Functional brain asymmetry in motor aphasia during auditory stimulation: report of two cases

This study concerns about brain electrical activity during auditory stimulation in 2 aphasic patients, one with classical (left hemisphere lesion) and another with cross aphasia (right hemisphere lesion). Both cases were submitted to dichotic listening test (consonat-vowel-consonant task) and music audition (gregorian chant), during brain mapping examination. We found, in both cases, a great proportion in delta frequency and power in non-lesional hemisphere during dichotic and musical stimulation. Besides, increasing in frequency of alpha activity was observed only in the non-lesional hemisphere restricted to temporal lobe region. Such findings suggest an interesting field of research about measurements of neurophysiologies correlates of auditory stimulation and brain electrical activity in aphasia.Este estudo diz respeito à atividade elétrica cerebral durante estimulação auditiva em dois pacientes afásicos, um com afasia clássica (lesão no hemisfério esquerdo) e outro com afasia cruzada (lesão no hemisfério direito). Ambos foram submetidos ao teste de estimulação auditiva dicótica (consoante-vogal-consoante) e de audição musical (canto gregoriano) durante mapeamento eletrencefalográfico cerebral. Encontramos, em ambos, grande proporção da frequência delta e potência no hemisfério não lesado, durante a estimulação dicótica e musical. Além disso, foi observado aumento na frequência de atividade alfa somente no hemisfério não lesado, restrito à região do lobo temporal. Esses achados sugerem um interessante campo de pesquisa acerca da medida de correlatos neurofisiológicos de estimulação auditiva e de atividade elétrica cerebral na afasia.Escola Paulista de Medicina Setor de Investigação e Tratamento das EpilepsiasUNIFESP, EPM, Setor de Investigação e Tratamento das EpilepsiasSciEL

The new nitric oxide donor cyclohexane nitrate induces vasorelaxation, hypotension, and antihypertensive effects via NO/cGMP/PKG pathway

We investigated the cardiovascular effects induced by the nitric oxide donor Cyclohexane Nitrate (HEX). Vasodilatation, NO release and the effects of acute or sub-chronic treatment with HEX on cardiovascular parameters were evaluated. HEX induced endothelium-independent vasodilatation (Maximum effect- [efficacy, ME] = 100.4±4.1%; potency [pD2] = 5.1±0.1). Relaxation was attenuated by scavenging nitric oxide (ME = 44.9±9.4% vs. 100.4±4.1%) or by inhibiting the soluble guanylyl cyclase (ME = 38.5±9.7% vs. 100.4±4.1%). In addition, pD2 was decreased after non-selective blockade of K+ channels (pD2 = 3.6±0.1 vs. 5.1±0.1) or by inhibiting KATP channels (pD2 = 4.3±0.1 vs. 5.1±0.1). HEX increased NO levels in mesenteric arteries (33.2±2.3 au vs. 10.7±0.2 au, p<0.0001). Intravenous acute administration of HEX (1-20 mg/kg) induced hypotension and bradycardia in normotensive and hypertensive rats. Furthermore, starting at six weeks after the induction of 2K1C hypertension, oral treatment with the HEX (10 mg/Kg/day) for seven days reduced blood pressure in hypertensive animals (134±6 vs 170±4 mmHg, respectively). Our data demonstrate that HEX is a NO donor able to produce vasodilatation via NO/cGMP/PKG pathway and activation of the ATP-sensitive K+ channels. Furthermore, HEX acutely reduces blood pressure and heart rate as well as produces antihypertensive effect in renovascular hypertensive rats

Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis Development Is Aggravated by Candida albicans

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory/autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) mainly mediated by myelin specific T cells. It is widely believed that environmental factors, including fungal infections, contribute to disease induction or evolution. Even though Candida infection among MS patients has been described, the participation of this fungus in this pathology is not clear. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the effect of a Candida albicans infection on experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) that is a widely accepted model to study MS. Female C57BL/6 mice were infected with C. albicans and 3 days later, animals were submitted to EAE induction by immunization with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein. Previous infection increased the clinical score and also the body weight loss. EAE aggravation was associated with expansion of peripheral CD4+ T cells and production of high levels of TNF-α, IFN-γ IL-6, and IL-17 by spleen and CNS cells. In addition to yeast and hyphae, fungus specific T cells were found in the CNS. These findings suggest that C. albicans infection before EAE induction aggravates EAE, and possibly MS, mainly by CNS dissemination and local induction of encephalitogenic cytokines. Peripheral production of encephalitogenic cytokines could also contribute to disease aggravation

In vitro and in silico analysis of imatinib analogues as anti-Trypanosoma cruzi drug candidates

Chagas disease (CD) is a neglected tropical disease caused by the intracellular protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi that remains a serious public health issue affecting more than 6 million people worldwide. The available treatment includes 2 nitro derivatives, benznidazole (BZ) and nifurtimox, that lack in efficacy in the later chronic phase and when administered against the several naturally resistant parasite strains and present several side-effects, demanding new therapeutic options. One strategy is based on repurposing by testing drugs already used for other illness that may share similar targets. In this context, our previous data on imatinib (IMB) and derivatives motivated the screening of 8 new IMB analogues. Our findings showed that all except 1 were active against bloodstream trypomastigotes reaching drug concentration capable of inducing a 50% of parasite lysis (EC50) values 60) towards the proliferative forms. Physicochemical parameters as well as the absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity properties were predicted to be acceptable and with good chance of a favourable oral bioavailability. The promising results motivate further studies such as in vivo and combinatory assays aiming to contribute for a novel safer and effective therapy for CD

Redução de divergências no recebimento de pedidos dos clientes

Uma empresa de cosméticos está enfrentando um problema relacionado a erros nos pedidos recebidos dos clientes, gerando divergências de informação com o sistema da empresa, ocasionando atraso e retrabalho do processamento de pedidos. Com base nesse contexto, o objetivo deste trabalho é a redução de divergências no recebimento de pedidos dos clientes. Como método, utilizou-se o A3, congregando as seguintes ferramentas para chegar à solução do problema: brainstorming com a equipe; 5 Porquês para identificação da causa raiz; Diagrama Ishikawa; e Carta de Controle. A implantação do plano de ação permitiu uma redução expressiva no indicador de pedidos rejeitados. Com isto, foi possível reduzir os impactos na cadeia para o processamento dos pedidos destes clientes

A ausência de mutações no gene PAX6 em três casos de síndrome de Morning Glory associada à deficiência isolada de hormônio do crescimento

Morning glory syndrome (MGS) is a congenital optic disc dysplasia often associated with craniofacial anomalies, especially basal encephalocele and hypopituitarism. Clinical signs are varied and often occult. The PAX6 gene is involved in ocular morphogenesis and is expressed in numerous ocular tissues during development especially in the developing central nervous system. The aim of the present study is to evaluate PAX6 in MGS associated with isolated growth hormone deficiency. Three pre-pubertal males (A, B and C) with MGS and short stature due to growth hormone deficiency, treated with recombinant human growth hormone with limited response, were reported. Two of them had basal encephalocele. Coding and non-coding sequences corresponding of PAX6 different transcripts were analyzed by direct sequencing. Nucleotide variations causing putative aminoacid change were not observed. Patient A presented the new IVS2+9G>A transition, whereas patients A and C were heterozygous for known single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) within the intron 4. In addition, two SNP heterozygoses were observed for patient C in both intron 9 and 13. Sequencing also revealed several nucleotide variations in patient B. Two heterozygoses for known polymorphisms were identified along with a novel C>A nucleotide change in intron 4. This patient also presented a low number on the TG repeat in intron 9 and a new IVS11+33A>T transversion. Gene regulation and transcription of PAX6 are complex processes; there are two major protein isoforms, PAX6(-5a) and PAX6(+5a), and nine transcripts described. Furthermore, extra transcription regulatory elements have been postulated within PAX6 introns. Considering that neither population distributions on PAX6 polymorphism nor their linkeages with diseases have been reported, a functional effect due to alterations described here cannot be discarded.A síndrome de Morning Glory (SMG) é uma displasia óptica congênita associada a anomalias craniofaciais, principalmente encefalocele basal e hipopituitarismo. Os sinais clínicos são variados e muitas vezes ocultos. O gene PAX6 está envolvido na morfogênese ocular e se expressa em vários tecidos oculares durante o desenvolvimento do sistema nervoso central. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o gene PAX6 na SMG associada com deficiência isolada de hormônio de crescimento. Foram relatados três pacientes pré-púberes (A, B e C) com SMG e baixa estatura por deficiência de hormônio de crescimento tratados com hormônio de crescimento recombinante humano. As seqüências codificadoras e não-codificadoras correspondentes ao PAX6 em diferentes transcritos foram analisadas por seqüenciamento direto. Variações nucleotídeas com trocas pontuais de aminoácidos não foram encontradas. O paciente A apresentou uma transição nova IVS2+9G>A, enquanto os pacientes A e C foram heterozigotos para um polimorfismo (SNP) no íntron 4. Ainda, dois SNPs em heterozigose nos íntrons 9 e 13 foram observados no paciente C. O seqüenciamento também mostrou várias variações nucleotídeas no paciente B. Dois SNPs conhecidos com a alteração nucleotídea nova C>A no íntron 4 foram observados em heterozigose. Este paciente também apresentou um baixo número de repetições TG no íntron 9 e uma nova transversão IVS11+33A>T. A regulação e a transcrição do gene PAX6 são um processo complexo; existem 2 isoformas principais da proteína, PAX6(-5a) e PAX6(+5a) e 9 transcritos descritos. Considerando que nem a distribuição de SNPs no PAX6 e nem as suas ligações com as doenças foram relatadas, um defeito funcional devido às alterações descritas não pode ser descartado.University of Campinas Faculty of Medical Sciences Pediatric Endocrinology UnitFederal University of São Paulo School of Medicine Pediatric Endocrinology UnitUNIFESP School of Medicine Department of RadiologyUnicamp Center of Molecular Biology and Genetic EngineeringUNIFESP, EPM, Pediatric Endocrinology UnitUNIFESP, School of Medicine Department of RadiologySciEL

AVALIAÇÃO DA ATIVIDADE ANTI-HIPERTENSIVA DO EXTRATO DE Arrabidaea chica Verlot EM RATOS ESPONTANEAMENTE HIPERTENSOS

A espécie Arrabidaea chica Verlot (Bignoniaceae) é indicada para o tratamento de doenças de pele, cálculos renais, hipertensão arterial sistêmica, e no combate à anemia. Seu extrato etanólico foi quimicamente investigado e avaliado como fator no controle do tônus vascular e pressão arterial, utilizando-se como modelo anéis isolados da artéria mesentérica superior de ratos espontaneamente hipertensos (SHR). Este trabalho reporta o relaxamento concentração dependente da adição cumulativa do EAC no endotélio intacto ou sem endotélio, bem como a avaliação da influência do íon cálcio sobre a resposta do EAC. Os resultados em conjunto encontrados sugerem que o princípio ativo presente em Arrabidaea chica apresenta atividade sobre os mecanismos envolvidos na hipertensão arterial e que sua ação decorre do bloqueio dos canais de cálcio tipo L.Descritores: Arrabidaea. atividade anti hipertensiva.AbstractEvaluation of antihypertensive activity of Arrabidaea chica Verlot extract in rat SHR. The species Arrabidaea Verlot Chica (Bignoniaceae) is indicated for the treatment of skin diseases, kidney stones, high blood pressure, anti-inflammatory and anti-anemia. Its ethanol extract was chemically investigated and evaluated as a factor in the control of vascular tone and blood pressure, using as a model rings isolated superior mesenteric artery of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). This work reports the relaxation concentration dependent and cumulative addition of the EAC in the intact endothelium or without endothelium, as well as evaluating the influence of calcium ions on the EAC’s response. The results found together, suggest that the active ingredient present in Arrabidaea chica shows activity on the mechanisms involved in hypertension and that his action stems from the blockade of L-type calcium channelsDescriptors: Arrabidaea. anti hypertensive activity

Soil cover plants on water erosion control in the South of Minas Gerais

Water erosion is responsible for soil, water, carbon and nutrient losses, turning into the most important type of degradation of Brazilian soils. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of three cover plants under two tillage systems on water erosion control in an Argisol at south of Minas Gerais state, Brazil. The cover plants utilized in the study were pigeon pea, jack bean and millet, under contour seeding and downslope tillage. Experimental plots of 4 x 12 m, with 9% slope, under natural rainfall were used for the quantification of losses of soil, water, nutrients, and organic matter. One experimental plot was kept without plant cover (reference). Higher erosivity was observed in December and January, although a great quantity of erosive rainfall was detected during the whole raining period. Contour seeding provided a greater reduction of water erosion than downslope tillage, as expected. The jack bean under contour seeding revealed the lowest values of soil, water, nutrients and organic matter losses