Spermatogenesis and nucleolar activity in Triatoma klugi (Triatomine, Heteroptera)

Triatoma klugi is a Chagas disease vector in the Rio Grande do Sul State. Triatominae chromosomes are holocentric and sex chromosomes segregation is post-reductional. In this paper we describe the karyotype of male T. klugi and a meiotic analysis including the nucleolar behavior during spermatogenesis. Testis cells were analyzed after lacto-acetic orcein and silver nitrate staining. Two autosomes and the heterochromosomes presented nucleolar activity (Ag-NORs) during diplotene-diakinesis. The analysis of metaphase I and II revealed a karyotype with 2n = 20+XY. In metaphase I a prominent nucleolar mass was observed in the cell periphery and small silver grains were detected in metaphase II. During anaphase, the chromosomes segregated in parallel and a typical holocentric late migration behavior was observed. The restoration of the nucleolus was an important feature in this phase. During telophase nucleolar masses persisted and in early spermiogenesis the spermatids presented a small peripheral mass until elongation. The present study is a contribution to the study of chromatin behavior and nucleolar persistence in meiosis.

Seasonal fluctuations of bacterial population and microbial activity in soils cultivated with eucalyptus and pinus

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

Obesity and Physical Activity in the Daily Life of Patients with COPD

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Spontaneous triploidy and NOR activity in Eigenmannia sp. (Pisces, Sternopygidae) from the Amazon basin

The occurrence of a natural triploid among diploid individuals of Eigenmannia sp from the Amazon basin is described. The diploid individuals had 2n=31 and 32 chromosomes, the difference in chromosome number being due to a Robertsonian rearrangement. The triploid individual presented 2n=46 and had two fused acrocentrics. NOR activity was present in the three homologues of triploid and a NOR polymorphism was detected in the triploid and diploids. © 1985 Dr W. Junk Publishers.

Changes in protein fractions, trypsin inhibitor and proteolytic activity in the cotyledons of germinating chickpea

The chickpea seed germination was carried out in 6 days. During the period it was observed a little variation on total nitrogen contents, however the non protein nitrogen was double. A decrease of 19.1 and 20.6% in relation to total nitrogen was observed to the total globulin and albumin fractions, respectively. The gel filtration chromatography on Sepharose CL-6B and SDS-PAGE demonstrated alterations on the distribution patterns of the albumin and total globulin fractions between the initial and the sixth day of germination suggesting the occurrence of protein degradation in the germination process.The assay for acid protease only appeared in the albumin fraction with casein and chickpea total globulin as substrates, whereas the former was more degradated than the latter, however the transformations detected in the protein fractions apppear indicated that others enzymes could be acting during the process. The trypsin inhibitor activity had a little drop after six day of germination indicating a possible increase on the digestibility of the proteins.

A comparative study of protein and enzymatic activity in venoms of some common wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) from São Paulo State

The Hymenoptera Aculeata venoms, with few exceptions, have been poorly studied and characterized. Nevertheless, they have raised increasing interest due to their medical importance, since accidents with these insects are fairly frequent in Brazil and may cause severe allergic reactions. The objectives of the present work were the quantitative characterization of the main allergenic enzymes present in the venom of the species Polybia paulista, Polybia ignobilis, Polistes simillimus, and Agelaia pallipes pallipes through biochemical assays for the determination of total protein content, as well as the level of the enzymatic activity of phospholipase, hyaluronidase, acid phosphatase and esterase. These results, in addition to providing biochemical knowledge about the venom of the species in question, also supply studies that allow phylogenetic inferences among them.

Induction and secretion of elastinolytic and proteolytic activity in cultures of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis

P. brasiliensis parasitizes various human tissues and proteinases exported by this fungus may allow it to metabolize and invade host tissues. The influence of the culture medium on the production of proteinases by P. brasiliensis isolates was studied and the export of these enzymes was followed as a function of culture time. The fungus was grown in neopeptone, BSA, elastin or collagen medium. The culture medium was assayed for azocollytic, elastinolytic and caseinolytic activity. Proteolytic activity was also analysed by electrophoresis of the culture medium on gelatin and casein substrate gels. P. brasiliensis expressed relatively high levels of azocoll, elastin and casein degrading activity in all types of medium, except in neopeptone medium. Generally, expression of azocollytic activity peaked during the third week of culture and caseinolytic activity during the fourth week of culture. Azocollytic activity was highest at pH 4.0 and caseinolytic activity at pH 8.0. Elastinolytic activity was also highest at pH 8.0. This activity, as well as the others, may provide the fungus with a source of carbon and nitrogen and may also be responsible for the invasion of host tissues, such as pulmonary elastic fiber, by P. brasiliensis.

Heteropicnotic chromatin and nucleolar activity in meiosis and spermiogenesis of Limnogonus aduncus (Heteroptera, Gerridae): a stained nucleolar organizing region that can serve as a model for studying chromosome behavior.

Males of Limnogonus aduncus were found to have the sex chromosome system X0 and chromosome number 2n = 23 (22A + X0). Testis cells were stained with lacto-acetic orcein and silver nitrate so that changes in the morphology and degree of staining of the heteropicnotic chromatin and the nucleolar material could be observed during meiosis and spermiogenesis. These structures share the same nuclear position and could be seen until almost the end of spermiogenesis. A chromosome region stained with silver nitrate was indicative of a nucleolar organizing region (NOR), which is rarely detected in Heteroptera with this technique. The NOR is located at one end of a single member of an autosome pair. The finding of this stained region enabled us to observe that the telomeric association of sister chromatids that characterizes the Heteroptera does not include the chromosome ends, where NORs are located; we also observed in anaphase that the chromosome end through which it is pulled to the pole is the one containing the NOR. Another observation was that the single nucleolar body present in the cells at anaphase never goes to the cell pole that does not receive the NOR. We conclude that L. aduncus is a good model for cytogenetic studies involving nucleolar activity and also may be useful for studying the mechanisms of activation and inactivation of kinetic activity at the chromosome ends. Although the chromosomes of Heteroptera are known to be holocentric, whether kinetic activity is restricted to one or involves both chromosome ends is still not well understood.

Perceived quality of life and physical activity in Brazilian older adults

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between self-perceived quality of life and physical activity in Brazilian older adults. We investigated 199 individuals (117 men and 82 women) aged between 60 to 70 years old, employees of a public university. Physical activity was estimated by the short version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Self-perceived quality of life was assessed using the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-Bref) questionnaire composed of four domains: physical, psychological, social relationship and environment. There was no difference in self-perceived quality of life between men and women. In contrast, quality of life was associated with physical activity even after adjustment for gender, schooling and income. The physical domain presented the strongest association with physical inactivity (Odds Ratio = 2.70, 95% CI 1.87-3.52). Only the environment domain evaluated by WHOQOL-Bref was not associated to physical inactivity. Among the older, improved self-perceived quality of life is positively associated to physical activity. © FTCD/FIP-MOC.

Assessment of the chemical profile, polyphenol content and antioxidant activity in extracts of Psidium Guajava L. fruits

Fruits and vegetables that are rich in polyphenolic compounds, especially flavonoids, may be used to benefit human health by reducing the incidence of cancers and cardiovascular diseases. Previous studies have demonstrated the antioxidant activity of guava, a fruit widely available in Brazil, possibly due to the presence of these polyphenolic compounds. The aim of this study was to analyze the total phenolic and flavonoid contents of various guava extracts, assay their antioxidant activity and record the chromatographic profiles of these extracts, to determine a simple and low way of extracting these compounds efficiently from guava. The results confirmed the presence of polyphenols in guava, including flavonoids, and its antioxidant activity. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that the 70% ethanol (by volume) was the most effective solvent to extract these compounds from the fruit, among those tested.

Do Atopobium vaginae, Megasphaera sp. and Leptotrichia sp. change the local innate immune response and sialidase activity in bacterial vaginosis?

Objectives: To investigate if the participation of Atopobium vaginae, Megasphaera sp. and Leptotrichia sp. in the bacterial community of bacterial vaginosis (BV) is associated with distinct patterns of this condition. Methods: In this cross-sectional controlled study, 205 women with BV and 205 women with normal flora were included. Vaginal rinsing samples were obtained for measuring the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and bacterial sialidases. Real-time PCR was used to quantify the BV-associated bacteria and to estimate the total bacterial load using the 16S rRNA. Principal component analysis (PCA) using the measured parameters was performed to compare the BV samples with lower and higher loads of the species of interest. Results: Higher bacterial load (p<0.001), levels of interleukin 1-β (p<0.001) and sialidase activity (p<0.001) were associated with BV. Women with BV and higher relative loads of A vaginae, Megasphaera sp. and Leptotrichia sp. presented increased sialidase activity, but unchanged cytokine levels. PCA analysis did not indicate a different pattern of BV according to the loads of A vaginae, Megasphaera sp. and Leptotrichia sp. Conclusions: Greater participation of A vaginae, Megasphaera sp. and Leptotrichia sp. in vaginal bacterial community did not indicate a less severe form of BV; moreover, it was associated with increased sialidase activity.

Anthocyanins, pigment stability and antioxidant activity in jabuticaba [myrciaria cauliflora (Mart) O Berg]

Different solvents were evaluated for the extraction of jabuticaba anthocyanin pigments, identifying, quantifying and verifying the stability of the anthocyanins, as well as the conduction of three antioxidant activity assays and determination of the vitamin C levels. The maceration with ethanol acidified with HCl 1.5 mol L-1 (85:15) provides better pigment extraction and stability. The skin is anthocyanin rich, presenting 1.59 and 2.06 g 100 g-1 of dry matter in the Paulista and Sabará varieties, respectively. Cyanidin 3-glucoside is the majority pigment of the skins, followed by delphinidin 3-glucoside. The highest level of vitamin C was found in the skins and seeds of both varieties. It was verified that the skins, presented more antioxidant activity, in free radical capture, as well as in retarding the lipid oxidation process.

Chemical composition and lipoxygenase activity in soybeans (Glycine max L. Merr.) submitted to gamma irradiation

Soybeans are an important food due to their functional and nutritional characteristics. However, consumption by western populations is limited by the astringent taste of soybeans and their derivatives which results from the action of lipoxygenase, an enzyme activated during product processing. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of gamma irradiation on the chemical composition and specific activity of lipoxygenase in different soybean cultivars. Soybeans were stored in plastic bags and irradiated with doses of 2.5, 5 and 10 kGy. The chemical composition (moisture, protein, lipids, ashes, crude fiber, and carbohydrates) and lipoxygenase specific activity were determined for each sample. Gamma irradiation induced a small increase of protein and lipid content in some soybean cultivars, which did not exceed the highest content of 5% and 26%, respectively, when compared to control. Lipoxygenase specific activity decreased in the three cultivars with increasing gamma irradiation dose. In conclusion, the gamma irradiation doses used are suitable to inactivate part of lipoxygenase while not causing expressive changes in the chemical composition of the cultivars studied. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.