Interrelationship of the kinin system, nitric oxide and eicosanoids in the antigen-induced arthritis in rabbits.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the interrelationship of the kinin system, nitric oxide and eicosanoids in the acute phase of antigen-induced arthritis (AIA) in rabbits. The arthritis was induced in immunized rabbits and the following parameters were evaluated 24 hours later: leukocyte influx (total and differential white cell count), vascular permeability (Evans's blue method), and synovial PMN cell infiltrate. PGE2 and LTB4 (radioimmunoassay) levels were quantified in the synovial fluid. The animals were pre-treated with 20mg/kg/day during 14 days with L-NAME or D-NAME and/or Enalapril (0.12 mg/kg/day-14 days), and/or the B2 antagonist of Bradykinin HOE 140 (0.9 mg/kg). Our results showed that L-NAME was effective in the prevention of AIA with reduction of all Inflammatory parameters analyzed. Enalapril partially reverted the L-NAME anti-inflammatory effects. The simultaneous treatment with HOE 140 abolished this reversion and returned the inflammatory parameters to the levels observed in L-NAME treated animals. Our results suggest that pressoric alterations induced by L-NAME could not account for all its anti-inflammatory action in this model of experimental arthritis. Additionally the contribution of the kinin system in AIA was characterized as well as its interaction with eicosanoids and nitric oxide

Analysis of histological frequency and pediatric cancer in Rondônia, Western Amazonia (Brazil)

Objective:Describe the histological and cancer frequency in children and adolescents attended at the Hospital de Base Dr. Ary Pinheiro and the Hospital de Barretos / Rondônia, Western Amazonia, in the years 2014 and 2015. Method: This is a descriptive, quantitative and transverse study. We used a structured instrument containing a series of variables, such as gender, age, histological types, more frequent neoplasms, lymphomas, leukemias, among others. We asked The Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa em Seres Humanos (Research Ethics Committee) to dispense the Informed Consent Form because the study did not require intervention on the patient or collection of biological material, and no possibility of constraints on patients and their relatives. Results: From 75 cases, 32 (42.7%) were female and 43 (57.3%) were male. Regarding the distribution of patients according to the age group, 21 (28.0%) were younger than 4 years, 12 (16.0%), 5 to 9 years, 17 (22.6%) from 10 to 14 and 25 (33.4%) from 15 to 19. The most frequent histological types by gender were leukemias of myeloproliferative diseases and myelodysplastic diseases with 30% and 50% new cases in the period, followed by lymphomas and reticuloendothelial neoplasms with 16.65% and 20, 0% of the histological types in the period. Leukemia in the hematopoietic and reticuloendothelial system (C42) is the most frequent cancer in both, female and male gender, with 47.5% of cancers in the biennium. The second group of cancers in children from 0 to 19 years old and location of the primary tumor is the encephalon carcinoma (C71), with 11.25% of the new cases. Conclusions: The results presented with their proper nuances are in agreement with the data of studies carried out in Brazil and in other countries

Classification of homogeneous regions of vegetation cover in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil and its temporal dynamics, using AVHRR GIMMS and MODIS data sets

This study aimed to classify the homogeneous regions of vegetation cover, which occur in Rio Grande do Sul, formed by clustering of pixels with same pattern of temporal variability of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) of AVHRR GIMMS and MODIS series and to compare their temporal dynamics. We use K means cluster analysis for defi ning homogeneous regions, based on the temporal variability of GIMMS (8 km spatial resolution) and MODIS (1 km spatial resolution) NDVI data sets, using monthly images mean from 2000 to 2008 (overlapping period); and we analyzed the annual pattern of NDVI. Accuracy assessment was done with Landsat images. The results show that the temporal variability of GIMMS and MODIS NDVI allows to delimit similar homogeneous regions in order to mapping the main vegetation cover. MODIS series shows a greater detail in the defi nition of the regions, but with compatibility with those generated by GIMMS. The temporal dynamics show a typical seasonal pattern, with variations of NDVI amplitude between the groups, that allow to monitor phenological changes. The deviations from calibration between times series are linear, which would facilitate a correction in order to construct a long synthetic time series for studies of land cover change

Coatings from different sources for postharvest conservation of mango fruit cv Palmer

The aim of this study was to select edible coatings from different sources, as cassava starch, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), chitosan, Aloe veto, beeswax and sodium alginate, including some additives, which enable improved quality and postharvest conservation on 'Palmer' mango fruit, stored under refrigeration followed by room temperature

A utilização de recursos criativos para o ensino da literatura infanto-juvenil

A literatura infantil vem se transformando constantemente. A palavra literatura é intransitiva e, independente do adjetivo que receba, é uma arte que deve ser contemplada em todas as suas dimensões. Para aprimorar essa arte, faz-se necessário o uso de recursos didáticos que envolvam os educando de forma que estes sejam capazes de navegar nas asas da imaginação em busca de um novo saber. Sabe-se que a Literatura Infantil, por iniciar o homem no mundo literário, deve ser utilizada como instrumento para a sensibilização da consciência, para a expansão da capacidade e interesse de analisar o mundo. Sendo fundamental mostrar que a literatura deve ser encarada, sempre, de modo global e complexo em sua ambigüidade e pluralidade. Nesse contexto este trabalho buscou, refletir sobre o papel das instituições responsáveis pela promoção da Literatura e a formação do homem, analisando a prática desenvolvida na escola pelo profissional de educação e a contribuição da família para que desempenhem eficazmente o papel de incentivadores do hábito e do gosto pela leitura nas séries iniciais do Ensino Fundamental. Para atingir este objetivo, optou-se pela pesquisa teórica ou bibliográfica, por ser bastante apropriada para esta temática. Este estudo foi de caráter exploratório e destaca o método dialético, usando material elaborado, constituído principalmente de livros e artigos de periódicos, publicados, por diversos autores, que tratam do tema ou exploram áreas afins. O processo de análise e interpretação dos dados encontrados na literatura, especialmente em ZILBERMAN (1993, 1998, 1988,1994), Lajolo (1984), Coelho (2000), possibilitou situar a Literatura Infantil no contexto histórico e relacionando com os recursos didáticos necessários para o desenvolvimento do educando no ambiente escolar

Corrosion behaviour of porous Ti intended for biomedical applications

Porous Ti implants are being developed inorder to reduce the biomechanical mismatch between theimplant and the bone, as well as increasing the osseointegrationby improving the bone in-growth. Most of the focusin the literature has been on the structural, biological andmechanical characterization of porous Ti whereas there islimited information on the electrochemical characterization.Therefore, the present work aims to study the corrosionbehaviour of porous Ti having 30 and 50 % ofnominal porosity, produced by powder metallurgy routeusing the space holder technique. The percentage, size anddistribution of the pores were determined by image analysis.Electrochemical tests consisting of potentiodynamicpolarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopywere performed in 9 g/L NaCl solution at body temperature.Electrochemical studies revealed that samples presenteda less stable oxide film at increased porosity, morespecifically, the complex geometry and the interconnectivityof the pores resulted in formation of less protectiveoxide film in the pores.This study was supported by FCT with the reference project UID/EEA/04436/2013, by FEDER funds through the COMPETE 2020 – Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalizac¸a˜o (POCI) with the reference project POCI-01-0145- FEDER-006941, Programa de Acc¸o˜es Universita´rias Integradas LusoFrancesas’ (PAUILF TC-12_14), and The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation through ‘‘Programa de Mobilidade Acade´mica para Professores’’. The authors would also like to acknowledge Prof. Ana Senos (University of Aveiro) and Prof. Jose´ Carlos Teixeira (University of Minho) for the provision of the characterization facilities.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A secreted phospholipase A2 induces formation of smooth muscle foam cells which trans-differentiate to macrophage-like state

Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) loaded with lipid droplets (LDs) are markers of atherosclerosis. In this disease, inflammatory Group IIA-secreted phospholipase A2s (GIIA sPLA2s) are highly expressed in VSMCs, but their actions in these cells are unknown. Here, we investigated the ability of myotoxin III (MT-III), an ophidian GIIA sPLA2 sharing structural and functional features with mammalian GIIA sPLA2s, to induce LD formation and lipid metabolism factors involved in this e ect. Modulation of VSMC phenotypes by this sPLA2 was also evaluated. Incubation of VSMCs with MT-III significantly increased the number of LDs. MT-III upregulated scavenger receptor type 1 (SR-A1) and lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) protein expression and enhanced acetylated-low density lipoprotein (acLDL) uptake by VSMCs, revealing the ability of a GIIA PLA2 to modulate scavenger receptor activities. MT-III induced translocation and protein expression of PPAR- and - / . Inhibition of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) and diacylglycerol O-acyltransferase (DGAT) and acyl-CoA:cholesterolacyltransferase (ACAT) enzymes abrogatedMT-III-induced LD formation. Moreover, in response toMT-III, VSMCs acquired phagocytic activity and expressed macrophage markers CD68 and MAC-2. In conclusion, MT-III is able to stimulate VSMCs and recruit factors involved in lipid uptake and metabolism, leading to the formation of VSMC-derived foam cells with acquisition of macrophage-like markers and functions.Butantan Institute/[FAPESP 00/11624-5]//BrasilUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias de la Salud::Instituto Clodomiro Picado (ICP