Protocolo para criopreservação do sêmen de tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum).

bitstream/item/39781/1/cot-112.pd

In vitro antimicrobial susceptibility of single and mixed populations in cystic fibrosis: the role of novel microorganisms

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the dominant pathogen associated with bacterial infections occurring in Cystic Fibrosis (CF) patients, resulting in 80% of mortality in adults. However, pulmonary infection has recently been defined as polymicrobial, involving classical and other unusual bacteria, which may play a crucial role when associated with the conventional ones. This work aims to evaluate the susceptibility patterns of mono and dual-species biofilms encompassing traditional and emerging microorganisms from CF. The traditional pathogen, P. aeruginosa PA14, and two novel microorganisms, Inquilinus limosus M53 and Dolosigranulum pigrum CIP104051 were used to form single and dual-species biofilms. These were developed on the Calgary Biofilm Device and their susceptibility profiles were estimated against eight antibiotics (tobramycin, gentamicin, levofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, clindamycin, cefotaxime, chloramphenicol and rifampicin), by measuring the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimum biofilm eradication concentration (MBEC). Data showed that most antibiotics were effective in inhibiting planktonic bacterial growth at low concentrations, mainly in mono-populations. Single biofilms involving novel bacteria were more sensitive to virtually all antibiotics than P. aeruginosa. However, when in mixed biofilms, those organisms acted synergistically with P. aeruginosa, attaining additional antibiotic resistance and requiring higher doses of antibiotics to eradicate them. From these results, it can be concluded that the presence of unusual bacteria and their complex interactions with conventional organisms might not be ignored in order to develop more suitable therapy strategies to combat CF.PhD Grant (SFRH/BD/47613/2008

Morphological transition of Helicobacter pylori adapted to water

To view the supplementary data that accompany this paper please visit the journal website at: www. futuremedicine.com /doi/full/10.2217/fmb-2016-0174.Aim: This study aims to investigate the morphological transition of Helicobacter pylori during adaptation to water. Materials \& methods: Different strains were adapted to water. Changes regarding cultivability and cellular morphology were recorded. Expression of 11 genes involved in H. pylori morphological changes was evaluated by real-time PCR. Results: H. pylori presented increased cultivability in water after adaptation. The permanent loss of the spiral shape was observed, but no transition into coccoid form has occurred. Expression levels of genes involved in peptidoglycan assembly of H. pylori 26695 have shown significant changes between adapted and nonadapted strains. Conclusion: Adaption to water favors the culturable phenotype and the morphological transition to the rod shape, into a process that implicates the peptidoglycan turnover.This work was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the project ‘Heliwater’ (PTDC/BIA-MIC/108811/2008), the strategic funding of UID/BIO/04469/2013 unit and COMPETE 2020 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006684) and BioTecNorte operation (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000004) funded by the European Regional Development Fund under the scope of Norte2020 – Programa Operacional Regional do Norte. No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Transthyretin: No association between serum levels or gene variants and schizophrenia

It has been proposed that schizophrenia results from an environmental insult in genetically predisposed individuals. Environmental factors capable of modulating transcriptional activity and their carriers could link the genetic and environmental components of schizophrenia. Among these is transthyretin (TTR), a major carrier of thyroid hormones and retinol-binding protein (RBP). Retinoids and thyroid hormones regulate the expression of several genes, both during development and in the adult brain. Decreased TTR levels have been reported in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with depression and Alzheimer's disease, and the absence of TTR influences behavior in mice. DNA variants capable of altering TTR ability to carry its ligands, either due to reduced transcription of the gene or to structural modifications of the protein, may influence development of the central nervous system and behavior. In the present study we searched for variants in the regulatory and coding regions of the TTR gene, and measured circulating levels of TTR and RBP. We found a novel single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), ss46566417, 18 bp upstream of exon 4. Neither this SNP nor the previously described rs1800458 were found associated with schizophrenia. In addition, serum TTR and RBP levels did not differ between mentally healthy and schizophrenic individuals. In conclusion, our data does not support an involvement of the TTR gene in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6T8T-4K12CM6-2/1/78223a224d1392e250f7562405e6796

Affective state dependence and relative trait stability of perfectionism in sleep disturbances

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the degree of absolute change, relative stability and state dependence of trait perfectionism in sleep disturbances in a sample of university students. METHOD: Participants completed the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale and two items concerning sleep difficulties. The mean age at T0 (baseline) was 19.59 years (SD = 1.61, range = 17-25) and 62.5% of the sample were female. RESULTS: Absolute changes in self-oriented and socially-prescribed perfectionism were found. Relative stability was found for all perfectionism dimensions. Prior and concurrent sleep disturbances explained a significant amount of variance in perfectionism. Controlling for the effects of sleep measures, prior selforiented perfectionism and other-oriented perfectionism were the only significant predictors of subsequent self-oriented perfectionism and otheroriented perfectionism, at T1 and T2. Difficulties falling asleep at T1 and socially-prescribed perfectionism at T0 were significant predictors of socially-prescribed perfectionism at T1. CONCLUSION: Despite significant changes in perfectionism mean scores over the follow-up, the correlation analyses demonstrated that participants remained quite stable in regard to their relative levels of perfectionism. As concurrent difficulties initiating sleep also predicted concurrent socially-prescribed perfectionism, this seems to be one dimension of perfectionism with trait-state characteristics.OBJETIVOS: Avaliar o grau de mudança absoluta, de estabilidade relativa e dependência do estado do perfeccionismo nas perturbações de sono numa amostra de estudantes universitários. MÉTODO: Os sujeitos completaram a Escala Multidimensional do Perfeccionismo e dois itens sobre dificuldades em dormir. Os dados foram recolhidos em três momentos de avaliação, separados por um intervalo de um ano acadêmico. A idade média dos sujeitos noT0 era de 19,59 anos (DP = 1,61, variação = 17-25); 62,5% eram mulheres. RESULTADOS: Foram encontradas ao longo do follow-up mudanças absolutas para o Perfeccionismo Autoorientado e para o Perfeccionismo Socialmente Prescrito. Foi encontrada estabilidade relativa para todas as dimensões do perfeccionismo. As dificuldades de sono prévias e concorrentes explicaram significativamente a variância do perfeccionismo. Controlando o efeito das dificuldades em dormir, o Perfeccionismo Autoorientado e o POO prévios foram os únicos preditores significativos de Perfeccionismo Autoorientado e POO subsequente (T1 e T2). As dificuldades em iniciar o sono no T1 e o Perfeccionismo Socialmente Prescrito prévio (T0) revelaram-se preditores significativos dePerfeccionismoSocialmente PrescritonoT1. CONCLUSÃO: Apesar das mudanças significativas nas pontuações médias de perfeccionismo ao longo do follow-up, as análises de correlação demonstraram que os participantes permaneceramrelativamenteestáveisnosseusníveisdeperfeccionismo.Umavezque asdificuldades em iniciar o sono concorrentes serevelaram um preditor significativo de Perfeccionismo Socialmente Prescrito, o Perfeccionismo Socialmente Prescrito é a dimensão do perfeccionismo que possui características traço-estado