Amplificação de DNA circulante para o diagnóstico da cisticercose bovina

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Phylogenetic analysis of 16S mitochondrial DNA data in sloths and anteaters

We sequenced part of the 16S rRNA mitochondrial gene in 17 extant taxa of Pilosa (sloths and anteaters) and used these sequences along with GenBank sequences of both extant and extinct sloths to perform phylogenetic analysis based on parsimony, maximum-likelihood and Bayesian methods. By increasing the taxa density for anteaters and sloths we were able to clarify some points of the Pilosa phylogenetic tree. Our mitochondrial 16S results show Bradypodidae as a monophyletic and robustly supported clade in all the analysis. However, the Pleistocene fossil Mylodon darwinii does not group significantly to either Bradypodidae or Megalonychidae which indicates that trichotomy best represents the relationship between the families Mylodontidae, Bradypodidae and Megalonychidae. Divergence times also allowed us to discuss the taxonomic status of Cyclopes and the three species of three-toed sloths, Bradypus tridactylus, Bradypus variegatus and Bradypus torquatus. In the Bradypodidae the split between Bradypus torquatus and the proto-Bradypus tridactylus / B. variegatus was estimated as about 7.7 million years ago (MYA), while in the Myrmecophagidae the first offshoot was Cyclopes at about 31.8 MYA followed by the split between Myrmecophaga and Tamandua at 12.9 MYA. We estimate the split between sloths and anteaters to have occurred at about 37 MYA.

Life quality assessment of patients after phacoemulsification or extracapsular cataract extraction

Métodos: O trabalho foi realizado no Serviço de Oftalmologia do Hospital Universitário Bettina Ferro de Souza, Belém, Pará, Brasil. O desenho experimental consistiu em séries de casos comparados. O estudo incluiu 60 indivíduos com catarata. Metade dos pacientes foi submetida à extração de catarata extracapsular convencional (ECEE) e a outra metade à extração de catarata por facoemulsificação (PHACO). Os pacientes foram entrevistados usando-se o questionário Visual Function 14 (VF-14) para determinar a qualidade de vida antes e 30 dias depois da cirurgia. Os resultados do exame oftalmológico foram registrados no arquivo de cada paciente e disponibilizados ao longo do trabalho. Foram usados análise de variância simples e comparação post-hoc com teste de Tukey e teste dos sinais para a análise estatística dos resultados. Resultados: O índice de satisfação médio VF-14 foi 38,0 e 89,4 antes e após a cirurgia, respectivamente, para o grupo ECEE, sendo 47,0 e 94,1 para o grupo PHACO. A melhora na qualidade de vida após a cirurgia foi significativa em ambos os grupos de pacientes (p<0,0001), tendo sido semelhante em ambos os grupos. Conclusão: A melhora observada na qualidade de vida avaliada foi significativa e diretamente relacionada à satisfação dos pacientes com os resultados da cirurgia, a qual também foi significativa (p<0,0001). A satisfação e a qualidade de vida são fatores individuais. Consequentemente, as respostas dos pacientes relativas à melhoria em cada atividade são subjetivas e dependem unicamente da percepção individual.

Análise das relações filogenéticas entre espécies da subfamília Bryconinae (Ostariophysi: Characiformes: Characidae) utiliando sequeências de DNA mitocrondrial e nuclear

Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Zoologia) - IBB

Alterações genéticas relacionadas à obesidade: danos no DNA, perfil de expressão e polimorfismos gênicos

Pós-graduação em Patologia - FMB

DNA damage and antioxidant status in medical residents occupationally exposed to waste anesthetic gases

PURPOSE:To investigate the effects of occupational exposure to waste anesthetic gases on genetic material and antioxidant status in professionals during their medical residency. METHODS:The study group consisted of 15 medical residents from Anesthesiology and Surgery areas, of both genders, mainly exposed to isoflurane and to a lesser degree to sevoflurane and nitrous oxide; the control group consisted of 15 young adults not exposed to anesthetics. Blood samples were drawn from professionals during medical residency (eight, 16 and 22 months of exposure to waste anesthetic gases). DNA damage was evaluated by comet assay, and antioxidant defense was assessed by total thiols and the enzymes glutathione peroxidase (GPX), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). RESULTS:When comparing the two groups, DNA damage was significantly increased at all time points evaluated in the exposed group; plasma thiols increased at 22 months of exposure and GPX was higher at 16 and 22 months of exposure. CONCLUSION:Young professionals exposed to waste anesthetic gases in operating rooms without adequate scavenging system have increased DNA damage and changes in redox status during medical residency. There is a need to minimize exposure to inhalation anesthetics and to provide better work conditions.

Development of a Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Method for Detection of Histoplasma capsulatum DNA in Clinical Samples

Improved methods for the detection of Histoplasma capsulatum are needed in regions with limited resources in which the organism is endemic, where delayed diagnosis of progressive disseminated histoplasmosis (PDH) results in high mortality rates. We have investigated the use of a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay to facilitate rapid inexpensive molecular diagnosis of this disease. Primers for LAMP were designed to amplify the Hcp100 locus of H. capsulatum. The sensitivity and limit of detection were evaluated using DNA extracted from 91 clinical isolates of known geographic subspecies, while the assay specificity was determined using DNA extracted from 50 other fungi and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Urine specimens (n = 6) collected from HIV-positive individuals with culture- and antigen-proven histoplasmosis were evaluated using the LAMP assay. Specimens from healthy persons (n = 10) without evidence of histoplasmosis were used as assay controls. The Hcp100 LAMP assay was 100% sensitive and specific when tested with DNA extracted from culture isolates. The median limit of detection was <= 6 genomes (range, 1 to 300 genomes) for all except one geographic subspecies. The LAMP assay detected Hcp100 in 67% of antigen-positive urine specimens (4/6 specimens), and results were negative for Hcp100 in all healthy control urine specimens. We have shown that the Hcp100 LAMP assay is a rapid affordable assay that can be used to expedite culture confirmation of H. capsulatum in regions in which PDH is endemic. Further, our results indicate proof of the concept that the assay can be used to detect Histoplasma DNA in urine. Further evaluation of this assay using body fluid samples from a larger patient population is warranted.

Genotoxic assessment of Rubus imperialis (Rosaceae) extract in vivo and its potential chemoprevention against cyclophosphamide-induced DNA damage

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

Filling of extraction sockets of feline maxillary canine teeth with autogenous bone or bioactive glass

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

A digital evaluation of alveolar ridge preservation at implants placed immediately into extraction sockets: an experimental study in the dog

Objective: To compare with pristine sites bone resorption and soft tissue adaptation at implants placed immediately into extraction sockets (IPIES) in conjunction with deproteinized bovine bone mineral (DBBM) particles and a collagen membrane.Material and methods: The mesial root of the third premolar in the left side of the mandible was endodontically treated (Test). Flaps were elevated, the tooth hemi-sectioned, and the distal root removed to allow the immediate installation of an implant into the extraction socket in a lingual position. DBBM particles were placed into the defect and on the outer contour of the buccal bony ridge, concomitantly with the placement of a collagen membrane. A non-submerged healing was allowed. The premolar on the right side of the mandible was left in situ (control). Ground sections from the center of the implant as well as from the center of the distal root of the third premolar of the opposite side of the mandible were obtained. The histological image from the implant site was superimposed to that of the contralateral pristine distal alveolus, and dimensional variation evaluated for the hard tissue and the alveolar ridge.Results: After 3 months of healing, both histological and photographic evaluation revealed a reduction of hard and soft tissue dimensions.Conclusion: The contour augmentation performed with DBBM particles and a collagen membrane at the buccal aspects of implants placed IPIES was not able to maintain the tissue volume.

Sex chromosome composition revealed in Characidium fishes (Characiformes: Crenuchidae) by molecular cytogenetic methods

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

Mimosa (Mimosa caesalpiniifolia) prevents oxidative DNA damage induced by cadmium exposure in Wistar rats

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

Candida albicans: genotyping methods and clade related phenotypic characteristics

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

The performance of conventional and fluorescence-based methods for occlusal caries detection: an in vivo study with histological validation

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES

Deproteinized Bovine Bone Mineral or Autologous Bone at Dehiscence Type Defects at Implants Installed Immediately into Extraction Sockets: An Experimental Study in Dogs

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