L1 sequence of a new human papillomavirus type-58 variant associated with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia

The present study on molecular characterization of a human papillomavirus (HPV) isolated in Central Brazil describes the L1 gene sequence from a new variant of HPV-58, the isolate Bsb-02. The sample was from a smear obtained from a woman with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade II. The whole L1 gene from isolate Bsb-02 was sequenced automatically, showing 99.1% nucleotide identity with the gene from the HPV-58 reference. The clustering between Bsb-02 and HPV-58 reference sequence was also supported by phylogenetic analysis. Fourteen nucleotide substitutions were observed: eight were synonymous and six were associated with amino acid substitutions. A10V and V144I have not been previously described. At GenBank, the only complete L1 sequence from HPV-58 in addition to the HPV-58 reference one is that of Bsb-02. These data provide information that may be relevant to HPV diagnosis and to rational vaccine strategies. HPV variants may also be associated with host immune responses and with the risk of cervical neoplasia

Effects of exercise training on atrophy gene expression in skeletal muscle of mice with chronic allergic lung inflammation

We evaluated the effects of chronic allergic airway inflammation and of treadmill training (12 weeks) of low and moderate intensity on muscle fiber cross-sectional area and mRNA levels of atrogin-1 and MuRF1 in the mouse tibialis anterior muscle. Six 4-month-old male BALB/c mice (28.5 ± 0.8 g) per group were examined: 1) control, non-sensitized and non-trained (C); 2) ovalbumin sensitized (OA, 20 µg per mouse); 3) non-sensitized and trained at 50% maximum speed _ low intensity (PT50%); 4) non-sensitized and trained at 75% maximum speed _ moderate intensity (PT75%); 5) OA-sensitized and trained at 50% (OA+PT50%), 6) OA-sensitized and trained at 75% (OA+PT75%). There was no difference in muscle fiber cross-sectional area among groups and no difference in atrogin-1 and MuRF1 expression between C and OA groups. All exercised groups showed significantly decreased expression of atrogin-1 compared to C (1.01 ± 0.2-fold): PT50% = 0.71 ± 0.12-fold; OA+PT50% = 0.74 ± 0.03-fold; PT75% = 0.71 ± 0.09-fold; OA+PT75% = 0.74 ± 0.09-fold. Similarly significant results were obtained regarding MuRF1 gene expression compared to C (1.01 ± 0.23-fold): PT50% = 0.53 ± 0.20-fold; OA+PT50% = 0.55 ± 0.11-fold; PT75% = 0.35 ± 0.15-fold; OA+PT75% = 0.37 ± 0.08-fold. A short period of OA did not induce skeletal muscle atrophy in the mouse tibialis anterior muscle and aerobic training at low and moderate intensity negatively regulates the atrophy pathway in skeletal muscle of healthy mice or mice with allergic lung inflammation.FAPESPCNP

Effects of proportional assisted ventilation on exercise performance in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients

SummaryBackgroundPatients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) present an important ventilatory limitation reducing their exercise capacity. Non-invasive ventilatory support has been shown to improve exercise capacity in patients with obstructive diseases; however, its effect on IPF patients remains unknown.ObjectiveThe present study assessed the effect of ventilatory support using proportional assist ventilation (PAV) on exercise capacity in patients with IPF.MethodsTen patients (61.2±9.2 year-old) were submitted to a cardiopulmonary exercise testing, plethysmography and three submaximal exercise tests (60% of maximum load): without ventilatory support, with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and PAV. Submaximal tests were performed randomly and exercise capacity, cardiovascular and ventilatory response as well as breathlessness subjective perception were evaluated. Lactate plasmatic levels were obtained before and after submaximal exercise.ResultsOur data show that patients presented a limited exercise capacity (9.7±3.8mLO2/kg/min). Submaximal test was increased in patients with PAV compared with CPAP and without ventilatory support (respectively, 11.1±8.8min, 5.6±4.7 and 4.5±3.8min; p<0.05). An improved arterial oxygenation and lower subjective perception to effort was also observed in patients with IPF when exercise was performed with PAV (p<0.05). IPF patients performing submaximal exercise with PAV also presented a lower heart rate during exercise, although systolic and diastolic pressures were not different among submaximal tests. Our results suggest that PAV can increase exercise tolerance and decrease dyspnoea and cardiac effort in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Estabilidade da caranha em diferentes períodos de armazenamento

RESUMO O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar a influência do tempo de armazenamento na qualidade microbiológica, físico-química e sensorial do pescado caranha (Piaractusmesopotamicus). Os pescados foram estocados em gelo durante zero, sete, 14, 21 e 28 dias e submetidos às contagens de micro-organismos mesófilos, psicrotróficos, coliformes a 35ºC e 45ºC, Salmonella sp. e estafilococos coagulase positiva. Foram realizadas análises de temperatura, pH, acidez, bases voláteis, proteínas, lipídeos, cinzas, umidade, prova de cocção, bem como análise sensorial. As contagens de mesófilos, psicrotróficos, coliformes a 35ºC e 45ºC aumentaram com o tempo de armazenamento. A presença de Salmonella sp. não foi constatada, enquanto a contagem de estafilococos coagulase positiva foi de <10 (est) UFC/g em todos os períodos de estocagem. Observou-se, ainda, que o tempo de armazenamento apresentou influência em todas as variáveis físico-químicas, exceto para temperatura. Na análise sensorial, foi constatado um aumento linear do índice de qualidade (IQ) ao longo do armazenamento, e a rejeição ocorreu aos 14 dias

Stabilityof the caranhain differentstorage periods

<p></p><p>ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to verify the influence of storage time on the microbiological, physical-chemical, and sensorial quality of the fish (Piaractusmesopotamicus). The fish were stored on ice for 0, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days and submitted to counts of mesophilic, psychrotrophic, coliform microorganisms at 35ºC and 45ºC, Salmonella sp. and coagulase positive staphylococci. Analyzes of temperature, pH, acidity, volatile bases, proteins, lipids, ashes, humidity, cooking test, as well as sensorial analysis were performed. Counts of mesophiles, psychrotrophic, coliforms at 35°C and 45°C increased with storage time. The presence of Salmonella sp. was not observed, whereas the coagulase positive Staphylococcus count was <10 (est) CFU/g in all storage periods. It was also observed that the storage time had influence on all physical-chemical variables, except for temperature. In the sensorial analysis, a linear increase of the quality index (IQ) was verified throughout the storage and the rejection occurred at 14 days.</p><p></p

N vitro evaluation of goat cauda epididymal sperm, cooled in different extenders at 4 oc

Collection of spermatozoa obtained from the epididymis cauda (CES) is a viable option to pre- serve of genetic material from threatened species and for use in assisted reproduction. The aim of the present study was to assess the in vitro effect of four different extenders on spermatozoa from goat epididymis cauda, cooled at 4 oC. Epididymal sperm were recovered from the cauda by flushing six pairs of epididymis. The samples of each pair were mixed, subdivided into four aliquots and diluted in coconut water-egg yolk (CW-EY), physiologic solution with 0.5 % glucose and egg yolk (PSG-EY), UHT skim milk (SM), and UHT skim milk with egg yolk (SM-EY). The samples were cooled at 4 oC for 2, 12, 24 and 48 hours. After storage, in each period, the semen was evaluated by the heat resistance test for sperm motility, vigor and total morphological alterations. The motility degradation rate was calculated at the end of each time period. Sperm viability decreased with time in the four extenders. Epididymal sperm diluted in CW-EY showed higher values for vigor and motility, although these parameters did not differ from the sperm kept in the PSG-EY up to 48 hours at 4 °C, except for spermatic vigor. However, the PSG-EY and SM extenders caused greater morphologic damage to epididymal sperm after 12 and 24 hours, respectively. Extenders based on skim milk provided less spermatic cell stability during 48 hours. In conclusion, CW-EY extender was the most efficient extender to maintain CES viability at 4 oC.A colheita de espermatozóides da cauda do epidídimo (CES) é uma opção viável de preservação de material genético de espécies ameaçadas de extinção, bem como para uso em reprodução assistida. Este trabalho teve como objetivo verifi- car a eficiência de quatro diferentes diluidores sobre os espermatozóides da cauda do epidídimo de caprinos, resfriado a 4 oC. Os espermatozoides epididimários foram recuperados da cauda de seis pares de epidídimo. As amostras de cada par foram misturadas e subdivididas em quatro alíquotas que foram diluídas na água de coco- gema (CW-EY), solução fisiológica glicosada 0,5 %-gema (PSG), leite desnatado UHT (ME) e leite desnatado UHT-gema (ME-EY). As amostras foram resfriadas a 4 °C por 2, 12, 24 e 48 horas. Após o armazenamento, em cada período, o CES foi avaliado através do teste de termoresistência quanto à motilidade, vigor espermático e alterações morfológicas total. A taxa de degradação da motilidade foi calculada no final de cada período. A viabilidade espermática diminuiu com o tempo de refrigeração nos quatro diluidores. Os CES diluídos na CW-EY apresentaram maiores valores para vigor e motilidade, embora estes parâmetros não deferissem daqueles mantidos no PSG por até 48 horas, exceto para vigor espermático. Entretanto, os diluidores PSG e ME ocasionaram maiores danos morfológicos aos CES a partir de 12 e 48 horas, respectivamente. Os diluidores ME e ME- EY proporcionaram à célula espermática menor estabilidade durante 48 h de conservação