97 research outputs found

    Etiologia, Tratamento e PrognĂłstico da Pericardite Aguda

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    Introduction: Acute pericarditis is a common inflammatory condition of the pericardium usually assumed to be viral or idiopathic. Despite recent treatment improvements, information is scarce regarding etiology and prognosis. Our aim was to determine the incidence of pericarditis with a known etiology and assess clinical prognostic predictors. Material and Methods: A clinical retrospective analysis of hospitalized patients with acute pericarditis was conducted from 2012 to 2016. Population was characterized according to etiology, clinical presentation, treatment and prognosis. Outcomes of interest, evaluated at one year after hospital discharge, were pericarditis recurrence, hospitalization, constriction and overall mortality. Results: A total of 94 patients were enrolled, median age 46 years (inter-quartile range 32-61), 65% were male. Idiopathic etiology was responsible for 68% of cases. A specific etiology was found in the remaining 32% of patients, being the most frequent autoimmune disease (12%) and malignancy (5%). Idiopathic pericarditis was associated with myopericarditis (p = 0.049) and a known etiology with pericardial effusion (p = 0.001) and cardiac tamponade (p = 0.027). Recurrence of pericarditis was found in 13% of patients. Corticosteroid treatment in patients with an identified etiology was not associated with an increase in recurrence (p = 0.220). Overall 1-year mortality was 9%. A defined etiology was the only independent predictor of mortality at multivariate analysis (OR 40.3; 95% CI 1.9 – 137.2; p = 0.016). Conclusion: Up to one third of hospitalized patients with acute pericarditis have an identified cause of pericarditis and these patients are at increased risk of mortality.Introdução: A pericardite aguda Ă© uma sĂ­ndrome frequente caracterizada pela inflamação do pericĂĄrdio e usualmente atribuĂ­do a etiologia viral/idiopĂĄtica. Apesar dos avanços no tratamento, existe informação limitada em relação a etiologia e prognĂłstico. O objetivo do nosso trabalho foi identificar a prevalĂȘncia de pericardite aguda com etiologia especifica e avaliar marcadores clĂ­nicos de prognĂłstico. Material e MĂ©todos: Estudo retrospetivo de doentes hospitalizados por pericardite aguda entre 2012-2016. A população foi caracterizada quanto a etiologia, apresentação clĂ­nica, tratamento e prognĂłstico. Para avaliação de prognĂłstico foram avaliadas recorrĂȘncia de pericardite, pericardite constritiva e mortalidade global um ano apĂłs alta hospitalar. Resultados: Foram incluĂ­dos 94 doentes com idade mediana 46 anos (IIQ 32-61), 65% eram do sexo masculino. A etiologia idiopĂĄtica foi responsĂĄvel por 68% dos casos. Etiologia especifica foi identificada em 32% dos doentes, sendo mais frequente doença autoimune (12%) e neoplasia (5%). A pericardite idiopĂĄtica foi mais associada a miopericardite (p = 0,049), enquanto a etiologia especĂ­fica se associou a derrame pericĂĄrdico (p = 0,001) e a tamponamento pericĂĄrdico (p = 0,027). A recorrĂȘncia de pericardite ocorreu em 13% dos doentes. O tratamento com corticosteroides em doentes com etiologia definida nĂŁo se associou com aumento de recorrĂȘncia (p = 0,220). A mortalidade global a um ano foi de 9%. A etiologia definida de pericardite aguda revelou-se o Ășnico preditor independente de mortalidade na anĂĄlise multivariada (OR 40,3; 95% CI 1,9 – 137,2; p = 0,016). ConclusĂŁo: Cerca de um terço dos doentes hospitalizados por pericardite aguda tĂȘm uma causa especĂ­fica identificĂĄvel de pericardite e estes doentes apresentam risco aumentado de mortalidadeinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

    Delayed Rectifier and A-Type Potassium Channels Associated with Kv 2.1 and Kv 4.3 Expression in Embryonic Rat Neural Progenitor Cells

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    BACKGROUND: Because of the importance of voltage-activated K(+) channels during embryonic development and in cell proliferation, we present here the first description of these channels in E15 rat embryonic neural progenitor cells derived from the subventricular zone (SVZ). Activation, inactivation, and single-channel conductance properties of recorded progenitor cells were compared with those obtained by others when these Kv gene products were expressed in oocytes. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Neural progenitor cells derived from the subventricular zone of E15 embryonic rats were cultured under conditions that did not promote differentiation. Immunocytochemical and Western blot assays for nestin expression indicated that almost all of the cells available for recording expressed this intermediate filament protein, which is generally accepted as a marker for uncommitted embryonic neural progenitor cells. However, a very small numbers of the cells expressed GFAP, a marker for astrocytes, O4, a marker for immature oligodendrocytes, and betaIII-tubulin, a marker for neurons. Using immunocytochemistry and Western blots, we detected consistently the expression of Kv2.1, and 4.3. In whole-cell mode, we recorded two outward currents, a delayed rectifier and an A-type current. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: We conclude that Kv2.1, and 4.3 are expressed in E15 SVZ neural progenitor cells, and we propose that they may be associated with the delayed-rectifier and the A-type currents, respectively, that we recorded. These results demonstrate the early expression of delayed rectifier and A-type K(+) currents and channels in embryonic neural progenitor cells prior to the differentiation of these cells

    A Simplest A4 Model for Tri-Bimaximal Neutrino Mixing

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    We present a see-saw A4A_4 model for Tri-Bimaximal mixing which is based on a very economical flavour symmetry and field content and still possesses all the good features of A4A_4 models. In particular the charged lepton mass hierarchies are determined by the A4×Z4A_4\times Z_4 flavour symmetry itself without invoking a Froggatt-Nielsen U(1) symmetry. Tri-Bimaximal mixing is exact in leading order while all the mixing angles receive corrections of the same order in next-to-the-leading approximation. As a consequence the predicted value of ξ13\theta_{13} is within the sensitivity of the experiments which will take data in the near future. The light neutrino spectrum, typical of A4A_4 see-saw models, with its phenomenological implications, also including leptoproduction, is studied in detail.Comment: 20 pages, 2 figure

    Incorporation of DPP6a and DPP6K Variants in Ternary Kv4 Channel Complex Reconstitutes Properties of A-type K Current in Rat Cerebellar Granule Cells

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    Dipeptidyl peptidase-like protein 6 (DPP6) proteins co-assemble with Kv4 channel α-subunits and Kv channel-interacting proteins (KChIPs) to form channel protein complexes underlying neuronal somatodendritic A-type potassium current (ISA). DPP6 proteins are expressed as N-terminal variants (DPP6a, DPP6K, DPP6S, DPP6L) that result from alternative mRNA initiation and exhibit overlapping expression patterns. Here, we study the role DPP6 variants play in shaping the functional properties of ISA found in cerebellar granule (CG) cells using quantitative RT-PCR and voltage-clamp recordings of whole-cell currents from reconstituted channel complexes and native ISA channels. Differential expression of DPP6 variants was detected in rat CG cells, with DPP6K (41±3%)>DPP6a (33±3%)>>DPP6S (18±2%)>DPP6L (8±3%). To better understand how DPP6 variants shape native neuronal ISA, we focused on studying interactions between the two dominant variants, DPP6K and DPP6a. Although previous studies did not identify unique functional effects of DPP6K, we find that the unique N-terminus of DPP6K modulates the effects of KChIP proteins, slowing recovery and producing a negative shift in the steady-state inactivation curve. By contrast, DPP6a uses its distinct N-terminus to directly confer rapid N-type inactivation independently of KChIP3a. When DPP6a and DPP6K are co-expressed in ratios similar to those found in CG cells, their distinct effects compete in modulating channel function. The more rapid inactivation from DPP6a dominates during strong depolarization; however, DPP6K produces a negative shift in the steady-state inactivation curve and introduces a slow phase of recovery from inactivation. A direct comparison to the native CG cell ISA shows that these mixed effects are present in the native channels. Our results support the hypothesis that the precise expression and co-assembly of different auxiliary subunit variants are important factors in shaping the ISA functional properties in specific neuronal populations

    An Immunoassay for Dibutyl Phthalate Based on Direct Hapten Linkage to the Polystyrene Surface of Microtiter Plates

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    BACKGROUND: Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) is predominantly used as a plasticizer inplastics to make them flexible. Extensive use of phthalates in both industrial processes and other consumer products has resulted in the ubiquitous presence of phthalates in the environment. In order to better determine the level of pollution in the environment and evaluate the potential adverse effects of exposure to DBP, immunoassay for DBP was developed. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: A monoclonal antibody specific to DBP was produced from a stable hybridoma cell line generated by lymphocyte hybridoma technique. An indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (icELISA) employing direct coating of hapten on polystyrene microtiter plates was established for the detection of DBP. Polystyrene surface was first oxidized by permanganate in dilute sulfuric acid to generate carboxyl groups. Then dibutyl 4-aminophthalate, which is an analogue of DBP, was covalently linked to the carboxyl groups of polystyrene surface with 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC). Compared with conjugate coated format (IC(50)=106 ng/mL), the direct hapten coated format (IC(50)=14.6 ng/mL) improved assay sensitivity after careful optimization of assay conditions. The average recovery of DBP from spiked water sample was 104.4% and the average coefficient of variation was 9.95%. Good agreement of the results obtained by the hapten coated icELISA and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry further confirmed the reliability and accuracy of the icELISA for the detection of DBP in certain plastic and cosmetic samples. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The stable and efficient hybridoma cell line obtained is an unlimited source of sensitive and specific antibody to DBP. The hapten coated format is proposed as generally applicable because the carboxyl groups on modified microtiter plate surface enables stable immobilization of aminated or hydroxylated hapten with EDC. The developed hapten coated icELISA can be used as a convenient quantitative tool for the sensitive and accurate monitoring DBP in water, plastic and cosmetic samples

    The Acheulean site of As Gåndaras de Budiño: synthesis and perspectives after 50 years of disencouters

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    El yacimiento paleolítico de As Gåndaras de Budiño es un yacimiento clave en la Prehistoria antigua de la Península Ibérica. Aunque el yacimiento ha sido excavado en diferentes ocasiones, muchos de los aspectos geológicos y arqueológicos no son bien conocidos. Entre estos problemas estå la cronología, que inicialmente fue atribuida al MIS 2 -originando una fuerte controversia-, aunque en la actualidad podemos afirmar que tiene una cronología del Pleistoceno Medio. Las industrias líticas son de tipo achelense de grandes lascas (LFA), con características similares a la de otros yacimientos de la Península Ibérica. Este artículo es un estado de la cuestión para el yacimiento, previo al reinicio de las investigaciones.As Gåndaras de Budiño (GB) is a key locality for the Lower Palaeolithic record of the Iberian Peninsula. Although the site has been excavated in different occasions over the last decades, several geological and archaeological aspects are still not well known. Among other issues, the age of the lithic assemblage has been debated for a long time: despite an initial correlation to the MIS 2, new evidence rather points towards a Middle Pleistocene age instead. The lithic assemblage characterized as large flake acheulean type (LFA), with many similarities with other acheulean sites in the Iberian Peninsula. This work presents an updated overview of the current state of knowledge for GB while a new multidisciplinary research project has been recently initiatedinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

    El yacimiento achelense de as Gåndaras de Budiño: sín-tesis y perspectivas después de 50 años de desencuentros

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    ES: El yacimiento paleolítico de As Gåndaras de Budiño es un yacimiento clave en la Prehistoria antigua de la Península Ibérica. Aunque el yacimiento ha sido excavado en diferentes ocasiones, muchos de los aspectos geológicos y arqueológicos no son bien conocidos. Entre estos problemas estå la cronología, que inicialmente fue atribuida al MIS 2 -originando una fuerte controversia-, aunque en la actualidad podemos afirmar que tiene una cronología del Pleistoceno Medio. Las industrias líticas son de tipo achelense de grandes lascas (LFA), con características similares a la de otros yacimientos de la Península Ibérica. Este artículo es un estado de la cuestión para el yacimiento, previo al reinicio de las investigaciones.The Acheulean site of As Gåndaras de Budiño: synthesis and perspectives after 50 years of disencoutersAs Gåndaras de Budiño (GB) is a key locality for the Lower Palaeolithic record of the Iberian Peninsula. Although the site has been excavated in different occasions over the last decades, several geological and archaeological aspects are still not well known. Among other issues, the age of the lithic assemblage has been debated for a long time: despite an initial correlation to the MIS 2, new evidence rather points towards a Middle Pleistocene age instead. The lithic assemblage characterized as large flake acheulean type (LFA), with many similarities with other acheulean sites in the Iberian Peninsula. This work presents an updated overview of the current state of knowledge for GB while a new multidisciplinary research project has been recently initiate
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