Environmental Risk Assessment Based on High-Resolution Spatial Maps of Potentially Toxic Elements Sampled on Stream Sediments of Santiago, Cape Verde

Geochemical mapping is the base knowledge to identify the regions of the planet with critical contents of potentially toxic elements from either natural or anthropogenic sources. Sediments, soils and waters are the vehicles which link the inorganic environment to life through the supply of essential macro and micro nutrients. The chemical composition of surface geological materials may cause metabolic changes which may favor the occurrence of endemic diseases in humans. In order to better understand the relationships between environmental geochemistry and public health, we present environmental risk maps of some harmful elements (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, V, and Zn) in the stream sediments of Santiago, Cape Verde, identifying the potentially harmful areas in this island. The Estimated Background Values (EBV) of Cd, Co, Cr, Ni and V were found to be above the Canadian guidelines for any type of use of stream sediments and also above the target values of the Dutch and United States guidelines. The Probably Effect Concentrations (PEC), above which harmful effects are likely in sediment dwelling organisms, were found for Cr and Ni. Some associations between the geological formations of the island and the composition of stream sediments were identified and confirmed by descriptive statistics and by Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The EBV spatial distribution of the metals and the results of PCA allowed us to establish relationships between the EBV maps and the geological formations. The first two PCA modes indicate that heavy metals in Santiago stream sediments are mainly originated from weathering of underlying bedrocks. The first metal association (Co, V, Cr, and Mn; first PCA mode) consists of elements enriched in basic rocks and compatible elements. The second association of variables (Zn and Cd as opposed to Ni; second PCA mode) appears to be strongly controlled by the composition of alkaline volcanic rocks and pyroclastic rocks. So, the second PCA mode is also considered as a natural lithogenic mode. The third association (Cu and Pb; third PCA mode) consists of elements of anthropogenic origin

Complement System Inhibition Modulates the Pro-Inflammatory Effects of a Snake Venom Metalloproteinase

Envenomation by Bothrops snakes causes prominent local effects, including pain, oedema, local bleeding, blistering and necrosis, and systemic manifestations, such as hemorrhage, hypotension, shock and acute renal failure. These snake venoms are able to activate the complement system and induce the generation of anaphylatoxins, whose mechanisms include the direct cleavage of complement components by snake venom metalloproteinases and serine proteinases present in the venoms. A metalloproteinase able to activate the three complement pathways and generate active anaphylatoxins, named C-SVMP, was purified from the venom of Bothrops pirajai. Considering the inflammatory nature of Bothrops venoms and the complement-activation property of C-SVMP, in the present work, we investigated the inflammatory effects of C-SVMP in a human whole blood model. The role of the complement system in the inflammatory process and its modulation by the use of compstatin were also investigated. C-SVMP was able to activate the complement system in the whole blood model, generating C3a/C3a desArg, C5a/C5a desArg and SC5b-9. This protein was able to promote an increase in the expression of CD11b, CD14, C3aR, C5aR1, TLR2, and TLR4 markers in leukocytes. Inhibition of component C3 by compstatin significantly reduced the production of anaphylatoxins and the Terminal Complement Complex (TCC) in blood plasma treated with the toxin, as well as the expression of CD11b, C3aR, and C5aR on leukocytes. C-SVMP was able to induce increased production of the cytokines IL-1β and IL-6 and the chemokines CXCL8/IL-8, CCL2/MCP-1, and CXCL9/MIG in the human whole blood model. The addition of compstatin to the reactions caused a significant reduction in the production of IL-1β, CXCL8/IL-8, and CCL2/MCP-1 in cells treated with C-SVMP. We therefore conclude that C-SVMP is able to activate the complement system, which leads to an increase in the inflammatory process. The data obtained with the use of compstatin indicate that complement inhibition may significantly control the inflammatory process initiated by Bothrops snake venom toxins

Prevalência de infecções de possível transmissão vertical em gestantes de um Hospital Universitário no Sul do Brasil

Modelo do estudo: Trata-se de estudo retrospectivo através de revisão de prontuários junto ao Servi- ço de Arquivo Médico e Estatística (SAME) do Hospital Universitário Dr. Miguel Riet Corrêa Jr. (HU-FURG) das mulheres internadas no Serviço de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia de 01/01/2012 a 31/12/2012. Objetivo: Avaliar a prevalência de infecções de possível transmissão vertical entre as gestantes atendidas em um Hospital Universitário. Métodologia: Foram incluídos os prontuários das gestantes que internaram para parto ou aborto e excluídas as mulheres não residentes no município. Foi preenchido questionário estruturado e pré-codificado, com os dados coletados da Declaração de Nascido Vivo (DNV) e/ou da ficha de internação da paciente. O diagnóstico de infecção foi confirmado pelos exames realizados na internação em anexo ao prontuário. Realizou-se a análise bruta e ajustada com o cálculo dos intervalos de confiança de 95%, o p- valor pelo teste de qui-quadrado no programa SPSS 19.0. Resultados: Entre 1070 mulheres incluídas no estudo 77 (7,2%) tinham alguma infecção, sendo 31 (2,9%) HIV, 29 (2,7%) sífilis, 11 (2%) toxoplasmose IgM, 5 (0,5%) hepatite C, 2 (0,2%) hepatite B e 2 co-infectadas. Após a análise ajustada observamos que as mulheres com menos de 5 consultas ou sem pré-natal tinham risco 2 e 5 vezes maior de ter infecção, respectivamente. Conclusões: Encontramos alta prevalência de infecções em gestante principalmente HIV e sífilis. Chamamos a atenção para o fato de que as mulheres que menos procuram o serviço de pré-natal são as mais vulneráveis a apresentarem alguma infecçãoStudy design: This is a retrospective study using chart review at the Medical File and Statistics Service (SAME) of the University Hospital Dr. Miguel Riet Corrêa Jr. (HU-FURG) of women admitted in the service and Gynecology Obstetrics 01/01/2011 to 31/12/2012. Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of infections potentially transmitted vertically in pregnant women seen at a University Hospital. Methods: Only medical records of pregnant women hospitalized for childbirth or abortion were considered for analysis; charts from women not living in the city were excluded. A structured precoded questionnaire was completed with data obtained from the Live Birth Declaration and/or the admission record of the patient. The diagnosis of infection confirmed by tests performed on admission in the attached chart. A crude and adjusted analysis was performed with the calculation of the 95% confidence intervals, p-value for the chi- square test in SPSS 19.0 program. Results: Seventy-seven (77) of the 1070 women included in the study had an infection being 31 (2.9%) HIV, 29(2.7%) syphilis, 11 (2%) IgM toxoplasmosis, 5(0.55) Hepatitis C, 2 (0.2%) Hepatitis B and 2 co-infection. The adjusted risk analysis showed that women with less than five pre-natal visits or none had 2 and 5 times higher risk of infection respectively. Conclusions: A high prevalence of infections with the potential for vertical transmission, especially HIV and syphilis was observed. It is worth remarking that women that do not seek for prenatal care are more likely to have an infectious diseas

Prevalence of Human Papillomavirus types in women attending at University hospital in southern Brazil

Study design: cross-sectional. Objective: To determine the HPV prevalence and genotypes in women treated at University Hospital in southern Brazil. Methodology: Cervical cells samples from 200 women were collected. HPV was detected by nested polymerase chain reaction and genotypes were determined by sequencing. Variables were analyzed by the Fisher Exact Test and Chi-squared test of Pearson (X²) with a significance level of ≤ 5%. The strength of association was calculated by the prevalence ratio, with their confidence intervals at 95%. Multivariate analysis was calculated by Binary Logistic Regression for variables with P <0.20 Results: HPV DNA was detected in 55 women (27.5%). HPV prevalence was associate with income (P =0.01), early initiation of sexual life (P <0.001), pregnant (P = 0. 002), HIV- 1 infection (P = 0. 001) and koilocytosis presence in cytological test (P =0.006). Were found an association between serological status for HIV-1 and the genotypes HPV–33 (P =0.001) and HPV–68 (P <0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that HPV prevalence was associated with patients who had early initiation of sexual life (P =0.001), was infected by HIV–1 (P = 0.01), was pregnant (P = 0.02), and women with koilocytosis in cytological test (P =0.01). Genotypes were 90.4% higher-risk oncogenic (18 HPV–18, 14 HPV–16, four HPV–53, three HPV–31, two HPV–58, two HPV–59, two HPV–68, one HPV–33 and one HPV–52) and 9.6% low-risk (two HPV–11, two HPV–16 and one HPV–70). Conclusions: This study had the HPV prevalence similar to prevalence described in this region. The high-risk HPV genotypes were the most prevalent, being HPV–18 the main viral type found.Modelo do estudo: Transversal. Objetivo do estudo: Determinar a prevalência e os genótipos do HPV em mulheres atendidas em um Hospital Universitário no Sul do Brasil. Metodologia: Foram coletadas amostras de secreções cérvico-vaginal de 200 mulheres. O HPV foi detectado pela Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase aninhada e os genótipos por sequenciamento. As variáveis foram analisadas pelo Teste Exato de Fisher e pelo Chi-quadrado de Pearson com o nível de significância < 5%. A força de associação foi calculada pela razão de prevalência e os seus intervalos de confiança a 95%. A análise Multivariada foi calculada pela Regressão Logística Binária para as variáveis com P <0,20. Resultados: O DNA do HPV foi detectado em 55 mulheres (27,5%). A prevalência do HPV foi associada a baixa renda (P =0,01), o início sexual precoce (P <0,001), a gestação (P = 0, 002), a infecção pelo HIV–1 (P = 0, 001) e a coilocitose no exame citopatológico (P =0,006). Houve associação entre o status sorológico para o HIV–1 e os genótipos HPV–33 (P =0,001) e HPV–68 (P <0,001). Na análise multivariada, a prevalência do HPV foi associada ao início sexual precoce (P =0,001), a infecção pelo HIV–1 (P =0,01), a gestação (P =0,02) e a coilocitose no citopatológico (P =0,01). Sobre os genótipos, 90,4% eram de alto risco oncogênico (18 HPV–18, 14 HPV–16, quatro HPV–53, três HPV–31, dois HPV–58, dois HPV–59, dois HPV–68, um HPV–33 e um HPV–52) e 9,6% de baixo risco (dois HPV–11, dois HPV–16 e um HPV– 70). Conclusões: Esse estudo teve a prevalência do HPV semelhante à prevalência descrita para esta região. Os genótipos do HPV de alto risco foram os mais prevalentes, sendo o HPV–18 o principal tipo viral encontrad

High-resolution genetic map and QTL analysis of growth-related traits of Hevea brasiliensis cultivated under suboptimal temperature and humidity conditions

Rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) cultivation is the main source of natural rubber worldwide and has been extended to areas with suboptimal climates and lengthy drought periods; this transition affects growth and latex production. High-density genetic maps with reliable markers support precise mapping of quantitative trait loci (QTL), which can help reveal the complex genome of the species, provide tools to enhance molecular breeding, and shorten the breeding cycle. In this study, QTL mapping of the stem diameter, tree height, and number of whorls was performed for a full-sibling population derived from a GT1 and RRIM701 cross. A total of 225 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) and 186 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers were used to construct a base map with 18 linkage groups and to anchor 671 SNPs from genotyping by sequencing (GBS) to produce a very dense linkage map with small intervals between loci. The final map was composed of 1,079 markers, spanned 3,779.7 cM with an average marker density of 3.5 cM, and showed collinearity between markers from previous studies. Significant variation in phenotypic characteristics was found over a 59-month evaluation period with a total of 38 QTLs being identified through a composite interval mapping method. Linkage group 4 showed the greatest number of QTLs (7), with phenotypic explained values varying from 7.67 to 14.07%. Additionally, we estimated segregation patterns, dominance, and additive effects for each QTL. A total of 53 significant effects for stem diameter were observed, and these effects were mostly related to additivity in the GT1 clone. Associating accurate genome assemblies and genetic maps represents a promising strategy for identifying the genetic basis of phenotypic traits in rubber trees. Then, further research can benefit from the QTLs identified herein, providing a better understanding of the key determinant genes associated with growth of Hevea brasiliensis under limiting water conditions

Characterization of miRNA processing machinery in the embryonic chick lung

Lung development is a very complex process that relies on the interaction of several signaling pathways that are controlled by precise regulatory mechanisms. Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs), small non-coding regulatory RNAs, have emerged as new players involved in gene expression regulation controlling several biological processes, such as cellular differentiation, apoptosis and organogenesis, in both developmental and disease processes. Failure to correctly express some specific miRNAs or a component of their biosynthetic machinery during embryonic development is disastrous, resulting in severe abnormalities. Several miRNAs have already been identified as modulators of lung development. Regarding the spatial distribution of the processing machinery of miRNAs, only two of its members (dicer1 and argonaute) have been characterized. The present work characterizes the expression pattern of drosha, dgcr8, exportin-5 and dicer1 in early stages of the embryonic chick lung by whole mount in situ hybridization and cross-section analysis. Overall, these genes are co-expressed in dorsal and distal mesenchyme and also in growing epithelial regions. The expression pattern of miRNA processing machinery supports the previously recognized regulatory role of this mechanism in epithelial and mesenchymal morphogenesis.QRE

Is Nitric Oxide Decrease Observed with Naphthoquinones in LPS Stimulated RAW 264.7 Macrophages a Beneficial Property?

The search of new anti-inflammatory drugs has been a current preoccupation, due to the need of effective drugs, with less adverse reactions than those used nowadays. Several naphthoquinones (plumbagin, naphthazarin, juglone, menadione, diosquinone and 1,4-naphthoquinone), plus p-hydroquinone and p-benzoquinone were evaluated for their ability to cause a reduction of nitric oxide (NO) production, when RAW 264.7 macrophages were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Dexamethasone was used as positive control. Among the tested compounds, diosquinone was the only one that caused a NO reduction with statistical importance and without cytotoxicity: an IC25 of 1.09±0.24 µM was found, with 38.25±6.50% (p<0.001) NO reduction at 1.5 µM. In order to elucidate if this NO decrease resulted from the interference of diosquinone with cellular defence mechanisms against LPS or to its conversion into peroxynitrite, by reaction with superoxide radical formed by naphthoquinones redox cycling, 3-nitrotyrosine and superoxide determination was also performed. None of these parameters showed significant changes relative to control. Furthermore, diosquinone caused a decrease in the pro-inflammatory cytokines: tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6). Therefore, according to the results obtained, diosquinone, studied for its anti-inflammatory potential for the first time herein, has beneficial effects in inflammation control. This study enlightens the mechanisms of action of naphthoquinones in inflammatory models, by checking for the first time the contribution of oxidative stress generated by naphthoquinones to NO reduction