Turning it inside out: The organization of human septin heterooligomers.

Septin family proteins are quite similar to each other both within and between eukaryotic species. Typically, multiple discrete septins co-assemble into linear heterooligomers (usually hexameric or octameric rods) with a variety of cellular functions. We know little about how incorporation of different septins confers different properties to such complexes. This issue is especially acute in human cells where 13 separate septin gene products (often produced in multiple forms arising from alternative start codons and differential splicing) are expressed in a tissue-specific manner. Based on sequence alignments and phylogenetic criteria, human septins fall into four distinct groups predictive of their interactions, that is, members of the same group appear to occupy the same position within oligomeric septin protomers, which are "palindromic" (have twofold rotational symmetry about a central homodimeric pair). Many such protomers are capable of end-to-end polymerization, generating filaments. Over a decade ago, a study using X-ray crystallography and single-particle electron microscopy deduced the arrangement within recombinant heterohexamers comprising representatives of three human septin groups-SEPT2, SEPT6, and SEPT7. This model greatly influenced subsequent studies of human and other septin complexes, including how incorporating a septin from a fourth group forms heterooctamers, as first observed in budding yeast. Two recent studies, including one in this issue of Cytoskeleton, provide clear evidence that, in fact, the organization of subunits within human septin heterohexamers and heterooctamers is inverted relative to the original model. These findings are discussed here in a broader context, including possible causes for the initial confusion

Eosinophilic fasciitis (Shulman's disease): review and comparative evaluation of seven patients.

OBJECTIVES: Eosinophilic fasciitis (EF) was described in 1974 by Shulman as a rare fibrosing connective tissue disease of unknown etiology. An undetermined trigger is thought to lead to the degranulation of eosinophils that interact with fibroblasts and express fibrogenic cytokines including the transforming factor of tumor growth a and b and interleukins 1 and 6. The purpose of this study was to summarize seven cases of EF in a central hospital. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a retrospective and descriptive study of a population with EF of a central hospital. All patients diagnosed with EF in a hospital unit were admitted to the study between January 1, 2005, and April 30, 2018. RESULTS: A total of seven patients diagnosed with EF were analyzed. The median age of the population at the time of diagnosis was 56 years, and 57% of the patients were women. All patients had elevated peripheral eosinophilia and sedimentation rate, and only one patient had hypergammaglobulinemia. All patients had edema and cutaneous thickening of the limbs, 57% had constitutional symptoms, and 57% had inflammatory arthritis with joint contracture. Prednisolone (PDN) therapy was initiated in all patients, and only in two was the association of PDN with methotrexate (MTX) initially performed. In one patient triple therapy of PDN, MTX, and cyclosporine was required. At the time of this publication, only one patient maintains active disease, and tocilizumab has been initiated. CONCLUSIONS: Recent studies show a more favorable response from the combination of PDN and MTX than from PDN alone. Considering the rarity of the disease, more long-term studies are needed regarding the etiopathogenetics, progression, recurrence of EF, and new effective therapies.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Sistema físico de produção de leite da UEPAE Porto Velho: análise dos resultados zootécnicos e econômicos referentes ao período de dezembro/84 a setembro/89.

No campo experimental da Unidade de Execução de Pesquisa de Âmbito Estadual de Porto Velho (UEPAE de Porto Velho), da EMBRAPA, em Porto Velho, RO, vem sendo conduzido, desde 1984, um modelo físico de sistema de produção de leite. Este modelo tem por objetivo precípuo viabilizar a atividade leiteira na região, elevando sua produtividade e rentabilidade através da utilização de técnicas integradas de modo que se tomem instrumento de difusão de tecnologia. Atualmente, a produtividade leiteira do rebanho na região é muito baixa, situando-se em tomo de 540 l de leite/vaca/lactação de 180 dias. A partir de um rebanho mestiço Holando x Zebu, com graus de sangue 112,9/16 e 5/8, pretende-se alcançar índices econômicos de produtividade, através de tecnologias que possam ser adotadas pelos produtores locais. Dentre as tecnologias utilizadas destacam-se: inseminação artificial, pastagens diversificadas, pastejo rotacionado, suplementação dos animais com volumosos e concentrados regionais, banco de proteína e desmama precoce. Até o presente, os resultados alcançados vêm superando as metas préestabelecidas, confirmando, desse modo, a eficiência das técnicas aplicadas no sistema.bitstream/item/54885/1/SP210001.pd