Targeting the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter complex in cardiovascular disease.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), the leading cause of death worldwide, share in common mitochondrial dysfunction, in specific a dysregulation of Ca2+ uptake dynamics through the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter (MCU) complex. In particular, Ca2+ uptake regulates the mitochondrial ATP production, mitochondrial dynamics, oxidative stress, and cell death. Therefore, modulating the activity of the MCU complex to regulate Ca2+ uptake, has been suggested as a potential therapeutic approach for the treatment of CVDs. Here, the role and implications of the MCU complex in CVDs are presented, followed by a review of the evidence for MCU complex modulation, genetically and pharmacologically. While most approaches have aimed within the MCU complex for the modulation of the Ca2+ pore channel, the MCU subunit, its intra- and extra- mitochondrial implications, including Ca2+ dynamics, oxidative stress, post-translational modifications, and its repercussions in the cardiac function, highlight that targeting the MCU complex has the translational potential for novel CVDs therapeutics.

Diel Activity and Effect of Carcass Decomposition on the Attractiveness to the Forensically Important Species Oxelytrum Discicolle (Coleoptera: Silphidae)†.

Oxelytrum discicolle is a carrion beetle commonly found in the Neotropical region, mainly associated with cadavers and carcasses. Information on behavior related to the likelihood of cadaver colonization is scarce. We performed two field experiments in peri-urban forest in Brazil in order to strengthen our knowledge on O. discicolle behavior. In the first experiment, we assessed the preference for piglet carcasses at different stages of decomposition offered simultaneously in two seasons, dry and rainy, while in the second experiment we investigated the diel activity of adults. A total of 493 adults were collected in the experiments. A significantly higher abundance was detected in the rainy season. There was a marked preference for carcasses at advanced stages. Adults exhibited a typical nocturnal behavior, the number trapped at night was 17 times greater than those collected during the day. Oxelytrum discicolle is nocturnal species that prefers carcasses in advanced stage of decomposition.

Origin of samples of Cannabis sativa through insect fragments associated with compacted hemp drug in South America

Origin of samples of Cannabis sativa through insect fragments associated with compacted hemp drug in South America. Insects associated with a seizure of Cannabis sativa L. may indicate the origin of the illicit drug. Nevertheless, no work regarding this subject has been previously published for South America. In the present investigation, seven kilograms of vegetal material (C. sativa) were inspected for insect fragments. Three species were identified and used to test the origin of the seizure of cannabis plant material: Euschistus heros (Fabricius, 1794), Thyanta perditor (Fabricius, 1794) (Heteroptera, Pentatomidae), and Cephalotes pusillus (Klug, 1824) (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). These insect species restricted the geographic origin of the drug to the Neotropical region, and their distribution patterns showed an overlap of the State of Mato Grosso (Brazil), Argentina, and Paraguay. Based on this information, two of the three major C. sativa growing areas in South America were excluded: (1) the Colombian territory and (2) northeastern Brazil.

Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann) and Hemilucilia segmentaria (Fabricius) (Diptera, Calliphoridae) used to estimate the postmortem interval in a forensic case in Minas Gerais, Brazil

ABSTRACT. Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann) and Hemilucilia segmentaria (Fabricius) (Diptera, Calliphoridae) used to estimate the postmortem interval in a forensic case in Minas Gerais, Brazil. The corpse of a man was found in a Brazilian highland savanna (cerrado) in the state of Minas Gerais. Fly larvae were collected at the crime scene and arrived at the laboratory three days afterwards. From the eight pre-pupae, seven adults of Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann, 1819) emerged and, from the two larvae, two adults of Hemilucilia segmentaria (Fabricius, 1805) were obtained. As necrophagous insects use corpses as a feeding resource, their development rate can be used as a tool to estimate the postmortem interval. The post-embryonary development stage of the immature collected on the body was estimated as the difference between the total development time and the time required for them to become adults in the lab. The estimated age of the maggots from both species and the minimum postmortem interval were four days. This is the first time that H. segmentaria is used to estimate the postmortem interval in a forensic case.

Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann) e Hemilucilia segmentaria (Fabricius) (Diptera, Calliphoridae) utilizadas para estimar o intervalo pós-morte em um caso forense em Minas Gerais, Brasil. O cadáver de um homem foi encontrado em uma área de cerrado no Estado de Minas Gerais. Larvas de moscas foram coletadas na cena do crime e encaminhadas ao laboratório em três dias. Os adultos que emergiram em laboratório foram identificados como Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann, 1819) e Hemilucilia segmentaria (Fabricius, 1805). Uma vez que insetos utilizam o cadáver como uma fonte de recurso alimentar, sua taxa de desenvolvimento pode ser empregada como uma ferramenta para estimar o intervalo pós-morte. O estágio de desenvolvimento pós-embrionário dos imaturos coletados no cadáver foi estimado como sendo a diferença entre o tempo total de desenvolvimento e o tempo necessário para a emergência destes adultos em laboratório. A idade estimada dos imaturos das duas espécies, bem como o intervalo pós-morte mínimo, foi de quatro dias. Este é o primeiro relato do uso de Hemilucilia segmentaria para estimar o intervalo pós-morte em um caso forense.