Gamergate controls dopamine levels of workers in <i>Diacamma</i> sp.

Introdução: O climatério representa uma fase de mudança e de transição no ciclo de vida feminino, durante o qual as mulheres experimentam alterações físicas e psicológicas decorrentes do hipoestrogenismo e envelhecimento. O Médico de Família é habitualmente o primeiro profissional de saúde a quem a mulher recorre para esclarecer as suas dúvidas e solicitar o alívio da sintomatologia climatérica, ocupando uma posição privilegiada para promover a capacitação e empowerment das utentes. Métodos: Promoveu-se um estudo observacional transversal, aplicando um questionário de auto-preenchimento a 92 mulheres, com idades compreendidas entre os 40 e os 60 anos, que frequentam os Centros de Saúde Norton de Matos e S. Martinho do Bispo (USF Mondego), de forma a avaliar a abordagem da menopausa nos Cuidados de Saúde Primários. A recolha dos dados decorreu de abril a julho de 2014. O tratamento estatístico foi efetuado através da plataforma estatística IBM SPSS v21.0. Resultados: Mais de metade das mulheres (55,4%) referiu ter conversado com o Médico de Família sobre a menopausa e todos os assuntos relacionados, todavia 19,6% ainda manifestavam dúvidas. O médico foi considerado a principal fonte de informação para 50% das inquiridas. A maioria das mulheres (77,2%) descreveu a presença de sintomas climatéricos, sendo os mais frequentes as dores ósseas (73,2%) e a ansiedade (67,6%). 39,1% das inquiridas indicaram a interferência do climatério na sua vida diária, sendo a vida familiar (69,4%) e a sexual (58,3%) as mais afetadas. Verificou-se uma associação significativa entre a presença de sintomas e a interferência do climatério na vida diária e na qualidade de vida da mulher. As mulheres sintomáticas (OR=12,983 com IC95% [2,808;60,033]) e as que referiram a interferência do climatério no dia a dia (OR=5,965 com IC95% [2,364;15,048]) apresentaram uma probabilidade aumentada de recorrer a consultas de Medicina Geral e Familiar. As infeções urinárias de repetição (91,7%) foram as queixas que mais motivaram a ida ao Médico de Família. Das mulheres sintomáticas, 45,1% referiram ter cuidados adicionais ou fazer algum tratamento. A terapêutica hormonal revelou-se a mais eficaz no alívio das queixas, tendo como prescritor mais frequente o Ginecologista (58,3%). Conclusão: O Médico de Família assume um papel crucial na capacitação e acompanhamento da mulher climatérica. Constatou-se que ainda permanecem dúvidas que necessitam de ser esclarecidas e que são necessárias normas que uniformizem a abordagem da menopausa na prática clínica.Introduction: The climacteric represents a time of change and transition in the female life cycle, during which women experience physical and psychological changes resulting from hypoestrogenism and aging. The general practitioner is usually the first health professional to whom a woman appeals to clarify her doubts and request relief from climacteric symptoms, occupying a privileged position to promote capacity building and empowerment of patients. Methods: It was promoted a cross-sectional observational study, applying a self-completion questionnaire to 92 women, aged between 40 and 60 years, who attend the health centers of Norton de Matos and S. Martinho do Bispo (USF Mondego), in order to evaluate the approach of menopause in Primary Health Care. Data collection took place from April to July 2014. The statistical analysis was performed by the statistical platform IBM SPSS v21.0. Results: More than half of women (55.4%) said they had talked to the general practitioner about menopause and all the related subjects, however 19.6% still had doubts. The doctor was considered the main source of information for 50% of the surveyed women. Most women (77.2%) described the presence of menopausal symptoms, the most common being bone pain (73.2%) and anxiety (67.6%). 39.1% of the surveyed indicated the interference of the climacteric in their everyday life, being the family life (69.4%) and the sexual life (58.3%) the most affected. There was a significant association between the presence of symptoms of menopause and the interference of the climacteric in daily life and quality of life. Symptomatic women (OR = 12.983 with 95% CI [2.808, 60.033]) and those who mentioned the interference of the climacteric in daily life (OR = 5.965 95% CI [2.364, 15.048]) had an increased likelihood of appealing to a general practitioner. Recurrent urinary tract infections (91.7%) were complaints that most commonly lead going to the general practitioner. Of symptomatic women, 45.1% said having additional care or getting some treatment. Hormone therapy proved more effective in relieving complaints, having the gynecologist as the most frequent prescriber (58.3%). Conclusion: The general practitioner plays a key role in the capacity building and monitoring of the climacteric woman. It was found that there are still questions that need to be clarified and that standards are necessary to standardize the approach of menopause in clinical practice

Combined replacement effects of human modified β-hexosaminidase B and GM2 activator protein on GM2 gangliosidoses fibroblasts

AbstractGM2 gangliosidoses are autosomal recessive lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs) caused by mutations in the HEXA, HEXB and GM2A genes, which encode the human lysosomal β-hexosaminidase (Hex) α- and β-subunits, and GM2 activator protein (GM2A), respectively. These diseases are associated with excessive accumulation of GM2 ganglioside (GM2) in the brains of patients with neurological symptoms. Here we established a CHO cell line overexpressing human GM2A, and purified GM2A from the conditioned medium, which was taken up by fibroblasts derived from a patient with GM2A deficiency, and had the therapeutic effects of reducing the GM2 accumulated in fibroblasts when added to the culture medium. We also demonstrated for the first time that recombinant GM2A could enhance the replacement effect of human modified HexB (modB) with GM2-degrading activity, which is composed of homodimeric altered β-subunits containing a partial amino acid sequence of the α-subunit, including the GSEP loop necessary for binding to GM2A, on reduction of the GM2 accumulated in fibroblasts derived from a patient with Tay-Sachs disease, a HexA (αβ heterodimer) deficiency, caused by HEXA mutations. We predicted the same manner of binding of GM2A to the GSEP loop located in the modified HexB β-subunit to that in the native HexA α-subunit on the basis of the x-ray crystal structures. These findings suggest the effectiveness of combinational replacement therapy involving the human modified HexB and GM2A for GM2 gangliosidoses

Near-Infrared Imaging Survey of Faint Companions around Young Dwarfs in the Pleiades Cluster

We conducted a near-infrared imaging survey of 11 young dwarfs in the Pleiades cluster using the Subaru Telescope and the near-infrared coronagraph imager. We found 10 faint point sources, with magnitudes as faint as 20 mag in the K-band, around 7 dwarfs. Comparison with Spitzer archive images revealed that a pair of the faint sources around V 1171 Tau are very red in the infrared wavelengths, indicative of very low-mass young stellar objects. However, the results of our follow-up proper motion measurements implied that the central star and the faint sources do not share common proper motions, suggesting that they are not physically associated.Comment: 13 pages. Accepted for publication in Research in Astronomy and Astrophysic

Combined replacement effects of human modified β-hexosaminidase B and GM2 activator protein on GM2 gangliosidoses fibroblasts

GM2 gangliosidoses are autosomal recessive lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs) caused by mutations in the HEXA, HEXB and GM2A genes, which encode the human lysosomal β-hexosaminidase (Hex) α- and β-subunits, and GM2 activator protein (GM2A), respectively. These diseases are associated with excessive accumulation of GM2 ganglioside (GM2) in the brains of patients with neurological symptoms. Here we established a CHO cell line overexpressing human GM2A, and purified GM2A from the conditioned medium, which was taken up by fibroblasts derived from a patient with GM2A deficiency, and had the therapeutic effects of reducing the GM2 accumulated in fibroblasts when added to the culture medium. We also demonstrated for the first time that recombinant GM2A could enhance the replacement effect of human modified HexB (modB) with GM2-degrading activity, which is composed of homodimeric altered β-subunits containing a partial amino acid sequence of the α-subunit, including the GSEP loop necessary for binding to GM2A, on reduction of the GM2 accumulated in fibroblasts derived from a patient with Tay-Sachs disease, a HexA (αβ heterodimer) deficiency, caused by HEXA mutations. We predicted the same manner of binding of GM2A to the GSEP loop located in the modified HexB β-subunit to that in the native HexA α-subunit on the basis of the x-ray crystal structures. These findings suggest the effectiveness of combinational replacement therapy involving the human modified HexB and GM2A for GM2 gangliosidoses

Cyclooxygenase Regulates Angiogenesis Induced by Colon Cancer Cells

AbstractTo explore the role of cyclooxygenase (COX) in endothelial cell migration and angiogenesis, we have used two in vitro model systems involving coculture of endothelial cells with colon carcinoma cells. COX-2-overexpressing cells produce prostaglandins, proangiogenic factors, and stimulate both endothelial migration and tube formation, while control cells have little activity. The effect is inhibited by antibodies to combinations of angiogenic factors, by NS-398 (a selective COX-2 inhibitor), and by aspirin. NS-398 does not inhibit production of angiogenic factors or angiogenesis induced by COX-2-negative cells. Treatment of endothelial cells with aspirin or a COX-1 antisense oligonucleotide inhibits COX-1 activity/expression and suppresses tube formation. Cyclooxygenase regulates colon carcinoma-induced angiogenesis by two mechanisms: COX-2 can modulate production of angiogenic factors by colon cancer cells, while COX-1 regulates angiogenesis in endothelial cells

Development of stepping measurement device for evaluation of and training in walking

日常生活で杖をついたり,老人車などを押したりなど歩行能力の低下した人に対する簡便･安価で効果的な歩行訓練方法,訓練機器はない｡歩行能力の低下した人が体の移動を伴う歩行訓練をする場合,常に転倒の危険性を伴うために,介護者が必要であったり,転倒の不安のために動作が消極的になり,訓練の効果が半減する｡これに対して,ゆっくりとした足踏みは歩行能力の低下した人に対しては下肢筋力の強化,バランス訓練となり,歩行能力を向上させる｡しかし,足踏みが適切におこなわれているか,訓練の効果の程度についての評価ができなかった｡そこで,歩行能力の評価･訓練のために足踏み状態をモニタすることができる足踏み測定器を開発した｡本装置は,足踏みをするマット2枚およびノートパソコンなどから構成されている｡足踏み中における両脚立脚,左右それぞれの片脚遊脚の状態をマットスイッチのON,OFF状態にて判断する｡測定後,歩数,平均両脚立脚時間,平均片肺立脚時間などの解析･表示を行う｡最後に歩行能力が低下した被験者の足踏みを測定して,杖歩行など日常の歩行状態と足踏みの状態との関係を示し,足踏み測定の有効性についても検討した｡Although gait training equipment such as the bicycle ergometer and treadmill exists for patients whose walking ability is high, there is no appropriate gait training method or training instrument for patients whose walking ability has become impaired, who often use a cane or walker, etc. in the course of daily life. In the case of gait training for persons whose walking ability involves impaired locomotion, there is always the danger of a fall. Consequently, a caregiver is required, and the effect of the training is cut by half because the patient's anxiety about falling is exacerbated. Slow stepping affords strengthening and balance training of the leg muscles for patients whose walking ability has become low, and walking ability is improved. However, whether such training appropriately carries out stepping and the degree of the effect of such training has not been evaluated. Therefore, we have developed a stepping measurement device that monitors stepping for evaluation and training of walking ability. This system consists of two mat switches for stepping, a measuring circuit for stepping detection, and a book-sized personal computer with a PC card-type AD converter. This system can detect a left or right single stance phase and a double stance phase relative to the ON, OFF condition of the mat switch. After measurement, the following items are analyzed and displayed: ・number of steps, ・average time of double stance phase, ・the average time of single stance phase, and so on. Finally, we measured the stepping of subjects whose walking ability is low, and showed the relationship between daily walking conditions and stepping conditions. The effectiveness of this system was considered in light of the results

Pembrolizumab-induced hypothyroidism caused reversible increased serum creatinine levels: a case report

Background The advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has significantly improved the prognosis of patients with advanced malignancies. On the other hand, these drugs might cause immune-related adverse events (irAEs) including endocrinopathies and nephropathies. Thyroid dysfunction is one of the most common irAEs. For ICIs-induced nephropathies, most cases are due to tubulointerstitial nephritis, which might require steroid treatment. Here, we report a patient with non-small cell lung cancer treated with ICI who developed increased serum creatinine (s-Cr) levels due to ICIs-induced hypothyroidism. Case presentation A 57-year-old Asian man with refractory non-small cell lung cancer under ICIs therapy (pembrolizumab, an anti-programmed cell death-1 monoclonal antibody) developed increased s-Cr levels 5 months after the pembrolizumab initiation. His laboratory data, renal biopsy, and Gallium-67 scintigraphy findings denied pembrolizumab-induced tubulointerstitial nephritis. His renal function was correlated with thyroid function. Despite the increase of s-Cr levels, serum cystatin C levels were normal, which could be explained by the hypothyroidism. Levothyroxine treatment improved renal function as well as thyroid function. Then pembrolizumab was resumed, and both his thyroid and renal function remained normal level. Ultimately, we concluded that the increased s-Cr levels were caused by pembrolizumab-induced hypothyroidism. Conclusion All clinicians involved in ICI treatment need to recognize the possible increase in s-Cr levels caused by ICIs-induced hypothyroidism, and we propose monitoring serum cystatin C levels to differentiate ICIs-induced hypothyroidism from tubulointerstitial nephritis before invasive renal biopsies or steroid treatment, which are recommended by the prescribing information for pembrolizumab, are performed