232 research outputs found
Epstein–Barr virus LMP1 oncogene polymorphism in tatar and slavic populations in Russian Federation impacting on some malignant tumours
Objective: To compare genetic structure of the main Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) oncogene, latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1), in EBV strains circulating in two genetically distinct ethnic populations in Russian Federation, Tatars and Slavs, as well as assess an impact of diverse LMP1 variants on incidence and mortality rate for some malignant tumors partially associated with EBV infection. Materials and methods. Oral washing samples were collected from 60 ethnic Kazan Tatars and 65 ethnic Moscow Slavics. Carboxy-terminal nucleotide sequences (41 and 40 sequences, respectively) derived from hypervariable LMP1 gene region were amplified from EBV DNA samples. Next, final nucleotide sequences were translated into amino acid sequences and analyzed according to classification by Edwards et al. Results. Analysis of 41 and 40 LMP1 samples obtained from ethnic Kasan Tatars and ethnic Moscow Slavics, respectively, revealed significant difference in relevant amino acid structures. In particular, all LMP1 samples derived from Moscow Slavics were found to belong to the four protein variants: B95.8/A, Med–, China1 and NC. Among them, low-transforming variant B95.8/A was dominant (82.5%). In contrast, solely 21 out of 41 LMP1 samples derived from ethnic Tatars were classified as B95.8/A, Med– and China1 variants. Importantly, the percentage of low-transforming B95.8/A variant among ethnic Tatar samples was significantly lower compared to that one found in Moscow Slavics (29.3% vs. 82.5%). On the other hand, seven (17.1%) out of 20 other samples formed a unique protein mono group characterized by LMP1 amino acid sequence differed from that one available in the GenBank database. Such group of variants was designated as LMP1-TatK. The remaining 13 samples (31.7%) did not match either protein variants, thereby forming the “beyond classification” (LMP1-TatBC) group. Conclusion. The data obtained suggest that various LMP1 variants exist in EBV strains persisting in ethnic Tatrs and ethnic Slavics examined in Russian Federation. It was also found that EBV strains isolated from ethnic Tatars contained a unique LMP1 gene variant encoding protein LMP1-TatK lacked in EBV strains derived from ethnic Moscow Slavics. Taking into account the genealogy of Tatars, it cannot be ruled out that EBV strain bearing LMP1-TatK variant represented ethnically specific EBV strain that might circulate many centuries ago among their historical human predecessors called Mongol-Tatar tribes. In addition, it was shown that the LMP1 variants in EBV strains isolated from ethnic Kazan Tatars and ethnic Moscow Slavics did not affect the incidence and mortality of different forms of cancer consisting of EBV-associated cases
Saquinavir Inhibits the malaria parasite's chloroquine resistance transporter
The antiretroviral protease inhibitors (APIs) ritonavir, saquinavir, and lopinavir, used to treat HIV infection, inhibit the growth of Plasmodium falciparum at clinically relevant concentrations. Moreover, it has been reported that these APIs potentiate the activity of chloroquine (CQ) against this parasite in vitro. The mechanism underlying this effect is not understood, but the degree of chemosensitization varies between the different APIs and, with the exception of ritonavir, appears to be dependent on the parasite exhibiting a CQ-resistant phenotype. Here we report a study of the role of the P. falciparum chloroquine resistance transporter (PfCRT) in the interaction between CQ and APIs, using transgenic parasites expressing different PfCRT alleles and using the Xenopus laevis oocyte system for the heterologous expression of PfCRT. Our data demonstrate that saquinavir behaves as a CQ resistance reverser and that this explains, at least in part, its ability to enhance the effects of CQ in CQ-resistant P. falciparum parasites. Copyrigh
Productive restructuring and the reallocation of work and employment: a survey of the “new” forms of social inequality
O propósito do presente artigo consiste
em questionar a inevitabilidade dos processos de
segmentação e precarização das relações de trabalho
e emprego, responsáveis pela inscrição de
“novas” formas de desigualdade social que alicerçam
o actual modelo de desenvolvimento das economias
e sociedades. Visa-se criticar os limites da
lógica econômica e financeira, de contornos globais,
que configuram um “novo espírito do capitalismo”,
ou seja, uma espécie de divinização da
ordem natural das coisas. Impõe-se fazer, por isso,
um périplo analítico pelas transformações em curso
no mercado de trabalho, acompanhado pela vigilância
epistemológica que permita enquadrar e
relativizar as (di)visões neoliberais e teses tecnodeterministas
dominantes. A perspectivação de cenários
sobre o futuro do trabalho encerrará este
périplo, permitindo-nos alertar para os condicionalismos
histórico-temporais, para a urgência de
se desocultar o que de ideológico e político existe
nas actuais lógicas de racionalização e para os
processos de ressimbolização do trabalho e emprego
enquanto “experiência social central” na
contemporaneidade.The scope of this paper is to question
the inevitability of the processes of segmentation
and increased precariousness of the relations
of labor and employment, which are responsible
for the introduction of “new” forms of
social inequality that underpin the current model
of development of economies and societies. It
seeks to criticize the limits of global financial and
economic logic, which constitute a “new spirit of
capitalism,” namely a kind of reverence for the
natural order of things. It is therefore necessary
to conduct an analytical survey of the ongoing
changes in the labor market, accompanied by epistemological
vigilance which makes it possible to
see neoliberal (di)visions and dominant technodeterministic
theses in context. The enunciation
of scenarios on the future of work will conclude
this survey and will make it possible to draw attention
to both the historical and temporal constraints
and to the urgent need to unveil what is
ideological and political in the prevailing logic of
rationalization and processes to reinstate work
and employment as a “central social experience”
in contemporary times
A constituição da identidade dos professores de pós-graduação stricto sensu em duas instituições de ensino superior: um estudo baseado nas relações de poder e papéis em organizações
Clinical features and risk factors for severe and critical pregnant women with 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza infection in China
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>2009 pandemic H1N1 (pH1N1) influenza posed an increased risk of severe illness among pregnant women. Data on risk factors associated with death of pregnant women and neonates with pH1N1 infections are limited outside of developed countries.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Retrospective observational study in 394 severe or critical pregnant women admitted to a hospital with pH1N1 influenza from Sep. 1, 2009 to Dec. 31, 2009. rRT-PCR testing was used to confirm infection. In-hospital mortality was the primary endpoint of this study. Univariable logistic analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to investigate the potential factors on admission that might be associated with the maternal and neonatal mortality.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>394 pregnant women were included, 286 were infected with pH1N1 in the third trimester. 351 had pneumonia, and 77 died. A PaO<sub>2</sub>/FiO<sub>2 </sub>≤ 200 (odds ratio (OR), 27.16; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.64-279.70) and higher BMI (i.e. ≥ 30) on admission (OR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.09 to 1.47) were independent risk factors for maternal death. Of 211 deliveries, 146 neonates survived. Premature delivery (OR, 4.17; 95% CI, 1.19-14.56) was associated neonatal mortality. Among 186 patients who received mechanical ventilation, 83 patients were treated with non-invasive ventilation (NIV) and 38 were successful with NIV. The death rate was lower among patients who initially received NIV than those who were initially intubated (24/83, 28.9% vs 43/87, 49.4%; <it>p </it>= 0.006). Septic shock was an independent risk factor for failure of NIV.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Severe hypoxemia and higher BMI on admission were associated with adverse outcomes for pregnant women. Preterm delivery was a risk factor for neonatal death among pregnant women with pH1N1 influenza infection. NIV may be useful in selected pregnant women without septic shock.</p
Interpelaciones identitarias en el trabajo: Propuesta para la comprensión de los procesos de construcción de la identidad laboral
Evolution of the ridges of Midelt-Errachidia section in the High Atlas revealed by paleomagnetic data
New paleomagnetic data (43 sites) from Mesozoic sediments are contributed in this work, verifying the presence of a pervasive syntectonic Early Cretaceous remagnetization in the easternmost area of the Moroccan High Atlas. Using the small circle intersection method, we have calculated the characteristic remagnetization direction (Dec: 337.3, Inc: 38.4) that fits with a 100-Ma age, according to the Apparent Polar Wander Path of Africa. The paleomagnetic vectors of remagnetization are used to obtain the geometry during the remagnetization stage (100Ma) of one of the most renowned geological cross sections of the High Atlas, the Midelt-Errachidia profile. The partial restoration of the cross section at 100Ma allows us to determine the dips of the beds at the remagnetization stage in five structures (ridges or anticlines). Our results indicate that the five ridges that configure the Midelt-Errachidia profile were initiated to different degrees prior to wholesale compressive deformation during the Cenozoic. This configuration can be explained according to two different scenarios that we discuss in this paper: transpression and diapirism. The geological model obtained, both at present and at 100Ma, indicates the existence of a Mesozoic cover substantially decolled from the Paleozoic basement, what strongly contrasts with previously published transects of the same area
Induction of the interleukin 6/ signal transducer and activator of transcription pathway in the lungs of mice sub-chronically exposed to mainstream tobacco smoke
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Tobacco smoking is associated with lung cancer and other respiratory diseases. However, little is known about the global molecular changes that precede the appearance of clinically detectable symptoms. In this study, the effects of mainstream tobacco smoke (MTS) on global transcription in the mouse lung were investigated.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Male C57B1/CBA mice were exposed to MTS from two cigarettes daily, 5 days/week for 6 or 12 weeks. Mice were sacrificed immediately, or 6 weeks following the last cigarette. High density DNA microarrays were used to characterize global gene expression changes in whole lung. Microarray results were validated by Quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Further analysis of protein synthesis and function was carried out for a select set of genes by ELISA and Western blotting.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Globally, seventy nine genes were significantly differentially expressed following the exposure to MTS. These genes were associated with a number of biological processes including xenobiotic metabolism, redox balance, oxidative stress and inflammation. There was no differential gene expression in mice exposed to smoke and sampled 6 weeks following the last cigarette. Moreover, cluster analysis demonstrated that these samples clustered alongside their respective controls. We observed simultaneous up-regulation of <it>interleukin 6 </it>(<it>IL-6</it>) and its antagonist, <it>suppressor of cytokine signalling </it>(<it>SOCS3</it>) mRNA following 12 weeks of MTS exposure. Analysis by ELISA and Western blotting revealed a concomitant increase in total IL-6 antigen levels and its downstream targets, including phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3), basal cell-lymphoma extra large (BCL-XL) and myeloid cell leukemia 1 (MCL-1) protein, in total lung tissue extracts. However, in contrast to gene expression, a subtle decrease in total SOCS3 protein was observed after 12 weeks of MTS exposure.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Global transcriptional analysis identified a set of genes responding to MTS exposure in mouse lung. These genes returned to basal levels following smoking cessation, providing evidence to support the benefits of smoking cessation. Detailed analyses were undertaken for IL-6 and its associated pathways. Our results provide further insight into the role of these pathways in lung injury and inflammation induced by MTS.</p
O fato social total brasileiro: uma perspectiva etnográfica sobre a recepção pública da copa do mundo no Brasil
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