Clinical and laboratorial diversity in the bantu haplotype of sickle cell anemia

Several factors have been identified as possibly being responsible for the diversity of sickle cell anemia patients symptoms, including gender, age, haplotypes and hemoglobin F levels. The aim of this paper is to verify the clinical and laboratorial diversity of the Bantu haplotype. A descriptive study was performed of eighteen children and adolescents with sickle cell anemia and homozygous for the Bantu haplotype. Gender and age were assessed in respect to clinical and laboratorial features. Statistical analysis of the results was achieved using the EPIINFO program version 6.04. Children from 1 to 11 years old had more infections than adolescents from 12 to 19 and higher levels of hemoglobin F. The hematocrit was higher in girls. Higher levels of hemoglobin A2 were related to more infections, and higher levels of hemoglobin F were related to hematocrit values and lower numbers of infections and periods in hospital. This study suggests that there is diversity within the Bantu haplotype, which is possibly related to gender, age and hemoglobin A2 and hemoglobin F levels of patients.Muitos fatores são responsáveis pela diversidade de sintomas nos pacientes de anemia falciforme, entre eles: sexo, idade, haplótipos e nível de hemoglobina fetal. O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar a diversidade clínica e laboratorial dentro do haplótipo bantu. Realizou-se um estudo descritivo onde foram avaliados 18 crianças e adolescentes portadores de anemia falciforme e homozigóticos para o haplótipo bantu, relacionando sexo e idade com as características clínicas e laboratoriais, além de relacioná-las diretamente entre si. As amostras foram do tipo casuais simples. O tamanho da amostra teve uma variação de freqüência para o evento de 30% a 65% e nível de confiança de 99,9%. As análises estatísticas foram realizadas através do programa EPIINFO, versão 6.04b, com erro a de 5%. A faixa etária de 01 a 11 anos teve um maior número de infecções que a faixa de 12 a 19, além de níveis mais altos de hemoglobina fetal. Os valores do hematócrito foram maiores no sexo feminino. Níveis mais elevados de hemoglobina A2 foram relacionados com maior número de infecções, enquanto níveis mais elevados de hemo­globina fetal foram relacionados com maiores valores de hematócrito e menor número de crises álgicas/ano de acompanhamento. O número de transfusões/ano teve correlação positiva com o número de crises álgicas, de infecções e de inter­namentos. Este estudo sugere que há uma diversidade clínica e laboratorial dentro do haplótipo bantu e possivelmente está relacionado com o sexo, a idade e os níveis de hemoglobina fetal e A2 dos pacientes.Fundação Universitária de Ciências da Saúde de Alagoas Departamento de PediatriaUniversidade Federal de Alagoas Departamento de Clínica MédicaUniversidade Federal de Sergipe Departamento de PediatriaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de Clínica MédicaUNIFESP, Depto. de Clínica MédicaSciEL

Synthesis and photophysical properties of side-chain chlorinated 5,9-diaminobenzo[a]phenoxazinium salts

Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (Portugal). National Program for Scientific Re-equipment, contract REDE/1517/RMN/2005 with funds from POCI 2010 (FEDER) and FCT

Life table analysis of Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) infesting sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) in São Paulo

An ecological life table for eggs and nymphs of Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) was constructed with data obtained from orange orchards (Citrus sinensis Osbeck) in 2 regions of the State of São Paulo, over 4 generations in the period from XI-2006 to V-2007, comprising spring, summer, and fall seasons. Young growing shoots with D. citri eggs present were identifed, and live individuals were counted until adult emergence. No predatory arthropods were observed in association with D. citri eggs and nymphs during the study. The mean parasitism of fourth- and ffth-instar nymphs by Tamarixia radiata Waterston (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) was 2.3%. The durations of the egg–adult period were similar among the 4 generations, ranging from 18.0 to 24.7 d (at mean temperatures ranging from 21.6 to 26.0 °C) and followed the temperature requirement models obtained in the laboratory for D. citri. However, survival from the egg to the adult stage for the same period varied considerably from 1.7 to 21.4%; the highest mortalities were observed in the egg and small nymphal (frst- to thirdinstar) stages, which were considered to be key phases for population growth of the pest.Uma tabela de vida ecológica foi construída para ovos e ninfas de Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) com dados obtidos em pomares de laranja (Citrus sinensis Osbeck) em 2 regiões do estado de São Paulo, com 4 gerações, no período de novembro de 2006 a maio de 2007, compreendendo as estações de primavera, verão e outono. Ramos jovens em crescimento com a presença de ovos de D. citri foram identificados e os indivíduos vivos foram contados até a emergência dos adultos. Nenhum predador foi observado associado a ovos e ninfas de D. citri durante o estudo. A taxa média de parasitismo de ninfas de quarto e quinto ínstares por Tamarixia radiata Waterson (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) foi de 2.3%. A duração do período de ovo a adulto foi semelhante entre as quatro gerações, variando de 18.0 a 24.7 dias (com temperaturas médias de 21.6 a 26.0 °C) e seguiram os modelos de exigencias térmicas obtidas em laboratório para D. citri. Todavia, a sobrevivencia de ovo até o estágio adulto variou consideravelmente para o mesmo período, de 1.7 a 21.4%, sendo que as maiores mortalidades foram observadas nos estágios de ovos e ninfas pequenas (de primeiro a terceiro ínstares), as quais foram consideradas fases chaves para o crescimento populacional desta praga.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

New 1,3-diarylureas linked by C-C Suzuki coupling to the methyl 3-aminothieno[3,2-b]pyridine-2-carboxylate moiety: synthesis and fluorescence studies in solution and in lipid membranes

New six fluorescent 1,3-diarylureas linked by C-C Suzuki coupling to the 6-position of the methyl 3-aminothieno[3,2-b]pyridine-2-carboxylate moiety were prepared by reaction of the amino groups on the ortho or meta positions relative to the C-C bond of the Suzuki coupling products, with different para-substituted arylisocyanates (H, OMe, CN), in high to excellent yields. The fluorescence properties of the 1,3-diarylureas in solution and in lipid membranes of egg-yolk phosphatidylcholine (Egg-PC), dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC), dipalmitoyl phosphatidylglycerol (DPPG) or dioctadecyldimethylammonium bromide (DODAB), with or without cholesterol (Ch), were studied. The six 1,3-diarylureas have reasonable fluorescence quantum yields in several solvents (between 0.02 and 0.69) and present a moderately solvent sensitive emission, but are not fluorescent in alcohols and water. The compounds bearing the arylurea moiety in the meta position relative to the C-C bond, especially with the OMe and CN substituents, present the better solvatochromic properties. Incorporation of the six compounds in lipid membranes indicates that all the compounds are deeply located in the hydrophobic region of the lipid bilayers, feeling the transition between the rigid gel phase and fluid phases.To the Foundation for the Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) for inancial support to the NMR portuguese network (PTNMR, Bruker Avance III 400-Univ. Minho). To the FCT and FEDER (European Fund for Regional Development)-COMPETE-QREN-EU for financial support to the Research Centres, CQ/UM [PEst-C/QUI/UI0686/2011 (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-022716)] and CFUM [PEst-C/FIS/UI0607/2011 (F-COMP-01-0124-FEDER-022711)], and to the research projects PTDC/QUI/81238/2006 (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-007467) (photophysical studies) and PTDC/QUI-QUI/111060/2009 (F-COMP-01-0124-FEDER-015603) (organic synthesis)

Mechanical behaviour analysis of polyester polymer mortars modified with recycled GFRP waste materials

In this study the effect of incorporation of recycled glass-fibre reinforced polymer (GFRP) waste materials, obtained by means of milling processes, on mechanical behaviour of polyester polymer mortars was assessed. For this purpose, different contents of recycled GFRP waste powder and fibres, with distinct size gradings, were incorporated into polyester based mortars as sand aggregates and filler replacements. Flexural and compressive loading capacities were evaluated and found better than unmodified polymer mortars. GFRP modified polyester based mortars also show a less brittle behaviour, with retention of some loading capacity after peak load. Obtained results highlight the high potential of recycled GFRP waste materials as efficient and sustainable reinforcement and admixture for polymer concrete and mortars composites, constituting an emergent waste management solution

A new antitumoral Heteroarylaminothieno[3,2-b]pyridine derivative : its incorporation into liposomes and interaction with proteins monitored by fluorescence

Advance Article. 2014 Oct 16 [Epub ahead of print]The fluorescence properties of the new potent antitumoral methyl 3-amino-6-(benzo[d]thiazol-2-ylamino)thieno[3,2-b]pyridine-2-carboxylate in solution and when encapsulated in several different nanoliposome formulations were investigated. The compound exhibits very reasonable fluorescence quantum yields and a solvent sensitive emission in several polar and non-polar media, despite not being fluorescent in protic solvents. Fluorescence anisotropy measurements of the compound incorporated in liposomes revealed that this thienopyridine derivative can be carried in the hydrophobic region of the lipid membrane. Liposome formulations including this antitumor compound are nanometric in size, with a diameter lower than 130 nm and generally low polydispersity, being promising for future drug delivery developments. The interaction of the compound with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and the multidrug resistance protein MDR1 was monitored by FRET, the compound acting as energy acceptor. It was observed a lower interaction with MDR1 protein than with the native form of BSA, which is an important result regarding applications of this antitumoral drug.Foundation for the Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal), FEDER/COMPETE and QREN for financial support to the Research Centres, CFUM [Strategic Project PEst- C/FIS/UI0607/2013 (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-022711) and CQ/UM [Strategic Project PEst-C/QUI/UI0686/2013 (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-022716)] and n-STeP Project NORTE-07-0124-FEDER-000039 supported by the Operational Regional Programme of North of Portugal (ON.2). FCT and POPH/QREN/FSE are acknowledged for the Post- Doc. grant of R.C.C. (SFRH/BPD/68344/2010)

The effect of the Messinian salinity crisis on the early diversification of the Tettigettalna cicadas

The current distribution patterns of many Mediterranean species are often a consequence of large and impactful past geoclimatic events, such as the Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC) and the Quaternary glacial cycles. Cicadas are flying insects with poor dispersal ability, which have experienced intense local differentiation in the Mediterranean, where the genus Tettigettalna has surfaced as a biogeographic model. The genus includes 10 species with species-specific calling songs but identical morphology. All Tettigettalna species are restricted to Southern Iberia, with the exception of T. estrellae (northwest Iberia), the widespread T. argentata (mainly Iberia, France and Italy), and T. afroamissa (Morocco). With an expanded genetic dataset involving nuclear (EF1α) and mitochondrial (5′ and 3′ COI and ATP) loci, we reconstructed the phylogeny of the genus and estimated divergence dates for Tettigettalna species under a Bayesian framework. Phylogeny with the new mitochondrial dataset was in agreement with previous studies, whereas the nuclear EF1α supported T. josei and T. afroamissa as monophyletic clades but lacked resolution to resolve the remaining taxa. Some sister taxa share mitochondrial haplotypes, hinting for incomplete lineage sorting. Estimates of divergence time settled T. josei as the earliest diverging lineage, likely as a pre- or early-MSC event. As for the origin of T. afroamissa in Morocco, though time estimates could not entirely rule out post-MSC dispersal, the most likely scenario points to isolation of African Tettigettalna after the reopening of the strait of Gibraltar. The Pleistocene glaciations that followed likely impacted on the diversification of the remaining species of the genus in southern Iberia refugia.info:eu-repo/semantics/submittedVersio

Do observed metallicity gradients of early-type galaxies support a hybrid formation scenario?

We measure radial gradients of the Mg2 index in 15 E-E/S0 and 14 S0 galaxies. Our homogeneous data set covers a large range of internal stellar velocity dispersions (2.0<logsigma<2.5) and Mg2 gradients (dMg2/dlogr/re* up to -0.14mag/dex). We find for the first time, a noticeable lower boundary in the relation between Mg2 gradient and sigma along the full range of sigma, which may be populated by galaxies predominantly formed by monolithic collapse. At high sigma, galaxies showing flatter gradients could represent objects which suffered either important merging episodes or later gas accretion. These processes contribute to the flattening of the metallicity gradients and their increasing importance could define the distribution of the objects above the boundary expected by the ``classical'' monolithic process. This result is in marked contrast with previous works which found a correlation between dMg2/dlogr/re* and sigma confined to the low mass galaxies, suggesting that only galaxies below some limiting sigma were formed by collapse whereas the massive ones by mergers. We show observational evidence that a hybrid scenario could arise also among massive galaxies. Finally, we estimated d[Z/H] from Mg2 and Hbeta measurements and single stellar population models. The conclusions remain the same, indicating that the results cannot be ascribed to age effects on Mg2.Comment: 11 pages, 2 figures, to appear in ApJLetter