Cardiovascular disease risk profiles among 'healthy' siblings of patients with early-onset cardiovascular disease:Application of the new SCORE system

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) occurs more frequently in individuals with a family history of premature CVD. Within families the demographics of CVD are poorly described. DESIGN: We examined the risk estimation based on the Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) system and the Joint British Guidelines (JBG) for older unaffected siblings of patients with premature CVD (onset ≤55 years for men and ≤60 years for women). METHODS: Between August 1999 and November 2003 laboratory and demographic details were collected on probands with early-onset CVD and their older unaffected siblings. Siblings were screened for clinically overt CVD by a standard questionnaire and 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG). RESULTS: A total of 790 siblings was identified and full demographic details were available for 645. The following siblings were excluded: 41 with known diabetes mellitus; seven with random plasma glucose of 11.1 mmol/l or greater; and eight with ischaemic ECG. Data were analysed for 589 siblings from 405 families. The mean age was 55.0 years, 43.1% were men and 28.7% were smokers. The mean total serum cholesterol was 5.8 mmol/l and hypertension was present in 49.4%. Using the SCORE system, when projected to age 60 years, 181 men (71.3%) and 67 women (20.0%) would be eligible for risk factor modification. Using JBG with a 10-year risk of 20% or greater, 42 men (16.5%) and four women (1.2%) would be targeted. CONCLUSIONS: Large numbers of these asymptomatic individuals meet both European and British guidelines for the primary prevention of CVD and should be targeted for risk factor modification. The prevalence of individuals defined as eligible for treatment is much higher when using the SCORE system. © 2007 European Society of Cardiology.

Approaches of the Action Art in early childhood Education. Some other ways of interrelation within the educational system

This Artistic research project was created in order to test how to put into practice approaches between Contemporary Art and University daily life. In this particular case, between Action Art and the students at the Early Childhood Education University in Alicante. The generalized lack of awareness about changes which took place in Art in the XX century, demonstrates the lack of interest on the part of students about Contemporary Art, and therefore, it is still remarkable, the distance between Art and life. Thus, as artists and teachers, the chance to carry out specific experiments is open within everyday educational life. Therefore, through Action Art a communicative interaction is possible to be achieved as an active learning process and, in such way, change the usual existing relationships in a predetermine context, creating this way, future Contemporary Art consumers and transmitters.

Early onset of changes to the reproductive system of Fasciola hepatica following in vivo treatment with triclabendazole

Lambs infected with the Cullompton triclabendazole (ICBZ)-susceptible isolate of Fasciola hepatica were treated with TCBZ at a dosage of 10 mg/kg at 16 weeks post-infection. Adult flukes were recovered from the liver at 3 h, 24 h, 48 h and 60 h post-treatment (pt). They were processed for histological analysis of the uterus, Mehlis' gland, vitellaria, ovary and testis. At 3 h pt, the flukes were essentially similar to the controls and were producing normal eggs. Egg production had ceased by 24 h pt. At this time period, the cells of the Mehlis' gland showed some evidence of vacuolation, but otherwise were relatively normal. A shift in the population of vitelline cells towards mature cells was observed at 24 h pt, and this trend continued at later time-periods. It was accompanied by a breakdown of the cells and the presence of apoptotic bodies. Marked changes to the ovary were first noted at 48 h Pt, as evidenced by vacuolation and the presence of apoptotic bodies. Some disruption to the testis was seen at 24 h pt, with a reduction in the population of spermatogenic cells, the appearance of apoptotic bodies and some peripheral vacuolation of the tubules. These abnormalities increased in severity with longer time periods pt. The results bring forward the time-line of cessation of egg production by 24 h, demonstrating that this process is affected very rapidly pt. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A practical miniature long-term bone marrow culture system for investigating early myelodysplasia

A method was devised to grow haemopoietic cells in long-term bone marrow culture (LTBMC) which requires only 1 x 10(6) cells/culture. Such miniature cultures were used to study growth patterns of marrow from patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Consistent differences in LTBMC cellularity and cellular composition were noted between MDS and normal marrow. These differences were accentuated by rGM-CSF. The criteria which distinguished between and MDS marrows were: cell count at weeks 1 and 4, % neutrophils and % blasts. In 10 patients with unexplained macrocytosis or pancytopenia miniature LTBMC results clearly segregated into either 'normal' or 'MDS' growth patterns. Miniature LTBMC with rGM-CSF may therefore be a useful diagnostic test for early MDS.

Mapping the human record in the British early Palaeolithic: evidence from the Solent River system

The lithic record from the Solent River and its tributaries is re-examined in the light of recent interpretations about the changing demography of Britain during the Lower and early Middle Palaeolithic. Existing models of the terrace stratigraphies in the Solent and its tributary areas are reviewed and the corresponding archaeological record (specifically handaxes) for each terrace is assessed to provide models for the relative changes in human occupation through time. The Bournemouth area is studied in detail to examine the effects of quarrying and urbanisation on collection history and on the biases it introduces to the record. In addition, the effects of reworking of artefacts from higher into lower terraces are assessed, and shown to be a significant problem. Although there is very little absolute dating available for the Solent area, a cautious interpretation of the results from these analyses would suggest a pre-Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 12 date for the first appearance of humans, a peak in population between MIS 12 and 10, and a decline in population during MIS 9 and 8. Owing to poor contextual data and small sample sizes, it is not clear when Levallois technology was introduced. This record is compared and contrasted to that from the Thames Valley. It is suggested that changes in the palaeogeography of Britain, in particular land connections to the continent, might have contributed to differences in the archaeological records from the Solent and Thames regions.

Conceptus-mediated endometrial vascular changes during early pregnancy in mares: an anatomic, histomorphometric, and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor system immunolocalization and gene expression study

This work examined how the conceptus modulates endometrial tissue remodeling and vascular development prior to implantation in mares. A macroscopic uterine examination was completed at day 21 of pregnancy. In situ morphology revealed that the endometrium involved in encroachment is restricted to the dorsal endometrium immediately overlying the yolk sac. The amount of stromal area occupied by blood vessels and the number of endometrial glands were increased during early pregnancy. Endometrial histomorphometry as well as the endometrial mRNA abundance and immunolocalization of VEGF, VEGFR1, VEGFR2, and Ki-67 was completed at days 14 and 21 of pregnancy, at day 10 of the estrous cycle, and during estrus. No obvious differences in VEGF and VEGFR1 protein localization were detected between pregnant and cycling mares but differential staining pattern for VEGFR2 and Ki-67 was observed. VEGFR2 localized to luminal and glandular epithelium of pregnant mares, while luminal epithelium was negative in cycling mares. Ki-67 staining was weak during the luteal phase but exhibited prominent luminal epithelium staining during estrus. In pregnant mares, all endometrial layers were Ki-67 positive. Quantitative RT-PCR revealed a greater abundance of VEGF mRNA during pregnancy. VEGFR2 transcript abundance was greatest in pregnant mares on day 21. This study supports the concept that the conceptus plays an active role in directing vasculogenesis within the uterus and thereby establishing hemotrophic nutrition that supports pregnancy after implantation. Reproduction (2011) 142 593-603

Early life environmental and pharmacological stressors result in persistent dysregulations of the serotonergic system

Dysregulations in the brain serotonergic system and exposure to environmental stressors have been implicated in the development of major depressive disorder. Here, we investigate the interactions between the stress and serotonergic systems by characterizing the behavioral and biochemical effects of chronic stress applied during early-life or adulthood in wild type (WT) mice and mice with deficient tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (TPH2) function. We showed that chronic mild stress applied in adulthood did not affect the behaviors and serotonin levels of WT and TPH2 knock-in (KI) mice. Whereas, maternal separation (MS) stress increased anxiety-and depressive-like behaviors of WT mice, with no detectable behavioral changes in TPH2, KI mice. Biochemically, we found that MS WT mice had reduced brain serotonin levels, which was attributed to increased expression of monoamine oxidase A (MAO A). The increased MAO A expression was detected in MS WT mice at 4 weeks old and adulthood. No change in TPH2 expression was detected. To determine whether a pharmacological stressor, dexamethasone (Dex), will result in similar biochemical results obtained from MS, we used an in vitro system, SH-SY5Y cells, and found that Dex treatment resulted in increased MAO A expression levels. We then treated WT mice with Dex for 5 days, either during postnatal days 7-11 or adulthood. Both groups of Dex treated WT mice had reduced basal corticosterone and glucocorticoid receptors expression levels. However, only Dex treatment during PND7-11 resulted in reduced serotonin levels and increased MAO A expression. Just as with MS WT mice, TPH2 expression in PND7-11, Dex-treated WT mice was unaffected. Taken together, our findings suggest that both environmental and pharmacological stressors affect the expression of MAO A, and not TPH2, when applied during the critical postnatal period. This leads to long-lasting perturbations in the serotonergic system, and results in anxiety-and depressive-like behaviors.

XX : XY sex chromosome system with X heterochromatinization: an early stage of sex chromosome differentiation in the Neotropic electric eel Eigenmannia virescens

An early stage of sex chromosome differentiation is reported to occur in the electric eel Eigenmannia virescens (Pisces, Sternopygidae) from populations of two tributaries of the Parana river system (Brazil). Cytogenetic studies carried out in the two populations showed that the Mogi-Guacu population is characterized by 2n = 38 chromosomes and undifferentiated sex chromosomes and the Tiete population presents 2n = 38 both for males and females and an XX:XY sex chromosome system. The X-chromosome is acrocentric, easily recognized by the presence of a conspicuous heterochromatin block in its distal portion; the Y-chromosome is probably one of the medium sized acrocentrics present in the male karyotype. BrdU induced R-bands of the two populations did not reveal any difference in the euchromatic regions of the chromosomes. AluI and HaeIII restriction enzyme digestion patterns and chromomycin A3 staining of the X-chromosome are presented. The possible role of heterochromatinization in the evolution of sex chromosomes in fish is discussed.

Synthesis and properties of branched polyethylene/high-density polyethylene blends using a homogeneous binary catalyst system composed of early and late transition metal complexes

Branched polyethylene/high-density polyethylene blends (BPE/HDPE) with a wide range of molecular weights, melt flow indexes (MFI), and intrinsic viscosity were prepared using the homogeneous binary catalyst system composed by Ni(alpha-diimine)Cl-2 (1) (alpha-diimine = 1,4-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-acenaphthenediimine) and {Tp(Ms*)} TiCl3 (2) (Tp(Ms*)=hydridobis(3-mesitylpyrazol-1-yl)(5-mesityl-pyrazol-1-yl)) activated with MAO and/or TIBA in hexane at two different polymerization temperatures (30 and 55 degreesC) and by varying the nickel loading molar fraction (x(Ni)). At all Temperatures, a non-linear correlation between the x(Ni) and the productivity was observed, suggesting the occurrence of a synergistic effect between the nickel and the titanium catalyst precursors, which is more pronounced at 55 degreesC. The molecular weight of the BPE/HDPE blends considerably decreases with increasing Al/M molar ratio. The melt flow indexes (MFI) and intrinsic viscosities (eta) are strongly affected by x(Ni), but the melting temperatures are nearly constant, 132 +/- 3 degreesC. Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) shows the formation of different polymeric materials where the stiffness vanes according, to the x(Ni) and temperature used in the polymerization reaction. The surface morphology of the BPE/HDPE blends studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed a low miscibility between the PE phases resulting in the formation of a sandwich structure after etching with o-xylene.

An Innovative Crop-Forage Intercrop System: Early Cycle Soybean Cultivars and Palisadegrass

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

Hypoactivity of the central dopaminergic system and autistic-like behavior induced by a single early prenatal exposure to lipopolysaccharide

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

Hypoactivity of the central dopaminergic system and autistic-like behavior induced by a single early prenatal exposure to lipopolysaccharide

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the behavioral patterns associated with autism and the prevalence of these behaviors in males and females, to verify whether our model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration represents an experimental model of autism. For this, we prenatally exposed Wistar rats to LPS (100 mu g/kg, intraperitoneally, on gestational day 9.5), which mimics infection by gram-negative bacteria. Furthermore, because the exact mechanisms by which autism develops are still unknown, we investigated the neurological mechanisms that might underlie the behavioral alterations that were observed. Because we previously had demonstrated that prenatal LPS decreases striatal dopamine (DA) and metabolite levels, the striatal dopaminergic system (tyrosine hydroxylase [TH] and DA receptors D1a and D2) and glial cells (astrocytes and microglia) were analyzed by using immunohistochemistry, immunoblotting, and real-time PCR. Our results show that prenatal LPS exposure impaired communication (ultrasonic vocalizations) in male pups and learning and memory (T-maze spontaneous alternation) in male adults, as well as inducing repetitive/restricted behavior, but did not change social interactions in either infancy (play behavior) or adulthood in females. Moreover, although the expression of DA receptors was unchanged, the experimental animals exhibited reduced striatal TH levels, indicating that reduced DA synthesis impaired the striatal dopaminergic system. The expression of glial cell markers was not increased, which suggests that prenatal LPS did not induce permanent neuroinflammation in the striatum. Together with our previous finding of social impairments in males, the present findings demonstrate that prenatal LPS induced autism-like effects and also a hypoactivation of the dopaminergic system. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.