting heart rate (HR), myocardial contractility, and cardiac output, and increased diastolic pressure and systemic vascular resistance, have been observed in hypothyroid patients. Moreover, in these patients, ECG changes include sinus bradycardia and low voltage complexes (P waves or QRS complexes).Objective:This study aimed at evaluating the prophylactic effect of apelin on HR changes and QRS voltage that occur in propylthiouracil (PTU)-induced hypothyroid rats.Method:In this study, 48 adult male Wistar rats weighing 170-235g were randomly divided into 6 groups: Control group (normal saline ip injection + tap water gavage); P group (PTU 0.05%, in drinking water); A group (apelin 200 ��g.kg-1.day-1, ip); PA group [co-administration of PTU and apelin]; PT group [co-administration of PTU + T4 (0.2 mg/g per day, gavage)]; and PAT group (co-administration of PTU, apelin and T4). All experiments were performed for 28 consecutive days, and then the animals were anesthetized with an ip injection of ketamine (80 mg/kg) and xylazine (12 mg/kg). Lead II electrocardiogram was recorded to calculate HR and QRS voltage.Results:Heart rate and QRS voltage increased more significantly in the hypothyroid group that consumed both apelin and T4 (201 �� 4 beat/min, 0.71 �� 0.02 mv vs. hypothyroid 145 �� 9 beat/min, 0.563 �� 0.015 mv; respectively).Conclusion:The co-administration of apelin and T4 showed a protective effect on QRS voltage and HR in PTU&#8209;induced hypothyroid rats.

Acute Eosinophilic and Neutrophilic Pneumonia following Transarterial Chemoembolization with Drug-Eluting Beads Loaded with Doxorubicin for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Case Report.

At an intermediate or advanced stage, i.e. stage B or C, based on the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer classification of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) may be offered as a treatment of palliative intent. We report the case of a patient suffering from acute respiratory distress syndrome after TACE with drug-eluting beads loaded with doxorubicin for HCC. To our knowledge, this is the first case described where a bronchoalveolar lavage was performed, and where significant levels of alveolar eosinophilia and neutrophilia were evident, attributed to a pulmonary toxicity of doxorubicin following liver chemoembolization. �� 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel.