The Effects of the SSRI Paroxetine on Feeding Rates of the Larval Mosquito Aedes aegypti

Paroxetine is an antidepressant drug that is found in aquatic habitats. It is a serotonin specific reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) that increases the amount of serotonin in synapses, mimicking increased activity of serotonergic pathways. Studying the effects of the SSRI paroxetine in freshwater animals such as Aedes aegypti larvae (mosquito larva) may help us see what physical and behavioral impact the drug may have on these animals and how it may affect the ecosystem. The testing of feeding rates of mosquito larvae exposed to paroxetine was conducted because of the known influence of serotonin on appetite. In order to see the influence of serotonin on appetite Aedes aegypti were exposed to different concentrations of paroxetine (1x10-5, 1x10-6, and 1x10-7 mmol/L). The effect of paroxetine on feeding rates are expected to affect growth and development of mosquitoes, suggesting ways that paroxetine and other SSRIs in the environment will likely alter the ecosystem

Evidence for recombination between a sialidase (nanH) of Actinomyces naeslundii and Actinomyces oris, previously named ‘Actinomyces naeslundii genospecies 1 and 2’

Actinomyces spp., predominant members of human oral biofilms, may use extracellular sialidase to promote adhesion, deglycosylate immunoglobulins and liberation of nutrients. Partial nanH gene sequences (1077 bp) from Actinomyces oris (n =74), Actinomyces naeslundii (n =30), Actinomyces viscosus (n =1) and Actinomyces johnsonii (n =2) which included the active-site region and the bacterial neuraminidase repeats (BNRs) were compared. The sequences were aligned and each species formed a distinct cluster with five isolates having intermediate positions. These five isolates (two A. oris and three A. naeslundii) exhibited interspecies recombination. The nonsynonymous/synonymous ratio was <1 for both A. oris and A. naeslundii indicating that nanH in both species is under stabilizing selective pressure; nonsynonymous mutations are not selected. However, for A. oris significant negative values in tests for neutral selection suggested the rate of mutation in A. oris was greater than in A. naeslundii but with selection against nonsynonymous mutations. This was supported by the observation that the frequency of polymorphic sites in A. oris, which were monomorphic in A. naeslundii was significantly greater than the frequency of polymorphic sites in A. naeslundii which were monomorphic in A. oris (χ2=7.011; P =0.00081). The higher proportions of A. oris in the oral biofilm might be explained by the higher mutation rate facilitating an increased ability to respond successfully to environmental stress

Accelerated Evolution of the ASPM Gene Controlling Brain Size Begins Prior to Human Brain Expansion

Primary microcephaly (MCPH) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by global reduction in cerebral cortical volume. The microcephalic brain has a volume comparable to that of early hominids, raising the possibility that some MCPH genes may have been evolutionary targets in the expansion of the cerebral cortex in mammals and especially primates. Mutations in ASPM, which encodes the human homologue of a fly protein essential for spindle function, are the most common known cause of MCPH. Here we have isolated large genomic clones containing the complete ASPM gene, including promoter regions and introns, from chimpanzee, gorilla, orangutan, and rhesus macaque by transformation-associated recombination cloning in yeast. We have sequenced these clones and show that whereas much of the sequence of ASPM is substantially conserved among primates, specific segments are subject to high Ka/Ks ratios (nonsynonymous/synonymous DNA changes) consistent with strong positive selection for evolutionary change. The ASPM gene sequence shows accelerated evolution in the African hominoid clade, and this precedes hominid brain expansion by several million years. Gorilla and human lineages show particularly accelerated evolution in the IQ domain of ASPM. Moreover, ASPM regions under positive selection in primates are also the most highly diverged regions between primates and nonprimate mammals. We report the first direct application of TAR cloning technology to the study of human evolution. Our data suggest that evolutionary selection of specific segments of the ASPM sequence strongly relates to differences in cerebral cortical size

Department of Internal Medicine-Pediatrics Posters - 2019

Department of Internal Medicine-Pediatrics Posters - 2019https://scholarlycommons.libraryinfo.bhs.org/research_education/1012/thumbnail.jp

A reforma agrária municipal e os bloqueios do neoliberalismo regulador

O objetivo do artigo é demonstrar, em face da Constituição brasileira de 1988, a possibilidade jurídica dos Municípios realizarem a reforma agrária.  Após uma breve introdução, onde anotamos que as concentrações de terras rurais da Nação na atualidade são superiores às de meados do século passado e que as recentes políticas públicas da União privilegiam o agronegócio, explicamos em seguida o neoliberalismo de regulação e elencamos alguns de seus mecanismos para bloquear a reforma agrária. Depois, fazemos uma interpretação sistemática da Constituição Econômica de 1988 e concluímos que os municípios brasileiros possuem competência para realizarem a reforma agrária. A fim de reforçar a nossa tese, trazemos pareceres de juristas e decisões de Tribunais Superiores nacionais favoráveis às desapropriações, por parte dos três entes da federação, de imóveis rurais, mediante pagamento em dinheiro, para a execução de suas políticas públicas (incluído programas de reforma agrária), com base na Lei n. 4.132/62

A REFORMA AGRÁRIA MUNICIPAL E OS BLOQUEIOS DO NEOLIBERALISMO REGULADOR

O objetivo do artigo é demonstrar, em face da Constituição brasileira de 1988, a possibilidade jurídica dos Municípios realizarem a reforma agrária.  Após uma breve introdução, onde anotamos que as concentrações de terras rurais da Nação na atualidade são superiores às de meados do século passado e que as recentes políticas públicas da União privilegiam o agronegócio, explicamos em seguida o neoliberalismo de regulação e elencamos alguns de seus mecanismos para bloquear a reforma agrária. Depois, fazemos uma interpretação sistemática da Constituição Econômica de 1988 e concluímos que os municípios brasileiros possuem competência para realizarem a reforma agrária. A fim de reforçar a nossa tese, trazemos pareceres de juristas e decisões de Tribunais Superiores nacionais favoráveis às desapropriações, por parte dos três entes da federação, de imóveis rurais, mediante pagamento em dinheiro, para a execução de suas políticas públicas (incluído programas de reforma agrária), com base na Lei n. 4.132/62

Proton transfer or hemibonding? The structure and stability of radical cation clusters

The basin hopping search algorithm in conjunction with second-order Moller-Plesset perturbation theory is used to determine the lowest energy structures of the radical cation clusters (NH_3)_n^+, (H_2O)_n^+, (HF)_n^+, (PH_3)_n^+, (H_2S)_n^+ and (HCl)_n^+, where n=2-4. The energies of the most stable structures are subsequently evaluated using coupled cluster theory in conjunction with the aug-cc-pVTZ basis set. These cationic clusters can adopt two distinct structural types, with some clusters showing an unusual type of bonding, often referred to as hemibonding, while other clusters undergo proton transfer to give an ion and radical. It is found that proton transfer based structures are preferred by the (NH_3)_n+, (H_2O)_n^+, and (HF)_n^+ clusters while hemibonded structures are favoured by (PH_3)_n^+, (H_2S)_n^+ and (HCl)_n^+. These trends can be attributed to the relative strengths of the molecules and molecular cations as Brønsted bases and acids, respectively, and the strength of the interaction between the ion and radical in the ion-radical clusters

Palatal Myoclonus Associated with Orofacial Buccal Dystonia

Palatal myoclonus is a rare condition in which there are rhythmic jerky movements of the soft palate and sometimes of the other muscles innervated by the brainstem A particularly annoying symptom is a rhythmic clicking sound in the ear due to the opening and closing of the Eustachian tube. Orofacial buccal dystonia is a focal dystonia with sustained spasms of the masticatory, facial or lingual muscles. The frequent symptoms of this disease have mainly been reported to be involuntary and possibly painful jaw opening, closing, deflecting and retruding, or a combination of the above. However, the subtle and unnoticeable involuntary movement of multiple facial muscles, which might be an infrequent symptom of orofacial buccal dystonia, makes this disease hard to diagnose. Understanding the functional orofacial anatomy that is responsible for the clinical signs and symptoms is necessary for making a proper diagnosis. Here we report on a rare case of palatal myoclonus that was associated with orofacial buccal dystonia, and such a case has not been previously reported. We describe the diagnostic approach and excellent treatment results after Botulinum toxin A (Dysport) injection and proper counseling