OPÇÕES TERAPÊUTICAS EMPREGADAS NO TRATAMENTO DA COVID – 19: UMA REVISÃO LITERÁRIA

A new type of coronavirus appeared in the city of Wuhan in China in 2019. SARS-COV-2 is a single-stranded positive sense RNA virus, surrounded by four proteins, called Spike (S), Envelope (E), Membrane (M) and Nucleocapsid (N). The new coronavirus has been a challenge for healthcare professionals due to the lack of effective treatment against the disease. The aim of the present study was to seek information about the main therapeutic options currently employed in Covid-19 treatment. Thus, it was possible to identify that several of these drugs for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 show promising results, but they still lack more information and studies, therefore, there is no safe and effective treatment. Um novo tipo de coronavírus surgiu na cidade de Wuhan na China em 2019. SARS-COV-2 é um vírus de RNA de fita simples senso positivo, envolto por quatro proteínas, denominadas Spike (S), Envelope (E), Membrana (M) e Nucleocapsídeo (N). O novo coronavírus vem sendo um desafio para os profissionais da saúde devido à falta de tratamento eficaz contra a doença. O objetivo do presente estudo foi buscar informações a respeito das principais opções terapêuticas atualmente empregadas no tratamento Covid-19. Assim, foi possível identificar que vários destes medicamentos para o tratamento da SARS-CoV-2 apresentam resultados promissores, porém ainda carecem de mais informações e estudos, não havendo, portanto, um tratamento seguro e eficaz.&nbsp

137Cs inventories along a climatic gradient in volcanic soils of Patagonia: Potential use for assessing medium term erosion processes

Fallout radionuclides, such as Caesium-137, were proven to be a valuable means for studying medium-term (c.a. 50 years) soil erosion processes. In order to gain knowledge on the spatial distribution of 137Cs in volcanic soils of Andean Patagonia, 137Cs reference inventories were established along a precipitation gradient. At the subhumid sector, patterns of 137Cs gain/loss associated with land use were also determined considering native forests under grazing, a degraded rangeland and a pine plantation. Along the rising rainfall gradient (750–1400 mm), pedogenesis of volcanic ash soils, non-crystalline mineral formation, organic matter content and soil porosity varied, increasing in moister areas. Radionuclide inventories varied along the edaphoclimatic gradient, reaching mean values of 192, 267 and 576 Bq m−2 , at study areas with 750, 950 and 1400 mm of annual precipitation, respectively. The 137Cs inventory followed an exponential relationship with precipitation, which could be related to the presence of allophane as the colloidal material in the soils from the rainiest area. The penetration depth reached by 137Cs varied between 15 and 25 cm, according to rain amount and soil texture. Most of the 137Cs fallout was retained in the uppermost 10 cm of the profiles and an exponential decline of 137Cs with depth, highly related to organic matter contents, was found. At the subhumid study area, both 137Cs mass activity and inventory, significantly decreased under the different land uses, with respect to reference soils. Although the pattern of 137Cs gain/loss varied according to topography, soil properties (organic matter and porosity) and vegetation cover, showing eroding and aggrading profiles, most samples had 137Cs values lower than the reference value, suggesting loss of soil as a consequence of erosion processes. Furthermore, as much as 45%, 58% and 70% of sample points from native forests, plantation and rangeland, respectively, had 137Cs values below the limit of detection. In the study transects, the loss of the upper 15 cm of soil in the subhumid sector during the last 50 years, highly exceeding tolerable erosion rates, highlights the urgent need for applying effective soil conservation measures. Reference inventories, which vary according to the edaphoclimatic gradient, and the loss of the radionuclide in sites with anthropic intervention, show the potential for using 137Cs measurements for assessing erosion processes in the Patagonian Andean Region.Fil: la Manna, Ludmila Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "San Juan Bosco". Facultad de Ingeniería - Sede Esquel. Centro de Estudios Ambientales Integrados; ArgentinaFil: Gaspar, Leticia. Estación Experimental de Aula Dei; Argentina. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas; EspañaFil: Tarabini, Manuela Mabel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "San Juan Bosco". Facultad de Ingeniería - Sede Esquel. Centro de Estudios Ambientales Integrados; ArgentinaFil: Quijano, Laura. Université Catholique de Louvain; BélgicaFil: Navas, Ana. Estación Experimental de Aula Dei; Argentina. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas; Españ

Measuring circadian clock function in human cells

Circadian clocks are present in most cells and are essential for maintenance of daily rhythms in physiology, mood, and cognition. Thus, not only neurons of the central circadian pacemaker but also many other peripheral tissues possess the same functional and self-sustained circadian clocks. Surprisingly, however, their properties vary widely within the human population. In recent years, this clock variance has been studied extensively both in health and in disease using robust lentivirus-based reporter technologies to probe circadian function in human peripheral cells as proxies for those in neurologically and physiologically relevant but inaccessible tissues. The same procedures can be used to investigate other conserved signal transduction cascades affecting multiple aspects of human physiology, behavior, and disease. Accessing gene expression variation within human populations via these powerful in vitro cell-based technologies could provide important insights into basic phenotypic diversity or to better interpret patterns of gene expression variation in disease

La responsabilité pénale du candidat à une fonction élective et le crime de corruption passive

O presente trabalho busca entender se a conduta de um candidato a cargo eletivo do Poder Executivo que, no curso de sua campanha, aceita, solicita ou recebe vantagem indevida de particular pode ser enquadrada no artigo 317 do Código Penal brasileiro. Tal questionamento surge em razão da presença da expressão antes de assumi-la no referido tipo penal, o que dá margem para que se entenda que, muito embora a corrupção passiva seja crime exclusivo de funcionário público, aquele que ainda não assumiu a função pode também ser sujeito ativo do delito. Para analisar a punibilidade da conduta e reduzir o universo de análise, foram selecionadas quatro variáveis, a partir das quais formaram-se dezesseis cenários envolvendo o candidato. A partir do estudo dos elementos do tipo penal, foi possível compreender a relevâncias das variáveis selecionadas a princípio, gerando uma consequente reflexão a respeito das divergências entre os cenários e sobre a adequação da conduta do candidato a cargo eletivo ao tipo penal do artigo 317.Le présent mémoire cherche à comprendre si le comportement d\'un candidat à un mandat électif du pouvoir exécutif qui, au cours de sa campagne, accepte, demande ou reçoit un avantage indu peut sinscrire dans l\'article 317 du code pénal brésilien. La question se pose en raison de la présence de l\'expression « avant l\'entrée en fonction » dans le texte pénal, ce qui suggère que, bien que la corruption passive soit un crime exclusif des agents publics, ceux qui n\'ont pas encore pris leurs fonctions peuvent également être auteurs de linfraction. Pour examiner la punissabilité du comportement et réduire l\'univers d\'analyse, quatre variables ont été sélectionnées, à partir desquelles seize scénarios impliquant le candidat ont été établis. A partir de l\'étude des éléments du type d\'infraction pénale, il a été possible de comprendre la pertinence des variables sélectionnées au départ, ce qui a entraîné une réflexion sur les divergences entre les scénarios et sur la conformité du comportement du candidat à une fonction élective à l\'infraction de l\'article 317

Soil changes associated with land use in volcanic soils of Patagonia developed on dynamic landscapes

This paper aimed to identify indicators of soil degradation in volcanic soils developed in the ecotone between the Andean Forests and the Patagonian steppe. The study area is located in the Percy River Basin, Argentine, on alluvial fans with volcanic soils. Sampling was conducted in two adjacent hillslopes where native forest was replaced by a rangeland with grass-shrub vegetation and a 32-years old Pinus radiata plantation. Sectioned and bulk soil samples were collected along three transects in each land cover up to 40 cm depth. Two forest patches of Maytenus boaria were selected as controls. Physical, chemical and magnetic properties were analyzed. Native forest soils were rich in silt fraction, organic matter and non-crystalline minerals, and presented the lowest values of magnetic susceptibility. Rangeland and plantation soils differed from forest soils in these properties. Soil changes were mainly associated to changes in mineralogy resulting from soil desiccation and to the selective removal of fine particles by erosion, together with differences in the effects of recent volcanic events on the soils. Changes in soils associated with land use affected key properties related to pedogenetic processes. Magnetic susceptibility, organic matter content, texture, and pH NaF were key for understanding soil degradation processes in this dynamic environment.Fil: la Manna, Ludmila Andrea. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "San Juan Bosco"; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Gaspar, Leticia. Estación Experimental de Aula Dei; EspañaFil: Rostagno, Cesar Mario. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico. Instituto Patagónico para el Estudio de los Ecosistemas Continentales; ArgentinaFil: Quijano, Laura. Estación Experimental de Aula Dei; EspañaFil: Navas, Ana. Estación Experimental de Aula Dei; Españ

137Cs inventories along a climatic gradient in volcanic soils of Patagonia: Potential use for assessing medium term erosion processes

46 Pags.- 8 Figs.- 5 Tabls. The definitive version is available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/03418162Fallout radionuclides, such as Caesium-137, were proven to be a valuable means for studying medium-term (c.a. 50 years) soil erosion processes. In order to gain knowledge on the spatial distribution of 137Cs in volcanic soils of Andean Patagonia, 137Cs reference inventories were established along a precipitation gradient. At the subhumid sector, patterns of 137Cs gain/loss associated with land use were also determined considering native forests under grazing, a degraded rangeland and a pine plantation. Along the rising rainfall gradient (750–1400 mm), pedogenesis of volcanic ash soils, non-crystalline mineral formation, organic matter content and soil porosity varied, increasing in moister areas. Radionuclide inventories varied along the edaphoclimatic gradient, reaching mean values of 192, 267 and 576 Bq m−2, at study areas with 750, 950 and 1400 mm of annual precipitation, respectively. The 137Cs inventory followed an exponential relationship with precipitation, which could be related to the presence of allophane as the colloidal material in the soils from the rainiest area. The penetration depth reached by 137Cs varied between 15 and 25 cm, according to rain amount and soil texture. Most of the 137Cs fallout was retained in the uppermost 10 cm of the profiles and an exponential decline of 137Cs with depth, highly related to organic matter contents, was found. At the subhumid study area, both 137Cs mass activity and inventory, significantly decreased under the different land uses, with respect to reference soils. Although the pattern of 137Cs gain/loss varied according to topography, soil properties (organic matter and porosity) and vegetation cover, showing eroding and aggrading profiles, most samples had 137Cs values lower than the reference value, suggesting loss of soil as a consequence of erosion processes. Furthermore, as much as 45%, 58% and 70% of sample points from native forests, plantation and rangeland, respectively, had 137Cs values below the limit of detection. In the study transects, the loss of the upper 15 cm of soil in the subhumid sector during the last 50 years, highly exceeding tolerable erosion rates, highlights the urgent need for applying effective soil conservation measures. Reference inventories, which vary according to the edaphoclimatic gradient, and the loss of the radionuclide in sites with anthropic intervention, show the potential for using 137Cs measurements for assessing erosion processes in the Patagonian Andean Region.This research was funded by PICT-FONCyT 1715/10, CGL2014-52986-R and a Fellowship from Carolina Foundation. We aknowledge M. Calderón for his help with topographic fieldwork.Peer reviewe

The genomic landscape of human cellular circadian variation points to a novel role for the signalosome

The importance of natural gene expression variation for human behavior is undisputed, but its impact on circadian physiology remains mostly unexplored. Using umbilical cord fibroblasts, we have determined by genome-wide association how common genetic variation impacts upon cellular circadian function. Gene set enrichment points to differences in protein catabolism as one major source of clock variation in humans. The two most significant alleles regulated expression of COPS7B, a subunit of the COP9 signalosome. We further show that the signalosome complex is imported into the nucleus in timed fashion to stabilize the essential circadian protein BMAL1, a novel mechanism to oppose its proteasome-mediated degradation. Thus, circadian clock properties depend in part upon a genetically-encoded competition between stabilizing and destabilizing forces, and genetic alterations in these mechanisms provide one explanation for human chronotype

Pressure Effect Studies on the Spin Transition of Microporous 3D Polymer [Fe(pz)Pt(CN)₄]

Pressure effects on the spin transition of the three-dimensional (3D) porous coordination polymer {Fe­(pz)­[Pt­(CN)₄]} have been investigated in the interval 10⁵ Pa–1.0 GPa through variable-temperature (10–320 K) magnetic susceptibility measurements and spectroscopic studies in the visible region at room temperature. These studies have disclosed a different behavior of the compound under pressure. In the magnetic experiments, a temperature independent paramagnetic behavior has been observed under 0.4 GPa. In contrast, at room temperature and at 0.8 GPa, a complete HS-to-LS transition has been evidenced. The differences in the magnetic behavior are strongly related with the porous structure of the compound and its capability to adsorb the oil used as pressure transmission media in the magnetic experiments

The protein disulphide isomerase inhibitor CxxCpep modulates oxidative burst and mitochondrial function in platelets

Background: We have previously described CxxCpep, a peptide with anti-platelet properties that inhibits peri/epicellular protein disulphide isomerase (pecPDI) by forming a mixed disulfide bond with Cys400 within the pecPDI active site. Objectives: Here we sought to determine if pecPDI targeted by CxxCpep is relevant to redox mechanisms downstream of the collagen receptor GPVI in platelets. Methods and Results: Restriction of effects of CxxCpep to the platelet surface was confirmed by LC-MS/MS following cell fractionation. Platelet aggregation was measured in platelet-rich plasma (PRP) incubated with 30 μM CxxCpep or vehicle. CxxCpep inhibited collagen-induced platelet aggregation but exerted no effect in TRAP-6-stimulated platelets. PRP was incubated with DCFDA to measure oxidative burst upon platelet adhesion to collagen. Results showed that CxxCpep decreased oxidative burst in platelets adhered to immobilized collagen while the number of adherent cells was unaffected. Furthermore, flow cytometry studies using a FITC-maleimide showed that the GPVI agonist CRP stimulated an increase in free thiols on the platelet outer membrane, which was inhibited by CxxCpep. Finally, CxxCpep inhibited platelet mitochondrial respiration upon activation with collagen, but not with thrombin. Conclusions: Our data suggest that pecPDI is a potential modulator of GPVI-mediated redox regulation mechanisms and that CxxCpep can be further exploited as a template for new antiplatelet compounds