SSCP-based identification of members within the Pseudoterranova decipiens complex (Nematoda : Ascaridoidea : Anisakidae) using genetic markers in the internal transcribed spacers of ribosomal DNA

The anisakid nematodes morphologically corresponding with Pseudoterranova decipiens sensu lato (s.l.) (Krabbe, 1878) from different seal or sea lion hosts and geographical origins, previously identified as Pseudoterranova krabbei, P. decipiens (s.s.), P. bulbosa, P. azarasi and P. cattani by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis, were characterized using a DNA approach. Also a population of P. decipiens (s.l.) from Chaenocephalus aceratus, the blackfin icefish, from Antarctica and another from Osmerus eperlanus, the European smelt, from Germany were included in the study. The first (ITS-1) and second (ITS-2) internal transcribed spacers (ITS) of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) were amplified by PCR from individual nematodes and analysed by single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP), followed by selective sequencing. While no variation in single-stranded ITS-1 and ITS-2 profiles was detected among samples representing each of the species or populations (with the exception of slight microheterogeneity), SSCP analysis of the ITS-2 amplicons allowed the unequivocal differentiation of all of the 5 sibling species of P. decipiens (s.l.) examined, which was supported by sequence differences in ITS rDNA. Samples representing the P. decipiens (s.l.) population from O. eperlanus had the same SSCP profile as those of P. decipiens (s.s.), which was supported by a lack of nucleotide difference in the ITS between them, suggesting that the former represented P. decipiens (s.s.). Based on SSCP results and ITS sequence data, P. decipiens (s.l.) from C. aceratus was genetically most distinct with respect to all other members of Pseudoterranova examined, which indicated that it may represent P. decipiens E (based on geographical origin) or a distinct species. These findings and the molecular approach taken should have important implications for studying the life-cycles, transmission patterns, epidemiology and population genetics of these anisakid nematodes, and the diagnosis of their infections

Extraction techniques and clean-up procedures for the determination of pahs in sediments of the Ceará coast

Extraction and clean-up are essential points in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) analysis in a solid matrix. This work compares extraction techniques and clean-up procedures for PAH analysis. PAH levels, their toxicological significance and source were also evaluated in the waters of the Cocó and Ceará rivers. The efficiency of PAH recovery was higher for the soxhlet and ultrasonic techniques. PAH recovery varied from 69.3 to 99.3%. Total PAH concentration (ΣHPA) varied from 720.73 to 2234.76 µg kg-1 (Cocó river) and 96.4 to 1859.21 µg kg-1 (Ceará river). The main PAH sources are pyrolytic processes and the levels were classified as medium so that adverse effects are possible

Social representations of HIV/AIDS in five Central European and Eastern European countries: A multidimensional analysis

Cognitive processing models of risky sexual behaviour have proliferated in the two decades since the first reporting of HIV/AIDS, but far less attention has been paid to individual and group representations of the epidemic and the relationship between these representations and reported sexual behaviours. In this study, 494 business people and medics from Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Poland and Russia sorted free associations around HIV/AIDS in a matrix completion task. Exploratory factor and multidimensional scaling analyses revealed two main dimensions (labelled ‘Sex’ and ‘Deadly disease’), with significant cultural and gender variations along both dimension scores. Possible explanations for these results are discussed in the light of growing concerns over the spread of the epidemic in this region

CYP2C19 and ABCB1 gene polymorphisms are differently distributed according to ethnicity in the Brazilian general population

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Recent studies have reported the clinical importance of <it>CYP2C19 </it>and <it>ABCB1 </it>polymorphisms in an individualized approach to clopidogrel treatment. The aims of this study were to evaluate the frequencies of <it>CYP2C19 </it>and <it>ABCB1 </it>polymorphisms and to identify the clopidogrel-predicted metabolic phenotypes according to ethnic groups in a sample of individuals representative of a highly admixtured population.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>One hundred and eighty-three Amerindians and 1,029 subjects of the general population of 4 regions of the country were included. Genotypes for the <it>ABCB1</it>c.C3435T (rs1045642), <it>CYP2C19*2 </it>(rs4244285), <it>CYP2C19*3 </it>(rs4986893), <it>CYP2C19*4 </it>(rs28399504), <it>CYP2C19*5 </it>(rs56337013), and <it>CYP2C19*17 </it>(rs12248560) polymorphisms were detected by polymerase chain reaction followed by high resolution melting analysis. The <it>CYP2C19*3</it>, <it>CYP2C19*4 </it>and <it>CYP2C19*5 </it>variants were genotyped in a subsample of subjects (300 samples randomly selected).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The <it>CYP2C19*3 </it>and <it>CYP2C19*5 </it>variant alleles were not detected and the <it>CYP2C19*4 </it>variant allele presented a frequency of 0.3%. The allelic frequencies for the <it>ABCB1</it>c.C3435T, <it>CYP2C19*2 </it>and <it>CYP2C19*17 </it>polymorphisms were differently distributed according to ethnicity: Amerindian (51.4%, 10.4%, 15.8%); Caucasian descent (43.2%, 16.9%, 18.0%); Mulatto (35.9%, 16.5%, 21.3%); and African descent (32.8%, 20.2%, 26.3%) individuals, respectively. As a result, self-referred ethnicity was able to predict significantly different clopidogrel-predicted metabolic phenotypes prevalence even for a highly admixtured population.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our findings indicate the existence of inter-ethnic differences in the <it>ABCB1 </it>and <it>CYP2C19 </it>variant allele frequencies in the Brazilian general population plus Amerindians. This information could help in stratifying individuals from this population regarding clopidogrel-predicted metabolic phenotypes and design more cost-effective programs towards individualization of clopidogrel therapy.</p

Values of sexual behaviour in Central and Eastern Europe

Despite the profusion of social cognitive models for the prediction of sexual behaviour, we have only limited knowledge as to the role of individual values in predicting risky sexual activity. This study assessed the relationship between a recently developed value structure and sexual behaviour in the context of rising HIV infection in central and eastern Europe. Five hundred and three respondents (business people, doctors and nurses) from Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Poland and Russia completed Schwartz’s Portrait Values Questionnaire and reported their condom use, partnership history and record of sexual disease. Results indicated that values had a moderate but consistent relationship with sexual behaviour, with riskier sexual activity reported by those high on Openness to Change, Hedonism and Self-Enhancement. These findings are discussed in the context of the need for culturally sensitive interventions in order to tackle the growing HIV epidemic in this region.This project was supported by a research grant from the Research Support Scheme operated by the Soros Foundation, Prague

Hypovitaminosis D is associated with visceral adiposity, high levels of low-density lipoprotein and triglycerides in alternating shift workers.

Background: Studies suggest that there is a strong association between low vitamin D levels and cardiovascular disease (CVD) and its risk factors (RFs). Hypovitaminosis D (25(OH)D < 30 ng/mL or 75 nmol/L) is a recent public health problem that has reached different populations. The objective of the study was to investigate whether hypovitaminosis D is an additional mechanism to explain the disturbances in the lipid profile as well as the excess of abdominal fat presented by alternating shift workers of a mining company in the region of Inconfidentes, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a sample of 391 adult males, aged 20 - 57 years old and working alternating shifts, who had at least one risk criterion for CVD. Demographic, behavioral, clinical, and anthropometric and body composition variables were obtained. A blood sample was drawn for determining 25(OH) D, parathyroid hormone intact molecule, lipid profile, blood glucose, insulin, C-reactive protein, and adipokines. Results: The average age of the 391 study participants was 36.1 ? 7.3 years. The percentage of hypovitaminosis D and dyslipidemia was 73% and 74.2%, respectively. Excess visceral fat was significant in the hypovitaminosis D group, with an odds ratio (OR) of 2.4 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.1 - 5.2). Dyslipidemia showed 25(OH)D levels significantly lower (OR: 2.7, 95% CI: 1.6 - 4.3) than in individuals with normal levels of cholesterol and fractions, and triglycerides. After adjusted the analysis by age and seasonality, the vitamin levels had a significant inverse association and dose-dependent with lowdensity lipoprotein (OR: 5.9), triglycerides (OR: 2.3) and visceral fat area (OR: 2.4). Conclusion: Hypovitaminosis D and dyslipidemia were found in the majority of our mining company shift workers. Furthermore, excess visceral adiposity, hypertriglyceridemia and high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels are strong predictors of hypovitaminosis D

Cellular Automata Applications in Shortest Path Problem

Cellular Automata (CAs) are computational models that can capture the essential features of systems in which global behavior emerges from the collective effect of simple components, which interact locally. During the last decades, CAs have been extensively used for mimicking several natural processes and systems to find fine solutions in many complex hard to solve computer science and engineering problems. Among them, the shortest path problem is one of the most pronounced and highly studied problems that scientists have been trying to tackle by using a plethora of methodologies and even unconventional approaches. The proposed solutions are mainly justified by their ability to provide a correct solution in a better time complexity than the renowned Dijkstra's algorithm. Although there is a wide variety regarding the algorithmic complexity of the algorithms suggested, spanning from simplistic graph traversal algorithms to complex nature inspired and bio-mimicking algorithms, in this chapter we focus on the successful application of CAs to shortest path problem as found in various diverse disciplines like computer science, swarm robotics, computer networks, decision science and biomimicking of biological organisms' behaviour. In particular, an introduction on the first CA-based algorithm tackling the shortest path problem is provided in detail. After the short presentation of shortest path algorithms arriving from the relaxization of the CAs principles, the application of the CA-based shortest path definition on the coordinated motion of swarm robotics is also introduced. Moreover, the CA based application of shortest path finding in computer networks is presented in brief. Finally, a CA that models exactly the behavior of a biological organism, namely the Physarum's behavior, finding the minimum-length path between two points in a labyrinth is given.Comment: To appear in the book: Adamatzky, A (Ed.) Shortest path solvers. From software to wetware. Springer, 201

SLCO1B1 rs4149056 polymorphism associated with statin-induced myopathy is differently distributed according to ethnicity in the Brazilian general population: Amerindians as a high risk ethnic group

Background\ud Recent studies reported the association between SLCO1B1 polymorphisms and the development of statin-induced myopathy. In the scenario of the Brazilian population, being one of the most heterogeneous in the world, the main aim here was to evaluate SLCO1B1 polymorphisms according to ethnic groups as an initial step for future pharmacogenetic studies.\ud \ud Methods\ud One hundred and eighty-two Amerindians plus 1,032 subjects from the general urban population were included. Genotypes for the SLCO1B1 rs4149056 (c.T521C, p.V174A, exon 5) and SLCO1B1 rs4363657 (g.T89595C, intron 11) polymorphisms were detected by polymerase chain reaction followed by high resolution melting analysis with the Rotor Gene 6000® instrument.\ud \ud Results\ud The frequencies of the SLCO1B1 rs4149056 and rs4363657 C variant allele were higher in Amerindians (28.3% and 26.1%) and were lower in African descent subjects (5.7% and 10.8%) compared with Mulatto (14.9% and 18.2%) and Caucasian descent (14.8% and 15.4%) ethnic groups (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). Linkage disequilibrium analysis show that these variant alleles are in different linkage disequilibrium patterns depending on the ethnic origin.\ud \ud Conclusion\ud Our findings indicate interethnic differences for the SLCO1B1 rs4149056 C risk allele frequency among Brazilians. These data will be useful in the development of effective programs for stratifying individuals regarding adherence, efficacy and choice of statin-type.PCJLS is recipient from fellowship from FAPESP, Proc. 2010-17465-8, Brazil. The technical assistance of the Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Cardiology group, Heart Institute group is gratefully acknowledged

Ability of body mass index to predict abnormal waist circumference : receiving operating characteristics analysis.

Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) are the most used anthropometric measures to identify obesity. While BMI is considered to be a simple and accurate estimate of general adiposity, WC is an alternative surrogate measure of visceral obesity. However, WC is subject to significant inter-examiner variation. The aim of the present study was to correlate BMI and WC measures in a group of Brazilian adults to determine the most accurate BMI values for predicting abnormal WC