Ausência de efeito do polimorfismo rs2283265 do gene DRD2 em parâmetros antropométricos de indivíduos adultos

A obesidade é caracterizada como uma doença crônica e multifatorial. Esta patologia é evidenciada pelo excesso de tecido adiposo, e, embora suas causas não estejam bem definidas, acredita-se que estejam relacionadas com um déficit no gasto energético, aliado a ingestão excessiva de alimentos. Do ponto de vista etiológico, atuam sobre esta patologia múltiplos fatores genéticos e ambientais. O sistema de recompensa alimentar é responsável por liberar dopamina nos núcleos de accumbens, estando relacionado com incentivo e motivação para recompensas químicas e naturais, interagindo com os receptores dopaminérgicos transmembranares, que variam de DRD1 a DRD5. Diante disto, o presente trabalho tem como objetivo investigar a associação entre o polimorfismo rs2283265 no gene codificador do receptor de dopamina D2 (DRD2) e parâmetros antropométricos em uma amostra de 594 indivíduos adultos, de ambos os sexos. Foram avaliados os parâmetros antropométricos índice de massa corporal, percentual de gordura, circunferência abdominal e relação cintura-quadril. A genotipagem do polimorfismo foi realizada através da técnica de descriminação alélica TaqMan, em equipamento de PCR em Tempo Real. As análises estatísticas do efeito da variante genética nos parâmetros investigados foram realizadas através de análise da variância. As frequências alélicas observadas para o polimorfismo rs2283265 foram de 0,12 para o alelo T e 0,88 para o alelo G. A distribuição das frequências genotípicas estão de acordo com o esperado para o equilíbrio de Hardy-Weinberg. Não foram detectadas associações significativas com nenhuma das variáveis investigadas. Nossos achados sugerem o polimorfismo investigado não apresenta um papel significativo nos parâmetros antropométricos avaliados

Relato de uma experiência de errância pelo centro de São Paulo na noite da Virada Cultural de 2018

O caminhar condiciona a vista e a vista condiciona o caminhar a tal ponto que parece que apenas os pés podem ver Robert Smithson Introdução O presente trabalho apresenta-se como um relato de um exercício de errância no centro da cidade de São Paulo. Antes de adentrar na narrativa produzida com base nessa experiência, julgo necessário introduzir ao leitor o caminho que me levou à construção deste texto. O desafio de articular os desdobramentos da pesquisa artística desenvolvida no mestrado ao..

El dimorfismo sexual en guanacos (Lama guanicoe). Una evaluación osteométrica de elementos poscraneales

En poblaciones vivas, los camélidos silvestres sudamericanos son sexados a partir de la observación de su conducta social y reproductiva. Por lo general, tanto biólogos como arqueólogos asumen la ausencia de caracteres morfológicos que evidencien un dimorfismo sexual marcado entre individuos adultos de guanaco (Lama guanicoe). Los principales estudios que evalúan las diferencias osteológicas entre machos y hembras en esta especie están basadosen análisis de variables morfométricas craneanas y en caracteres morfológicos de la pelvis. En este trabajo se evalúa la existencia y magnitud de variables osteométricas poscraneales de diferenciación sexual en una población moderna de guanacos procedente de la localidad Cinco Chañares, Provincia de Río Negro, Argentina. Se estudiaron 32 individuos (8 machos y 24 hembras) de más de 30 meses en los que se midieron 51 hemipelvis, 40 húmeros, 39 radioulnas, 40 fémures y 41 tibias. Los resultados mostraron que las principales diferencias osteológicas, vinculadas con el dimorfismo sexual, se relacionan con variaciones en el tamaño y la forma de la pelvis. En los huesos largos, las diferencias osteométricas significativas se registraron sólo en variables aisladas y no se pudieron definir diferencias osteométricas asociadas con el dimorfismo sexual. Igualmente se considera que esto deberá ser reevaluado con mayor profundidad considerando una muestra mayor de individuos machos.In wild-living populations adult camelids are mainly sexed by observing their social and reproductive behavior, and on occasion, their genitalia. Both biologists and archaeologists usually assume the absence of clearly identifiable sexually dimorphic somatic and postcranial traits among adult guanaco (Lama guanicoe) specimens. The principal studies that evaluate the osteological differences between sexes in this species, had been carried out using qualitative morphological traits of the pelvis and morphometric traits of the skull. Therefore, the main objective of this paper is to contribute to the development of methodological tools aimed to accurately discriminate between sexes using morphometric techniques. In addition, we assess in this paper the existence and magnitude of the postcranial sex-related morphometric differences in a sample of modern guanaco specimens from Cinco Chañares, Río Negro, Argentina. The sample was composed by 32 individuals (8 males and 24 females) older than 30 month at the age of death. Fifty one hemipelvis, 40 humeri, 39 radioulnae, 40 femora, and 41 tibiae were measured. The obtained results show that the main morphometric differences between sexes are related to size and shape variation in the whole pelvis and acetabulum. In the appendicular skeleton no statistically significant differences between sexes were found, but this ought to be reevaluated increasing sample sizes of male specimens.Fil: Kaufmann, Cristian Ariel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tandil. Investigaciones Arqueológicas y Paleontológicas del Cuaternario Pampeano. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Investigaciones Arqueológicas y Paleontológicas del Cuaternario Pampeano; ArgentinaFil: L'heureux, Gabriela Lorena. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Saavedra 15. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Historia y Ciencias Humanas; Argentin

Are b-corps ready to be a gateway to the job market for women and young people in Latin America? : a prospective study of Argentina, Chile and Uruguay

The document presents findings regarding the type and quality of the impact that B-Corps and Purpose-Driven Companies (PDC) have in the inclusion of women and youth in Latin America. This study investigates whether B-Corps are a genuine means of employability for these two groups so that future strategies can be effectively designed in terms of public policy. B Corporation (also B Lab or B Corp) certification of "social and environmental performance" is a private certification of for-profit companies, distinct from the legal designation as a Benefit corporation. B Corp certification is conferred by B Lab in Latin America with Sistema B

LiCl induces TNF-α and FasL production, thereby stimulating apoptosis in cancer cells

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The incidence of cancer in patients with neurological diseases, who have been treated with LiCl, is below average. LiCl is a well-established inhibitor of Glycogen synthase kinase-3, a kinase that controls several cellular processes, among which is the degradation of the tumour suppressor protein p53. We therefore wondered whether LiCl induces p53-dependent cell death in cancer cell lines and experimental tumours.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Here we show that LiCl induces apoptosis of tumour cells both <it>in vitro </it>and <it>in vivo</it>. Cell death was accompanied by cleavage of PARP and Caspases-3, -8 and -10. LiCl-induced cell death was not dependent on p53, but was augmented by its presence. Treatment of tumour cells with LiCl strongly increased TNF-α and FasL expression. Inhibition of TNF-α induction using siRNA or inhibition of FasL binding to its receptor by the Nok-1 antibody potently reduced LiCl-dependent cleavage of Caspase-3 and increased cell survival. Treatment of xenografted rats with LiCl strongly reduced tumour growth.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Induction of cell death by LiCl supports the notion that GSK-3 may represent a promising target for cancer therapy. LiCl-induced cell death is largely independent of p53 and mediated by the release of TNF-α and FasL.</p> <p>Key words: LiCl, TNF-α, FasL, apoptosis, GSK-3, FasL</p

A motor association area in the depths of the central sulcus

Cells in the precentral gyrus directly send signals to the periphery to generate movement and are principally organized as a topological map of the body. We find that movement-induced electrophysiological responses from depth electrodes extend this map three-dimensionally throughout the gyrus. Unexpectedly, this organization is interrupted by a previously undescribed motor association area in the depths of the midlateral aspect of the central sulcus. This \u27Rolandic motor association\u27 (RMA) area is active during movements of different body parts from both sides of the body and may be important for coordinating complex behaviors

miR-126 Regulates Distinct Self-Renewal Outcomes in Normal and Malignant Hematopoietic Stem Cells

SummaryTo investigate miRNA function in human acute myeloid leukemia (AML) stem cells (LSC), we generated a prognostic LSC-associated miRNA signature derived from functionally validated subpopulations of AML samples. For one signature miRNA, miR-126, high bioactivity aggregated all in vivo patient sample LSC activity into a single sorted population, tightly coupling miR-126 expression to LSC function. Through functional studies, miR-126 was found to restrain cell cycle progression, prevent differentiation, and increase self-renewal of primary LSC in vivo. Compared with prior results showing miR-126 regulation of normal hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) cycling, these functional stem effects are opposite between LSC and HSC. Combined transcriptome and proteome analysis demonstrates that miR-126 targets the PI3K/AKT/MTOR signaling pathway, preserving LSC quiescence and promoting chemotherapy resistance

German evidence and consensus‐based (S3) guideline: Vaccination recommendations for the prevention of HPV‐associated lesions

Anogenital and oropharyngeal infections with human papilloma viruses (HPV) are common. Clinically manifest disease may significantly impact quality of life; the treatment of HPV-associated lesions is associated with a high rate of recurrence and invasive neoplasms, such as cervical, anal, vulvar, penile, and oropharyngeal cancers, which are characterized by significant morbidity and mortality. Vaccination against HPV is an effective and safe measure for the primary prevention of HPV-associated lesions, but immunization rates are still low in Germany. The present publication is an abridged version of the German evidence and consensus-based guideline "Vaccination recommendations for the prevention of HPV-associated lesions", which is available on the website of the German Association of the Scientific Medical Societies (AWMF). On the basis of a systematic review with meta-analyses, a representative panel developed and agreed upon recommendations for the vaccination of different populations against HPV. In addition, consensus-based recommendations were developed for specific issues relevant to everyday practice. Based on current evidence and a representative expert consensus, these recommendations are intended to provide guidance in a field in which there is often uncertainty and in which both patients and health care providers are sometimes confronted with controversial and emotionally charged points of view

Mitochondrial DNA Haplogroup D4a Is a Marker for Extreme Longevity in Japan

We report results from the analysis of complete mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences from 112 Japanese semi-supercentenarians (aged above 105 years) combined with previously published data from 96 patients in each of three non-disease phenotypes: centenarians (99–105 years of age), healthy non-obese males, obese young males and four disease phenotypes, diabetics with and without angiopathy, and Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease patients. We analyze the correlation between mitochondrial polymorphisms and the longevity phenotype using two different methods. We first use an exhaustive algorithm to identify all maximal patterns of polymorphisms shared by at least five individuals and define a significance score for enrichment of the patterns in each phenotype relative to healthy normals. Our study confirms the correlations observed in a previous study showing enrichment of a hierarchy of haplogroups in the D clade for longevity. For the extreme longevity phenotype we see a single statistically significant signal: a progressive enrichment of certain “beneficial” patterns in centenarians and semi-supercentenarians in the D4a haplogroup. We then use Principal Component Spectral Analysis of the SNP-SNP Covariance Matrix to compare the measured eigenvalues to a Null distribution of eigenvalues on Gaussian datasets to determine whether the correlations in the data (due to longevity) arises from some property of the mutations themselves or whether they are due to population structure. The conclusion is that the correlations are entirely due to population structure (phylogenetic tree). We find no signal for a functional mtDNA SNP correlated with longevity. The fact that the correlations are from the population structure suggests that hitch-hiking on autosomal events is a possible explanation for the observed correlations