Characterization Of Chemically Induced Ovarian Carcinomas In An Ethanol-preferring Rat Model: Influence Of Long-term Melatonin Treatment.

Ovarian cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer deaths among women, and chronic alcoholism may exert co-carcinogenic effects. Because melatonin (mel) has oncostatic properties, we aimed to investigate and characterize the chemical induction of ovarian tumors in a model of ethanol-preferring rats and to verify the influence of mel treatment on the overall features of these tumors. After rats were selected to receive ethanol (EtOH), they were surgically injected with 100 µg of 7,12-dimethyl-benz[a]anthracene (DMBA) plus sesame oil directly under the left ovarian bursa. At 260 days old, half of the animals received i.p. injections of 200 µg mel/100 g b.w. for 60 days. Four experimental groups were established: Group C, rats bearing ovarian carcinomas (OC); Group C+EtOH, rats voluntarily consuming 10% (v/v) EtOH and bearing OC; Group C+M, rats bearing OC and receiving mel; and Group C+EtOH+M, rats with OC consuming EtOH and receiving mel. Estrous cycle and nutritional parameters were evaluated, and anatomopathological analyses of the ovarian tumors were conducted. The incidence of ovarian tumors was higher in EtOH drinking animals 120 days post-DMBA administration, and mel efficiently reduced the prevalence of some aggressive tumors. Although mel promoted high EtOH consumption, it was effective in synchronizing the estrous cycle and reducing ovarian tumor mass by 20%. While rats in the C group displayed cysts containing serous fluid, C+EtOH rats showed solid tumor masses. After mel treatment, the ovaries of these rats presented as soft and mobile tissues. EtOH consumption increased the incidence of serous papillary carcinomas and sarcomas but not clear cell carcinomas. In contrast, mel reduced the incidence of sarcomas, endometrioid carcinomas and cystic teratomas. Combination of DMBA with EtOH intake potentiated the incidence of OC with malignant histologic subtypes. We concluded that mel reduces ovarian masses and the incidence of adenocarcinomas in ethanol-deprived rats.8e8167

Mmp-2 And Mmp-9 activities and Timp-1 and Timp-2 expression in the prostatic tissue of two ethanol-preferring rat models

We investigated whether chronic ethanol intake is capable of altering the MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities and TIMP-2 and TIMP-1 expression in the dorsal and lateral prostatic lobes of low (UChA) and high (UChB) ethanol-preferring rats. MMP-2 and MMP9 activities and TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 expression were significantly reduced in the lateral prostatic lobe of the ethanol drinking animals. Dorsal prostatic lobe was less affected showing no significant alterations in these proteins, except for a reduction in the TIMP-1 expression in UChA rats. These important findings demonstrate that chronic ethanol intake impairs the physiological balance of the prostate extracellular matrix turnover, through downregulation of MMPs, which may contribute to the development of prostatic diseases. Furthermore, since these proteins are also components of prostate secretion, the negative impact of chronic ethanol intake on fertility may also involve reduction of MMPs and TIMPs in the seminal fluid2015COORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPESFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESPsem informação2011/03394-4; 2011/13713-

MMP-2 and MMP-9 Activities and TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 Expression in the Prostatic Tissue of Two Ethanol-Preferring Rat Models

We investigated whether chronic ethanol intake is capable of altering the MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities and TIMP-2 and TIMP-1 expression in the dorsal and lateral prostatic lobes of low (UChA) and high (UChB) ethanol-preferring rats. MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities and TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 expression were significantly reduced in the lateral prostatic lobe of the ethanol drinking animals. Dorsal prostatic lobe was less affected showing no significant alterations in these proteins, except for a reduction in the TIMP-1 expression in UChA rats. These important findings demonstrate that chronic ethanol intake impairs the physiological balance of the prostate extracellular matrix turnover, through downregulation of MMPs, which may contribute to the development of prostatic diseases. Furthermore, since these proteins are also components of prostate secretion, the negative impact of chronic ethanol intake on fertility may also involve reduction of MMPs and TIMPs in the seminal fluid

Tradução de artigos científicos no domínio da medicina: especificidades

Relatório de Estágio apresentado ao Instituto Superior de Contabilidade e Administração do Porto para a obtenção do grau de Mestre em Tradução e Interpretação Especializada, sob orientação de Doutor Manuel Fernando Moreira da SilvaNeste relatório descreve-se o trabalho realizado no estágio realizado no Centro de Estudos Matex para conclusão do Mestrado em Tradução e Interpretação Especializada no Instituto Superior de Contabilidade e Administração do Porto. De forma a melhor sustentar este relatório de estágio é apresentada uma análise sobre algumas teorias de tradução e, na sequência dessa mesma análise, foi escolhido o modelo proposto por Daniel Gouadec como metodologia de trabalho. Posteriormente é feita uma breve análise sobre o texto científico, a tradução na área da medicina e, também sobre as características de um artigo científico. Foram ainda descritas as dificuldades mais comuns na tradução de textos médicos juntamente com uma breve análise sobre terminologia científica e médica. Após esta revisão teórica, seguiu-se a fase relativa ao processo tradutivo, onde foram seguidas as fases propostas pelo modelo de Gouadec, na elaboração da tradução dos artigos científicos. Os artigos inserem-se na área da tradução técnica, nomeadamente da medicina. O presente trabalho revelou-se importante quer na aquisição de conhecimentos quer na prática do que é a tradução freelance em ambiente empresarial. Através do mesmo foi possível ficar a conhecer de perto muitas das especificidades e dificuldades que se podem encontrar na tradução técnica.In this report it is described the work developed during the traineeship in Centro de Estudos Matex for the conclusion of the Masters degree in Translations and Specialized Interpretations in the Institute of Accounting and Administration of Porto (ISCAP). In order to sustain better the traineeship report it is presented an analysis of some translations theories and in the sequence of this analysis it was chosen Daniel Gouadecs work methodology. Then a brief analysis was made on scientific text, translation in the medical area and also on the characteristics of a scientific article. . It was also described the most common difficulties in translating medical texts and together with a brief analysis on scientific terminology and medical terminology. After this theorical revision it followed the phase related to the translation process and all the phases proposed by Gouadec were followed in the translation of the scientific articles. The articles translated are from the technical translation area, namely medicine. This work has revealed to be important in the acquisition of practice knowledge of freelance translation in the corporate world. It was also possible to know closely all the specificities and difficulties you can find in technical translation

Métodos de aplicação da simulação computacional em edifícios naturalmente ventilados no clima quente e úmido

A ventilação natural é o principal recurso passivo para a obtenção do conforto térmico em climas quentes e úmidos, reduzindo também o consumo energético com condicionamento artificial. Entretanto, arquitetos fazem restrição a seu uso por não haver garantias de solução dos problemas de conforto térmico, quando comparada aos sistemas artificiais. Nesse sentido, decidiu-se investigar formas de prever o comportamento da ventilação natural em edifícios através de ferramentas de simulação computacional, visando apoiar a tomada de decisão no projeto de arquitetura. O objeto de estudo é o edifício pré-fabricado, do tipo galpão, considerado como típico na cidade de Natal, RN. Utilizaram-se um programa de dinâmica de fluidos computacional (CFD) e um de simulação térmica e energética de edificações. O artigo tem como foco a discussão dos procedimentos necessários para viabilizar as análises da ventilação, indicando como o método teve de ser adequado à complexidade de sucessivas abordagens, resultando em simplificações e incertezas de resultados. Para exemplificar a abordagem apresentam-se alguns resultados de simulações. Ao final, as limitações e potencialidades do método são discutidas com base nas características dos códigos de simulações utilizados, das condições de simulação e da representatividade dos modelos

Vivax malaria in Mauritania includes infection of a Duffy-negative individual

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Duffy blood group polymorphisms are important in areas where <it>Plasmodium vivax </it>is present because this surface antigen is thought to act as a key receptor for this parasite. In the present study, Duffy blood group genotyping was performed in febrile uninfected and <it>P. vivax</it>-infected patients living in the city of Nouakchott, Mauritania.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p><it>Plasmodium vivax </it>was identified by real-time PCR. The Duffy blood group genotypes were determined by standard PCR followed by sequencing of the promoter region and exon 2 of the Duffy gene in 277 febrile individuals. Fisher's exact test was performed in order to assess the significance of variables.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In the Moorish population, a high frequency of the <it>FYB^ES/FYB^ES</it>genotype was observed in uninfected individuals (27.8%), whereas no <it>P. vivax</it>-infected patient had this genotype. This was followed by a high level of <it>FYA/FYB</it>, <it>FYB/FYB</it>, <it>FYB/FYB^ES</it>and <it>FYA/FYB^ES</it>genotype frequencies, both in the <it>P. vivax</it>-infected and uninfected patients. In other ethnic groups (Poular, Soninke, Wolof), only the <it>FYB^ES/FYB^ES</it>genotype was found in uninfected patients, whereas the <it>FYA/FYB^ES</it>genotype was observed in two <it>P. vivax</it>-infected patients. In addition, one patient belonging to the Wolof ethnic group presented the <it>FYB^ES/FYB^ES</it>genotype and was infected by <it>P. vivax</it>.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study presents the Duffy blood group polymorphisms in Nouakchott City and demonstrates that in Mauritania, <it>P. vivax </it>is able to infect Duffy-negative patients. Further studies are necessary to identify the process that enables this Duffy-independent <it>P. vivax </it>invasion of human red blood cells.</p

Recent experimental probes of shear banding

Recent experimental techniques used to investigate shear banding are reviewed. After recalling the rheological signature of shear-banded flows, we summarize the various tools for measuring locally the microstructure and the velocity field under shear. Local velocity measurements using dynamic light scattering and ultrasound are emphasized. A few results are extracted from current works to illustrate open questions and directions for future research.Comment: Review paper, 23 pages, 11 figures, 204 reference

Recent results on heavy-ion induced reactions of interest for neutrinoless double beta decay at INFN-LNS

Abstract. The possibility to use a special class of heavy-ion induced direct reactions, such as double charge exchange reactions, is discussed in view of their application to extract information that may be helpful to determinate the nuclear matrix elements entering in the expression of neutrinoless double beta decay halflife. The methodology of the experimental campaign presently running at INFN - Laboratori Nazionali del Sud is reported and the experimental challenges characterizing such activity are describe