Spatial-temporal genome damaging in the blue crab Cardisoma guanhumi as ecological indicators for monitoring tropical estuaries.

In this study, to better our understanding of the current state of conservation of Cardisoma guanhumi and its habitats, we evaluated the potential spatio-temporal genomic damage of this species across five estuaries in Brazil. The experiment was performed over two consecutive years, and the sampling was performed in the winter and summer seasons. Two genetic tests - micronucleus test and comet assay - were used to quantify the DNA damage. Unlike in the summers and in the winter of 2013, in the winter of 2012 a significant increase was noted in the frequency of micronucleated cells and genomic damage index. The occurrence of genomic damage coincided with the arrival of the harsh winter of 2012 as the water sourced from the coastal rivers significantly affected the estuarine species under study. Our results confirmed that this species was resilient to the atypical climatic conditions, which facilitated the generation of excessive waste.

Acid sphingomyelinase: No potential as a biomarker for multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) lacks reliable biomarkers that reflect disease activity. Recent evidence suggests that an altered sphingolipid metabolism is associated with MS pathogenesis. OBJECTIVE: To explore acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) activity and altered sphingolipid metabolism as potential biomarkers in serum of MS patients, to predict active and progressive disease, and response to disease modifying therapy (DMT). METHODS: Levels of serum ASM activity were longitudinally analyzed in 40 clinically isolated syndrome, 64 relapsing remitting (RR) and 10 primary progressive MS patients, and 22 healthy controls (HC). ASM activity and sphingolipid levels were measured in a different sample of 61 RRMS patients using DMT. RESULTS: A significant difference in ASM activity levels was observed between MS patients and HC (p < 0.001). There was no correlation between ASM activity levels and disease activity, progression or response to DMT. Ceramide (Cer)-C16:0 , Cer-C24:0 and sphingomyelin (SM)-C20:0, SM-C22:0, SM-C24:0 and SM-C24:1 showed a significant increase during fingolimod use. CONCLUSION: Although higher levels in MS patients were found, ASM activity levels do not show potential as a biomarker for predicting disease activity, progression or response to DMT. Two ceramides and four types of sphingomyelin require further investigation as potential markers for treatment response.

Blood pressure measurement in hemodialysis: The importance of the measurement technique.

Systemic arterial hypertension contributes to the high cardiovascular morbidity in hemodialysis (HD) patients, but the accuracy of blood pressure (BP) measurement in this population has not been well studied. To evaluate the agreement between BP measurement using the routine measurement technique (usual method) and the technique recommended by the VII Joint (standard method). This cross-sectional study enrolled 124 patients in a single center who had undergone dialysis for more than three months and were 18 years of age or older. The BP was verified at the start of dialysis by the nursing team (usual method) and by the researchers (standard method). The agreement between the systolic and diastolic BP (SBP and DBP) measurements was tested by the Bland-Altman analysis. A difference in BP measurement higher than ±5 mm Hg was considered clinically significant. The studied group had a mean age of 53.2 years. The average difference between routine and standard BP measurement was -6 mm Hg for SBP (limits of agreement: -40.1-28 mm Hg; P <0.001) and -5.6 mm Hg for DBP (limits of agreement: -33.1-21.8 mm Hg; P <0.001). A clinically significant difference in BP measured by both methods was observed in 69.4% of the patients for SBP and in 61.3% for DBP. The disagreement between the results of different BP measurement methods in HD patients was significant and the BP was underestimated using the usual BP method. BP measurement standardization should be encouraged to avoid errors in diagnosis and therapy.

Habitat monitoring and genotoxicity in Ucides cordatus (Crustacea: Ucididae), as tools to manage a mangrove reserve in southeastern Brazil.

In Brazil, the state of São Paulo contains both preserved areas (Juréia-Itatins Ecological Station) and extremely impacted ones (Cubatão Municipality). This study evaluated the concentrations of five metals (Cu, Cd, Cr, Pb, and Hg) in two mangroves with different levels of anthropogenic impact and the apparent genotoxicity to Ucides cordatus. Water and sediment samples were obtained, and metal concentrations were determined with an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The genotoxic impact was quantified based on the number of micronucleated cells per 1,000 analyzed (MN‰), using hemolymph slides stained with Giemsa. Metal concentrations in water were below the detection limit, except for lead, although no significant difference was observed between the areas (P > 0.05). Sediment from Cubatão had higher concentrations of Cd, Pb, Cr, and Cu than sediment from Juréia-Itatins (P < 0.05), but no significant differences in metal concentrations were detected among depth strata of the sediment (P > 0.05). Crabs from Cubatão had a 2.6 times higher mean frequency of micronucleated cells (5.2 ± 1.8 MN‰) than those from Juréia-Itatins (2.0 ± 1.0 MN‰; P < 0.0001). The more-polluted conditions found in the mangrove sediments of Cubatão were reflected in the micronucleus assay, demonstrating their genotoxic effect; however, genetic damage should be attributed to a synergistic effect with other kinds of pollutants previously recorded in different environments of Cubatão. U. cordatus proved to be an excellent bioindicator of mangrove pollution. This study established, for the first time, the normal frequency of MN‰ in a population of this species within an ecological station.

[Hepatopulmonary syndrome]. / Síndrome hepatopulmonar.

Hepatopulmonary Syndrome is an uncommon clinical situation of unknown cause. It remains the focus of intense investigation and ongoing debate. The authors present a case of a 77 year old man with chronic liver disease known for 5 years, who developed central cyanoses, digital clubbing and hypoxemia. On searching for the cause of these clinical features, the diagnosis of Hepatopulmonary Syndrome was admitted and confirmed by contrast enhanced echocardiography using agitated saline, and also by technetium 99m-labelled macroaggregated albumin scanning.

Discrepancy between plasma angiotensin converting enzyme activity and in vivo extent of angiotensin I conversion in hypertensive rats

The relationship of plasma angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activity to changes in theextent of angiotensin I (ANG I) conversion in vivo in rats with short-term and chronic (8 weeks) hypertension was examined. Plasma ACE activity was measured by a fluorimetric assay and the extent of ANG I conversion was calculated from the equipressor doses of ANG I and ANGII in conscious rats. The extent of ANG I conversion was higher in chronic on-kidney, one clip hypertensive rats than in the normotensive age-matched control rats (64.1 ñ 3.6% vs 34.8 ñ 5.2%), while no difference was found in the ACE activity measured in plasma from both groups. In rats with acute hypertension, produced upon unclamping the renal pedicle occluded for 5hours,the extent of ANG i conversion was increased when compared to the period prior to renal pedicle occlusion (from 38.8ñ4.1% to 68.6ñ8.5%),and plasma ACE activity remained unchanged. These results indicate that circulating ACE cannot be used as an index of ANG I conversionin vivo and support the proposal that tissue ACE is responsible for the augmented ANG I conversion observed in vivo in both acute renal hypertension and chronic one-kidney, one clip hypertension

Discrepancy between plasma angiotensin converting enzyme activity and in vivo extent of angiotensin I conversion in hypertensive rats.

1. The relationship of plasma angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activity to changes in the extent of angiotensin I (ANG I) conversion in vivo in rats with short-term and chronic (8 weeks) hypertension was examined. 2. Plasma ACE activity was measured by a fluorimetric assay and the extent of ANG I conversion was calculated from the equipressor doses of ANG I and ANG II in conscious rats. 3. The extent of ANG I conversion was higher in chronic one-kidney, one clip hypertensive rats than in the normotensive age-matched control rats (64.1 +/- 3.6% vs 34.8 +/- 5.2%), while no difference was found in the ACE activity measured in plasma from both groups. 4. In rats with acute hypertension, produced upon unclamping the renal pedicle occluded for 5 hours, the extent of ANG I conversion was increased when compared to the period prior to renal pedicle occlusion (from 38.8 +/- 4.1% to 68.6 +/- 8.5%), and plasma ACE activity remained unchanged. 5. These results indicate that circulating ACE cannot be used as an index of ANG I conversion in vivo and support the proposal that tissue ACE is responsible for the augmented ANG I conversion observed in vivo in both acute renal hypertension and chronic one-kidney, one clip hypertension.