Novel genes detected by transcriptional profiling from whole-blood cells in patients with early onset of acute coronary syndrome

AbstractBackgroundGenome-wide expression analysis using microarrays has been used as a research strategy to discovery new biomarkers and candidate genes for a number of diseases. We aim to find new biomarkers for the prediction of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) with a differentially expressed mRNA profiling approach using whole genomic expression analysis in a peripheral blood cell model from patients with early ACS.Methods and resultsThis study was carried out in two phases. On phase 1 a restricted clinical criteria (ACS-Ph1, n=9 and CG-Ph1, n=6) was used in order to select potential mRNA biomarkers candidates. A subsequent phase 2 study was performed using selected phase 1 markers analyzed by RT-qPCR using a larger and independent casuistic (ACS-Ph2, n=74 and CG-Ph2, n=41). A total of 549 genes were found to be differentially expressed in the first 48h after the ACS-Ph1. Technical and biological validation further confirmed that ALOX15, AREG, BCL2A1, BCL2L1, CA1, COX7B, ECHDC3, IL18R1, IRS2, KCNE1, MMP9, MYL4 and TREML4, are differentially expressed in both phases of this study.ConclusionsTranscriptomic analysis by microarray technology demonstrated differential expression during a 48h time course suggesting a potential use of some of these genes as biomarkers for very early stages of ACS, as well as for monitoring early cardiac ischemic recovery

Riociguat treatment in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension: Final safety data from the EXPERT registry

Objective: The soluble guanylate cyclase stimulator riociguat is approved for the treatment of adult patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and inoperable or persistent/recurrent chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) following Phase

Catálogo Taxonômico da Fauna do Brasil: setting the baseline knowledge on the animal diversity in Brazil

The limited temporal completeness and taxonomic accuracy of species lists, made available in a traditional manner in scientific publications, has always represented a problem. These lists are invariably limited to a few taxonomic groups and do not represent up-to-date knowledge of all species and classifications. In this context, the Brazilian megadiverse fauna is no exception, and the Catálogo Taxonômico da Fauna do Brasil (CTFB) (http://fauna.jbrj.gov.br/), made public in 2015, represents a database on biodiversity anchored on a list of valid and expertly recognized scientific names of animals in Brazil. The CTFB is updated in near real time by a team of more than 800 specialists. By January 1, 2024, the CTFB compiled 133,691 nominal species, with 125,138 that were considered valid. Most of the valid species were arthropods (82.3%, with more than 102,000 species) and chordates (7.69%, with over 11,000 species). These taxa were followed by a cluster composed of Mollusca (3,567 species), Platyhelminthes (2,292 species), Annelida (1,833 species), and Nematoda (1,447 species). All remaining groups had less than 1,000 species reported in Brazil, with Cnidaria (831 species), Porifera (628 species), Rotifera (606 species), and Bryozoa (520 species) representing those with more than 500 species. Analysis of the CTFB database can facilitate and direct efforts towards the discovery of new species in Brazil, but it is also fundamental in providing the best available list of valid nominal species to users, including those in science, health, conservation efforts, and any initiative involving animals. The importance of the CTFB is evidenced by the elevated number of citations in the scientific literature in diverse areas of biology, law, anthropology, education, forensic science, and veterinary science, among others

Increased expression of preprohypocretin mRNA in rat hypothalamus after sleep deprivation and sleep rebound

UNIFESP, Dept Psychobiol, Sao Paulo, BrazilUNIFESP, Dept Pediat, Sao Paulo, BrazilCtr Addict & Mental Hlth, Neuroimaging Res Sect, Toronto, ON, CanadaUNIFESP, Dept Psychobiol, Sao Paulo, BrazilUNIFESP, Dept Pediat, Sao Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Potassium fertilizer applied by different methods in the zucchini crop

ABSTRACT Aiming to evaluate the effect of potassium (K) doses applied by the conventional method and fertigation in zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L.), a field experiment was conducted in Fortaleza, CE, Brazil. The statistical design was a randomized block, with four replicates, in a 4 x 2 factorial scheme, which corresponded to four doses of K (0, 75, 150 and 300 kg K2O ha-1) and two fertilization methods (conventional and fertigation). The analyzed variables were: fruit mass (FM), number of fruits (NF), fruit length (FL), fruit diameter (FD), pulp thickness (PT), soluble solids (SS), yield (Y), water use efficiency (WUE) and potassium use efficiency (KUE), besides an economic analysis using the net present value (NPV), internal rate of return (IRR) and payback period (PP). K doses influenced FM, FD, PT and Y, which increased linearly, with the highest value estimated at 36,828 kg ha-1 for the highest K dose (300 kg K2O ha-1). This dose was also responsible for the largest WUE, 92 kg ha-1 mm-1. KUE showed quadratic behavior and the dose of 174 kg K2O ha-1 led to its maximum value (87.41 kg ha-1 (kg K2O ha-1)-1). All treatments were economically viable, and the most profitable months were May, April, December and November

Xylitol from rice husks by acid hydrolysis and Candida yeast fermentation

An investigation was conducted into the production of xylose by acid hydrolysis of rice husks and its subsequent bioconversion to xylitol. The parameters were optimised using the response surface methodology. The fermentation stage took place with the aid of the yeast species Candida guilliermondii and Candida tropicalis. An evaluation of the influence of several biomass pre-treatments was also performed. The effects of the acid concentration and hydrolysate pH on xylitol global yield were also assessed, and the highest yield of xylitol was 64.0% (w/w). The main products, xylose and xylitol, were identified and quantified by means of liquid chromatography