Protective effect of gamma-tocopherol-enriched diet on N-methyl-N-nitrosourea-induced epithelial dysplasia in rat ventral prostate

Despite recent advances in understanding the biological basis ofprostate cancer (PCa), the management of this disease remains a challenge. Chemoprotective agents have been usedto protect against or eradicateprostatemalignancies. Here, we investigated the protective effect of -tocopherol on N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU)-induced epithelial dysplasia in the rat ventral prostate (VP). Thirty-two male Wistar rats were divided into four groups (n=8): control (CT): healthy control animals fed a standard diet; control+-tocopherol (CT+T): healthy control animals without intervention fed a -tocopherol-enriched diet (20mg/kg); N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU): rats that received a single dose of MNU (30mg/kg) plus testosterone propionate (100mg/kg) and were fed a standard diet; and MNU+-tocopherol (MNU+T): rats that received the same treatment of MNU plus testosterone and were fed with a -tocopherol-enriched diet (20mg/kg). After 4months, the VPs were excised to evaluate morphology, cell proliferation and apoptosis, as well as cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2), glutathione-S-transferase-pi (GST-pi) and androgen receptor (AR) protein expression, and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) activity. An increase in the incidence of epithelial dysplasias, such as stratified epithelial hyperplasia and squamous metaplasia, in the MNU group was accompanied by augmented cell proliferation, GST-pi and Cox-2 immunoexpression and pro-MMP-9 activity. Stromal thickening and inflammatory foci were also observed. The administration of a -tocopherol-enriched diet significantly attenuated the adverse effects of MNU in the VP. The incidence of epithelial dysplasia decreased, along with the cell proliferation index, GST-pi and Cox-2 immunoexpression. The gelatinolytic activity of pro-MMP-9 returned to the levels observed for the CT group. These results suggest that -tocopherol acts as a protective agent against MNU-induced prostatic disorders in the rat ventral prostate.

Use of classification in organizing and searching the web

The traditional characteristics and challenges for organizing and searching information on the World Wide Web are outlined and reviewed. The classification features of two of these methods, such as Google, in the case of automated search engines, and Yahoo! Directory, in the case of subject directories are analyzed. Recent advances in the Semantic Web, particularly the growing application of ontologies and Linked Data are also reviewed. Finally, some problems and prospects related to the use of classification and indexing on the World Wide Web are discussed, emphasizing the need of rethinking the role of classification in the organization of these resources and outlining the possibilities of applying Ranganathan's facet theories of classification.

Respiratory manifestations of panic disorder in animals and humans: A unique opportunity to understand how supramedullary structures regulate breathing

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

Proteins, Pathogens, and Failure at the Composite-Tooth Interface

In the United States, composites accounted for nearly 70% of the 173.2 million composite and amalgam restorations placed in 2006 (Kingman et al., 2012), and it is likely that the use of composite will continue to increase as dentists phase out dental amalgam. This trend is not, however, without consequences. The failure rate of composite restorations is double that of amalgam (Ferracane, 2013). Composite restorations accumulate more biofilm, experience more secondary decay, and require more frequent replacement. In vivo biodegradation of the adhesive bond at the composite-tooth interface is a major contributor to the cascade of events leading to restoration failure. Binding by proteins, particularly gp340, from the salivary pellicle leads to biofilm attachment, which accelerates degradation of the interfacial bond and demineralization of the tooth by recruiting the pioneer bacterium Streptococcus mutans to the surface. Bacterial production of lactic acid lowers the pH of the oral microenvironment, erodes hydroxyapatite in enamel and dentin, and promotes hydrolysis of the adhesive. Secreted esterases further hydrolyze the adhesive polymer, exposing the soft underlying collagenous dentinal matrix and allowing further infiltration by the pathogenic biofilm. Manifold approaches are being pursued to increase the longevity of composite dental restorations based on the major contributing factors responsible for degradation. The key material and biological components and the interactions involved in the destructive processes, including recent advances in understanding the structural and molecular basis of biofilm recruitment, are described in this review. Innovative strategies to mitigate these pathogenic effects and slow deterioration are discussed.

Desenvolvimento de uma plataforma analítica para aquisição de imagens moleculares em tecidos animais

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Sistema biométrico de identificação de pessoas utilizando poros e minúcias de impressões digitais

The use of physical characteristics for human identification is known as biometrics. Among the many biometrics traits available, the fingerprint is the most widely used. The fingerprint identification is based on the impression patterns, as the pattern of ridges and minutiae, characteristics of first and second levels respectively. The current identification systems use these two levels of fingerprint features due to the low cost of the sensors. However, the recent advances in sensor technology, became possible to use third level features present within the ridges, such as the perspiration pores. Recent studies show that the use of third-level features can increase security and fraud protection in biometric systems, since they are difficult to reproduce. In addition, recent researches have also focused on multibiometrics recognition due to its many advantages. The goal of this research project was to apply fusion techniques for fingerprint recognition in order to combine minutia, ridges and pore-based methods and, thus, provide more robust biometrics recognition systems, and also to develop an automated fingerprint identification system using these three methods of recognition. We evaluated isotropic-based and adaptive-based automatic pore extraction methods, and the fusion of pore-based method with the identification methods based on minutiae and ridges. The experiments were performed on the public database PolyUHRF and showed a reduction of approximately 16% in the EER compared to the best results obtained by the methods individually

Desenvolvimento de um sistema on line de avaliação para análise do desempenho escolar: um estudo exploratório sobre avaliação em rede

Pós-graduação em Educação Escolar - FCLAR

Use of salivary biomarkers for diagnosis of periodontal disease activity: a literature review

Periodontal disease is an infectious disease characterized by the connective tissue destruction and consequent alveolar bone loss in response to plaque accumulation on the tooth surface. The clinical diagnosis of periodontal disease is based both on clinical examination involving the evaluation of probing depth and radiographic examination of alveolar bone loss but these examinations are not enough to determine the activity of the disease process. For that reason, it has been proposed to seek predictive disease markers in an attempt to assess the disease activity and so, evaluate the efficacy of the periodontal disease treatment. The aim of this review is to present recent advances in the development of proteomic, genomics and microbial biomarkers and potential clinical applications. It was concluded that periodontal treatment based on assessing the levels of salivary biomarkers emerges as a promising method in near future and will become an integral part of the evaluation of periodontal health.

Control of respiratory and cardiovascular functions by leptin

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

The benefits of soft sensor and multi-rate control for the implementation of wireless networked control systems

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

Desenvolvimento de um sistema de SHM sem fio e com compensação automática de temperatura

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Elétrica - FEIS

Desenvolvimento de método por cromatografia líquida bidimensional abrange para documentação química de extratos vegetais e estudos metabolômicos

Pós-graduação em Química - IQ

Encefalopatia hepática: relatório da 1º reunião monotemática da Sociedade Brasileira de Hepatologia

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a functional disorder of the central nervous system (CNS) associated with liver failure, either end-stage chronic liver disease or fulminant hepatic failure. Its pathogenesis remains complex and poorly understood. In view of recent advances in the management of HE, the Brazilian Society of Hepatology endorsed a monothematic meeting regarding HE in order to gather experts in the field to discuss related data and to draw evidence-based recommendations concerning: management of HE and intracranial hypertension in FHF, treatment of episodic HE in cirrhosis, controversies in the management of EH including difficult to treat cases and diagnostic and treatment challenges for minimal HE. The purpose of this review is to summarize the lectures and recommendations made by the panel of experts of the Brazilian Society of Hepatology.

Análise de oportunidades de poligeração em edificações e cidades

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Book Review of Cetacean Societies: Field Studies Of Whales And Dolphins Edited by I. Mann, R. C. Connor, P. L. Tyack & H. Whitehead

Studying the sociobiology and behavioral ecology of cetaceans is particularly challenging due in large part to the aquatic environment in which they live. Nevertheless, many of the obstacles traditionally associated with data gathering on tree-ranging whales, dolphins and porpoises are rapidly being overcome, and are now far less formidable. During the past several decades, marine mammal scientists equipped with innovative research methods and new technologies have taken field-based behavioral studies to a new level of sophistication. In some cases, as is true for bottlenose dolphins, killer whales, sperm whales and humpback whales, modern research paradigms in the marine environment are comparable to present-day studies of terrestrial mammal social systems. Cetacean Society stands testament to the relatively recent advances in marine mammal science, and to those scientists, past and present, whose diligence has been instrumental in shaping the discipline.