Valores de referência para selecionados testes oftálmicos para a arara canindé (Ara araruna)

Objetivou-se determinar os valores normais para testes oftálmicos diagnósticos selecionados para a Arara Canindé. Trinta e cinco Ara ararauna (70 olhos), de sexo indeterminado, adultas, com peso médio de 1kg e provenientes de cativeiro no Distrito Federal, foram avaliadas. Aferiram-se a produção lacrimal pelo Teste lacrimal de Schirmer (TLS), a avaliação microbiológica da conjuntiva ocular, a pressão intra-ocular (PIO) utilizando a tonometria de rebote e o comprimento horizontal da rima palpebral Neste estudo 84.1% das amostras analisadas foram positivas para crescimento microbiológico. Bactérias, fungos e hifas foram isolados e Staphylococcus spp. (21.9%) e Bacillus spp. (26.8%) foram isolados mais frequentemente. Os valores médios do teste de Lacrimal de Schirmer (TLS) foram de 7.6±4.6 e 6.6±4.4mm/min para olhos direito (OD) e esquerdo (OE), respectivamente (média = 7,11±0,76mm/min). A pressão intraocular média foi de 11.4±2.5 (OD) e 11.6±1.8mmHg (OE) anteriormente à anestesia (média 11,49±0,22 mmHg) e 7.6 ± 2.4 mmHg (OD) e 7.8 ± 1.8 mm Hg (OE) (média 7,71±0,08mm Hg) após a anestesia, verificando-se que a PIO foi significativamente menor quando os animais se encontravam sob anestesia comparativamente ao momento em que não estavam anestesiados. O comprimento horizontal da rima horizontal palpebral foi de 11.7±0.1mm OD e de 11.8±0.1mm OE (média 11,72±0,07mm). Verificou-se correlação positiva do TLS com o comprimento da fissura palpebral para a espécie estudada. Estes valores de referencia serão úteis no diagnóstico de alterações oculares da Arara Canindé.The aim of this study was to establish reference values for selected ophthalmic diagnostic tests in healthy blue-and-yellow macaws. We investigated a total of 35 adult macaws (70 eyes) of undetermined sex and with an average weight of 1 kg, who were living in captivity in the Federal District, Brazil. Tear production using the Schirmer tear test (STT), normal conjunctival flora, intraocular pressure (IOP) using a rebound tonometer and horizontal palpebral fissure length (HPFL) were evaluated. In this study, 84.1% of samples were positive for microbial growth. Bacteria, fungi and yeasts were isolated, and Staphylococcus spp. (21.9%) and Bacillus spp. (26.8%) were the most frequently isolated microorganisms. The mean value for STT was 7.6±4.6mm/min in the right eye (OD) and 6.6±4.4mm/min in the left eye (OS) (median = 7,11±0,76mm/min). Mean IOP was 11.4±2.5mm Hg OD and 11.6±1.8mm Hg OS (median = 11.49±0.22mm Hg), prior to anesthesia, and 7.6±2.4mm Hg OD and 7.8±1.8mm Hg OS (median 7.71±0.08mmHg) after anesthesia. The IOP was significantly lower when the animals were under anesthesia as compared to when they were conscious (p≤0.05). Horizontal palpebral fissure length was 11.7±0.1mm OD and 11.8±0.1mm OS (median = 11.72±0.07mm). The STT showed a positive correlation with palpebral fissure measurement for this species. These selected ophthalmic reference values will be particularly useful in diagnosing pathological changes in the eyes of blue-and-yellow macaws

Three-point correlation functions from semiclassical circular strings

The strong-coupling limit of three-point correlation functions of local operators can be analyzed beyond the supergravity regime using vertex operators representing spinning string states. When two of the vertex operators correspond to heavy string states having large quantum numbers, while the third operator corresponds to a light state with fixed charges, the correlator can be computed in the large string tension limit by means of a semiclassical approximation. We study the case when the heavy string states are circular string solutions with one AdS_5 spin and three different angular momenta along S^5, for several choices of the light string state.Comment: 13 pages. Latex. v2: Misprints corrected and references adde

Platelet Activating Factor Blocks Interkinetic Nuclear Migration in Retinal Progenitors through an Arrest of the Cell Cycle at the S/G2 Transition

Nuclear migration is regulated by the LIS1 protein, which is the regulatory subunit of platelet activating factor (PAF) acetyl-hydrolase, an enzyme complex that inactivates the lipid mediator PAF. Among other functions, PAF modulates cell proliferation, but its effects upon mechanisms of the cell cycle are unknown. Here we show that PAF inhibited interkinetic nuclear migration (IKNM) in retinal proliferating progenitors. The lipid did not, however, affect the velocity of nuclear migration in cells that escaped IKNM blockade. The effect depended on the PAF receptor, Erk and p38 pathways and Chk1. PAF induced no cell death, nor a reduction in nucleotide incorporation, which rules out an intra-S checkpoint. Notwithstanding, the expected increase in cyclin B1 content during G2-phase was prevented in the proliferating cells. We conclude that PAF blocks interkinetic nuclear migration in retinal progenitor cells through an unusual arrest of the cell cycle at the transition from S to G2 phases. These data suggest the operation, in the developing retina, of a checkpoint that monitors the transition from S to G2 phases of the cell cycle

Seismic analysis of four solar-like stars observed during more than eight months by Kepler

Having started science operations in May 2009, the Kepler photometer has been able to provide exquisite data of solar-like stars. Five out of the 42 stars observed continuously during the survey phase show evidence of oscillations, even though they are rather faint (magnitudes from 10.5 to 12). In this paper, we present an overview of the results of the seismic analysis of 4 of these stars observed during more than eight months.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figure. To appear in the ASP proceedings of "The 61st Fujihara seminar: Progress in solar/stellar physics with helio- and asteroseismology", 13th-17th March 2011, Hakone, Japa

The germline mutational landscape of BRCA1 and BRCA2 in Brazil

The detection of germline mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 is essential to the formulation of clinical management strategies, and in Brazil, there is limited access to these services, mainly due to the costs/availability of genetic testing. Aiming at the identification of recurrent mutations that could be included in a low-cost mutation panel, used as a first screening approach, we compiled the testing reports of 649 probands with pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants referred to 28 public and private health care centers distributed across 11 Brazilian States. Overall, 126 and 103 distinct mutations were identified in BRCA1 and BRCA2, respectively. Twenty-six novel variants were reported from both genes, and BRCA2 showed higher mutational heterogeneity. Some recurrent mutations were reported exclusively in certain geographic regions, suggesting a founder effect. Our findings confirm that there is significant molecular heterogeneity in these genes among Brazilian carriers, while also suggesting that this heterogeneity precludes the use of screening protocols that include recurrent mutation testing only. This is the first study to show that profiles of recurrent mutations may be unique to different Brazilian regions. These data should be explored in larger regional cohorts to determine if screening with a panel of recurrent mutations would be effective.This work was supported in part by grants from Barretos Cancer Hospital (FINEP - CT-INFRA, 02/2010), Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP, 2013/24633-2 and 2103/23277-8), Fundação de Apoio à Pesquisa do Rio Grande do Norte (FAPERN), Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ), Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul (FAPERGS), Ministério da Saúde, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (Avon grant #02-2013-044) and National Institute of Health/National Cancer Institute (grant #RC4 CA153828-01) for the Clinical Cancer Genomics Community Research Network. Support in part was provided by grants from Fundo de Incentivo a Pesquisa e Eventos (FIPE) from Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, by Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES, BioComputacional 3381/2013, Rede de Pesquisa em Genômica Populacional Humana), Secretaria da Saúde do Estado da Bahia (SESAB), Laboratório de Imunologia e Biologia Molecular (UFBA), INCT pra Controle do Câncer and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq). RMR and PAP are recipients of CNPq Productivity Grants, and Bárbara Alemar received a grant from the same agencyinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Nightside condensation of iron in an ultra-hot giant exoplanet

Ultra-hot giant exoplanets receive thousands of times Earth's insolation. Their high-temperature atmospheres (>2,000 K) are ideal laboratories for studying extreme planetary climates and chemistry. Daysides are predicted to be cloud-free, dominated by atomic species and substantially hotter than nightsides. Atoms are expected to recombine into molecules over the nightside, resulting in different day-night chemistry. While metallic elements and a large temperature contrast have been observed, no chemical gradient has been measured across the surface of such an exoplanet. Different atmospheric chemistry between the day-to-night ("evening") and night-to-day ("morning") terminators could, however, be revealed as an asymmetric absorption signature during transit. Here, we report the detection of an asymmetric atmospheric signature in the ultra-hot exoplanet WASP-76b. We spectrally and temporally resolve this signature thanks to the combination of high-dispersion spectroscopy with a large photon-collecting area. The absorption signal, attributed to neutral iron, is blueshifted by -11+/-0.7 km s-1 on the trailing limb, which can be explained by a combination of planetary rotation and wind blowing from the hot dayside. In contrast, no signal arises from the nightside close to the morning terminator, showing that atomic iron is not absorbing starlight there. Iron must thus condense during its journey across the nightside.Comment: Published in Nature (Accepted on 24 January 2020.) 33 pages, 11 figures, 3 table

Induction of Heme Oxygenase-1 Can Halt and Even Reverse Renal Tubule-Interstitial Fibrosis

Background: The tubule-interstitial fibrosis is the hallmark of progressive renal disease and is strongly associated with inflammation of this compartment. Heme-oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is a cytoprotective molecule that has been shown to be beneficial in various models of renal injury. However, the role of HO-1 in reversing an established renal scar has not yet been addressed. Aim: We explored the ability of HO-1 to halt and reverse the establishment of fibrosis in an experimental model of chronic renal disease. Methods: Sprague-Dawley male rats were subjected to unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) and divided into two groups: non-treated and Hemin-treated. To study the prevention of fibrosis, animals were pre-treated with Hemin at days -2 and -1 prior to UUO. To investigate whether HO-1 could reverse established fibrosis, Hemin therapy was given at days 6 and 7 post-surgery. After 7 and/or 14 days, animals were sacrificed and blood, urine and kidney tissue samples were collected for analyses. Renal function was determined by assessing the serum creatinine, inulin clearance, proteinuria/creatininuria ratio and extent of albuminuria. Arterial blood pressure was measured and fibrosis was quantified by Picrosirius staining. Gene and protein expression of pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic molecules, as well as HO-1 were performed. Results: Pre-treatment with Hemin upregulated HO-1 expression and significantly reduced proteinuria, albuminuria, inflammation and pro-fibrotic protein and gene expressions in animals subjected to UUO. Interestingly, the delayed treatment with Hemin was also able to reduce renal dysfunction and to decrease the expression of pro-inflammatory molecules, all in association with significantly reduced levels of fibrosis-related molecules and collagen deposition. Finally, TGF-beta protein production was significantly lower in Hemin-treated animals. Conclusion: Treatment with Hemin was able both to prevent the progression of fibrosis and to reverse an established renal scar. Modulation of inflammation appears to be the major mechanism behind HO-1 cytoprotection.Fundacao de Amparo Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo-FAPESP[07/07139-3]Coordenaco de Aperfeioamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior-CAPESInstituto Nacional de Ciencia e Tecnologia de Complexos Fluidos (INCT)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico-CNP

Improved functionalization of oleic acid-coated iron oxide nanoparticles for biomedical applications

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles can providemultiple benefits for biomedical applications in aqueous environments such asmagnetic separation or magnetic resonance imaging. To increase the colloidal stability and allow subsequent reactions, the introduction of hydrophilic functional groups onto the particles’ surface is essential. During this process, the original coating is exchanged by preferably covalently bonded ligands such as trialkoxysilanes. The duration of the silane exchange reaction, which commonly takes more than 24 h, is an important drawback for this approach. In this paper, we present a novel method, which introduces ultrasonication as an energy source to dramatically accelerate this process, resulting in high-quality waterdispersible nanoparticles around 10 nmin size. To prove the generic character, different functional groups were introduced on the surface including polyethylene glycol chains, carboxylic acid, amine, and thiol groups. Their colloidal stability in various aqueous buffer solutions as well as human plasma and serum was investigated to allow implementation in biomedical and sensing applications.status: publishe