Evaluation of the therapeutic response of hepatitis C in coinfected patients (HIV/HCV): a study of cases from a hospital for chronic liver diseases in the Eastern Brazilian Amazon

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic response of hepatitis C in patients coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1). METHODS: A retrospective study of 20 patients coinfected with HIV-1/HCV who were treated in the outpatient liver clinic at the Sacred House of Mercy Foundation Hospital of Pará (Fundação Santa Casa de Misericórdia do Pará - FSCMPA) from April 2004 to June 2009. Patients were treated with 180µg PEG interferon-α2a in combination with ribavirin (1,000 to 1,250mg/day) for 48 weeks. The end point was the sustained virological response (SVR) rate (HCV RNA negative 24 weeks after completing treatment). RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 40±9.5 years, of which 89% (n=17) were male, and the HCV genotypes were genotype 1 (55%, n=11/20), genotype 2 (10%, n=2/20) and genotype 3 (35%, n=7/20). The mean CD4+ lymphocyte count was 507.8, and the liver fibrosis stages were (METAVIR) F1 (25%), F2 (55%), F3 (10%) and F4 (10%). The early virological response (EVR) was 60%, the end-of-treatment virological response (EOTVR) was 45% and the SVR was 45%. CONCLUSIONS: The median HCV viral load was high, and in 85% of cases in which highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) was used, none of the patients with F3-F4 fibrosis responded to treatment. Of the twenty patients treated, 45% achieved SVR and 45% achieved EOTVR. Studies that include cases from a wider region are needed to better evaluate these findings.

Doses de fósforo na produção e qualidade de frutos de melão amarelo

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Avaliação de métodos de inoculação de Phytophthora parasitica e mapeamento de QTLs de resistência em híbridos de Citrus sunki vs. Poncirus trifoliata a gomose

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

Caracterização acústica das vogais médias pretônicas do porguês falado em Barcarena/PA

O presente estudo visa caracterizar acusticamente o português falado na Amazônia Paraense, tendo como foco as vogais médias pretônicas da variedade linguística falada no município de Barcarena/PA. Esta pesquisa é vinculada ao projeto Norte Vogais, integrante do PROBRAVO, que tem como um de seus objetivos analisar acusticamente o sistema vocálico átono do Português Brasileiro (PB) falado no estado do Pará. O corpus total é composto por amostras de fala de 18 (dezoito) informantes nativos de Barcarena/PA, estratificados socialmente em sexo (masculino e feminino), faixa etária (15 a 25 anos; 26 a 45 anos e acima de 45 anos) e nível de escolaridade (fundamental, médio e superior). Ao todo, 818 realizações das vogais médias pretônicas orais foram analisadas, sendo 411 anteriores e 407 posteriores. Os dados foram obtidos a partir da leitura de um texto sobre futebol, por meio do qual os informantes selecionados produziram 53 vocábulos contendo as vogais médias em posição pretônica. No tratamento dos dados, foram tomadas medidas de F1 e F2 (Hz) das vogais alvo. Constatou-se, a partir da análise empreendida, que os falantes da variedade estudada dão preferência à manutenção das vogais médias, resultado que corrobora com a hipótese apresentada nos estudos variacionistas realizados pela equipe do projeto Norte Vogais. Além disso, verificou-se que, na fala feminina, em relação às anteriores, a variante alta ocupa quase o mesmo espaço acústico da variante média fechada e as duas mantém uma grande distância da variante média aberta. No caso das posteriores, as mesmas ocupam espaços acústicos bem diferenciados. Em contrapartida, na fala masculina, as variantes anteriores estão bem discriminadas e a variante alta e a média fechada posteriores estão muito próximas, distanciando-se significativamente na variante média aberta posterior. Uma tendência à centralização das vogais também foi observada.

Karyotypic evolution of ribosomal sites in buffalo subspecies and their crossbreed

Domestic buffaloes are divided into two group based on cytogenetic characteristics and habitats: the “river buffaloes” with 2n = 50 and the “swamp buffaloes”, 2n = 48. Nevertheless, their hybrids are viable, fertile and identified by a 2n = 49. In order to have a better characterization of these different cytotypes of buffaloes, and considering that NOR-bearing chromosomes are involved in the rearrangements responsible for the karyotypic differences, we applied silver staining (Ag-NOR) and performed fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) experiments using 18S rDNA as probe. Metaphases were obtained through blood lymphocyte culture of 21 individuals, including river, swamp and hybrid cytotypes. Ag-NOR staining revealed active NORs on six chromosome pairs (3p, 4p, 6, 21, 23, 24) in the river buffaloes, whereas the swamp buffaloes presented only five NOR-bearing pairs (4p, 6, 20, 22, 23). The F1 crossbreed had 11 chromosomes with active NORs, indicating expression of both parental chromosomes. FISH analysis confirmed the numerical divergence identified with Ag-NOR. This result is explained by the loss of the NOR located on chromosome 4p in the river buffalo, which is involved in the tandem fusion with chromosome 9 in this subspecies. A comparison with the ancestral cattle karyotype suggests that the NOR found on the 3p of the river buffalo may have originated from a duplication of ribosomal genes, resulting in the formation of new NOR sites in this subspecies.

Caracterização de solos e substâncias húmicas extraídas de amostras coletadas na região do Rio Aracá-AM: estudos de interações metal-matéria orgânica

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Variabilidade das sub-populações de espermatozóides avaliados pela cinética em sistema computadorizado e combinação de sondas fluorescentes como praâmetro quantitativo do sêmen congelado de ovinos

Pós-graduação em Medicina Veterinária - FMVZ

Influência da idade e de induções hormonais consecutivas no desempenho reprodutivo do pacu, Piaractus mesopotamicus

Pós-graduação em Aquicultura - FCAV

Avaliação in vivo e in vitro do potencial citotóxico, genotóxico e mutagênico da água e do sedimento do rio Corumbataí - São Paulo, Brasil

Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Biologia Celular e Molecular) - IBRC

Genotype effect on carcass and meat quality of lambs finished in irrigated pastures in the semiarid Northeastern Brazil

The aim of this study was to compare four genetic groups of sheep on the carcass and meat quality traits. Thirty-three contemporary and unrelated male lambs, all of single birth were used in the experiment, being thirteen from the Santa Inês (SI) breed, seven from the Brazilian Somali breed (BS), six from the Morada Nova (MN) breed and seven from the ½ Dorper - ½ Morada Nova (F1) crossbreed. The genotypes SI, BS and F1 presented similar performances in relation to hot and cold carcass weights, which values were 10.76±0.53kg and 10.46±0.52kg for SI, 9.20±0.73kg and 8.99±0.71kg for BS, and 9.35±0.73kg and 9.13±0.71kg for F1, respectively. The BS had a better hot carcass yield (47.10±0.88%) and cold carcass yield (46.00±0.87%). Better carcass conformation was observed in SI and F1 (2.73±0.12 and 2.50±0.17, respectively) while the BS presented a better finishing (3.29±0.20). The average for the rib eye area (REA) was 9.94±0.49cm², 8.66±0.67cm², 7.18±0.72cm² and 9.8±0.67cm², and for the carcass compactness index (CCI) it was 0.17±0.01kg/cm, 0.17±0.01kg/cm, 0.11±0.01kg/cm and 0.16±0,01kg/cm, for SI, SB, MN and F1, respectively. There were no significant differences between SI, BS and F1 regarding REA and CCI. Although, in general, the MN presented a relatively lower performance than the other genotypes, this breed had similar carcass yields and fat thickness when compared to SI and F1 and similar conformation and REA in comparison to the BS. Regarding meat quality, no differences were observed between genotypes, except for redness and cooking losses. It is concluded that no one group had a higher or lower performance in all traits analyzed. Moreover, for the management conditions employed in this study, there was evidence of greater specialization in meat production for genotypes SI, BS and F1 when compared to MN, although there are no substantial differences between the four groups regarding meat quality.

Perfil imunofenotípico e nível de citocinas plásmáticas em portadores de hepatite C crônica com diferentes graus de comprometimento hepático

Pós-graduação em Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento (Biotecnologia Médica) - FMB

Bioprospecção dos fungos endofíticos associados à espécie vegetal Eugenia jambolana e utilização de modificador epigenético no cultivo do fungo Lecythophora sp

Pós-graduação em Química - IQ

Single early prenatal lipopolysaccharide exposure impairs striatal monoamines and maternal care in female rats

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

Atributos químicos e matéria orgânica em complexos florestais periodicamente inundados na restinga da marambaia - RJ

This study aimed to evaluate and characterize the chemical properties of soil organic matter under two periodically flooded forest formations on the island of Marambaia, Rio de Janeiro. These formations differ on the degree of soil water saturation, caused by the influence of water table, and in the (F1) formation presents the water table nearer the surface compared to the (F2) formation. Samples were collected in layers from 0.00 to 0.05, 0.05-0.10 and 0.10-0.20 m. The soil properties evaluated were: pH, H+ + Al+ 3, Ca+2, Mg+2, Na+, K+, P, N, total organic carbon (TOC) and base saturation (V%), humin carbon fraction (C-HUM), carbon of humic acid fraction (HAF-C) and fulvic acid fraction carbon (FAF-C). Statistically higher pH values were observed for F1. In F2 there are higher values of Mg+2, P, N and V% value. Correlation was found between the concentrations of Mg+2, N, humic acid and fulvic acid with water table in F1, and water table in F2 with Na+ and K+. Fraction C-HUM was more representative of the total organic carbon, followed by C-HAF and C-FAF. The TOC levels were higher in F1. The C /N ratio was lower in F2, with values ranging between 9 and 12, and F1 were found higher values of this relationship, ranging from 9 to 15. Among the pathways of formation of organic soils in both areas it appears that the major route for organic matter accumulation is the inheritance route.

Analysis of the risk factors relating to cows' resistance to Rhipicephalus microplus ticks during the peripartum

This study aimed to evaluate season, breed, number of lactations and milk production as risk factors relating to Rhipicephalus microplus infestation in dairy cows during the peripartum. Eighty-four animals were randomly selected through proportional stratified sampling. All engorged and partially engorged female R. microplus specimens measuring 4.5-8.0 mm were counted during the 5 weeks before calving, calving week and 5 weeks after calving. The peripartum had a significant effect [calving (p < 0.05; prevalence ratio (PR)= 3.12) and post calving (p < 0.05; PR = 2.02)] on R. microplus infestation. Although the average tick count was higher during the rainy season than during the dry season, there was no significant difference (p = 0.055; PR = 0.63). The average R. microplus count was significantly higher (p < 0.05; PR = 2.10) in Bos taurus animals, followed by F1 (p < 0.05; PR = 1.64) and Girolando (p < 0.05; PR = 1.39). The average R. microplus count was significantly higher (p < 0.05; PR = 0.97) in first-lactation animals, followed by those at the second, third and, fourth or subsequent lactation. Milk production showed a negative correlation with R. microplus count, such that high-production animals were significantly (p = 0.003; PR = 2.04) more vulnerable to infestation than were low-production animals. First-lactation and high-production B. taurus animals had greatest vulnerability to R. microplus infestation over the peripartum period, and constituted the at-risk group in the dairy herd.u