A Concise Guide to D-Wave Monitoring during Intramedullary Spinal Cord Tumour Surgery.

D-waves (also called direct waves) result from the direct activation of fast-conducting, thickly myelinated corticospinal tract (CST) fibres after a single electrical stimulus. During intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring, D-waves are used to assess the long-term motor outcomes of patients undergoing surgery for intramedullary spinal cord tumours, selected cases of intradural extramedullary tumours and surgery for syringomyelia. In the present manuscript, we discuss D-wave monitoring and its role as a tool for monitoring the CST during spinal cord surgery. We describe the neurophysiological background and provide some recommendations for recording and stimulation, as well as possible future perspectives. Further, we introduce the concept of anti D-wave and present an illustrative case with successful recordings.

Endothelial c-Myc knockout disrupts metabolic homeostasis and triggers the development of obesity.

Introduction: Obesity is a major risk factor associated with multiple pathological conditions including diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Endothelial dysfunction is an early predictor of obesity. However, little is known regarding how early endothelial changes trigger obesity. In the present work we report a novel endothelial-mediated mechanism essential for regulation of metabolic homeostasis, driven by c-Myc. Methods: We used conditional knockout (EC-Myc KO) and overexpression (EC-Myc OE) mouse models to investigate the endothelial-specific role of c-Myc in metabolic homeostasis during aging and high-fat diet exposure. Body weight and metabolic parameters were collected over time and tissue samples collected at endpoint for biochemical, pathology and RNA-sequencing analysis. Animals exposed to high-fat diet were also evaluated for cardiac dysfunction. Results: In the present study we demonstrate that EC-Myc KO triggers endothelial dysfunction, which precedes progressive increase in body weight during aging, under normal dietary conditions. At endpoint, EC-Myc KO animals showed significant increase in white adipose tissue mass relative to control littermates, which was associated with sex-specific changes in whole body metabolism and increase in systemic leptin. Overexpression of endothelial c-Myc attenuated diet-induced obesity and visceral fat accumulation and prevented the development of glucose intolerance and cardiac dysfunction. Transcriptome analysis of skeletal muscle suggests that the protective effects promoted by endothelial c-Myc overexpression are associated with the expression of genes known to increase weight loss, energy expenditure and glucose tolerance. Conclusion: Our results show a novel important role for endothelial c-Myc in regulating metabolic homeostasis and suggests its potential targeting in preventing obesity and associated complications such as diabetes type-2 and cardiovascular dysfunction.

Unmet need for and impact of adopting immunobiological drugs for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in a pediatric population.

Palhano et al. demonstrate the feasibility of incorporating secukinumab and ustekinumab into the Clinical Protocol and Therapeutic Guidelines for moderate to severe psoriasis in pediatric patients. OBJECTIVE: Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of secukinumab and ustekinumab against moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in a Brazilian pediatric population with access to public healthcare. METHODS: A survey of immunobiological treatments registered for use against pediatric psoriasis at the National Health Surveillance Agency was conducted. These treatments were compared to the list available in the same treatment category in the public health system through the Clinical Protocol and Therapeutic Guidelines for psoriasis. A quantitative analysis of the data of patients treated with immunobiological drugs the previous year in accordance with the Clinical Protocol and Therapeutic Guidelines was performed using data available in the DATASUS portal. RESULTS: The public budget impact scenarios analyzed were comparable to the investment already planned for acquiring the only available drug option. CONCLUSION: The incorporation of two therapeutic options in the Clinical Protocol and Therapeutic Guidelines list for moderate-to-severe pediatric psoriasis was feasible in a horizon of 5 years compared to the investment into the single option available to pediatric patients. These findings can facilitate the local analysis of budgetary impact and discussions on the feasibility of this therapeutic incorporation at the state level. Incorporation of secukinumab and ustekinumab was economically feasible. These drugs are options for those who do not respond to or have contraindications to etanercept.

Use of photosensitive molecules in the crosslinking of biopolymers: applications and considerations in biomaterials development.

The development of diverse types of biomaterials has significantly contributed to bringing new biomedical strategies to treat clinical conditions. Applications of these biomaterials can range from mechanical support and protection of injured tissues to joint replacement, tissue implants, and drug delivery systems. Among the strategies commonly used to prepare biomaterials, the use of electromagnetic radiation to initiate crosslinking stands out. The predominance of photo-induced polymerization methods relies on a fast, efficient, and straightforward process that can be easily adjusted to clinical needs. This strategy consists of irradiating the components that form the material with photons in the near ultraviolet-visible wavelength range (i.e., ∼310 to 750 nm) in the presence of a photoactive molecule. Upon photon absorption, photosensitive molecules can generate excited species that initiate photopolymerization through different reaction mechanisms. However, this process could promote undesired side reactions depending on the target zone or treatment type (e.g., oxidative stress and modification of biomolecules such as proteins and lipids). This review explores the basic concepts behind the photopolymerization process of ex situ and in situ biomaterials. Particular emphasis was put on the photosensitization initiated by the most employed photosensitizers and the photoreactions that they mediate in aqueous media. Finally, the undesired oxidation reactions at the bio-interface and potential solutions are presented.

Salinity and pH effects on water-oil-calcite interfaces by using molecular dynamics.

Smart water injection is a technology that allows changing the wettability of the oil rock by injecting water at different salinities, in a cheap and environmentally friendly way compared to other traditional methods. In this study, the individual effect of some typical salts on the wettability of the (104) surface of calcite toward non-polar and polar crude oil models was explored by molecular dynamics as a function of the salinity and pH. The results obtained show that the electrical double layer plays a principal role in the detachment of crude oil models. The divalent ion salts, i.e., CaCl2, CaSO4, MgCl2, and MgSO4, do not form the electrical double layer on calcite, but salts of NaCl and Na2SO4 form it. Moreover, the surface affinity of calcite to the non-polar crude oil is not affected by the salinity. However, the affinity of the calcite surface toward polar crude is affected by salinity and pH conditions. This research provides new insights into the action mechanisms that could help optimize its uses in enhanced oil recovery.

Unmet need for and impact of adopting immunobiological drugs for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in a pediatric population

ABSTRACT Objective Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of secukinumab and ustekinumab against moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in a Brazilian pediatric population with access to public healthcare. Methods A survey of immunobiological treatments registered for use against pediatric psoriasis at the National Health Surveillance Agency was conducted. These treatments were compared to the list available in the same treatment category in the public health system through the Clinical Protocol and Therapeutic Guidelines for psoriasis. A quantitative analysis of the data of patients treated with immunobiological drugs the previous year in accordance with the Clinical Protocol and Therapeutic Guidelines was performed using data available in the DATASUS portal. Results The public budget impact scenarios analyzed were comparable to the investment already planned for acquiring the only available drug option. Conclusion The incorporation of two therapeutic options in the Clinical Protocol and Therapeutic Guidelines list for moderate-to-severe pediatric psoriasis was feasible in a horizon of 5 years compared to the investment into the single option available to pediatric patients. These findings can facilitate the local analysis of budgetary impact and discussions on the feasibility of this therapeutic incorporation at the state level.

Poly(ethylene imine)-chitosan carbon dots: study of its physical-chemical properties and biological in vitro performance.

Carbon dots (CDs) have been quickly extended for nanomedicine uses because of their multiple applications, such as bioimaging, sensors, and drug delivery. However, the interest in increasing their photoluminescence properties is not always accompanied by cytocompatibility. Thus, a knowledge gap exists regarding their interactions with biological systems linked to the selected formulations and synthesis methods. In this work, we have developed carbon dots (CDs) based on poly (ethylene imine) (PEI) and chitosan (CS) by using microwave irradiation, hydrothermal synthesis, and a combination of both, and further characterized them by physicochemical and biological means. Our results indicate that synthesized CDs have sizes between 1 and 5 nm, a high presence of amine groups on the surface, and increased positive ζ potential values. Further, it is established that the choice and use of different synthesis procedures can contribute to a different answer to the CDs regarding their optical and biological properties. In this regard, PEI-only CDs showed the longest photoluminescent emission lifetime, non-hemolytic activity, and high toxicity against fibroblast. On the other hand, CS-only CDs have higher PL emission, non-cytotoxicity associated with fibroblast, and high hemolytic activity. Interestingly, their combination using the proposed methodologies allow a synergic effect in their CDs properties. Therefore, this work contributes to developing and characterizing CD formulations based on PEI and CS and better understanding the CD's properties and biological interaction.

Combined Exercise Training Promotes More Benefits on Cardiovascular Autonomic Modulation in Ovariectomized Rats Than Isolated Aerobic or Resistance Training.

Introduction: Cardiovascular risk increase after ovarian deprivation has been extensively demonstrated by our research group through cardiovascular autonomic analysis. Interventions involving different types of exercises, such as resistance exercises or combined exercises (aerobic and resistance) have been widely recommended to prevent or minimize neuromuscular decline in postmenopausal women, which is aggravated by a sedentary lifestyle. Experimentally, the cardiovascular effects of resistance or combined training, as well as comparison between aerobic, resistance, and combined training, in ovariectomized animals are scarce. Purpose: In this study, we hypothesized that the combination of aerobic and resistance training may be more effective in preventing muscle mass loss, as well as improving cardiovascular autonomic modulation and baroreflex sensitivity, than aerobic or resistance training individually in ovariectomized rats. Animals and Methods: Female rats were divided into 5 groups: sedentary (C); ovariectomized (Ovx); trained ovariectomized submitted to aerobic training (OvxAT); resistance training (OvxRT); combined training (OvxCT). Exercise training lasted 8 weeks, with the combined group alternating between aerobic training and resistance training every other day. At the end of the study, glycemia and insulin tolerance were evaluated. Arterial pressure (AP) was directly recorded. Baroreflex sensitivity was assessed by heart rate response to changes in arterial pressure. Cardiovascular autonomic modulation was evaluated by spectral analysis. Results: Combined training was the only training regime that increased baroreflex sensitivity for tachycardic response and reduced all systolic blood pressure variability parameters. Furthermore, all animals submitted to exercise training on a treadmill (OvxAT and OvxCT) presented lower systolic, diastolic, and mean pressure, as well as improvements in the autonomic modulation for the heart. Conclusion: Combined training showed to be more effective than isolated aerobic and resistance training, mixing the isolated benefits of each modality. It was the only modality able to increase baroreflex sensitivity to tachycardic responses, reduce arterial pressure and all parameters of vascular sympathetic modulation.

Effects of Exercise Intensity on Cardiometabolic Parameters of Ovariectomized Obese Mice.

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of continuous-moderate vs. high-intensity interval aerobic training on cardiovascular and metabolic parameters in ovariectomized high-fat-fed mice. C57BL/6 female ovariectomized were divided into four groups (n=8): low-fat-fed sedentary (SLF); high-fat-fed sedentary (SHF); high-fat-fed moderate-intensity continuous trained (MICT-HF); and high-fat-fed high-intensity interval aerobic trained (HIIT-HF). The high-fat diet lasted 10 weeks. Ovariectomy was performed in the fourth week. The exercise training was carried out in the last four weeks of protocol. Fasting glycemia, oral glucose tolerance, arterial pressure, baroreflex sensitivity, and cardiovascular autonomic modulation were evaluated. Moderate-intensity continuous training prevented the increase in arterial pressure and promoted a reduction in HR at rest, associated with an improvement in the sympathovagal balance in MICT-HF vs. SHF. The high-intensity interval training reduced blood glucose and glucose intolerance in HIIT-HF vs. SHF and MICT-HF. In addition, it improved sympathovagal balance in HIIT-HF vs. SHF. Moderate-intensity continuous training was more effective in promoting cardiovascular benefits, while high-intensity interval training was more effective in promoting metabolic benefits.

Food readjustment plus exercise training improves cardiovascular autonomic control and baroreflex sensitivity in high-fat diet-fed ovariectomized mice.

Despite consensus on the benefits of food readjustment and/or moderate-intensity continuous exercise in the treatment of cardiometabolic risk factors, there is little evidence of the association between these two cardiovascular risk management strategies after menopause. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of food readjustment and/or exercise training on metabolic, hemodynamic, autonomic, and inflammatory parameters in a model of loss of ovarian function with diet-induced obesity. Forty C57BL/6J ovariectomized mice were divided into the following groups: high-fat diet-fed - 60% lipids throughout the protocol (HF), food readjustment - 60% lipids for 5 weeks, readjusted to 10% for the next 5 weeks (FR), high-fat diet-fed undergoing moderate-intensity exercise training (HFT), and food readjustment associated with moderate-intensity exercise training (FRT). Blood glucose evaluations and oral glucose tolerance tests were performed. Blood pressure was assessed by direct intra-arterial measurement. Baroreflex sensitivity was tested using heart rate phenylephrine and sodium nitroprusside induced blood pressure changes. Cardiovascular autonomic modulation was evaluated in time and frequency domains. Inflammatory profile was evaluated by IL-6, IL-10 cytokines, and TNF-alpha measurements. Only the exercise training associated with food readjustment strategy induced improved functional capacity, body composition, metabolic parameters, inflammatory profile, and resting bradycardia, while positively changing cardiovascular autonomic modulation and increasing baroreflex sensitivity. Our findings demonstrate that the association of these strategies seems to be effective in the management of cardiometabolic risk in a model of loss of ovarian function with diet-induced obesity.

Imidacloprid-based commercial pesticide causes behavioral, biochemical, and hematological impairments in Wistar rats.

Imidacloprid (IMI) is a neonicotinoid insecticide employed worldwide for crop protection. IMI's mode of action occurs through the agonism of postsynaptic nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), with high specificity for insect nAChRs although there are reports of mammals' toxicity. Studies on IMI's neurotoxicity are not conclusive; therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the subchronic toxic effects of an IMI based commercial pesticide on rats. Adult male Wistar rats received an IMI suspension via the oral route at doses of 1.5, 5, and 15 mg/kg for 45 consecutive days. IMI caused an increase in rearing and time spent at the periphery in the locomotor activity test and a decrease in time spent to finish the OX maze task (p < 0.05; ANOVA/Bonferroni). In blood, there was a decrease in mean corpuscular hemoglobin and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (p < 0.05; ANOVA/Bonferroni) and an increase in serum butyrylcholinesterase activity (p < 0.001; ANOVA/Bonferroni). Therefore, subchronic administration of an IMI-based-pesticide caused behavioral and systemic impairments in rats.

Levamisole, a cocaine cutting agent, induces acute and subchronic systemic alterations in Wistar rats.

The use of the anthelmintic levamisole as a cocaine adulterant has been increasing worldwide. Complications caused by this association include systemic vasculitis, agranulocytosis, neutropenia, tissue necrosis, pulmonary hemorrhage, and renal injury. Data about toxicity of levamisole are scarce, therefore the aim of this study was to evaluate the acute and subchronic toxic effects of levamisole in rats. Male Wistar rats received saline or levamisole by intraperitoneal route at the doses of 12, 24 and 36 mg/kg in the acute toxicity test; and at 3, 6 and 12 mg/kg in the subchronic toxicity test. Toxicity was evaluated using behavioral, cognitive, renal, hematological, biochemical and histopathological parameters. Acute administration of levamisole caused behavioral and histopathological alterations. Subchronic administration caused behavioral, cognitive and hematological alterations (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.05, respectively), impairment of liver and kidney functions (p < 0.05), and changes of antioxidant defenses (p ≤ 0.0001). Both administrations produced toxic effects of clinical relevance, which make levamisole a dangerous cutting agent. Furthermore, the knowledge of these effects can contribute to the correct diagnosis and treatment of cocaine dependents with unusual systemic alterations.

High-throughput field phenotyping reveals genetic variation in photosynthetic traits in durum wheat under drought.

Chlorophyll fluorescence (ChlF) is a powerful non-invasive technique for probing photosynthesis. Although proposed as a method for drought tolerance screening, ChlF has not yet been fully adopted in physiological breeding, mainly due to limitations in high-throughput field phenotyping capabilities. The light-induced fluorescence transient (LIFT) sensor has recently been shown to reliably provide active ChlF data for rapid and remote characterisation of plant photosynthetic performance. We used the LIFT sensor to quantify photosynthesis traits across time in a large panel of durum wheat genotypes subjected to a progressive drought in replicated field trials over two growing seasons. The photosynthetic performance was measured at the canopy level by means of the operating efficiency of Photosystem II ( Fq'/Fm' ) and the kinetics of electron transport measured by reoxidation rates ( Fr1' and Fr2' ). Short- and long-term changes in ChlF traits were found in response to soil water availability and due to interactions with weather fluctuations. In mild drought, Fq'/Fm' and Fr2' were little affected, while Fr1' was consistently accelerated in water-limited compared to well-watered plants, increasingly so with rising vapour pressure deficit. This high-throughput approach allowed assessment of the native genetic diversity in ChlF traits while considering the diurnal dynamics of photosynthesis.

Occupational exposure assessment in professionals who manipulate and administer antineoplastic drugs in a university hospital in Southern Brazil.

INTRODUCTION: Our goal was to demonstrate the effects of occupational exposure to antineoplastic drugs on oxidative stress parameters and DNA damage in health professionals who manipulate and administer antineoplastic drugs in a University Hospital in Southern Brazil. METHODS: The case-control study with a longitudinal design, involved 64 individuals, 29 of them pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and nurses who were occupationally exposed to antineoplastic drugs and 35 professionals who were not exposed. Gene mutations were determined by micronucleus from salivary fluid; DNA damage by comet assay and oxidative stress parameters in whole blood were also evaluated. RESULTS: All workers exposed to antineoplastic drugs used personal protective equipment (PPE). It was demonstrated that the total nonprotein thiol and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances levels showed interaction between group and time, with higher levels one week after handling/administration of antineoplastic drugs in the exposed group (GEE, p ≤ 0.0001 and p = 0,013, respectively). Additionally, there was a group effect on the activities of the catalase and glutathione peroxidase antioxidant enzymes (GEE, p = 0.027 and p ≤ 0.0001, respectively), and workers occupationally exposed to antineoplastic drugs had higher enzyme activities compared to those not exposed. No genotoxic damage was demonstrated through the evaluated parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the correct use of PPE, professionals occupationally exposed to antineoplastic drugs were more susceptible to oxidative stress than those not exposed. The evaluation of the studied parameters is especially important for the definition of conducts and practices in the area, always in search of guaranteeing the establishment of a rational policy to protect workers' health.

Genotypic variation in the response of soybean to elevated CO2.

The impact of elevated CO2 (eCO2) on soybean productivity is essential to the global food supply because it is the world's leading source of vegetable proteins. This study aimed to understand the yield responses and nutritional impact under free-air CO2 enrichment (FACE) conditions of soybean genotypes. Here we report that grain yield increased by 46.9% and no reduction in harvest index was observed among soybean genotypes. Elevated CO2 improved the photosynthetic carbon assimilation rate, leaf area, plant height, and aboveground biomass at vegetative and pod filling stages. Besides the positive effects on yield parameters, eCO2 differentially affected the overall grain quality. The levels of calcium (Ca), phosphorous (P), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), boron (B), and zinc (Zn) grain minerals decreased by 22.9, 9.0, 4.9, 10.1, 21.3, 28.1, 18.5, and 25.9% under eCO2 conditions, respectively. Soluble sugars and starch increased by 9.1 and 16.0%, respectively, phytic acid accumulation increased by 8.1%, but grain protein content significantly decreased by 5.6% across soybean genotypes. Furthermore, the antioxidant activity decreased by 36.9%, but the total phenolic content was not affected by eCO2 conditions. Genotypes, such as Winsconsin Black, Primorskaja, and L-117, were considered the most responsive to eCO2 in terms of yield enhancement and less affected in the nutritional quality. Our results confirm the existence of genetic variability in soybean responses to eCO2, and differences between genotypes in yield improvement and decreased sensitivity to eCO2 in terms of grain quality loss could be included in future soybean selection to enable adaptation to climate change.

Ultrastructural effects of diabetes in the right atrium cardiomyocytes of elderly Wistar rats.

The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of diabetes on quantitative parameters of right atrial cardiomyocytes of elderly rats. Wistar rats (14 months of age) were divided into two groups: streptozotocin-diabetic rats (DG) and control rats (CG). The groups were sacrificed at 16 months. Ultrafine sections of the right atrium were analyzed by electron microscopy. In elderly diabetic animals, histograms of the frequency distribution of natriuretic peptides according to their size showed increased number of small and medium peptides in relation to large peptides, which increased its numerical density leading to a decrease in the mean diameter of both natriuretic peptides. However, elderly diabetic animals remained normotensive. No significant difference was observed between the groups for the volume density of mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, and Golgi apparatus. In conclusion, elderly diabetic rats showed increased functional activity of atrial cardiomyocytes with greater production of natriuretic peptides in association with a quantitative maintenance of cytoplasmic components.

Analysis of immunostaining and western blotting of endothelin 1 and its receptors in mitral stenosis.

INTRODUCTION: Rheumatic Fever represents a serious public health problem in developing countries, with thousands of new cases each year. It is an autoimmune disease, which occurs in response to infection by streptococcus A. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the immunolabeling and protein expression for endothelin-1 and 3 (ET-1, ET-3) and its receptors (ETA, ETB) in rheumatic mitral valves. METHODS: Immunohistochemistry was used to identify ET-1/ET-3 and ETA/ETB receptors in rheumatic and control mitral valves. Quantitative analysis of immunostaining for ET-1/ET-3 and ETA/ETB receptors was performed. In addition, western blot analysis was carried out to assess protein levels in tissue samples. RESULTS: ET-1 and ETA receptor immunostaining predominated in stenotic valves, mainly associated with fibrotic regions, inflammatory areas and neovascularization. Quantitative analysis showed that the average area with positive expression of ET-1 was 18.21 ± 14.96%. For ETA and ETB, the mean expressed areas were respectively 15.06 ± 13.13% and 9.20 ± 11.09%. ET-3 did not have a significant expression. The correlation between the expression of both endothelin receptors were strongly positive (R = 0.74, P = 0.02), but the correlation between ET-1 and its receptor were negative for both ETA (R = -0.37, P = 0.25), and ETB (R = -0.14, P = 0.39). This data was supported by western blot analysis. CONCLUSION: The strong correlation between ET-1 and its receptors suggests that both play a role in the pathophysiology of rheumatic mitral valve stenosis and may potentially act as biomarkers of this disease.

Analysis of immunostaining and western blotting of endothelin 1 and its receptors in mitral stenosis / Análise da expressão imunohistoquímica e de western blotting da endotelina 1 e seus receptores na estenose mitral

Abstract Introduction: Rheumatic Fever represents a serious public health problem in developing countries, with thousands of new cases each year. It is an autoimmune disease, which occurs in response to infection by streptococcus A. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the immunolabeling and protein expression for endothelin-1 and 3 (ET-1, ET-3) and its receptors (ETA, ETB) in rheumatic mitral valves. Methods: Immunohistochemistry was used to identify ET-1/ET-3 and ETA/ETB receptors in rheumatic and control mitral valves. Quantitative analysis of immunostaining for ET-1/ET-3 and ETA/ETB receptors was performed. In addition, western blot analysis was carried out to assess protein levels in tissue samples. Results: ET-1 and ETA receptor immunostaining predominated in stenotic valves, mainly associated with fibrotic regions, inflammatory areas and neovascularization. Quantitative analysis showed that the average area with positive expression of ET-1 was 18.21±14.96%. For ETA and ETB, the mean expressed areas were respectively 15.06±13.13% and 9.20±11.09%. ET-3 did not have a significant expression. The correlation between the expression of both endothelin receptors were strongly positive (R=0.74, P=0.02), but the correlation between ET-1 and its receptor were negative for both ETA (R=-0.37, P=0.25), and ETB (R=-0.14, P=0.39). This data was supported by western blot analysis. Conclusion: The strong correlation between ET-1 and its receptors suggests that both play a role in the pathophysiology of rheumatic mitral valve stenosis and may potentially act as biomarkers of this disease. .

Resumo Introdução: A febre reumática representa um sério problema de saúde pública em países em desenvolvimento, com milhares de novos casos a cada ano. Ela é uma doença autoimune que ocorre em resposta à infecção por estreptococos do grupo A. Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a expressão proteica e imunohistoquímica para a endotelina-1 e 3 (ET-1 e ET-3) e seus receptores (ETA e ETB) em valvas mitrais reumáticas. Métodos: Imunohistoquímica foi utilizada para identificar receptores de ET1/ET3 e ETA/ETB em valvas mitrais reumáticas e controles. A análise quantitativa da expressão imunohistoquímica para receptores de ET1/ET3 e ETA/ETB foi também efetuada. Adicionalmente, foi feita análise do western blot para mensurar níveis de proteínas em extratos tissulares. Resultados: A expressão imunohistoquímica de ET-1 e de seu receptor predominou em valvas estenóticas, estando associada com regiões fibróticas, áreas inflamatórias e neovascularização. A análise quantitativa mostrou que a área média com expressão positiva para ET-1 foi de 18,21±14,96%. Para o ETA e o ETB, as áreas médias expressas foram, respectivamente, 15,06±13,13% e 9,20±11,09%. ET-3 não teve uma expressão significante. A correlação entre a expressão dos dois receptores de endotelina foi fortemente positiva (R=0,74, P=0,02); mas a correlação entre ET-1 e o seu receptor foi negativa tanto para ETA (R=-0,37, P=0,25) como para ETB (R=-0,14, P=0,39). Estes dados foram confirmados pela análise do western blot. Conclusão: A forte correlação entre ET-1 e seus receptores sugere que ambos têm papel importante na fisiopatologia da estenose mitral reumática, podendo potencialmente atuar como biomarcadores desta doença. .

Genetic basis for developmental homeostasis of germline stem cell niche number: a network of Tramtrack-Group nuclear BTB factors.

The potential to produce new cells during adult life depends on the number of stem cell niches and the capacity of stem cells to divide, and is therefore under the control of programs ensuring developmental homeostasis. However, it remains generally unknown how the number of stem cell niches is controlled. In the insect ovary, each germline stem cell (GSC) niche is embedded in a functional unit called an ovariole. The number of ovarioles, and thus the number of GSC niches, varies widely among species. In Drosophila, morphogenesis of ovarioles starts in larvae with the formation of terminal filaments (TFs), each made of 8-10 cells that pile up and sort in stacks. TFs constitute organizers of individual germline stem cell niches during larval and early pupal development. In the Drosophila melanogaster subgroup, the number of ovarioles varies interspecifically from 8 to 20. Here we show that pipsqueak, Trithorax-like, batman and the bric-à-brac (bab) locus, all encoding nuclear BTB/POZ factors of the Tramtrack Group, are involved in limiting the number of ovarioles in D. melanogaster. At least two different processes are differentially perturbed by reducing the function of these genes. We found that when the bab dose is reduced, sorting of TF cells into TFs was affected such that each TF contains fewer cells and more TFs are formed. In contrast, psq mutants exhibited a greater number of TF cells per ovary, with a normal number of cells per TF, thereby leading to formation of more TFs per ovary than in the wild type. Our results indicate that two parallel genetic pathways under the control of a network of nuclear BTB factors are combined in order to negatively control the number of germline stem cell niches.

Drosophila retinal pigment cell death is regulated in a position-dependent manner by a cell memory gene.

The stereotyped organization of the Drosophila compound eye depends on the elimination by apoptosis of about 25% of the inter-ommatidial pigment cell precursors (IOCs) during metamorphosis. This program of cell death is under antagonistic effects of the Notch and the EGFR pathways. In addition, uncharacterized positional cues may underlie death versus survival choices among IOCs. Our results provide new genetic evidences that cell death is regulated in a position- dependent manner in the eye. We show that mutations in Trithorax-like (Trl) and lola-like/batman specifically block IOC death during eye morphogenesis. These genes share characteristics of both Polycomb-Group and trithorax-Group genes, in that they are required for chromatin-mediated repression and activation of Hox genes. However, Trl function in triggering IOC death is independent from a function in repressing Hox gene expression during eye development. Analysis of mosaic ommatidiae containing Trl mutant cells revealed that Trl function for IOC death is required in cone cells. Strikingly, cell death suppression in Trl mutants depends on the position of IOCs. Our results further support a model whereby death of IOCs on the oblique sides of ommatidiae requires Trl-dependent reduction of a survival signal, or an increase of a death signal, emanating from cone cells. Trl does not have the same effect on horizontal IOCs whose survival seems to involve additional topological constraints.