Renal tubular dysfunction in patients with American cutaneous leishmaniasis

Renal dysfunction seen in patients with American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) has been attributed to the use of antimonials for treatment. To determine whether ACL itself causes tubular dysfunction, we measured renal function in 37 patients with ACL prior to their treatment and compared results to that in 10 healthy volunteers of similar mean age. None of the patients presented with glomerular dysfunction; however, 27 had a urinary concentrating defect. There was no statistical difference between groups in the pre- and post-desmopressin test of urine osmolality, but the post-test urine osmolality of the controls was significantly higher. Urinary AQP2 levels, determined by western blot of isolated exosomes, were found to be significantly lower in patients than in controls, whereas that of the cotransporter (NKCC2) was significantly higher. A urinary acidification defect (post-test pH greater than 5.50 following calcium chloride) was found in 15 patients. Pretest plasma bicarbonate was below normal in 12 patients as was the pretest plasma pH in 14. Expression of the Na/H exchanger (NHE3), H+-ATPase, and pendrin were all significantly higher in patients with ACL than in controls. A combined urinary concentration and acidification defect was found in 12 patients. Thus, the urinary concentrating defect of ACL may be caused by decreased AQP2, with increased NKCC2 compensatory. Pendrin upregulation may be related to the urinary acidification defect with increased NHE3 and H+-ATPase also compensatory. Hence, ACL can cause asymptomatic renal tubular dysfunction

Understanding the role of the hydrogen bond donor of the deep eutectic solvents in the formation of the aqueous biphasic systems

Deep eutectic solvents (DES) have been proposed as phase-forming compounds of aqueous biphasic systems (ABS). However, due to DES nature and the high water content of the ABS, their nature and behavior remains controversial. To foster the understanding of DES-based ABS, the present work uses the relative hydrophilicity of the hydrogen bond donor (HBD) as a descriptor to clarify its role on ABS for- mation and phase properties. Dipotassium phosphate (K2HPO4)-based ABS phase diagrams composed of cholinium chloride ([N111(2OH)]Cl), as hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA), and several HBD (alcohols and sugars) were compared in molality units and the saturation solubility point for each binodal curve determined. The results here reported establish the HBD role as function of its relative hydrophilicity: very hydrophilic HBD act only as an adjuvant in the formation of ABS; HBD of intermediate hydrophilicity influence the ABS formation; while the most hydrophobic HBD tend to form organic-aqueous two-phase systems, where the HBA acts as an adjuvant to the system.publishe

The Brazilian Developments On The Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (brams 5.2): An Integrated Environmental Model Tuned For Tropical Areas

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)We present a new version of the Brazilian developments on the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (BRAMS), in which different previous versions for weather, chemistry, and carbon cycle were unified in a single integrated modeling system software. This new version also has a new set of state-of-the-art physical parameterizations and greater computational parallel and memory usage efficiency. The description of the main model features includes several examples illustrating the quality of the transport scheme for scalars, radiative fluxes on surface, and model simulation of rainfall systems over South America at different spatial resolutions using a scale aware convective parameterization. Additionally, the simulation of the diurnal cycle of the convection and carbon dioxide concentration over the Amazon Basin, as well as carbon dioxide fluxes from biogenic processes over a large portion of South America, are shown. Atmospheric chemistry examples show the model performance in simulating near-surface carbon monoxide and ozone in the Amazon Basin and the megacity of Rio de Janeiro. For tracer transport and dispersion, the model capabilities to simulate the volcanic ash 3-D redistribution associated with the eruption of a Chilean volcano are demonstrated. The gain of computational efficiency is described in some detail. BRAMS has been applied for research and operational forecasting mainly in South America. Model results from the operational weather forecast of BRAMS on 5km grid spacing in the Center for Weather Forecasting and Climate Studies, INPE/Brazil, since 2013 are used to quantify the model skill of near-surface variables and rainfall. The scores show the reliability of BRAMS for the tropical and subtropical areas of South America. Requirements for keeping this modeling system competitive regarding both its functionalities and skills are discussed. Finally, we highlight the relevant contribution of this work to building a South American community of model developers. © Author(s) 2017.1011892222014/01563-1, FAPESP, Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo2014/01564-8, FAPESP, Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo2015/10206-0, FAPESP, Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo306340/2011-9, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e TecnológicoFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Missense mutations in the copper transporter gene ATP7A cause X-Linked distal hereditary motor neuropathy

Distal hereditary motor neuropathies comprise a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of disorders. We recently mapped an X-linked form of this condition to chromosome Xq13.1-q21 in two large unrelated families. The region of genetic linkage included ATP7A, which encodes a copper-transporting P-type ATPase mutated in patients with Menkes disease, a severe infantile-onset neurodegenerative condition. We identified two unique ATP7A missense mutations (p.P1386S and p.T994I) in males with distal motor neuropathy in two families. These molecular alterations impact highly conserved amino acids in the carboxyl half of ATP7A and do not directly involve the copper transporter's known critical functional domains. Studies of p.P1386S revealed normal ATP7A mRNA and protein levels, a defect in ATP7A trafficking, and partial rescue of a S. cerevisiae copper transport knockout. Although ATP7A mutations are typically associated with severe Menkes disease or its milder allelic variant, occipital horn syndrome, we demonstrate here that certain missense mutations at this locus can cause a syndrome restricted to progressive distal motor neuropathy without overt signs of systemic copper deficiency. This previously unrecognized genotype-phenotype correlation suggests an important role of the ATP7A copper transporter in motor-neuron maintenance and function

Transpiração e crescimento foliar de crisântemo em função da fração de água transpirável no substrato

The objective of this work was to evaluate the response of transpiration and leaf growth of chrysanthemum (Dendranthema grandiflorum) cultivars to available water in the substrate, represented by the fraction of transpirable substrate water (FTbSW). The experiments were performed in two periods, in a completely randomized design, with four chrysanthemum cultivars (Cherie White, Bronze Repin, Yoapple Valley, and Calabria), under two substrate water conditions (with or without water stress), with 10 replicates. Plants were grown in a greenhouse, in 2.8-L pots with substrate. FTSbW, transpiration, and leaf growth were measured daily, during the period of water deficit. The average threshold FTSbW, indicating that transpiration and leaf growth began to be affected, was respectively 0.63 and 0.68 for 'Cherie White', 0.60 and 0.69 for 'Bronze Repin', 0.53 and 0.59 for 'Yoapple Valley', and 0.51 and 0.54 for 'Calabria'. Available water decrease in the substrate reduces leaf growth before restricting transpiration. The Cherie White and Bronze Repin cultivars are more tolerant to water deficit by closing the stomata earlier and retaining more water in the substrate than the Yoapple Valley and Calabria cultivars.O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a resposta da transpiração e do crescimento foliar de cultivares de crisântemo (Dendranthema grandiflorum) ao conteúdo de água disponível no substrato, representado pela fração de água transpirável no substrato (FATSb). Os experimentos foram realizados em dois períodos, em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com quatro cultivares de crisântemo (Cherie White, Bronze Repin, Yoapple Valley e Calabria), em duas condições hídricas (com ou sem deficiência hídrica), com 10 repetições. As plantas foram cultivadas em casa de vegetação, em vasos de 2,8 L preenchidos com substrato. A FATSb, a transpiração e o crescimento foliar foram determinados diariamente durante o período de deficiência hídrica. As FATSb críticas médias, indicativas de que a transpiração e o crescimento foliar começam a ser afetados, foram respectivamente de 0,63 e 0,68 para 'Cherie White', 0,60 e 0,69 para 'Bronze Repin', 0,53 e 0,59 para 'Yoapple Valley', e 0,51 e 0,54 para 'Calabria'. A diminuição da água disponível no substrato provoca a redução do crescimento foliar antes de restringir a transpiração. As cultivares Cherie White e Bronze Repin são mais tolerantes ao deficit hídrico por fechar os estômatos antes e conservar mais a água no substrato do que as cultivares Yoapple Valley e Calabria