Immunomodulatory effects of recombinant BCG expressing pertussis toxin on TNF-alpha and IL-10 in a bladder cancer model

Background: Since successful treatment of superficial bladder cancer with BCG requires proper induction of Th1 immunity, we have developed a rBCG-S1PT strain that induced a stronger cellular immune response than BCG. This preclinical study was designed to compare the modulatory effects of BCG and rBCG-S1PT on bladder TNF-alpha and IL-10 expression and to evaluate antitumour activity. Methods: For Experiment I, the MB49 bladder cancer cell line was used in C57BL/6 mice. Chemical cauterization of the bladder was performed to promote intravesical tumor implantation. Mice were treated by intravesical instillation with BCG, rBCG-S1PT or PBS once a week for four weeks. After 35 days the bladders were removed and weighed. TNF-<alpha and IL-10 cytokine responses were measured by qPCR. Experiment II was performed in the same manner as Experiment I, except the animals were not challenged with MB49 tumor cells. Results: rBCG-S1PT immunotherapy resulted in bladder weight reduction, compared to the BCG and control group. There were increases in TNF-alpha in the BCG-treated group, as well as increases in TNF-alpha and IL-10 mRNA in the rBCG-S1PT group. Conclusion: These data indicate a significant reduction of bladder tumor volume for the rBCG group, compared to the BCG and PBS groups. This suggests that rBCG could be a useful substitute for wild-type BCG and that the potential modulation between TNF-alpha and IL-10 cytokine productions may have therapeutic value

Treacher Collins syndrome with choanal atresia: a case report and review of disease features

SummaryTreacher Collins Syndrome - or mandibulofacial dysostosis – is a rare condition that presents several craniofacial deformities of different levels. This is a congenital malformation involving the first and second branchial arches. Incidence is estimated to range between 1-40,000 to 1-70,000 of live births. The disorder is characterized by abnormalities of the auricular pinna, hypoplasia of facial bones, antimongoloid slanting palpebral fissures with coloboma of the lower eyelids and cleft palate. Treacher Collins Syndrome is rarely associated with choanal atresia. A multidisciplinary team, including craniofacial surgeon, ophthalmologist, speech therapist, dental surgeon and otorhinolaryngologist, is the most appropriate setting to manage these patients. This study reports a rare case of Treacher Collins Syndrome with choanal atresia, presenting literature review and multidisciplinary intervention

Dopamine up-regulates Th17 phenotype from individuals with generalized anxiety disorder

AbstractOur objective was to evaluate the effect of stress-related dose of dopamine (DA) on the in vitro proliferation and cytokine production in polyclonally-activated T cells from healthy individuals or individuals with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Our results demonstrated that cell cultures from GAD group proliferated less following T cell activation, as compared with control group. The addition of DA reduced the proliferative response in cell cultures from healthy but not from GAD individuals. The cytokine profile in GAD individuals revealed Th1 and Th2 deficiencies associated with a dominant Th17 phenotype, which was enhanced by DA. A similar DA-induced immunomodulation was also observed in PPD-activated cell cultures from GAD individuals. Unlike the control, DA-enhanced Th17 cytokine production in GAD individuals was not affected by glucocorticoid. In conclusion, our results show that the T cell functional dysregulation in GAD individuals is significantly amplified by DA. These immune abnormalities can have impact in increasing the susceptibility of individuals with anxiety disorders to infectious diseases and inflammatory/autoimmune disorders

Redescription and geographical distribution of the endangered fish ossubtus xinguense Jégu 1992 (Characiformes, Serrasalmidae) with comments on conservation of the rheophilic fauna of the Xingu River

The monotypic species Ossubtus xinguense was originally described based on scarce material putatively divided into juveniles and adults. Ossubtus xinguense has a restricted distribution and was previously known only from a few rapids downstream of the city of Altamira, in the Volta Grande stretch of the Middle Xingu River. Until recently, the species was rare in museums because its habitat (large rapids) is difficult to sample. Large-scale collecting efforts targeting rapids throughout the Xingu River basin have yielded an abundance of new material. Based on an analysis of the type series and freshly preserved specimens, we redescribe O. xinguense and provide detailed osteological descriptions along with comments about its relationships within Serrasalmidae. Furthermore, we expand the geographical distribution of the species and discuss its conservation status. © 2016 Andrade et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited

Karyotype differentiation of four Cestrum species (Solanaceae) revealed by fluorescent chromosome banding and FISH

The karyotypes of four South American species of Cestrum (C. capsulare,C. corymbosum,C. laevigatum and C. megalophylum) were studied using conventional staining, C-CMA/DAPI chromosome banding and FISH with 45S and 5S rDNA probes. The karyotypes showed a chromosome number of 2n = 2x = 16, with metacentric chromosomes, except for the eighth submeta- to acrocentric pair. Several types of heterochromatin were detected, which varied in size, number, distribution and base composition. The C-CMA+ bands and 45S rDNA were located predominantly in terminal regions. The C-CMA + /DAPI + bands appeared in interstitial and terminal regions, and the C-DAPI + bands were found in all chromosome regions. The 5S rDNA sites were observed on the long arm of pair 8 in all species except C. capsulare, where they were found in the paracentromeric region of the long arm of pair 4. The differences in band patterns among the species studied here, along with data from other nine species reported in the literature, suggest that the bands are dispersed in an equilocal and non-equilocal manner and that structural rearrangements can be responsible for internal karyotype diversification. However, it is important to point out that the structural changes involving repetitive segments did not culminate in substantial changes in the general karyotype structure concerning chromosome size and morphology

Phytosociological survey on native pasture of Paspalum notatum

Todos os textos, informa??es e resultados apresentados s?o de inteira responsabilidade dos autores.Coordenador/Orientador do Projeto: M?rcia Vit?ria Santos.Parte da inicia??o cientifica do primeiro autor, financiado pelo Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cient?fico e Tecnol?gico (CNPq), Funda??o de Amparo ? Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG) e Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior (CAPES).Objetivou-se com esse trabalho, realizar o levantamento fitossociol?gico em pastagem nativa de Paspalum notatum no munic?pio de Couto de Magalh?es de Minas-MG. O levantamento fitossociol?gico foi realizado em pastagem nativa de Paspalum notatum no munic?pio de Couto de Magalh?es de Minas MG. Para a identifica??o das plantas daninhas foi utilizado o m?todo do quadrado invent?rio, lan?ando ao acaso na ?rea 40 vezes um quadro de um metro de lado, totalizando uma ?rea amostral de 40m2. Avaliou-se a frequ?ncia (Fre), densidade (Den) e abund?ncia (Abu) das esp?cies encontradas na pastagem. Foram identificadas esp?cies distribu?das em seis fam?lias, destacando-se a fam?lia das Poaceae com cinco esp?cies. As esp?cies que apresentaram maior frequ?ncia (Fre) foram Sidastrum micranthum (malva-preta), Rhynchelystrum repens (capim-favorito) e Crotalaria incana (xique-xique), respectivamente. As esp?cies Eupatorium maximilianii (mata-pasto), Paspalum notatum (grama batatais) e Brachiaria decumbens (braquiarinha), apresentaram os maiores valores de densidade (Den), respectivamente. Paspalum notatum (grama batatais), Eupatorium maximilianii (mata-pasto) e Brachiaria decumbens (braquiarinha) foram ?s esp?cies que apresentaram maior abund?ncia (Abu). A pastagem de Paspalum notatum encontra-se infestada com esp?cies daninhas necessitando controle e corre??o do manejo do pasto para maior desempenho animal.The aim of this study was to do the phytosociological evaluation on a native pasture of Paspalum notatum in Couto de Magalh?es de Minas-MG. The phytosociological evaluation was made on native pasture of Paspalum notatum in Couto de Magalh?es de Minas-MG. To identification of the weed, the method used was the square inventory, hurled randomly in the area 40 times a square of one meter of side, totaling 40m2 of sample area. It was evaluate the frequency (Fre), density (Den), and abundancy (Abu) of the species found in the area. It was identified species of six families, standing out the family of the Poaceae including five species. The species that presented more frequency (Fre) were Sidastrum micranthum (dainty sandmallow), Rhynchelystrum repens (natal grass), and Crotalaria incana (woolly rattlepod), respectively. The species Eupatorium maximilianii ("mata-pasto"), Paspalum notatum (pensacola), and Brachiaria decumbens (signal grass), presented the higher values of density (Den), respectively. Paspalum notatum (pensacola), Eupatorium maximilianii ("mata-pasto"), and Brachiaria decumbens (signal grass), were the species that presented higher abundancy (Abu). The pasture of Paspalum notatum has found infested by weed, requiring control and correction of the management of the area to increase the animal performance

Pastures degradation assessment by infestation in plants weeds

Parte da inicia??o cientifica do primeiro autor, financiado pelo CNPq, FAPEMIG, CAPES.Todos os textos, informa??es e resultados apresentados s?o de inteira responsabilidade dos autores.Objetivou-se a partir desse trabalho avaliar a degrada??o de uma pastagem nativa de Paspalum notatum a partir da ocorr?ncia de plantas daninhas. O levantamento fitossociol?gico foi realizado em pastagem nativa de Paspalum notatum no munic?pio de Couto de Magalh?es de Minas - MG. Para a identifica??o das plantas daninhas foi utilizado o m?todo do quadrado invent?rio, lan?ando ao acaso na ?rea 40 vezes um quadro de um metro de lado, totalizando uma ?rea amostral de 40m2. Avaliou-se a frequ?ncia relativa (Frr), densidade relativa (Der), abund?ncia relativa (Abr) e o ?ndice de valor de import?ncia (IVI) das esp?cies encontradas na ?rea. Os maiores valores de frequ?ncia relativa (Frr) foram das esp?cies Sidastrum micrathum (malva-preta), Imperata brasiliensis (Sap?), Crotalaria incana (xique-xique) e Mimosa pudica (dormideira), respectivamente. As esp?cies Eupatorium maximilianii (mata-pasto), Paspalum notatum (grama batatais), Brachiaria decumbens (braquiarinha) e Cynodon dactylon (estrela roxa) apresentaram os maiores valores de densidade relativa, abund?ncia relativa e ?ndice de valor de import?ncia. A presen?a de Brachiaria decumbens, Cynodon dactylon, Eupatorium maximilianii e a baixa frequ?ncia relativa da esp?cie nativa s?o indicativos que a pastagem encontrase em est?dio de degrada??o avan?ado.ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the degradation of a native pasture of Paspalum notatum starting from the weeds occurrence. The phytosociological evaluation was made in native pasture of Paspalum notatum in Couto de Magalh?es de Minas - MG. To identify the weed the method of the inventory square was utilized, hurled randomly in the area 40 times a square of one meter of side, totaling 40m2 of sample area. It was evaluate the relative frequency (Frr), relative density (Der), relative abundancy (Abr), and the value of importance index (IVI) of the species found in the area. The higher values of relative frequency (Frr) were of the species Sidastrum micrathum (dainty sandmallow), Imperata brasiliensis (cogon grass), Crotalaria incana (woolly rattlepod), and Mimosa pudica (sensitive plant), respectively. The species Eupatorium maximilianii ("mata-pasto"), Paspalum notatum (pensacola), Brachiaria decumbens (signal grass), and Cynodon dactylon (bernuda grass) presented the higher values of relative density (Drr), relative abundancy (Abr), and value of importance index (IVI). The presence of the Brachiaria decumbens, Cynodon dactylon, Eupatorium maximilianii and the lower frequency of the native specie, are indicatives that the pasture has found in advanced state of degradation

Estoques de carbono e nitrogênio no solo devido a mudança do uso da terra em áreas de cultivo de café em minas gerais

The type of previous land use to the coffee cultivation and the adopted management practices of coffee pruning may affect the dynamics of soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N). Thus, the aim of this study was to quantify soil C and N stocks in the three main coffee production regions of Minas Gerais State, evaluating different management systems and coffee cultivation time compared to cultivated pastures. For the calculation of C and N stocks, soil samples were collected to determine the content of C and N, in addition to soil density at different depths. Evaluated situations included management of coffee areas with and without pruning, and the type of previous land use to the coffee crop currently in the areas (i.e. pasture or coffee). The results indicated that coffee cultivation under grazing areas along with the adoption of good agricultural practices such as proper management of pruning and good weed control led to the maintenance of soil C and N stocks over time. Through this fact, it is possible to state that coffee cultivation positively affects soil health.O tipo de uso da terra anterior ao plantio de café e o manejo de podas adotado no cafezal podem condicionar a dinâmica do carbono (C) e do nitrogênio (N) no solo. Desta forma, o objetivo neste trabalho foi quantificar os estoques de C e N do solo nas três principais regiões produtoras de café de Minas Gerais, avaliando diferentes sistemas de manejo e cultivo do café em comparação com pastos cultivados. Para o cálculo dos estoques foram coletadas amostras de solo para determinação dos teores de C e N, além da densidade em diferentes profundidades. As avaliações incluem manejo das áreas com e sem podas, e o tipo de uso da terra anterior ao cultivo do café. Os resultados indicam que o cultivo do café sobre áreas de pastagem, com adoção de boas práticas agrícolas como um manejo adequado de podas e bom controle do mato, propicia a manutenção dos estoques de carbono e nitrogênio do solo. Através deste fato pode-se mencionar que a cafeicultura reflete positivamente na saúde do solo