Survey Of Acarin Fauna In Dust Samplings Of Curtains In The City Of Campinas, Brazil.

The aim of this study was to investigate the mite fauna present in 33 living room and 22 bedroom curtain dust samples from 41 different homes in the southern Brazilian city of Campinas, SP. A total of 148 mite bodies were found. Of these, 83 were found in living-room curtain samples (56.1% of total) and 65 were in bedroom curtain dust samples (43.9%). The most frequently observed mite suborders were: Acaridida (n = 79; 53.4%), Actinedida (n=53; 35.8%), Oribatida (n=14; 9.5%), and Gamasida (n=2; 1.3%). The most frequent families were Pyroglyphidae (n=61; 41.2%), Eriophyidae (n=25; 16.9%), Tarsonemidae (n=15; 10.1%), and Glycyphagidae (n=13; 8.8%). No statistical difference was observed between the number of mites found in the samples from living room and bedroom curtains.651252

In situ gamma-ray spectrometry (GRS) use for non-destructive archaeological exploration

Pre-print versionLandscape, Heritage and Paleoenvironment Laboratory, University of Santiago, Spain Geophysical prospection methods are used in archaeology to locate features of archaeological sites before excavation. Among geophysical methods, those mostly used in archaeology are seismic methods, electromagnetical surveys, and georadar. All of them allow assessing properties of soil, sediment and/or rock, providing cross section of soil properties that can be related to buried archaeological structures and objects. Gamma-ray spectrometry (GRS) is a technique used for different geological purposes including mineral exploration and mapping. However, it has not been applied in archaeology: the only study case known by the authors was successful (Moussa, 2001) but no later reports or more extensive studies have been found. In situ GRS is a non-destructive method that allows direct assessment of potassium-40 (40K), uranium-238 (238U) and thorium-232 (232Th) and daughter radionuclides of their decay chains on rock outcrops and soils. Such radionuclides are ubiquitous in most rocks and soils and the main causes of natural gamma radiation. The technique allows assessing their concentration in topsoil, being of potential use for archaeological exploration but two assumptions must be made: the archaeological buried objects must contain a different concentration of radionuclides than the surrounding sediment or soil, and they must be buried in the topsoil (25-30 cm depth). Thus, it is potentially applicable for exploration of shallow structures or objects. However, it does not provide cross -sections of the ground, but maps of the structures and objects buried. In this work, we have tested in situ GRS in an archaeological site that was partially excavated. In the site, remains of walls made of stone have been excavated, being buried in other parts of the site, but near the ground surface, being the top of the structures at 10-30 cm depth. We have tested in situ GRS in small parcel of 10 x 7 m, located beside nearby excavated areas which wall remains are partially buried in the studied parcel. The purpose of the study is to assess if the technique is reliable for the exploration of structures. Rocks used as building materials in the walls are mostly metamorphic rocks of very low radionuclide content with negligible 40K. However, the sediment that uries the structures contains significant amounts of K, U and Th radioisotopes. Results showed reliable results for surface exploration where shallow structures exist, despite the low radioactive content of the archaeological materials in the site.Este trabalho insere-se nas atividades do Projeto Lab2PT- Laboratório de Paisagens, Património e Território - AUR/04509 que tem o apoio financeiro da FCT/MCTES através de fundos nacionais (PIDDAC) e o cofinanciamento do Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional (FEDER), refª POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007528, no âmbito do novo acordo de parceria PT2020 através do COMPETE 2020 – Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalização (POCI).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Effects of pneumonectomy on nitric oxide synthase expression and perivascular edema in the remaining lung of rats

Pneumonectomy is associated with high mortality and high rates of complications. Postpneumonectomy pulmonary edema is one of the leading causes of mortality. Little is known about its etiologic factors and its association with the inflammatory process. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the role of pneumonectomy as a cause of pulmonary edema and its association with gas exchange, inflammation, nitric oxide synthase (NOS) expression and vasoconstriction. Forty-two non-specific pathogen-free Wistar rats were included in the study. Eleven animals died during or after the procedure, 21 were submitted to left pneumonectomy and 10 to sham operation. These animals were sacrificed after 48 or 72 h. Perivascular pulmonary edema was more intense in pneumonectomized rats at 72 h (P = 0.0131). Neutrophil density was lower after pneumonectomy in both groups (P = 0.0168). There was higher immunohistochemical expression of eNOS in the pneumonectomy group (P = 0.0208), but no statistically significant difference in the expression of iNOS. The lumen-wall ratio and pO2/FiO2 ratio did not differ between the operated and sham groups after pneumonectomy. Left pneumonectomy caused perivascular pulmonary edema with no elevation of immunohistochemical expression of iNOS or neutrophil density, suggesting the absence of correlation with the inflammatory process or oxidative stress. The increased expression of eNOS may suggest an intrinsic production of NO without signs of vascular reactivity.Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES)CNP

A SOMATOTROFINA BOVINA (bST) E SUA RELAÇÃO COM O RECRUTAMENTO FOLICULAR OVARIANO DURANTE O CICLO ESTRAL DE VACAS

O objetivo do experimento foi testar os efeitos da somatotrofina bovina (BST) no recrutamento de folículos ovarianos, durante o ciclo estral de vacas. Foram utilizadas seis vacas não lactantes Bostrurus taurus antes do experimento, os animais foram submetidos a exames ginecológicos completos, estando o escore médio da condição corporal dos animais em 3,0. As vacas foram divididas ao acaso em dois grupos: G1 - três animais, tratados com somatotrofina bovina recombinante (BST) 500 mg, de liberação lenta com vitamina E (IM); G2 - três vacas controles, que receberam 10 ml (IM) de solução fisiológica estéril como placebo. Para sincronizar o estro base das vacas foram utilizados implantes de norgestomet de 3 mg, na face externa da orelha (SC). O implante permaneceu por 10 dias seguidos nos animais de ambos os grupos e na sua retirada, utilizou-se uma dose de 500 ì g de cloprostenol (IM). No 3º dia pós estro os animais foram tratados respectivamente com BST (G1) e solução fisiológica para os controles (G2). Diariamente, a partir do dia do estro base até o próximo estro, os ovários das vacas foram monitorados¨ ultrassonograficamente com vistas ao número de folículos recrutados em cada onda folicular, verificação do folículo dominante (FD) e sua evolução, bem como o diâmetro individual dos outros folículos. Para o monitoramento folicular ovariano, foi utilizado aparelho de ultrassonografia e transdutor linear de 5.0 megahertz. Foram detectados durante o ciclo estral em média 8,5 e 8,3 folículos maiores que 4,0 mm de diâmetro nos animais dos G1 e G2 respectivamente; em torno do 10º dia pós tratamento observou-se o maior número de folículos recrutados em ambos os grupos; houve cinco animais com 2 ondas foliculares e um com três, sendo o número de folículos recrutados em cada onda como segue (G1 e G2, respectivamente): 1ª onda 7,6 e 7,0; 2ª onda 8,3 e 8,0; dia da detecção do 1º FD 1,0 e 1,6 dias ; 2º FD 8,6 e 9,0 dias; duração da 1ª onda folicular 11,6 e 9,6 dias; da 2ª onda folicular 8,0 e 7,6 dias; diâmetro máximo do 1º FD 18,2 e 15,8 mm; do 2º FD 16,6 e 15,0 mm; diâmetro do corpo lúteo (CL) do estro base 30,7 e 24,3 mm; dia do diâmetro folicular máximo pós tratamento do FD da 1ª onda: 8,6º e 10,3º; do 2º FD 18,6º e 16,6º dia. Baseados nesses resultados concluiu-se que a aplicação isolada de BST no 3º dia do ciclo estral, não exerceu influência entre os grupos relativamente ao recrutamento folicular ovariano, à exceção da duração da fase luteal, a qual alongou-se significativamente (p0,05) entre os grupos. A administração do BST expressou uma tendência em maior número de folículos recrutados (p>0,05). The bovine somatotrophin in the estrus cycle and its relationships with the ovarian follicular recruitment in cows Abstract The aim of this research was to evaluate the effects of the bovine somatotropin (BST) on the ovarian follicular wave of estrus cycle in cows. Six nonlactating cows Bos taurus taurus, from which four Holstein Friesian, one Jersey and one Holstein-pingzgauer breed, were used. The cows were submitted to a genital examination prior to the experiment, the mean body score condition observed being 3.0. The animals were maintained on oat and azeven pasture, with corn silage and mineral suplementation ad libitum. The cows were ramdomly divided in two groups: G1 three animals treated with 500 mg BST in the third day post estrus; G2 - three control cows (10 ml physiologic solution). Norgestomet implants on the ear internal face and intramuscular PGF2 alpha were used to perform the estrus synchronization. The bovine ovaries were daily scanned by ultrasound, from the estrus day to the following estrus, in order to detect the follicular development in each follicular wave. During the estrus cycle 8.5 and 8.3 follicles bigger than 4.0 mm of diameter were detected in G1 and G2, respectively. The highest number of recruitment follicles occurred in both groups around the 10th day post treatment; five cows had two follicular waves and the other, one. The number of recruitment follicles in each wave for G1 and G2 group was respectively: 1st wave, 7.6 and 7.0; 2nd wave, 8.3 and 8.0; 1st dominant follicle (FD) detection 1.0 and 1.6 days; 2nd FD detection 8.6 and 9.0 days; 1st follicular wave length, 11.6 and 9.6 days; 2nd follicular wave, 8.0 and 7.6 days. The maximum diameter of the 1st FD was 18.2 and 15.8 mm; from the 2nd FD 16.6 and 15.0 mm; CL diameter from the estrus basis, 30.7 and 24.3 mm; at the day of the major follicular diameter post treatment of the 1st FD (1st wave) 8.6 and 10.3; from the 2nd wave, FD 18.6 and 16.6 day, respectively. In conclusion, the isolated administration of BST in the 3rd day of the estrus cycle did not influence the follicular recruitment between groups, except on the length of the luteal phase (p0.05) between groups. The BST effect appointed a tendency on the greater number of recruitment follicles (p>0,05)

Stretch-induced activation of pannexin 1 channels can be prevented by pka-dependent phosphorylation

Indexación ScopusPannexin 1 channels located in the cell membrane are permeable to ions, metabolites, and signaling molecules. While the activity of these channels is known to be modulated by phosphorylation on T198, T308, and S206, the possible involvement of other putative phosphorylation sites remains unknown. Here, we describe that the activity of Panx1 channels induced by mechanical stretch is reduced by adenosine via a PKA-dependent pathway. The mechanical stretch-induced activity—measured by changes in DAPI uptake—of Panx1 channels expressed in HeLa cell transfectants was inhibited by adenosine or cAMP analogs that permeate the cell membrane. Moreover, inhibition of PKA but not PKC, p38 MAPK, Akt, or PKG prevented the effects of cAMP analogs, suggesting the involvement of Panx1 phosphorylation by PKA. Accordingly, alanine substitution of T302 or S328, two putative PKA phosphorylation sites, prevented the inhibitory effect of cAMP analogs. Moreover, phosphomimetic mutation of either T302 or S328 to aspartate prevented the mechanical stretch-induced activation of Panx1 channels. A molecular dynamics simulation revealed that T302 and S328 are located in the water–lipid interphase near the lateral tunnel of the intracellular region, suggesting that their phosphorylation could promote conformational changes in lateral tunnels. Thus, Panx1 phosphorylation via PKA could be modulated by G protein-coupled receptors associated with the Gs subunit. © 2020, MDPI AG. All rights reserved.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/21/23/918

Inhalation of the prodrug PI3K inhibitor CL27c improves lung function in asthma and fibrosis

PI3K activation plays a central role in the development of pulmonary inflammation and tissue remodeling. PI3K inhibitors may thus offer an improved therapeutic opportunity to treat non-resolving lung inflammation but their action is limited by unwanted on-target systemic toxicity. Here we present CL27c, a prodrug pan-PI3K inhibitor designed for local therapy, and investigate whether inhaled CL27c is effective in asthma and pulmonary fibrosis. Mice inhaling CL27c show reduced insulin-evoked Akt phosphorylation in lungs, but no change in other tissues and no increase in blood glycaemia, in line with a local action. In murine models of acute or glucocorticoid-resistant neutrophilic asthma, inhaled CL27c reduces inflammation and improves lung function. Finally, inhaled CL27c administered in a therapeutic setting protects from bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis, ultimately leading to significantly improved survival. Therefore, local delivery of a pan-PI3K inhibitor prodrug reduces systemic on-target side effects but effectively treats asthma and irreversible pulmonary fibrosis