Dihydrotestostenone increase the gene expression of androgen receptor coregulator FHL2 in human nontransformed epithelial prostatic cells

The actions of androgens are mediated through an androgen receptor (AR), and AR activity is modulated by coregulators. The aim of this study was to assess the action of androgens in the expression of AR and the coregulators FHL-2 and SHP-1 in human non-transformed epithelial prostatic cells (HNTEP) treated with androgens. Prostate tissues were obtained from 12 patients between 60 and 77 years of age. HNTEP cells were grown in basal medium and treated with DHT in different conditions. HNTEP cells under treatment with DHT (10-13 M) induced an increase in FHL-2 expression. In turn, high DHT concentrations (10-8 M) induced an increase in the expression SHP-1. The present data suggest that the SHP-1 and FHL-2 genes play a role in the control of responsiveness and androgen-dose-dependent cell proliferation in HNTEP cells. Further studies are needed to assess the influence of androgens in AR and its coregulators and the implications in the pathophysiology of prostate diseases.Key words: Androgens, FHL-2, AR, prostate, proliferation, coregulators

Global maps of soil temperature

Research in global change ecology relies heavily on global climatic grids derived from estimates of air temperature in open areas at around 2 m above the ground. These climatic grids do not reflect conditions below vegetation canopies and near the ground surface, where critical ecosystem functions occur and most terrestrial species reside. Here, we provide global maps of soil temperature and bioclimatic variables at a 1-km² resolution for 0–5 and 5–15 cm soil depth. These maps were created by calculating the difference (i.e., offset) between in-situ soil temperature measurements, based on time series from over 1200 1-km² pixels (summarized from 8500 unique temperature sensors) across all the world’s major terrestrial biomes, and coarse-grained air temperature estimates from ERA5-Land (an atmospheric reanalysis by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts). We show that mean annual soil temperature differs markedly from the corresponding gridded air temperature, by up to 10°C (mean = 3.0 ± 2.1°C), with substantial variation across biomes and seasons. Over the year, soils in cold and/or dry biomes are substantially warmer (+3.6 ± 2.3°C) than gridded air temperature, whereas soils in warm and humid environments are on average slightly cooler (-0.7 ± 2.3°C). The observed substantial and biome-specific offsets emphasize that the projected impacts of climate and climate change on near-surface biodiversity and ecosystem functioning are inaccurately assessed when air rather than soil temperature is used, especially in cold environments. The global soil-related bioclimatic variables provided here are an important step forward for any application in ecology and related disciplines. Nevertheless, we highlight the need to fill remaining geographic gaps by collecting more in-situ measurements of microclimate conditions to further enhance the spatiotemporal resolution of global soil temperature products for ecological applications

Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (4th edition)1.

In 2008, we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, this topic has received increasing attention, and many scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Thus, it is important to formulate on a regular basis updated guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Despite numerous reviews, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to evaluate autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. Here, we present a set of guidelines for investigators to select and interpret methods to examine autophagy and related processes, and for reviewers to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of reports that are focused on these processes. These guidelines are not meant to be a dogmatic set of rules, because the appropriateness of any assay largely depends on the question being asked and the system being used. Moreover, no individual assay is perfect for every situation, calling for the use of multiple techniques to properly monitor autophagy in each experimental setting. Finally, several core components of the autophagy machinery have been implicated in distinct autophagic processes (canonical and noncanonical autophagy), implying that genetic approaches to block autophagy should rely on targeting two or more autophagy-related genes that ideally participate in distinct steps of the pathway. Along similar lines, because multiple proteins involved in autophagy also regulate other cellular pathways including apoptosis, not all of them can be used as a specific marker for bona fide autophagic responses. Here, we critically discuss current methods of assessing autophagy and the information they can, or cannot, provide. Our ultimate goal is to encourage intellectual and technical innovation in the field

The last dinosaurs of Brazil: The Bauru Group and its implications for the end-Cretaceous mass extinction

ABSTRACT The non-avian dinosaurs died out at the end of the Cretaceous, ~66 million years ago, after an asteroid impact. The prevailing hypothesis is that the effects of the impact suddenly killed the dinosaurs, but the poor fossil record of latest Cretaceous (Campanian-Maastrichtian) dinosaurs from outside Laurasia (and even more particularly, North America) makes it difficult to test specific extinction scenarios. Over the past few decades, a wealth of new discoveries from the Bauru Group of Brazil has revealed a unique window into the evolution of terminal Cretaceous dinosaurs from the southern continents. We review this record and demonstrate that there was a diversity of dinosaurs, of varying body sizes, diets, and ecological roles, that survived to the very end of the Cretaceous (Maastrichtian: 72-66 million years ago) in Brazil, including a core fauna of titanosaurian sauropods and abelisaurid and carcharodontosaurid theropods, along with a variety of small-to-mid-sized theropods. We argue that this pattern best fits the hypothesis that southern dinosaurs, like their northern counterparts, were still diversifying and occupying prominent roles in their ecosystems before the asteroid suddenly caused their extinction. However, this hypothesis remains to be tested with more refined paleontological and geochronological data, and we give suggestions for future work

Histomorphometric Evaluation of Bone-Guided Regeneration in Maxillary Sinus Floor Augmentation Using Nano-Hydroxyapatite/Beta-Tricalcium Phosphate Composite Biomaterial: A Case Report

Saulo Henrique Salviano,1 João Carlos Amorim Lopes,2 Igor da Silva Brum,3 Lúcio Frigo,4 Mario josé dos Santos,5 Sílvio Roberto Consonni,6 Jorge José de Carvalho7 1Implantology Department, University São Leopoldo Mandic, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil; 2Implantology Department, Portuguese Catholic University, Lisboa, Portugal; 3Implantology Department, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 20550-900, Brazil; 4Periodontology Department, Universidade Guarulhos, Guarulhos, São Paulo, 07023-070, Brazil; 5Biology Department, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 20550-900, Brazil; 6Department of Biochemistry and Tissue Biology, Institute of Biology, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, São Paulo, 13083-862, Brazil; 7Laboratory of Ultrastructure and Tissue Biology, Department of Histology and Embryology, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 20550-900, BrazilCorrespondence: Igor da Silva Brum Email [email protected]: The development of techniques in biomaterials design and production added to advanced surgical procedures which enabled better and more predictable clinical outcomes. Maxillary sinus floor augmentation (MSFA) is among the more studied bone-guided regeneration procedure in the literature. The MSFA could be considered the gold standard procedure for bone-guided regeneration as it provides suitable functional and aesthetic solutions to alveolar ridge atrophy due to tooth loss.Purpose: This study aimed to conduct a detailed histomorphometric evaluation of collagen production in SFAs bone-guided regeneration, using nano-hydroxyapatite/ß-tricalcium phosphate (nano-HA/ß-TCP) composite.Patients and Methods: A 52-year-old female had the left upper second premolar condemned due to periodontal disease, then a tooth implant replacement was planned. Due to maxillary sinus pneumatization, the MSFA had to be done before implant placement. Nano-HA/ß-TCP composite (2g) was used in the MSFA procedure. After nine months of the healing process, during the Cone Morse implant installation process, bone samples were collected for histologic analysis (sirius red, hematoxylin/eosin, polarized microscopy). Six months after implant installation, a ceramic crown was installed according to the patient’s request.Results: Proper masticatory function and aesthetics were re-established. The histomorphometric evaluation indicated that nano-HA/ß-TCP composite did not show any area devoid of cellular activity in sirius red or hematoxylin/eosin staining and the percentage (%) of new bone collagen fibers was achieved using polarization technique evaluation.Conclusion: According to these results, nano-HA/ß-TCP composite presented clinical and histomorphometric properties suit to be used as bone-guided regeneration biomaterial in MSFA. Furthermore, nano-HA/β-TCP composite provided a favorable nano-environment to bone cells, enhancing bone matrix production.Keywords: implants, sinus lift, alloplastic, graft, nanohydroxyapatite, sirius re