Modulation of oligodendrocyte differentiation and maturation by combined biochemical and mechanical cues

Extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins play a key role during oligodendrogenesis. While fibronectin (FN) is involved in the maintenance and proliferation of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs), merosin (MN) promotes differentiation into oligodendrocytes (OLs). Mechanical properties of the ECM also seem to affect OL differentiation, hence this study aimed to clarify the impact of combined biophysical and biochemical elements during oligodendrocyte differentiation and maturation using synthetic elastic polymeric ECM-like substrates. CG-4 cells presented OPC- or OL-like morphology in response to brain-compliant substrates functionalised with FN or MN, respectively. The expression of the differentiation and maturation markers myelin basic protein - MBP - and proteolipid protein - PLP - (respectively) by primary rat oligodendrocytes was enhanced in presence of MN, but only on brain-compliant conditions, considering the distribution (MBP) or amount (PLP) of the protein. It was also observed that maturation of OLs was attained earlier (by assessing PLP expression) by cells differentiated on MN-functionalised brain-compliant substrates than on standard culture conditions. Moreover, the combination of MN and substrate compliance enhanced the maturation and morphological complexity of OLs. Considering the distinct degrees of stiffness tested ranging within those of the central nervous system, our results indicate that 6.5 kPa is the most suitable rigidity for oligodendrocyte differentiation

Characteristics of two conditioning regimens cyclophosphamide plus antithymocyte globulin versus cyclophosphamide plus busulfan in allogeneic stem cell transplantation for severe aplastic anemia

Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilHosp Santa Marcelina, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Valores de energia digestível, metabolizável e do coeficiente de digestibilidade dos nutrientes do milho em diferentes níveis de carunchamento.

Milho BR-201 foi submetido a infestacao artificial por caruncho (Sitophilus zeamais) obtendo-se quatro lotes em diferentes niveis de carunchamento (1,79%, 10,27%; 17,49% e 38,15%). Quinze suinos machos castrados foram distribuidos em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado em tres repeticoes por tratamento. As racoes experimentais foram compostas por uma racao referencia e quatro racoes compostas de 75% da racao referencia e 25% do milho a ser estudado. A elevacao do nivel de carunchamento do milho reduziu o nivel de energia digestivel e o coeficiente de digestibilidade do extrato etereo do milho, mas nao alterou o coeficiente de digestibilidade da proteina bruta, da fibra bruta e da energia metabolizavel

BRS Colosso: primeira cultivar de arroz obtida por cultura de anteras no Brasil.

A 'BRS Colosso' foi oriunda do cruzamento entre a cultivar de origem americana Kaybonnet com a cultivar brasileira Aimoré. A primeira é uma cultivar de arroz irrigado recomendada para plantio no Texas (USA), de excelente qualidade industrial e culinária. A Aimoré, por outro lado, é uma cultivar de arroz de terras altas, muito rústica, superprecoce, indicada para plantio aos produtores de subsistência.bitstream/CNPAF/23007/1/comt_85.pd

Bioactive compounds of fractionated palm oil with a higher content of oleic acid.

BRS Manicoré cultivar is an interspecific hybrid between Elaeis oleifera and Elaeis guineensis(ISH OxG). It has shown high yield potential and genetic resistance to phytosanitary problems in cultivation in Brazil. Studies have indicated differences in the composition of ISH OxG and palm oils, as well as the influence of genotype and environment on palm oil characteristics. The aim of this study was to assess the distribution of fatty acids, carotenoids, and tocochromanols in the olein and stearin fractions of the oil produced by the ISH OxG cultivated in municipality of Una, state of Bahia, Brazil by liquid and gas chromatography. There were significant differences for fatty acids, carotenoids and total tocochromanols between olein and stearin (p<0.05). The olein was richer in oleic acid (59% vs 57%), while stearin was higher in saturated fatty acids (31% vs 29%), alpha and beta-carotene (232 vs 213 mg/Kg, and 347 vs 299 mg/Kg, respectively), alpha-tocotrienol (136 vs 90 mg/Kg), and alpha-tocopherol (52 vs 32 mg/Kg). No difference was observed for gamma-tocotrienol (598 ? 450 mg/kg) and delta-tocotrienol; nonetheless, the high content of the former in both fractions was notable. The ISH OxG oil fractions showed distinct patterns, indicating different applications.Título em português: Compostos bioativos de frações de óleo de palma com maior teor de ácido oleico

Primary cerebral alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma in adult

Primary cerebral rhabdomyosarcomas are very rare and malignant tumors that occur predominantly in the posterior fossa of pediatric patients. We report a rare case of primary cerebral rhabdomyosarcoma located in the supratentorial compartment of a 51 year-old woman together with a review of the pertinent Literature especially regarding the histological diagnosis and pitfalls