Survey Of Acarin Fauna In Dust Samplings Of Curtains In The City Of Campinas, Brazil.

The aim of this study was to investigate the mite fauna present in 33 living room and 22 bedroom curtain dust samples from 41 different homes in the southern Brazilian city of Campinas, SP. A total of 148 mite bodies were found. Of these, 83 were found in living-room curtain samples (56.1% of total) and 65 were in bedroom curtain dust samples (43.9%). The most frequently observed mite suborders were: Acaridida (n = 79; 53.4%), Actinedida (n=53; 35.8%), Oribatida (n=14; 9.5%), and Gamasida (n=2; 1.3%). The most frequent families were Pyroglyphidae (n=61; 41.2%), Eriophyidae (n=25; 16.9%), Tarsonemidae (n=15; 10.1%), and Glycyphagidae (n=13; 8.8%). No statistical difference was observed between the number of mites found in the samples from living room and bedroom curtains.651252

In situ gamma-ray spectrometry (GRS) use for non-destructive archaeological exploration

Pre-print versionLandscape, Heritage and Paleoenvironment Laboratory, University of Santiago, Spain Geophysical prospection methods are used in archaeology to locate features of archaeological sites before excavation. Among geophysical methods, those mostly used in archaeology are seismic methods, electromagnetical surveys, and georadar. All of them allow assessing properties of soil, sediment and/or rock, providing cross section of soil properties that can be related to buried archaeological structures and objects. Gamma-ray spectrometry (GRS) is a technique used for different geological purposes including mineral exploration and mapping. However, it has not been applied in archaeology: the only study case known by the authors was successful (Moussa, 2001) but no later reports or more extensive studies have been found. In situ GRS is a non-destructive method that allows direct assessment of potassium-40 (40K), uranium-238 (238U) and thorium-232 (232Th) and daughter radionuclides of their decay chains on rock outcrops and soils. Such radionuclides are ubiquitous in most rocks and soils and the main causes of natural gamma radiation. The technique allows assessing their concentration in topsoil, being of potential use for archaeological exploration but two assumptions must be made: the archaeological buried objects must contain a different concentration of radionuclides than the surrounding sediment or soil, and they must be buried in the topsoil (25-30 cm depth). Thus, it is potentially applicable for exploration of shallow structures or objects. However, it does not provide cross -sections of the ground, but maps of the structures and objects buried. In this work, we have tested in situ GRS in an archaeological site that was partially excavated. In the site, remains of walls made of stone have been excavated, being buried in other parts of the site, but near the ground surface, being the top of the structures at 10-30 cm depth. We have tested in situ GRS in small parcel of 10 x 7 m, located beside nearby excavated areas which wall remains are partially buried in the studied parcel. The purpose of the study is to assess if the technique is reliable for the exploration of structures. Rocks used as building materials in the walls are mostly metamorphic rocks of very low radionuclide content with negligible 40K. However, the sediment that uries the structures contains significant amounts of K, U and Th radioisotopes. Results showed reliable results for surface exploration where shallow structures exist, despite the low radioactive content of the archaeological materials in the site.Este trabalho insere-se nas atividades do Projeto Lab2PT- Laboratório de Paisagens, Património e Território - AUR/04509 que tem o apoio financeiro da FCT/MCTES através de fundos nacionais (PIDDAC) e o cofinanciamento do Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional (FEDER), refª POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007528, no âmbito do novo acordo de parceria PT2020 através do COMPETE 2020 – Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalização (POCI).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Effects of pneumonectomy on nitric oxide synthase expression and perivascular edema in the remaining lung of rats

Pneumonectomy is associated with high mortality and high rates of complications. Postpneumonectomy pulmonary edema is one of the leading causes of mortality. Little is known about its etiologic factors and its association with the inflammatory process. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the role of pneumonectomy as a cause of pulmonary edema and its association with gas exchange, inflammation, nitric oxide synthase (NOS) expression and vasoconstriction. Forty-two non-specific pathogen-free Wistar rats were included in the study. Eleven animals died during or after the procedure, 21 were submitted to left pneumonectomy and 10 to sham operation. These animals were sacrificed after 48 or 72 h. Perivascular pulmonary edema was more intense in pneumonectomized rats at 72 h (P = 0.0131). Neutrophil density was lower after pneumonectomy in both groups (P = 0.0168). There was higher immunohistochemical expression of eNOS in the pneumonectomy group (P = 0.0208), but no statistically significant difference in the expression of iNOS. The lumen-wall ratio and pO2/FiO2 ratio did not differ between the operated and sham groups after pneumonectomy. Left pneumonectomy caused perivascular pulmonary edema with no elevation of immunohistochemical expression of iNOS or neutrophil density, suggesting the absence of correlation with the inflammatory process or oxidative stress. The increased expression of eNOS may suggest an intrinsic production of NO without signs of vascular reactivity.Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES)CNP

Stretch-induced activation of pannexin 1 channels can be prevented by pka-dependent phosphorylation

Indexación ScopusPannexin 1 channels located in the cell membrane are permeable to ions, metabolites, and signaling molecules. While the activity of these channels is known to be modulated by phosphorylation on T198, T308, and S206, the possible involvement of other putative phosphorylation sites remains unknown. Here, we describe that the activity of Panx1 channels induced by mechanical stretch is reduced by adenosine via a PKA-dependent pathway. The mechanical stretch-induced activity—measured by changes in DAPI uptake—of Panx1 channels expressed in HeLa cell transfectants was inhibited by adenosine or cAMP analogs that permeate the cell membrane. Moreover, inhibition of PKA but not PKC, p38 MAPK, Akt, or PKG prevented the effects of cAMP analogs, suggesting the involvement of Panx1 phosphorylation by PKA. Accordingly, alanine substitution of T302 or S328, two putative PKA phosphorylation sites, prevented the inhibitory effect of cAMP analogs. Moreover, phosphomimetic mutation of either T302 or S328 to aspartate prevented the mechanical stretch-induced activation of Panx1 channels. A molecular dynamics simulation revealed that T302 and S328 are located in the water–lipid interphase near the lateral tunnel of the intracellular region, suggesting that their phosphorylation could promote conformational changes in lateral tunnels. Thus, Panx1 phosphorylation via PKA could be modulated by G protein-coupled receptors associated with the Gs subunit. © 2020, MDPI AG. All rights reserved.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/21/23/918

Inhalation of the prodrug PI3K inhibitor CL27c improves lung function in asthma and fibrosis

PI3K activation plays a central role in the development of pulmonary inflammation and tissue remodeling. PI3K inhibitors may thus offer an improved therapeutic opportunity to treat non-resolving lung inflammation but their action is limited by unwanted on-target systemic toxicity. Here we present CL27c, a prodrug pan-PI3K inhibitor designed for local therapy, and investigate whether inhaled CL27c is effective in asthma and pulmonary fibrosis. Mice inhaling CL27c show reduced insulin-evoked Akt phosphorylation in lungs, but no change in other tissues and no increase in blood glycaemia, in line with a local action. In murine models of acute or glucocorticoid-resistant neutrophilic asthma, inhaled CL27c reduces inflammation and improves lung function. Finally, inhaled CL27c administered in a therapeutic setting protects from bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis, ultimately leading to significantly improved survival. Therefore, local delivery of a pan-PI3K inhibitor prodrug reduces systemic on-target side effects but effectively treats asthma and irreversible pulmonary fibrosis