Cevaeria estebani Tavakilian, 2004 (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae): new country record from Amazonas, Brazil

We report the occurrence of Cevaeria estebani Tavakilian, 2004 (Cerambycinae, Cerambycini) for the first time in Amazonas, Brazil. This species was previously recorded from French Guiana and Bolivia. We provide a distribution map for C. estebani and photographs of the habitus of the new record and its potential mimetic species, the chrysomelid Sceloenopla maculata (Olivier, 1792)

Exposição a pesticidas e genótipo heterozigoto de GSTP1-Alw26I associam-se à doença de Parkinson

Objective This study aimed to analyze the frequency of GSTP1-Alw26I polymorphism and to estimate its association with toxic substances in Parkinson's disease (PD). Methods A study group with 154 patients - subdivided into familial and sporadic PD groups - and 158 elderly individuals without the disease (control group) were evaluated. GSTP1-Alw26I polymorphism was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Results Patients were significantly more exposed to pesticides compared with the control group (p=0.0004), and the heterozygote genotype associated to exposure to pesticides also prevailed in patients (p=0.0001). Wild homozygote genotype was related to tobacco use (p=0.043) and alcoholism (p=0.033) in familial PD patients. Conclusion Exposure to pesticides is associated to PD, whose effect can be enhanced when combined with the heterozygote genotype of GSTP1-Alw26I. Also, large genetic and environmental studies considering tobacco use, alcoholism, GSTP1 and PD are necessary to confirm our findings.Objetivo Analisar a frequência do polimorfismo GSTP1-Alw26I, assim como estimar sua associação com substâncias tóxicas na doença de Parkinson (DP). Métodos A casuística avaliada foi composta por um grupo de estudo, com 154 pacientes, subdivididos em DP familial e esporádica, e outro com 158 idosos sem a doença (grupo controle). O polimorfismo GSTP1-Alw26I foi analisado por reação em cadeia da polimerase/polimorfismo de comprimento do fragmento de restrição (PCR/RFLP). Resultados Os pacientes foram significativamente mais expostos a pesticidas, comparados com o grupo controle (p=0,0004), e o genótipo heterozigoto associado a exposição a pesticidas também prevaleceu nos pacientes (p=0,0001). O genótipo homozigoto selvagem apresentou relação com tabagismo (p=0,043) e etilismo (p=0,033) em pacientes com DP familial. Desse modo, a exposição a pesticidas está associada à DP, cujo efeito pode ser potencializado quando combinado ao genótipo heterozigoto de GSTP1-Alw26I. Estudos genético-ambientais envolvendo tabagismo, etilismo, GSTP1 e DP devem ser realizados em casuísticas numerosas, confirmando essa associação.Sao Jose do Rio Preto Medical School Department of NeuroscienceFAMERPFederal University of São PauloHospital de BaseUNIFESPSciEL

Endocrine disruptive action of diclofenac and caffeine on Astyanax altiparanae males (Teleostei: Characiformes: Characidae)

Diclofenac (DCF) and caffeine (CAF) are persistent pharmaceuticals that occur in mixtures in the aquatic ecosystems causing effects in the reproductive physiology of aquatic organisms. This study evaluated the physiological reproductive responses of Astyanax altiparanae males exposed to nominal concentrations of DCF (3.08 mg L− 1) and CAF (9.59 mg L− 1) separately and combined, for 96 h. The steroids profile, estrogenic biomarker vitellogenin (vtgA), testes and liver morphology, and also mortality of males were assessed. DCF and CAF degradation was 5% of the initial concentration for 24 h. The LC50 of the DCF and CAF were 30.8 mg L− 1 and 95.9 mg L− 1, respectively. Males exposed to DCF and CAF exhibited a reduction of 17β-Estradiol (E2) concentration compared to control (CTL). Similarly, testosterone (T) was also reduced in the DCF treatment, but this response was not observed in 11-Ketotestosterone (11-KT). Males exposed to DCF + CAF combined did not exhibit differences in T, E2 and 11-KT steroids. The vtgA gene expression and the sperm concentration did not change among the treatments. Moreover, acute exposure revealed a hypertrophy of hepatocytes cells in the DCF and DCF + CAF treatments. In conclusion, DCF and CAF, isolated, exhibit an endocrine disruptive activity in A. altiparanae male, an opposite response observed with the mixture of both compounds that abolishes the endocrine disruptive effects. DCF seems to be more toxic for this species, altering also hepatocytes morphology.Fil: Godoi, Filipe G.A.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Muñoz Peñuela, Marcela. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Olio Gomes, Aline D.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Tolussi, Carlos E.. Universidade Anhembi-Morumbi; BrasilFil: Brambila Souza, Gabriela. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; BrasilFil: Branco, Giovana S.. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; BrasilFil: Lo Nostro, Fabiana Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada; ArgentinaFil: Moreira, Renata. Universidade de Sao Paulo; Brasi

Free 2-propen-1-amine derivative and inclusion complexes with beta-cyclodextrin: scanning electron microscopy, dissolution, cytotoxicity and antimycobacterial activity

Inclusion complexes and physical mixtures of isomeric mixture of E/Z (50:50) of 3-(4'-bromo-[1,1'-biphenyl]-4-yl)-3-(4-bromophenyl)-N,N-dimethyl-2-propen-1-amine (BBAP) and beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) in the molar proportion of 1:1 and 1:2 were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. The dissolution behavior of BBAP and of the inclusion complexes were also evaluated for six hours. By scanning electron microscopy (SEM), it was possible to observe an inclusion complex formed between BBAP and beta-CD by co-evaporation, either in the molar proportion of 1:1 or 1:2. In the physical mixtures, no complex was observed as previously detected by physicochemical analysis. The dissolution studies showed that the inclusion complexes BBAP/beta-CD 1:1 and 1:2 released respectively 49.07 ± 1.48 and 40.26 ± 3.90% of BBAP during six hours. Free BBAP was less soluble than the inclusion complex and reached 9.00 ± 0.75% of dissolution. Biological assays, such as cytotoxicity to J774 macrophages and to a permanent lung fibroblast cell line (V79), indicated that the BBAP does not exhibit any additional toxic effect with the beta-CD complexes. However, the complexes were less cytotoxic to V79 cells than the free form. The BBAP/beta-CD inclusion complexes were more effective (MIC) than the free compound on several mycobacteria strains. Similar behavior was observed for BBAP/beta-CD complexes and rifampicin, a front-line antitubercular drug, on M. tuberculosis H37Rv growing inside J774 macrophages.Complexos de inclusões e misturas físicas contendo mistura isomérica E/Z (50:50) de 3-(4'-bromo-[1,1'-bifenil]-4-il)-3-(4-bromofenil)-N,N-dimetil-2-propen-1-amina (BBAP) e beta-ciclodextrina (b-CD) nas proporções molares de 1:1 e 1:2 foram analisados por microscopia eletrônica de varredura (SEM). O perfil de dissolução do BBAP e dos complexos de inclusões foram também avaliados durante 6 horas. Por microscopia eletrônica de varredura foi possível observar os complexos de inclusões formados entre BBAP e beta-CD por co-evaporação nas proporções molares de 1:1 e 1:2. Como previamente detectado pela caracterização físico-química, na mistura física não se observou a presença de complexo de inclusão. Os estudos de dissolução mostraram que os complexos de inclusões 1:1 e 1:2 liberaram, respectivamente 49.07 ± 1.48 e 40.26 ± 3.90% de BBAP durante 6 horas. BBAP na forma livre foi menos solúvel que os complexos de inclusões e atingiu 9.00 ± 0.75% de dissolução. Os ensaios de citotoxicidade em macrófagos J774 e em uma linhagem de células fibroblásticas de pulmão (V79) indicaram que o BBAP não exibiu efeito tóxico adicional quando complexado com beta-CD. Entretanto, os complexos de inclusões foram menos tóxicos para células V79 que BBAP na forma livre. Os complexos de inclusões BBAP/beta-CD foram mais efetivos (CIM) que o composto livre em várias cepas de micobactérias. Resultados semelhantes foram observados sobre M. tuberculosis H37Rv intracelular para os complexos de inclusões BBAP/b-CD e rifampicina, uma droga anti-tuberculose de primeira linha.682689Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

IFNAR1-Signalling Obstructs ICOS-mediated Humoral Immunity during Non-lethal Blood-Stage Plasmodium Infection

Funding: This work was funded by a Career Development Fellowship (1028634) and a project grant (GRNT1028641) awarded to AHa by the Australian National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC). IS was supported by The University of Queensland Centennial and IPRS Scholarships. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Vaccinia Virus Infection in Monkeys, Brazilian Amazon

To detect orthopoxvirus in the Brazilian Amazon, we conducted a serosurvey of 344 wild animals. Neutralizing antibodies against orthopoxvirus were detected by plaque-reduction neutralizing tests in 84 serum samples. Amplicons from 6 monkey samples were sequenced. These amplicons identified vaccinia virus genetically similar to strains from bovine vaccinia outbreaks in Brazil

A retrospective analysis of clinicopathological and prognostic characteristics of ovarian tumors in the State of Espírito Santo, Brazil

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Ovarian cancer is sixth most common cancer among women and the leading cause of death in women with gynecological malignancies. Despite the great impact ovarian cancer has on women's health and its great impact in public economy, Brazil still lacks valuable information concerning epidemiological aspects of this disease</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We've compiled clinical data of all ovarian tumors registered at the two public hospitals of reference (1997 - 2007), such as: patients' age at diagnosis, tumor histological type, tumor stage, chemotherapy regimens, chemotherapy responsiveness, disease-free survival, and overall survival.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Women's mean age at diagnosis was 54.67 ± 13.84 for ovarian cancer, 46.15 ± 11.15 for borderline tumors, and 42.01 ± 15.06 for adenomas. Among epithelial ovarian cancer cases, 30.1% were of serous, 13.7% were of mucinous, and 13.7% were of endometrioid type; exceptionally serous carcinoma was diagnosed in women younger than 30 years old. Endometrioid cancer had lower disease-free survival than others (p < 0.05). Cases were predominantly diagnosed as poor prognosis disease (FIGO III and IV, 56.2%). Regarding responsiveness to platinum-based therapy, 17.1% of patients were resistant, whereas 24.6%, susceptible. From these, we found equally responsiveness to platinum alone or its association with paclitaxel or cyclophosphamide.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>Our data agreed with other studies regarding mean patients' age at diagnosis, histological type frequency, FIGO stages distribution, and chemotherapy regimens. However, the histological type distribution, with equal contribution of mucinous and endometrioid types seems to be a unique characteristic of the studied highly miscegenated population.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We have enlighten the profile of the studied ovarian cancer population, which might enable the development of more efficient political strategies to control this malignancy that is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women.</p

Evolutionary history of the little fire ant Wasmannia auropunctata before global invasion: Inferring dispersal patterns, niche requirements and past and present distribution within its native range

The evolutionary history of invasive species within their native range may involve key processes that allow them to colonize new habitats. Therefore, phylogeographic studies of invasive species within their native ranges are useful to understand invasion biology in an evolutionary context. Here we integrated classical and Bayesian phylogeographic methods using mitochondrial and nuclear DNA markers with a palaeodistribution modelling approach, to infer the phylogeographic history of the invasive ant Wasmannia auropunctata across its native distribution in South America. We discuss our results in the context of the recent establishment of this mostly tropical species in the Mediterranean region. Our Bayesian phylogeographic analysis suggests that the common ancestor of the two main clades of W. auropunctata occurred in central Brazil during the Pliocene. Clade A would have differentiated northward and clade B southward, followed by a secondary contact beginning about 380 000 years ago in central South America. There were differences in the most suitable habitats among clades when considering three distinct climatic periods, suggesting that genetic differentiation was accompanied by changes in niche requirements, clade A being a tropical lineage and clade B a subtropical and temperate lineage. Only clade B reached more southern latitudes, with a colder climate than that of northern South America. This is concordant with the adaptation of this originally tropical ant species to temperate climates prior to its successful establishment in the Mediterranean region. This study highlights the usefulness of exploring the evolutionary history of invasive species within their native ranges to better understand biological invasions. © 2016 European Society for Evolutionary Biology