Bovine dominant follicular fluid promotes the in vitro development of goat preantral follicles

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Isolation and characterization of Wharton's jelly-derived multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells obtained from bovine umbilical cord and maintained in a defined serum-free three-dimensional system

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

Characteristics of gram-stained cervical smear from patients with Chlamydia trachomatis infection.

Cervical discharges from 142 women attending the Public Gynecologic Service of Araraqura (SESA), Brazil were cultured for Chlamydia trachomatis. Gram-smears and plating on semiquantitative sheep blood agar and chocolate agar were also carried out. An isolation rate of 18% was reported. The presence of purulent cervical secretion was observed in 8 (32%) out of 25 women. It was also observed that a substantial proportion of culture-positive women had no symptoms. Our data demonstrate that screening tests should be based on specific diagnostic techniques for Chlamydia trachomatis since the majority of infected women we examined were asymptomatic.

On the Optimality of Finite Constellations from Algebraic Lattices

A construction technique of finite point constellations in n-dimensional spaces from ideals in rings of algebraic integers is described. An algorithm is presented to find constellations with minimum average energy from a given lattice. For comparison, a numerical table of lattice constellations and group codes is computed for spaces of dimension two, three, and four. © 2001.

Effects of basic fibroblast growth factor on density and morphology of fibroblasts grown on root surfaces with or without conditioning with tetracycline or EDTA.

A study was conducted to evaluate in vitro the effect of root surface conditioning with basic fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF) on morphology and proliferation of fibroblasts. Three experimental groups were used: non-treated, and treated with 50 microg or 125 microg b-FGF/ml. The dentin samples in each group were divided into subgroups according to the chemical treatment received before application of b-FGF: none, or conditioned with tetracycline-HCl or EDTA. After contact with b-FGF for 5 min, the samples were incubated for 24 h with 1 ml of culture medium containing 1 x 10(5) cells/ml plus 1 ml of culture medium alone. The samples were then subjected to routine preparation for SEM, and random fields were photographed. Three calibrated and blind examiners performed the assessment of morphology and density according to two index systems. Classification and regression trees indicated that the root surfaces treated with 125 microg b-FGF and previously conditioned with tetracycline-HCl or EDTA presented a morphology more suggestive of cellular adhesion and viability (P = 0.004). The density of fibroblasts on samples previously conditioned with EDTA, regardless of treatment with b-FGF, was significantly higher than in the other groups (P < 0.001). The present findings suggest that topical application of b-FGF has a positive influence on both the density and morphology of fibroblasts.

Induction and secretion of elastinolytic and proteolytic activity in cultures of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis

P. brasiliensis parasitizes various human tissues and proteinases exported by this fungus may allow it to metabolize and invade host tissues. The influence of the culture medium on the production of proteinases by P. brasiliensis isolates was studied and the export of these enzymes was followed as a function of culture time. The fungus was grown in neopeptone, BSA, elastin or collagen medium. The culture medium was assayed for azocollytic, elastinolytic and caseinolytic activity. Proteolytic activity was also analysed by electrophoresis of the culture medium on gelatin and casein substrate gels. P. brasiliensis expressed relatively high levels of azocoll, elastin and casein degrading activity in all types of medium, except in neopeptone medium. Generally, expression of azocollytic activity peaked during the third week of culture and caseinolytic activity during the fourth week of culture. Azocollytic activity was highest at pH 4.0 and caseinolytic activity at pH 8.0. Elastinolytic activity was also highest at pH 8.0. This activity, as well as the others, may provide the fungus with a source of carbon and nitrogen and may also be responsible for the invasion of host tissues, such as pulmonary elastic fiber, by P. brasiliensis.

Participation of genes involved in the process of anaerobic respiration of infection in chickens by salmonella typhimurium

Intestinal pathogens are exposed to various stress conditions during their infectious cycle. Anaerobiosis, one of such hostile condition, is offered by the host within gut and intestinal lumen, where survival, multiplication and entry into intestinal epithelial cells are priority for the invasion of the pathogen. The fumarate reductase (frdABCD), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)-trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) reductase (dmsABC), and nitrate reductase (narGHIJ) operons in Salmonella Typhimurium (STM) encode enzymes involved in anaerobic respiration to the electron acceptors fumarate, DMSO, TMAO, and nitrate, respectively. They are regulated in response to nitrate and oxygen availability and changes in cell growth rate. Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) is synthesized by Salmonella Typhimurium only under anaerobic growth conditions used as a cofactor in four known reactions. The deletion of cobS and cbiA genes prevent any form of cobalamin production. In the present study we evaluate the infection of birds by mutants of STM, with the anaerobic respiratory system committed by mutations in the genes: narG, napA, cobS, cbiA, frdA, dmsA, and torC. Virulence was assessed by oral inoculation of groups of one-day-old broilers with 0.1 mL of culture contained 10 8 colony forming units (CFU)/mL or diluted at 10 -3 and 10 -2 of strains mutants of Salmonella Typhimurium. Clinical signs and mortality were recorded over a period of 21 days. In general, the symptoms of chickens infected with the mutant strains were similar to those presenting by control birds. Except for STMNalr cbiA, all showed reduced capacity to cause mortality in comparison with the original strain. The mortality of group of chickens infected with STMNal r △narG, STMNal r △frdA, STMNal r △dmsA and STMNal r △cobS△cbiA showed significant decrease in mortality compared to control group (p<0.05).

Agaricus blazei as a Substrate for the Production of β-1,3-Glucanase by Trichoderma harzianum Rifai

Extracellular β-1,3-glucanase was produced by Trichoderma harzianum Rifai cultivated in the Agaricus blazei (Agaricus brasiliensis) extract as a substrate in submerged fermentation. A 22-central composite factorial design was developed using the time of culture (x1/day) and Agaricus blazei extract concentration (x2/(g/L)) as variables, and the results were analyzed using response surface methodology (RSM). The results showed that the Agaricus blazei extract concentration was the most important variable in the production of β-1,3-glucanase, and the maximum β-1,3-glucanase activity (0.77 U/mL) was obtained in one day of cultivation. The β-glucan present in the cell wall of Agaricus blazei mushroom proved to be a good substrate for inducing the production of specific β-1,3-glucanase by Trichoderma harzianum Rifai.

Effects of neem oil (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) on midgut cells of predatory larvae Ceraeochrysa claveri (Navás, 1911) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)

The effects of ingested neem oil, a botanical insecticide obtained from the seeds of the neem tree, Azadirachta indica, on the midgut cells of predatory larvae Ceraeochrysa claveri were analyzed. C. claveri were fed on eggs of Diatraea saccharalis treated with neem oil at a concentration of 0.5%, 1% and 2% during throughout the larval period. Light and electron microscopy showed severe damages in columnar cells, which had many cytoplasmic protrusions, clustering and ruptured of the microvilli, swollen cells, ruptured cells, dilatation and vesiculation of rough endoplasmic reticulum, development of smooth endoplasmic reticulum, enlargement of extracellular spaces of the basal labyrinth, intercellular spaces and necrosis. The indirect ingestion of neem oil with prey can result in severe alterations showing direct cytotoxic effects of neem oil on midgut cells of C. claveri larvae. Therefore, the safety of neem oil to non-target species as larvae of C. claveri was refuted, thus the notion that plants derived are safer to non-target species must be questioned in future ecotoxicological studies. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd.

A cultural view of the ECLAC proposals

Includes bibliography

Vitrification of immature feline oocytes with a commercial kit for bovine embryo vitrification

The aim of this study was to evaluate the suitability of a commercial kit for bovine embryo vitrification for cryopreserving cat oocytes and to evaluate comparatively the effects of its use with slow freezing procedure on cryotolerance in terms of morphology and oocyte resumption of meiosis. Germinal vesicle stage oocytes isolated from cat ovaries were either vitrified (n=72) using a vitrification kit for bovine embryo or slow frozen (n=69) by exposing oocyte to ethylene glycol solution before being transferred to a programmable embryo freezer. After thawing and warming, oocytes were cultured for 48h and then were examined for meiosis resumption using bisbenzimide fluorescent staining (Hoechst 33342). Fresh immature oocytes (n=92) were used as the control group. The proportion of oocytes recovered in a morphologically normal state after thawing/warming was significantly higher in frozen oocytes (94.5%) than in the vitrified ones (75%, p<0.01). Morphological integrity after culture was similar in vitrified (73.6%) and slow frozen oocytes (76.8%); however, only 37.5% of the morphologically normal oocytes resumed meiosis after vitrification compared to 60.9% of those submitted to slow freezing procedure (p<0.01). Fresh oocytes showed higher morphological integrity (91.3%) and meiosis resumption rates (82.6%, p<0.002) than cryopreserved oocytes, irrespective of the procedure used. These results suggest that immature cat oocytes vitrified with a kit for bovine embryos retain their capacity to resume meiosis after warming and culture, albeit at lower rates than slow frozen oocytes. Vitrification and slow freezing methods show similar proportions of oocytes with normal morphology after culture, which demonstrate that thawed and warmed oocytes that resist to cryodamage have the same chances to maintain their integrity after 48h of culture. © 2012 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.

Bone morphogenetic protein 15 and fibroblast growth factor 10 enhance cumulus expansion, glucose uptake, and expression of genes in the ovulatory cascade during in vitro maturation of bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes

Oocyte-secreted factors (OSFs) regulate differentiation of cumulus cells and are of pivotal relevance for fertility. Bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15) and fibroblast growth factor 10 (FGF10) are OSFs and enhance oocyte competence by unknown mechanisms. We tested the hypothesis that BMP15 and FGF10, alone or combined in the maturation medium, enhance cumulus expansion and expression of genes in the preovulatory cascade and regulate glucose metabolism favouring hyaluronic acid production in bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs). BMP15 or FGF10 increased the percentage of fully expanded COCs, but the combination did not further stimulate it. BMP15 increased cumulus cell levels of mRNA encoding a disintegrin and metalloprotease 10 (ADAM10), ADAM17, amphiregulin (AREG), and epiregulin (EREG) at 12 h of culture and of prostaglandin (PG)-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2), pentraxin 3 (PTX3) and tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced protein 6 (TNFAIP6 (TSG6)) at 22 h of culture. FGF10 did not alter the expression of epidermal growth factor-like factors but enhanced the mRNA expression of PTGS2 at 4 h, PTX3 at 12 h, and TNFAIP6 at 22 h. FGF10 and BMP15 stimulated glucose consumption by cumulus cells but did not affect lactate production or levels of mRNA encoding glycolytic enzymes phosphofructokinase and lactate dehydrogenase A. Each growth factor increased mRNA encoding glucosamine:fructose-6-PO4 transaminases, key enzymes in the hexosamine pathway leading to hyaluronic acid production, and BMP15 also stimulated hyaluronan synthase 2 (HAS2) mRNA expression. This study provides evidence that BMP15 and FGF10 stimulate expansion of in vitro-matured bovine COCs by driving glucose metabolism toward hyaluronic acid production and controlling the expression of genes in the ovulatory cascade, the first acting upon ADAM10, ADAM17, AREG, and EREG and the second on downstream genes, particularly PTGS2. © 2013 Society for Reproduction and Fertility.

Orçamento participativo em Fortaleza/CE: construção de uma nova cultura política? (Gestão: PT – 2005 a 2008 e de 2009 a 2012)

Pós-graduação em Ciências Sociais - FFC

A utilização da internet nos espaços de acesso livre sob a perspectiva dos estudos culturais latinos-americanos

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Arte-educação, criatividade, percepções: um olhar sobre o programa escola da família

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)