Novel host report for Catadiscus uruguayensis Freitas & Lent, 1939 (Trematoda, Diplodiscidae) infecting Austrolebias Costa, 1998 species from Uruguay

The genus Catadiscus Cohn, 1904 has a total of 16 known species that infect the intestinal tract of reptiles, amphibians, and mollusks. However, Catadiscus has never been found in teleosts. The annual fish Austrolebias prognathus (Amato, 1986) and A. cheradophilus (Vaz-Ferreira, Sierra de Soriano & Scaglia de Paulete, 1965) were collected from temporary ponds in the southeast of Uruguay. The specimens found in the intestinal tract of these hosts were morphologically identified as Catadiscus uruguayensis Freitas & Lent, 1939, which until now were only known to infect amphibians. This work represents the first report of the genus Catadiscus infecting and developing in a fish host

Relação entre uso do solo e composição de insetos aquáticos de quatro bacias hidrográficas do Estado de São Paulo

Four watersheds with different degrees of human occupation had their communities of aquatic insects analyzed in relation to the landuses, terrain slope as well as chemical and physical variables of water. The watersheds studied were Alto Paranapanema, Peixe, Aguapei and São José dos Dourados. Samples of aquatic insects were taken with baskets filled with artificial substrates, during August and October/2002. Eighteen samples were taken from eachriver and the aquatic insects were identified until family level and counted. To analyze the results, total and percentage numbers of individuals and taxons were used, as well as community indeces. Information about the watersheds were generated from digital maps. Thirty-two families were identified, Elmidae, Leptohyphidae, Leptophlebiidae, Chironomidae, Simuliidae and Hydropsychidae showed numeric dominance. Ten chemical and physical variablestested were able to characterize the rivers; percentages of the main landuses and terrain slope were calculated. Pearson’s correlation index, analysis of variance and analysis of correspondence were used in order to establish the relationship between abiotic components and the entomofauna. The study showed that the land use condition immediately adjacent tothe sampling site is the most important factor influencing that fauna.Key words: aquatic macroinvertebrates, lotic environments, riparian forest, rivers, Southern.As comunidades de insetos aquáticos de quatro bacias hidrográficas sob diferentes graus de ocupação humana foram analisadas em relação aos usos do solo, à declividade do terreno e às variáveis físicas e químicas da água. As bacias hidrográficas estudadas foram Alto Paranapanema, Peixe, Aguapeí e São José dos Dourados. Amostras de insetos aquáticos foram coletadas utilizando-se cestos com substrato artificial, entre agosto e outubro de 2002. Foram colocadas 18 repetições em cada rio, e os insetos amostrados foram identificados em nível de família e contados. Os dados foram analisados em números absolutos e percentuais de indivíduos e de táxons, e também índices comunitários. Informações sobre as bacias hidrográficas foram geradas a partir de mapas digitais. Foram identificadas 32 famílias, Elmidae, Leptohyphidae, Leptophlebiidae, Chironomidae, Simuliidae e Hydropsychidae apresentaram dominância. Dez variáveis físicas e químicas da água apresentaram relação direta sobre os rios; porcentagens dos usos do solo e das declividades foram calculadas. Utilizou-se a correlação de Pearson, Análise de Variância (ANOVA) e análise de correspondência para integraros dados abióticos e biológicos. O estudo mostrou a importância do uso do solo imediatamente adjacente ao local de coleta como o fator de maior influência sobre a entomo fauna.Palavras-chave: ambientes lóticos, macroinvertebrados aquáticos, rios, sudeste do Brasil, vegetação ripária

An online programme to reduce depression in patients with multiple sclerosis: a randomised controlled trial

Summary Background With a lifetime risk for major depressive disorder of up to 50%, depression is a common comorbidity in multiple sclerosis but remains widely underdiagnosed and untreated. We investigated the potential of a fully automated, internet-based, cognitive behavioural therapy programme, Deprexis, to reduce depressive symptoms in patients with multiple sclerosis. Methods For this randomised controlled trial, we recruited patients from an outpatient clinic in Hamburg, Germany. Patients aged 18–65 years were eligible for inclusion if they had multiple sclerosis and self-reported depressive symptoms. By use of a computer-generated randomisation sequence, we allocated 90 patients (1:1; no blocking or stratification) to either the intervention group or a waitlist control group for 9 weeks. The primary endpoint was the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), as assessed by an intention-to-treat analysis. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01663649. Findings 71 patients completed the trial: 35 patients in the intervention group and 36 patients in the control group. During the intervention, BDI scores decreased in the Deprexis group and increased in the control group, yielding a positive effect of Deprexis relative to the waitlist group (mean group difference –4·02 points [95% CI –7·26 to –0·79], p=0·015, effect size d=0·53). Worsening of depressive symptoms from below to above the clinical cutoff (BDI >13) occurred in three (7%) of 45 patients in the control group and no patients in the Deprexis group. We noted no adverse events with respect to new occurrence of suicidal ideation during the trial. Interpretation Psychological online-intervention programmes could be suitable for patients with multiple sclerosis who are unable to regularly attend therapeutic sessions because of mobility impairments. Funding European Union and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

Agronomic performance of super-sweet corn genotypes in the north of Rio de Janeiro.

We investigated the agronomic performance of super-sweet corn genotypes. Super-sweet corn genotypes were backcrossed with regionally adapted field varieties (CIMMYT 8 and Piranão 8). Eight morphological and yield-related traits were evaluated. A significant effect of interaction was observed between the five groups of genotypes (donor parents; super-sweet backcrossed parents; super-sweet intervarietal hybrids; common intervarietal corn hybrids; and field corn populations). Despite the low yield of genotype SH 2 Piranão, the hybrids resulting from interbreeding of the backcrossed parents for the improvement of super-sweet corn were promising. The agronomic performance of the super-sweet parents and their hybrids indicates the possibility of breeding lines with high genetic value to obtain single-cross hybrids and cultivars of super-sweet corn adapted to the northern region of the State of Rio de Janeiro

Mastectomy rates are decreasing in the era of service screening: a population-based study in Italy (1997-2001)

We enrolled all 2162 in situ and 21 148 invasive cases of breast cancer in 17 areas of Italy, diagnosed in 1997-2001. Rates of early cancer increased by 13.7% in the screening age group (50-69 years), and breast conserving surgery by 24.6%. Advanced cancer rates decreased by 19.4%, and mastectomy rates by 24.2%. Service screening did not increase mastectomy rates in the study population

Augmented β-cell function and mass in glucocorticoid-treated rodents are associated with increased islet ir-β /AKT/mTOR and decreased AMPK/ACC and AS160 signaling

FAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOCNPQ - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOGlucocorticoid (GC) therapies may adversely cause insulin resistance (IR) that lead to a compensatory hyperinsulinemia due to insulin hypersecretion. The increased β-cell function is associated with increased insulin signaling that has the protein kinase B (AKT) substrate with 160 kDa (AS160) as an important downstream AKT effector. In muscle, both insulin and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling phosphorylate and inactivate AS160, which favors the glucose transporter (GLUT)-4 translocation to plasma membrane. Whether AS160 phosphorylation is modulated in islets from GC-treated subjects is unknown. For this, two animal models, Swiss mice and Wistar rats, were treated with dexamethasone (DEX) (1 mg/kg body weight) for 5 consecutive days. DEX treatment induced IR, hyperinsulinemia, and dyslipidemia in both species, but glucose intolerance and hyperglycemia only in rats. DEX treatment caused increased insulin secretion in response to glucose and augmented β-cell mass in both species that were associated with increased islet content and increased phosphorylation of the AS160 protein. Protein AKT phosphorylation, but not AMPK phosphorylation, was found significantly enhanced in islets from DEX-treated animals. We conclude that the augmented β-cell function developed in response to the GC-induced IR involves inhibition of the islet AS160 protein activity.Glucocorticoid (GC) therapies may adversely cause insulin resistance (IR) that lead to a compensatory hyperinsulinemia due to insulin hypersecretion. The increased β-cell function is associated with increased insulin signaling that has the protein kinase2014114FAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOCNPQ - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOFAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOCNPQ - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOsem informaçãosem informaçã

The bile acid TUDCA increases glucose-induced insulin secretion via the cAMP/PKA pathway in pancreatic beta cells

Objective While bile acids are important for the digestion process, they also act as signaling molecules in many tissues, including the endocrine pancreas, which expresses specific bile acid receptors that regulate several cell functions. In this study, we investigated the effects of the conjugated bile acid TUDCA on glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) from pancreatic β-cells. Methods Pancreatic islets were isolated from 90-day-old male mice. Insulin secretion was measured by radioimmunoassay, protein phosphorylation by western blot, Ca2 + signals by fluorescence microscopy and ATP-dependent K+ (KATP) channels by electrophysiology. Results TUDCA dose-dependently increased GSIS in fresh islets at stimulatory glucose concentrations but remained without effect at low glucose levels. This effect was not associated with changes in glucose metabolism, Ca2 + signals or KATP channel activity; however, it was lost in the presence of a cAMP competitor or a PKA inhibitor. Additionally, PKA and CREB phosphorylation were observed after 1-hour incubation with TUDCA. The potentiation of GSIS was blunted by the Gα stimulatory, G protein subunit-specific inhibitor NF449 and mimicked by the specific TGR5 agonist INT-777, pointing to the involvement of the bile acid G protein-coupled receptor TGR5. Conclusion Our data indicate that TUDCA potentiates GSIS through the cAMP/PKA pathway.This work was by grants from the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (BFU2013-42789-P; BFU2011-28358)This work was supported by grants from Fundacão de Amparo á Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP 2013/01318-4)This work was supported by grants from Conselho Nacional para o Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq 200030/2014-0

Enhanced glucose-induced intracellular signaling promotes insulin hypersecretion: Pancreatic beta-cell functional adaptations in a model of genetic obesity and prediabetes

Obesity is associated with insulin resistance and is known to be a risk factor for type-2 diabetes. In obese individuals, pancreatic beta-cells try to compensate for the increased insulin demand in order to maintain euglycemia. Most studies have reported that this adaptation is due to morphological changes. However, the involvement of beta-cell functional adaptations in this process needs to be clarified. For this purpose, we evaluated different key steps in the glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) in intact islets from female ob/ob obese mice and lean controls. Obese mice showed increased body weight, insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, glucose intolerance and fed hyperglycemia. Islets from ob/ob mice exhibited increased glucose-induced mitochondrial activity, reflected by enhanced NAD(P)H production and mitochondrial membrane potential hyperpolarization. Perforated patch-clamp examination of beta-cells within intact islets revealed several alterations in the electrical activity such as increased firing frequency and higher sensitivity to low glucose concentrations. A higher intracellular Ca2+ mobilization in response to glucose was also found in ob/ob islets. Additionally, they displayed a change in the oscillatory pattern and Ca2+ signals at low glucose levels. Capacitance experiments in intact islets revealed increased exocytosis in individual ob/ob beta-cells. All these up-regulated processes led to increased GSIS. In contrast, we found a lack of beta-cell Ca2+ signal coupling, which could be a manifestation of early defects that lead to beta-cell malfunction in the progression to diabetes. These findings indicate that beta-cell functional adaptations are an important process in the compensatory response to obesity.This work was supported by grants from the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (BFU2013-42789-P; BFU2011-28358)This work was supported by grants from the Generalitat Valenciana (PROMETEO/2011/080)This work was supported by grants from the European Foundation for the Study Diabetes (EFSD/BI Basic Programme

Dinâmica espectro-temporal MODIS em plantios de paricá (Schizolobium parahyba var. amazonicum (Huber ex. Ducke) Barneby) associada a diferentes condições hídricas do solo na Amazônia brasileira.

As características de absorção e reflectâncias nas faixas do vermelho e infravermelho próximo em dosséis, tanto de plantios como de vegetação natural, auxiliam na identificação de respostas espectrais em diversas condições de tempo e clima. Objetivou-se avaliar o comportamento espectral em plantios de paricá (Schizolobium parahyba var. amazonicum (Huber ex Ducke) Barneby) nos períodos de maior e de menor oferta hídrica, em Dom Eliseu, Pa. Foram analisados dados meteorológicos, balanços hídricos (CAD=300 mm) e respostas em NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) extraídos do sensor MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer). As imagens-índice referentes aos meses de janeiro a dezembro foram processadas no software Envi 4.5 e retiradas amostras com base em dados de verdade terrestre. Os dados foram analisados estatisticamente, aplicando-se teste de média e análise de perfil por meio de técnicas uni e multivariadas. Verificou-se que existe tendência no vigor do paricá, com decrescimento de 0,85 a 0,68, nos meses de maior deficiência hídrica, em nível de significância de 5 %. Conclui-se que o NDVI respondeu significativamente à condição hídrica do solo, em plantios de paricá, no Estado do Pará

Comet assay modifications for its application in food safety

Information on genotoxicity is of a key importance for the toxicological characterisation of different compounds. In this vein, and due to its various advantages, the comet assay is currently included in the genotoxicity testing strategy used in the food safety area. However, improvement points of particular interest have been identified. Thereby, the main objective of the present work was to evaluate some critical points of the comet assay, such as the time of lysis, in vitro, and the methodology used in the freezing/thawing procedures of tissue samples, their stability and the application of the Fpg-modified assay, in vivo. In addition, the in vivo comet assay was applied to frozen kidney samples obtained in a previous repeated-dose toxicity study of the food contaminant ochratoxin A. Finally, the knowledge derived from these objectives resulted in the development of standard operating procedures for both the in vitro and in vivo comet assays, which could be applied in good laboratory practice studies