Molecular Responses of Mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis Associated to Accumulation and Depuration of Marine Biotoxins Okadaic Acid and Dinophysistoxin-1 Revealed by Shotgun Proteomics

The molecular pathways behind the toxicity of diarrheic shellfish toxins (DSTs) in bivalves have been scarcely studied. Thus, a shotgun proteomics approach was applied in this work to understand bivalves’ molecular responses to the dinoflagellate Prorocentrum lima (1.0 × 106 cells/L). Protein expression along with toxins levels were analyzed in the gills and digestive gland of the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis during and after exposure to this toxic strain. Results revealed an accumulation of OA and DTX1 only in the digestive gland with maximum amounts attained at the end of uptake phase (day 5; 2819.2 ± 522.2 µg OA/kg and 1107.1 ± 267.9 µg DTX1/kg). At the end of the depuration phase (day 20), 16% and 47% of total OA and DTX1 concentrations remained in the digestive gland tissues, respectively. The shotgun proteomic analyses yielded 3051 proteins in both organs. A total of 56 and 54 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were revealed in the digestive gland and gills, respectively. Both organs presented the same response dynamics along the experiment, although with tissue-specific features. The early response (3 days uptake) was characterized by a high number of DEPs, being more marked in gills, in relation to the latter time points (5 days uptake and depuration). Functional enrichment analysis revealed the up-regulation of carboxylic (GO:0046943) and organic acid transmembrane transporter activity (GO:0005342) pathways after 3 days uptake for digestive gland. Matching to these pathways are a group of proteins related to transmembrane transport and response to toxic substances and xenobiotics, namely P-glycoprotein (ABCB11), Sodium-dependent proline transporter (SLC6A7), and Sideroflexin-1 (SFXN1). According to Clusters of Orthologous Groups (GOs) categories, most of the DEPs found for digestive gland in all time-points were related with “cellular processes and signaling” and involving signal transduction mechanisms, cytoskeleton and post-translational modification, protein turnover, chaperone functions. In gills, the early uptake phase was marked by a balance between DEPs related with “cellular processes and signaling” and “metabolism.” Depuration is clearly marked by processes related with “metabolism,” mainly involving secondary metabolites biosynthesis, transport, and catabolism. Proteomic data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD022293.This work was funded by Portuguese Science Foundation (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, FCT) and under the Projects MOREBIVALVES (PTDC/ASP-PES/31762/2017) and by the Strategic Funding UIDB/04423/2020 and UIDP/04423/2020 through national funds provided by FCT and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), in the framework of the program PT2020. This work had also support from the Portuguese Mass Spectrometry Network, integrated in the National Roadmap of Research Infrastructures of Strategic Relevance (ROTEIRO/0028/2013 and LISBOA-01-0145-FEDER-022125)

ANÁLISE DO CONHECIMENTO DOS ACADÊMICOS DA UNIEVANGÉLICA SOBRE O FLÚOR

O  flúor  é  utilizado  na  prevenção  e  controle  da  doença  cárie, pois interfere no processo de desmineralização e remineralização dos dentes. O  conhecimento  sobre  os  métodos  de  utilização  do  flúor  e  seus  efeitos  é importante  para  toda  a  população  para  que  o  flúor  seja  utilizado  de  maneira adequada.

Levels of Angiopoietin 2 Are Predictive for Mortality in Patients Infected With Yellow Fever Virus

In 2018 there was a large yellow fever outbreak in São Paulo, Brazil, with a high fatality rate. Yellow fever virus can cause, among other symptoms, hemorrhage and disseminated intravascular coagulation, indicating a role for endothelial cells in disease pathogenesis. Here, we conducted a case-control study and measured markers related to endothelial damage in plasma and its association with mortality. We found that angiopoietin 2 is strongly associated with a fatal outcome and could serve as a predictive marker for mortality. This could be used to monitor severe cases and provide care to improve disease outcome

The Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSI-Brazil): Objectives and Design

Brazil is experiencing among the world’s fastest demographic aging worldwide. This demographic transition is occurring in a context of few resources and great social inequalities. The Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSI-Brazil) is a nationally representative study of 9,412 people aged 50 years or older, residing in 70 municipalities across the 5 Brazilian regions. ELSI-Brazil allows investigations of the aging process, its health, psychosocial and economic determinants, and societal consequences. The baseline examination (2015–2016) included detailed household and individual interviews and physical measurements (blood pressure, anthropometry, grip strength, and timed walk and balance tests). Blood tests and sample storage were performed in a subsample of study participants. Subsequent waves are planned for every 3 years. The study adopts a conceptual framework common to other large-scale longitudinal studies of aging in the world, such as the Health and Retirement Study, allowing cross-national comparisons. The goal of ELSI-Brazil is not only to build an understanding of aging in a large, Western, middle-income country in a rapid demographic transition but also to provide scientific data to support and study policy changes that may affect older adults. We describe the methodology of the study and some descriptive results of the baseline survey

The Ecm11-Gmc2 complex promotes synaptonemal complex formation through assembly of transverse filaments in budding yeast

During meiosis, homologous chromosomes pair at close proximity to form the synaptonemal complex (SC). This association is mediated by transverse filament proteins that hold the axes of homologous chromosomes together along their entire length. Transverse filament proteins are highly aggregative and can form an aberrant aggregate called the polycomplex that is unassociated with chromosomes. Here, we show that the Ecm11-Gmc2 complex is a novel SC component, functioning to facilitate assembly of the yeast transverse filament protein, Zip1. Ecm11 and Gmc2 initially localize to the synapsis initiation sites, then throughout the synapsed regions of paired homologous chromosomes. The absence of either Ecm11 or Gmc2 substantially compromises the chromosomal assembly of Zip1 as well as polycomplex formation, indicating that the complex is required for extensive Zip1 polymerization. We also show that Ecm11 is SUMOylated in a Gmc2-dependent manner. Remarkably, in the unSUMOylatable ecm11 mutant, assembly of chromosomal Zip1 remained compromised while polycomplex formation became frequent. We propose that the Ecm11-Gmc2 complex facilitates the assembly of Zip1 and that SUMOylation of Ecm11 is critical for ensuring chromosomal assembly of Zip1, thus suppressing polycomplex formation

Effects of a brief mindfulness-based intervention on emotional regulation and levels of mindfulness in senior students

Mindfulness-based interventions have been applied in diverse populations and achieved mental health benefits. This study examined the effects of a brief mindfulness program for emotional regulation and levels of mindfulness on senior students in Brazil. The intervention consisted of six weekly meetings attended by 30 participants. It is a pre-experimental research, with pre- and post-test comparative and correlation measurements. The preliminary results, which relied on parametrical and non-parametrical tests, revealed a reduction in total emotional regulation difficulties (p = 0.0001; r = − 0.55). Also, there was an increase in the levels of mindfulness in the subtests for both dimensions under evaluation: “Awareness” (p = 0.0001; d = 0.77) and “Acceptance” (p = 0.048; d = 0.37). By associating the amount of meditative practices performed by students with the variables, a significant positive correlation was found with the mindfulness dimension “Awareness” (rP = 0.422; p = 0.020), and there was a significant negative correlation with Difficulties in emotion regulation (rS = − 0.478; p = 0.008) and with its respective subscales “Non-acceptance” (rS = − 0.654; p = 0.0001) and “Clarity” (rS = − 0.463; p = 0.010). In conclusion, the application of a brief mindfulness-based intervention is promising in Brazilian university contexts; moreover, it can bring benefits to students, e.g., an increase in emotion regulation as well as in levels of mindfulness. We suggest that further research should use an experimental design and follow-up.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Immunohistochemical detection and regulation of α5 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subunits by FoxA2 during mouse lung organogenesis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>α₅nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subunits structurally stabilize functional nAChRs in many non-neuronal tissue types. The expression of α₅nAChR subunits and cell-specific markers were assessed during lung morphogenesis by co-localizing immunohistochemistry from embryonic day (E) 13.5 to post natal day (PN) 20. Transcriptional control of α₅nAChR expression by FoxA2 and GATA-6 was determined by reporter gene assays.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Steady expression of α₅nAChR subunits was observed in distal lung epithelial cells during development while proximal lung expression significantly alternates between abundant prenatal expression, absence at PN4 and PN10, and a return to intense expression at PN20. α₅expression was most abundant on luminal edges of alveolar type (AT) I and ATII cells, non-ciliated Clara cells, and ciliated cells in the proximal lung at various periods of lung formation. Expression of α₅nAChR subunits correlated with cell differentiation and reporter gene assays suggest expression of α₅is regulated in part by FoxA2, with possible cooperation by GATA-6.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our data reveal a highly regulated temporal-spatial pattern of α₅nAChR subunit expression during important periods of lung morphogenesis. Due to specific regulation by FoxA2 and distinct identification of α₅in alveolar epithelium and Clara cells, future studies may identify possible mechanisms of cell differentiation and lung homeostasis mediated at least in part by α₅-containing nAChRs.</p

Characterization of complex networks: A survey of measurements

Each complex network (or class of networks) presents specific topological features which characterize its connectivity and highly influence the dynamics of processes executed on the network. The analysis, discrimination, and synthesis of complex networks therefore rely on the use of measurements capable of expressing the most relevant topological features. This article presents a survey of such measurements. It includes general considerations about complex network characterization, a brief review of the principal models, and the presentation of the main existing measurements. Important related issues covered in this work comprise the representation of the evolution of complex networks in terms of trajectories in several measurement spaces, the analysis of the correlations between some of the most traditional measurements, perturbation analysis, as well as the use of multivariate statistics for feature selection and network classification. Depending on the network and the analysis task one has in mind, a specific set of features may be chosen. It is hoped that the present survey will help the proper application and interpretation of measurements.Comment: A working manuscript with 78 pages, 32 figures. Suggestions of measurements for inclusion are welcomed by the author