N-acetylgalactosamine 4-sulfate 6-O-sulfotransferase expression during early mouse embryonic development

N-acetylgalactosamine 4-sulfate 6-O-sulfotransferase (GalNAc4S-6ST) is an enzyme which is known to help build up the GlcA beta 1-3GalNAc(4,6-bisSO(4)) unit of chondroitin sulfate E (CSE). This enzymatic activity has been reported in squid cartilage and in human serum, but has never been reported as an enzyme required during early mouse development. On the other hand, CSE has been shown to bind with strong affinity to Midkine (MK). The latter is a heparin-binding growth factor which has been found to play important regulatory roles in differentiation and morphogenesis during mouse embryonic development. We have analyzed the expression pattern of the GalNAc4S-6ST gene during early mouse embryonic development by whole mount in situ hybridization. The results show that GalNAc4S-6ST is differentially expressed in the anterior visceral ectoderm at stage E5.5 and later becomes restricted to the embryonic endoderm, especially in the prospective midgut region. During the turning process, expression of GalNAc4S-6ST gene is detected in the forebrain, branchial arches, across the gut tube (hindgut, midgut and foregut diverticulum), in the vitelline veins and artery and in the splanchnopleure layer. These results open the possibility of a role for GalNAc4S-6ST during early mouse development

Vivências e perceções dos idosos acerca da realização da monitorização ambulatória da pressão arterial: relação com a tecnologia

Nas últimas décadas, a preocupação com os cuidados de saúde prestados ao doente, vem sendo crescente. É objetivo de todos os serviços e profissionais de saúde, que o cuidado seja prestado de forma assertiva e eficaz, indo de encontro às expetativas do doente. A crescente evolução tecnológica tem proporcionado grandes benefícios neste sector. Mas como será que esta evolução é recebida pelo grupo que mais recorre aos serviços de saúde, o grupo dos mais velhos? Os idosos, muitas vezes com uma baixa literacia e com pouca relação com a tecnologia, veem-se muitas vezes confrontados com a necessidade de lidar com a tecnologia implicada em exames de diagnostico e terapêutica, tão importantes para a monitorização da sua saúde. Assim sendo, pretende-se neste trabalho dar voz a estes idosos, e perceber qual a sua perspetiva quando, para a realização de um exame de diagnóstico e terapêutica a que se propõe, lhes é pedido que lidem, de forma autónoma, com algum grau de tecnologia. Pretende-se conhecer os seus receios e as suas intenções quando confrontados com a tecnologia implícita em determinados exames de diagnóstico e terapêutica, como é o caso da Monitorização Ambulatória da Pressão Arterial, exame realizado com recurso a um dispositivo eletrónico que acompanha o examinado durante 24 horas. Só conhecendo a perspetiva de quem está do outro lado, será possível promover uma verdadeira melhoria do cuidado prestado, contribuindo ao mesmo tempo para o envolvimento e empoderamento do doente idoso, que recorre a este tipo de cuidados.During the last years, research has focused on the impact of a heath care system on pa-tients. All services should provide an effective care and health professionals should deliver it in an assertive way. Patients’ expectations should always be considered. Advances in technology have contributed to the enhance the quality of care delivered, but little is known about their impact on consumers, specially in the aged population. As the Portuguese population ages, the number of patients with multimorbidity is increasing. Therefore, more people need help with activities of daily life and health care. These population, with low literacy, often face challenges when dealing with diagnostic and therapeutic exams, so important for managing their health. The aim of this work is to get to know what aged people experience when, to carry out a diagnostic and therapeutic exam that is prescribed, they are asked to deal, autonomously, with some degree of technology. It is intended to know their fears and their expectations when faced with diagnostic and therapeutic tests, specifically Blood Pressure Monitoring. This exam is performed using an electronic device that accompanies the examinee for 24 hours. Only by measuring the impact of care on the consumers will be possible to promote a real improvement in the care provided and at the same time contribute to the empowerment of the elderly patient

Biomolecular Interaction Studies Between Cytochrome PpcA From Geobacter sulfurreducens and the Electron Acceptor Ferric Nitrilotriacetate (Fe-NTA)

Geobacter sulfurreducens bacterium exhibits an enormous respiratory versatility, including the utilization of several toxic and radioactive metals as electron acceptors. This versatility is also replicated in the capability of the most abundant cytochrome in G. sulfurreducens, the periplasmic triheme cytochrome PpcA, to reduce uranium, chromium and other metal ions. From all possible electron transfer pathways in G. sulfurreducens, those involved in the iron reduction are the best characterized to date. Previously, we provided structural evidence for the complex interface established between PpcA and the electron acceptor Fe(III)-citrate. However, genetic studies suggested that this acceptor is mainly reduced by outer membrane cytochomes. In the present work, we used UV-visible measurements to demonstrate that PpcA is able to directly reduce the electron acceptor ferric nitrilotriacetate (Fe-NTA), a more outer membrane permeable iron chelated form. In addition, the molecular interactions between PpcA and Fe-NTA were probed by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The NMR spectra obtained for PpcA samples in the absence and presence of Fe-NTA showed that the interaction is reversible and encompasses a positively charged surface region located in the vicinity of the heme IV. Overall, the study elucidates the formation of an electron transfer complex between PpcA and a readily outer-membrane permeable iron chelated form. The structural and functional relationships obtained explain how a single cytochrome is designed to effectively interact with a wide range of G. sulfurreducens electron acceptors, a feature that can be explored for optimal bioelectrochemical applications

Lev Vygotsky

O Poster apresenta a biografia de Lev Vygotsky, os fundamentos teóricos e práticos da sua obra pedagógica, a atualidade da sua pedagogia e respetivas implicações na educação.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The efficacy of hearing aids on diminishing or eliminating tinnitus

Tinnitus is a disorder extremely frequent in patients with hearing loss. It affects more than 40 milion people in the USA, affecting about 1/3 of the population above 65 years old. Clinical experience has been demonstrating that patients with hearing loss and tinnitus have great benefits with the hearing aid because it helps out the comprehension of conversation while relieves tinnitus. AIM: In this work, we have studied the efficacy of hearing aids on diminishing or eliminating tinnitus in patients with hearing loss. STUDY DESIGN: Series study. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We evaluated 47 patients (32 women and 15 men) with ages ranging from 32 to 88 years old and medical indication for fitting a hearing aid. We subjectively investigated the sensation of tinnitus matching frequency (Hz) and loudness (dB) through the technic of acuphenometry and we have attended the patients for one year aiming to verify if there was a relief of tinnitus after the hearing aid fitting. RESULTS: The majority of patients (87,2%) refered relief of tinnitus with the use of the hearing aid. In 51% of these patients tinnitus has completely desapeared. It was necessary to use the hearing aid for some months (3-8) to obtain the relief of tinnitus in the majority of patients. The characteristics of the hearing aids, as model, tecnology and vent, had no influence on the relief of tinnitus. CONCLUSIONS: The use of the hearing aid was effective in reducing or eliminating tinnitus in patients with hearing loss and tinnitus.O zumbido é uma desordem extremamente freqüente em pacientes com perda auditiva, atingindo cerca de 40 milhões de pessoas nos EUA, afetando aproximadamente 1/3 da população acima dos 65 anos de idade. A prática clínica tem demonstrado que pacientes portadores de perda auditiva associada a zumbido beneficiam-se com o uso de próteses auditivas, pois estas, além de melhorarem a compreensão da conversação, aliviam o zumbido. OBJETIVO: No presente trabalho, procurou-se verificar a eficiência da adaptação de próteses auditivas na redução ou eliminação do zumbido em pacientes com perda auditiva. FORMA DE ESTUDO: Estudo de série. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: Foram avaliados 47 indivíduos adultos, sendo 32 do sexo feminino e 15 do sexo masculino, com idades entre 32 e 88 anos, com indicação médica para adaptação de prótese auditiva. Realizou-se análise e avaliação subjetiva da sensação de zumbido por meio da técnica da acufenometria, caracterizando-o quanto ao pitch e loudness, e acompanhamento dos pacientes durante um ano afim de verificar se houve melhora do zumbido após a adaptação da prótese auditiva. RESULTADOS: A maioria dos pacientes (87,2%) referiu melhora do zumbido com o uso da prótese auditiva, sendo que em 51% destes o zumbido desapareceu completamente. O tempo de uso da prótese necessário para a melhora do zumbido foi de 3 a 8 meses para a maioria dos indivíduos. As características da prótese auditiva, como modelo, tecnologia e ventilação, não influenciaram a melhora do zumbido. CONCLUSÃO: A adaptação de próteses auditivas mostrou-se eficaz na redução ou eliminação do zumbido em pacientes portadores de perda auditiva associada a zumbido.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de MedicinaUNIFESP, EPMSciEL

Identification and functional analysis of novel genes expressed in the Anterior Visceral Endoderm

During early vertebrate development, the correct establishment of the body axes is critical. The anterior pole of the mouse embryo is established when Distal Visceral Endoderm (DVE) cells migrate to form the Anterior Visceral Endoderm (AVE). Symmetrical expression of Lefty1, Cer1 and Dkk1 determines the direction of DVE migration and the future anterior side. In addition to the establishment of the Anterior-Posterior axis, the AVE has also been implicated in anterior neural specification. To better understand the role of the AVE in these processes, we have performed a differential screening using Affymetrix GeneChip technology with AVE cells isolated from cer1P-EGFP transgenic mouse embryos. We found 175 genes which were upregulated in the AVE and 36 genes in the Proximal-posterior sample. Using DAVID software, we characterized the AVE cell population regarding cellular component, molecular function and biological processes. Among the genes that were found to be upregulated in the AVE, several novel genes were identified. Four of these transcripts displaying high-fold change in the AVE were further characterized by in situ hybridization in early stages of development in order to validate the screening. From those four selected genes, one, denominated Adtk1, was chosen to be functionally characterized by targeted inactivation in ES cells. Adtk1 encodes for a serine/threonine kinase. Adtk1 null mutants are smaller and present short limbs due to decreased mineralization, suggesting a potential role in chondrogenesis during limb development. Taken together, these data point to the importance of reporting novel genes present in the AVE.F.C.T.; IGC/FCG; IBB/CBME, L

99mTc-Ciprofloxacin Imaging: Still an Unsettled Issue?

The objective of this work consisted in the assessment of 99mTc-ciprofloxacin imaging performance as a diagnostic tool in an experimental rat model of osteomyelitis. Bone (tibia) infection was induced in adult rats by inoculation of a suspension containing S. aureus suspended in fibrin glue. In vivo studies by means of small animal imaging were conducted using a gamma camera. The study shows the correlation between 99mTc-ciprofloxacin positive images with bacterial bone count but also with histopathological findings in an osteomyelitis animal model, highlighting its potential as a tool in preclinical research and the accomplishment of 3Rs concept regarding welfare of laboratory animals. 99mTc-MDP scintigraphy, failed to show these correlations and therefore it may be proposed as a complementary method to diagnose and follow up the bone physiopathology in this animal model. Future perspectives of small animal imaging in order to potentiate osteomyelitis basic research will derive from numerous research works, and 99mTc-ciprofloxacin may still be a candidate for infectious diagnose and follow-up as demonstrated in this study.Fil: Portillo, Mariano Gastón. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Fisicomatemática. Cátedra de Física; ArgentinaFil: Mendoza Bertelli, Andrea Cristina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica; ArgentinaFil: Tesan, Fiorella Carla. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Fisicomatemática. Cátedra de Física; ArgentinaFil: Noto Llana, Mariangeles. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica; ArgentinaFil: Zubillaga, Marcela Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Fisicomatemática. Cátedra de Física; ArgentinaFil: Sordelli, Daniel Oscar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica; ArgentinaFil: Gomez, Marisa Ines. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica; ArgentinaFil: Salgueiro, María Jimena. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Fisicomatemática. Cátedra de Física; Argentin

Generating asymmetries in the early vertebrate embryo: the role of the Cerberus-like family

One fundamental aspect of vertebrate embryonic development is the formation of the body plan. For this process, asymmetries have to be generated during early stages of development along the three main body axes: Anterior-Posterior, Dorso-Ventral and Left-Right. We have been studying the role of a novel class of molecules,the Cerberus/Dan gene family. These are dedicated secreted antagonists of three major signaling pathways: Nodal, BMP and Wnt. Our studies contribute to the current view that the fine tuning of signaling is controlled by a set of inhibitory molecules rather than by activators. In this context, the Cerberus-like molecules emerge as key players in the regulation and generation of asymmetries in the early vertebrate embryo.C.R.U.P; F.C.T.; IGC/Fundação Calouste Gulbenkia

A Secreted BMP Antagonist, Cer1, Fine Tunes the Spatial Organization of the Ureteric Bud Tree during Mouse Kidney Development

The epithelial ureteric bud is critical for mammalian kidney development as it generates the ureter and the collecting duct system that induces nephrogenesis in dicrete locations in the kidney mesenchyme during its emergence. We show that a secreted Bmp antagonist Cerberus homologue (Cer1) fine tunes the organization of the ureteric tree during organogenesis in the mouse embryo. Both enhanced ureteric expression of Cer1 and Cer1 knock out enlarge kidney size, and these changes are associated with an altered three-dimensional structure of the ureteric tree as revealed by optical projection tomography. Enhanced Cer1 expression changes the ureteric bud branching programme so that more trifid and lateral branches rather than bifid ones develop, as seen in time-lapse organ culture. These changes may be the reasons for the modified spatial arrangement of the ureteric tree in the kidneys of Cer1+ embryos. Cer1 gain of function is associated with moderately elevated expression of Gdnf and Wnt11, which is also induced in the case of Cer1 deficiency, where Bmp4 expression is reduced, indicating the dependence of Bmp expression on Cer1. Cer1 binds at least Bmp2/4 and antagonizes Bmp signalling in cell culture. In line with this, supplementation of Bmp4 restored the ureteric bud tip number, which was reduced by Cer1+ to bring it closer to the normal, consistent with models suggesting that Bmp signalling inhibits ureteric bud development. Genetic reduction of Wnt11 inhibited the Cer1-stimulated kidney development, but Cer1 did not influence Wnt11 signalling in cell culture, although it did inhibit the Wnt3a-induced canonical Top Flash reporter to some extent. We conclude that Cer1 fine tunes the spatial organization of the ureteric tree by coordinating the activities of the growth-promoting ureteric bud signals Gndf and Wnt11 via Bmp-mediated antagonism and to some degree via the canonical Wnt signalling involved in branching

99mTc-Ciprofloxacin Imaging: Still an Unsettled Issue?

The objective of this work consisted in the assessment of 99mTc-ciprofloxacin imaging performance as a diagnostic tool in an experimental rat model of osteomyelitis. Bone (tibia) infection was induced in adult rats by inoculation of a suspension containing S. aureus suspended in fibrin glue. In vivo studies by means of small animal imaging were conducted using a gamma camera. The study shows the correlation between 99mTc-ciprofloxacin positive images with bacterial bone count but also with histopathological findings in an osteomyelitis animal model, highlighting its potential as a tool in preclinical research and the accomplishment of 3Rs concept regarding welfare of laboratory animals. 99mTc-MDP scintigraphy, failed to show these correlations and therefore it may be proposed as a complementary method to diagnose and follow up the bone physiopathology in this animal model. Future perspectives of small animal imaging in order to potentiate osteomyelitis basic research will derive from numerous research works, and 99mTc-ciprofloxacin may still be a candidate for infectious diagnose and follow-up as demonstrated in this study