Characterization of genetic variants in 70 portuguese individuals

Dissertação de mestrado em BioinformáticaA análise genómica das populações tem contribuído significativamente para o aumento do número de SNVs descritos em bases de dados. Estudos populacionais prévios têm contribuído com 18 a 57% novas variantes. A nova informação genética é particularmente relevante enquanto referência para propósitos clínicos. Iniciativas à escala global como o 1000 Genomes Project (1kG) incluem populações Ibéricas, contudo, nenhum indivíduo Português foi incluído no mesmo grupo. Tanto quanto se sabe, nenhum indivíduo Português foi incluído no projeto gnomAD, o maior conjunto de dados genómicos atual. Acreditamos que uma coleção de informação genómica referente à população Portuguesa poderia trazer grandes benefícios ao diagnóstico molecular em pacientes Portugueses. As alterações genéticas detetadas em 70 indivíduos Portugueses foram inseridas em uma base de dados não-relacional. A informação publicada pelos projetos 1kG e gnomAD para cada alteração incluída nas mesmas foi adicionada à referida base de dados. Frequências alélicas reportadas para sete populações incluídas na base de dados do gnomAD, cinco populações do 1kG e 5 subpopulações Europeias do mesmo projeto foram comparadas contra os valores calculados para os nossos dados. As diferenças das distribuições alélicas foram testadas com o Fisher’s Exact test. Os p-values obtidos foram corrigidos de acordo com a sua False Discovery Rate (FDR). Os exomas de indivíduos Portugueses analisados continham 224,155 alterações genéticas filtradas de acordo com critérios de qualidade definidos no presente estudo. Aproximadamente 16,4% das variantes não se encontravam descritas nas bases de dados dos projetos 1kG e gnomAD. Os resultados obtidos endossam evidências, previamente descritas na literatura, de uma correlação entre as diferenças genéticas das populações comparadas em relação à população Portuguesa e a distância geográfica das mesmas a Portugal. Diferenças significativas entre distribuições alélicas da população estudada e outras subpopulações Europeias foram encontradas para 7,284 alterações genéticas distribuídas por 2,571 genes. Os resultados obtidos sugerem a existência de marcadores genéticos populacionais e podem motivar futuros estudos com vista a detetar marcadores genéticos específicos da população Portuguesa. O estudo apresentado representa uma contribuição significativa para, não só enriquecer iniciativas genómicas de grande escala, mas também para estabelecer uma referência auxiliar para análises genéticas a doentes Portugueses.The in-depth study of the genomics of single populations has contributed significantly to the enlargement of known SNVs in databases. Each single population study has contributed with 18 to 57% of novel SNVs. The new genetic information is particularly relevant as a reference for clinical purposes. Global-scale initiatives as the 1000 Genomes Project (1kG) already include Iberian population; however, no Portuguese individuals were included in this cohort. Furthermore, to our knowledge, gnomAD, the most extensive genomic dataset, does not include Portuguese individuals either. We believe that a Portuguese collection of genomic information would greatly benefit molecular diagnosis in Portuguese patients. Variants detected in 70 Portuguese individuals were inserted in a MongoDB No-SQL Database. The 1kG and gnomAD information for each variant were uploaded to the same database. Allele frequencies for seven gnomAD populations, five 1kG populations, and five 1kG European subpopulations were compared to the values calculated for our data. Allele distribution differences were tested with Fisher’s exact test. P-values were corrected for False Discovery Rate (FDR). The exomes of the Portuguese individuals contained 224,155 variants filtered accordingly to defined quality criteria. Approximately 16.4% of the variants had not been previously reported by 1kG or gnomAD projects. The present work endorsed the evidence for a correlation between genetic and geographic distance previously reported in the literature. Finally, significative differences were found for the allele distribution between our population and the other 1kG European subpopulations in 7,284 variants distributed by 2,571 genes. Results suggest the existence of populational genetic markers and may prompt future studies for detection of Portuguese-specific genetic markers. The present study is a significant contribution to enrich large-scale genomic initiatives and, to stand as a useful auxiliary reference for genetic analyses of Portuguese patients.Este trabalho foi efetuado no âmbito do projeto In2Genome, ref. CENTRO-01-0247-FEDER-017800, apoiado pelo Programa Operacional Regional do Centro de Portugal (CENTRO 2020), ao abrigo do Acordo de Parceria Portugal 2020, através do Comité Regional Europeu Fundo de Desenvolvimento (FEDER)

Mobilização neural como recurso terapêutico na recuperação funcional e morfológica do nervo ciático de ratos após lesão traumática

Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro de Ciências Biológicas. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências.O presente estudo examinou os efeitos do tratamento com Mobilização Neural (MN) na recuperação funcional sensório-motora após esmagamento do nervo ciático de ratos. O esmagamento foi realizado em ratos machos, adultos, submetidos a 15 sessões de MN passiva; através do Teste de Elevação da Perna Estendida modificado, com os grupos começando em 3 diferentes tempos: 1, 5 e 10 dias (MN1d, MN5d, MN10d) após a lesão por esmagamento do nervo. Durante o período de tratamento, a recuperação sensório-motora foi monitorada semanalmente, usando o Índice Funcional do Ciático (IFC), o Índice Estático do Ciático (IEC) e os testes de von Frey e da acetona. No final do tratamento, foram realizadas análises histológicas e morfométricas para avaliar a regeneração do nervo ciático. Os resultados mostraram que o tratamento com MN precoce (MN1d) foi capaz de acelerar o processo de regeneração do nervo ciático, além de reduzir a resposta nociceptiva (alodinia mecânica). Com relação aos tratamentos tardios (MN5d e MN10d), estes grupos tiveram somente redução da resposta nociceptiva produzida pela lesão do nervo e não foram observadas mudanças na função motora. Na porção distal do nervo ciático, o grupo MN1d apresentou um aumento da espessura da bainha de mielina, além disso, o grupo MN5d mostrou uma maior densidade de fibras mielinizadas. Estes dados fornecem evidência de que o tratamento com MN precoce induziu dois efeitos benéficos: aumento da recuperação funcional e redução da alodinia mecânica, entretanto, o tratamento tardio (MN5d e MN10d) teve efeito somente na redução da resposta nociceptiva à estimulação mecânica. The present study examined the effects of Neural Mobilization (NM) in the functional sensory-motor recovery after sciatic nerve crush injury in rats. The nerve crush was performed on adult male rats, submitted to 15 sessions of passive neural mobilization treatment through a modified straight leg raise (SLR) test, with groups starting at 3 different times:1, 5 and 10 days (NM1d, MN5d, MN10d) after nerve crush injury. Over the treatment period, sensory-motor recovery was monitored weekly using the Sciatic Functional Index (SFI), Static Sciatic Index (SSI), von Frey and acetone drop tests. Histological and morphometric nerve analyses were performed, at the end of the treatment, to assess the sciatic nerve regeneration. The results showed that early NM treatment (NM1 day) accelerated the processes of the sciatic nerve regeneration and reduced the nociceptive response (mechanical allodynia). As regarding to the late treatments (NM5 and NM10 days), these groups only showed a reduction in the nociceptive response produced by the nerve lesion but not changes in motor function. At the distal portion of the sciatic nerve, the NM1d group showed an increased average myelin sheath thickness, furthermore, the NM5d group showed a greater density of myelinated fibers. These data provide evidence that early neural mobilization treatment induced two beneficial effects: an improvement in functional recovery and reduction of mechanical allodynia, however, the late treatment (MN5d and MN10d) only had effect in reducting the nociceptive response (mechanical allodynia)

Análise dos mecanismos neurofisiológicos envolvidos no efeito da terapia manual (mobilização articular) na dor aguda e crônica

Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências, Florianópolis, 2013Evidências sugerem que as técnicas de terapia manual são efetivas no tratamento de problemas músculo-esqueléticos incluindo dor lombar, síndrome do túnel do carpo, osteoartrite de joelho e quadril. No entanto, apesar dos seus resultados positivos e da sua eficácia, os mecanismos neurofisiológicos destas técnicas foram pouco estudados. Assim, o objetivo deste estudo foi de verificar o efeito da mobilização articular do tornozelo (MAT) na dor aguda e crônica de origem pós-operatória e neuropática, respectivamente, além de investigar os mecanismos de ação envolvidos neste efeito. Para tal, foram utilizados camundongos Swiss machos (25-35g) submetidos ao modelo de dor pós-operatória através da incisão plantar (IP) e ao tratamento com a MAT por 3 ou 9 minutos. A avaliação da dor (nocicepção) foi realizada através da mensuração da hiperalgesia mecânica, utilizando-se o filamento de von Frey (0,4 g) pelo método de freqüência de resposta, antes e após a incisão e 30 minutos após a MAT, diariamente. Além disto, os animais também receberam tratamento diário com MAT durante 9 minutos por 6 dias. No estudo do mecanismo de ação, as análises foram realizadas 24 horas após a IP e o envolvimento dos sistemas opioidérgico, adenosinérgico, monoaminérgico e endocanabinoidérgico no efeito da MAT foram investigados. Para avaliar a influência da MAT sobre a dor neuropática, utilizou-se o modelo do esmagamento do nervo isquiático em ratos Wistar machos (250-280 g), sendo que os animais receberam 15 tratamentos (9 minutos de MAT) em dias alternados. A hiperalgesia mecânica foi avaliada antes e ao longo do tratamento por 5 semanas. Trinta e cinco dias após a lesão, a medula espinal (L4-L5) foi coletada para determinação da imunoreatividade de CD11b/c (microglia) e de GFAP (astrócito). Os resultados demonstram que 9 minutos de MAT reduz a hiperalgesia mecânica induzida pela IP, efeito mediado pelos sistemas opioidérgico, adenosinérgico, monoaminérgico e endocanabinoidérgico. Além disso, a MAT produz efeito antihiperalgésico e neuroregenerativo na lesão do nervo isquiático, ocorrendo estes efeitos em paralelo com a redução da imunoreatividade para microglia e astrócito na medula espinal. Assim, conclui-se que: i) a MAT apresenta grande potencial terapêutico na redução da dor pós-operatória e neuropática, bem como em acelerar a regeneração nervosa periférica; ii) os sistemas opioidérgico, adenosinérgico, monoaminérgico e endocanabinoidérgico estão envolvidos no efeito antihiperalgésico da MAT e; iii) a redução da ativação de células microgliais e astrocitárias na medula espinal contribui para o efeito antihiperalgésico da MAT. Neste sentido, estes dados fornecem à literatura substanciais subsídios neurofisiológicos do efeito terapêutico da MAT para o direcionamento de futuros ensaios clínicos.Abstract : Manual therapy techniques are effective in the treatment of musculoskeletal problems including low back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, osteoarthritis of the knee and hip. However, despite their positive results and its effectiveness, the neurophysiological mechanisms of these techniques are not thoroughly known. This study investigates the effect of ankle joint mobilization (AJM) in acute and chronic pain of postoperative and neuropathic origin, respectively, and the possible mechanisms involved in this effect. To this end, male Swiss mice (25-35g) were subjected to a plantar incision procedure (PI), a model of postoperative pain, and treated with AJM for 3 or 9 minutes. Pain levels (nociception) were assessed by measuring mechanical hyperalgesia to a von Frey filament (0.4g) by the method of frequency response before and after PI and 30 minutes after daily AJM. In addition, the animals also received daily 9 minutes sessions with AJM for 6 days. For the investigation of the mechanisms of action, the tests were performed 24 hours after PI and opioid, adenosinergic, monoaminergic and endocannabinoid systems were analyzed at different sites (central, peripheral and local). In order to evaluate the influence of AJM on neuropathic pain the model of sciatic nerve crush was used in male Wistar rats (250-280 g). These animals received 15 treatments (9 minutes AJM) on alternate days. The mechanical hyperalgesia was assessed before and during treatment for 5 weeks. Thirty-five days after injury, the spinal cord (L4-L5) was collected for determination of immunoreactivity to CD11b / c (microglia) and GFAP (astrocytes). The results show that 9 minutes AJM reduces the mechanical hyperalgesia induced by PI, an effect that is mediated by opioid, adenosinergic, monoaminergic and endocannabinoid systems. Finally, we showed that AJM produces antihyperalgesic and regenerative effects, and these effects occur in parallel to the reduction in immunoreactivity to GFAP CD11b/c in the spinal cord. In conclusion, we demonstrated that: i) AJM has great therapeutic potential in reducing postoperative and neuropathic pain as well as accelerates peripheral nerve regeneration; ii) opioid, adenosinergic, monoaminergic and endocannabinoid systems are involved in the antihyperalgesic effect of AJM and iii) reducing the activation of microglial cells and astrocytes in the spinal cord contributes to the antihyperalgesic effect of AJM. Thus, these data provide substantial input to the neurophysiological literature of the therapeutic effect of AJM that will help to guide future clinical trials

Modelo Housing First como percursor da mudança social transformativa: Uma perspectiva ecológica sobre o impacto da percepção da qualidade da casa e da escolha na integração comunitária, no recovery e na qualidade de vida

Tese de Doutoramento em Psicologia na área de especialização de Psicologia Comunitária, apresentada no ISPA - Instituto UniversitárioA presente Tese designada Modelo Housing First como percursor da mudança social transformativa: Uma perspectiva ecológica sobre o impacto da percepção da escolha e da qualidade da casa na integração comunitária, no recovery e na qualidade de vida consiste num estudo transversal que recorre a metodologias mistas (de foro quantitativo e qualitativo). A investigação pretendeu analisar o impacto a nível individual do modelo Housing First, enquanto exemplo de inovação social baseado nos fundamentos da Psicologia e da Ciência Comunitária. Este modelo defende a criação de programas orientados para o recovery, assentes numa cultura de empowerment ao providenciarem o acesso a habitações individuais, permanentes e dispersas pela comunidade a pessoas que se encontram em situação de semabrigo com problemáticas adjacentes de saúde mental e/ou problemáticas adictivas. Assim, a análise a nível individual do impacto desta abordagem, reúne as bases necessárias para uma reflexão analítica das ramificações deste modelo no plano organizacional e político de forma a produzir a mudanças sociais transformativas como a criação e difusão de políticas de inclusão e de diversificação. Com o propósito geral de avaliar os resultados a nível individual da eficácia e do impacto do programa “Casas Primeiro”, baseado no modelo Housing First, foram equacionados três objectivos gerais: 1 – Analisar a mudança inerente às experiências vivenciadas no período de situação de sem-abrigo e no período após entrada no programa “Casas Primeiro” pelos diversos residentes, ao nível da integração comunitária, através de uma perspectiva ecológica; 2 – Avaliar através de uma leitura ecológica, o papel e a importância da percepção da escolha e da qualidade da casa na potenciação do recovery; 3- Aprofundar o conhecimento existente acerca da importância do modelo Housing First na catalisação da integração comunitária, do recovery e da qualidade de vida dos residentes. O desenho misto da investigação foi aplicado através dos seguintes instrumentos de recolha de dados: a Perceived Housing Quality (PHQ-PT); a Recovery Assessment Scale (RAS-PT); o Quality of Life Index (QOLI-PT); a Community Integration Scale (CIS-.PT) e a entrevista semi-estruturada de cariz qualitativo, cujos intrumentos podem ser consultados no Anexo 1 e Anexo 2 da Tese. Em termos da recolha de dados, a mesma decorreu no âmbito do programa “Casas Primeiro”, onde participaram 45 residentes nesta investigação. Os resultados permitiram sustentar teóricamente que o modelo Housing First ao adoptar valores orientados para o recovery baseados nos fundamentos da Psicologia Comunitária, como a adopção de uma perspectiva ecológica e o direito à escolha individual que respeite as preferências habitacionais de cada pessoa, contribui em larga medida para a promoção da integração comunitária e do processo de recovery. Verificou-se igualmente que a qualidade de vida pode ser maximizada de acordo com o nível de integração comunitária, uma vez que ao estarem integrados, os residentes demonstram maiores índices de satisfação com a sua vida. A investigação realizada permitiu extrair conclusões e implicações para a prática da intervenção e da investigação no âmbito visando a replicação e consolidação desta abordagem no plano organizacional e político. O relatório de Tese foi composto pelas seguintes partes: a Introdução Geral, onde é apresentada uma Revisão da Literatura geral organizada pelas temáticas dominantes (a operacionalização e framework sócio-politico do modelo Housing First, assim como o efeito desta abordagem na fomentação da integração comunitária, do recovery e da qualidade de vida), os Objectivos e Procedimentos Gerais onde se inscreve o desenho geral da investigação; a Secção Empírica, organizada em Três Capítulos relativos às principais análises desta investigação em formato de artigo; as Conclusões Gerais e Implicações para a Prática, e os respectivos Anexos.The thesis under consideration entitled Housing First model as a precursor of transformative social change: An ecological perspective on the impact of perceived choice and housing quality on community integration, recovery and quality of life is a cross-sectional study using mixed methodologies (quantitative and qualitative). The research aimed to analyze at the individual level the impact of Housing First model, as an example of social innovation, based on the principles of Community Psychology and science. This model advocates the development of recovery-oriented programs based on a empowerment culture by providing access to individual, permanent and scattered-site housing for homeless people with mental illness and/or addiction problems. Therefore, the analysis at individual level on the impact of this approach, gathers the foundation that allows the analysis of this model at organizational and political level, in order to produce transformative social change like the development and dissemination of policies that promotes inclusion and diversity. With the general aim of evaluating individual results of the effectiveness and impact of the "Casas Primeiro" program, based on the Housing First model, three general objetives were established: 1 - To analyze the changes of homeless experiences before and after "Casas Primeiro" program of several residents, considering their community integration, through an ecological perspective; 2 - Considering an ecological leght, to evaluate the role and importance of perceived choice and housing quality on promoting recovery process; 3- To deepen the existing knowledge about the importance of Housing First model in promoting community integration, recovery and also quality of life of their residents. The mixed nature of the research was implemented through the following data collection instruments: Perceived Housing Quality (PHQ-PT); Recovery Assessment Scale (RAS-PT); Quality of Life Index (QOLI-PT); Community Integration Scale (CIS-.PT); and the qualitative semi-structured interview, which may be consulted in Annex 1 and Annex 2 of the present thesis. In terms of data collection, this research was carried out in "Casas Primero" program, which 45 residents participated. The results sustained the theorethical support that Housing First model, through recovery-oriented values based on Community Psychology principles, like the adoption of an ecological perspective and the right to individual choice that matches individual preferences greatly promotes community integration and recovery process. Also, results showed that quality of life can be maximized according the level of community integration, once when residents feel integrated, they demonstrate higher rates of life satisfaction. The research allowed conclusions and implications regarding the practice of interventions and research that can be replicated and consolidated at the organizational and political levels. The main body of the Thesis report was organized by the following sections: a General Introduction, where a Review of the General Literature is presented, organized by themes (conceptualization and socio-political framework of Housing First model, as well as the effect of this approach on promoting community integration, recovery and quality of life), the Procedures in which general structure and Objectives are described; the Empirical Section, organized into Three Chapters according to the main analyzes conducted in this research; the General Conclusions and Implications for the Practice, and the Appendices

Residual granitic soil improvement for rammed earth construction

This paper describes the research developed to evaluate the performance of stabilised residual granitic soil from the north region of Portugal. It is part of a research project designed to investigate the possibility of using this soil for rammed earth construction. Since its reduced plasticity makes the use of lime less effective, and the increasing environmental concerns with cement production can no longer be ignored, the study was focused on binders made from alkaline activation of low calcium fly ash. Therefore, the aim of this work was to determine, through a parametric analysis using laboratory tests, the optimum fly ash – based alkaline activated binder for improving granitic soil, in terms of mechanical strength. Identification of the key parameters allowed the characterisation of the most effective mixtures, which will be later used in the construction of large rammed earth wall panels that will be tested according to proper specifications

Dendrimer Stabilized Nanoalloys for Ink-Jet Printing of Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Substrates

Research on paper substrates prepared by inkjet deposition of metal nanoparticles for sensing applications has become a hot topic in recent years; however, the design of such substrates based on the deposition of alloy nanoparticles remains less explored. Herein, we report for the first time the inkjet printing of dendrimer-stabilized colloidal metal nanoalloys for the preparation of paper substrates for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy. To this end, nanoassemblies containing variable molar ratios of Au:Ag were prepared in the presence of poly(amidoamine) dendrimer (PAMAM), resulting in plasmonic properties that depend on the chemical composition of the final materials. The dendrimer-stabilized Au:Ag:PAMAM colloids exhibit high colloidal stability, making them suitable for the preparation of inks for long-term use in inkjet printing of paper substrates. Moreover, the pre-treatment of paper with a polystyrene (PS) aqueous emulsion resulted in hydrophobic substrates with improved SERS sensitivity, as illustrated in the analytical detection of tetramethylthiuram disulfide (thiram pesticide) dissolved in aqueous solutions. We suggest that the interactions established between the two polymers (PAMAM and PS) in an interface region over the cellulosic fibres, resulted in more exposed metallic surfaces for the adsorption of the analyte molecules. The resulting hydrophobic substrates show long-term plasmonic stability with high SERS signal retention for at least ninety days.publishe

Stellar Population in LLAGN.I: Ground-based observations

(Abridge): We present a spectroscopic study of the stellar populations of Low Luminosity AGN (LLAGN). Our main goal is to determine whether the stars who live in the innermost (100 pc-scale) regions of these galaxies are in some way related to the emission line properties, which would imply a link between the stellar population and the ionization mechanism. High signal to noise, ground based long-slit spectra in the 3500--5500 A interval were collected for 60 galaxies.Our main findings are: (1) Few LLAGN have a detectable young (< 10 Myr) starburst component, indicating that very massive stars do not contribute significantly to the optical continuum. In particular, no features due to Wolf-Rayet stars were convincingly detected. (2) High Order Balmer absorption lines of HI (HOBLs), on the other hand, are detected in 40% of LLAGN. These features, which are strongest in 100 Myr--1 Gyr intermediate age stellar populations, are accompanied by diluted metal absorption lines and bluer colors than other objects in the sample. (3) These intermediate age populations are very common (50 %) in LLAGN with relatively weak [OI] emission, but rare (10 %) in LLAGN with stronger [OI]. This is intriguing since LLAGN with weak [OI] have been previously hypothesized to be ``transition objects'' in which both an AGN and young stars contribute to the emission-line excitation. Massive stars, if present, are completely outshone by intermediate age and old stars in the optical. This happens in at least a couple of objects where independent UV spectroscopy detects young starbursts not seen in the optical. (4) Objects with predominantly old stars span the whole range of [OI]/Halpha values, but (5) sources with significant young and/or intermediate age populations are nearly all (90%) weak [OI] emitters.Comment: To be published in ApJ (April issue). Paper with full resolution images is at: http://www.iaa.csic.es/~rosa/preprints/preprints.html http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/ApJ/journa

The Devil is in the Errors: Leveraging Large Language Models for Fine-grained Machine Translation Evaluation

Automatic evaluation of machine translation (MT) is a critical tool driving the rapid iterative development of MT systems. While considerable progress has been made on estimating a single scalar quality score, current metrics lack the informativeness of more detailed schemes that annotate individual errors, such as Multidimensional Quality Metrics (MQM). In this paper, we help fill this gap by proposing AutoMQM, a prompting technique which leverages the reasoning and in-context learning capabilities of large language models (LLMs) and asks them to identify and categorize errors in translations. We start by evaluating recent LLMs, such as PaLM and PaLM-2, through simple score prediction prompting, and we study the impact of labeled data through in-context learning and finetuning. We then evaluate AutoMQM with PaLM-2 models, and we find that it improves performance compared to just prompting for scores (with particularly large gains for larger models) while providing interpretability through error spans that align with human annotations.Comment: 19 page

Imatinib mesylate alters the expression of genes related to disease progression in an animal model of uveal melanoma

Imatinib mesylate (IM) is a compound that inhibits both BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase and c-kit receptors. Tyrosine kinases are important in cellular signaling and mediate major cellular processes such as proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, attachment, and migration. Twenty-six albino rabbits were injected with 1 x 10(6) human uveal melanoma (UM) cells (92.1) into the suprachoroidal space. Animals were immunosuppressed (cyclosporin A) over the course of the 12-week experiment and divided into two groups (n = 13). the experimental group received IM once daily by gavage while the control group received a placebo. One animal per group was sacrificed every week after the 2nd week. Upon necropsy, organs were harvested for histopathological examination. Cells from the primary tumors were recultured and tested in proliferation and invasion assays. A PCR array was used to investigate the differences in expression of 84 genes related to tumor metastasis. in the treated group, 4 rabbits developed intraocular tumors, with an average largest tumor dimension (LTD) of 2.5 mm and 5 animals reported metastatic disease. Whereas 6 rabbits in the control group developed intraocular tumors, with an average LTD of 5.8 mm and 6 animals reported metastatic disease. the recultured cells from the treated group demonstrated lower proliferation rates and were less invasive (p < 0.001). the PCR array showed differences in expression of genes related to metastasis. Notably, there was 290-fold increase in SERPINB5, a tumor suppressor gene, and a 10-fold higher expression of KISS I, a metastasis suppressor gene, in the treated group. Proangiogenic genes such as VEGFA, PDGFA and PDGFB were downregulated in the treated group. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report detailing the altered expression of specific genes in UM cells after treatment with IM.McGill Univ, Ctr Hlth, Dept Ophthalmol & Pathol, Montreal, PQ, CanadaHenry C Witelson Ocular Pathol Lab, Montreal, PQ, CanadaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo UNIFESP EPM, Dept Ophthalmol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo UNIFESP EPM, Dept Ophthalmol, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

productive and qualitative parameters of four physalis species cultivated under colored shade nets

Abstract The genus Physalis L. has great importance in the framework of Brazilian biodiversity especially in the Amazon region. The use of colored shading nets allow manipulating the light spectrum, and thus supplying the appropriate quantity and quality of light for each species and maximizing production. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of shade nets on fruit production and qualitative parameters of four species belonging to genus Physalis. The experimental design was random blocks with a 4 x 5 factorial scheme, four species of Physalis (P. peruviana, P. pubescens, P. minima and P. ixocarpa) and four colors of shade nets (white, blue, red and black), besides the control treatment under full sun exposure. Fruits were collected weekly and evaluated for longitudinal and transversal diameter and biomass with and without a calyx. Finally the percentage of calyx biomass compared to the total fruit biomass, number of fruits per plant and production were determined. A differentiated response was found among the species regarding the coloring of the converter shade nets. Plants of P. peruviana had the best productive and qualitative parameters of fruits when cultivated in full sunlight or under white shade nets, P. pubescens and P. minima when cultivated in full sunlight or under white and blue shade nets, and P. ixocarpa under red or black shade nets