Wind-pattern circulation as a palaeogeographic indicator: case study of the 1.5-1.6 Ga Mangabeira Formation, São Francisco Craton, Northeast Brazil

The preserved deposits of dune-scale aeolian bedforms provide valuable palaeoenvironmental indicators of atmospheric circulation patterns and the latitudinal position and distribution of land masses. However, no attempts to use palaeowind directions and palaeogeographic reconstructions of ancient land mass distribution have been published to model Precambrian atmospheric circulation. The Mangabeira Formation is a large Mesoproterozoic aeolian erg succession (1.6 to 1.5 Ga) composed of two aeolian units that accumulated in the São Francisco Craton, Brazil. The Lower Unit records multiple drying-upward depositional cycles, each of which represents an episode of erg expansion and contraction driven by climate changes. The Upper Unit is composed dominantly of stacked aeolian dune strata that lack intervening interdune deposits and which record extreme aridity. Palaeowind directions recorded from cross-strata of transverse, crescentic aeolian dunes of the Lower and Upper Units record dune migration under the influence of two dominant winds that blew to the southeast and northwest. Analysis of these palaeowind data in relation to assessment of regional palaeogeographic reconstructions for the period 1.6 to 1.5 Ga reveals a correlation between atmospheric circulation and land mass distribution. At this time the São Francisco Craton was located between the mid-latitudes and the equatorial zone. The wind regime determined from analysis of dip azimuths of cross-strata of the Lower Unit (1.6 to 1.54 Ga) are consistent with a palaeogeographic position between 25° to 35° S. Analysis of cross-strata dip azimuths of the Upper Unit indicate northwest-directed palaeowinds and a dominant monsoonal wind pattern from 1.54 to 1.5 Ga. During this time the large land mass of the São-Francisco-Congo and Siberian cratons drifted northwards through the equatorial zone from palaeolatitude 30° S to 30°N

GERMINATION AND RE-INDUCTION OF DISSECATION TOLERANCE IN SEEDS OF Senna multijuga (RICH.) IRWIN ET BARN

O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar diferentes m\ue9todos de supera\ue7\ue3o de dorm\ueancia, condi\ue7\uf5es \uf3timas de germina\ue7\ue3o, tais como luz, temperatura, e poss\uedvel reindu\ue7\ue3o da toler\ue2ncia \ue0 desseca\ue7\ue3o em sementes de Senna multijuga . Foram testados dois m\ue9todos de supera\ue7\ue3o de dorm\ueancia: imers\ue3o em \ue1gua com temperatura inicial de 100\ubaC (\ue1gua quente) e imers\ue3o em \ue1gua com temperatura constante a 100\ubaC por 20 segundos (\ue1gua fervente), ambos os tratamentos seguidos de repouso fora do aquecimento por 24 horas. Para o teste de germina\ue7\ue3o, foram avaliados os regimes t\ue9rmicos 25\ubaC, 30\ubaC (constantes) e 20-30\ub0C (alternados), na presen\ue7a e aus\ueancia de luz. Para o teste de reindu\ue7\ue3o da toler\ue2ncia \ue0 desseca\ue7\ue3o, foram selecionadas sementes germinadas com 1, 2, 3 e 4 mm de comprimento radicular e submetidas aos tratamentos de desseca\ue7\ue3o: sem incuba\ue7\ue3o; com incuba\ue7\ue3o em solu\ue7\ue3o de polietilenoglicol (PEG6000) nas concentra\ue7\uf5es de -1,4; -1,7 e -2,0MPa; com incuba\ue7\ue3o em solu\ue7\ue3o de PEG -1,4MPa + ABA nas concentra\ue7\uf5es de 1, 10 e 100 \u3bcM. O delineamento inteiramente casualizado (DIC) foi utilizado em todos os experimentos com 4 repeti\ue7\uf5es de 25 sementes. A supera\ue7\ue3o de dorm\ueancia utilizando \ue1gua quente proporcionou germinabilidade superior a 65%. As sementes de Senna multijuga, apesar de n\ue3o serem fotobl\ue1sticas positivas obrigat\uf3rias, apresentaram maior porcentagem de germina\ue7\ue3o sob condi\ue7\uf5es de luz. Foi poss\uedvel observar a retomada do crescimento ap\uf3s a secagem em sementes germinadas com rad\uedculas de at\ue9 3 mm de comprimento.The aims of this study were to verify the effects of different tests in the overcoming dormancy, excellent germination terms, as light and temperature, and the possibility of re-induction of desiccation tolerance in Senna multijuga seeds. We evaluated two tests for overcoming dormancy: immersion in water with an initial temperature of 100\ubaC (hot water) and immersion in water at a constant temperature at 100\ubaC for 20 seconds (boiling water), both treatments followed by rest out of the heating for 24 hours. For the germination test, we evaluated 25\ubaC, 30\ubaC (constant) and 20-30\ubaC (alternate), in the presence and absence of light. For the reinduction of desiccation tolerance, we selected seeds germinated with 1, 2, 3 and 4mm of radicle length. We submitted the germinated seeds to the follow treatments: no incubation, incubation in polyethylene glycol (PEG6000) at the -1,4, -1,7 and -2,0MPa; incubation in PEG -1,4MPa + ABA at the concentrations of 1, 10 and 100\u3bcM. The tests followed a completely randomized design (DIC) using 4 repetitions of 25 seeds. The overcoming dormancy using hot water provided the best germination (65%). The Senna multijuga seeds are not photoblastic required, but in light conditions the germination was higher. We observed the resumption of the radicle growth in germinated seeds of up to 3mm length

State of the Art and Future Challenges in Multiple Sclerosis Research and Medical Management: An Insight into the 5th International Porto Congress of Multiple Sclerosis

The 5th International Porto Congress of Multiple Sclerosis took place between the 14th and 16th of February 2019 in Porto, Portugal. Its intensive programme covered a wide-range of themes—including many of the hot topics, challenges, pitfalls and yet unmet needs in the field of multiple sclerosis (MS)—led by a number of well-acknowledged world experts. This meeting review summarizes the talks that took place during the congress, which focussed on issues in MS as diverse as the development and challenges of progressive MS, epidemiology, differential diagnosis, medical management, molecular research and imaging tools

Interhemispheric Interactions between the Human Primary Somatosensory Cortices

In the somatosensory domain it is still unclear at which processing stage information reaches the opposite hemispheres. Due to dense transcallosal connections, the secondary somatosensory cortex (S2) has been proposed to be the key candidate for interhemispheric information transfer. However, recent animal studies showed that the primary somatosensory cortex (S1) might as well account for interhemispheric information transfer. Using paired median nerve somatosensory evoked potential recordings in humans we tested the hypothesis that interhemispheric inhibitory interactions in the somatosensory system occur already in an early cortical processing stage such as S1. Conditioning right S1 by electrical median nerve (MN) stimulation of the left MN (CS) resulted in a significant reduction of the N20 response in the target (left) S1 relative to a test stimulus (TS) to the right MN alone when the interstimulus interval between CS and TS was between 20 and 25 ms. No such changes were observed for later cortical components such as the N20/P25, N30, P40 and N60 amplitude. Additionally, the subcortically generated P14 response in left S1 was also not affected. These results document the existence of interhemispheric inhibitory interactions between S1 in human subjects in the critical time interval of 20–25 ms after median nerve stimulation

Understanding the role of growth factors in modulating stem cell tenogenesis

Current treatments for tendon injuries often fail to fully restore joint biomechanics leading to the recurrence of symptoms, and thus resulting in a significant health problem with a relevant social impact worldwide. Cell-based approaches involving the use of stem cells might enable tailoring a successful tendon regeneration outcome. As growth factors (GFs) powerfully regulate the cell biological response, their exogenous addition can further stimulate stem cells into the tenogenic lineage, which might eventually depend on stem cells source. In the present study we investigate the tenogenic differentiation potential of human- amniotic fluid stem cells (hAFSCs) and adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs) with several GFs associated to tendon development and healing; namely, EGF, bFGF, PDGF-BB and TGF-β1. Stem cells response to biochemical stimuli was studied by screening of tendon-related genes (collagen type I, III, decorin, tenascin C and scleraxis) and proteins found in tendon extracellular matrix (ECM) (Collagen I, III, and Tenascin C). Despite the fact that GFs did not seem to influence the synthesis of tendon ECM proteins, EGF and bFGF influenced the expression of tendon-related genes in hAFSCs, while EGF and PDGF-BB stimulated the genetic expression in hASCs. Overall results on cellular alignment morphology, immunolocalization and PCR analysis indicated that both stem cell source can be biochemically induced towards tenogenic commitment, validating the potential of hASCs and hAFSCs for tendon regeneration strategies.Authors thank the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) for the research project BIBS (PTDC/CVT/102972/2008) and for the post-doc fellowship grant: SFRH/BPD/86775/2012. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

An updated PREDICT breast cancer prognostication and treatment benefit prediction model with independent validation

BACKGROUND PREDICT is a breast cancer prognostic and treatment benefit model implemented online. The overall fit of the model has been good in multiple independent case series, but PREDICT has been shown to underestimate breast cancer specific mortality in women diagnosed under the age of 40. Another limitation is the use of discrete categories for tumour size and node status resulting in 'step' changes in risk estimates on moving between categories. We have refitted the PREDICT prognostic model using the original cohort of cases from East Anglia with updated survival time in order to take into account age at diagnosis and to smooth out the survival function for tumour size and node status. METHODS Multivariable Cox regression models were used to fit separate models for ER negative and ER positive disease. Continuous variables were fitted using fractional polynomials and a smoothed baseline hazard was obtained by regressing the baseline cumulative hazard for each patients against time using fractional polynomials. The fit of the prognostic models were then tested in three independent data sets that had also been used to validate the original version of PREDICT. RESULTS In the model fitting data, after adjusting for other prognostic variables, there is an increase in risk of breast cancer specific mortality in younger and older patients with ER positive disease, with a substantial increase in risk for women diagnosed before the age of 35. In ER negative disease the risk increases slightly with age. The association between breast cancer specific mortality and both tumour size and number of positive nodes was non-linear with a more marked increase in risk with increasing size and increasing number of nodes in ER positive disease. The overall calibration and discrimination of the new version of PREDICT (v2) was good and comparable to that of the previous version in both model development and validation data sets. However, the calibration of v2 improved over v1 in patients diagnosed under the age of 40. CONCLUSIONS The PREDICT v2 is an improved prognostication and treatment benefit model compared with v1. The online version should continue to aid clinical decision making in women with early breast cancer

Osteochondral transplantation using autografts from the upper tibio-fibular joint for the treatment of knee cartilage lesions

Purpose Treatment of large cartilage lesions of the knee in weight-bearing areas is still a controversy and challenging topic. Autologous osteochondral mosaicplasty has proven to be a valid option for treatment but donor site morbidity with most frequently used autografts remains a source of concern. This study aims to assess clinical results and safety profile of autologous osteochondral graft from the upper tibio-fibular joint applied to reconstruct symptomatic osteochondral lesions of the knee. Methods Thirty-one patients (22 men and 9 women) with grade 4 cartilage lesions in the knee were operated by mosaicplasty technique using autologous osteochondral graft from the upper tibio-fibular joint, between 1998 and 2006. Clinical assessment included visual analog scale (VAS) for pain and Lysholm score. All patients were evaluated by MRI pre- and post-operatively regarding joint congruency as good, fair (inferior to 1 mm incongruence), and poor (incongruence higher than 1 mm registered in any frame). Donor zone status was evaluated according to specific protocol considering upper tibio-fibular joint instability, pain, neurological complications, lateral collateral ligament insufficiency, or ankle complaints. Results Mean age at surgery was 30.1 years (SD 12.2). In respect to lesion sites, 22 were located in weight-bearing area of medial femoral condyle, 7 in lateral femoral condyle, 1 in trochlea, and 1 in patella. Mean follow-up was 110.1 months (SD 23.2). Mean area of lesion was 3.3 cm 2 (SD 1.7), and a variable number of cylinders were used, mean 2.5 (SD 1.3). Mean VAS score improved from 47.1 (SD 10.1) to 20.0 (SD 11.5); p = 0.00. Similarly, mean Lysholm score increased from 45.7 (SD 4.5) to 85.3 (SD 7.0); p = 0.00. The level of patient satisfaction was evaluated, and 28 patients declared to be satisfied/very satisfied and would do surgery again, while 3 declared as unsatisfied with the procedure and would not submit to surgery again. These three patients had lower clinical scores and kept complaints related to the original problem but unrelated to donor zone. MRI score significantly improved at 18–24 months comparing with pre-operative (p = 0.004). No radiographic or clinical complications related to donor zone with implication in activity were registered. Conclusions This work corroborates that mosaicplasty technique using autologous osteochondral graft from the upper tibio-fibular joint is effective to treat osteochondral defects in the knee joint. No relevant complications related to donor zone were registered

Therapeutic DNA Vaccine Encoding Peptide P10 against Experimental Paracoccidioidomycosis

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), caused by Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, is the most prevalent invasive fungal disease in South America. Systemic mycoses are the 10th most common cause of death among infectious diseases in Brazil and PCM is responsible for more than 50% of deaths due to fungal infections. PCM is typically treated with sulfonamides, amphotericin B or azoles, although complete eradication of the fungus may not occur and relapsing disease is frequently reported. A 15-mer peptide from the major diagnostic antigen gp43, named P10, can induce a strong T-CD4+ helper-1 immune response in mice. The TEPITOPE algorithm and experimental data have confirmed that most HLA-DR molecules can present P10, which suggests that P10 is a candidate antigen for a PCM vaccine. In the current work, the therapeutic efficacy of plasmid immunization with P10 and/or IL-12 inserts was tested in murine models of PCM. When given prior to or after infection with P. brasiliensis virulent Pb 18 isolate, plasmid-vaccination with P10 and/or IL-12 inserts successfully reduced the fungal burden in lungs of infected mice. In fact, intramuscular administration of a combination of plasmids expressing P10 and IL-12 given weekly for one month, followed by single injections every month for 3 months restored normal lung architecture and eradicated the fungus in mice that were infected one month prior to treatment. The data indicate that immunization with these plasmids is a powerful procedure for prevention and treatment of experimental PCM, with the perspective of being also effective in human patients