Serum markers of B-cell activation in pregnancy during late gestation, delivery, and the postpartum period

B cells are vital for the normal evolution of pregnancy due to their humoral and possible regulatory activities. Our group and others have documented that circulating B-cell subsets undergo changes from normal late pregnancy to the postpartum period. However, the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Therefore, this study examined the degree of B-cell activation in normal pregnancy by analyzing the levels of serum markers in healthy pregnant women during the third trimester of pregnancy, the day of delivery, and the postpartum period. METHOD OF STUDY: A prospective study including pregnant and non-pregnant women attending routine care was undertaken at a hospital clinic. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected, along with peripheral blood samples. The serum levels of soluble CD23 (sCD23), B-cell-activating factor (BAFF), kappa (κ) and lambda (λ) free light chains (FLC), IgA, IgG, and IgM were quantified. RESULTS: Our study included 43 third trimester pregnant and 35 non-pregnant women. In the pregnant women, the median levels of sCD23, BAFF, IgG, and κ FLC were significantly higher during the postpartum period than during the third trimester of pregnancy. Compared to the non-pregnant women, the third trimester pregnant women had higher median BAFF levels and lower sCD23, IgA, IgG, and FLC levels. CONCLUSION: Changes in serum markers of B-cell kinetics that occur during pregnancy often persist into the postpartum period and affect the secretion of immunoglobulins from different classes. Further studies are needed to clarify the biological significance of our observations.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Avaliação de genótipos de mamoeiro (Carica papaya L.) para resistência à Phytophthora palmivora Butler.

A fruticultura é um dos segmentos de maior crescimento na agricultura e o mamoeiro (Carica papaya L.) aparece como um dos destaques, principalmente após a recente abertura do mercado norte- americano para a exportação de mamão produzido no país. O mamoeiro pode ser considerado originário do noroeste da América do Sul e América Central, com as principais áreas comerciais localizadas entre as latitudes 23oN e S, apesar de serem encontrados plantios em latitudes de até 32oN e S

Análise de solos coesos do litoral Norte da Bahia utilizando a granulometria a laser.

Uma das características mais conspícuas dos solos dos Tabuleiros Costeiros é a coesão manifestada em horizontes subsuperficiais (horizontes coesos). Alguns autores defendem que a gênese dos horizontes coesos está relacionada a iluviação de argila muito fina, enquanto que outros relatam a importância da boa distribuição granulométrica. Visando contribuir para o entendimento dos horizontes coesos, foram realizados estudos em três perfis de solos utilizando um granulômetro a laser. O trabalho não comprovou a relação entre a translocação de argila muito fina e os horizontes coesos, contudo sugere que a boa distribuição granulométrica e a argiluviação favoreceram a constituição e evolução da coesão

Design and business: growing up as a separate couple

This paper addresses the difficulties faced by postgraduate design students (DS) and professional designers (PD) concerning the design, development and implementation of business projects (BP), and of sustainable management (SM). The DS have not previously attended any specific course, either dealing with BP, or having had training in SM. A test administered to 60 DS enabled to picture issues regarding: (i) the sense of discomfort regarding business and management areas, due to lack of skills, and (ii) the special requirements for skills in unfamiliar areas such as production, management, marketing and product stewardship. The study determined that DS perceive the need for educational policies that allow the acquisition of new skills in the referred areas. However, it seems that they are not sensitive to BP/SM scientific’ research importance. Findings point out a direction to curriculum development to bridge Design and Business areas, by overcoming the identified gap.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio