Velocardiofacial syndrome with a rare t(2;22)

Rearrangements involving chromosomes 2 and 22 were described not only as acquired abnormalities in a variety of human neoplasias but also in the constitutional karyotype suggesting the existence of a greater fragility in some specific regions in these chromosomes. Patients with DiGeorge and Velocardiofacial syndromes have a deletion on 22q11 leading to haploinsufficiency for one or more gene(s). We report a patient with velocardiofacial syndrome in which cytogenetic and fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis showed a rare t(2;22) and deletion in the 22q11 region. © 2007 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.

Germinação de sementes de pinho-cuiabano sob deficiência hídrica com diferentes agentes osmóticos

The species Schizolobium amazonicum (Huber ex Ducke) commonly known as pinho-cuiabano or paricá, is one of the trees in Amazonian area used for plantings in degraded areas, reforestations and agroforestry systems. The present work evaluated the germinative behaviour of seeds of Schizolobium amazonicum in relation to the hydric stress, defining their levels of tolerance to those limitations in the environment. The seeds were collected from 30 trees in Alta Floresta-MT and submitted the dormancy treatment by submersion into water at 100°C for 1 minute; followed by treatment with fungicide Ridomil and Cercobin 0,25% each, then being left to germinate in a BOD camera at 30°C under a photoperiod of 12 hours. For evaluating the effect of different water potentials in the germinative process, polyethylene glicol (PEG 6000) was used and the salts NaCI and CaCl 2 used to simulate saline stress. The seeds were put to soak in potentials of 0 (control); -0.1 ; -0.2; -0.3; -0.4 and -0.5MPa. For each treatment 5 repetitions of 20 seeds were used in gerbox, placed between filter paper moistened with 20 mL of PEG, NaCI and CaCl 2 solutions. The solutions were changed at intervals of 24 hours for maintenance of the potential. The evaluations of percentages and germination speed were carry out daily for 8 days, being considered germinated the seeds that presented a 2mm root extension or longer. The data were submitted to analysis of variance and averages compared by the Tukey test at 5% probability. It was concluded that osmotic potentials between -0.4 and -0.5MPa inhibited the germination of seeds of Schizolobium amazonicum completely. The osmotic stress caused by CaCl 2, and PEG injured the germination more than did the stress caused by NaCl.

Evaluation of creatine kinase (CK) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities after laparoscopic or conventional ovariectomy in queens

Creatine kinase (CK) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) are mainly muscle-specific enzymes, which can be associated with muscle tissue damage. The aim of this study was to assess the activities of CK and AST during the postoperative period, after conventional (G1) and videolaparoscopic ovariectomy (G2), in queens. A further group (G3) was subjected to anaesthesia only. Results demonstrate that there were significant differences between groups. The highest levels of CK were recorded in Gl, however at a confidence level of p < 0.05 there was no significant difference between groups during the first 6 hours after surgery. A significant (p < 0.05) increase of CK values was identified between 0h and 3h in both groups (Gl and G2). Regarding AST activity there was no significant variation between groups, but again there was a significant difference between values at 0h and 3h after surgery. In conclusion, ovariectomy performed by videolap-aroscopy seems to cause less muscle damage when compared to the conventional method. © 2009 by Verlag Hans Huber, Hogrefe AG, Bem.

Differences between ADEA annual session poster abstracts and their corresponding full published articles

The purpose of this study was to investigate differences between abstracts of posters presented at the 79th (2002) and 80th (2003) Annual Session & Exhibition of the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) and the published full-length articles resulting from the same studies. The abstracts for poster presentation sessions were downloaded, and basic characteristics of the abstracts and their authors were determined. A PubMed search was then performed to identify the publication of full-length articles based on those abstracts in a peer-reviewed journal. The differences between the abstract and the article were examined and categorized as major and minor differences. Differences identified included authorship, title, materials and methods, results, conclusions, and funding. Data were analyzed with both descriptive and analytic statistics. Overall, 89 percent of the abstracts had at least one variation from its corresponding article, and 65 percent and 76 percent of the abstracts had at least one major and minor variation, respectively, from its corresponding article. The most prevalent major variation was in study results, and the most prevalent minor variation was change in the number of authors. The discussion speculates on some possible reasons for these differences.

Acetilbergenina: obtenção e avaliação das atividades antinociceptiva e anti-inflamatória

Endopleura uchi (Huber) Cuatrec. (Humiriaceae), uma planta da Amazônia brasileira, comumente conhecida como “uxi” é utilizada na medicina popular para o tratamento de diversas patologias, como artrite. Bergenina, um dos constituintes químicos das cascas do caule de E. uchi, tem várias atividades biológicas, incluindo antiinflamatória e antinociceptiva. Visando a obtenção de um derivado mais potente que a bergenina decidiu-se acetilar esta substância. Acetilbergenina foi testada em modelos de nocicepção e de inflamação. Bergenina foi isolada a partir do fracionamento por cromatografia por via úmida do extrato aquoso das cascas do caule de E. uchi e acetilbergenina a partir da acetilação da bergenina. As substâncias foram identificadas com base na análise espectral de RMN ¹H, RMN ¹³C, DEPT e COSY, e comparação com dados da literatura. Nos modelos de nocicepção foram realizados os testes de contorção abdominal, placa quente e formalina. Enquanto que nos modelos de inflamação foram realizados os testesdermatite induzida pelo óleo de cróton, edema de pata induzido por carragenina e dextrana e peritonite induzida por carragenina. Além disso, para avaliar o potencialulcerogênico de acetilbergenina foi utilizado o modelo de úlcera gástrica induzida por estresse. No teste de contorção abdominal induzida por ácido acético 0,6%, acetilbergenina nas doses de 1, 5, 10, 15 e 25 mg/kg bloqueou o número de contorções abdominais em 28,2%, 52,7%, 61,1%, 68,3% e 95,0%, respectivamente, e de maneira dose-dependente quando comparada ao grupo controle. DE50 calculada foi de 6,8 mg/kg. No teste da placa quente (55 ºC), acetilbergenina (6,8 mg/kg) não induziu alterações no tempo de latência quando comparada ao grupo controle. No teste da formalina, acetilbergenina (6,8 mg/kg) inibiu em 88,3% o estímulo álgico na 2ª fase (inflamatória) quando comparada ao grupo controle. Além disso, a naloxona reverteu o efeito de acetilbergenina nessa 2ª fase do teste. Na dermatite induzida por óleo de cróton, acetilbergenina (6,8 mg/kg) provocou efeito inibitório de 75,60% em relação ao grupo controle. No edema de pata induzido por carragenina, acetilbergenina (6,8 mg/kg) foi capaz de reduzir o desenvolvimento do edema da 2ª à 5ª hora em comparação ao grupo controle. No edema de pata induzido por dextrana, acetilbergenina (6,8 mg/kg) reduziu o edema em todos os tempos. Na peritonite induzida por carragenina, acetilbergenina (6,8 mg/kg) bloqueou em 70% o número de neutrófilos quando comparada ao grupo controle. No ensaio de úlcera gástrica, acetilbergenina bloqueou em 78,55% a geração de lesões gástricas por estresse quando comparada ao grupo indometacina. Os resultados sugerem que acetilbergenina apresenta atividade antinociceptiva e atividade antiinflamatória, provavelmente, de origem periférica.

Atividade antiproliferativa e antineoplásica de flavonóides da espécie Brosimum acutifolium em modelo de glioblastoma in vitro

Dentre os tumores que acometem o sistema nervoso, o glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), destaca-se por seu alto grau de agressividade e baixo prognóstico, apresentando em média uma sobrevida de 15 meses a partir do diagnóstico. O presente estudo objetivou investigar a atividade antiproliferativa e antineoplásica de quatro flavonoides isolados da espécie Brosimum acutifolium (Huber), duas flavanas: 4’-hidroxi-7,8-(2”,2”-dimetilpirano) flavana (BAS-1) e 7,4’-dihidroxi-8,(3,3-dimetilalil)-flavana, (BAS-4); e duas chalconas: 4,2’-dihidroxi-3’,4’-(2”,2”-dimetilpirano)-chalcona (BAS-6) e 4,2’,4’-trihidroxi-3’-(3,3-dimetilalil)-chalcona (BAS-7), em glioblastoma C6 de rato in vitro. Nossos resultados mostraram boa atividade citotóxica para as flavanas (BAS-1, -4) e para a chalcona BAS-7, com IC50 menor que 100 μM em teste de viabilidade pelo MTT, já a chalcona BAS-6, não demonstrou atividade citotóxica nas concentrações testadas. Estes flavonoides mostram ser menos citotóxico para célula não neoplásica (glia), com grau de segurança maior para a BAS-4 e BAS-7, uma vez que apresentaram menor efeito citotóxico à célula não neoplásica e menores índices hemolíticos. A análise de migração celular mostrou que o tratamento com BAS-1, BAS-4 e BAS-7 em baixas concentrações foi efetivo em promover inibição da migração celular. Estes três flavonoides também foram muito promissores em inibir a formação e o crescimento de colônia, além de promover parada no ciclo celular, com substancial aumento na população SubG0 para o tratamento com BAS-1 e BAS-4 com 100 μM. As flavanas BAS-1 e BAS-4 também mostraram maior capacidade de promover a perda na integridade do potencial de membrana mitocondrial (ΔΨm) e aumento para marcação com anexina V, indicativo de que estas drogas promovem morte por apoptose. No entanto a análise por microscopia eletrônica demonstrou marcantemente no tratamento com a BAS-4 a presença de vacúolos autofágicos, sugestivo que o processo de morte neste tratamento ocorre tanto por apoptose quanto autofagia. Com base nestes resultados pode-se concluir que dos flavonoides testados a BAS-1, BAS-4 e BAS-7 possuem potencial como agente antineoplásico na terapia do GBM, sendo a BAS-4 a mais promissora de todas.

Orange Juice and Hesperidin Promote Differential Innate Immune Response in Macrophages ex vivo

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Avaliação da atividade antifúngica de extrato de Plinia cauliflora e Endopleura uchi

O uso indiscriminado dos medicamentos sintéticos e a própria evolução dos micro-organismos selecionou espécies extremamente resistentes aos agentes químicos utilizados. Para contornar tal situação e ampliar o arsenal de compostos ativos contra micro-organismos, o estudo de plantas tornou-se uma necessidade crescente. A utilização de fitoterápicos na prevenção e/ou cura de doenças são necessários estudos prévios relativos a aspectos botânicos, farmacognósticos, fitoquímicos, farmacológicos e toxicológicos. Neste trabalho, foram estudados extratos obtidos com as folhas de Plinia cauliflora (Mart.) Kausel e de cascas pulverizadas de Endopleura uchi (Huber) Cuatrec., quanto às propriedades antimicrobianas frente a diferentes linhagens de fungos: Aspergillus niger, Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae, Trichoderma reesei e Trichophyton rubrum. Foram avaliadas as atividades antifúngicas dos materiais vegetais determinando sua Concentração Inibitória Mínima (CIM). Com base nesses dados foi realizada a avaliação da atividade antifúngica observando o crescimento radial dos fungos em placas de Petri contendo meio de cultura incorporado com os materiais vegetais nas concentrações de CIM e 1%, sendo após realizada a mensuração dos diâmetros formados. Trichophyton rubrum foi o micro-organismo que apresentou maior sensibilidade frente ao extrato e as frações de P. cauliflora, com valores de CIM baixos, enquanto que a cepa industrial de Aspergillus niger mostrou-se totalmente resistente a todos os extratos testados. A determinação da atividade antifúngica em placas contendo meio sólido, mostrou uma confirmação dos resultados pois o extrato etanólico, a fração butanólica e a fração aquosa de P. cauliflora, tanto na concentração 1% quanto na obtida pelo CIM, inibiram o crescimento T. rubrum

Identificação, caracterização e avaliação da patogenicidade de diferentes isolados de fusarium spp. para o controle de thaumastocoris peregrinus (hemiptera: thaumastocoridae)

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Proteção de Plantas) - FCA

Early human handling in non-weaned piglets: Effects on behaviour and body weight

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

A Memorial for William V. Sliter

William V. (Bill) Sliter, an internationally known micropaleontologist and research geologist for the U.S. Geological Survey, passed away suddenly, October, 1997, while talking to a colleague in his office. In his honor, B. Huber, T. Bralower, and M. Leckie organized a keynote symposium ‘‘Paleoecological and Geochemical Signatures of Cretaceous Anoxic Events’’ at the 1998 annual meeting of the Geological Society of America in Toronto, Canada. This theme issue of the Journal of Foraminiferal Research contains the published papers from the symposium and is dedicated to his memory.

Inclusive J/psi production in pp collisions at root s=2.76 TeV

The ALICE Collaboration has measured inclusive J/psi production in pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy root s = 2.76 TeV at the LHC. The results presented in this Letter refer to the rapidity ranges vertical bar y vertical bar < 0.9 and 2.5 < y <4 and have been obtained by measuring the electron and muon pair decay channels, respectively. The integrated luminosities for the two channels are L-int(e) = 1.1 nb(-1) and L-int(mu) = 19.9 nb(-1), and the corresponding signal statistics are N-J/psi(e+e-) = 59 +/- 14 and N-J/psi(mu+mu-) = 1364 +/- 53. We present d sigma(J/psi)/dy for the two rapidity regions under study and, for the forward-y range, d(2)sigma(J/psi)/dydp(t) in the transverse momentum domain 0 < p(t) < 8 GeV/c. The results are compared with previously published results at root s = 7 TeV and with theoretical calculations. (C) 2012 CERN. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Results from KASCADE-Grande

The KASCADE-Grande experiment, located at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (Germany) is a multi-component extensive air-shower experiment devoted to the study of cosmic rays and their interactions at primary energies 10(14)-10(18) eV. Main goals of the experiment are the measurement of the all-particle energy spectrum and mass composition in the 10(16)-10(18) eV range by sampling charged (N-ch) and muon (N-mu) components of the air shower. The method to derive the energy spectrum and its uncertainties, as well as the implications of the obtained result, is discussed. An overview of the analyses performed by KASCADE-Grande to derive the mass composition of the measured high-energy comic rays is presented as well. (C) 2012 Elsevier By. All rights reserved.

Thrombin-Receptor Antagonist Vorapaxar in Acute Coronary Syndromes

BACKGROUND Vorapaxar is a new oral protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR-1) antagonist that inhibits thrombin-induced platelet activation. METHODS In this multinational, double-blind, randomized trial, we compared vorapaxar with placebo in 12,944 patients who had acute coronary syndromes without ST-segment elevation. The primary end point was a composite of death from cardiovascular causes, myocardial infarction, stroke, recurrent ischemia with rehospitalization, or urgent coronary revascularization. RESULTS Follow-up in the trial was terminated early after a safety review. After a median follow-up of 502 days (interquartile range, 349 to 667), the primary end point occurred in 1031 of 6473 patients receiving vorapaxar versus 1102 of 6471 patients receiving placebo (Kaplan-Meier 2-year rate, 18.5010 vs. 19.9%; hazard ratio, 0.92; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.85 to 1.01; P=0.07). A composite of death from cardiovascular causes, myocardial infarction, or stroke occurred in 822 patients in the vorapaxar group versus 910 in the placebo group (14.7% and 16.4%, respectively; hazard ratio, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.81 to 0.98; P=0.02). Rates of moderate and severe bleeding were 7.2% in the vorapaxar group and 5.2% in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.16 to 1.58; P<0.001). Intracranial hemorrhage rates were 1.1% and 0.2%, respectively (hazard ratio, 3.39; 95% CI, 1.78 to 6.45; P<0.001). Rates of nonhemorrhagic adverse events were similar in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS In patients with acute coronary syndromes, the addition of vorapaxar to standard therapy did not significantly reduce the primary composite end point but significantly increased the risk of major bleeding, including intracranial hemorrhage. (Funded by Merck; TRACER ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00527943.)

J/psi Polarization in pp Collisions at root s=7 TeV

The ALICE Collaboration has studied J/psi production in pp collisions at root s = 7 TeV at the LHC through its muon pair decay. The polar and azimuthal angle distributions of the decay muons were measured, and results on the J/psi polarization parameters lambda(theta) and lambda(phi) were obtained. The study was performed in the kinematic region 2: 5 < y < 4, 2 < p(t) < 8 GeV/c, in the helicity and Collins-Soper reference frames. In both frames, the polarization parameters are compatible with zero, within uncertainties.