Camera, handlens, and microscope optical system for imaging and coupled optical spectroscopy

An optical system comprising two lens cells, each lens cell comprising multiple lens elements, to provide imaging over a very wide image distance and within a wide range of magnification by changing the distance between the two lens cells. An embodiment also provides scannable laser spectroscopic measurements within the field-of-view of the instrument

Camera, handlens, and microscope optical system for imaging and coupled optical spectroscopy

An optical system comprising two lens cells, each lens cell comprising multiple lens elements, to provide imaging over a very wide image distance and within a wide range of magnification by changing the distance between the two lens cells. An embodiment also provides scannable laser spectroscopic measurements within the field-of-view of the instrument

OS PROFESSORES E O COTIDIANO ESCOLAR: MÚLTIPLOS DESAFIOS, MÚLTIPLOS CAMINHOS

Resenha: OS PROFESSORES E O COTIDIANO ESCOLAR: MÚLTIPLOS DESAFIOS, MÚLTIPLOS CAMINHO

Land use still matters after deforestation

Careful management of deforested Amazonian land cannot replace, but must complement, efforts to preserve the rainforest. Sustainable agricultural practices that promote diverse uses can help minimise climate and environmental impacts.Peer reviewe

Macadamia Oil Supplementation Attenuates Inflammation and Adipocyte Hypertrophy in Obese Mice

Excess of saturated fatty acids in the diet has been associated with obesity, leading to systemic disruption of insulin signaling, glucose intolerance, and inflammation. Macadamia oil administration has been shown to improve lipid profile in humans. We evaluated the effect of macadamia oil supplementation on insulin sensitivity, inflammation, lipid profile, and adipocyte size in high-fat diet (HF) induced obesity in mice. C57BL/6 male mice (8 weeks) were divided into four groups: (a) control diet (CD), (b) HF, (c) CD supplemented with macadamia oil by gavage at 2g/Kg of body weight, three times per week, for 12 weeks (CD + MO), and (d) HF diet supplemented with macadamia oil (HF + MO). CD and HF mice were supplemented with water. HF mice showed hypercholesterolemia and decreased insulin sensitivity as also previously shown. HF induced inflammation in adipose tissue and peritoneal macrophages, as well as adipocyte hypertrophy. Macadamia oil supplementation attenuated hypertrophy of adipocytes and inflammation in the adipose tissue and macrophages.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Univ São Paulo, Dept Biol Celular & Desenvolvimento, BR-05508000 São Paulo, BrazilUniv Estadual Paulista, UNESP, Dept Educ Fis, Programa Posgrad Ciencia Motricidad, BR-13506900 Rio Claro, SP, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Inst Ciencias Biomed, Dept Fisiol & Biofis, BR-05508000 São Paulo, BrazilUniv Sao Judas Tadeu, Dept Ciencias Biol, Lab Movimento Humano, BR-05503001 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Fisiol, Disciplina Fisiol Nutr, BR-04023901 São Paulo, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Inst Biociencias, Dept Fisiol Geral, BR-05508090 São Paulo, BrazilUniv Cruzeiro Sul, Inst Ciencias Atividade Fis & Esporte, Programa Posgrad Ciencia Movimento Humano, BR-01506000 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Fisiol, Disciplina Fisiol Nutr, BR-04023901 São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Improved Alere Determine Lipoarabinomannan Antigen Detection Test for the Diagnosis of Human and Bovine Tuberculosis by Manipulating Urine and Milk

Tuberculosis (TB) disease still kills 1-person every 21-seconds. Few TB diagnostic tests are considered truly appropriate for point of care settings. The WHO-endorsed immunodiagnostic Alere Determine Lipoarabinomannan Ag-test (LAM-test) detects Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex LAM in urine, and its use is recommended for TB diagnosis among HIV co-infected individuals with low CD4 T-cell counts. Here we found that a simple 15-minute enzymatic treatment at room temperature of LAM-spiked urine with \xCE\xB1-mannosidase (for human TB), and LAM-spiked milk with combined lactase and caseinase (for bovine TB), enhanced 10-fold the detection levels of the LAM-test and thus, improved the detection of LAM by the LAM-test in urine and milk that otherwise could be missed in the field. Future separate clinical research studies specifically designed to address the potential of these findings are required

Reduced SLIT2 is Associated with Increased Cell Proliferation and Arsenic Trioxide Resistance in Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia

Simple Summary In solid tumors, the altered expression of embryonic genes such as the SLIT-ROBO family has been associated with poor prognosis, while little is known about their role in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Previous studies reported frequent hypermethylation of SLIT2 mediated by the methyltransferase enzyme EZH2 and more recently the PML protein, which are commonly found to be aberrantly expressed in AML. Here, we aim to assess retrospectively the clinical relevance of the SLIT2 gene in acute promyelocytic leukemia, a homogenous subtype of AML. We demonstrated that reduced SLIT2 expression was associated with high leukocyte counts and reduced overall survival in different APL cohorts. STLI2 treatment decreased APL growth, while SLIT2 knockdown accelerated cell cycle progression and proliferation. Finally, reduced expression of SLIT2 in murine APL blasts resulted in fatal leukemia associated with increased leukocyte counts in vivo. These findings demonstrate that SLIT2 can be considered as a prognostic marker in APL, and a potential candidate for clinical studies of a more heterogeneous disease, such as AML. The SLIT-ROBO axis plays an important role in normal stem-cell biology, with possible repercussions on cancer stem cell emergence. Although the Promyelocytic Leukemia (PML) protein can regulate SLIT2 expression in the central nervous system, little is known about SLIT2 in acute promyelocytic leukemia. Hence, we aimed to investigate the levels of SLIT2 in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) and assess its biological activity in vitro and in vivo. Our analysis indicated that blasts with SLIT2(high) transcript levels were associated with cell cycle arrest, while SLIT2(low) APL blasts displayed a more stem-cell like phenotype. In a retrospective analysis using a cohort of patients treated with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and anthracyclines, high SLIT2 expression was correlated with reduced leukocyte count (p = 0.024), and independently associated with improved overall survival (hazard ratio: 0.94; 95% confidence interval: 0.92-0.97; p <0.001). Functionally, SLIT2-knockdown in primary APL blasts and cell lines led to increased cell proliferation and resistance to arsenic trioxide induced apoptosis. Finally, in vivo transplant of Slit2-silenced primary APL blasts promoted increased leukocyte count (p = 0.001) and decreased overall survival (p = 0.002) compared with the control. In summary, our data highlight the tumor suppressive function of SLIT2 in APL and its deteriorating effects on disease progression when downregulated

Mãe, cadê o bebê? Repercussões do nascimento prematuro de um irmão

O objetivo deste artigo foi investigar as repercussões do nascimento prematuro do bebê sobre o(s) seu(s) irmão(s), sob a perspectiva materna, durante a internação do recém-nascido na Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Neonatal. O estudo contou com a participação de 37 mães, entrevistadas no 15º dia após o parto. Elas responderam a instrumentos que contemplaram dados demográficos familiares, informações clínicas do bebê e da mãe, e a experiência da maternidade no contexto da prematuridade. A entrevista sobre maternidade continha questões acerca do irmão do bebê, cujas respostas foram examinadas a partir de análise de conteúdo qualitativa. Os resultados revelaram alteração na rotina dos irmãos em razão da maior ausência materna. Os sentimentos e reações dos irmãos incluíram questionamentos, preocupações, ciúme e ansiedade, ao lado de contentamento e curiosidade. A visita do irmão ao bebê prematuro não foi permitida por alguns hospitais. Evidencia-se a importância de os irmãos serem atendidos em suas necessidades de cuidado nesse período de hospitalização do bebê