Search for Planetary Candidates within the OGLE Stars

We propose a method to distinguish between planetary and stellar companions to stars which present a periodic decrease in brightness, interpreted as a transit. Light curves from a total of 177 stars from the OGLE project were fitted by the model which simulates planetary transits using an opaque disk in front of an image of the Sun. The simulation results yield the orbital radius in units of stellar radii, the orbital inclination angle, and the ratio of the planet to the star radii. Combining Kepler's third law with a mass-radius relation for main sequence stars, it was possible to estimate values for the masses and radii of both the primary and secondary objects. This model was successfully tested with the confirmed planets orbiting the stars HD 209458, TrES-1, OGLE-TR-10, 56, 111, 113, and 132. The method consists of selecting as planetary candidates only those objects with primary densities between 0.7 and 2.3 solar densities (F, G, and K stars) and secondaries with radius less than 1.5 Jupiter radius. The method is not able to distinguish between a planet and a dwarf star with mass less than 0.1 $M_\odot$, such as OGLE-TR-122. We propose a selection of 28 planetary candidates (OGLE-TR-49, 51, 55, 63, 71, 76, 90, 97, 100, 109, 114, 127, 130, 131, 134, 138, 140, 146, 151, 155, 159, 164, 165, 169, 170, 171, 172, and 174) for high resolution spectroscopy follow up.Comment: 4 figures, 2 table

Integrative analysis to select cancer candidate biomarkers to targeted validation

FAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOCNPQ - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOTargeted proteomics has flourished as the method of choice for prospecting for and validating potential candidate biomarkers in many diseases. However, challenges still remain due to the lack of standardized routines that can prioritize a limited number of proteins to be further validated in human samples. To help researchers identify candidate biomarkers that best characterize their samples under study, a well-designed integrative analysis pipeline, comprising MS-based discovery, feature selection methods, clustering techniques, bioinformatic analyses and targeted approaches was performed using discovery-based proteomic data from the secretomes of three classes of human cell lines (carcinoma, melanoma and non-cancerous). Three feature selection algorithms, namely, Beta-binomial, Nearest Shrunken Centroids (NSC), and Support Vector Machine-Recursive Features Elimination (SVM-RFE), indicated a panel of 137 candidate biomarkers for carcinoma and 271 for melanoma, which were differentially abundant between the tumor classes. We further tested the strength of the pipeline in selecting candidate biomarkers by immunoblotting, human tissue microarrays, label-free targeted MS and functional experiments. In conclusion, the proposed integrative analysis was able to pre-qualify and prioritize candidate biomarkers from discovery-based proteomics to targeted MS.Targeted proteomics has flourished as the method of choice for prospecting for and validating potential candidate biomarkers in many diseases. However, challenges still remain due to the lack of standardized routines that can prioritize a limited number of proteins to be further validated in human samples. To help researchers identify candidate biomarkers that best characterize their samples under study, a well-designed integrative analysis pipeline, comprising MS-based discovery, feature selection methods, clustering techniques, bioinformatic analyses and targeted approaches was performed using discovery-based proteomic data from the secretomes of three classes of human cell lines (carcinoma, melanoma and non-cancerous). Three feature selection algorithms, namely, Beta-binomial, Nearest Shrunken Centroids (NSC), and Support Vector Machine-Recursive Features Elimination (SVM-RFE), indicated a panel of 137 candidate biomarkers for carcinoma and 271 for melanoma, which were differentially abundant between the tumor classes. We further tested the strength of the pipeline in selecting candidate biomarkers by immunoblotting, human tissue microarrays, label-free targeted MS and functional experiments. In conclusion, the proposed integrative analysis was able to pre-qualify and prioritize candidate biomarkers from discovery-based proteomics to targeted MS6414363543652FAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOCNPQ - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOFAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOCNPQ - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO2009/54067-3; 2010/19278-0; 2011/22421-2; 2009/53839-2470567/2009-0; 470549/2011-4; 301702/2011-0; 470268/2013-

Idade, tabagismo, hipertensão arterial, altura e sexo feminino são determinantes de envelhecimento vascular avaliados pela segunda derivada da fotopletismografia digital

OBJETIVO: Avaliar os fatores de risco cardiovascular (RCV) determinantes dos índices de função arterial obtidos pela segunda derivada da fotopletismografia digital (SDPTG) em uma população de funcionários de uma instituição de ensino privado da cidade de São Paulo. MÉTODOS: Foram obtidos dados antropométricos e clínicos, medidas de pressão arterial (PA) com aparelho automático Microlife em 238 indivíduos de 23 a 72 anos (média 40,1 ± 9), 105 mulheres / 133 homens. A SDPTG foi registrada automaticamente pelo dispositivo Dynapulse, com o sensor localizado no 2º dígito da mão direita; da SDPTG obtivemos ondas a, b, c e d na sístole e e na diástole, e foram calculados as relações b/a, d/a e o índice de envelhecimento vascular (AGI) = [(b-c-d-e)/a], respectivamente, marcadores de distensibilidade arterial, intensidade das ondas de reflexão e envelhecimento vascular. A idade vascular (IVS) foi estimada a partir de dados comparativos do AGI obtido e valores de uma população normal. Os indivíduos foram considerados com índices vasculares piores, se tivessem valores superiores à média mais o desvio padrão. Hipertensão arterial (HA) foi definida como PA>140x90mmHg ao exame ou referida pelo paciente. RESULTADOS: Na análise de regressão logística, a possibilidade de AGI elevado relacionou-se positiva e independentemente com idade > 50anos (Odds Ratio-OR = 17,24), tabagismo (O.R. = 3,82) e sexo feminino (O.R. = 6,05); menor relação b/a com idade > 50 anos (O.R. = 6,37), enquanto a relação d/a relacionou-se com sexo feminino (O.R. = 3,90). A maior IVS relaciona-se à idade (OR = 8,85), sexo feminino (OR= 4,0) e HAS (OR = 2,42). A análise multivariada mostrou que altura se relaciona com AGI (Mean Square – MS = 0,701) e D/A (MS = 0,279), enquanto que este último parâmetro também é influenciado pela PA diastólica (MS = 0,168) e PA média. CONCLUSÕES: Os índices vasculares obtidos pela SDPTG têm influência dos principais fatores de RCV e outros fatores a serem considerados em sua análise. A distensibilidade arterial (b/a) é relacionada à idade enquanto a intensidade da reflexão das ondas de pulso (d/a) tem influência do sexo feminino, altura e PA. O envelhecimento vascular sofre influências da HA, do tabagismo, idade e altura.Objectives: To evaluate the cardiovascular risk (CR) determinants of the arterial function indices obtained by the second derivative photopletysmogram (SDPTG) in a agent population from a private teaching institution of São Paulo. Methods: antropometric and clinical data, arterial pressure (AP) by na automatic device Microlife were obtained from 238 individuals from 28 to 72 years (mean 40,1 ± 9), 105 women / 133 men. The SDPTG was automatically registered by the Dynapulse device through its sensor placed on the 2nd finger of the right hand; from SDPTG were obtained the a, b, c and e waves during the systole and the e wave during diastole and were calculated the b/a, d/a and the aging index (AGI) = [(b-c-d-e)/a], respectively, markers of arterial distensibility, wave reflection intensity and vascular aging. The vascular age (IVS) was estimated from comparison of the AGI data obtained and values of a normal population. The individuals were considered as worse vascular indices if their analysed values were higher than mean plus standard deviation. Arterial hypertension (AH) was defined as AP > 140x90mmHg at the examination or referred by the patient. Results: at the logistic regression, the possibility of high AGI was positively and independently related to age > 50 years (Odds Ratio-OR = 17,24), tabagism (O.R. = 3,82) and feminine sex (O.R. = 6,05); low b/a relation with age> 50 years (O.R. = 6,37), while high d/a was related to feminine sex (O.R. = 3,90). Higher IVS was related to age (OR = 8,85), feminine sex (OR = 4,0), and AH (OR = 2,42). At multivariate analysis, height was related to AGI (Mean Square – MS = 0,701) and D/A (MS = 0,279), while this last parameter was also influenced by diastolic AP (MS = 0,168) and mean AP. Conclusions: the vascular indices obtained by SDPTG are influenced by main CR and other factors to be considered at their analysis. The arterial distensibility (b/a) is related to age, while the intensity of pulse wave reflection to feminine Sex, height and AP. Vascular aging is influenced by AH, tabagism and height

Annexin A2 antibodies but not inhibitors of the annexin A2 heterotetramer impair productive HIV-1 infection of macrophages in vitro

During sexual transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), macrophages are initial targets for HIV infection. Secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) has been shown to protect against HIV infection of macrophages through interactions with annexin A2 (A2), which is found on the macrophage cell surface as a heterotetramer (A2t) consisting of A2 and S100A10. Therefore, we investigated potential protein-protein interactions between A2 and HIV-1 gp120 through a series of co-immunoprecipitation assays and a single molecule pulldown (SiMPull) technique. Additionally, inhibitors of A2t (A2ti) that target the interaction between A2 and S100A10 were tested for their ability to impair productive HIV-1 infection of macrophages. Our data suggest that interactions between HIV-1 gp120 and A2 exist, though this interaction may be indirect. Furthermore, an anti-A2 antibody impaired HIV-1 particle production in macrophages in vitro, whereas A2ti did not indicating that annexin A2 may promote HIV-1 infection of macrophages in its monomeric rather than tetrameric form

Pelage Variation and Morphometrics of Closely Related Callithrix Marmoset Species and Their Hybrids

BACKGROUND: Hybrids are expected to show greater phenotypic variation than their parental species, yet how hybrid phenotype expression varies with genetic distances in closely-related parental species remains surprisingly understudied. Here, we investigate pelage and morphometric trait variation in anthropogenic hybrids between four species of Brazilian Callithrix marmosets, a relatively recent primate radiation. Marmoset species are distinguishable by pelage phenotype and morphological specializations for eating tree exudates. In this work, we (1) describe qualitative phenotypic pelage differences between parental species and hybrids; (2) test whether significant quantitative differences exist between parental and hybrid morphometric phenotypes; and (3) determine which hybrid morphometic traits show heterosis, dysgenesis, trangression, or intermediacy relative to the parental trait. We investigated cranial and post-cranial morphometric traits, as most hybrid morphological studies focus on the former instead of the latter. Finally, we estimate mitogenomic distances between marmoset species from previously published data. RESULTS: Marmoset hybrid facial and overall body pelage variation reflected novel combinations of coloration and patterns present in parental species. In morphometric traits, C. jacchus and C. penicillata were the most similar, while C. aurita was the most distinct, and C. geoffroyi trait measures fell between these species. Only three traits in C. jacchus x C. penicillata hybrids showed heterosis. We observed heterosis and dysgenesis in several traits of C. penicillata x C. geoffroyi hybrids. Transgressive segregation was observed in hybrids of C. aurita and the other species. These hybrids were also C. aurita-like for a number of traits, including body length. Genetic distance was closest between C. jacchus and C. penicillata and farthest between C. aurita and the other species. CONCLUSION: We attributed significant morphometric differences between marmoset species to variable levels of morphological specialization for exudivory in these species. Our results suggest that intermediate or parental species-like hybrid traits relative to the parental trait values are more likely in crosses between species with relatively lesser genetic distance. More extreme phenotypic variation is more likely in parental species with greater genetic distance, with transgressive traits appearing in hybrids of the most genetically distant parental species. We further suggest that fewer developmental disturbances can be expected in hybrids of more recently diverged parental species, and that future studies of hybrid phenotypic variation should investigate selective pressures on Callithrix cranial and post-cranial morphological traits

Analysis of quality raw data of second generation sequencers with Quality Assessment Software

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Second generation technologies have advantages over Sanger; however, they have resulted in new challenges for the genome construction process, especially because of the small size of the reads, despite the high degree of coverage. Independent of the program chosen for the construction process, DNA sequences are superimposed, based on identity, to extend the reads, generating contigs; mismatches indicate a lack of homology and are not included. This process improves our confidence in the sequences that are generated.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>We developed Quality Assessment Software, with which one can review graphs showing the distribution of quality values from the sequencing reads. This software allow us to adopt more stringent quality standards for sequence data, based on quality-graph analysis and estimated coverage after applying the quality filter, providing acceptable sequence coverage for genome construction from short reads.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Quality filtering is a fundamental step in the process of constructing genomes, as it reduces the frequency of incorrect alignments that are caused by measuring errors, which can occur during the construction process due to the size of the reads, provoking misassemblies. Application of quality filters to sequence data, using the software Quality Assessment, along with graphing analyses, provided greater precision in the definition of cutoff parameters, which increased the accuracy of genome construction.</p

Autoimmune hepatitis in 828 Brazilian children and adolescents: clinical and laboratory findings, histological profile, treatments, and outcomes

In this large clinical series of Brazilian children and adolescents, autoimmunehepatitis-1 was more frequent, and patients with autoimmune hepatitis-2 exhibited higherdisease remission rates with earlier response to treatment. Patients with autoimmune hepatitis-1 had a higher risk of death.sentation, laboratory findings, histological profile, treatments, and outcomes of children andadolescents with autoimmune hepatitis.Methods: The medical records of 828 children and adolescents with autoimmune hepatitiswere reviewed. A questionnaire was used to collect anonymous data on clinical presentation,biochemical and histological findings, and treatments.Results: Of all patients, 89.6% had autoimmune hepatitis-1 and 10.4% had autoimmunehepatitis-2. The female sex was predominant in both groups. The median age at symptomonset was 111.5 (6; 210) and 53.5 (8; 165) months in the patients with autoimmune hepatitis1 and autoimmune hepatitis-2, respectively. Acute clinical onset was observed in 56.1% and58.8% and insidious symptoms in 43.9% and 41.2% of the patients with autoimmune hepatitis-1and autoimmune hepatitis-2, respectively. The risk of hepatic failure was 1.6-fold higher forautoimmune hepatitis-2. Fulminant hepatic failure occurred in 3.6% and 10.6% of the patientswith autoimmune hepatitis-1 and autoimmune hepatitis-2, respectively; the risk was 3.1-foldhigher for autoimmune hepatitis-2. The gamma globulin and immunoglobulin G levels were sig-nificantly higher in autoimmune hepatitis-1, while the immunoglobulin A and C3 levels werelower in autoimmune hepatitis-2. Cirrhosis was observed in 22.4% of the patients; biochem-ical remission was achieved in 76.2%. The actuarial survival rate was 93.0%. A total of 4.6%underwent liver transplantation, and 6.9% died (autoimmune hepatitis-1: 7.5%; autoimmunehepatitis-2: 2.4%).Conclusions: In this large clinical series of Brazilian children and adolescents, autoimmunehepatitis-1 was more frequent, and patients with autoimmune hepatitis-2 exhibited higherdisease remission rates with earlier response to treatment. Patients with autoimmune hepatitis-1 had a higher risk of death.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Biochemical and genetic analysis of butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) in a family, due to prolonged neuromuscular blockade after the use of succinylcholine

Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) is a plasma enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of choline esters, including the muscle-relaxant succinylcholine and mivacurium. Patients who present sustained neuromuscular blockade after using succinylcholine usually carry BChE variants with reduced enzyme activity or an acquired BChE deficiency. We report here the molecular basis of the BCHE gene underlying the slow catabolism of succinylcholine in a patient who underwent endoscopic nasal surgery. We measured the enzyme activity of BChE and extracted genomic DNA in order to study the promoter region and all exons of the BCHE gene of the patient, her parents and siblings. PCR products were sequenced and compared with reference sequences from GenBank. We detected that the patient and one of her brothers have two homozygous mutations: nt1615 GCA > ACA (Ala539Thr), responsible for the K variant, and nt209 GAT > GGT (Asp70Gly), which produces the atypical variant A. Her parents and two of her brothers were found to be heterozygous for the AK allele, and another brother is homozygous for the normal allele. Sequence analysis of exon 1 including 5′UTR showed that the proband and her brother are homozygous for –116GG. The AK/AK genotype is considered the most frequent in hereditary hypocholinesterasemia (44%). This work demonstrates the importance of defining the phenotype and genotype of the BCHE gene in patients who are subjected to neuromuscular block by succinylcholine, because of the risk of prolonged neuromuscular paralysis