Effect of preemptive dexamethasone and etoricoxib on postoperative period following impacted third molar surgery - a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare the anti-inflammatory effects of dexamethasone and etoricoxib after third molar extraction. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective, randomized, controlled, split-mouth study was conducted. 19 volunteers were allocated randomly to receive 90mg etoricoxib 1 hour prior to the procedure or 4mg intramuscular dexamethasone immediately after anesthesia. Baseline measurements were obtained preoperatively, and subsequent assessments were made on immediate postoperative, at 72 hours and 7 days after surgery to measure postoperative facial swelling by use of linear measurements, interincisal mouth opening width and visual analog scale score for pain. The amount of analgesics consumed was recorded. Descriptive statistics and the independent-samples t-test were used to compare the two groups at P < 0.05. RESULTS: Dexamethasone was effective in the control roasted edema for measurements of the mandibular angle - wing of the nose and mandibular angle - labial commissure 72 hours after surgery. And for the measurement mandibular angle - mentum, in the time of 72 hours and 7 days. There was no statistically significant difference in relation to pain and trismus. CONCLUSIONS: Considering significant results for some measures of the variable edema for the group that used intramuscular dexamethasone and the difference without statistical significance between groups for the other variables studied, we seem to reflect the intramuscular indication of the corticosteroid in a single dosage in relation to the use of etoricoxib as pre-emptive medication.

Selection of maize inbred lines and gene expression for resistance to ear rot.

In recent years, there has been a large incidence of fungi causing "ear rot" in maize in Brazil, the main fungus being Fusarium verticillioides. The most efficient and competitive alternative for control of this disease consists of using maize hybrids resistant to this pathogen. Thus, the aims of this study were to analyze the genetic variability of maize inbred lines in regard to resistance to ear rot to observe if there is a maternal effect to resistance to ear rot, to study genetic control of the traits evaluated in hybrids originating from inbred lines of the maize breeding program at the Agriculture Department of Universidade Federal de Lavras (Lavras, MG, Brazil), and characterize the gene expression pattern related to the plant defense mechanism against F. verticillioides. High genetic availability was observed for resistance to this disease among the inbred lines evaluated. Considering combined diallel analysis, it was observed that the mean square of general combining ability (GCA) was not significant for the characteristic under study. However, specific combining ability (SCA) was significant, which indicates the predominance of non-additive effects involved in control of the characteristic for the population evaluated. A maternal effect was not observed for the characteristic of ear rot resistance in this study. Inbred lines 22, 58, and 91 showed potential for use in breeding programs aiming at resistance to F. verticillioides. Only two genes, LOX8 and Hsp82, had a satisfactory result that was able to be related to a plant defense mechanism when there is ear rot infection, though expression of these genes was observed in only one susceptible genotype. Thus, the genes LOX8 and Hsp82 are potential molecular markers for selection of maize inbred lines resistant to F. verticillioides.

Microbial analysis of root canal and periradicular lesion associated to teeth with endodontic failure.

The quantification of ten microorganisms at the root ends and in the surrounding periradicular lesions was performed. Thirty 3 mm samples root ends and 30 samples of the surrounding chronic periapical infection were collected during apical microsurgery. Samples were triturated, and the bacterial DNA was obtained. The bacterial quantification was performed by using the SYBR Green system. At least one microorganism was detected in all patients. In both the root end and periapical samples, Fusobacterium nucleatum (71.6%), Dialister pneumosintes (58.3%) and Tannerella forsythia (48.3%) were the most prevalent species. Dialister pneumosintes showed statistically significant values in the root end, and F. nucleatum was also significant in the apical periodontitis samples. A statistically significant association between T. forsythia and Porphyromonas gingivalis in the root ends was observed. Bacterial associations from 2 to 7 species were observed in most samples. Extra-radicular and/or intra-radicular infections were present in all teeth with failed endodontic treatment, and showed polymicrobial infection in most cases, with a predominance of F. nucleatum, D. pneumosintes and T. forsythia. When present, Enterococcus faecalis was never found to be the most prevalent species. The presence of a microbial diversity in post-treatment apical periodontitis confirms the polymicrobial and synergistic characteristic of this process. Our results show that the bacterial array associated with the 3 mm root ends and periradicular lesions in post-treatment apical periodontitis are complex and with a high inter-individual variability. These results might be useful to delineate treatment strategies for microbial elimination in apical periodontitis. Further studies are necessary to elucidate the role of these microorganisms in endodontic treatment failures.

A comparative framework of the Erythrina velutina tree species in reforested land and native populations.

Erythrina velutina Willd. (Fabaceae: Papillionoideae) is a pioneer species found in tropical and subtropical regions of the world that has medicinal properties and that is used in reforestation projects. This species is rare in some areas of northeastern Brazil. This study aimed to characterize and compare genetic structures of natural and restored populations of E. velutina, with a focus on the selection of tree seeds. A total of 108 individuals from five natural populations and one restored population were analyzed using ISSR markers, resulting in 407 polymorphic fragments. A high rate of polymorphism was observed in the restored population. The highest genetic variability was identified within populations (82%). Genetic bottleneck tests were significant for the Carmópolis/Rosário do Catete and Laranjeiras natural populations along with the Laranjeiras restored population. Genetic distances significantly correlated with spatial distance. Only the restored population retained unique alleles. Similarly, increased genetic distance was observed in individuals of the restored populations compared to the other populations. Observed genetic variation in both natural and restored populations of E. velutina was moderate, thus enabling selection of divergent trees from those trees supplying seeds. Environmental protection and management of these areas is necessary for the maintenance of these individuals and subsequent reproduction. We recommend suggestions for E. velutina conservation, since the restoration model adopted in this study did not promote the development of the specimens until the reproductive stage in a fashion that aims to augment the soil seed bank supply, as is suggested for pioneer species.

Indirect selection for resistance to ear rot and leaf diseases in maize lines using biplots.

Leaf disease and ear rot have caused reductions in maize yield in Brazil and other producer countries. Therefore, the aims of this study were to analyze the association between husked ear yield and the severity of maize white spot, gray leaf spot, helminthosporium, and ear rot caused by Fusarium verticillioides and Diplodia maydis using biplots in a mixed-model approach. The responses of 238 lines introduced to Brazil and four controls were evaluated using an incomplete block design with three replicates in two locations: Lavras and Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Two experiments were conducted in each location, one with F. verticillioides and the other with D. maydis. The mixed models elucidated the relationship between yield, leaf disease, and ear disease. Significant genotype x environment and genotype x pathogen interactions were observed. In conclusion, husked ear yield is more associated with ear rot than with the leaf diseases evaluated, justifying the indirect selection for resistance to kernel rot in maize-F. verticillioides and maize-D. maydis pathosystems by yield evaluation.

Insights into Leptocybe invasa resistance in Eucalyptus: phenotyping, genotyping and in silico approaches.

The gall wasp, Leptocybe invasa, poses a significant global threat to Eucalyptus cultivation, by causing substantial economic losses. The objective of this study was to differentiate between resistant and susceptible genotypes by morphological characteristics using image analysis based on the damage caused by the gall wasp. In addition, consensus sequences derived from transposable elements (TEs) and the genome of Eucalyptus spp. Were identified by in silico analysis. Furthermore, another objective was to discriminate Eucalyptus genotypes in response to Leptocybe invasa by conducting molecular analyses involving transposable elements and inter simple sequence markers. For image analysis, the GroundEye ® system was used to collect images of 60 leaves from six genotypes, three of which were resistant and three susceptible. Eucalyptus spp. sequences were obtained from the GenBank database by in silico analysis and pairwise alignments with TE sequences were conducted using BLASTN. Multiple sequence alignment was performed with Clustal Omega, followed by the identification of conserved regions in Jalview. A motif signature was generated using Weblogo. For molecular characterization using ISSR markers and TEs, samples of young leaves were obtained from a total of 80 Eucalyptus seedlings, of which 50 were classified as resistant and 30 as susceptible to L. invasa. It was possible to distinguish gall wasp susceptible and resistant genotypes by image analysis. In silico analysis enabled the identification of conserved regions in the Eucalyptus spp. genome, which were associated with proteins involved in secondary metabolite production, e.g., terpenes, which play a role in the response to L. invasa. The discrimination capacity of TEs and ISSR primers was demonstrated and bands were generated that could be used to identify resistant genotypes. However, increasing the number of markers required to discriminate genotypes in both cases is suggested.

Identification of earl millet cultivars using both microsatellites and enzymatic markers.

The increasing number of protected and registered cultivars and problems involving seed commercialization make distinction and identification of cultivars imperative. Millet (Pennisetum glaucum), a crop species with protected cultivars in Brazil, has been the target of seed piracy. Thus, with the objective of identifying different lots with regard to origin, we characterized six cultivars of commercialized millet of proven origin by means of the electrophoretic patterns of the isoenzymes alcohol dehydrogenase, esterase and glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase and by microsatellite markers, using primers specific for millet. The six cultivars were separated with four microsatellite loci. Based on this characterization, certification of genetic purity was undertaken for public domain commercialized seed lots. The isoenzymatic markers were also tested for stability of the patterns. Esterase patterns were altered in seeds with different physiological quality and health conditions, but this alteration did not hinder identification of the cultivars. It was observed that most of the millet seed lots commercialized in Brazil as being in public domain belong to other cultivars.

Quercetin inhibits neutrophil extracellular traps release and their cytotoxic effects on A549 cells, as well the release and enzymatic activity of elastase and myeloperoxidase.

Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) were first reported as a microbicidal strategy for activated neutrophils. Through an immunologic response against several stimuli, neutrophils release their DNA together with proteins from granules, nucleus, and cytoplasm (e.g., elastase and myeloperoxidase). To date, NETs have been implicated in tissue damage during intense inflammatory processes, mainly when their release is dependent on oxygen radical generation. Flavonoids are antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents; of these, quercetin is commonly found in our daily diet. Therefore, quercetin could exert some protective activity against tissue damage induced by NETs. In our in vitro assays, quercetin reduced NETs, myeloperoxidase (MPO), and elastase release from neutrophils stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). The activity of these enzymes also decreased in the presence of quercetin. Quercetin also reduced the cytotoxic effect of NETs on alveolar cells (A549 cell line). Further, in silico assays indicated favorable interactions between quercetin and NET proteins (MPO and elastase). Overall, our results demonstrate that quercetin decreases deleterious cellular effects of NETs by reducing their release from activated neutrophils, and diminishing the enzymatic activity of MPO and elastase, possibly through direct interaction.

Robotic assisted eTEP ventral hernia repair: Brazilian early experience.

PURPOSE: The enhanced view totally extraperitoneal (eTEP) concept first applied to inguinal hernias has become an important tool in the armamentarium of ventral hernia repair. The purpose of this report is to date the first brazilian robotic-assisted eTEP ventral hernia repair case series. METHODS: A review of a prospectively maintained database was conducted in patients who underwent robotic-assisted enhanced view totally extraperitoneal (eTEP) for ventral hernia repair between June 2018 and January 2020. Patients demographics, preoperative hernia characteristics, intraoperative variables and postoperative outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS: Our review identified 74 patients submitted to the procedure. Thirty-one patients (41.8%) presented primary ventral hernias (PVHs) and 43 patients (58.2%) presented incisional hernias (IHs). Female patients were predominant in both groups PVHs and IHs with 17 (22.9%) and 22 (29.7%) respectively, with a total of 39 patients (52.7%). Mean BMI was 29.1 kg/m2 (range 21.3-48.0 kg/m2) with higher mean BMI rates of 30.3 kg/m2 in the IHs group (range 22-48 years). A lateral dock setup was utilized in 55 cases (74.4%), having the inferior and superior dock setup in 18 (24.3%) and 1 (1.3%) cases respectively. Mean console time was 148.3 (range 75-277 min) and 192.6 min (range 66-301 min) in the PVHs and IHs groups respectively. There were no intraoperative complications or conversions. Average length of stay was 1.5 days. Four patients were readmitted within 30 days of surgery. There were no reoperation or cases of intraparietal herniation in this cohort. No hernia recurrence was verified during the mean 230.7 days of follow up in both groups. CONCLUSION: We present the first brazilian series to-date of the robotic assisted eTEP approach for ventral hernia repairs. Although long term outcomes require further analysis, its feasibility and reproducibility in experienced surgeons hands are evident, with safe and acceptable early postoperative outcomes.

Translation into Brazilian Portuguese, cross-cultural adaptation, reliability and validation of the Functional Ambulation Classification for the categorization of ambulation following a stroke in a clinical setting. / Traducción al portugués brasileño, adaptación transcultural, fiabilidad y validación de la Functional Ambulation Classification para la categorización de deambulación postictus en un entorno clínico.

INTRODUCTION: The Functional Ambulation Classification (FAC) is the only scale that classifies the gait of individuals with multiple sclerosis and stroke victims into ambulation categories. However, the FAC is only available in English and studies conducted in Brazil have used the FAC without an adequate translation and analysis of its measurement properties. AIM: To translate, cross-culturally adapt the FAC to Brazilian Portuguese, test its reliability and concurrent validity on stroke survivors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The translation and cross-cultural adaptation involved six steps. Inter-observer reliability was tested with five physiotherapists who watched videos of the gait of the stroke survivors and watched a second time after at least one week for the determination of intra-observer reliability. Concurrent validity was determined by correlating the FAC with the result of the 10-meter Walk Test (10mWT). RESULTS: Intra-observer reliability ranged from kappa 0.680 to 0.952 (p = 0.001) and inter-observer reliability ranged from kappa 0.517 to 0.794 (p = 0.001). The correlation between the FAC and 10mWT was rs = 0.771 (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: The translation, cross-cultural adaptation and measurement properties demonstrated that the FAC is a valid, reliable clinical measure for the categorization of ambulation in the Brazilian population of stroke survivors in a clinical setting.

TITLE: Traducción al portugués brasileño, adaptación transcultural, fiabilidad y validación de la Functional Ambulation Classification para la categorización de deambulación postictus en un entorno clínico.Introducción. La Functional Ambulation Classification (FAC) es la única escala que clasifica la marcha de individuos con esclerosis múltiple e ictus en categorías de deambulación. Sin embargo, la FAC sólo está disponible en la versión en inglés y los estudios realizados en Brasil la han utilizado sin una traducción y análisis adecuados de propiedades psicométricas. Objetivo. Traducir y adaptar culturalmente la FAC para el portugués brasileño y probar su fiabilidad y validez concurrente en individuos afectados por ictus. Pacientes y métodos. La traducción y la adaptación transcultural implicaron seis pasos. La fiabilidad interevaluador se probó con cinco fisioterapeutas que vieron vídeos de la marcha de las personas afectadas por ictus y, después de un intervalo mínimo de una semana, los vieron por segunda vez para determinar la fiabilidad intraevaluador. La validez concurrente se determinó correlacionando la FAC con el resultado de la prueba de marcha de 10 metros (PM10m). Resultados. La fiabilidad intraevaluador varió entre un valor kappa de 0,68-0,95 (p = 0,001), y la fiabilidad interevaluador, un valor kappa de 0,517-0,794 (p = 0,001). La correlación entre la FAC y la PM10m fue rs = 0,771 (p = 0,001). Conclusión. La traducción, la adaptación transcultural y el análisis de las propiedades psicométricas demostraron que la FAC es una medida clínica válida y fiable para clasificar la deambulación de los individuos brasileños afectados por ictus en un entorno clínico.

Learning-specific decrease in synaptosomal ATP diphosphohydrolase activity from hippocampus and entorhinal cortex of adult rats.

Considering the involvement of extracellular ATP in the memory formation, we analyzed the effect of inhibitory avoidance training on ectonucleotidase activities in synaptosomes from hippocampus, entorhinal cortex and parietal cortex. ATP diphosphohydrolase activity presented a decrease (33%) in hippocampal synaptosomes of rats sacrificed 180 min after training. Our results also showed a decrease in synaptosomal ATP diphosphohydrolase (30% and 42% for ATP and ADP, respectively) in entorhinal cortex immediately after training. These findings suggest an integrated action of ATP diphosphohydrolase from hippocampus and entorhinal cortex in the formation of inhibitory avoidance memory.

Changes in cortical and hippocampal ectonucleotidase activities in mice lacking cellular prion protein.

Animals lacking cellular prion protein (PrP(c)) expression are more susceptible to seizures. Adenosine is an endogenous anticonvulsant agent and it levels in the synaptic cleft are regulated by ectonucleotidases. We evaluated ectonucleotidase activities in synaptosomes from hippocampus and cerebral cortex of adult PrP(c) null mice and wild-type mice (genetic background 129/Sv X C57BL/6J). There was an increase (47%) in adenosine triphosphate (ATP) hydrolysis in hippocampal synaptosomes of PrP(c) knockout mice as compared with the wild-type animals. In cortical synaptosomes, ATP hydrolysis was similar in both PrP(c) mice and controls. However, there was a significant decrease in adenosine diphosphate (ADP) hydrolysis in both hippocampal (-39%) and cortical (-25%) synaptosomes in PrP(c) null animals compared to wild-type mice. Changes in brain ectonucleotidases activities related to modifications in the PrP(c) expression may contribute, at least in part, to the higher sensitivity to seizures of PrP(c) null mice.

Changes in synaptosomal ectonucleotidase activities in two rat models of temporal lobe epilepsy.

Adenosine has been proposed as an endogenous anticonvulsant which can play an important role in seizure initiation, propagation and arrest. Besides the release of adenosine per se, the ectonucleotidase pathway is an important metabolic source of extracellular adenosine. Here we evaluated ATP diphosphohydrolase and 5'-nucleotidase activities in synaptosomes from hippocampus and cerebral cortex at different periods after induction of status epilepticus (SE) by intraperitoneal administration of pilocarpine or kainate. Ectonucleotidase activities from synaptosomes of hippocampus and cerebral cortex of rats were significantly increased at 48-52 h, 7-9 days and 45-50 days after induction of SE by pilocarpine. In relation to kainate model, both hippocampal enzymes were enhanced at 7-9 days and 45-50 days, but only 5'-nucleotidase remained elevated at 100-110 days after the treatment. In cerebral cortex, an increase in ATP diphosphohydrolase was observed at 48-52 h, 7-9 days and 45-50 days after induction of SE by kainate. However, 5'-nucleotidase activity only presented significant changes at 45-50 and 100-110 days. Our results suggest that SE can induce late and prolonged changes in ectonucleotidases activities. The regulation of the ectonucleotidase pathway may play a modulatory role during the evolution of behavioral and pathophysiological changes related to temporal lobe epilepsy.

[On the plan to combat hunger and misery]. / Considerações sobre o plano de combate à fome e à miséria.

This paper discusses the "Plan Against Hunger and Misery" as it relates to the Ministry of Health. The Plan centers around the program "Milk is Health", subsidized by the Brazilian Nutritional Surveillance System and aimed at undernourished children, his/her close relatives and pregnant women under nutritional risks identified in the public health sector. The authors raise questions regarding the role(s) to be played by the health system and by the Nutritional Surveillance System in the implementation of the Plan, the guidelines for food distribution, the indicators for selecting target groups and the parameters for evaluating the program "Milk is Health" itself. It is also argued that the Plan should value structural modifications, without which it will not be possible to ameliorate misery and hunger in Brazil.

Anisomycin administered in the olfactory bulb and dorsal hippocampus impaired social recognition memory consolidation in different time-points.

To identify an individual as familiar, rodents form a specific type of memory named social recognition memory. The olfactory bulb (OB) is an important structure for social recognition memory, while the hippocampus recruitment is still controversial. The present study was designed to elucidate the OB and the dorsal hippocampus contribution to the consolidation of social memory. For that purpose, we tested the effect of anisomycin (ANI), which one of the effects is the inhibition of protein synthesis, on the consolidation of social recognition memory. Swiss adult mice with cannulae implanted into the CA1 region of the dorsal hippocampus or into the OB were exposed to a juvenile during 5 min (training session; TR), and once again 1.5 h or 24 h later to test social short-term memory (S-STM) or social long-term memory (S-LTM), respectively. To study S-LTM consolidation, mice received intra-OB or intra-CA1 infusion of saline or ANI immediately, 3, 6 or 18 h after TR. ANI impaired S-LTM consolidation in the OB, when administered immediately or 6h after TR. In the dorsal hippocampus, ANI was amnesic only if administered 3 h after TR. Furthermore, the infusion of ANI in either OB or CA1, immediately after training, did not affect S-STM. Moreover, ANI administered into the OB did not alter the animal's performance in the buried food-finding task. Altogether, our results suggest the consolidation of S-LTM requires both OB and hippocampus participation, although in different time points. This study may help shedding light on the specific roles of the OB and dorsal hippocampus in social recognition memory.

Metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 positive allosteric modulators are neuroprotective in a mouse model of Huntington's disease.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder caused by a polyglutamine expansion in the huntingtin protein. We have previously demonstrated that the cell signalling of the metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) is altered in a mouse model of HD. Although mGluR5-dependent protective pathways are more activated in HD neurons, intracellular Ca²âº release is also more pronounced, which could contribute to excitotoxicity. In the present study, we aim to investigate whether mGluR5 positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) could activate protective pathways without triggering high levels of Ca²âº release and be neuroprotective in HD. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: We performed a neuronal cell death assay to determine which drugs are neuroprotective, Western blot and Ca²âº release experiments to investigate the molecular mechanisms involved in this neuroprotection, and object recognition task to determine whether the tested drugs could ameliorate HD memory deficit. KEY RESULTS: We find that mGluR5 PAMs can protect striatal neurons from the excitotoxic neuronal cell death promoted by elevated concentrations of glutamate and NMDA. mGluR5 PAMs are capable of activating Akt without triggering increased intracellular Ca²âº concentration ([Ca²âº]i ); and Akt blockage leads to loss of PAM-mediated neuroprotection. Importantly, PAMs' potential as drugs that may be used to treat neurodegenerative diseases is highlighted by the neuroprotection exerted by mGluR5 PAMs on striatal neurons from a mouse model of HD, BACHD. Moreover, mGluR5 PAMs can activate neuroprotective pathways more robustly in BACHD mice and ameliorate HD memory deficit. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: mGluR5 PAMs are potential drugs that may be used to treat neurodegenerative diseases, especially HD.

Differential regulation of CaMKII inhibitor beta protein expression after exposure to a novel context and during contextual fear memory formation.

Understanding of the molecular basis of long-term fear memory (fear LTM) formation provides targets in the treatment of emotional disorders. Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) is one of the key synaptic molecules involved in fear LTM formation. There are two endogenous inhibitor proteins of CaMKII, CaMKII N alpha and N beta, which can regulate CaMKII activity in vitro. However, the physiological role of these endogenous inhibitors is not known. Here, we have investigated whether CaMKII N beta protein expression is regulated after contextual fear conditioning or exposure to a novel context. Using a novel CaMKII N beta-specific antibody, CaMKII N beta expression was analysed in the naïve mouse brain as well as in the amygdala and hippocampus after conditioning and context exposure. We show that in naïve mouse forebrain CaMKII N beta protein is expressed at its highest levels in olfactory bulb, prefrontal and piriform cortices, amygdala and thalamus. The protein is expressed both in dendrites and cell bodies. CaMKII N beta expression is rapidly and transiently up-regulated in the hippocampus after context exposure. In the amygdala, its expression is regulated only by contextual fear conditioning and not by exposure to a novel context. In conclusion, we show that CaMKII N beta expression is differentially regulated by novelty and contextual fear conditioning, providing further insight into molecular basis of fear LTM.

Reduced expression of the vesicular acetylcholine transporter causes learning deficits in mice.

Storage of acetylcholine in synaptic vesicles plays a key role in maintaining cholinergic function. Here we used mice with a targeted mutation in the vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) gene that reduces transporter expression by 40% to investigate cognitive processing under conditions of VAChT deficiency. Motor skill learning in the rotarod revealed that VAChT mutant mice were slower to learn this task, but once they reached maximum performance they were indistinguishable from wild-type mice. Interestingly, motor skill performance maintenance after 10 days was unaffected in these mutant mice. We also tested whether reduced VAChT levels affected learning in an object recognition memory task. We found that VAChT mutant mice presented a deficit in memory encoding necessary for the temporal order version of the object recognition memory, but showed no alteration in spatial working memory, or spatial memory in general when tested in the Morris water maze test. The memory deficit in object recognition memory observed in VAChT mutant mice could be reversed by cholinesterase inhibitors, suggesting that learning deficits caused by reduced VAChT expression can be ameliorated by restoring ACh levels in the synapse. These data indicate an important role for cholinergic tone in motor learning and object recognition memory.

ATP diphosphohydrolase in human platelets from patients with coronary arteries heart disease.

ATP diphosphohydrolase is an enzyme described in platelets and may be related to the control of ADP-dependent platelet aggregation. Platelet aggregation in atherosclerotic coronary arteries, and the release of platelet-derived factors, play an important role in coronary artery disease syndromes. In this study, we determined the activity of ATP diphosphohydrolase in platelets from patients with chronic and acute coronary artery disease syndromes and healthy persons. The following groups were studied: healthy persons (group I), patients with chronic heart disease (group II) and acute heart disease (group III). Results did not demonstrate differences between the groups studied. The control group demonstrated a lower range of enzyme activity. The patients from groups II and III had ingested drugs with actions upon the cardiovascular system and the effect, in vitro, of these drugs upon the ATP diphosphohydrolase activity in human platelets was also investigated. The in vitro experiments demonstrated that 2.0 mM acetylsalicylic acid inhibited ATP hydrolysis by human platelets by approximately 55%. Significant correlation was observed between ADP hydrolysis and glucose blood levels in the control group and between ATP hydrolysis and triglycerides in the group II. These results contribute to our understanding of a possible relationship between ATP diphosphohydrolase and thrombogenesis.

Gene Class expression: analysis tool of Gene Ontology terms with gene expression data

Serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) technology produces large sets of interesting genes that are difficult to analyze directly. Bioinformatics tools are needed to interpret the functional information in these gene sets. We present an interactive web-based tool, called Gene Class, which allows functional annotation of SAGE data using the Gene Ontology (GO) database. This tool performs searches in the GO database for each SAGE tag, making associations in the selected GO category for a level selected in the hierarchy. This system provides user-friendly data navigation and visualization for mapping SAGE data onto the gene ontology structure. This tool also provides graphical visualization of the percentage of SAGE tags in each GO category, along with confidence intervals and hypothesis testing.