Dihydrotestostenone increase the gene expression of androgen receptor coregulator FHL2 in human nontransformed epithelial prostatic cells

The actions of androgens are mediated through an androgen receptor (AR), and AR activity is modulated by coregulators. The aim of this study was to assess the action of androgens in the expression of AR and the coregulators FHL-2 and SHP-1 in human non-transformed epithelial prostatic cells (HNTEP) treated with androgens. Prostate tissues were obtained from 12 patients between 60 and 77 years of age. HNTEP cells were grown in basal medium and treated with DHT in different conditions. HNTEP cells under treatment with DHT (10-13 M) induced an increase in FHL-2 expression. In turn, high DHT concentrations (10-8 M) induced an increase in the expression SHP-1. The present data suggest that the SHP-1 and FHL-2 genes play a role in the control of responsiveness and androgen-dose-dependent cell proliferation in HNTEP cells. Further studies are needed to assess the influence of androgens in AR and its coregulators and the implications in the pathophysiology of prostate diseases.Key words: Androgens, FHL-2, AR, prostate, proliferation, coregulators

Laboratório de citogenética vegetal Embrapa Recursos Genéticos e Biotecnologia: normas de utilização e manutenção.

O Laboratório de Citogenética Vegetal foi criado com o intuito de realizar pesquisas básicas de caracterização de recursos genéticos vegetais, que auxiliam direta ou indiretamente a coleta, multiplicação, conservação e consequentemente disponibiliza dados ao melhorista que poderá fazer uso imediato ou futuro deste recurso. Os estudos incluem: análise do número e morfologia de cromossomos; análise do comportamento meiótico; estudos de poliploidia; estudos de comportamento e estabilidade cromossômica; análise da viabilidade de pólen; identificação de apomixia; identificação de casmo/cleistogamia; estudos de hibridação intra/interespecífica e intergenérica; identificação de auto/alogamia; desenvolvimento e adaptação de metodologias para análise citogenética e reprodutiva em germoplasma vegetal. Além disso, o laboratório oferece sua infraestrutura está para o treinamento de recursos humanos em caracterização citogenética, através de estágios e cursos que são oferecidos conforme a demanda

Multidimensional prognostic index and mortality in intermediate care facilities: A retrospective study

Multidimensional prognostic index (MPI) is a frailty assessment tool used for stratifying prognosis in older hospitalized people, but data regarding older people admitted to intermediate care facilities (ICFs) are missing. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether MPI can predict mortality in older patients admitted to the ICFs. MPI was calculated using different domains explored by a standard comprehensive geriatric assessment and categorized into tertiles (MPI-1 ≤ 0.20, MPI 2 0.20–0.34, MPI 3 > 0.34). A Cox’s regression analysis, taking mortality as the outcome, was used, reporting the results as hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). In total, 653 older patients were enrolled (mean age: 82 years, 59.1% females). Patients in MPI-2 (HR = 3.66; 95%CI: 2.45–5.47) and MPI-3 (HR = 6.22; 95%CI: 4.22–9.16) experienced a higher risk of mortality, compared to MPI-1. The accuracy of MPI in predicting mortality was good (area under the curve (AUC) = 0.74, 95%CI: 0.70–0.78). In conclusion, our study showed that prognostic stratification, as assessed by the MPI, was associated with a significantly different risk of mortality in older patients admitted to the ICFs, indicating the necessity of using a CGA-based tool for better managing older people in this setting as well. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

MOBILE MAPPING OF THE LA CORONA LAVATUBE ON LANZAROTE

Abstract. Planetary surfaces consist of rough terrain and cave-like environments. Future planetary exploration demands for accurate mapping. However, recent backpack mobile mapping systems are mostly tested in structured, indoor environments. This paper evaluates the use of a backpack mobile mapping system in a cave-like environment. The experiments demonstrate the abilities of an continuous-time optimization approach by mapping part of a lavatube of the La Corona volcano system on Lanzarote. We compare two strategies for trajectory estimation relying either on 2D or 3D laser scanners and show that a 3D laser scanner substantially improved the final results.</p

Mortality attributable to COVID-19 in nursing home residents: a retrospective study

Aim: Coronavirus-19 disease (COVID-19) is a widespread condition in nursing home (NH). It is not known whether COVID-19 is associated with a higher risk of death than residents without COVID-19. Therefore,&nbsp;the aim of this study was to assess whether COVID-19 is associated with a higher mortality rate in NH residents, considering frailty status assessed with the Multidimensional Prognostic Index (MPI). Methods: In this retrospective study, made in 31&nbsp;NHs in Venice, Italy, the presence of COVID-19 was ascertained with a nasopharyngeal swab. Frailty was evaluated using the MPI, modified according to the tools commonly used in our NHs. A Cox’s regression analysis was used reporting the results as hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), using COVID-19 as exposure and mortality as outcome and stratified by MPI tertiles. Similar analyses were run using MPI tertiles as exposure. Results: Overall, 3946 NH residents (median age = 87&nbsp;years, females: 73.9%) were eligible, with 1136 COVID-19 +. During a median follow-up of 275&nbsp;days, higher values of MPI, indicating frailer people, were associated with an increased risk of mortality. The incidence of mortality in COVID-19 + was more than doubled than COVID-19- either in MPI-1, MPI-2 and MPI-3 groups. The presence of COVID-19 increased the risk of death (HR = 1.85; 95% CI 1.59–2.15), also in the propensity score model using MPI as confounder (HR = 2.48; 95% CI 2.10–2.93). Conclusion: In this retrospective study of NH residents, COVID-19 was associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality than those not affected by COVID-19 also considering the different grades of frailty. © 2021, The Author(s)

k cl co transport plays an important role in normal and β thalassemic erythropoiesis

Background and Objectives Cell volume changes are hallmarks of both cell maturation and apoptosis, and are paralleled by modulation of membrane ion transport pathways. We evaluated the possible role of K-Cl co-transport (KCC) in both normal and β-thalassemic erythropoiesis in vitro . Design and Methods We studied the effects of the KCC inhibitor, DIOA, on cell proliferation and differentiation, on expression of KCC mRNA and polypeptides, and on expression of cell cycle and apoptosis genes in in vitro liquid-cultures of CD34+ cells from normal and β-thalassemic subjects. Results β-thalassemic erythroid precursors showed increased abundance of KCC1-3 mRNA and of KCC polypeptides in late erythropoiesis. DIOA markedly modified the composition of normal erythroid precursors, promoting differentiation and arrest at the polychromatic erythroblast stage and resulting in a precursor distribution profile similar to that of untreated β-thalassemic cells. DIOA up-regulated cyclin-D mRNA levels in late erythropoiesis in both cell models, paralleling changes in the percentage of S-phase-cells. Caspase-3 activity in late erythropoiesis declined to similar degrees in both cell models. DIOA did not modify caspase-3 or -8 mRNA levels. Interpretation and Conclusions Ineffective erythropoiesis of in vitro cultured β-thalassemic cells is likely related to impaired cell maturation. KCC activity appears to contribute to erythroid cell growth during late erythropoiesis

Aspectos econômico-produtivos da atividade leiteira em sistemas de produção de base familiar na região noroeste do Rio Grande do Sul.

A Região Noroeste do Rio Grande do Sul representa um importante pólo de produção leiteira e, a qual está, em grande parte, baseada em unidades familiares. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi caracterizar, analisar e discutir aspectos econômico-produtivos desses sistemas de produção, com enfoque na pecuária leiteira. Interagindo com as famílias de agricultores participantes do Programa Rede Leite, tem-se acompanhado várias unidades produtivas, observando e realizando registros. Nesse estudo, analisaram-se dados provenientes de 29 propriedades, caracterizadas por 18 indicadores econômico-produtivos, utilizando-se como ferramenta a estatística multivariada. Identificou-se a formação de dois tipos básicos de sistemas de produção, diferenciados principalmente pela área total da propriedade, que, por sua vez, condiciona diferenças em outras variáveis. Os agricultores dispõem de variadas estratégias produtivas em função das condições e recursos próprios do sistema. A identificação e caracterização dos tipos de sistemas de produção nos permitem gerar proposições no sentido de melhorar os processos produtivos e conferir maior sustentabilidade