Cancer-Associated Thrombosis in Cirrhotic Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

It is common knowledge that cancer patients are more prone to develop venous thromboembolic complications (VTE). It is therefore not surprising that patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) present with a significant risk of VTE, with the portal vein being the most frequent site (PVT). However, patients with HCC are peculiar as both cancer and liver cirrhosis are conditions that can perturb the hemostatic balance towards a prothrombotic state. Because HCC-related hypercoagulability is not clarified at all, the aim of the present review is to summarize the currently available knowledge on epidemiology and pathogenesis of non-malignant thrombotic complications in patients with liver cirrhosis and HCC. They are at increased risk to develop both PVT and non-splanchnic VTE, indicating that both local and systemic factors can foster the development of site-specific thrombosis. Recent studies have suggested multiple and often interrelated mechanisms through which HCC can tip the hemostatic balance of liver cirrhosis towards hypercoagulability. Described mechanisms include increased fibrinogen concentration/polymerization, thrombocytosis, and release of tissue factor-expressing extracellular vesicles. Currently, there are no specific guidelines on the use of thromboprophylaxis in this unique population. There is the urgent need of prospective studies assessing which patients have the highest prothrombotic profile and would therefore benefit from early thromboprophylaxis

Targeting Drp1 and mitochondrial fission for therapeutic immune modulation

Mitochondria are dynamic organelles whose processes of fusion and fission are tightly regulated by specialized proteins, known as mitochondria-shaping proteins. Among them, Drp1 is the main pro-fission protein and its activity is tightly regulated to ensure a strict control over mitochondria shape according to the cell needs. In the recent years, mitochondrial dynamics emerged as a new player in the regulation of fundamental processes during T cell life. Indeed, the morphology of mitochondria directly regulates T cell differentiation, this by affecting the engagment of alternative metabolic routes upon activation. Further, Drp1-dependent mitochondrial fission sustains both T cell clonal expansion and T cell migration and invasivness. By this review, we aim at discussing the most recent findings about the roles played by the Drp1-dependent mitochondrial fission in T cells, and at highlighting how its pharmacological modulation could open the way to future therapeutic approaches to modulate T cell response

Fourier Eigenfunctions, Uncertainty Gabor Principle and Isoresolution Wavelets

Shape-invariant signals under Fourier transform are investigated leading to a class of eigenfunctions for the Fourier operator. The classical uncertainty Gabor-Heisenberg principle is revisited and the concept of isoresolution in joint time-frequency analysis is introduced. It is shown that any Fourier eigenfunction achieve isoresolution. It is shown that an isoresolution wavelet can be derived from each known wavelet family by a suitable scaling.Comment: 6 pages, XX Simp\'osio Bras. de Telecomunica\c{c}\~oes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2003. Fixed typo

Fatigue Damage Estimation from Random Vibration Testing: Application to a notched specimen

Vibrations are random in a wide range of applications and they are the main cause of mechanical failure. To prevent such failure, it is necessary to evaluate the fatigue life using test or analysis techniques. For computing the severity of the damage many methods are available in literature, but the estimation damage is just an approximation. The objective of this study is to propose a numerical model, together with experimental validation, in order to estimate fatigue damage caused by random vibrations in metallic materials undergoing uniaxial fatigue testing

Astrocytes and Müller Cell Alterations During Retinal Degeneration in a Transgenic Rat Model of Retinitis Pigmentosa

Purpose: Retinitis pigmentosa includes a group of progressive retinal degenerative diseases that affect the structure and function of photoreceptors. Secondarily to the loss of photoreceptors, there is a reduction in retinal vascularization, which seems to influence the cellular degenerative process. Retinal macroglial cells, astrocytes, and Müller cells provide support for retinal neurons and are fundamental for maintaining normal retinal function. The aim of this study was to investigate the evolution of macroglial changes during retinal degeneration in P23H rats. Methods: Homozygous P23H line-3 rats aged from P18 to 18 months were used to study the evolution of the disease, and SD rats were used as controls. Immunolabeling with antibodies against GFAP, vimentin, and transducin were used to visualize macroglial cells and cone photoreceptors. Results: In P23H rats, increased GFAP labeling in Müller cells was observed as an early indicator of retinal gliosis. At 4 and 12 months of age, the apical processes of Müller cells in P23H rats clustered in firework-like structures, which were associated with ring-like shaped areas of cone degeneration in the outer nuclear layer. These structures were not observed at 16 months of age. The number of astrocytes was higher in P23H rats than in the SD matched controls at 4 and 12 months of age, supporting the idea of astrocyte proliferation. As the disease progressed, astrocytes exhibited a deteriorated morphology and marked hypertrophy. The increase in the complexity of the astrocytic processes correlated with greater connexin 43 expression and higher density of connexin 43 immunoreactive puncta within the ganglion cell layer (GCL) of P23H vs. SD rat retinas. Conclusions: In the P23H rat model of retinitis pigmentosa, the loss of photoreceptors triggers major changes in the number and morphology of glial cells affecting the inner retina

Plantio de leguminosas arbóreas para produção de moirões vivos e construção de cercas ecológicas.

Os diferentes modelos de cercas utilizados nas propriedades rurais do Brasil. Justificativas para o uso de cercas de moirões vivos. Benefícios e vantagens do uso de leguminosas arbóreas na construção de cercas ecológicas. Custos de implantação mais baixos. Geração de produtos econômicos. Efeito estético, paisagístico e abrigo para os animais. Benefícios ecológicos. Fixação biológica de nitrogênio (FBN) associada às plantas. Aporte de biomassa e efeito sobre as forrageiras herbáceas. Uso como forragem. Durabilidade. Outros usos. Limitações para a adoção de leguminosas na construção de cercas ecológicas. Conhecendo a leguminosa arbórea Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.). Steud. Descrição botânica e características da espécie. Hsitórico e distribuição geográfica. Adaptação ambiental. Possibilidades para o Brasil. O uso da Gliricidia sepium como moirão vivo. Banco da multiplicação e produção de estacas de gliricidia. Construção das cercas ecológicas. Implantação da cerca. Fixação do arame. Manejo e tratos culturais. Composição química e descrição mineralógica da Gliricidia sepium. Produção de biomassa. Constituição química e influência na fertilidade do solo. Proteína bruta e digestibilidade in vitro. Outras espécies vegetais utilizadas na construção de cercas ecológicas. Leguminosas do gênero Erythrina. Utilização de outras espécies de leguminosas na cosntrução de cercas ecológicas. Espécies de outras famílias recomendadas para a implantação de cercas ecológicas. Análise sócio-econômica do uso de moirões vivos na construção de cercas ecológicas. Análise econômica da implantação e utilização dos diferentes modelos de cercas. Comercialização de estacas e moirões vivos. O ambiente de marketing do moirão vivo em relação à outros produtos utilizados na construção de cercas.bitstream/item/111693/1/CNPAB-SIST.-DE-PROD.-3-05.pd

Recuperação de voçorocas em áreas rurais.

Como recuperar uma voçoroca a baixo custo? Atividades necessárias antes da implantação das estratégias de controle de erosão. Implantação de estratégias físicas de controle da erosão. Determinação da declividade da área; Com nível retangular; Cálculo da distância entre os terraços; Demarcação e locação dos terraços; Com instrumentos alternativos; Com nível óptico; Determinação do escoamento superficial (Q); Dimensionamento das estruturas físicas; Terraços; Bacias de retenção; Paliçadas; Considerações sobre a forma da encosta ou morro; Revegetação de voçorocas com leguminosas arbóreas inoculadas com microrganismos; Por que utilizar espécies leguminosas? Quais espécies plantar? Preparo e plantio das mudas no campo; Custos de recuperação de uma voçoroca; Eficiência da metodologia de recuperação de voçorocas.bitstream/item/111696/1/CNPAB-Recuperacao-de-vocorocas-em-areas-rurais-SP.-06.pdfAutores: Roriz Luciano Machado, Alexander Silva de Resende, Eduardo Francia Carneiro Campello, Carlos Eduardo Gabriel Menezes, Caetano Marciano de Souza, Avílio Antônio Franco