Animal Navigation: The Eel's Magnetic Guide to the Gulf Stream.

The geographic distribution of migratory species can span thousands of kilometers. Yet, traits that enable large-scale migrations are poorly understood. A recent study demonstrates that juvenile eels use the Earth's magnetism for their dispersal, with possible implications for their evolution

A Case of Successful Treatment of Concomitant Ruptured Intracranial Aneurysm and Visceral Aneurysm

A associação entre aneurismas intracranianos e viscerais é extremamente rara, com mau prognóstico. A situação de rotura surge habitualmente no contexto de urgência e implica um tratamento imediato. Relata-se o caso de uma doente com rotura de aneurisma da artéria comunicante anterior e da artéria pancreaticoduodenal anterior. A actuação concertada das várias especialidades permitiu a abordagem cirúrgica dirigida ao aneurisma visceral, sem o agravamento da hemorragia cerebral que a eventual clampagem da Artéria Aorta poderia provocar. A manutenção da estabilidade hemodinâmica foi essencial para a posterior realização de embolização do aneurisma intracraniano

Description and Comparison of the Results of the Proposed House: Habitat for Humanity at Frazier Court, Dallas, Texas, with the 2004 IECC Standard Reference House

The Energy Systems Laboratory was requested to calculate the emissions reductions associated with the Habitat for Humanity Housing Project at Frazier Court, Dallas Texas. This report presents the results of the required analysis, a set of houses was compared to a corresponding standard reference house as described in the 2004 International Energy Conservation Code (2004 IECC). The energy consumption calculations were carried out using DOE-2.1e input file RES3ST.inp (Version 4.01.07) and DDP (Version: 1.7.03). Based on this comparison, the % above/below code for the proposed house was determined. The resultant emissions calculations were carried out using eCALC software (ESL, 2006). This report also contains detailed information about the description of the proposed house in terms of its building parameters, resultant energy consumption and emission reductions. Calculations are carried out using TMY2 weather file for Tarrant County, TX which is in climate zone 3 of the IECC 2004 climate zone categories. For the 1285 sq. ft. houses, the energy consumption of the Habitat for Humanity houses is in the range of 10.3% - 11.7% above code and for the 843 sq. ft. houses, the energy consumption is in the range of 20.9% - 21.4% below code. The HERS ratings calculated by IC3 is in the range of 71.7– 74.2 for the 1285 sq. ft. houses and in the range of 79.4 – 80.6 for the 843 sq. ft. houses

Estrogen protection in Parkinson´s disease – a GDNF role?

Estrogen protection in Parkinson´s disease – a GDNF role

Expression of monocarboxylate transporters 1, 2, and 4 in human tumours and their association with CD147 and CD44

Expression of monocarboxylate transporters 1, 2, and 4 in human tumours and their association with CD147 and CD44.Monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) are important cellular pH regulators in cancer cells; however, the value of MCT expression in cancer is still poorly understood. In the present study, we analysed MCT1, MCT2, and MCT4 protein expression in breast, colon, lung, and ovary neoplasms, as well as CD147 and CD44. MCT expression frequency was high and heterogeneous among the different tumours. Comparing with normal tissues, there was an increase in MCT1 and MCT4 expressions in breast carcinoma and a decrease in MCT4 plasma membrane expression in lung cancer. There were associations between CD147 and MCT1 expressions in ovarian cancer as well as between CD147 and MCT4 in both breast and lung cancers. CD44 was only associated with MCT1 plasma membrane expression in lung cancer. An important number of MCT1 positive cases are negative for both chaperones, suggesting that MCT plasma membrane expression in tumours may depend on a yet nonidentified regulatory protein.Celine Pinheiro received a Ph.D. fellowship from the Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation (SFRH/BD/27465/2006). The authors acknowledge NCI (National Cancer Institute) Tumour Repository MTA, MD, USA for the multitumour tissue microarray (TARP)

Rodent models of Parkinson's disease: beyond the motor symptomatology

Parkinson's disease (PD) is classically characterized by motor symptoms; however, non-motor symptoms (NMS) are increasingly recognized as relevant in disease-state, given the associated alterations in mood (depression and anxiety) and cognition. Here, particularly in regards to NMS, we aimed to compare the motor, emotional and cognitive behavior of three animal models of PD that trigger dopaminergic (DAergic) degeneration on both brain hemispheres: (i) the 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA, 8 or 6 µg) lesion model; (ii) the paraquat (PQ) induced model, and (iii) a genetic model based on a-synuclein overexpression (a-syn). 6-OHDA and a-syn vector were injected bilaterally in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) of adult male Wistar rats; as for PQ delivery, micro-osmotic pumps were implanted in the interscapular region. Motor deficits were observed in all models, with histological analysis of tyrosine hydroxylase positive cells in the SNpc revealing a significant loss of DAergic neurons in all animal models. In addition, the a-syn animal model also presented a reduction in exploratory activity, and the 6-OHDA and PQ animals displayed a significant increase in both depressive- and anxiety-like behavior. Interestingly, cognitive impairment (working memory) was only observed in the 6-OHDA model. Overall, these PD models are suitable for mimicking the motor symptoms associated to PD, with each encompassing other relevant NMS components of the disorder that may prove beneficial for further studies in PD.We would like to acknowledge the funds attributed by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), the PhD scholarships to E L. Campos (SFRH/BD/47311/2008) and M. M. Carvalho (SFRH/BD/51061/2010) and the Post-Doctoral fellowship to A. C. Cristovao (SFRH/BPD/69643/2010), and to Fundacao Calouste de Gulbenkian-Programme to Support Cutting Edge Research in Life Sciences and ICVS for funding this work. We want to further acknowledge Joao Cerqueira and Nadine Correia Santos for their contribution to this work

Increased pathogenicity of pneumococcal serotype 1 is driven by rapid autolysis and release of pneumolysin

Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 1 is the predominant cause of invasive pneumococcal disease in sub-Saharan Africa, but the mechanism behind its increased invasiveness is not well understood. Here, we use mouse models of lung infection to identify virulence factors associated with severe bacteraemic pneumonia during serotype-1 (ST217) infection. We use BALB/c mice, which are highly resistant to pneumococcal pneumonia when infected with other serotypes. However, we observe 100% mortality and high levels of bacteraemia within 24 hours when BALB/c mice are intranasally infected with ST217. Serotype 1 produces large quantities of pneumolysin, which is rapidly released due to high levels of bacterial autolysis. This leads to substantial levels of cellular cytotoxicity and breakdown of tight junctions between cells, allowing a route for rapid bacterial dissemination from the respiratory tract into the blood. Thus, our results offer an explanation for the increased invasiveness of serotype 1

Mental disorders in primary health care: a study of their frequency and diagnosis in four developing countries

1624 patients who were attending primary health facilities in 4 developing countries were examined to determine how many were suffering from mental disorder. Using stringent criteria to establish the presence of psychiatric morbidity, 225 cases were found, indicating an overall frequency of 13·9 %. The great majority of cases were suffering from neurotic illnesses and for most the presenting complaint was of a physical symptom, such as headache, abdominal pain, cough or weakness. The health workers following their normal procedure correctly detected one third of the psychiatric case