Galanin N-Terminal fragment (1-15) enhances the antidepressant effects of the 5-HT1A receptor agonist 8-OH-DPAT in the Forced Swimming Test.

Galanin and Galanin (1-15) [GAL(1-15)] are implicated in anxiety- and depression related behaviors. Moreover, Galanin modulates 5-HT1A receptor (5-HT1AR) function at autorreceptor and postsynaptic level in the brain. In this study, we have analysed the ability of GAL(1-15) to modulate the effects of the 8-OH-DPAT agonist in the Forced Swimming Test (FST). Groups of rats were assessed in the FST. In the first set of experiments, to evaluate the interactions of 8-OH-DPAT and GAL(1-15), rats received subcutaneously (s.c) the effective doses of 8-OH-DPAT (0.25mg/Kg) 60min before the test and intracerebroventricularly (icv) GAL(1-15)1nmol 15min before the tests alone or in combination. In the second set of experiments, groups of rats received s.c. 8-OH-DPAT (0.125mg/Kg), icv GAL(1-15) 1nmol and icv the GALR2 antagonist M871 3 nmol alone or in combination. The locomotor activity was analysed in the open field test. GAL(1-15) 1nmol enhanced the antidepressant-like effects mediated by the effective dose of the 8-OH-DPAT. GAL(1-15) significantly decreased the immobility (p<0.05) and climbing (p<0.05) and increased the swimming (p<0.01) behaviour induced by an effective dose of 8-OH-DPAT (0.25mg/Kg) in FST. Moreover, after coadministration of GAL(1-15) and threshold dose of 8-OH-DPAT (0.125mg/Kg) a significant decreased appeared in immobility (p<0.01) and climbing (p<0.01) and increased the swimming behavior (p<0.001) vs 8-OH-DPAT group. Moreover, M871 blocked completely this interaction. These results indicate that GAL(1-15) enhances the antidepressant effects induced by 8-OH-DPAT in the FST. These findings may give the basis for the development of novel therapeutic drugs. This study was supported by Junta de Andalucía CVI6476.

Prevalencia de morbilidad osteomuscular en una empresa de servicios de seguridad electrónica en Bogotá, 2013

Introducción: actualmente los trastornos músculo esqueléticos (TME) han sido reconocidos como la principal causa de morbilidad en el trabajo, dado el porcentaje de ausentismo laboral que representa, generando reducción en la productividad de las industrias. Una visión general de la prevalencia en TME puede conducir a métodos de prevención de morbilidad adecuados para cada tipo de proceso, y así proporcionar un ambiente más seguro y confortable. Objetivo: determinar la prevalencia de síntomas osteomusculares y su relación con factores individuales y laborales en personal de una empresa dedicada a prestar servicio de seguridad electrónica en Bogotá, en el 2013. Métodos: estudio de corte transversal, desarrollado a partir de fuentes de datos secundarios de una población de 199 trabajadores, con información sociodemográfica y síntomas osteomusculares en los distintos roles laborales (administrativo, soporte y de campo) de una empresa de servicios en seguridad electrónica. Se usaron métodos estadísticos para el cálculo de proporciones, se estimaron las prevalencias osteomusculares globales, realizando comparaciones por rol laboral. La revisión de la asociación entre factores sociodemográficos y laborales con síntomas de TME se hizo a través de la prueba Chi2 de asociación o prueba exacta de Fisher. Resultados: Los segmentos que mostraron la mayor frecuencia en morbilidad de TME fueron espalda, cuello, muñecas y manos. Se encontró asociación entre dolor de hombros y brazos con la edad, OR=0,54 (IC95%=0,30-0,95) y tiempo en el cargo, OR=1,855(IC 95%=1,043-3,297); entre dolor de cuello y edad OR=0,50 (IC95%=0,27-0,90) y entre dolor de muñecas y/o manos con tiempo en el cargo, OR=1,827(IC 95%=1,032-3,235). Conclusión: Se presenta morbilidad por TME en varios segmentos, derivados de factores (individuales y laborales), ratificando la importancia de hacer intervenciones integrales de control de riesgos para su prevención.

Icatibant, An Inhibitor Of Bradykinin Receptor 2, For Hereditary Angioedema Attacks: Prospective Experimental Single-cohort Study.

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) with C1 inhibitor deficiency manifests as recurrent episodes of edema involving the skin, upper respiratory tract and gastrointestinal tract. It can be lethal due to asphyxia. The aim here was to evaluate the response to therapy for these attacks using icatibant, an inhibitor of the bradykinin receptor, which was recently introduced into Brazil. Prospective experimental single-cohort study on the efficacy and safety of icatibant for HAE patients. Patients with a confirmed HAE diagnosis were enrolled according to symptoms and regardless of the time since onset of the attack. Icatibant was administered in accordance with the protocol that has been approved in Brazil. Symptom severity was assessed continuously and adverse events were monitored. 24 attacks in 20 HAE patients were treated (female/male 19:1; 19-55 years; median 29 years of age). The symptoms were: subcutaneous edema (22/24); abdominal pain (15/24) and upper airway obstruction (10/24). The time taken until onset of relief was: 5-10 minutes (5/24; 20.8%); 10-20 (5/24; 20.8%); 20-30 (8/24; 33.4%); 30-60 (5/24; 20.8%); and 2 hours (1/24; 4.3%). The time taken for complete resolution of symptoms ranged from 4.3 to 33.4 hours. Adverse effects were only reported at injection sites. Mild to moderate erythema and/or feelings of burning were reported by 15/24 patients, itching by 3 and no adverse effects in 6. HAE type I patients who received icatibant responded promptly; most achieved improved symptom severity within 30 minutes. Local adverse events occurred in 75% of the patients.

Sistema de periodização em blocos : efeitos de um modelo de treinamento sobre o desempenho de nadadores velocistas de alto nivel

Universidade Estadual de Campinas . Faculdade de Educação Física

Effect of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14 on the ability of Candida albicans to infect cells and induce inflammation

Vulvovaginal candidiasis, a high prevailing infection worldwide, is mainly caused by Candida albicans. Probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 have been previously shown to be useful as adjuvants in the treatment of women with VVC. In order to demonstrate and better understand the anti-Candida activity of the probiotic microorganisms in an in vitro model simulating vaginal candidiasis, a human vaginal epithelial cell line (VK2/E6E7) was infected with C. albicans 3153a and then challenged with probiotic L. rhamnosus GR-1 and/or L. reuteri RC-14 or their respective CFS (alone or in combination). At each time point (0, 6, 12 and 24 hr), numbers of yeast, lactobacilli and viable VK2/E6E7 cells were determined and, at 0, 6 and 12 hr, the supernatants were measured for cytokine levels. We found that C. albicans induced a significant increase in IL-1 alpha and IL-8 production by VK2/E6E7 cells. After lactobacilli challenge, epithelial cells did not alter IL-6, IL-1 alpha, RANTES and VEGF levels. However, CFS from the probiotic microorganisms up-regulated IL-8 and IP-10 levels secreted by VK2/E6E7 cells infected with C. albicans. At 24 hr of co-incubation, L. reuteri RC-14 alone and in combination with L. rhamnosus GR-1 decreased the yeast population recoverable from the cells. In conclusion, L. reuteri RC-14 alone and together with L. rhamnosus GR-1 have the potential to inhibit the yeast growth and their CFS may up-regulate IL-8 and IP-10 secretion by VK2/E6E7 cells, which could possibly have played an important role in helping to clear VVC in vivo.

Endostatin gene therapy enhances the efficacy of IL-2 in suppressing metastatic renal cell carcinoma in mice

We investigated whether the administration of IL-2 combined with endostatin gene therapy was able to produce additive or even synergistic immunomodulatory activity in a mouse model of metastatic renal carcinoma. Renca cells were injected into the tail vein of BALB/c mice. After 24 h, the animals were randomly divided into four groups (5 mice/group). One group of mice was the control, the second group received treatment with 100,000 UI of Recombinant IL-2 (Proleukin, Chiron) twice a day, 1 day per week during 2 weeks (IL-2), the third group received treatment with a subcutaneous inoculation of 3.6 x 10(6) endostatin-producing cells, and the fourth group received both therapies (IL-2 + ES). Mice were treated for 2 weeks. In the survival studies, 10 mice/group daily, mice were monitored daily until they died. The presence of metastases led to a twofold increase in endostatin levels. Subcutaneous inoculation of NIH/3T3-LendSN cells resulted in a 2.75 and 2.78-fold increase in endostatin levels in the ES and IL-2 + ES group, respectively. At the end of the study, there was a significant decrease in lung wet weight, lung nodules area, and microvascular area (MVA) in all treated groups compared with the control group (P < 0.001). The significant difference in lung wet weight and lung nodules area between groups IL-2 and IL-2 + ES revealed a synergistic antitumor effect of the combined treatment (P < 0.05). The IL-2 + ES therapy Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed that the probability of survival was significantly higher for mice treated with the combined therapy (log-rank test, P = 0.0028). Conjugated therapy caused an increase in the infiltration of CD4, CD8 and CD49b lymphocytes. An increase in the amount of CD8 cells (P < 0.01) was observed when animals received both ES and IL-2, suggesting an additive effect of ES over IL-2 treatment. A synergistic effect of ES on the infiltration of CD4 (P < 0.001) and CD49b cells (P < 0.01) was also observed over the effect of IL-2. Here, we show that ES led to an increase in CD4 T helper cells as well as cytotoxic lymphocytes, such as NK cells and CD8 cells, within tumors of IL-2 treated mice. This means that ES plays a role in supporting the actions of T cells.

As Lucernas Romanas da Praça da Figueira (Lisboa): Contributo para o conhecimento de Olisipo

Dissertação apresentada para cumprimento dos requisitos necessários à obtenção do grau de Mestre em Arqueologia

Changes in the amount of soluble carbohydrates and polyphenols contents during decomposition of Montrichardia arborescens (L.) Schott

This study describes the aerobic and anaerobic decay of soluble carbohydrates (CH) and polyphenols (PH) during decomposition of Montrichardia arborescens. Plant and water samples were collected in the Cantá stream (2º 49' 11" N and 60º 40' 24" W), Roraima, Brazil. Decomposition chambers with plant fragments and stream water were incubated. Particulate organic matter was separated from dissolved organic matter and concentrations of CH and PH were determined. The results were fitted to 1st order kinetics models. CH and PH comprised a labile fraction (LCH and LPH) and a refractory fraction (RCH and RPH). The global coefficient associated with LCH weight loss was 1.4 times higher under aerobic conditions (3.4 day-1) higher than for anaerobic conditions. On the other hand, the RCH decay rate in the anaerobic process (0.0074 day-1) was 1.39 times higher. LCH was estimated to be 92% while RCH amounted to 8%. The LPH anaerobic decay was 5.2 times the value for the aerobic decay (0.67 day-1). For both conditions, RPH decay coefficients were similar (» 0.011 day-1). In the aerobic experiments LPH and RPH corresponded to 92.5% and 7.5%, respectively. For the anaerobic process these contents were 85.5% and 14.5%, respectively. From these results, we concluded that in the Cantá stream, the anaerobic degradation of phenols is more efficient than the aerobic counterpart. The aerobic condition provides a faster decay of carbohydrates of this plant.

Durabilidade de colagens estruturais em elementos de madeira

Dissertação de mestrado integrado em Engenharia Civil

Estudo Pré-Clínico de Stent com Polímero Biodegradável e Liberação Abluminal de Sirolimus

Fundamento: Stents recobertos com polímeros bioabsorvíveis e fármacos apenas na face abluminal podem ser mais seguros que stents farmacológicos com polímeros permanentes. Objetivo: Relatar os resultados experimentais com o stent Inspiron(r), um stent recoberto com polímero bioabsorvível e com liberação de sirolimus apenas da face abluminal, recentemente aprovado para uso clínico. Métodos: Foram implantados 45 stents nas artérias coronárias de 15 porcos e, no 28° dia pós-implante, foram obtidos os resultados angiográficos, de ultrassonografia intracoronária e de histomorfologia. Cinco grupos foram avaliados: Grupo I (nove stents sem recobrimento); Grupo II (nove stents com polímero bioabsorvível nas faces luminal e abluminal); Grupo III (oito stents com polímero bioabsorvível na face abluminal); Grupo IV (nove stents com polímero bioabsorvível e sirolimus nas faces luminal e abluminal); e Grupo V (dez stents com polímero bioabsorvível e sirolimus na face abluminal exclusivamente). Resultados: Observamos, para os Grupos I, II, III, IV e V respectivamente: porcentual de estenose de 29 ± 20; 36 ± 14; 33 ± 19; 22 ± 13 e 26 ± 15 (p = 0,443); perda luminal tardia (em mm) de 1,02 ± 0,60; 1,24 ± 0,48; 1,11 ± 0,54; 0,72 ± 0,44 e 0,78 ± 0,39 (p = 0,253); área neointimal (em mm2) de 2,60 ± 1,99; 2,74 ± 1,51; 2,74 ± 1,30; 1,30 ± 1,14 e 0,97 ± 0,84 (p = 0,001; Grupos IV e V versus Grupos I, II e III) e porcentual de área neointimal de 35 ± 25; 38 ± 18; 39 ± 19; 19 ± 18 e 15 ± 12 (p = 0,001; Grupo IV e V versus Grupo I, II e III). Os escores de injúria e inflamação foram baixos e sem diferenças entre os grupos. Conclusão: O stent Inspiron(r) foi seguro e inibiu significativamente a hiperplasia neointimal observada no 28° dia pós-implante em artérias coronárias porcinas.

Association of hemolytic activity of Pseudomonas entomophila, a versatile soil bacterium, with cyclic lipopeptide production.

Pseudomonas entomophila is an entomopathogenic bacterium that is able to infect and kill Drosophila melanogaster upon ingestion. Its genome sequence suggests that it is a versatile soil bacterium closely related to Pseudomonas putida. The GacS/GacA two-component system plays a key role in P. entomophila pathogenicity, controlling many putative virulence factors and AprA, a secreted protease important to escape the fly immune response. P. entomophila secretes a strong diffusible hemolytic activity. Here, we showed that this activity is linked to the production of a new cyclic lipopeptide containing 14 amino acids and a 3-C(10)OH fatty acid that we called entolysin. Three nonribosomal peptide synthetases (EtlA, EtlB, EtlC) were identified as responsible for entolysin biosynthesis. Two additional components (EtlR, MacAB) are necessary for its production and secretion. The P. entomophila GacS/GacA two-component system regulates entolysin production, and we demonstrated that its functioning requires two small RNAs and two RsmA-like proteins. Finally, entolysin is required for swarming motility, as described for other lipopeptides, but it does not participate in the virulence of P. entomophila for Drosophila. While investigating the physiological role of entolysin, we also uncovered new phenotypes associated with P. entomophila, including strong biocontrol abilities.

Antigenic community between Schistosoma mansoni and Biomphalaria glabrata: on the search of candidate antigens for vaccines

We have previously confirmed the presence of common antigens between Schistosoma mansoni and its vector, Biomphalaria glabrata. Cross-reactive antigens may be important as possible candidates for vaccine and diagnosis of schistosomiasis. Sera from outbred mice immunized with a soluble Biomphalaria glabrata antigen (SBgA) of non-infected B. glabrata snails recognized molecules of SBgA itself and S. mansoni AWA by Western blot. Recognition of several molecules of the SBgA were inhibited by pre-incubation with AWA (16, 30, 36, 60 and 155 kDa). The only specific molecule of AWA, inhibited by SBgA, was a 120 kDa protein. In order to determine which epitopes of SBgA were glycoproteins, the antigen was treated with sodium metaperiodate and compared with non-treated antigen. Molecules of 140, 60 and 24 kDa in the SBgA appear to be glycoproteins. Possible protective effects of the SBgA were evaluated immunizing outbred mice in two different experiments using Freund's Adjuvant. In the first one (12 mice/group), we obtained a significant level of protection (46%) in the total worm load, with a high variability in worm recovery. In the second experiment (22 mice/group), no significant protection was observed, neither in worm load nor in egg production per female. Our results suggest that SBgA constitutes a rich source of candidate antigens for diagnosis and prophylactic studies.

Outbreak of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae: two-year epidemiologic follow-up in a tertiary hospital

This study describes a carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) outbreak that occurred from October 2008-December 2010. Polymerase chain reaction assays were performed to detect the blaKPC gene and molecular typing was performed using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). There were 33 CRKP infections; PFGE revealed five genotypes: genotype A in five (15%), B in 18 (55%), C in eight (24%) and two unique profiles. Genotype B was disseminated in all hospital units and belonged to the same clone identified in 11 different hospitals in the state of São Paulo. Sixteen (48%) patients died. Seven isolates (21%) were resistant to polymyxin B and 45% were resistant to tigecycline and amikacin.

Biologia e tabela de vida de fertilidade de Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera, Thripidae) em morangueiro

O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar aspectos biológicos de Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera, Thripidae), considerando que no Brasil quase nada se sabe sobre a fauna de tripes associada à cultura do morangueiro. Larvas recém-eclodidas foram individualizadas em placas de Petri contendo uma flor ou um folíolo de morangueiro, mantidas em câmaras climatizadas (25 ± 1 ºC; 60 ± 10% U.R.; fotofase de 12 horas) e observadas diariamente até a morte. A duração média do período de larva-adulto e a viabilidade não diferiram entre os insetos mantidos em flores (8,49 ± 0,18 e 68,52%) e folíolos (8,85 ± 0,15 e 75,47%). A fecundidade média diária e a total foram mais elevadas quando flores foram fornecidas como alimento (7,4 ± 0,69 e 70,0 ± 9,18 ovos/fêmea respectivamente), em comparação com folíolos (2,4 ± 0,35 e 8,5 ± 1,13 ovos/fêmea, respectivamente). A duração média, em dias, do período embrionário foi distinta entre os indivíduos mantidos em flores (3,7 ± 0,03) e em folíolos (4,4 ± 0,09). A viabilidade dos ovos depositados sobre flores e folíolos foi de 65,5 ± 0,01 e 74,3 ± 0,03%, respectivamente. Com base na tabela de vida de fertilidade, o desempenho dos indivíduos de F. occidentalis que se desenvolveram em flores foi melhor, com uma geração (ovo-adulto) completada a cada 20,92 dias, a 25 °C.