Células de linhagem McCoy como um possível modelo contendo receptores CD4+ para estudos da replicação do HIV

Several studies have recently shown the use of recombinant rabies virus as potential vector-viral vaccine for HIV-1. The sequence homology between gp 120 and rabies virus glycoprotein has been reported. The McCoy cell line has therefore been used to show CD4+ or CD4+ like receptors. Samples of HIV-1 were isolated, when plasma of HIV-1 positive patients was inoculated in the McCoy cell line. The virus infection was then studied during successive virus passages. The proteins released in the extra cellular medium were checked for protein activity, by exposure to SDS Electrophoresis and blotting to nitro-cellulose filter, then reacting with sera of HIV positive and negative patients. Successive passages were performed, and showed viral replication, membrane permeabilization, the syncytium formation, and the cellular lysis (cytopathic effect). Flow cytometry analysis shows clear evidence that CD4+ receptors are present in this cell line, which enhances the likelihood of easy isolation and replication of HIV. The results observed allow the use of this cell line as a possible model for isolating HIV, as well as for carrying out studies of the dynamics of viral infection in several situations, including exposure to drugs in pharmacological studies, and possibly studies and analyses of the immune response in vaccine therapies.Recentes estudos demonstraram o uso do vírus raiva como modelo vetor para produzir vacinas expressando as glicoproteínas do vírus HIV-1. A homologia na seqüência entre gp120 do vírus HIV-1 e a glicoproteína G do vírus rábico já foi previamente relatada. Devido a estes fatos a linhagem de célula McCoy utilizada com sucesso para a replicação do vírus rábico foi utilizada para demonstrar a replicação do HIV-1. Amostra de HIV-1 foi isolada de plasma de um paciente soro positivo e inoculada em células de linhagem McCoy e então a infecção viral foi estudada em passagens sucessivas do vírus nesta célula. As proteínas liberadas no meio extra celular foram analisadas quanto a atividade biológica pela técnica de eletroforese em gel de poliacrilamida e imunotransferência em membrana de nitro-celulose reagindo com soros positivos para HIV-1 e soros de pacientes negativos. As passagens sucessivas do HIV-1 em células demonstraram a replicação viral, o aumento da permeabilidade da membrana citoplasmática, a formação de sinsício e lise celular. Análises com citometria de fluxo mostraram com clara evidência a presença de receptores CD4+ o que possivelmente deve ser a causa que possibilita a facilidade do isolamento e replicação do vírus HIV-1 nesta célula. Concluindo os resultados observados permitem utilizar esta linhagem celular como um possível modelo para isolamentos de HIV, bem como realizar estudos da dinâmica de infecção viral em diversas situações inclusive de exposição a drogas em estudos farmacológicos, e talvez estudos e análises da resposta imune em terapias vacinais

Hipertensão arterial sistêmica secundária

The prevalence of secondary systemic arterial hypertension (S-SAH) is 3% to 5%. Before investigating the secondary causes of SAH, the following should be excluded: ._ Inadequate measurement of arterial pressure (AP). ._ White-coat hypertension; ._ Inadequate treatment; ._ Treatment non-adherence; ._ Progression of lesions in hypertension target organs; ._ Presence of co-morbidities; ._ Interaction with prescription drugs. Table 1 lists the situations when the presence of S-SAH should be investigated. Next, the main causes of S-SAH will be discussed. [Author supplied abstract

Tendência das formas de resolução da gravidez e sua influência sobre as taxas de mortalidade perinatal

OBJECTIVE: To determine changes in the incidence of vaginal deliveries, cesarean sections, and forceps deliveries and their potential association with fetal, early neonatal, and perinatal mortality rates over time. METHODS: A retrospective study was carried out and the occurrence of deliveries supervised by university services between January 1991 and December 2000 was determined. Data regarding fetal, early neonatal, and perinatal deaths were assessed using obstetric and pediatric records and autopsy reports. RESULTS: Of a total of 33,360 deliveries, the incidence of vaginal deliveries, cesarean sections, and forceps deliveries was relatively steady (around 60, 30, and 10%, respectively) while, at the same time, there was a marked reduction in fetal mortality (from 33.3 to 13.0), early neonatal mortality (from 30.6 to 9.0), and perinatal mortality (from 56.4 to 19.3). CONCLUSIONS: The marked reduction in perinatal mortality rates seen during the study period without an increase in cesarean sections indicates that the decrease in perinatal mortality was not impacted by cesarean section rates. The plausible hypothesis seems to be that the reduction in perinatal mortality of deliveries performed under the supervision of university services was more likely to be associated with better neonatal care rather than the mode of delivery.OBJETIVO: Aferir as variações das taxas de parto normal, cesárea e parto fórceps, bem como das taxas de mortalidade fetal, neonatal precoce e perinatal ao longo do tempo e verificar as possíveis inter-relações entre elas. MÉTODOS: Estudo retrospectivo que avaliou as taxas dos partos realizados em hospitais localizados em Ribeirão Preto, SP, no período de janeiro de 1991 a dezembro de 2000. Os dados sobre mortalidade fetal, neonatal precoce e perinatal foram obtidos por meio de registros obstétricos, pediátricos e de necrópsias. RESULTADOS: Em um total de 33.360 partos realizados, houve relativa manutenção das taxas de parto normal, cesárea e fórceps (em torno de 60%, 30% e 10%, respectivamente), ao mesmo tempo em que houve nítida redução das taxas de mortalidade fetal (de 33,3 para 13,0), neonatal precoce (de 30,6 para 9,0) e perinatal (de 56,4 para 19,3). CONCLUSÕES: Verificou-se evidente redução das taxas de mortalidade perinatal, sem aumento das taxas de parto cesárea. Desse modo, pode-se afirmar que a redução temporal da mortalidade perinatal observada nessa casuística não sofreu influência da taxa de cesárea. Parece que a redução da taxa de mortalidade perinatal dos partos realizados e supervisionados seja mais uma relação direta da melhora do atendimento neonatal do que da via de parto

A Decomposition Heuristic for the Maximal Covering Location Problem

This paper proposes a cluster partitioning technique to calculate improved upper bounds to the optimal solution of maximal covering location problems. Given a covering distance, a graph is built considering as vertices the potential facility locations, and with an edge connecting each pair of facilities that attend a same client. Coupling constraints, corresponding to some edges of this graph, are identified and relaxed in the Lagrangean way, resulting in disconnected subgraphs representing smaller subproblems that are computationally easier to solve by exact methods. The proposed technique is compared to the classical approach, using real data and instances from the available literature

Hydrological structures along the N y NW Iberian Shelf during the winter-spring transition

ECOPE

Petrografia e química mineral do Stock Granítico Serra do Barriga (Sobral, CE, nordeste do Brasil)

The Serra do Barriga Granitic Stock (SGSB), located at NNW of the Ceará, northeast of Brazil, presents faciological variation that permits commercial exploitation in four types of ornamental rocks: Rosa Iracema (RI), Rosa Olinda (RO), Branco Savana (BS) and White Crystal Quartz (BCQ). The aim of this paper is to investigate mineral association, chemical composition and classification of the main minerals phases, as well as genetic relationships among the granitic facies. Petrographic analyzes were made using thin section and analyzes of mineral chemistry through electron microprobe. Petrographic and mineral chemistry analyzes show that SBGS lithotypes varies from inequigranular to porphyritic syenogranites and monzogranites and different facies do not show significant differences in mineral composition, except for small variations of Or amount in K-feldspar. Potassium feldspar is orthoclase and plagioclase ranges from albite to oligoclase (Ab-Or- to Ab-Or). Biotite corresponds to annita to siderophyllite, while amphibole corresponds to iron-edenite. Post-magmatic or hydrothermal mineral transformations such as exsolution, potassification, albitization, chloritization, sericitization and neoformation of fluorite are common and control discoloration from the pink to the white facies (BS and BCQ). In the plagioclase of the white granites frequent sericitization occurs superimposed to the microclinization, with neoformation of fluorite. The whole data converge to the knowledge that all the facies were formed at the same magmatic event, being the syenogranites (RI, RO and BCQ) originated by an unique magma, followed by a new, more mafic magmatic pulse, represented by porphyritic monzogranite (RO).O Stock Granítico Serra do Barriga (SGSB), localizado a NNW do Ceará, nordeste do Brasil, apresenta variação faciológica que permite exploração comercial em quatro tipos de rochas ornamentais: Rosa Iracema (RI), Rosa Olinda (RO), Branco Savana (BS) e Branco Cristal Quartzo (BCQ). O objetivo deste trabalho é determinar a paragênese, a composição química e a classificação dos principais minerais, além das relações genéticas entre as fácies graníticas. Foram realizadas análises petrográficas, utilizando-se lâminas delgadas e análises de química mineral através de microssonda eletrônica. As análises petrográfica e de química mineral mostram que o SGSB varia de sienogranitos e monzogranitos inequigranulares a porfiríticos e não ocorrem diferenças significativas nas composições dos minerais entre as fácies, exceto ligeiras variações no teor de Or nos KF. O feldspato potássico é ortoclásio, o plagioclásio mostra transição de albita para oligoclásio. A biotita corresponde a annita com tendência a siderofilita, enquanto o anfibólio corresponde a ferro-edenita. As transformações minerais pós-magmáticas ou hidrotermais como exsolução, potassificação, albitização, cloritização, sericitização e neoformação de fluorita são comuns no SGSB e contribuem na “descoloração” das fácies rosas para as brancas. No plagioclásio dos granitos brancos ocorre frequente sericitização sobreposta à microclinização, com neoformação de fluorita. Todos os dados convergem para a ideia de que as fácies foram formadas por um mesmo evento magmático, sendo que os sienogranitos (RI, RO e BCQ) correspondem à faciologias originadas por um mesmo magma, seguido por um novo pulso magmático mais máfico, representado pelo monzogranito porfirítico (RO)

Evaluation of grape stems and grape stem extracts for sulfur dioxide replacement during grape wine production

Supplementary data to this article can be found online at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crfs.2023.100453.Sulfur dioxide (SO2), the main preservative in wine, may affect the sensory properties of the wines, as well as cause allergic reactions and headaches in sensitive people. The aim of this work was to evaluate the replacement of SO2 in Tempranillo wines with Mazuelo grape stem products. Five Tempranillo red wines were elaborated: positive control (60 mg/L SO2); negative control with no preservatives; Mazuelo extract (200 mg/L); Mazuelo extract combined with SO2 (100 mg/L + 20 mg/L); and Mazuelo stem (400 mg/L). The oenological parameters, antioxidant capacity, total phenolic (TP), total flavonoids (TF) and total anthocyanins (TA) contents were determined. Additionally, individual phenols were analyzed by HPLC-DAD-FLD. The spectrophotometric analyses showed that the wines had similar antioxidant capacities and concentrations of TP and TF. However, TA was more affected by the lack of SO2 as anthocyanins presented higher concentrations in positive control samples. The concentrations of individual phenols followed a similar path in all samples. Wines containing sulfites were more similar than the other treatments. However, these similarities were not reflected on the sensory analysis performed, as triangle test did not show differences between the wine with extract addition and the positive control wine. Therefore, Mazuelo stem extract could be a possible strategy for SO2 replacement. Nevertheless, further studies are necessary to confirm the potential of grape stem extracts as wine preservative.This study was also supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UIDB/04469/2020 unit, and by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Competitiveness factors Operational program – Norte 2020, COMPETE and by National Funds through the FCT - under the project AgriFood XXI (NORTE- 01-0145-FEDER-000041).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Postural changes in women with chronic pelvic pain: a case control study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) is a lower abdominal pain lasting at least 6 months, occurring continuously or intermittently and not associated exclusively with menstruation or intercourse. Although the musculoskeletal system has been found to be involved in CPP, few studies have assessed the contribution of posture in women with CPP. We aimed to determine if the frequency of postural changes was higher in women with CPP than healthy subjects.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A case-control study included 108 women with CPP of more than 6 months' duration (CPP group) who consecutively attended at the Hospital of the University of São Paulo and 48 healthy female volunteers (control group). Postural assessment was noninvasive and performed in the standing position, with the reference points of Kendall used as normal parameters. Factors associated with CPP were assessed by logistic regression analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Logistic regression showed that the independent factors associated with CPP were postural changes in the cervical spine (OR 4.1; 95% CI 1.6–10.7; p < 0.01) and scapulae (OR 2.9; 95% CI 1.1–7.6; p < 0.05).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Musculoskeletal changes were associated with CPP in 34% of women. These findings suggest that a more detailed assessment of women with CPP is necessary for better diagnosis and for more effective treatment.</p

Fungal model systems and the elucidation of pathogenicity determinants

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