Polimorfismo genético da metaloproteinase de matriz MMP-9 e doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica

As metaloproteinases de matriz (MMPs) compreendem uma família de aproximadamente 20 enzimasproteolíticas com papel essencial na remodelação e reparo tecidual. A metaloproteinase de matriz MMP-9 é uma das MMPs mais abundantes em diversas doenças pulmonares, incluindo a doença pulmonarobstrutiva crônica (DPOC). Foi descrito um polimorfismo na região promotora do gene da MMP-9, -1562C/T, sendo o alelo T associado com níveis de expressão mais altos do que o alelo C. O presenteestudo teve por objetivo investigar a associação entre o polimorfismo -1562C/T da MMP-9 e o desenvolvimentoda DPOC. Foram estudados 89 pacientes com DPOC e 96 indivíduos normais. O polimorfismofoi analisado por PCR seguido da clivagem com a enzima de restrição SphI. A freqüência do alelo T foide 9,0% no grupo de pacientes e 8,3% no grupo controle, não sendo observada diferença estatisticamentesignificativa entre os dois grupos (p=0,82). Estes resultados sugerem que o polimorfismo -1562C/T não éum fator de risco genético para o desenvolvimento de DPOC na amostra estudada.Palavras-chave: doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica; metaloproteinases de matriz; polimorfismo genético;fator de risc

ERK 1/2 activation does not contribute to increased survival mediated by bone marrow cells after 90% partial hepatectomy in wistar rats

We investigated the influence of bone marrow cells upon activation of ERK ½ in an animal model of 90% PH. Phosphorylated ERK 1/2 was evaluated by western blot. No differences were found between the groups. Thus, increased survival does not appear to be mediated by ERK 1/2 activation

Micronucleus test in fish for in situ evaluation of the Sinos River water quality, in Brazil

The Sinos River basin is impacted by industrial and agricultural activities, as well as by low rates of urban wastewater treatment. The purpose of this study was to monitor de Sinos River water quality using the micronucleus test in fish and the analysis of water physicochemical parameters. Bryconamericus iheringii specimens were captured in December 2013 (summer) and July 2014 (winter) at two sites located in the Sinos River: Caraá, in the upper section of the basin, and Parobé, in the middle section. After capture, animals were immediately killed and blood samples were collected for the micronucleus test. No significant differences were observed in micronucleus frequencies between sites and sampling periods. However, in the summer, nuclear abnormalities frequencies observed in Parobé were significantly higher than in Caraá. A higher frequency of nuclear abnormalities was also found in fish captured in Caraá during winter, in comparison with frequencies found in the summer. The results for the water physicochemical analysis showed values of total phosphorous, aluminum, lead, copper and iron above the allowed limits established by the Brazilian legislation. The nuclear abnormalities induction found in the present study may be associated to the presence of cytogenotoxic substances in the water

Estudo do polimorfismo -31C/T do gene da interleucina 1-beta em pacientes dispépticos funcionais

O papel de fatores genéticos na suscetibilidade à dispepsia funcional (DF) ainda não está esclarecido. A interleucina1-beta (IL-1β) é uma citocina que induz e amplifica a resposta inflamatória, sendo que a inflamaçãona mucosa gástrica pode estar envolvida com os sintomas dispépticos. O objetivo do presente estudo foi analisara associação entre o polimorfismo -31C/T do gene da IL-1β e a DF. Foram analisados 73 pacientes dispépticos,positivos para a infecção pelo Helicobacter pylori. Os resultados preliminares indicam que o polimorfismo podeestar associado ao sucesso da terapia de erradicação do H. pylori.Palavras-chave: Dispepsia funcional, interleucina 1-beta, polimorfismo genético, sintomas dispépticos,Helicobacter pylori

XIPE: the X-ray Imaging Polarimetry Explorer

X-ray polarimetry, sometimes alone, and sometimes coupled to spectral and temporal variability measurements and to imaging, allows a wealth of physical phenomena in astrophysics to be studied. X-ray polarimetry investigates the acceleration process, for example, including those typical of magnetic reconnection in solar flares, but also emission in the strong magnetic fields of neutron stars and white dwarfs. It detects scattering in asymmetric structures such as accretion disks and columns, and in the so-called molecular torus and ionization cones. In addition, it allows fundamental physics in regimes of gravity and of magnetic field intensity not accessible to experiments on the Earth to be probed. Finally, models that describe fundamental interactions (e.g. quantum gravity and the extension of the Standard Model) can be tested. We describe in this paper the X-ray Imaging Polarimetry Explorer (XIPE), proposed in June 2012 to the first ESA call for a small mission with a launch in 2017 but not selected. XIPE is composed of two out of the three existing JET-X telescopes with two Gas Pixel Detectors (GPD) filled with a He-DME mixture at their focus and two additional GPDs filled with pressurized Ar-DME facing the sun. The Minimum Detectable Polarization is 14 % at 1 mCrab in 10E5 s (2-10 keV) and 0.6 % for an X10 class flare. The Half Energy Width, measured at PANTER X-ray test facility (MPE, Germany) with JET-X optics is 24 arcsec. XIPE takes advantage of a low-earth equatorial orbit with Malindi as down-link station and of a Mission Operation Center (MOC) at INPE (Brazil).Comment: 49 pages, 14 figures, 6 tables. Paper published in Experimental Astronomy http://link.springer.com/journal/1068

Severe early onset preeclampsia: short and long term clinical, psychosocial and biochemical aspects

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy specific disorder commonly defined as de novo hypertension and proteinuria after 20 weeks gestational age. It occurs in approximately 3-5% of pregnancies and it is still a major cause of both foetal and maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide1. As extensive research has not yet elucidated the aetiology of preeclampsia, there are no rational preventive or therapeutic interventions available. The only rational treatment is delivery, which benefits the mother but is not in the interest of the foetus, if remote from term. Early onset preeclampsia (<32 weeks’ gestational age) occurs in less than 1% of pregnancies. It is, however often associated with maternal morbidity as the risk of progression to severe maternal disease is inversely related with gestational age at onset2. Resulting prematurity is therefore the main cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity in patients with severe preeclampsia3. Although the discussion is ongoing, perinatal survival is suggested to be increased in patients with preterm preeclampsia by expectant, non-interventional management. This temporising treatment option to lengthen pregnancy includes the use of antihypertensive medication to control hypertension, magnesium sulphate to prevent eclampsia and corticosteroids to enhance foetal lung maturity4. With optimal maternal haemodynamic status and reassuring foetal condition this results on average in an extension of 2 weeks. Prolongation of these pregnancies is a great challenge for clinicians to balance between potential maternal risks on one the eve hand and possible foetal benefits on the other. Clinical controversies regarding prolongation of preterm preeclamptic pregnancies still exist – also taking into account that preeclampsia is the leading cause of maternal mortality in the Netherlands5 - a debate which is even more pronounced in very preterm pregnancies with questionable foetal viability6-9. Do maternal risks of prolongation of these very early pregnancies outweigh the chances of neonatal survival? Counselling of women with very early onset preeclampsia not only comprises of knowledge of the outcome of those particular pregnancies, but also knowledge of outcomes of future pregnancies of these women is of major clinical importance. This thesis opens with a review of the literature on identifiable risk factors of preeclampsia

Discutindo a educação ambiental no cotidiano escolar: desenvolvimento de projetos na escola formação inicial e continuada de professores

A presente pesquisa buscou discutir como a Educação Ambiental (EA) vem sendo trabalhada, no Ensino Fundamental e como os docentes desta escola compreendem e vem inserindo a EA no cotidiano escolar., em uma escola estadual do município de Tangará da Serra/MT, Brasil. Para tanto, realizou-se entrevistas com os professores que fazem parte de um projeto interdisciplinar de EA na escola pesquisada. Verificou-se que o projeto da escola não vem conseguindo alcançar os objetivos propostos por: desconhecimento do mesmo, pelos professores; formação deficiente dos professores, não entendimento da EA como processo de ensino-aprendizagem, falta de recursos didáticos, planejamento inadequado das atividades. A partir dessa constatação, procurou-se debater a impossibilidade de tratar do tema fora do trabalho interdisciplinar, bem como, e principalmente, a importância de um estudo mais aprofundado de EA, vinculando teoria e prática, tanto na formação docente, como em projetos escolares, a fim de fugir do tradicional vínculo “EA e ecologia, lixo e horta”.Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educació