Facilitation of breathing by leptin effects in the central nervous system

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

Hormonal induction of Brycon cephalus (Characiformes, Characidae) to spermiation using D-ala6, pro9net-mGnRH + metoclopramide

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

Structural analysis of embryogenesis of Leiarius marmoratus (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae)

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

Apoptosis and reduced microvascular density of the lamina propria during tooth eruption in rats

During tooth eruption, structural and functional changes must occur in the lamina propria to establish the eruptive pathway. In this study, we evaluate the structural changes that occur during lamina propria degradation and focus these efforts on apoptosis and microvascular density. Fragments of maxilla containing the first molars from 9-, 11-, 13- and 16-day-old rats were fixed, decalcified and embedded in paraffin. The immunohistochemical detection of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), caspase-3 and MAC387 (macrophage marker), and the TUNEL method were applied to the histological molar sections. The numerical density of TUNEL-positive cells and VEGF-positive blood vessel profiles were also obtained. Data were statistically evaluated using a one-way anova with the post-hoc Kruskal-Wallis or Tukey test and a significance level of P ≤ 0.05. Fragments of maxilla were embedded in Araldite for analysis under transmission electron microscopy (TEM). TUNEL-positive structures, fibroblasts with strongly basophilic nuclei and macrophages were observed in the lamina propria at all ages. Using TEM, we identified processes of fibroblasts or macrophages surrounding partially apoptotic cells. We found a high number of apoptotic cells in 11-, 13- and 16-day-old rats. We observed VEGF-positive blood vessel profiles at all ages, but a significant decrease in the numerical density was found in 13- and 16-day-old rats compared with 9-day-old rats. Therefore, the establishment of the eruptive pathway during the mucosal penetration stage depends on cell death by apoptosis, the phagocytic activity of fibroblasts and macrophages, and a decrease in the microvasculature due to vascular cell death. These data point to the importance of vascular rearrangement and vascular neoformation during tooth eruption and the development of oral mucosa.

Membrane lipid profile monitored by mass spectrometry detected differences between fresh and vitrified in vitro-produced bovine embryos

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

In vitro embryos production after oocytes treatment with forskolin

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

Reduction in cytoplasmic lipid content in bovine embryos cultured in vitro with linoleic acid in semi-defined medium is correlated with increases in cryotolerance

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

Oogenesis in Laetacara araguaiae (Ottoni and Costa, 2009) (Labriformes: Cichlidae)

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

Surgical interventions for treating pectus excavatum

Pectus excavatum is characterized by a depression of the anterior chest wall (sternum and lower costal cartilages) and is the most frequently occurring chest wall deformity. The prevalence ranges from 6.28 to 12 cases per 1000 around the world. Generally pectus excavatum is present at birth or is identified after a few weeks or months; however, sometimes it becomes evident only at puberty. The consequence of the condition on a individual’s life is variable, some live a normal life and others have physical and psychological symptoms such as: precordial pain after exercises; impairments of pulmonary and cardiac function; shyness and social isolation. For many years, sub-perichondrial resection of the costal cartilages, with or without transverse cuneiform osteotomy of the sternum and placement of a substernal support, called conventional surgery, was the most accepted option for surgical repair of these patients. From 1997 a new surgical repair called, minimally invasive surgery, became available. This less invasive surgical option consists of the retrosternal placement of a curved metal bar, without resections of the costal cartilages or sternum osteotomy, and is performed by videothoracoscopy. However, many aspects that relate to the benefits and harms of both techniques have not been defined. Objectives To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the conventional surgery compared with minimally invasive surgery for treating people with pectus excavatum. Search methods With the aim of increasing the sensitivity of the search strategy we used only terms related to the individual’s condition (pectus excavatum); terms related to the interventions, outcomes and types of studies were not included. We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), PubMed, Embase, LILACS, and ICTPR. Additionally we searched yet reference lists of articles and conference proceedings. All searches were done without language restriction.

[In Memoriam:] Vale Colin Dobson, 19 July 1937-22 June 2007

Obituary for Vale Colin Dobson, Australian parasitologists, 1937-2007.

Three Counties Saw the Majority of Nebraska’s Housing Growth 2007 – 2008

According to estimates released by the Bureau of the Census in August, 2009, Nebraska’s total housing stock increased by 5,529 units between July 1, 2007 and July 1, 2008, an increase of 0.7 percent for the year. This represented an estimated rate of growth in housing stock slightly below the state’s estimated rate of population growth, which was 0.8 percent for the same time period.

Impaired blood-brain/spinal cord barrier in ALS patients

Vascular pathology, including blood-brain/spinal cord barrier (BBB/BSCB) alterations, has recently been recognized as a key factor possibly aggravating motor neuron damage, identifying a neurovascular disease signature for ALS. However, BBB/BSCB competence in sporadic ALS (SALS) is still undetermined. In this study, BBB/BSCB integrity in postmortem gray and white matter of medulla and spinal cord tissue from SALS patients and controls was investigated. Major findings include (1) endothelial cell damage and pericyte degeneration, (2) severe intra- and extracellular edema, (3) reduced CD31 and CD105 expressions in endothelium, (4) significant accumulation of perivascular collagen IV, and fibrin deposits (5) significantly increased microvascular density in lumbar spinal cord, (6) IgG microvascular leakage, (7) reduced tight junction and adhesion protein expressions. Microvascular barrier abnormalities determined in gray and white matter of the medulla, cervical, and lumbar spinal cord of SALS patients are novel findings. Pervasive barrier damage discovered in ALS may have implications for disease pathogenesis and progression, as well as for uncovering novel therapeutic targets. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Governança ambiental e economia verde

A Conferência Rio+20 mobiliza a comunidade global em 2012 para participar de um desafiador debate sobre a realidade ambiental global e modus operandi existente quanto à temática ampla e genérica do desenvolvimento e do ambiente. Um dos temas estruturantes desta reunião é a transição para uma economia verde no contexto do desenvolvimento sustentável e da erradicação da pobreza. O tema da Governança Ambiental Global um dos carros chefe do debate na Rio+20, no intuito de promover e acelerar a transição rumo a sociedades sustentáveis, configura a construção muitas vezes, de forma controversa, das condições para a definição de novos espaços institucionais e processos decisórios compartilhados. Este artigo propõe aos leitores uma reflexão para discutir que tipo de sustentabilidade está por trás da economia verde, a sua aplicabilidade e o que deva ser priorizada na discussão de governança ambiental. Isto se explica na medida em que existe a necessidade de mudar os mecanismos de utilização dos recursos, profundamente injustos, e que impedem avanços nos processos decisórios, pois as decisões de poucos tem configurado uma lógica perversa de expropriação de recursos naturais e não resolução da exclusão social.

Chemical Interesterification of Blends of Palm Stearin, Coconut Oil, and Canola Oil: Physicochemical Properties

trans-Free interesterified fat was produced for possible usage as a margarine. Palm stearin, coconut oil, and canola oil were used as substrates for chemical interesterification. The main aim of the present study was to evaluate the physicochemical properties of blends of palm stearin, coconut oil, and canola oil submitted to chemical interesterification using sodium methoxide as the catalyst. The original and interesterified blends were examined for fatty acid composition, softening and melting points, solid fat content, and consistency. Chemical interesterification reduced softening and melting points, consistency, and solid fat content. The interesterified fats showed desirable physicochemical properties for possible use as a margarine. Therefore, our result suggested that the interesterified fat without trans-fatty acids could be used as an alternative to partially hydrogenated fat.