Avaliação preliminar de progênies F2 e seleção de linhagens para programa de melhoramento de melão.

Este trabalho objetivou avaliar preliminarmente progênies provenientes de um híbrido comercial de melão, para seleção de diferentes padrões de frutos a serem utilizados em programa de melhoramento da cultura.Suplemento, ref 507. Edição dos Resumos do 47. Congresso Brasileiro de Olericultura; 4. Simpósio Brasileiro sobre Cucurbitáceas, Porto Seguro, ago. 2007

Genetic diversity of NS5A protein from hepatitis C virus genotype 3a and its relationship to therapy response

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The quasispecies nature of HCV may have important implications for viral persistence, pathogenicity and resistance to antiviral agents. The variability of one of the viral proteins, NS5A, is believed to be related to the response to IFN therapy, the standard treatment for infection. In this study we analyzed the quasispecies composition of NS5A protein in patients infected with HCV genotype 3a, before IFN therapy.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Viral RNA was isolated from samples of 12 patients: four sustained virological responders (SVR), four non-responders (NR), and four end-of-treatment responders (ETR). cDNA was synthesized, the NS5A region was amplified and the fragments obtained were cloned. Fifteen clones from each patient were sequenced with eight primers, generating 179 contigs.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Higher values for substitution (either synonymous or non-synonymous) and for distance were found in the SVR group. However, the NR group showed relatively more non-synonymous mutations than the other groups, owing to the higher values of dN/dS in complete NS5A and most specific regions. Overall, NS5A protein is undergoing purifying selection, since all dN/dS ratios values are below 0.5.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our study provides an overview of the genetic variability of complete NS5A protein in HCV genotype 3a.</p

Neuroprotection by adenosine in the brain: From A1 receptor activation to A2A receptor blockade

Adenosine is a neuromodulator that operates via the most abundant inhibitory adenosine A1 receptors (A1Rs) and the less abundant, but widespread, facilitatory A2ARs. It is commonly assumed that A1Rs play a key role in neuroprotection since they decrease glutamate release and hyperpolarize neurons. In fact, A1R activation at the onset of neuronal injury attenuates brain damage, whereas its blockade exacerbates damage in adult animals. However, there is a down-regulation of central A1Rs in chronic noxious situations. In contrast, A2ARs are up-regulated in noxious brain conditions and their blockade confers robust brain neuroprotection in adult animals. The brain neuroprotective effect of A2AR antagonists is maintained in chronic noxious brain conditions without observable peripheral effects, thus justifying the interest of A2AR antagonists as novel protective agents in neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease, ischemic brain damage and epilepsy. The greater interest of A2AR blockade compared to A1R activation does not mean that A1R activation is irrelevant for a neuroprotective strategy. In fact, it is proposed that coupling A2AR antagonists with strategies aimed at bursting the levels of extracellular adenosine (by inhibiting adenosine kinase) to activate A1Rs might constitute the more robust brain neuroprotective strategy based on the adenosine neuromodulatory system. This strategy should be useful in adult animals and especially in the elderly (where brain pathologies are prevalent) but is not valid for fetus or newborns where the impact of adenosine receptors on brain damage is different

Avaliação preliminar de progênies F2 e seleção de linhagens para programa de melhoramento genético de melão.

Na região do Submédio São Francisco, uma das dificuldades na produção de melão está no alto custo das sementes híbridas, forçando ospequenos agricultores a utilizarem sementes F2 em seus cultivos.Edição dos Anais do 47. Congresso Brasileiro de Olericultura; 4. Simpósio Brasileiro sobre Cucurbitáceas, Porto Seguro, ago. 2007

Pesquisa exploratória: procedimento metodológico para o estudo de fatores humanos no campo da saúde pública Exploratory research: a methodological procedure applied to the study of human factors in the field of public health

Propõe-se procedimento metodológico de abordagem qualitativa denominado pesquisa exploratória, cuja aplicação tem por finalidade a elaboração de instrumento de pesquisa adequado à realidade. Discute-se o emprego da expressão "pesquisa exploratória", de um ponto de vista tradicional e nessa nova concepção. Fundamenta-se a utilização desse procedimento metodológico para o estudo de fatores humanos e apresentam-se as etapas da sua execução. Sugerem-se indicações para aplicação desse recurso em pesquisas no campo da saúde pública.<br>Exploratory research is proposed as a methodological procedure for a qualitative approach. The main purpose of this procedure is that of helping the researcher to develop a measurement tool which reflects reality. Both exploratory research conceptions, the traditional and the new one are discussed. The application of this methodological procedure to the study of human factors is recommended and the implementation stages are presented. Some applications for research in public health are suggested