Espectroscopia De Fósforo Por Ressonância Magnética Na Investigação De Epilepsia Do Lobo Temporal: lendo Nas Entrelinhas Das Alterações Metabólicas

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15-deoxy-delta(12,14)-prostaglandin J(2) Induces Apoptosis And Upregulates Socs3 In Human Thyroid Cancer Cells

The cyclopentenone prostaglandin 15-deoxy-Delta(12,14)-prostaglandin J(2) (15d-PGJ(2)) is a natural ligand of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-gamma) and a potential mediator of apoptosis in cancer cells. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of 15d-PGJ(2) in human thyroid papillary carcinoma cells (TPC-1) using different doses of 15d-PGJ(2) (0.6 to 20 mu M) to determine IC50 (9.3 mu M) via the MTT assay. The supernatant culture medium of the TPC-1 cells that was treated either with 15d-PGJ(2) or with vehicle (control) for 24 hours was assessed for IL-6 secretion via CBA assay. RT-qPCR was used to evaluate mRNA expression of IL-6, SOCS1, SOCS3, and STAT3. TPC-1 cells treated with 15d-PGJ(2) decreased the secretion and expression of IL-6 and STAT3, while it increased SOCS1 and SOCS3. Overall, we demonstrated that 15d-PGJ(2) downregulated IL-6 signaling pathway and led TPC-1 cells into apoptosis. In conclusion, 15d-PGJ(2) shows the potential to become a new therapeutic approach for thyroid tumors

Cell walls of the dimorphic fungal pathogens Sporothrix schenckii and Sporothrix brasiliensis exhibit bilaminate structures and sloughing of extensive and intact layers

This work was supported by the Fundação Carlos Chagas de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ), grants E-26/202.974/2015 and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), grants 229755/2013-5, Brazil. LMLB is a senior research fellow of CNPq and Faperj. NG acknowledged support from the Wellcome Trust (Trust (097377, 101873, 200208) and MRC Centre for Medical Mycology (MR/N006364/1). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Epilepsia com ponta-onda contínua do sono lento: estudo clínico e eletrencefalográfico

We report four children with epilepsy with continuous spike-waves during slow wave sleep (CSWSS). The main clinical features were partial motor seizures, mental retardation and motor deficit. The EEG findings were characterized by nearly continuous (>85%) diffuse slow spike and wave activity in two patients, and localized to one hemisphere in two other cases during non-REM sleep. The treatment was effective in improving the clinical seizures, but not the EEG pattern. We believe that this epileptic syndrome has been overlooked and routine sleep EEG studies on epileptic children may disclose more cases of CSWSS.Relatamos quatro crianças epilépticas com ponta-onda contínua durante o sono lento (POCSL). Os principais achados clínicos foram crises parciais motoras,retardo mental e déficit motor. Os EEG se caracterizaram por complexos ponta-onda quase contínuos (>85%) difusos em dois pacientes e localizados em um hemisfério nos outros dois casos. O tratamento foi eficaz no controle das crises, mas não em relação ao EEG. Achamos que este quadro tem sido pouco relatado e estudos do sono em crianças epilépticas podem revelar mais casos de POCSL.Escola Paulista de Medicina Head of the EEG SectorEPMUNIFESP, EPM, Head of the EEG SectorEPMSciEL

Gamification and Adherence to Web-Based Mental Health Interventions: A Systematic Review

Background: Adherence to effective Web-based interventions for common mental disorders (CMDs) and well-being remains a critical issue, with clear potential to increase effectiveness. Continued identification and examination of “active” technological components within Web-based interventions has been called for. Gamification is the use of game design elements and features in nongame contexts. Health and lifestyle interventions have implemented a variety of game features in their design in an effort to encourage engagement and increase program adherence. The potential influence of gamification on program adherence has not been examined in the context of Web-based interventions designed to manage CMDs and well-being. Objective: This study seeks to review the literature to examine whether gaming features predict or influence reported rates of program adherence in Web-based interventions designed to manage CMDs and well-being. Methods: A systematic review was conducted of peer-reviewed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) designed to manage CMDs or well-being and incorporated gamification features. Seven electronic databases were searched. Results: A total of 61 RCTs met the inclusion criteria and 47 different intervention programs were identified. The majority were designed to manage depression using cognitive behavioral therapy. Eight of 10 popular gamification features reviewed were in use. The majority of studies utilized only one gamification feature (n=58) with a maximum of three features. The most commonly used feature was story/theme. Levels and game leaders were not used in this context. No studies explicitly examined the role of gamification features on program adherence. Usage data were not commonly reported. Interventions intended to be 10 weeks in duration had higher mean adherence than those intended to be 6 or 8 weeks in duration. Conclusions: Gamification features have been incorporated into the design of interventions designed to treat CMD and well-being. Further research is needed to improve understanding of gamification features on adherence and engagement in order to inform the design of future Web-based health interventions in which adherence to treatment is of concern. Conclusions were limited by varied reporting of adherence and usage dat

Pregnancy outcomes in women with repeated implantation failures after intracytoplasmic morphologically selected sperm injection (IMSI)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The purpose of this study was to compare laboratory and clinical outcomes of intracytoplasmic morphologically selected sperm injection (IMSI) and conventional intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in couples with repeated implantation failures.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A total of 200 couples with at least two prior unsuccessful ICSI cycles were enrolled: 100 couples were submitted to IMSI and 100 were submitted to routine ICSI. For IMSI, spermatozoa were selected at 8400× magnification using an inverted microscope equipped with Nomarski (differential interference contrast) optics. For conventional ICSI, spermatozoa were selected at 400× magnification. Clinical outcomes were evaluated between the two groups.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Study patients were comparable in age, number of treatment failures, aetiology of infertility, percentage of normal form assessed by MSOME (motile sperm organelle morphology examination), semen parameters, total number of oocytes collected, number of mature oocytes collected, total number of embryos transferred and number of high-quality embryos transferred. No statistically significant differences between the two groups were observed with regard to rates of fertilisation, implantation and pregnancy/cycle. Although not statistically significant, rates of miscarriage (IMSI:15.3% vs ICSI:31.7%), ongoing pregnancy (IMSI:22% vs ICSI:13%) and live births (IMSI:21% vs ICSI:12%) showed a trend towards better outcomes in the IMSI group. In addition, analysis of subpopulations with or without male factor showed similar results.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our results suggest that IMSI does not provide a significant improvement in clinical outcome compared to ICSI, at least in couples with repeated implantation failures after conventional ICSI. However, it should be noted that there were clear trends for lower miscarriage rates (≈50% reduced) and higher rates of ongoing pregnancy and live births (both nearly doubled) within the IMSI group. Further confirmation as well as randomized large-scale trials are needed to confirm the beneficial effects of IMSI in couples with poor reproductive prognoses.</p

Wide spectrum of NR5A1-related phenotypes in 46,XY and 46,XX individuals

Steroidogenic factor 1 (NR5A1, SF-1, Ad4BP) is a transcriptional regulator of genes involved in adrenal and gonadal development and function. Mutations in NR5A1 have been among the most frequently identified genetic causes of gonadal development disorders and are associated with a wide phenotypic spectrum. In 46,XY individuals, NR5A1-related phenotypes may range from disorders of sex development (DSD) to oligo/azoospermia, and in 46,XX individuals, from 46,XX ovotesticular and testicular DSD to primary ovarian insufficiency (POI). The most common 46,XY phenotype is atypical or female external genitalia with clitoromegaly, palpable gonads, and absence of Müllerian derivatives. Notably, an undervirilized external genitalia is frequently seen at birth, while spontaneous virilization may occur later, at puberty. In 46,XX individuals, NR5A1 mutations are a rare genetic cause of POI, manifesting as primary or secondary amenorrhea, infertility, hypoestrogenism, and elevated gonadotropin levels. Mothers and sisters of 46,XY DSD patients carrying heterozygous NR5A1 mutations may develop POI, and therefore require appropriate counseling. Moreover, the recurrent heterozygous p.Arg92Trp NR5A1 mutation is associated with variable degrees of testis development in 46,XX patients. A clear genotype-phenotype correlation is not seen in patients bearing NR5A1 mutations, suggesting that genetic modifiers, such as pathogenic variants in other testis/ovarian-determining genes, may contribute to the phenotypic expression. Here, we review the published literature on NR5A1-related disease, and discuss our findings at a single tertiary center in Brazil, including ten novel NR5A1 mutations identified in 46,XY DSD patients. The ever-expanding phenotypic range associated with NR5A1 variants in XY and XX individuals confirms its pivotal role in reproductive biology, and should alert clinicians to the possibility of NR5A1 defects in a variety of phenotypes presenting with gonadal dysfunction

Sensitivity enhancement in thermoreflectance microscopy of semiconductor devices using suitable probe wavelengths

In this paper we present an experimental and theoretical study of the thermoreflectance response as a function of the probe wavelength for layered microelectronics structures. The investigated sample consists of a polycrystalline silicon conducting track grown on a SiO2-coated Si substrate. Thermoreflectance measurements were carried out in the wavelength range from 450 to 750 nm with the track biased in modulated regime. An oscillating pattern is observed in the spectral region where the upper layer is transparent. Such oscillations are due to the interference resulting from the multiple reflections at the interfaces. Using a thermo-optical model, we show that the optical constants (n and k) of the materials, which are wavelength dependent, as well as their temperature derivatives (dn/dT and dk/dT), strongly influence the thermoreflectance signal. The optical thicknesses of the layers, mainly determined by the real part of the refractive indices, define the period of oscillation. On the other hand, the imaginary part of the refractive indices establishes the cutoff wavelength of the oscillations. Below this cutoff wavelength, the probe light does not penetrate the material and the upper-surface reflectance dominates the signal. (c) 2005 American Institute of Physics.98