Comparative mitochondrial genomics toward understanding genetics and evolution of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Les champignons mycorhiziens arbusculaires (CMA) sont très répandus dans le sol où ils forment des associations symbiotiques avec la majorité des plantes appelées mycorhizes arbusculaires. Le développement des CMA dépend fortement de la plante hôte, de telle sorte qu'ils ne peuvent vivre à l'état saprotrophique, par conséquent ils sont considérés comme des biotrophes obligatoires. Les CMA forment une lignée évolutive basale des champignons et ils appartiennent au phylum Glomeromycota. Leurs mycélia sont formés d’un réseau d’hyphes cénocytiques dans lesquelles les noyaux et les organites cellulaires peuvent se déplacer librement d’un compartiment à l’autre. Les CMA permettent à la plante hôte de bénéficier d'une meilleure nutrition minérale, grâce au réseau d'hyphes extraradiculaires, qui s'étend au-delà de la zone du sol explorée par les racines. Ces hyphes possèdent une grande capacité d'absorption d’éléments nutritifs qui vont être transportés par ceux-ci jusqu’aux racines. De ce fait, les CMA améliorent la croissance des plantes tout en les protégeant des stresses biotiques et abiotiques. Malgré l’importance des CMA, leurs génétique et évolution demeurent peu connues. Leurs études sont ardues à cause de leur mode de vie qui empêche leur culture en absence des plantes hôtes. En plus leur diversité génétique intra-isolat des génomes nucléaires, complique d’avantage ces études, en particulier le développement des marqueurs moléculaires pour des études biologiques, écologiques ainsi que les fonctions des CMA. C’est pour ces raisons que les génomes mitochondriaux offrent des opportunités et alternatives intéressantes pour étudier les CMA. En effet, les génomes mitochondriaux (mt) publiés à date, ne montrent pas de polymorphismes génétique intra-isolats. Cependant, des exceptions peuvent exister. Pour aller de l’avant avec la génomique mitochondriale, nous avons besoin de générer beaucoup de données de séquençages de l’ADN mitochondrial (ADNmt) afin d’étudier les méchanismes évolutifs, la génétique des population, l’écologie des communautés et la fonction des CMA. Dans ce contexte, l’objectif de mon projet de doctorat consiste à: 1) étudier l’évolution des génomes mt en utilisant l’approche de la génomique comparative au niveau des espèces proches, des isolats ainsi que des espèces phylogénétiquement éloignées chez les CMA; 2) étudier l’hérédité génétique des génomes mt au sein des isolats de l’espèce modèle Rhizophagus irregularis par le biais des anastomoses ; 3) étudier l’organisation des ADNmt et les gènes mt pour le développement des marqueurs moléculaires pour des études phylogénétiques. Nous avons utilisé l’approche dite ‘whole genome shotgun’ en pyroséquençage 454 et Illumina HiSeq pour séquencer plusieurs taxons de CMA sélectionnés selon leur importance et leur disponibilité. Les assemblages de novo, le séquençage conventionnel Sanger, l’annotation et la génomique comparative ont été réalisés pour caractériser des ADNmt complets. Nous avons découvert plusieurs mécanismes évolutifs intéressant chez l’espèce Gigaspora rosea dans laquelle le génome mt est complètement remanié en comparaison avec Rhizophagus irregularis isolat DAOM 197198. En plus nous avons mis en évidence que deux gènes cox1 et rns sont fragmentés en deux morceaux. Nous avons démontré que les ARN transcrits les deux fragments de cox1 se relient entre eux par épissage en trans ‘Trans-splicing’ à l’aide de l’ARN du gene nad5 I3 qui met ensemble les deux ARN cox1.1 et cox1.2 en formant un ARN complet et fonctionnel. Nous avons aussi trouvé une organisation de l’ADNmt très particulière chez l’espèce Rhizophagus sp. Isolat DAOM 213198 dont le génome mt est constitué par deux chromosomes circulaires. En plus nous avons trouvé une quantité considérable des séquences apparentées aux plasmides ‘plasmid-related sequences’ chez les Glomeraceae par rapport aux Gigasporaceae, contribuant ainsi à une évolution rapide des ADNmt chez les Glomeromycota. Nous avons aussi séquencé plusieurs isolats de l’espèces R. irregularis et Rhizophagus sp. pour décortiquer leur position phylogénéque et inférer des relations évolutives entre celles-ci. La comparaison génomique mt nous montré l’existence de plusieurs éléments mobiles comme : des cadres de lecture ‘open reading frames (mORFs)’, des séquences courtes inversées ‘short inverted repeats (SIRs)’, et des séquences apparentées aux plasimdes ‘plasmid-related sequences (dpo)’ qui impactent l’ordre des gènes mt et permettent le remaniement chromosomiques des ADNmt. Tous ces divers mécanismes évolutifs observés au niveau des isolats, nous permettent de développer des marqueurs moléculaires spécifiques à chaque isolat ou espèce de CMA. Les données générées dans mon projet de doctorat ont permis d’avancer les connaissances fondamentales des génomes mitochondriaux non seulement chez les Glomeromycètes, mais aussi de chez le règne des Fungi et les eucaryotes en général. Les trousses moléculaires développées dans ce projet peuvent servir à des études de la génétique des populations, des échanges génétiques et l’écologie des CMA ce qui va contribuer à la compréhension du rôle primorial des CMA en agriculture et environnement.

La experiencia de los receptores en el trasplante de órganos y tejidos

El trasplante de órganos y/o tejidos es considerado como una opción terapéutica viable para el tratamiento tanto de enfermedades crónicas o en estadios terminales, como de afectaciones no vitales, pero que generen una disminución en la calidad de vida percibida por el paciente. Este procedimiento, de carácter multidimensional, está compuesto por 3 actores principales: el donante, el órgano/tejido, y el receptor. Si bien un porcentaje significativo de investigaciones y planes de intervención han girado en torno a la dimensión biológica del trasplante, y a la promoción de la donación; el interés por la experiencia psicosocial y la calidad de vida de los receptores en este proceso ha aumentado durante la última década. En relación con esto, la presente monografía se plantea como objetivo general la exploración de la experiencia y los significados construidos por los pacientes trasplantados, a través de una revisión sistemática de la literatura sobre esta temática. Para ello, se plantearon unos objetivos específicos derivados del general, se seleccionaron términos o palabras claves por cada uno de estos, y se realizó una búsqueda en 5 bases de datos para revistas indexadas: Ebsco Host (Academic Search; y Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection); Proquest; Pubmed; y Science Direct. A partir de los resultados, se establece que si bien la vivencia de los receptores ha comenzado a ser investigada, aún es necesaria una mayor exploración sobre la experiencia de estos pacientes; exploración que carecería de objetivo si no se hiciera a través de las narrativas o testimonios de los mismos receptores

Thr54 allele carriers of the Ala54Thr variant of FABP2 gene have associations with metabolic syndrome and hypertriglyceridemia in urban South Indians

The intestinal fatty acid-binding protein gene is proposed as a candidate gene for diabetes because the protein it codes is involved in fatty acid absorption and metabolism. This study investigates the association of the Ala54Thr variant of the intestinal fatty acid-binding protein gene on type 2 diabetes mellitus and other related metabolic traits in Asian Indians. Ala54Thr polymorphism was genotyped by using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism in unrelated 773 type 2 diabetic and 899 normal glucose-tolerant (NGT) subjects, randomly chosen from the Chennai Urban Rural Epidemiology Study, an ongoing population-based study in South India. The Ala54Thr polymorphism was not associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus or obesity. However, genotype-phenotype study revealed that the NGT subjects carrying the Thr54 allele had significantly higher 2-hour plasma glucose (P = .007), glycated hemoglobin (P = .004), 2-hour insulin (P = .027), and fasting low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P = .032) levels compared with those with the Ala54 allele. Normal glucose-tolerant subjects with Ala54Thr and Thr54Thr genotypes had significantly higher fasting serum triglyceride levels (P = .003) compared with those with Ala54Ala. The subjects were stratified into those with hypertriglyceridemia (serum triglyceride levels >or=150 mg/dL) and those without. The odds ratio for hypertriglyceridemia for the individuals carrying the Ala54Thr genotype was 1.491 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.22-1.83, P < .0001), and for those carrying the Thr54Thr genotype, it was 1.888 (95% CI, 1.34-2.67; P < .0001). Subjects were also stratified into those with metabolic syndrome (MS) and those without, according to modified Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines. The odds ratio (adjusted for age and sex) for MS for the individuals carrying the Ala54Thr genotype was 1.240 (95% CI, 1.02-1.51; P = .03), whereas for those carrying the Thr54Thr genotype, it was 1.812 (95% CI, 1.28-2.57; P = .001). Carriers of the Thr54 allele have associations with MS and hypertriglyceridemia in this urban South Indian population.

Health in Brazil 5 Violence and injuries in Brazil: the effect, progress made, and challenges ahead

Although there are signs of decline, homicides and traffic-related injuries and deaths in Brazil account for almost two-thirds of all deaths from external causes. In 2007, the homicide rate was 26.8 per 100 000 people and traffic-related mortality was 23.5 per 100 000. Domestic violence might not lead to as many deaths, but its share of violence-related morbidity is large. These are important public health problems that lead to enormous individual and collective costs. Young, black, and poor men are the main victims and perpetrators of community violence, whereas poor black women and children are the main victims of domestic violence. Regional differentials are also substantial. Besides the sociocultural determinants, much of the violence in Brazil has been associated with the misuse of alcohol and illicit drugs, and the wide availability of firearms. The high traffic-related morbidity and mortality in Brazil have been linked to the chosen model for the transport system that has given priority to roads and private-car use without offering adequate infrastructure. The system is often poorly equipped to deal with violations of traffic rules. In response to the major problems of violence and injuries, Brazil has greatly advanced in terms of legislation and action plans. The main challenge is to assess these advances to identify, extend, integrate, and continue the successful ones.

Pathological Love: Impulsivity, Personality, and Romantic Relationship

Introduction: Pathological love (PL)-behavior characterized by providing repetitive and uncontrolled care and attention to the partner in a romantic relationship-is a rarely studied condition, despite not being rare and causing suffering. This study aims at investigating impulsivity, personality, and characteristics related to the romantic relationship in this population. Methods: Eighty-nine individuals (50 with PL; 39 individuals with no psychiatric disorder) were compared regarding impulsivity, personality, type of attachment, satisfaction with romantic relationship, and love style. Results: Individuals with PL have higher levels of impulsivity (P<.001; Barratt Impulsiveness Scale), higher self-transcendence, that is, are more unconventional and hold sense of communjon with a widerreality (P<.001; Temperament and Character Inventory) and keep dissatisfactory romantic relationships (P<.001; Adapted Relationship Assessment Scale). Conclusion: Individuals with PL present personality traits and relationship aspects that must be taken into account in devising assessment and therapeutic strategies for this population. CNS Spectr. 2009;14(5):268-274

Intralamellar structural modifications related to the proton exchanging in K(4)Nb(6)O(17) layered phase

Basic structural aspects about the layered hexaniobate of K(4)Nb(6)O(17) composition and its proton-exchanged form were investigated mainly by spectroscopic techniques. Raman spectra of hydrous K(4)Nb(6)O(17) and H(2)K(2)Nb(6)O(17)center dot H(2)O show significant modifications in the 950-800 cm(-1) region (Nb-O stretching mode of highly distorted NbO(6) octahedra). The band at 900 cm(-1) shifts to 940 cm(-1) after the replacement of K(+) ion by proton. Raman spectra of the original materials and the related deuterated samples are similar suggesting that no isotopic effect occurs. Major modifications were observed when H(2)K(2)Nb(6)O(17) was dehydrated: the relative intensity of the band at 940 cm(-1) decreases and new bands seems to be present at about 860-890 cm(-1). The H(+) ions should be shielded by the hydration sphere what preclude the interaction with the layers. Removing the water molecules, H(+) ions can establish a strong interaction with oxygen atoms, decreasing the bond order of Nb-O linkage. X-ray absorption near edge structure studies performed at Nb K-edge indicate that the niobium coordination number and oxidation state remain identical after the replacement of potassium by proton. From the refinement of the fine structure, it appears that the Nb-Nb coordination shell is divided into two main contributions of about 0.33 and 0.39 nm, and interestingly the population, i.e., the number of backscattering atoms is inversed between the two hexaniobate materials. 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Lifestyle factors, direct and indirect costs for a Brazilian airline company

OBJECTIVE: To analyze lifestyle risk factors related to direct healthcare costs and the indirect costs due to sick leave among workers of an airline company in Brazil. METHODS: In this longitudinal 12-month study of 2,201 employees of a Brazilian airline company, the costs of sick leave and healthcare were the primary outcomes of interest. Information on the independent variables, such as gender, age, educational level, type of work, stress, and lifestyle-related factors (body mass index, physical activity, and smoking), was collected using a questionnaire on enrolment in the study. Data on sick leave days were available from the company register, and data on healthcare costs were obtained from insurance records. Multivariate linear regression analysis was used to investigate the association between direct and indirect healthcare costs with sociodemographic, work, and lifestyle-related factors. RESULTS: Over the 12-month study period, the average direct healthcare expenditure per worker was US$505.00 and the average indirect cost because of sick leave was US$249.00 per worker. Direct costs were more than twice the indirect costs and both were higher in women. Body mass index was a determinant of direct costs and smoking was a determinant of indirect costs. CONCLUSIONS: Obesity and smoking among workers in a Brazilian airline company were associated with increased health costs. Therefore, promoting a healthy diet, physical activity, and anti-tobacco campaigns are important targets for health promotion in this study population.

The influence of lifestyle and gender on sickness absence in brazilian workers

Background: Despite an increasing body of knowledge concerning gender and lifestyle factors as determinants of sickness absence in well-developed countries, the relationship between these variables has not been elucidated in emerging economic power countries, where the burden of non-communicable diseases is particularly high. This study aimed to analyze the relationships among lifestyle-related factors and sick leave and to examine whether gender differences in sickness absence can be explained by differences in socio-demographic, work and lifestyle-related factors among Brazilian workers. Methods: In this longitudinal study with a one year follow-up among 2.150 employees of a Brazilian airline company, sick leave was the primary outcome of interest. Independent variables collected by interview at enrolment in the study were gender, age, educational level, type of work, stress, and lifestyle-related factors (body mass index, physical activity and smoking). In addition, the risk for coronary heart disease was determined based on measurement of blood pressure, total cholesterol and glucose levels. The total number of days on sick leave during 12 months follow-up was available from the company register. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the influence of socio-demographic, type of work and lifestyle-related factors on sick leave. Results: Younger employees, those with lower educational level, those who worked as air crew members and those with higher levels of stress were more likely to have sick leave. Body mass index and level of physical activity were not associated with sick leave. After adjustment by socio-demographic variables, increased odds for 10 or more days of sick leave were found in smokers (OR = 1.51, CI = 1.05-2.17), and ex-smokers (OR = 1.45, CI = 1.01-2.10). Women were more likely to have 10 or more days of sick leave. Gender differences were reduced mainly when adjusted for type of work (15%) and educational level (7%). Conclusions: The higher occurrence of sick leave among women than among men was partly explained by type of work and educational level. Our results suggest that type of work, a stressful life, and smoking are important targets for health promotion in this study population

Perioperative cardiac arrest and its mortality in children. A 9-year survey in a Brazilian tertiary teaching hospital

Background: the incidence of perioperative cardiac arrest and mortality in children is higher than in adults. This survey evaluated the incidence, causes, and outcome of perioperative cardiac arrests in a pediatric surgical population in a tertiary teaching hospital between 1996 and 2004.Methods: the incidence of cardiac arrest during anesthesia was identified from an anesthesia database. During the study period, 15 253 anesthetics were performed in children. Data collected included patient demographics, surgical procedures (elective, urgent, or emergency), ASA physical status classification, anesthesia provider information, type of surgery, surgical areas, and outcome. All cardiac arrests were reviewed and grouped by the cause of arrest and death into one of four groups: totally anesthesia-related, partially anesthesia-related, totally surgery-related, or totally child disease or condition-related.Results: There were 35 cardiac arrests (22.9 : 10 000) and 15 deaths (9.8 : 10 000). Major risk factors for cardiac arrest were neonates and children under 1 year of age (P < 0.05) with ASA III or poorer physical status (P < 0.05), in emergency surgery (P < 0.05), and general anesthesia (P < 0.05). Child disease/condition was the major cause of cardiac arrest or death (P < 0.05). There were seven cardiac arrests because of anesthesia (4.58 : 10 000) - four totally (2.62 : 10 000) and three partially related to anesthesia (1.96 : 10 000). There were no anesthesia attributable deaths reported. The main causes of anesthesia attributable cardiac arrest were respiratory events (71.5%) and medication-related events (28.5%).Conclusions: Perioperative cardiac arrests were relatively higher in neonates and infants than in older children with severe underlying disease and during emergency surgery. The fact that all anesthesia attributable cardiac arrests were related to airway management and medication administration is important in prevention strategies.

Intraoperative lactate levels and postoperative complications of pediatric cardiac surgery

Objectives: Correlate arterial lactate levels during the intraoperative period of children undergoing cardiac surgery and the occurrence of complications in the postoperative period. Aim: Arterial lactate levels can indicate hypoperfusion states, serving as prognostic markers of morbidity and mortality in this population. Background: Anesthesia for cardiac pediatric surgery is frequently performed on patients with serious abnormal physiological conditions. During the intraoperative period, there are significant variations of blood volume, body temperature, plasma composition, and tissue blood flow, as well as the activation of inflammation, with important pathophysiological consequences. Methods/Materials: Chart data relating to the procedures and perioperative conditions of the patients were collected on a standardized form. Comparisons of arterial lactate values at the end of the intraoperative period of the patients that presented, or not, with postoperative complications and frequencies related to perioperative conditions were established by odds ratio and nonparametric univariate analysis. Results: After surgeries without cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), higher levels of arterial lactate upon ICU admission were observed in patients who had renal complications (2.96 vs 1.31 mm) and those who died (2.93 vs 1.40 mm). For surgeries with CPB, the same association was observed for cardiovascular (2.90 mm x 2.06 mm), renal (3.34 vs 2.33 mm), respiratory (2.98 vs 2.12 mm) and hematological complications (2.99 vs 1.95 mm), and death (3.38 vs 2.40 mm). Conclusion: Elevated intraoperative arterial lactate levels are associated with a higher morbidity and mortality in low- and medium-risk procedures, with or without CPB, in pediatric cardiac surgery.

Characterization of gene polymorphisms related to immune system physiology in Mangalarga horses

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

Incidence of retromolar foramen in human mandibles: ethnic and clinical aspects

The retromolar foramen allows the passage of the neurovascular bundles that contribute to nutrition and innervation of the pulp and periodontium of the lower teeth. Knowledge of this anatomical variation may prevent complications in the anesthesia and surgical procedures in this area and serve as an anatomical landmark for ethnic identification. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the retromolar foramen in human mandibles of adult Brazilians and discuss the clinical and ethnic related to the presence of this foramen. Were evaluated 222 human mandibles, dry, adults, Brazilians, independent of gender. The evaluation was performed by two examiners who standardized search from a previous anatomical study. The mandibles were analyzed: the presence of the retromolar foramen (bilateral or unilateral), the presence of the foramen on right and left sides, and the number of foramens present on each side. It was found that 59 had at least one mandible retromolar foramens resulting in an incidence of 26.58%. The retromolar foramen was present unilaterally in 41 mandibles and 18 bilaterally, with incidences of 18.47% and 12.16% respectively. on the right side, the retromolar foramen was present in incidences of 16.22% and 18.92% respectively The analysis of the right side of the mandibles revealed that 47.46%, 21.21% and 3.03% had one, two and three foramens, respectively The left side showed 55.93%, 16.22% and 8.11% of the 222 mandibles with one, two and three retromolar foramens, respectively The incidence of retromolar foramen in the Brazilian population is significant and should be considered in the planning and execution of procedures in several areas of clinical practice dentistry in order to avoid complications. Moreover, it was found that the incidence of retromolar foramen contributes to differentiation of ethnic groups in the area of forensic anthropology.

Genetic diversity of Rhizoctonia solani AG-3 from potato and tobacco in North Carolina

Anastomosis group 3 (AG-3) of Rhizoctonia solani (teleomorph = Thanatephorus cucumeris) is frequently associated with diseases of potato (AG-3 PT) and tobacco (AG-3 TB). Although isolates of R. solani AG-3 from these two Solanaceous hosts are somatically related based on anastomosis reaction and taxonomically related based on fatty acid, isozyme and DNA characters, considerable differences are evident in their biology, ecology, and epidemiology. However, genetic diversity among field populations of R. solani AG-3 PT and TB has not been documented. In this study, the genetic diversity of field populations of R. solani AG-3 PT and AG-3 TB in North Carolina was examined using somatic compatibility and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) criteria. A sample of 32 isolates from potato and 36 isolates from tobacco were paired in all possible combinations on PDA plus activated charcoal and examined for their resulting somatic interactions. Twenty-eight and eight distinct somatic compatibility groups (SCG) were identified in the AG-3 PT and AG-3 TB samples, respectively. AFLP analyses indicated that each of the 32 AG-3 PT isolates had a distinct AFLP phenotype, whereas 28 AFLP phenotypes were found among the 36 isolates of AG-3 TB. None of the AG-3 PT isolates were somatically compatible or shared a common AFLP phenotype with any AG-3 TB isolate. Clones (i.e., cases where two or more isolates were somatically compatible and shared the same AFLP phenotype) were identified only in the AG-3 TB population. Four clones from tobacco represented 22% of the total population. All eight SCG from tobacco were associated with more than one AFLP phenotype. Compatible somatic interactions between AG-3 PT isolates occurred only between certain isolates from the same field (two isolates in each of four different fields), and when this occurred AFLP phenotypes were similar but not identical.

Estimativa espaço-temporal da superfície potenciométrica do sistema aqüífero guarani na cidade de Ribeirão Preto (SP), Brasil

Pós-graduação em Geociências e Meio Ambiente - IGCE

Satisfação com a vida em idosos

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)