Functional protection by acute phase proteins alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein and alpha(1)-antitrypsin against ischemia/reperfusion injury by preventing apoptosis and inflammation.

BACKGROUND: Ischemia followed by reperfusion (I/R) causes apoptosis, inflammation, and tissue damage leading to organ malfunction. Ischemic preconditioning can protect against such injury. This study investigates the contribution of the acute phase proteins alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein (AGP) and alpha(1)-antitrypsin (AAT) to the protective effect of ischemic preconditioning in the kidney. METHODS AND RESULTS: Exogenous AGP and AAT inhibited apoptosis and inflammation after 45 minutes of renal I/R in a murine model. AGP and AAT administered at reperfusion prevented apoptosis at 2 hours and 24 hours, as evaluated by the presence of internucleosomal DNA cleavage, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling, and the determination of renal caspase-1- and caspase-3-like activity. AGP and AAT exerted anti-inflammatory effects, as reflected by reduced renal tumor necrosis factor-alpha expression and neutrophil influx after 24 hours. In general, these agents improved renal function. Similar effects were observed when AGP and AAT were administered 2 hours after reperfusion but to a lesser extent and without functional improvement. Moreover, I/R elicited an acute phase response, as reflected by elevated serum AGP and serum amyloid P (SAP) levels after 24 hours, and increased hepatic acute phase protein mRNA levels after 18 hours of renal reperfusion. CONCLUSIONS: We propose that the antiapoptotic and anti-inflammatory effects of AGP and AAT contribute to the delayed type of protection associated with ischemic preconditioning and other insults. This mechanism is potentially involved in the course of many clinical conditions associated with I/R injury. Moreover, exogenous administration of these proteins may provide new therapeutic means of treatmen

Weathering processes and mineral neoformation at serpentinite areas from Galicia (Spain)

[Resumen] Se realiza un estudio de muestreos en distintos grados de alteración, desde roca fresca a fracción arcilla de horizontes edáficos. El orden de movilidades geoquímicas es Mg > Si, Ca > Na»Al = Fe, en una primera etapa, y un mayor enriquecimiento en Fe en los estadios más avanzados. El grado de alteración aleanzado se encuentra en una posición intermedia al obtenido para este tipo de rocas en áreas mediterráneas y tropicales y siempre es mucho menor que el observado sobre otros materiales básicos de Galicia. A pesar de que termodinámicamente las soluciones de suelos y arroyos se sitúan en un campo intermedio entre filosilicatos 1/1 Y2/1, estos últimos en medios de peor drenaje, la escasez de Al inhibe la formación de arcillas de tipo caolinita, siendo los productos de neoformación típicos en los medios más evolucionados oxihidrósidos de Fe y precipitados silíceos.[Abstract] In a serpentinite area several samples with different degrees of weathering, ranging from fresh rock to clay fractions of soil horizons, were studied. During weathering, the geochemical mobility of the elements follows the order Mg > Si, Ca > Na» Al = Fe in the initial phases, showing a gre.ater aproach to Fe pole in more advanced stages. The intensity of weathering is intermediate between that obtained for serpentinites in mediterranean and tropical areas, and never reachs the high levels found in other basic rocks of Galicia. The composition of stream waters and soil solutions falls between the stability fields of 1/1 and 2/ llayer silicates, last ones mostly in poorly drained areas. In spite of this fact, the scarcity of Al inhibit the formation of kaolinite; iron oxihidroxides and precipitated silica being the most typical secondary products in the more envolved environments

Monitoramento da multidisciplinaridade no processo de transferência de tecnologia em uma universidade: proposta de análise de cluster

ABSTRACTThis paper discusses the management of the technology transfer process conducted by a Technology Transfer Office (TTO) of a federal public university. Patent co-authorship and multidisciplinarity were used as concepts to evaluate and monitor the quality of academic and practical contribution and their potential for commercial application, using descriptive statistics and cluster analysis. Considering only multidisciplinary patents, binary cluster analysis was conducted, using Jaccard similarity measurement and single linkage method to determine proximity among academic units. Apart from the analysis of the number of patents, the approach enabled discussions and questions regarding the differences between patent generation patterns, resultant from the specific organizational culture and structures. The discussions are relevant to improve the identification of opportunities in technology transfer processes by the TTO