Teosinte Inflorescence Phytolith Assemblages Mirror Zea Taxonomy

Molecular DNA analyses of the New World grass (Poaceae) genus Zea, comprising five species, has resolved taxonomic issues including the most likely teosinte progenitor (Zea mays ssp. parviglumis) of maize (Zea mays ssp. mays). However, archaeologically, little is known about the use of teosinte by humans both prior to and after the domestication of maize. One potential line of evidence to explore these relationships is opaline phytoliths produced in teosinte fruit cases. Here we use multidimensional scaling and multiple discriminant analyses to determine if rondel phytolith assemblages from teosinte fruitcases reflect teosinte taxonomy. Our results indicate that rondel phytolith assemblages from the various taxa, including subspecies, can be statistically discriminated. This indicates that it will be possible to investigate the archaeological histories of teosinte use pending the recovery of appropriate samples

Natriuretic peptide activation of extracellular regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) pathway by particulate guanylyl cyclases in GH3 somatolactotropes.

The natriuretic peptides, Atrial-, B-type and C-type natriuretric peptides (ANP, BNP, CNP), are regulators of many endocrine tissues and exert their effects predominantly through the activation of their specific guanylyl cyclase receptors (GC-A and GC-B) to generate cGMP. Whereas cGMP-independent signalling has been reported in response to natriuretic peptides, this is mediated via either the clearance receptor (Npr-C) or a renal-specific NPR-Bi isoform, which both lack intrinsic guanylyl cyclase activity. Here, we report evidence of GC-B-dependent cGMP-independent signalling in pituitary GH3 cells. Stimulation of GH3 cells with CNP resulted in a rapid and sustained enhancement of ERK1/2 phosphorylation (P-ERK1/2), an effect that was not mimicked by dibutryl-cGMP. Furthermore, CNP-stimulated P-ERK1/2 occurred at concentrations below that required for cGMP accumulation. The effect of CNP on P-ERK1/2 was sensitive to pharmacological blockade of MEK (U0126) and Src kinases (PP2). Silencing of the GC-B1 and GC-B2 splice variants of the GC-B receptor by using targeted short interfering RNAs completely blocked the CNP effects on P-ERK1/2. CNP failed to alter GH3 cell proliferation or cell cycle distribution but caused a concentration-dependent increase in the activity of the human glycoprotein α-subunit promoter (αGSU) in a MEK-dependent manner. Finally, CNP also activated the p38 and JNK MAPK pathways in GH3 cells. These findings reveal an additional mechanism of GC-B signalling and suggest additional biological roles for CNP in its target tissues

Differential Attraction of Malaria Mosquitoes to Volatile Blends Produced by Human Skin Bacteria

The malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto is mainly guided by human odour components to find its blood host. Skin bacteria play an important role in the production of human body odour and when grown in vitro, skin bacteria produce volatiles that are attractive to A. gambiae. The role of single skin bacterial species in the production of volatiles that mediate the host-seeking behaviour of mosquitoes has remained largely unknown and is the subject of the present study. Headspace samples were taken to identify volatiles that mediate this behaviour. These volatiles could be used as mosquito attractants or repellents. Five commonly occurring species of skin bacteria were tested in an olfactometer for the production of volatiles that attract A. gambiae. Odour blends produced by some bacterial species were more attractive than blends produced by other species. In contrast to odours from the other bacterial species tested, odours produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa were not attractive to A. gambiae. Headspace analysis of bacterial volatiles in combination with behavioural assays led to the identification of six compounds that elicited a behavioural effect in A. gambiae. Our results provide, to our knowledge, the first evidence for a role of selected bacterial species, common on the human skin, in determining the attractiveness of humans to malaria mosquitoes. This information will be used in the further development of a blend of semiochemicals for the manipulation of mosquito behaviour

Compreendendo a vivência do paciente portador de doença de Crohn Comprendiendo la vivencia del paciente portador de enfermedad de Crohn Understanding the experience of patients who have Crohn's disease

OBJETIVO: Compreender o significado de ser portador da doença de Crohn. MÉTODOS: Estudo qualitativo, com abordagem Hermenêutica. Foram realizadas oito entrevistas com pacientes com diagnóstico confirmado da doença, tendo como questão norteadora "como é ser portador de doença de Crohn?" RESULTADOS: Foi identificada a seguinte categoria: Alteração no projeto de vida, a qual teve como principais fatores modificadores: ser doença crônica, alimentação, medo, falta de liberdade, prevenção de complicações e esperança. Os pacientes utilizam para isso algumas estratégias para superar as dificuldades e desenvolver habilidades próprias para seguir em frente. CONCLUSÃO: Tentar compreender a natureza humana e conhecer o ser e sentir da pessoa é uma construção que precisa ser melhorada nos cursos da área de saúde para que os profissionais possam dar o suporte necessário aos pacientes e oferecer uma assistência de enfermagem adequada.<br>OBJETIVO: Comprender el significado de ser portador de la enfermedad de Crohn. MÉTODOS: Estudio cualitativo, con abordaje Hermenéutico. Fueron realizadas ocho entrevistas a pacientes con diagnóstico confirmado de la enfermedad, teniendo como pregunta norteadora "¿cómo es ser portador de la enfermedad de Crohn?" RESULTADOS: Fue identificada la siguiente categoría: Alteración en el proyecto de vida, la cual tuvo como principales factores modificadores: ser enfermedad crónica, alimentación, miedo, falta de libertad, prevención de complicaciones y esperanza. Los pacientes utilizan para eso algunas estrategias para superar las dificultades y desarrollar habilidades propias para seguir adelante. CONCLUSIÓN: Intentar comprender la naturaleza humana y conocer el ser y sentir de la persona es una construcción que precisa ser mejorada en los cursos del área de la salud para que los profesionales puedan dar el soporte necesario a los pacientes y ofrecer una asistencia de enfermería adecuada.<br>OBJECTIVE: To understand the meaning of having Crohn's Disease. METHODS: Qualitative study, with a hermeneutic approach. Eight interviews were held, with patients who have a confirmed diagnosis of the disease. The main question of the study was: "what is it like to have Crohn's Disease?". RESULTS: The analysis was performed according to a category identified as: changes in the life perspective. The main changing factors of the category were: having a chronic disease, food, fear, lack of freedom, prevention of complications and hope. For doing so, they use a few strategies to overcome the difficulties, developing their own skills to move forward. CONCLUSION: Trying to understand the human nature, knowing how a person is and their feelings are a construction that needs to be improved in the healthcare courses, so that the professionals can provide the necessary support to the patients and offer adequate nursing care