Phylogenomic and expression analysis of Colossoma macropomum cyp19a1a and cyp19a1b and their non-classical role in tambaqui sex differentiation.

The genes coding for Cytochrome P450 aromatase (cyp19a1a and cyp19a1b) and estrogen (E2) receptors (esr1, esr2a and esr2b) play a conserved role in ovarian differentiation and development among teleosts. Classically, the "gonad form" of aromatase, coded by the cyp19a1a, is responsible for the ovarian differentiation in genetic females via ligation and activation of the Esr, which mediates the endocrine and exocrine signaling to allow or block the establishment of the feminine phenotype. However, in neotropical species, studies on the molecular and endocrine processes involved in gonad differentiation as well as on the effects of sex modulators are recent and scarce. In this study, we combined in silico analysis, real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay and quantification of E2 plasma levels of differentiating tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) to unveil the roles of the paralogs cypa19a1a and cyp19a1b during sex differentiation. Although the synteny of each gene is very conserved among characids, the genomic environment displays striking differences in comparison to model teleost species, with many rearrangements in cyp19a1a and cyp19a1b adjacencies and transposable element traces in both regulatory regions. The high dissimilarity (DI) of SF-1 binding motifs in cyp19a1a (DI = 10.06 to 14.90 %) and cyp19a1b (DI = 8.41 to 13.50 %) regulatory region, respectively, may reflect in an alternative pathway in tambaqui. Indeed, while low transcription of cyp19a1a was detected prior to sex differentiation, the expression of cyp19a1b and esr2a presented a large variation at this phase, which could be associated with sex-specific differential expression. Histological analysis revealed that anti-estradiol treatments did not affect gonadal sex ratios, although Fadrozole (50 mg kg-1 of food) reduced E2 plasma levels (p < 0,005) as well cyp19a1a transcription; and tamoxifen (200 mg kg-1 of food) down regulated both cyp19a1a and cyp19a1b but did not influence E2 levels. Altogether, our results bring into light new insights about the evolutionary fate of cyp19a1 paralogs in neotropical fish, which may have generated uncommon roles for the gonadal and brain forms of cyp19a1 genes and the unexpected lack of effect of endocrine disruptors on tambaqui sexual differentiation.

Humane endpoint in mice by Brazilian researchers in the vaccine sector / Ponto final humanitário em camundongos aplicado por pesquisadores brasileiros da área de vacinas

The application of a humane endpoint (HE) for mice in vaccine trials and further challenging tasks with lethal samples is necessary to reduce or prevent pain and suffering in these animals, and is a refinement of the 3R policy enforced for animal testing in both national and international scenarios. In order to investigate the application of HE in Brazil, researchers from the vaccine sector have answered a questionnaire about their research profile, their usage of HE and their knowledge of its defining criteria, monitoring of animals, staff training, and euthanasia methods employed. The main results revealed that researchers failed to recognise the very concept of HE as well as when to apply it. In addition, the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees (IACUCs) failed upon giving their approval to the trials. HE is an important refinament of animal testing policy, and these results highlight the need for a clear pre-established definition of when and how it should be implemented in order to ensure more effective application. Furthermore, it is important to clarify the ethics involved and the commitment of both the research teams and IACUCs to animal welfare.(AU)

A aplicação de um ponto final humanitário (PFH) em experimentos com vacinação e posterior desafio com amostras letais em camundongos é necessária para diminuir ou impedir a dor e o sofrimento desses animais, constituindo refinamento de acordo com a política dos 3Rs, vigente em âmbito nacional e internacional, no cenário da experimentação animal. A fim de investigar a aplicação de PFH no Brasil, foi enviado um questionário para pesquisadores da área de vacinas, com perguntas sobre perfil do pesquisador, aplicação de PFH e critérios para sua definição, monitoramento dos animais, treinamento da equipe e métodos de eutanásia empregados. Os principais resultados revelaram que há falhas tanto em reconhecer o conceito quanto em aplicar o PFH, por parte dos pesquisadores, e que as CEUAs também falharam ao aprovar tais experimentos. Chama-se atenção para o fato de que o PFH é um importante refinamento e para a necessidade de definição prévia de PFH e sua aplicação, assim como para a importância do esclarecimento da questão ética envolvida e do necessário compromisso das equipes de pesquisa e das CEUAs com o bem-estar animal.(AU)

Genetic diversity of Mycosphaerella fijiensis in Brazil analyzed using an ERIC-PCR marker.

The Enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC) marker was used to analyze the genetic variability of Mycosphaerella fijiensis, the causative agent of Black Sigatoka disease in banana plants. A total of 123 isolates were used, which were divided into populations based on their original hosts and collection sites in Brazil. A total of 9 loci were amplified, 77.8% of which were found to be polymorphic. The genetic diversity found in the population was 0.20. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) demonstrated that the highest level of genetic variation is within populations. Cluster analysis revealed three main groups in Brazil, with no correlation between geographic and genetic distance.

Acute effect of ischemic preconditioning is detrimental to anaerobic performance in cyclists.

We verified the acute effect of ischemic preconditioning (IPC) in cyclists before high-intensity and short-duration activity. 15 amateur cyclists participated in a random crossover model on 2 different days [IPC or CONTROL (CON)]. Ischemic preconditioning consisted of 4 cycles of 5 min occlusion/5 min reperfusion in each thigh. After IPC or CON, volunteers performed a series of Wingate tests to evaluate anaerobic performance (maximal [Pmax] and medium [Pmed] power output, total anaerobic power, and fatigue index). Blood lactate concentrations were assessed at 6 min after each Wingate test. Ischemic preconditioning decreased Pmax (p<0.05), Pmed (p<0.01), and total anaerobic power (p<0.01) in the first Wingate, and decreased Pmed (p<0.01) and total anaerobic power (p<0.01) in the second Wingate (p<0.01). No significant differences were found in blood lactate or fatigue index between IPC and CON. In conclusion, our results indicate that IPC has a detrimental acute effect on anaerobic performance in amateur cyclists. Compared with positive results of previous studies, the effect of IPC seems to be dependent on the type of exercise.

A new set of bioinformatics tools for genome projects

A new tool called System for Automated Bacterial Integrated Annotation--SABIA (SABIA being a very well-known bird in Brazil) was developed for the assembly and annotation of bacterial genomes. This system performs automatic tasks of assembly analysis, ORFs identification/analysis, and extragenic region analyses. Genome assembly and contig automatic annotation data are also available in the same working environment. The system integrates several public domains and newly developed software programs capable of dealing with several types of databases, and it is portable to other operational systems. These programs interact with most of the well-known biological database/softwares, such as Glimmer, Genemark, the BLAST family programs, InterPro, COG, Kegg, PSORT, GO, tRNAScan and RBSFinder, and can also be used to identify metabolic pathways

Biliary ascariasis after Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy.

The authors report on a 6-year-old girl with biliary ascariasis after surgical treatment of a choledochal cyst and biliary-digestive tract reconstruction by Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy. A precise diagnosis can be obtained by ultrasonography. Surgical treatment is required when clinical and endoscopic treatments fail. In countries in which this disease is endemic, biliary ascariasis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cholangitis after surgery for hepaticojejunostomy.

Use of a plastic hemoderivative bag in the treatment of gastroschisis.

The authors report their experience with the use of a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) bag for blood-derivative transfer as a prosthesis for the creation of a silo for surgical treatment of gastroschisis (GS) in seven newborn infants. The bag is sterile, impermeable to micro-organisms, transparent, flexible, resistant, internally smooth, does not adhere to the bowel loops, readily available, and inexpensive, properties that make it an excellent alternative as a prosthesis for staged surgical treatment of congenital anomalies of the abdominal wall such as GS and omphalocele. The importance of a multidisciplinary team for the care of newborns with GS is also emphasized for a good postoperative outcome.

Ethics and animal experimentation: what is debated?

The purpose of this article is to raise some points for an understanding of the contemporary debate over the ethics of using animals in scientific experiments. We present the various positions from scientific and moral perspectives establishing different ways of viewing animals, as well as several concepts like 'animal ethics', 'animal rights', and 'animal welfare'. The paper thus aims to analyze the importance and growth of this debate, while proposing to expand the academic approach to this theme in the field of health.

Injecao esclerosante no tratamento do prolapso retal em criancas. / Sclerosing injection in the treatment of rectal prolapse in children

Os autores apresentam sua experiencia com o tratamento esclerosante do prolapso retal em 100 criancas com menos de 5 anos de idade.Demonstram a tecnica simples do processo terapeutico e os excelentes resultados obtidos.Tecem tambem comentarios sobre a incidencia e etiologia do prolapso retal em criancas com menos de 5 anos de idade

Ectopia testicular transversa. Relato de um caso, conceituacao e revisao de literatura. / Transversal testicular ectopia.Report of a case, concept and review of the literature

E relatado um caso de ectopia testicular transversa numa crianca de 2 anos e 4 meses de idade evidenciada durante hernioplastia direita. O testiculo esquerdo tinha localizacao abdominal. Fez-se a hernioplastia e o testiculo esquerdo foi colocado no hemi-escroto esquerdo pela tecnica transeptal de Ombredamne.Conceituam-se algumas anomalias testiculares de posicao e faz-se referencia a propedeutica suplementar em pacientes com anomalias de trato geniturinario inferior

Zetaplastia no tratamento da estenose anal fibrotica pos operatoria resistente ao tratamento conservador. / Anal Z-plasty in the treatment of postoperative fibrotic stenosis of the anus resistant to conservative treatment

Os autores mostram a sua experiencia com a zetaplastia anal no tratamento de estenose fibrotica pos-operatoria do neo-anus, secundaria ao tratamento das anomalias congenitas ano-retais