Fauna do solo e suas relações com atributos físico-químicos.

Este trabalho objetivou avaliar a diversidade da fauna edáfica e suas relações com os atributos físico-químicos. Foram escolhidas sete áreas, representativas da região Oeste do estado de Santa Catarina (região de Chapecó, SC), abrangendo as seguintes condições de uso: 1) Plantio convencional com rotação de culturas (PCRC1); 2) Plantio direto com rotação de culturas (PDRC2); 3) Plantio convencional com sucessão de cultura (PCSC3); 4) Plantio direto com sucessão de culturas (PDSC4); 5) Cultivo mínimo com sucessão de culturas (CMSC5); 6) Plantio direto com sucessão de culturas (PDSC6) e 7) Plantio direto com sucessão de cultura (PDSC7). Foram analisados nos mesmos pontos de coleta a fauna edáfica e atributos físico-químicos e microbiológicos do solo. Alguns grupos da fauna edáfica apresentaram potencial para serem usados como indicadores da qualidade do solo, pois se mostraram sensíveis ao sistema de preparo e cultivo do solo. Ao considerarmos todos os atributos edáficos, o tratamento PDRC2 ficou mais afastado dos outros com melhores condições físico-químicas e biológicas do solo, em comparação aos demais, especialmente CMSC5 e PDSC6

The white matter connectome as an individualized biomarker of language impairment in temporal lobe epilepsy.

ObjectiveThe distributed white matter network underlying language leads to difficulties in extracting clinically meaningful summaries of neural alterations leading to language impairment. Here we determine the predictive ability of the structural connectome (SC), compared with global measures of white matter tract microstructure and clinical data, to discriminate language impaired patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) from TLE patients without language impairment.MethodsT1- and diffusion-MRI, clinical variables (CVs), and neuropsychological measures of naming and verbal fluency were available for 82 TLE patients. Prediction of language impairment was performed using a robust tree-based classifier (XGBoost) for three models: (1) a CV-model which included demographic and epilepsy-related clinical features, (2) an atlas-based tract-model, including four frontotemporal white matter association tracts implicated in language (i.e., the bilateral arcuate fasciculus, inferior frontal occipital fasciculus, inferior longitudinal fasciculus, and uncinate fasciculus), and (3) a SC-model based on diffusion MRI. For the association tracts, mean fractional anisotropy was calculated as a measure of white matter microstructure for each tract using a diffusion tensor atlas (i.e., AtlasTrack). The SC-model used measurement of cortical-cortical connections arising from a temporal lobe subnetwork derived using probabilistic tractography. Dimensionality reduction of the SC was performed with principal components analysis (PCA). Each model was trained on 49 patients from one epilepsy center and tested on 33 patients from a different center (i.e., an independent dataset). Randomization was performed to test the stability of the results.ResultsThe SC-model yielded a greater area under the curve (AUC; .73) and accuracy (79%) compared to both the tract-model (AUC: .54, p < .001; accuracy: 70%, p < .001) and the CV-model (AUC: .59, p < .001; accuracy: 64%, p < .001). Within the SC-model, lateral temporal connections had the highest importance to model performance, including connections similar to language association tracts such as links between the superior temporal gyrus to pars opercularis. However, in addition to these connections many additional connections that were widely distributed, bilateral and interhemispheric in nature were identified as contributing to SC-model performance.ConclusionThe SC revealed a white matter network contributing to language impairment that was widely distributed, bilateral, and lateral temporal in nature. The distributed network underlying language may be why the SC-model has an advantage in identifying sub-components of the complex fiber networks most relevant for aspects of language performance

Análise multivariada do efeito de diferentes densidades de alojamento sobre lesões podais em frangos de corte.

Este trabalho objetivou avaliar a utilização de estatísticas multivariadas para análise de um conjunto de dados com diferentes densidades de alojamento em frangos de corte. Foi conduzido um experimento com duas densidades de alojamento (11,07 e 13,21 aves/m²), e mensuradas variáveis de desempenho, qualidade de cama e incidência de lesões podais. A análise de fatores gerou 3 autovalores que acumularam 80,4% variância total dos dados. O Fator 1 (41,6% da variância) foi o único estatisticamente significativo pela análise de variância, e agrupou todas as variáveis relacionadas com umidade de cama e graus de lesão podal, mostrando haver uma inter-relação entre as mesmas. Estes dois grupos de variáveis foram utilizados na análise de componentes principais. Os dois primeiros componentes principais gerados acumularam 86,5% da variância total dos dados, e sua epresentação gráfica agrupou variáveis de umidade de cama e os graus mais severos de lesão podal com a maior densidade de alojamento. A análise multivariada utilizada foi eficiente no desdobramento das inter-relações entre as variáveis e demonstrou que o aumento da densidade de alojamento foi determinante na maior incidência de lesões por pododermatite e sua relação com a maior umidade da cama. This study aimed to evaluate the use of multivariate statistics to analyze a data set of different animal densities in broiler chickens. Was conducted an experiment with two animal densities (11.07 and 13.21 birds/m²); the variables measured were performance, litter quality and incidence of foot pad dermatitis. Factor analysis generated three eigenvalues which accumulated 80.4% of the total variance. Factor 1 (41.6 % of variance) was the only statistically significant by analysis of variance, and grouped all variables related to litter moisture and degrees of foot pad dermatitis, showing that there is a relationship between them. These two groups of variables wereused in the principal components analysis. The first two principal components generated accumulated 86.5% of the total variance of the data and their graphical representation grouped variables related to litter moisture and the most severe degrees of foot pad dermatitis with the highest density of housing. The multivariate analysis used was efficient in the deployment of inter-relationships between variab les and showed that increased housing density was determinant in the increased incidence of pododermatitis injuries and its relation to higher litter moisture

La voie Nrf2 en pathologie respiratoire

Airways are continually exposed to multiple inhaled oxidants and protect themselves with cellular and extracellular antioxidants throughout the epithelial lining fluid and tissues. Oxidative stress, resulting from the increased oxidative burden and decreased level of antioxidant proteins, is involved in cellular and tissue damage related to the pathogenesis of many acute and chronic respiratory diseases. Evidence suggested that nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), a transcription factor that controls antioxidant response element (ARE)-regulated antioxidant and cytoprotective genes has an essential protective role in the lungs against oxidative airway diseases. Therefore, Nrf2 promises to be an attractive therapeutic target for intervention and prevention strategies in respiratory diseases. We have reviewed major findings on the mechanisms of lung protection against oxidative stress by Nrf2 and the current literature suggesting that Nrf2 is a valuable therapeutic target

Molecular interaction of connexin 30.3 and connexin 31 suggests a dominant-negative mechanism associated with erythrokeratodermia variabilis

Connexins are homologous four-transmembrane-domain proteins and major components of gap junctions. We recently identified mutations in either GJB3 or GJB4 genes, encoding respectively connexin 31 (Cx31) or 30.3 (Cx30.3), as causally involved in erythrokeratodermia variabilis (EKV), a mostly autosomal dominant disorder of keratinization. Despite slight differences, phenotypes of EKV Mendes Da Costa (Cx31) and EKV Cram-Mevorah (Cx30.3) show major clinical overlap and both Cx30.3 and Cx31 are expressed in the upper epidermal layers. These similarities suggested to us that Cx30.3 and Cx31 may interact at a molecular level. Indeed, expression of wild-type Cx30.3 in HeLa cell resulted only in minor amounts of protein addressed to the plasma membrane. Mutant Cx30.3 was hardly detectable and disturbed intercellular coupling. In sharp contrast, co-expression of both wild-type proteins led to a gigantic increase of stabilized heteromeric gap junctions. Furthermore, co-expressed wild-type Cx30.3 and Cx31 coprecipitate, which demonstrates a physical interaction. Inhibitor experiments revealed that this interaction begins in the endoplasmic reticulum. These results not only provide new insights into epidermal connexin synthesis and polymerization, but also allow a novel molecular explanation for the similarity of EKV phenotypes

Gross Motor Development, Movement Abnormalities, and Early Identification of Autism

Gross motor development (supine, prone, rolling, sitting, crawling, walking) and movement abnormalities were examined in the home videos of infants later diagnosed with autism (regression and no regression subgroups), developmental delays (DD), or typical development. Group differences in maturity were found for walking, prone, and supine, with the DD and Autism-No Regression groups both showing later developing motor maturity than typical children. The only statistically significant differences in movement abnormalities were in the DD group; the two autism groups did not differ from the typical group in rates of movement abnormalities or lack of protective responses. These findings do not replicate previous investigations suggesting that early motor abnormalities seen on home video can assist in early identification of autism

Effect of feed deprivation during the post hatch holding birth time on the performance of broiler chicks from breeders of different age

The present research work hás been carried out in order to evaluate on the post born period of broilers from different broiler breeders age, the effect of feed deprivation between hatching and housing, on feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion and viability up to 42 days old, and weight lost. A total of 480 male chicks were distributed in a randomized factorial design of 3 X 3, with two broiler breeders age (30 and 60 weeks) and three feed deprivation times (0, 24, 48 h post hatching). The broiler breeder age did not affect the chicks lost of weight between hatching and housing, but the feed deprivation time affect this parameter. Chicks from 60-week-old broiler breeders showed greater feed intake 72 hours post hatching. Feed intake and weight gains were influenced by the breeder age 0f 7 and 21 days old, the chick from older breeder siplaying greater feed intake and weight gain. However, at 42 days of age, even if the birds had been subjected to periods of post hatching fasting, they did not display differences on their performance. Chicks from 30-week-old broiler breeders displayed a better feed conversion.Este estudo foi conduzido para avaliar o efeito do jejum entre o nascimento e o alojamento sobre o consumo de ração, ganho de peso, conversão alimentar e viabilidade criatória até 42 dias de idade; perda de peso e consumo de ração no período que suceder ao nascimento, em frangos de corte provenientes de matrizes de diferentes idades. Foram utilizados 480 pintainhos de corte, machos, em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 2 x 3 com os fatores idades de matriz (30 e 60 semanas) e períodos de jejum (0, 24 e 48 horas pós-eclosão). A idade da matriz não influenciou a perda de peso dos pintainhos entre o nascimento e o alojamento, variável esta afetada apenas pelo período de jejum a qual as aves foram submetidas. Pintainhos oriundos de matizes de 60 semanas de idade consumiram maior quantidade de ração nas 72 horas pós-eclosão. A idade da matriz influenciou também o consumo de ração e o ganho de peso aos 7 e 21dias de idade, sendo que pintainhos oriundos de matrizes mais velhas tiveram maior consumo e ganho de peso. No entanto, aos 42 dias, mesmo que as aves tenham sido submetidas a períodos de jejum pós-natal, não houve diferença no desempenho. Pintainhos oriundos de matrizes de 30 semanas tiveram melhor conversão alimentar nesta idade.

NRF2 targeting: a promising therapeutic strategy in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Several convergent destructive mechanisms such as oxidative stress, alveolar cell apoptosis, extracellular matrix proteolysis and chronic inflammation contribute to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) development. Evidence suggests that oxidative stress contributes to the pathophysiology of COPD, particularly during exacerbations. Nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (NRF2), a transcription factor expressed predominantly in epithelium and alveolar macrophages, has an essential protective role in the lungs through the activation of antioxidant response element-regulated antioxidant and cytoprotective genes. Animal models and human studies have identified NRF2 and several NRF2 target genes as a protective system against inflammation and oxidative stress from cigarette smoke, a major causative factor in COPD development. Hence, NRF2 targeting might provide clinical benefit by reducing both oxidative stress and inflammation in COPD

Insulin-degrading enzyme Is a non proteasomal target of carfilzomib and affects the 20S proteasome inhibition by the drug

Carfilzomib is a last generation proteasome inhibitor (PI) with proven clinical efficacy in the treatment of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. This drug is considered to be extremely specific in inhibiting the chymotrypsin-like activity of the 20S proteasome, encoded by the β5 subunit, overcoming some bortezomib limitations, the first PI approved for multiple myeloma therapy which is however burdened by a significant toxicity profile, due also to its off-target effects. Here, molecular approaches coupled with molecular docking studies have been used to unveil that the Insulin-Degrading Enzyme, a ubiquitous and highly conserved Zn2+ peptidase, often found to associate with proteasome in cell-based models, is targeted by carfilzomib in vitro. The drug behaves as a modulator of IDE activity, displaying an inhibitory effect over 10-fold lower than for the 20S. Notably, the interaction of IDE with the 20S enhances in vitro the inhibitory power of carfilzomib on proteasome, so that the IDE-20S complex is an even better target of carfilzomib than the 20S alone. Furthermore, IDE gene silencing after delivery of antisense oligonucleotides (siRNA) significantly reduced carfilzomib cytotoxicity in rMC1 cells, a validated model of Muller glia, suggesting that, in cells, the inhibitory activity of this drug on cell proliferation is somewhat linked to IDE and, possibly, also to its interaction with proteasome

CT colonography reporting and data system: A consensus proposal

We have proposed a practical reporting scheme that includes recommendations for the follow-up of colonic polyps that are based on currently available published assessments of the clinical importance and expected growth potential of these lesions. © RSNA, 2005