Differential expression of cyclooxygenases in hypertrophic scar and keloid tissues

Hypertrophic scar (HS) and keloid (KL) are two forms of an abnormal cutaneous scarring process, mainly characterized by excessive extracellular matrix deposition and fibroblast proliferation. Despite the increased understanding of the molecular and cellular events leading to HS and KL, the pathogenesis of these lesions remains poorly understood. A pivotal role in the formation of abnormal scars has been ascribed to transforming growth factor-β, whose activity appears to be mediated through a link with pathways acting via cyclooxygenases (COX-1 and COX-2). To date, there is no report on the in vivo expression of COX-1 and COX-2 in human HS and KL tissues. Therefore, using immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis, we investigated 36 cases of KL, 32 cases of HS, and 25 cases of normal skin in order to define the localization and distribution of COX-1 and COX-2 in the tissues of these scar lesions and the overlying epidermis. The results mainly show the following: (a) a significant overexpression of COX-1 in HS tissues and the overlying epidermis as compared with normal skin and KL tissues and (b) a significant overexpression of COX-2 in KL tissue and the overlying epidermis in contrast to normal skin and HS tissues. Our data support the hypothesis that both COXs are involved in the pathogenesis of scar lesions in different ways and, particularly, COX-1 in the formation of HS and COX-2 in the formation of KL. In addition, the overexpression of COX-1 and COX-2 in the epidermis overlying HS and KL tissues, respectively, underlines the importance of epithelial- mesenchymal interactions in the pathogenesis of scar lesion

Rooting Pattern Distribution and Spatial Variability of Italian Ryegrass (Lolium Multiflorum Lam) in a Mediterranean Region

It is estimated that less than 10% of the studies on pastures and forages have evaluated the subterranean biomass production. The objective of this study was to evaluate for a Mediterranean region the rooting characteristics and spatial variability of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam) under two different soil water status conditions

Root cation-exchange capacity and aluminum toxicity relationships in two pasture grasses

Foi estudado o efeito de Al (0; 0,75; 1,5; 3 e 6 ppm) sobre Brachiaria decumbens e Cenchrus ciliaris, espécies tolerante e sensível ao Al, respectivamente. Al não afetou o comprimento de raízes das duas gramíneas, mas houve redução do volume radicular em Cenchrus. Observaram-se, em Brachiaria, aumentos nos teores de K e Al em resposta a Al na solução, enquanto que, em Cenchrus, houve redução de K e aumentos nos teores de Al e Ca. Houve rápido declínio na capacidade de troca de cátions (CTC) das raízes entre 0 e 1,5 ppm, e estabilização da CTC entre 8 e 10 meq/100 g. A queda da CTC entre 0 e 0,75 ppm é acentuada em Cenchrus e gradual em Brachiaria. Em Brachiaria, observou-se uma correlação negativa entre CTC e acúmulo de K e Al, e uma correlação positiva entre CTC e acúmulo de Ca. Nenhuma correlação deste tipo foi observada em Cenchrus. Os resultados deste experimento sugerem que, em Brachiaria, o bloqueio de cargas das raízes por Al favorece a absorção de K em relação a Ca.A study was made on the effects of AI levels (0, 0.75, 1.5,3 and 6 ppm Al) on Brachiaria decumbens and Cenchrus ciliaris, known to be tolerant and sensitive to Al, respectively. There was no difference in root length between the two grasses but Cenchrus showed a reduction in root volume as Al levels increased. Brachiaria showed a small increase in K and a great increase in Al content as Al levels increased while Cenchrus showed reduction in K, increase in Ca, and small increase in Al levels. Both plants had a decrease in root cation-exchange capacity (CEC) under 0 to 1.5 ppm Al; after that, there was a stabilization of CEC levels around 8 to 10 meq/100 g. The CEC decrease in Cenchrus was linear and sharp from 0 to 0.75 ppm Al while in Brachiaria it occurred more slowly. In Brachiaria there was a negative correlation between CEC and K and Al accumulation, and a positive correlation between CEC and Ca accumulation. No such correlations were obtained for Cenchrus. The results suggest that at least for the tolerant species (Brachiaria) the blocking of CEC sites by Al favours K uptake over Ca uptake

Respostas de quatro cultivares de arroz à aplicação de nitrogênio amoniacal com um inibidor de nitrificação

A study made in a greenhouse on the effects of soil applied ammonium-N with and without a nitrification inhibitor on dry matter accumulation, nitrogen and free-sugar contents of four rice (Oriza sativa L.) cultivars. The rice cultivars were Pratão precoce, IR-L63, IAC-25 and De Abril. N-NH4 (150 ppm) was either applied once at seeding or split in three applications (0,23 and 38 days after seeding). Plants had a higher dry weight in the treatments without than in those with the nitrification inhibitor. Application of 150 ppm of N-NH4 plus a nitrification inhibitors at seeding, drastically reduced plant dry weight. Among cultivars, De Abril, showed the highest resistance to high levels of N-NH4 in soils, with or without nitrification inhibitor. Decrease in soil pH was higher in the treatments without inhibitor than in the treatments with inhibitor. Nitrification in the former is assumed to be responsible for this lower pH, while in the later, pH drop may be caused mainly by H+ -extrusion due to higher cation than anion uptake. Plants without a nitrification inhibitor had higher levels of free amino-N than plants with the inhibitor, the reverse was true for the free sugars levels. There was a negative (- 0,67**) correlation between the root/shoot relationship and dry matter accumulation of plants under the NH4 plus a nitrification inhibitor treatments. It is suggested that, under proper conditions. NH4-N and a nitrification inhibitor could be used in upland rice fertilization, with a reduction in N- losses and pH drop.Estudo, em casa de vegetação, sobre o efeito de nitrogênio amoniacal, em uma aplicação única ou parcelada, com e sem inibidor de nitrificação, sobre a produção de matéria seca e os teores de nitrogênio e açúcares solúveis, em quatro cultivares de arroz (Oryza sativa L.): Pratão precoce. IRL63, IAC-25 e De Abril. A aplicação do N-NH4, (150 ppm) em dose única por ocasião da semeadura ou em três aplicações (0, 23 e 38 dias após a semeadura) com o inibidor de nitrificação, resultou em uma redução drástica do peso seco das plantas. Nos tratamentos sem inibidor, as plantas acumularam mais matéria seca que nos tratamentos com inibidor. A cv. De Abril revelou uma resistência sensivelmente maior a doses elevadas de N-NH4 no solo, com ou sem o inibidor. A queda de pH do solo (∆ pH) foi maior nos tratamentos sem inibidor. Atribui-se essa diferença à acidez provocada pela nitrificação, enquanto que nos tratamentos com inibidor, a queda de pH estaria controlada basicamente pela extrusão de H+, provocada pela absorção de um excesso de cátions (NH+4) em relação a ânions. As plantas dos tratamentos sem inibidor acumularam maiores teores de amino-N livre que as plantas dos tratamentos com inibidor. Inversamente, as plantas dos tratamentos com inibidor apresentaram menores teores de açúcares livres, em relação às plantas dos tratamentos sem inibidor. Observou-se uma correlação negativa (-0,67**), entre a relação raiz/parte aérea e a acumulação de matéria seca das plantas dos tratamentos com inibidor de nitrificação. Sugere-se que a fertilização de solos com formas reduzidas de N em arroz de sequeiro pode ser feita com a aplicação simultânea de um inibidor de nitrificação. Dependendo da variedade usada e dos métodos de aplicação, as perdas de N por lixiviação e as quedas de pH do solo podem ser sensivelmente reduzidas

Aspectos climáticos do noroeste fluminense, RJ.

bitstream/CNPS/11829/1/doc_43_2003_noroeste_fluminense.pd

DNA damage response at telomeres boosts the transcription of SARS-CoV-2 receptor ACE2 during aging

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), known to be more common in the elderly, who also show more severe symptoms and are at higher risk of hospitalization and death. Here, we show that the expression of the angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), the SARS-CoV-2 cell receptor, increases during aging in mouse and human lungs. ACE2 expression increases upon telomere shortening or dysfunction in both cultured mammalian cells and in vivo in mice. This increase is controlled at the transcriptional level, and Ace2 promoter activity is DNA damage response (DDR)-dependent. Both pharmacological global DDR inhibition of ATM kinase activity and selective telomeric DDR inhibition by the use of antisense oligonucleotides prevent Ace2 upregulation following telomere damage in cultured cells and in mice. We propose that during aging telomere dysfunction due to telomeric shortening or damage triggers DDR activation and this causes the upregulation of ACE2, the SARS-CoV-2 cell receptor, thus contributing to make the elderly more susceptible to the infection

Uso de clorofilometro na avaliação da adubação nitrogenada e potássica no capim Tifton 85.

RESUMO - Objetivou-se com este trabalho aferir o comportamento de um clorofilometro na gramínea forrageira Tifton 85 (Cynodon spp. cv. Tifton 85) e sua relação com a produção de massa seca em resposta à adubação nitrogenada e potássica. No primeiro ensaio de campo realizado foi feita a aplicação de nitrogênio e potássio separados em três tratamentos: 0,75 e 150kg/ha/corte, segundo um delineamento em blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições. Os teores de clorofila total, extraídos da primeira lâmina foliar totalmente expandida, correlacionaram-se bem com as leituras do clorofilometro e foram afetados pelas doses de N e número de cortes. No segundo corte, os teores de clorofila total foram significativamente maiores que no primeiro, enquanto a massa verde seca total da parte aérea respondeu apenas às doses de N, o que sugere a existência de uma produção ?de luxo? de clorofilas. No segundo ensaio, os tratamentos consistiram de cinco doses de N e K: 0; 150; 300; 450 e 600 kg/ha, dispostos na forma de blocos inteiramente casualizados, com quatro repetições e ao final de um período de 28 dias, os teores de clorofila total, as leituras do clorofilometro e a matéria seca de folhas variaram, segundo um modelo quadrático, em resposta às doses de N (entre 0 e 600kg N/ha) sem evidencias de produção de luxo de clorofilas. Embora esta última situação seja provavelmente a situação normal, a melhoria no desempenho do clorofilometro a altos níveis de disponibilidade de N demandará novos estudos com relação às frações nitrogenadas que se acumulam na planta nessas condições. ABSTRACT - The aim of this study was to assess the performance of a chlorophyll meter and its relation to dry matter production of Tifton 85 (Cynodon spp. cv. Tifton 85), in response to nitrogen fertilization. In the first field trial, the total chlorophyll contents extracted from the uppermost fully expanded leaf blade correlated well with chlorophyll meter readings and were affected by N rates and cut number. In the second cut in the first field trial, total chlorophyll contents were higher than the first cut while total dry mass of green shoots responded only to N rates, suggesting that there was a ?luxury? production of chlorophylls. In the second field trial, at the end of a single regrowth period of 28 days, total chlorophyll contents, chlorophyll meter readings and dry leaf biomass varied harmonically, according to a quadratic model of response to N dose (0 - 600kg N/ha), without evidence of a supraoptimal production of chlorophylls. Although this last it is probably the normal situation, the refinement of the chlorophyll meter sensitivity to high levels of soil N availability, will demand news studies in order to clarify the status of the nitrogen fractions accumulated in the plant in these conditions

YY1 overexpression is associated with poor prognosis and metastasis-free survival in patients suffering osteosarcoma

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The polycomb transcription factor Yin Yang 1 (YY1) overexpression can be causally implicated in experimental tumor growth and metastasization. To date, there is no clinical evidence of YY1 involvement in outcome of patients with osteosarcoma. Prognosis of osteosarcoma is still severe and only few patients survive beyond five years. We performed a prospective immunohistochemistry analysis to correlate YY1 immunostaining with metastatic development and survival in a selected homogeneous group of patients with osteosarcoma.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We studied 41 patients suffering from osteosarcoma (stage II-IVa). Multivariate analysis was performed using Cox proportional hazard regression to evaluate the correlation between YY1 expression and both metastasis development and mortality.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>YY1 protein is not usually present in normal bone; in contrast, a high number of patients (61%) showed a high score of YY1 positive cells (51-100%) and 39% had a low score (10-50% positive cells). No statistical difference was found in histology, anatomic sites, or response to chemotherapy between the two degrees of YY1 expression. Cox regression analysis demonstrated that the highest score of YY1 expression was predictive of both low metastasis-free survival (HR = 4.690, 95%CI = 1.079-20.396; p = 0.039) and poor overall survival (HR = 8.353, 95%CI = 1.863-37.451 p = 0.006) regardless of the effects of covariates such as age, gender, histology and chemonecrosis.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Overexpression of YY1 in primary site of osteosarcoma is associated with the occurrence of metastasis and poor clinical outcome.</p