Lower NPAS3 expression during the later stages of abnormal lung development in rat congenital diaphragmatic hernia

Purpose Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is characterized by a developmental defect in the diaphragm, pulmonary hypoplasia and pulmonary hypertension. NPAS3 is a PAS domain transcription factor regulating Drosophila tracheogenesis. NPAS3 null mice develop pulmonary hypoplasia in utero and die after birth due to respiratory failure. We aimed to evaluate NPAS3 expres- sion during normal and abnormal lung development due to CDH. Methods CDH was induced by administering 100 mg/ml nitrofen to time-pregnant dams on embryonic day (E) 9 of gestation. Lungs were isolated on E15, E18 and E21 and NPAS3 localization was determined by immunohisto- chemistry and quantified using Western blotting. Results We found that only E21 hypoplastic CDH lungs have reduced expression of NPAS3 in the terminal sac- cules. Western blotting confirmed the down-regulation of NPAS3 protein in the nitrofen-induced hypoplastic lungs. Conclusions We demonstrate for the first time that ni- trofen-induced hypoplastic CDH lungs have reduced NPAS3 expression in the terminal saccules during the later stages of abnormal lung development. Our findings suggest that NPAS3 is associated with pulmonary hypoplasia in CDH.Supported by the Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba; RK is the recipient of a Career Enhancement Award from the Canadian Child Health Clinician Scientist Program and a New Investigator Salary Award from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Manitoba Lung Association and the Children’s Hospital Research Institute

The N-P-K soil nutrient balance of portuguese cropland in the 1950s: the transition from organic to chemical fertilization

Agricultural nutrient balances have been receiving increasing attention in both historical and nutrient management research. The main objectives of this study were to further develop balance methodologies and to carry out a comprehensive assessment of the functioning and nutrient cycling of 1950s agroecosystems in Portugal. Additionally, the main implications for the history of agriculture in Portugal were discussed from the standpoint of soil fertility. We used a mass balance approach that comprises virtually all nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) inputs and outputs from cropland topsoil for average conditions in the period 1951–56. We found a consistent deficit in N, both for nationwide (−2.1 kg.ha−1.yr−1) and arable crops (−1.6 kg.ha−1.yr−1) estimates, that was rectified in the turn to the 1960 decade. P and K were, in contrast, accumulating in the soil (4.2–4.6 kg.ha−1.yr−1 and 1.0–3.0 kg.ha−1.yr−1, respectively). We observed that the 1950s is the very moment of inflection from an agriculture fertilized predominantly through reused N in biomass (livestock excretions plus marine, plant and human waste sources) to one where chemical fertilizers prevailed. It is suggested that N deficiency played an important role in this transitioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Chemical composition and antifungal activity of essential oil from Eucalyptus smithii against dermatophytes

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: In this study, we evaluated the chemical composition of a commercial sample of essential oil from Eucalyptus smithii R.T. Baker and its antifungal activity against Microsporum canis ATCC 32903, Microsporum gypseum ATCC 14683, Trichophyton mentagrophytes ATCC 9533, T. mentagrophytes ATCC 11480, T. mentagrophytes ATCC 11481, and Trichophyton rubrum CCT 5507. METHODS: Morphological changes in these fungi after treatment with the oil were determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The antifungal activity of the oil was determined on the basis of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) values. RESULTS: The compound 1,8-cineole was found to be the predominant component (72.2%) of the essential oil. The MIC values of the oil ranged from 62.5μg·mL−1 to >1,000μg·mL−1, and the MFC values of the oil ranged from 125μg·mL−1 to >1,000μg·mL−1. SEM analysis showed physical damage and morphological alterations in the fungi exposed to this oil. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated the potential of Eucalyptus smithii essential oil as a natural therapeutic agent for the treatment of dermatophytosis

Caracterização da curva do lactato sanguíneo e aplicabilidade do modelo Dmax durante protocolo progressivo em esteira rolante La caracterización de la curva del lactato sanguíneo y la pertinencia del Dmax durante el protocolo progresivo en la cinta rodante Characterization of the blood lactate curve and applicability of the Dmax model in a progressive protocol on treadmill

PROPÓSITO: Caracterizar o comportamento do lactato sanguíneo ([La]), durante protocolo progressivo em esteira rolante, e investigar a aplicabilidade do modelo Dmax na detecção do limiar de lactato (LL) e rendimento esportivo. MÉTODOS: Vinte e sete homens atletas de nível regional executaram protocolo de Heck et al. (1985), com incrementos a cada três minutos. O rendimento esportivo foi obtido pela velocidade média da prova de 10km. O 1º e 2º LL foram determinados através de análise visual da curva das [La] (LLv1 e LLv2) e por interpolação na velocidade referente às concentrações de 2,0 e 3,5mmol.l¹ (LL2,0 e LL3,5). O modelo Dmax identificou o LL em valores medidos (DmaxMED) e preditos pelas funções polinomial (DmaxPOL), linear de dois segmentos (DmaxSEG) e exponencial contínua (DmaxEXP). A característica do lactato sanguíneo durante o teste incremental foi verificada pelos ajustes linear de dois segmentos e exponencial contínua. RESULTADOS: Não houve diferença significativa entre o somatório dos resíduos quadrados dos ajustes de curva, porém, houve tendência de melhor ajuste exponencial contínua em 70,4% da amostra. Enquanto não houve diferença significativa entre os DmaxMED, DmaxPOL, DmaxSEG e DmaxEXP, os métodos Dmax foram maiores do que LLv1, menores do que LL3,5 e não diferentes de LL2,0. Todos os critérios Dmax foram significativamente menores do que a velocidade média da prova de 10km. CONCLUSÕES: Enquanto as [La] tenderam a um aumento exponencial durante protocolos progressivos em esteira rolante, o modelo Dmax apresentou evidências da sua aplicabilidade para a detecção do LL, mas não do rendimento esportivo.<br>PROPÓSITO: Este estudio tenía como los objetivos, para caracterizar la conducta del lactato sanguíneo ([La]), durante el protocolo progresivo en la cinta rodante, y para investigar la pertinencia del Dmax en el descubrimiento del umbral de lactato (LL) y el ingreso deportivo. MÉTODOS: Veintisiete atletas de nivel regional ejecutaron protocolo de Heck et al. (1985), con incrementos cada 3 minutos. El ingreso deportivo se obtuvo por la velocidad de la prueba de 10 km. El 1 y 2 LL sea cierto a través del análisis visual de la curva del [La] (LLv1 y LLv2), y para la interpolación en la velocidad con respecto a las concentraciones de 2,0 y 3,5 mmol.l-1 (LL2,0 y LL3,5). EL Dmax identificó LL en los valores moderados (DmaxMED), y se predijo por el polinomial de las funciones (DmaxPOL), lineal de dos segmentos (DmaxSEG), y exponencial continuo (DmaxEXP). La característica del lactato sanguíneo durante la prueba incremental se verificó por los ajustes lineal de 2 segmentos y exponencial continuo. RESULTADOS: No había diferencia significante entre el sumatoria de los residuos cuadrados de los ajustes de la curva, sin embargo, había una tendencia continua de ajuste exponencial bueno en 70,4% de la muestra. Mientras que no había diferencia significante entre DmaxMED, DmaxPOL, DmaxSEG y DmaxEXP, el método Dmax es más grande que LLv1, más pequeño que LL3,5, y no presenta diferencia con el de LL2,0. Todo el criterio Dmax sea significativamente más pequeño que la velocidad elemento de la prueba de 10 km. CONCLUSIONES: Mientras las [LA] tenderon a un aumento exponencial durante los protocolos progresivos en la cinta rodante, el Dmax ejemplar presentó evidencias de pertinencia mayor el descubrimiento de LL, pero no para rendimiento deportivo.<br>PURPOSE: To characterize the blood lactate ([La]) behavior along a progressive protocol on treadmill, and to investigate the applicability of the Dmax model in detecting the lactate threshold (LT) and the sportive performance. METHODS: Twenty-seven male athletes of regional level performed the Heck et al. protocol (1985) incremented every 3 minutes. The sportive output was attained by the mean velocity of the 10 km-test. The first and second LT were determined through visual analysis of the [La] (LTv1 and LTv2) curve, and by interpolation of the velocity related to the 2.0 and 3.5 mmol.l-1 concentrations (LT2.0 and LT3.5). The Dmax model has identified the LT in measured values (DmaxMED), and was predicted by the polynomial functions (DmaxPOL), the 2-segment linear (DmaxSEG) and the continuous exponential (DmaxEXP). The characteristic of the blood lactate along the incremental test was checked through 2-segment linear adjustments and continuous exponential. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the sums of the square residues of the curve adjustments, but there was a trend for a better continuous exponential adjustment at 70.4% of the sampling. Although there was no significant difference between the DmaxMED, DmaxPOL, DmaxSEG, and DmaxEXP, the Dmax methods were higher than the LTv1, lower than the LT3.5, and were not different of the LT2.0. Every Dmax criteria were significantly lower than the mean velocity of the 10 km-test. CONCLUSIONS: While the [La] trended to an exponential increase along the progressive protocols on treadmill, the Dmax model presented evidences of its applicability to detect the LT, but not for the sportive output