Characterization and control of oocyte large-scale chromatin configuration in different cattle breeds.

Differences in reproductive physiology between cattle breeds may help to explain distinct responses to assisted reproductive techniques and to define breed-specific protocols with improved efficiency. Germinal vesicle (GV) stage oocytes are characterized by increasing levels of chromatin compaction enclosed within the nucleus (graded from GV0 to GV3), associated with different developmental competence. The first objective of this study was to characterize chromatin configuration of GV stage oocytes recovered by OPU at random days of the estrous cycle from Nelore (Bos indicus) and Holstein (Bos taurus) cows. In Nelore 90% of the oocytes presented advanced stages of chromatin compaction associated with higher developmental competence (GV2 and GV3), while in Holstein, only 65% of the oocytes were at these stages. Then, aiming to obtain a more homogeneous population of oocytes in Holstein, we tested two synchronization protocols combining aspiration of all visible follicles at a random day (day 0), two IM injections of FSH 12 h apart on day 2, and OPU on day 4 (OPU/D4) or 5 (OPU/D5). The protocol OPU/D4 provided around 45% of the oocytes with low chromatin compaction (GV1), while the protocol OPU/D5 provided 70% of the oocytes at GV2 and 20% at GV3. Finally, we assessed the effects of a culture system known to prevent meiotic resumption on chromatin configuration of the GV2 enriched oocyte population obtained with the protocol OPU/D5. After 9 h of culture most oocytes transited from GV2 to GV3, with 90% of the oocytes at GV3 stage. This study demonstrates differences between Nelore and Holstein cows regarding patterns of chromatin configuration that may account for their different performance in IVM/IVF. In addition, it provides novel references for the design of protocols aiming to regulate oocyte quality before IVM for the optimization of IVF outcomes.

Análise e criação de dispositivos: tarefas para uma Psicologia Social / Analysis and creation of devices: tasks for a Social Psychology / Análisis y creación de dispositivos: tareas para una Psicología Social

No presente artigo buscaremos traçar uma análise genealógica de constituição da Psicologia Social como campo epistemológico, entendendo-o a partir de sua fragmentação e como terreno de disputa conceitual. Defenderemos nossa aposta a partir de tal compreensão dos jogos de força históricos e políticos que constituíram esse saber, de invenção da Psicologia Social, que desafie a lógica dualista dos binômios indivíduo-sociedade, mente-corpo, dentro-fora e que assuma seu compromisso ético-político de intervenção no mundo, abandonando desde já a pretensão de ciência supostamente asséptica e apolítica. Para que seja possível tal operação, faremos uso do conceito foucaultiano de dispositivo, entendendo-o como ponto essencial para análise e criação de movimentos contemporâneos de produção de subjetividade.

In this article we will seek to draw a genealogical analysis of the constitution of social psychology as epistemological field, understanding it from its fragmentation and land as conceptual dispute. We will defend our bet from this understanding of the historical and political power games that constituted this knowledge, the invention of Social Psychology, that challenges the dualist logic of the individual-society, mind-body, in-out and commitment binomials ethical-political intervention in the world, abandoning the pretension of supposedly aseptic and apolitical science. In order for such an operation to be possible, we will use the Foucaultian concept of device, understanding it as an essential point for the analysis and creation of contemporary movements for the production of subjectivity.

En el presente artículo buscaremos trazar un análisis genealógico de constitución de la Psicología Social como campo epistemológico, entendiéndolo a partir de su fragmentación y como terreno de disputa conceptual. Defenderemos nuestra apuesta, a partir de tal comprensión de los juegos de fuerza históricos y políticos que constituyeron ese saber, de invención de la Psicología Social, que desafíe la lógica dualista de los binomios individuo-sociedad, mente-cuerpo, dentro-fuera y que asuma su compromiso ético-político de intervención en el mundo, abandonando desde ahora la pretensión de ciencia supuestamente aséptica y apolítica. Para que sea posible tal operación, haremos uso del concepto foucaultiano de dispositivo, entendiéndolo como punto esencial para el análisis y la creación de movimientos contemporáneos de producción de subjetividad.

Identification of immune biomarkers related to disease progression and treatment efficacy in human visceral leishmaniasis.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a potentially fatal disease, in which the treatment based on chemotherapy is considered toxic. The cure of disease is associated with the life-long Th1-type immunity against the infection. The Th1-related cytokines production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) seems to be crucial for host control of parasite load and clinical cure. In the current study, we used five proteins (IgE-dependent histamine-releasing factor [HRF], LiHyD, LiHyV, LiHyT and LiHyp6) recently shown to be antigenic and/or immunogenic in the canine VL, aiming to evaluate the antigen-specific antibody levels and cytokine production in PBMCs culture supernatants collected from VL patients before and after anti-VL treatment. In the results, when PBMCs were exposed to rHRF, rLiHyD and rLiHyT, higher IFN-γ and lower IL-10 levels were observed in all patients that were treated and clinically cured. Analysis of specific antibody subclasses was in line with in vitro cellular response, since a higher IgG2 production was found in the treated and cured patients, when compared to the IgG1 subclass levels. In addition, evaluating the diagnostic efficacy of the recombinant molecules, the rHRF, rLiHyD and rLiHyT proteins showed the best results in the serology assays to identify all VL patients, as well as these antigens were not recognized by antibodies in sera from non-infected subjects or those with leishmaniasis-related diseases. Our results corroborate the view that clinical cure of VL is associated with a sustained Th1-related response, and indicate the potential use of rHRF, rLiHyD and rLiHyT as immune biomarkers of VL treatment.

Gestantes em situação de rua no município de Santos, SP: reflexões e desafios para as políticas públicas / Homeless pregnant women in the city of Santos, São Paulo, Brazil: reflections and challenges to public policies

O estudo teve como objetivo investigar o cotidiano de gestantes em situação de rua e sua relação com as políticas públicas na cidade de Santos, litoral do Estado de São Paulo. A coleta de dados foi feita através do registro e estudo de narrativas de memórias de vida. A análise deu-se pelo agrupamento temático de trechos das narrativas, sendo identificadas quatro principais categorias: vida na rua; cuidado e gestação; projetos futuros; e rede pública de serviços. As narrativas revelam mulheres com capacidade criativa para desejar uma vida melhor a partir da possibilidade de ter um filho. Entretanto, a condição social em que vivem, envolvendo a luta diária pela sobrevivência e, em alguns casos, a dependência química dificultam o planejamento de estratégias que transformem o desejo em um projeto de vida. Dessa forma, na maioria das vezes perdem a guarda de seus filhos. Embora conheçam os serviços públicos, quase sempre os acessam apenas em casos de urgência. Não se identificaram na rede de serviços assistenciais - pública e do terceiro setor - programas focados na questão da gestante em situação de rua, ainda que o Brasil já viva, atualmente, histórias de famílias que têm a situação de rua como experiência intergeracional. Os resultados apontam para a necessidade de constituição de políticas intersetoriais, voltadas para gestantes em situação de rua.

The study aimed to investigate the daily routine of homeless pregnant women and their relation to public policies in the city of Santos, State of São Paulo. Data was collected through the record and study of narratives of life memories. The analysis was conducted through the thematic grouping of excerpts of narratives, and four main categories were identified: life on the street; care and pregnancy; future projects; and public services. The narratives reveal women with creative ability to desire a better life based on the possibility of having a child. However, the social condition in which they live, which involves the daily struggle for survival and, in some cases, drug addiction, hinders the planning of strategies to transform the desire into a life project. Thus, most of them lose custody of their children. Although they know the public services, they go to them only in emergencies, mostly. We have not identified, in the network of care services - public and third sector -, programs focusing on the issue of homeless pregnant women, even though Brazil already witnesses, today, stories of families who have the homeless situation as an intergenerational experience. The results point to the need of making intersectoral policies targeted at homeless pregnant women.