Ovariectomy does not affect the cardiac sympathovagal balance of female SHR but estradiol does

The low incidence of cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension, in premenopausal women has led to the conclusion that ovarian hormones may have a protective effect on the cardiovascular system. We evaluated the effects of ovariectomy and/or estradiol on sympathovagal balance and heart rate variability (HRV) in female spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) with tachycardia and compared them to Wistar rats (12 weeks old; N = 8-12). Ovariectomy (OVX) and/or estradiol (10 µg/kg) did not affect basal arterial pressure in either rat strain, but estradiol increased basal heart rate (HR) in OVX SHR (454 ± 18 vs 377 ± 9 bpm). HR changes elicited by methylatropine and propranolol were used to evaluate the sympathovagal balance. Ovariectomy did not affect the cardiac sympathovagal balance of any group, while estradiol increased sympathetic tone in OVX SHR (120 ± 8 vs 56 ± 10 bpm) and sham-operated Wistar rats (57 ± 7 vs 28 ± 4 bpm), and decreased the parasympathetic tone only in OVX SHR (26 ± 7 vs 37 ± 5 bpm). HRV was studied in the frequency domain (Fast Fourier Transformation). Spectra of HR series were examined at low frequency (LF: 0.2-0.75 Hz) and high frequency (HF: 0.75-3 Hz) bands. The power of LF, as well as the LF/HF ratio, was not affected by ovariectomy, but estradiol increased both LF (29 ± 4 vs 18 ± 3 nu in Wistar sham-operated, 26 ± 5 vs 15 ± 3 nu in Wistar OVX, 50 ± 3 vs 38 ± 4 nu in SHR sham-operated, and 51 ± 3 vs 42 ± 3 nu in SHR OVX) and LF/HF (0.48 ± 0.08 vs 0.23 ± 0.03 nu in Wistar sham-operated, 0.41 ± 0.14 vs 0.19 ± 0.05 nu in Wistar OVX, 0.98 ± 0.11 vs 0.63 ± 0.11 nu in SHR sham-operated, and 1.10 ± 0.11 vs 0.78 ± 0.1 nu in SHR OVX). Thus, we suggest that ovariectomy did not affect the cardiac sympathovagal balance of SHR or Wistar rats, while estradiol increased the sympathetic modulation of HR

Reducing Dimensionality to Improve Search in Semantic Genetic Programming

Genetic programming approaches are moving from analysing the syntax of individual solutions to look into their semantics. One of the common definitions of the semantic space in the context of symbolic regression is a n-dimensional space, where n corresponds to the number of training examples. In problems where this number is high, the search process can became harder as the number of dimensions increase. Geometric semantic genetic programming (GSGP) explores the semantic space by performing geometric semantic operations—the fitness landscape seen by GSGP is guaranteed to be conic by construction. Intuitively, a lower number of dimensions can make search more feasible in this scenario, decreasing the chances of data overfitting and reducing the number of evaluations required to find a suitable solution. This paper proposes two approaches for dimensionality reduction in GSGP: (i) to apply current instance selection methods as a pre-process step before training points are given to GSGP; (ii) to incorporate instance selection to the evolution of GSGP. Experiments in 15 datasets show that GSGP performance is improved by using instance reduction during the evolution

Contribution to the knowledge of the genus proceratium roger (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Proceratiinae) in the new world

The genus Proceratium Roger comprises rare ants that are irregularly distributed in tropical and temperate regions of the world. Despite this global distribution, these ants are rarely collected, likely due to their cryptobiotic lifestyle. In the New World, the genus comprises 22 known species distributed from Southern Canada to the South of Brazil, and in some Caribbean islands. The taxonomy of the genus Proceratium is here updated for South America. We describe P. amazonicum sp. nov, from Rondônia state and provide distribution data for P. brasiliense, P. convexipes, and P. silaceum. We also present, for the first time, high-resolution images of the P. colombicum type and P. ecuadoriense, and provide a new record of P. micrommatum from Peru, and comment about its morphological variation and distribution. A key for the workers of the P. micrommatum clade is also provided. The species we describe belongs to P. micrommatum clade and represents the second species recorded from Brazil after 60 years, since only P. brasiliense was known previously in the country. © 2019 Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana. All rights reserved

DEGRADABILIDADE in vitro DA PROTEÍNA DE ESPÉCIES ARBÓREAS DO SEMI-ÁRIDO BRASILEIRO

This experiment was carried out to evaluate the protein degradability in vitro of arboreal plants from Brazilian semi-arid. The plants tested were angico (Anadenanthera colubrina), algaroba (Prosopis juliflora), espinheiro (Acacia glomerosa), juazeiro (Ziziphus joazeiro) and soybean meal, which had crude protein values of 22,5 16,0, 22,0, 19,0 and 38,0%, respectively. Samples (60 mg) were incubated with McDougal (8 ml) and inoculated ruminal fluid (2 ml). Aliquots (1 ml) were taking after 0, 6, 12, 24, 36 and 48 hours for analysis of ammonia, soluble protein and microbial protein. Soybean meal and the algaroba showed larger ammonia production and concentration of soluble protein compared to the other treatments. Soybean meal also displayed higher values for microbial protein. The treatment with angico was the one that displayed closed values towards soybean in regard to microbial protein, in spite of showing lesser ammonia production. The largest value of potential degradability 66,47%, was observed for the treatment with soybean meal, followed by the algaroba 46,27% and of the angico 45,20. Very low degradability was observed for the espinheiro and juazeiro, 19,16 e16,63%, respectively. Among the studied plants the angico and the algaroba were better sources of protein.O experimento teve como objetivo avaliar a degradabilidade in vitro da proteína de plantas arbóreas do semi-árido brasileiro e do farelo de soja. As plantas utilizadas foram angico (Anadenanthera colubrina), algaroba (Prosopis juliflora), espinheiro (Acacia glomerosa), juazeiro (Ziziphus joazeiro) e o farelo de soja, com valores de proteína bruta de 22,5 16,0, 22,0, 19,0 e 38,0%, respectivamente. Amostras de cada planta (60 mg) foram incubadas em 8 ml de meio tampão de McDougal, com adição de 2 ml de inóculo ruminal. Nos tempos 0, 6, 12, 24, 36 e 48 horas após a incubação foi retirada uma alíquota de 1,0 ml para análise de amônia, proteína solúvel e proteína microbiana. O farelo de soja e a algaroba proporcionaram maiores produção de amônia e concentração de proteína solúvel em relação aos outros alimentos, sendo que o farelo de soja apresentou maior valor de proteína microbiana. O tratamento com o angico foi o que mais se aproximou à soja com relação ao valor de proteína microbiana, apesar da sua menor produção de amônia. O maior valor de degradabilidade potencial 66,47 %, foi observado no tratamento com farelo de soja, seguidos dos tratamentos da algaroba 46,27% e angico 45,20%. Foram observados valores de degradabilidade muito baixos para o espinheiro e juazeiro, 19,16 e 16,63%, respectivamente. O angico e a algaroba apresentaram-se como melhores fontes de proteína entre as plantas avaliadas

Design of a nanostructured mucoadhesive system containing curcumin for buccal application : from physicochemical to biological aspects

Mucoadhesive nanostructured systems comprising poloxamer 407 and Carbopol 974P® have already demonstrated good mucoadhesion, as well as improved mechanical and rheological properties. Curcumin displays excellent biological activity, mainly in oral squamous cancer; however, its physicochemical characteristics hinder its application. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop nanostructured formulations containing curcumin for oral cancer therapy. The photophysical interactions between curcumin and the formulations were elucidated by incorporation kinetics and location studies. They revealed that the drug was quickly incorporated and located in the hydrophobic portion of nanometer-sized polymeric micelles. Moreover, the systems displayed plastic behavior with rheopexy characteristics at 37 °C, viscoelastic properties and a gelation temperature of 36 °C, which ensures increased retention after application in the oral cavity. The mucoadhesion results confirmed the previous findings with the nanostructured systems showing a residence time of 20 min in porcine oral mucosa under flow system conditions. Curcumin was released after 8 h and could permeate through the porcine oral mucosa. Cytotoxicity testing revealed that the formulations were selective to cancer cells over healthy cells. Therefore, these systems could improve the physicochemical characteristics of curcumin by providing improved release and permeation, while selectivity targeting cancer cells

Elastase-2, a tissue alternative pathway for angiotensin II generation, plays a role in circulatory sympathovagal balance in mice

In vitro and ex vivo experiments indicate that elastase-2 (ELA-2), a chymotrypsin-serine protease elastase family member 2A, is an alternative pathway for angiotensin II (Ang II) generation. However, the role played by ELA-2 in vivo is unclear. We examined ELA-2 knockout (ELA-2KO) mice compared to wild-type (WT) mice and determined whether ELA-2 played a role in hemodynamics [arterial pressure (AP) and heart rate (HR)], cardiocirculatory sympathovagal balance and baroreflex sensitivity. The variability of systolic arterial pressure (SAP) and pulse interval (PI) for evaluating autonomic modulation was examined for time and frequency domains (spectral analysis), whereas a symbolic analysis was also used to evaluate PI variability. In addition, baroreflex sensitivity was examined using the sequence method. Cardiac function was evaluated echocardiographically under anesthesia. The AP was normal whereas the HR was reduced in ELA-2KO mice (425 ± 17 vs. 512 ± 13 bpm from WT). SAP variability and baroreflex sensitivity were similar in both strains. The LF power from the PI spectrum (33.6 ± 5 vs. 51.8 ± 4.8 nu from WT) and the LF/HF ratio (0.60 ± 0.1 vs. 1.45 ± 0.3 from WT) were reduced, whereas the HF power was increased (66.4 ± 5 vs. 48.2 ± 4.8 nu from WT) in ELA-2KO mice, indicating a shift toward parasympathetic modulation of HR. Echocardiographic examination showed normal fractional shortening and an ejection fraction in ELA-2KO mice; however, the cardiac output, stroke volume, and ventricular size were reduced. These findings provide the first evidence that ELA-2 acts on the sympathovagal balance of the heart, as expressed by the reduced sympathetic modulation of HR in ELA-2KO mice

Evaluation of cardiovascular risk factors in the Wistar Audiogenic Rat (WAR) Strain

Introduction: Risk factors for life-threatening cardiovascular events were evaluated in an experimental model of epilepsy, the Wistar Audiogenic Rat (WAR) strain. Methods: We used long-term ECG recordings in conscious, one year old, WAR and Wistar control counterparts to evaluate spontaneous arrhythmias and heart rate variability, a tool to assess autonomic cardiac control. Ventricular function was also evaluated using the pressure-volume conductance system in anesthetized rats. Results: Basal RR interval (RRi) was similar between WAR and Wistar rats (188\ub15 vs 199\ub16 ms). RRi variability strongly suggests that WAR present an autonomic imbalance with sympathetic overactivity, which is an isolated risk factor for cardiovascular events. Anesthetized WAR showed lower arterial pressure (92\ub13 vs 115\ub15 mmHg) and exhibited indices of systolic dysfunction, such as higher ventricle end-diastolic pressure (9.2\ub10.6 vs 5.6\ub11 mmHg) and volume (137\ub19 vs 68\ub19 \u3bcL) as well as lower rate of increase in ventricular pressure (5266\ub1602 vs 7320\ub1538 mmHg.s-1). Indices of diastolic cardiac function, such as lower rate of decrease in ventricular pressure (-5014\ub1780 vs -7766\ub1998 mmHg.s-1) and a higher slope of the linear relationship between end-diastolic pressure and volume (0.078\ub10.011 vs 0.036\ub10.011 mmHg.\u3bcL), were also found in WAR as compared to Wistar control rats. Moreover, Wistar rats had 3 to 6 ventricular ectopic beats, whereas WAR showed 15 to 30 ectopic beats out of the 20,000 beats analyzed in each rat. Conclusions: The autonomic imbalance observed previously at younger age is also present in aged WAR and, additionally, a cardiac dysfunction was also observed in the rats. These findings make this experimental model of epilepsy a valuable tool to study risk factors for cardiovascular events in epilepsy

Diversity analysis of Bemisia tabaci biotypes: RAPD, PCR-RFLP and sequencing of the ITS1 rDNA region

The Bemisia tabaci complex is formed by approximately 41 biotypes, two of which (B and BR) occur in Brazil. In this work we aimed at obtaining genetic markers to assess the genetic diversity of the different biotypes. In order to do that we analyzed Bemisia tabaci biotypes B, BR, Q and Cassava using molecular techniques including RAPD, PCR-RFLP and sequencing of the ITS1 rDNA region. The analyses revealed a high similarity between the individuals of the B and Q biotypes, which could be distinguished from the BR individuals. A phylogenetic tree based on ITS1 rDNA sequence was constructed. This is the first report of the ITS1 rDNA sequence of Bemisia tuberculata and of the BR biotype of B. tabaci