Predominance of Rotavirus P[4]G2 in a Vaccinated Population, Brazil

We identified 21 rotaviruses in 129 patients with diarrhea in a Brazilian city with high rotavirus vaccine coverage. All rotaviruses were genotype P[4]G2 with 1 mixed infection with P[NT]G9. Although virus predominance could have occurred randomly, the vaccine may be less protective against P[4]G2. Prospective surveillance is urgently needed

Conversando sobre Património Industrial e outras Histórias: palavras, espaços e imagens

O conjunto de entrevistas apresentadas neste livro procura dar uma nova visão acerca do património industrial. Com uma abordagem aos estudos e às trajectórias de diversos estudiosos do Brasil e de Portugal, aos percursos de formação de cada autor (a), às suas várias temporalidades e vinculações institucionais distintas, a obra valoriza as narrativas orais de quem viveu o processo de construção e consolidação dessa área de pesquisa nos dois países. O objectivo é contribuir para o debate complexo e contínuo sobre o património e possibilita uma ampliação do nosso entendimento dos modos como esta área se firmou e se vem afirmando em diversos espaços, dentro e fora das universidades

Predominance of rotavirus P[4]G2 in a vaccinated population, Brazil

We identified 21 rotaviruses in 129 patients with diarrhea in a Brazilian city with high rotavirus vaccine coverage. All rotaviruses were genotype P[4]G2 with 1 mixed infection with P[NT]G9. Although virus predominance could have occurred randomly, the vaccine may be less protective against P[4]G2. Prospective surveillance is urgently needed

Integrating adverse effect analysis into environmental risk assessment for exotic generalist arthropod biological control agents: a three-tiered framework

Environmental risk assessments (ERAs) are required before utilizing exotic arthropods for biological control (BC). Present ERAs focus on exposure analysis (host/prey range) and have resulted in approval of many specialist exotic biological control agents (BCA). In comparison to specialists, generalist arthropod BCAs (GABCAs) have been considered inherently risky and less used in classical biological control. To safely consider exotic GABCAs, an ERA must include methods for the analysis of potential effects. A panel of 47 experts from 14 countries discussed, in six online forums over 12 months, scientific criteria for an ERA for exotic GABCAs. Using four case studies, a three-tiered ERA comprising Scoping, Screening and Definitive Assessments was developed. The ERA is primarily based on expert consultation, with decision processes in each tier that lead to the approval of the petition or the subsequent tier. In the Scoping Assessment, likelihood of establishment (for augmentative BC), and potential effect(s) are qualitatively assessed. If risks are identified, the Screening Assessment is conducted, in which 19 categories of effects (adverse and beneficial) are quantified. If a risk exceeds the proposed risk threshold in any of these categories, the analysis moves to the Definitive Assessment to identify potential non-target species in the respective category(ies). When at least one potential non-target species is at significant risk, long-term and indirect ecosystem risks must be quantified with actual data or the petition for release can be dismissed or withdrawn. The proposed ERA should contribute to the development of safe pathways for the use of low risk GABCAs

MECANISMOS FISIOLÓGICOS E FISIOPATOLÓGICOS DETERMINANTES DA ATIVIDADE VASOMOTORA SIMPÁTICA

The sympathetic vasomotor activity is one of determinants of blood pressure (BP). Understanding the mechanisms involved in the control of the cardiovascular system is important in physiological and pathophysiological condition. The principal sympathetic premotor brain nuclei are confined in the paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus (PVN) and in the rostralventrolateral medulla (RVLM). In different patophysiological condition, there is an increase in the sympathetic vasomotor tone, in part due to an increase in the activity of the PVN and RVLM neurons. In this brief review, we discussed the major mechanisms of sympathetic activation in different experimental models: 1) renovascular hypertension, 2) renoprival hypertension, 3) cardiac failure, 4) hypertension induced by nitric oxide blockade, 5) obesity and 6) gender differences. The actions of different mediators in the PVN and in the RVLM acting in long term, can change the level of sympathetic nerve activity and blood pressure and therefore, contributing for the progression of cardiovascular disease.A atividade vasomotora simpática é um dos determinantes da pressão arterial (PA). Estabelecer quais são os mecanismos geradores dessa atividade é importante para o entendimento de como o sistema cardiovascular opera, tanto em situações fisiológicas como fisiopatológicas. Os principais grupos pré-motores do simpático estão confinados no núcleo paraventricular do hipotálamo (PVN) e região rostoventrolateral bulbar (RVLM). Em diversas situações fisiopatológicas há aumento na atividade vasomotora simpática, em parte conseqüente a maior atividade dos neurônios do PVN e RVLM. Nesta breve revisão, foram discutidos os principais mecanismos de ativação simpática em diferentes modelos experimentais: 1) hipertensão renovascular, 2) hipertensão por baixa massa renal, 3) insuficiência cardíaca, 4) hipertensão por bloqueio do óxido nítrico, 5) obesidade e 6) dimorfismo sexual. As ações de diferentes mediadores sobre o PVN e RVLM podem em longo prazo determinar novos patamares de atividade simpática, modificando os níveis tensionais e dessa forma, contribuir para a progressão da doença cardiovascular

Prevention of methamphetamine-induced microglial cell death by TNF-α and IL-6 through activation of the JAK-STAT pathway

<p><b>Abstract</b></p> <p><b>Background</b></p> <p>It is well known that methamphetamine (METH) is neurotoxic and recent studies have suggested the involvement of neuroinflammatory processes in brain dysfunction induced by misuse of this drug. Indeed, glial cells seem to be activated in response to METH, but its effects on microglial cells are not fully understood. Moreover, it has been shown that cytokines, which are normally released by activated microglia, may have a dual role in response to brain injury. This led us to study the toxic effect of METH on microglial cells by looking to cell death and alterations of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukine-6 (IL-6) systems, as well as the role played by these cytokines.</p> <p><b>Methods</b></p> <p>We used the N9 microglial cell line, and cell death and proliferation were evaluated by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay and incorporation of bromodeoxyuridine, respectively. The TNF-α and IL-6 content was quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and changes in TNF receptor 1, IL-6 receptor-alpha, Bax and Bcl-2 protein levels by western blotting. Immunocytochemistry analysis was also performed to evaluate alterations in microglial morphology and in the protein expression of phospho-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (pSTAT3).</p> <p><b>Results</b></p> <p>METH induced microglial cell death in a concentration-dependent manner (EC₅₀ = 1 mM), and also led to significant morphological changes and decreased cell proliferation. Additionally, this drug increased TNF-α extracellular and intracellular levels, as well as its receptor protein levels at 1 h, whereas IL-6 and its receptor levels were increased at 24 h post-exposure. However, the endogenous proinflammatory cytokines did not contribute to METH-induced microglial cell death. On the other hand, exogenous low concentrations of TNF-α or IL-6 had a protective effect. Interestingly, we also verified that the anti-apoptotic role of TNF-α was mediated by activation of IL-6 signaling, specifically the janus kinase (JAK)-STAT3 pathway, which in turn induced down-regulation of the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio.</p> <p><b>Conclusions</b></p> <p>These findings show that TNF-α and IL-6 have a protective role against METH-induced microglial cell death via the IL-6 receptor, specifically through activation of the JAK-STAT3 pathway, with consequent changes in pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins.</p

Factors influencing terrestriality in primates of the Americas and Madagascar

Among mammals, the order Primates is exceptional in having a high taxonomic richness in which the taxa are arboreal, semiterrestrial, or terrestrial. Although habitual terrestriality is pervasive among the apes and African and Asian monkeys (catarrhines), it is largely absent among monkeys of the Americas (platyrrhines), as well as galagos, lemurs, and lorises (strepsirrhines), which are mostly arboreal. Numerous ecological drivers and species-specific factors are suggested to set the conditions for an evolutionary shift from arboreality to terrestriality, and current environmental conditions may provide analogous scenarios to those transitional periods. Therefore, we investigated predominantly arboreal, diurnal primate genera from the Americas and Madagascar that lack fully terrestrial taxa, to determine whether ecological drivers (habitat canopy cover, predation risk, maximum temperature, precipitation, primate species richness, human population density, and distance to roads) or species-specific traits (bodymass, group size, and degree of frugivory) associate with increased terrestriality. We collated 150,961 observation hours across 2,227 months from 47 species at 20 sites in Madagascar and 48 sites in the Americas. Multiple factors were associated with ground use in these otherwise arboreal species, including increased temperature, a decrease in canopy cover, a dietary shift away from frugivory, and larger group size. These factors mostly explain intraspecific differences in terrestriality. As humanity modifies habitats and causes climate change, our results suggest that species already inhabiting hot, sparsely canopied sites, and exhibiting more generalized diets, are more likely to shift toward greater ground use