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O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o desenvolvimento de bananeiras ‘Grand Naine’ e ‘BRS Tropical’ sob diferentes tipos de adubos orgânicos no primeiro ciclo de produção. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados com quatro repetições de quatro plantas cada. Os tratamentos constituíram-se por: esterco de bovinos, esterco de aves, efluente de suínos, composto de esterco de bovinos, composto de esterco de aves e composto de efluente de suínos. Por ocasião da emissão da inflorescência, foram realizadas as seguintes avaliações: determinação da circunferência do pseudocaule, altura do pseudocaule até a inserção da inflorescência, número de folhas vivas por planta e a duração do ciclo da cultura. Na pós-colheita, avaliou-se a massa do cacho e da segunda penca, número de pencas e frutos por cacho, número de frutos na segunda penca, comprimento e diâmetro dos frutos, pH, sólidos solúveis e acidez titulável. Os adubos orgânicos aplicados na bananeira ‘Grand Naine’ contribuiram para o aporte no diâmetro do pseudocaule e nas características dos cachos e dos frutos, e reduziu o ciclo reprodutivo da bananeira ‘BRS Tropical’, comprovando-se que é possível nutrir e produzir frutos dessas cultivares de bananeiras com padrão comercial e ainda aproveitar os resíduos gerados na propriedade rural já no primeiro ciclo de produção.

Lassa fever is an acute hemorrhagic fever caused by the zoonotic Lassa virus (LASV). The LASV glycoprotein complex (GPC) mediates viral entry and is the sole target for neutralizing antibodies. Immunogen design is complicated by the metastable nature of recombinant GPCs and the antigenic differences among phylogenetically distinct LASV lineages. Despite the sequence diversity of the GPC, structures of most lineages are lacking. We present the development and characterization of prefusion-stabilized, trimeric GPCs of LASV lineages II, V, and VII, revealing structural conservation despite sequence diversity. High-resolution structures and biophysical characterization of the GPC in complex with GP1-A-specific antibodies suggest their neutralization mechanisms. Finally, we present the isolation and characterization of a trimer-preferring neutralizing antibody belonging to the GPC-B competition group with an epitope that spans adjacent protomers and includes the fusion peptide. Our work provides molecular detail information on LASV antigenic diversity and will guide efforts to design pan-LASV vaccines.

Lassa virus is endemic in large parts of West Africa and causes a hemorrhagic fever. Recent years have seen several serious outbreaks of Lassa fever with high mortality rates. A vaccine to curtail infection is urgently needed. The development of a recombinant protein vaccine has been hampered by the instability of soluble Lassa virus glycoprotein complex (GPC) trimers, which disassemble into monomeric subunits after expression. Here we use two-component protein nanoparticles to stabilize GPC in a trimeric conformation and present twenty prefusion GPC trimers on the surface of an icosahedral nanoparticle. Cryo-EM studies of assembled GPC nanoparticles demonstrated a well-ordered structure and yielded a high-resolution structure of an unliganded GPC. These nanoparticles induced potent humoral immune responses in rabbits and protective immunity against a lethal Lassa virus challenge in guinea pigs. We isolated a neutralizing antibody which was mapped to the putative receptor-binding site, revealing a novel site of vulnerability on GPC.

A third mRNA-based “booster” vaccination is the favored strategy to maintain protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Yet, significant waning of specific immunity within six months after 2nd vaccination, along with higher incidence of breakthrough infections associated with the time elapsed since 2nd vaccination raises concerns regarding the durability of immunity also after 3rd vaccination. We assessed virus-specific serum antibody and T cell response in the blood after vaccination with the mRNA vaccine BNT162b2 in more than 50 individuals older than 80 years. All old adults demonstrated a strong humoral response to 3rd vaccination which was at average higher and waned slower than the response to 2nd vaccination, indicative of enhanced humoral immunity. In contrast, their respective T cell response quantitatively limited to the level obtained after 2nd vaccination, with similar waning over time and no evidence for enhanced IFNg production. Because BNT162b2-mediated protection from the Omicron variant relies more on T cells than antibodies, our findings raise concern on the durability of protection from the Omicron variant by BNT162b2 in the senior population.

Space is a key element of human life that holds significance across the life course. Spaces, territories and symbolic arrangements are elements of social reality. This chapter examines the role of space in the context of transitions. Our conceptualization of space does not reduce it to qualities of an external environment but views it as a relational arrangement of people and features that are crucial for understanding transitions across the life course instead. Drawing from two empirical studies anchored in dispositive analysis and environmental psychology, we examine (a) transitions to children’s independent mobility, and (b) transitions into multigenerational cohousing. We ask: How can spatial sensitivity shape, challenge and enrich research on transitions in childhood and later life?

Based on concepts from environmental gerontology and life-span psychology, this study aims at comparing perceived housing and person-environment (p-e) fit across three age groups. Young (20–30 year...

Os teores de proteína e óleo são governados geneticamente, contudo fortemente influenciados pelo ambiente. Assim objetivou-se avaliar a distribuição espacial dos teores de proteína e óleo de sementes de soja cultivada em um campo de produção. Foram realizadas amostragens de sementes, em pontos georreferenciados, para obtenção do teor de proteína e óleo pela técnica da Refletância do Infravermelho Próximo (NIR). Os teores médios de proteína e óleo foram de 35,92% e 20,65%, respectivamente. As variáveis estudadas apresentaram dependência espacial moderada e ajuste ao semivariograma esférico. Os valores do alcance de dependência espacial variaram de 249,99 m, para o teor de óleo, a 414,92 m para o teor de proteína. Foram elaborados mapas de distribuição espacial das variáveis. Existe dependência espacial dos teores de proteína e óleo avaliados nas sementes de soja. A avaliação da qualidade bioquímica das sementes pode indicar parâmetros para o setor de melhoramento genético na escolha do material a ser utilizado nas próximas safras na área de produção.

Excessive administration of crystalloid and the abandonment of colloid replenishment at certain point of resuscitation are the major contributors to fluid overload, leading to a phenomenon termed fluid creep. Over-resuscitation in burn pediatric patients often results in fluid overload and many complications characterized by anasarca, orbital compartment syndrome, extremity compartment syndrome, bloodstream infections, pneumonia, abdominal compartment syndrome, and pulmonary edema requiring a prolonged and potentially complicated hospital stay. Permissive hypovolemia has been shown to effectively reduce organ dysfunction, when applied a rigorous control of diuresis. More recently, a urine output target of 0.5 to 1 ml/kg/h in the first 48 h of fluid resuscitation has become a trend in the monitoring of pediatric patients. Colloids appear to be an essential component for the resuscitation of severely burned patients. Many strategies were developed to optimize fluid resuscitation in burn patients, and until current days there are controversies regarding the most efficient method to determine the ideal volume of fluid to avoid hypovolemic shock and complications from over resuscitation as well. The success of resuscitation is related to the administration of lower fluid volumes. Some centers have demonstrated that selection of more strict protocols of fluid resuscitation, rigorous diuresis control, moderate use of opioids, and early and regular use of albumin are correlated to positive outcomes and thus may attenuate the urgence of fluid creep.

Here we compared SARS-CoV-2-specific antibody and T-cell responses between older adults (80 years old, n = 51) and a younger control group (20-53 years old, n = 46) after receiving two doses of BNT162b2. We found that responses in older adults were generally lower, and we identified 10% low-/non-responders. After receiving a third vaccination with BNT162b2, 4 out of 5 low-/non-responders showed antibody and T-cell responses similar to those of responders after two vaccinations.

The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 highlights the global need for platform technologies to enable the rapid development of diagnostics, vaccines, treatments, and personal protective equipment (PPE). However, many current technologies require the detailed mechanistic knowledge of specific material-virion interactions before they can be employed, for example, to aid in the purification of vaccine components or in the design of a more effective PPE. Here, we show that an adaption of a polymer microarray method for screening bacterial-surface interactions allows for the screening of polymers for desirable material-virion interactions. Nonpathogenic virus-like particles including fluorophores are exposed to the arrays in an aqueous buffer as a simple model of virions carried to the surface in saliva/sputum. Competitive binding of Lassa and Rubella virus-like particles is measured to probe the relative binding properties of a selection of copolymers. This provides the first step in the development of a method for the discovery of novel materials with promise for viral binding, with the next being development of this method to assess absolute viral adsorption and assessment of the attenuation of the activity of live virus, which we propose would be part of a material scale up step carried out in high containment facilities, alongside the use of more complex media to represent biological fluids.

The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 highlights the global need for platform technologies to enable rapid development of diagnostics, vaccines, treatments, and personal protective equipment (PPE). However, many current technologies require the detailed mechanistic knowledge of specific material-virion interactions before they can be employed, for example to aid in the purification of vaccine components, or in design of more effective PPE. Here we show that an adaption of polymer micro array method for screening bacterial-surface interactions allows for screening of polymers for desirable material-viron interactions. Non-pathogenic virus like particlesincluding fluorophores are exposed to the arrays in aqueous buffer as a simple model of virons carried to the surface in saliva/sputum. Competitive binding of Lassa and Rubella particles is measured to probe the relative binding properties of a selection of copolymers. This provides the first step in the development of a method for discovery of novel materials with promise for viral binding, with the next being development of this method to assess absolute viral adsorption and assessment of the attenuation of the activity of live virus which we propose would be part of a material scale up step carried out in biological laboratory safety level 4 facilities and the use of more complex media to represent biological fluids.

DNA analysis can yield information usable to identify individuals or to associate suspects, victims, and crime scene to one another but does not support a contextualization of trace material. Knowing the composition of biological material from a crime scene, e.g. whether a stain contains saliva or semen, is complementary to DNA-based identification and can be essential in reconstructing the course of events in criminal investigations. Research in the forensic applications of RNA analysis has surged considerably during the last two decades and provided recent advancements for forensic casework. Therefore, as a proof of concept, different commercially available DNA extraction kits were compared to assess their potential to simultaneously co-isolate messengerRNA and microRNA in DNA eluates of forensically relevant materials. The results showed that only one extraction kit elutes enough RNA molecules to perform messengerRNA body fluid identification whereas for microRNA-specific expression two of the tested kits yielded sufficient RNA concentrations.

Aggressive fluid resuscitation has been extensively discussed after the establishment of fluid creep phenomenon as a morbidity and mortality factor in burn children. Sepsis is currently the leading cause of death in survivors of burn shock.To evaluate the association between fluid creep and infection in burn children exposed to two different fluid resuscitation strategies with the use of albumin.A cohort of 46 burn children with 15-45% of body surface area (BSA) admitted up to 12 h after the incident were evaluated. Patients from early albumin group (n = 23) received 5% albumin between 8 and 12 h from injury and patients from delayed albumin group (n = 23) received 5% albumin after 24 h. Outcomes analysed were development of fluid creep, length of stay in the hospital, number of surgery procedures and infection until hospital discharge.Compared to the delayed group, patients that received early albumin had a shorter length of stay in the hospital (p = 0.007), less fluid creep (4.3% × 56.5%) (p0.001), less skin graft procedure (47.8% × 78.3%) (p = 0.032) and less debridement (73.9% × 100%) (p = 0.022). Both length of stay in the hospital and fluid creep arising were associated with infection (p0.05).Fluid creep, surgery procedures and length of stay in hospital parameters showed better results in burn children treated with early albumin. Fluid creep and length of stay in the hospital were associated with infection, providing a negative prognosis.

Introdução: A ressuscitação fluídica agressiva, com volume superior ao preconizado por Baxter, com objetivo de evitar a hipoperfusão de órgãos e restabelecer a volemia rapidamente, se tornou uma tendência nos últimos anos. Esta prática vem sendo discutida mais recentemente após a caracterização do fenômeno fluid creep e pode ser causa de aumento da morbidade e mortalidade em crianças queimadas. A hiperhidratação impacta negativamente a evolução desses pacientes e já se estabeleceram associações do fenômeno fluid creep com diversas complicações, como, por exemplo, a síndrome compartimental abdominal. Pacientes queimados estão sob alto risco para infecção e sepse devido à perda da integridade da pele e à exposição prolongada ao ambiente nosocomial. A principal causa de óbito, se o paciente sobreviver à fase inicial do choque do queimado é a disfunção de múltiplos órgãos e sistemas secundária a sepse. Objetivos: Avaliar a associação entre o fluid creep e episódios infecciosos em crianças queimadas submetidas a duas estratégias diferentes de reanimação hídrica envolvendo albumina. Realizar análises de curvas de probabilidade livre de infecção, além de comparar o tempo de internação e número de procedimentos cirúrgicos realizados nestes grupos de pacientes. Metodologia: Estudo de coorte histórica envolvendo 46 crianças queimadas admitidas no Centro de Tratamento de Queimados do Hospital Universitário de Londrina entre junho de 2012 e janeiro de 2014 e que incluiu casos oriundos de um ensaio clínico randomizado controlado realizado no mesmo período. Foram incluídas crianças entre 1 e 12 anos, com queimaduras entre 15% e 45% de Superfície Corporal Queimada (SCQ) e profundidade de 2º e 3º graus, admitidas até a 12ª hora após o acidente. Todos os pacientes receberam reanimação fluídica com Ringer Lactato (RL), nas primeiras 24 horas, segundo a Fórmula de Parkland modificada (3ml/kg/%SCQ) ajustada de acordo com o débito urinário (DU). Os pacientes do grupo A = Exposto (n=23) receberam albumina 5% entre 8 e 12 horas do momento do acidente, e os do Grupo B= Não Exposto (n=23) receberam albumina 5% partir da 24a hora do acidente. Os grupos foram comparados quanto ao surgimento do fenômeno fluid creep, tempo de internação, número de procedimentos cirúrgicos realizados e infecção até a alta hospitalar. Resultados: Os pacientes do grupo A tiveram menos dias de internação comparadamente ao grupo B (p=0,007). O surgimento do fenômeno fluid creep foi maior em crianças no grupo B (p < 0,001). O tempo de internação maior de 14 dias assim como a presença de fluid creep foi associado com a presença de infecção, respectivamente p=0,002 e p=0,020. O tempo de internação bem como a presença de fluid creep apresentaram diferenças nas curvas de probabilidade livre de infecção (p < 0,05). Todas as crianças do grupo B receberam debridamento comparado com 73,9% daquelas incluídas no grupo A (p=0,022), assim como os enxertos foram mais frequentes no grupo B (p=0,032). Conclusões: Crianças queimadas que receberam albumina entre 8 e 12 horas após o acidente apresentaram significativamente menos fluid creep, menor tempo de internação e menor número de procedimentos cirúrgicos (debridamentos e enxertos) comparativamente ao grupo que recebeu albumina após 24 horas. A presença do fluid creep e o tempo de internação superior a 14 dias apresentaram diferenças nas curvas de probabilidade livre de infecção, demonstrando pior prognóstico infeccioso Introduction: Aggressive fluid resuscitation, defined as the administration of a superior volume to the parameters recommended by Baxter, intend to rapidly set the euvolemia and avoid organ hypoperfusion in burn individuals. The practice became a trend during the last years and has been extensively discussed after the establishment of the fluid creep phenomenon and has been considered as a possible mortality and morbidity factor in burn children. A strong association of fluid creep development has already been established with many conditions, as abdominal compartment syndrome. Burn patients are at high risk of infection and subsequent progression to sepsis due to the loss of skin integrity and long-term exposure to hospital environment. If those patients survive to the burn shock, their main cause of death is the multiple organ failure secondary to sepsis, what highlights the importance of comprehensive knowledge of infectious complications in burn children. Objectives: Assess the association between fluid creep and infection episodes in burn children that were exposed to two different fluid resuscitation strategies with the use of albumin. Analyze the patients infection-free probability curves, length of stay and number of surgery procedures needed. Methods: We developed a historic cohort of 46 burn children admitted at the Burn Treatment Center, State University of Londrina. The same patients were simultaneously enrolled in a parallel clinical trial. In this study, were included patients from 1 to 12 years old, with 15% to 45% of the body surface area (BSA) compromised, second or third-degree burns, admitted up to 12 hours after the accident. Both groups were compared according to the exposure. All the patients received fluid resuscitation with Ringer Lactate (RL) in the first 24 hours, respecting the modified Parkland formula (3 ml/kg/% TBSA) adjusted according to the urine output (UO). Patients from group A were exposed to 5% albumin between 8 and 12 hours from the accident moment and the patients from group B received 5% albumin after 24 hours from the accident. The outcomes observed were development of fluid creep phenomenon, length of stay, number of surgery procedures needed and infection until the hospital discharge. Results: Compared to the group B, the group A had a shorter median length of stay (p=0,007). Fluid creep development had higher rates on group B compared to group A (p < 0,001). The length of stay for more than 14 days, as the fluid creep arising, was associated with infection (respectively, p=0,002 and p=0,02). Both the length of stay and the fluid creep presence showed difference at the infection-free probability curves (p < 0,05). All the patients from group B were submitted to debridement compared to 73,9 from group A (p=0,022). The need of skin graft procedure was also more frequent in patients from group A (p=0,032). Conclusion: Burn children that received albumin between 8 and 12 hours from the accident moment presented significant less fluid creep, shorter length of stay, and smaller number of surgery procedures (as debridement and skin graft) compared to the group that received albumin after 24 hours from the accident. Fluid creep development and length of stay superior to 14 days presented differences at the infection-free probability curves, providing a negative infectious prognosis

The development and validation of a simple, reliable and fast method for the determination of cadmium and lead in fish and shrimp by GF AAS, following sample freeze-drying and tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) solubilization, is presented. The method development was achieved by sequentially applying factorial designs until optimization within the bilinear approximation of the method was accomplished. As such, seven experimental parameters were initially studied, which were considered important for the determination of cadmium and lead in seafood samples using TMAH solubilization. The validation of the method was completed in order to comply with international food regulations and method accreditation under ISO 17025. In this sense, the following parameters were evaluated: linearity, limits of detection and quantification, precision, recovery (trueness), specificity and robustness. Linearity of response was satisfactory for the concentration ranges of both analytes. The residuals for both elements were homoscedastic and independent, with normal distributions. Limits of quantification (LOQ), based on signal standard deviation for low-in-cadmium and lead samples, were 6.25 μg kg−1 and 31.25 μg kg−1, respectively. These figures are in accordance with performance criteria required by the Commission Regulation (EU) no 836/2011. The repeatability of the method, calculated from the analysis of seven sample replicates at two concentration levels of cadmium and lead, by the same analyst, was usually better than 10%. Recovery was estimated from the repeatability evaluation, lying in the range of 84% to 99% for cadmium, and 94% to 107% for lead. Furthermore, a wide evaluation of the method robustness was performed during the method optimization. Thus, the results showed the suitability of the developed method for the determination of Cd and Pb in fish and shrimp by GF AAS, following TMAH solubilization for food control purposes. Additionally, the use of sequential factorial designs in order to achieve bilinear optimization of the method was proven to be a very valuable tool, by sharply reducing optimization time and the number of experiments.

RESUMO: A presente pesquisa objetivou avaliar a qualidade fisiológica de sementes de pimenta (Capsicum chinense Jacq.) var. Bode Vermelha obtidas de frutos em diferentes estádios de maturação. Os frutos de C. chinense foram separados em cinco estádios de maturação, baseando-se na coloração do pericarpo (frutos verdes - estádio 1, frutos alaranjados - estádio 2, frutos vermelhos-claros - estádio 3, frutos vermelhos - estádio 4 e frutos vermelho-carmim - estádio 5). Para a avaliação da maturação e da qualidade fisiológica das sementes foram determinadas as características biométricas dos frutos e sementes, massa de mil sementes, teor de água das sementes, condutividade elétrica, teste padrão de germinação, tempo médio de germinação, porcentagem de plântulas normais, velocidade de formação de plântulas, além dos testes de envelhecimento acelerado, e comprimento de plântulas. Os caracteres comprimento, diâmetro, massa e número de sementes dos frutos e comprimento, largura, espessura e massa das sementes foram analisados por meio de parâmetros estimados utilizando-se estatística descritiva. Para as demais variáveis foi utilizado delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado. Os resultados foram submetidos à análise de variância e a comparação de médias pelo teste Scott-Knott, ao nível de 5% de probabilidade. O estádio de maturação influencia na qualidade fisiológica das sementes de Capsicum chinense Jacq. var. Bode Vermelho, sendo as sementes oriundas de frutos de coloração vermelho (estádio 4) a vermelho-carmim (estádio 5) as que apresentaram os melhores desempenhos e, portanto, estão fisiologicamente maduras, sendo os mais indicados para obtenção das sementes. ABSTRACT: This research aimed to evaluate the physiological quality of pepper (Capsicum chinense Jacq.) var. Bode Vermelha seeds, obtained from fruits at different ripening stages. The fruits of C. Chinese were separated according to the ripening stages, based on pericarp color (green fruits - stage 1, orange fruits - stage 2, light red fruits - stage 3, red fruits - stage 4, and carmine-red fruits - stage 5). To evaluate the ripeness and the physiological quality of the seeds were determined the biometric characteristics of the fruits and seeds, mass of thousand seeds, seeds water content, electrical conductivity, standard germinations test, speed of germination index, percentage of normal seedlings, speed of seedlings formation, accelerated aging, and seedling length. The characters length, diameter, weight, and number of seeds of the fruits and length, width, thickness, and mass of the seeds were analyzed by the estimated parameters using descriptive statistics. For the other variables was used the completely randomized design. The results were submitted to variance analysis and comparison of means by the Scott-Knott test at 5% probability. The ripeness stage affects the physiological quality of C. chinense Jacq. var. Bode Red seeds, being the seeds from red (stage 4) to carmine-red (stage 5) fruits those with the best performance thus, they are physiologically ripe, being the most indicated to seeds obtaining.

A method for the determination of total mercury in fresh fish and shrimp samples by solid sampling thermal decomposition/amalgamation atomic absorption spectrometry (TDA AAS) has been validated following international foodstuff protocols in order to fulfill the Brazilian National Residue Control Plan. The experimental parameters have been previously studied and optimized according to specific legislation on validation and inorganic contaminants in foodstuff. Linearity, sensitivity, specificity, detection and quantification limits, precision (repeatability and within-laboratory reproducibility), robustness as well as accuracy of the method have been evaluated. Linearity of response was satisfactory for the two range concentrations available on the TDA AAS equipment, between approximately 25.0 and 200.0 μg kg(-1) (square regression) and 250.0 and 2000.0 μg kg(-1) (linear regression) of mercury. The residues for both ranges were homoscedastic and independent, with normal distribution. Correlation coefficients obtained for these ranges were higher than 0.995. Limits of quantification (LOQ) and of detection of the method (LDM), based on signal standard deviation (SD) for a low-in-mercury sample, were 3.0 and 1.0 μg kg(-1), respectively. Repeatability of the method was better than 4%. Within-laboratory reproducibility achieved a relative SD better than 6%. Robustness of the current method was evaluated and pointed sample mass as a significant factor. Accuracy (assessed as the analyte recovery) was calculated on basis of the repeatability, and ranged from 89% to 99%. The obtained results showed the suitability of the present method for direct mercury measurement in fresh fish and shrimp samples and the importance of monitoring the analysis conditions for food control purposes. Additionally, the competence of this method was recognized by accreditation under the standard ISO/IEC 17025.

A very simple and rapid method for the determination of total mercury in fish samples using the Direct Mercury Analyser DMA-80 was developed. In this system, a previously weighted portion of fresh fish is combusted and the released mercury is selectively trapped in a gold amalgamator. Upon heating, mercury is desorbed from the amalgamator, an atomic absorption measurement is performed and the mercury concentration is calculated. Some experimental parameters have been studied and optimised. In this study the sample mass was about 100.0 mg. The relative standard deviation was lower than 8.0% for all measurements of solid samples. Two calibration curves against aqueous standard solutions were prepared through the low linear range from 2.5 to 20.0 ng of Hg, and the high linear range from 25.0 to 200.0 ng of Hg, for which a correlation coefficient better than 0.997 was achieved, as well as a normal distribution of the residuals. Mercury reference solutions were prepared in 5.0% v/v nitric acid medium. Lyophilised fish tissues were also analysed; however, the additional procedure had no advantage over the direct analysis of the fresh fish, and additionally increased the total analytical process time. A fish tissue reference material, IAEA-407, was analysed and the mercury concentration was in agreement with the certified value, according to the t-test at a 95% confidence level. The limit of quantification (LOQ), based on a mercury-free sample, was 3.0 µg kg(-1). This LOQ is in accordance with performance criteria required by the Commission Regulation No. 333/2007. Simplicity and high efficiency, without the need for any sample preparation procedure, are some of the qualities of the proposed method.

We have developed a microfluidic chip-based qualitative assay for sensitive (10 RNA copies) detection of multiple transcripts in single cells. We determined the expression patterns of 17 developmentally important genes and isoforms in individual mouse preimplantation embryos from superovulated matings and blastomeres. The ubiquitously expressed histone variant H3f3a and the transcription factor Pou5f1 generated mRNA-derived products in all analyzed (1-cell, 2-cell, 4-cell, and morula stage) embryos and in all analyzed blastomeres from 16-cell embryos, indicating a uniform reactivation of pluripotency gene expression during mouse preimplantation development. In contrast, mRNA expression of different methyltransferases for DNA methylation, methylcytosine-binding proteins for chromatin modification, and base excision repair enzymes, which may provide a mechanism for active demethylation, varied considerably between individual cells from the same embryo and even more dramatically between cells from different embryos. We conclude that at a given point in time the transcriptome encoding the reprogramming machinery and, by extrapolation, genome reprogramming differs between blastomeres. By studying the cell-to-cell variability in gene expression, we can distinguish the following two classes: mouse 16-cell embryos in which most cells express the reprogramming machinery and embryos in which most cells do not contain detectable mRNA levels of DNA and chromatin modification genes. Immunolocalization of DNMT3A, MBD3, APEX1, and LIG3 in most or all nuclei of 40-60-cell embryos is a good indicator of functional activity of genes that are activated by the 16-cell stage.

Introdução: A reanimação fluídica da criança queimada é um desafio devido à intolerância à insuficiente ou excessiva oferta de líquidos. Há dúvidas em relação à utilização de solução coloide na ressuscitação volêmica e também quanto ao melhor momento a ser administrada. O momento ideal para a administração de albumina permanece em foco de debate, se deveria ser utilizada como estratégia de resgate, quando o volume de cristaloide infundido se torna excessivo, ou rotineiramente, como intervenção primária em pacientes com queimaduras extensas. Objetivos: Avaliar e comparar quanto a evolução clínica de crianças com lesões térmicas que receberam abordagem de infusão precoce (entre 8 e 12 horas do acidente) de solução coloide natural versus crianças que receberam abordagem de infusão tardia (após 24 horas do acidente) da mesma solução para reanimação na fase aguda. Metodologia: Ensaio Clínico Randomizado Controlado, realizado no Centro de Tratamento de Queimados do Hospital Universitário de Londrina. Foram estudadas 46 crianças (1 a 12 anos), apresentando entre 15% e 45% de Superfície Corporal Queimada, admitidas até a 12a hora após o acidente. Intervenção: Para a ressuscitação hídrica dos pacientes, foi utilizada solução cristaloide baseada na Fórmula de Parkland modificada, ajustada de acordo com o débito urinário. O Grupo Intervenção (23 pacientes) foi randomizado para receber solução de albumina entre 8 e 12 horas do acidente, e o Grupo Controle (23 pacientes) recebeu a mesma solução após 24 horas do acidente. Resultados: Houve possibilidade de redução de infusão de solução cristaloide durante o período de ressuscitação dos pacientes. O grupo Intervenção recebeu um volume de solução cristaloide com uma mediana de -31,99% (P=0,025) no 1º dia, -19,37% (P=0,002) no 2º dia e -45,3% (P=0,002) no 3º dia de ressuscitação. Não foram observadas diferenças significantes entre os grupos em relação à diurese. A incidência acumulada de fluid creep na população estudada foi de 30,43% (n=14). O RR para o desenvolvimento do fluid creep no Grupo Intervenção foi de 0,0769 (IC 95% 0,0109 a 0,5407). A mediana do tempo de internação dos pacientes do Grupo Controle foi de 18 (15-21) dias e a do Grupo Intervenção foi de 14 (10-17) dias, P=0,004. Conclusões: A infusão precoce de solução de albumina em crianças com queimaduras entre 15% e 45% de superfície corporal reduziu a necessidade de infusão de solução cristaloide no período de ressuscitação. Foram identificados significativamente menos casos de fluid creep e observado menor tempo de internação entre pacientes que receberam albumina precocemente Introduction: The fluidic resuscitation of burned children is a challenge due to intolerance to insufficient or excessive supply of liquids. There are questions regarding the use of colloids in fluid resuscitation solution as well as the timing of the administration. The ideal time for the administration of albumin, in other words whether it should be used as a rescue strategy when the volume of crystalloid infused becomes excessive, or routinely, as primary intervention for patients with extensive burns, remains in the focus of discussion. Objectives: Evaluate the clinical outcomes of children with burn injuries who have received early infusion treatment (between 8 and 12 hours after the accident) with natural colloids solution compared to the children who have received late infusion treatment (24 hours after the accident) with the same solution, in order to resuscitate them in the acute phase. Methods: Randomized Controlled Trial carried out at the Burn Treatment Center, State University of Londrina. Forty-six children (1 to 12 year olds) who had between 15% and 45% total body surface area and were admitted up to 12 hours after the accident were studied. Intervention: For the fluid resuscitation of patients, a crystalloid solution based on modified Parkland Formula was adjusted according to urine output. The Intervention Group (n= 23) were randomized to receive albumin solution between 8 and 12 hours after the accident and the Control Group (n= 23) received the same solution later than 24 hours after the burn injury. Results: During the resuscitation of patients, it was possible to reduce the infusion of crystalloid solution. The Intervention Group required a volume of crystalloid solution with a median of -31.99% (P = 0.025) on day 1, - 19.37% (P = 0.002) on day 2 and -45.3% (P = 0.002) on day 3 of resuscitation. No significant differences were observed in the groups in relation to diuresis. The cumulative incidence of fluid creep in the population studied was 30.43% (n=14). The RR for the development of fluid creep in the Intervention Group was 0.0769 (IC 95% 0.0109 to 0.5407). The patients in the Control Group spent an average time of 18 (15-21) days in hospital, while the patients in the Intervention Group spent 14 (10-17) days, P=0,004. Conclusions: The early infusion of albumin solution in children with 15% to 45% total body surface area reduced the need of crystalloid infused during the resuscitation period. Significantly lower cases of fluid creep were identified and lower length of stay was observed among patients who were treated earlier with albumin

The nature of mitochondrial DNA heteroplasmy is still unclear. It could either be caused by two mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplotypes coexisting within a single cell or by an admixture of homoplasmic cells, each of which contains only one type of mtDNA molecule. To address this question, single lymphocytes were separated by flow cytometry assisted cell sorting and analyzed by cycle sequencing or minisequencing. To attain the required PCR sensitivity, the reactions were carried out on the surface of chemically structured glass slides in a reaction volume of 1-2 microl. In this study, blood samples from two healthy donors showing mitochondrial point heteroplasmy in direct sequencing (195Y and 234R, respectively) were analyzed. Nearly 96% of single lymphocytes tested were found to be in a homoplasmic state, but heteroplasmic cells were also detected. These results suggest that mitochondrial point heteroplasmy in blood may well be mainly due to the mixture of homoplasmic cells.

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a rare malignant neoplasia in gynecology, with probability of recurrence and low possibilities of metastasis. A 34-year-old patient after endometriosis treatment presented pain in the left inguinal region. She reported sensation of gradual increase in a solid nodule, painless at palpation, with difficult mobilization. Exeresis was proceeded with diagnostic hypothesis of endometriosis. Microscopy revealed a mesenchymal neoplasia characterized by proliferation of monomorphic fusiform cells and storiform aspect characterizing the DFSP.DFSP must be remembered in the differential diagnosis of the affections of the inguinal region in gynecology because it represents a malignant neoplasia, although it's rare.

Phasins play an important role in the formation of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) [poly(3HB)] granules and affect their size. Recently, three homologues of the phasin protein PhaP1 were identified inRalstonia eutrophastrain H16. The functions of PhaP2, PhaP3 and PhaP4 were examined by analysis ofR. eutrophaH16 deletion strains (ΔphaP1, ΔphaP2, ΔphaP3, ΔphaP4, ΔphaP12, ΔphaP123and ΔphaP1234). When cells were grown under conditions permissive for poly(3HB) accumulation, the wild-type strain and all single-phasin negative mutants (ΔphaP2, ΔphaP3and ΔphaP4), with the exception of ΔphaP1, showed similar growth and poly(3HB) accumulation behaviour, and also the size and number of the granules were identical. The single ΔphaP1mutant and the ΔphaP12, ΔphaP123and ΔphaP1234mutants showed an almost identical growth behaviour; however, they accumulated poly(3HB) at a significantly lower level than wild-type and the single ΔphaP2, ΔphaP3or ΔphaP4mutants. Gel-mobility-shift assays and DNaseI footprinting experiments demonstrated the capability of the transcriptional repressor PhaR to bind to a DNA region +36 to +46 bp downstream of thephaP3start codon. The protected sequence exhibited high similarity to the binding sites of PhaR upstream ofphaP1, which were identified recently. In contrast, PhaR did not bind to the upstream or intergenic regions ofphaP2andphaP4, thus indicating that the expression of these two phasins is regulated in a different way. Our current model for the regulation of phasins inR. eutrophastrain H16 was extended and confirmed.

Amiloidose é caracterizada por deposição extracelular anormal de amilóide em diferentes tecidos e órgãos, geralmente associada com disfunção do tecido ou órgão envolvido, cuja causa não é ainda conhecida. Pode ser dividida em amiloidose sistêmica e localizada. A forma sistêmica é dividida em: (1) primária; (2) amiloidose associada ao mieloma múltiplo; (3) secundária; (4) amiloidose heredofamiliar. Há uma considerável diferença de sobrevida entre os pacientes com forma localizada e sistêmica de amiloidose, e também com mieloma múltiplo. Não há tratamento satisfatório para amiloidose sistêmica. O presente estudo relata um caso de amiloidose sistêmica primária, com revisão de literatura. O diagnóstico de amiloidose foi conseguido com biópsia de língua e o envolvimento sistêmico confirmado através de aspirado de gordura abdominal. Apesar de a amiloidose não ser a principal hipótese diagnóstica que deva ser aventada quando nos deparamos com um paciente com macroglossia, esta doença não pode ser esquecida, uma vez que o suporte clínico é essencial para o controle das doenças que podem estar associadas, como falência renal, cardíaca e o mieloma múltiplo.

Lichen planus is a common disorder of the stratified squamous epithelium that affects oral and genital mucous membranes, skin, nails, and scalp. Oral Lichen Planus (OLP) affects middle-aged women and shows distribution patterns and characteristics such as white striations, white plaques or papules, erythema, blisters and erosions, and may be associated with medication and/or dental materials used by the patient. The clinical diagnosis can only be made if the disease presents classical patterns such as concomitant lesions in the oral mucosa and skin. The laboratory diagnosis is histopathologically characterized by the presence of projections of the epithelium in the form of sawtooth and Civatte bodies and allows the exclusion of dysplasia and malignancy. Direct immunofluorescence is used when there is suspicion of other diseases, such as pemphigus and pemphigoid. OLP is treated with anti-inflammatory agents, particularly topical corticosteroids; new agents and techniques have proved effective. The malignant transformation of OLP and its exact incidence remain controversial. This work aims at presenting, through literature review, the etiopathogenesis, clinical diagnosis, laboratory tests, and complications of OLP.

Acute lung injury (ALI) still poses a major challenge in critical care medicine. Neutrophils, platelets, and chemokines are all considered key components in the development of ALI. The Duffy antigen receptor for chemokines (DARC ) is thought to be involved in scavenging, transendothelial transport, and presentation of neutrophil-specific chemokines. DARC is expressed on endothelial cells and erythrocytes but not on leukocytes. Here, we show that DARC is crucial for chemokine-mediated leukocyte recruitment in vivo. However, we also demonstrate that changes in chemokine and chemokine receptor homeostasis, associated with Darc gene deficiency, exert strong anti-inflammatory effects. Neutrophils from Darc gene-deficient ( Darc−/ −) mice display a more prolonged downregulation of CXCR2 during severe inflammation than neutrophils from wild-type mice. In a CXCR2-dependent model of acid-induced ALI, Darc gene deficiency prevents ALI. Darc−/ −mice demonstrate fully preserved oxygenation, only a small increase in vascular permeability, and a complete lack of pulmonary neutrophil recruitment. Further analysis reveals that only neutrophils but neither endothelial cells nor erythrocytes from Darc−/ −mice confer protection from ALI. The protection appears to be due to abolished pulmonary recruitment of neutrophils from Darc−/ −mice. The generation of neutrophil-platelet aggregates, a key mechanism in both pulmonary neutrophil recruitment and thrombus formation, is also affected by altered CXCR2 homeostasis in Darc−/ −mice. CXCR2 blockade enhances the formation of platelet-neutrophil aggregates and thereby corrects a formerly unknown bleeding defect in Darc−/ −mice. In summary, our study suggests that chemokine/chemokine receptor homeostasis plays a previously unrecognized and crucial role in severe ALI.

Review on PSGL-1 effects on signaling in myeloid leukocytes activates following selectin engagement. Cell-cell interactions mediating leukocyte recruitment and inflammation are crucial for host defense. Leukocyte recruitment into injured tissue proceeds in a multistep process. The first contact of leukocytes with endothelial cells (“capturing” or “tethering”) is mediated by selectins and their counter-receptor P-selectin glyco-protein ligand (PSGL)-1. During capture and rolling, leukocytes collect different inflammatory signals, which can activate various pathways. Integration of these signals leads to leukocyte activation, integrin-mediated arrest, cytoskeleton rearrangement, polarization, and transmigration. PSGL-1 on leukocytes also binds to activated platelets, where P-selectin is expressed at locally high site densities following α-granule fusion with the plasma membrane. Here, we review the signaling functions of PSGL-1 and speculate how the different known signaling events might relate to different phases of leukocyte recruitment.

We have developed a microfluidic chip-based qualitative assay for sensitive (10 RNA copies) detection of multiple transcripts in single cells. We determined the expression patterns of 17 developmentally important genes and isoforms in individual mouse preimplantation embryos from superovulated matings and blastomeres. The ubiquitously expressed histone variant H3f3a and the transcription factor Pou5f1 generated mRNA-derived products in all analyzed (1-cell, 2-cell, 4-cell, and morula stage) embryos and in all analyzed blastomeres from 16-cell embryos, indicating a uniform reactivation of pluripotency gene expression during mouse preimplantation development. In contrast, mRNA expression of different methyltransferases for DNA methylation, methylcytosine-binding proteins for chromatin modification, and base excision repair enzymes, which may provide a mechanism for active demethylation, varied considerably between individual cells from the same embryo and even more dramatically between cells from different embryos. We conclude that at a given point in time the transcriptome encoding the reprogramming machinery and, by extrapolation, genome reprogramming differs between blastomeres. By studying the cell-to-cell variability in gene expression, we can distinguish the following two classes: mouse 16-cell embryos in which most cells express the reprogramming machinery and embryos in which most cells do not contain detectable mRNA levels of DNA and chromatin modification genes. Immunolocalization of DNMT3A, MBD3, APEX1, and LIG3 in most or all nuclei of 40-60-cell embryos is a good indicator of functional activity of genes that are activated by the 16-cell stage.

Amyloidosis is characterized by an abnormal extracellular deposition of amyloid in different tissues and organs, where it usually causes some type of dysfunction. Its cause is unknown. The two main forms of amyloidosis are systemic and localized; the latter is rare. No satisfactory treatment for systemic amyloidosis has been discovered, and mean survival is poor, ranging from 5 to 15 months depending on the presence or absence of multiple myeloma. We report a case of primary systemic amyloidosis in a 71-year-old man. The diagnosis of amyloidosis was established by tongue biopsy, and its systemic nature was identified by analysis of aspirated abdominal fat. At the 1-year follow-up, the patient's clinical condition had not changed, and he was thereafter lost to follow-up.

Analysis of the genome sequence of the polyhydroxyalkanoate- (PHA) accumulating bacteriumRalstonia eutrophastrain H16 revealed three homologues (PhaP2, PhaP3 and PhaP4) of the phasin protein PhaP1. PhaP1 is known to constitute the major component of the layer at the surface of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate), poly(3HB), granules. PhaP2, PhaP3 and PhaP4 exhibited 42, 49 and 45 % identity or 61, 62 and 63 % similarity to PhaP1, respectively. The calculated molecular masses of PhaP1, PhaP2, PhaP3 and PhaP4 were 20·0, 20·2, 19·6 and 20·2 kDa, respectively. RT-PCR analysis showed thatphaP2,phaP3andphaP4were transcribed under conditions permissive for accumulation of poly(3HB). 2D PAGE of the poly(3HB) granule proteome and analysis of the detected proteins by MALDI-TOF clearly demonstrated that PhaP1, PhaP3 and PhaP4 are bound to the poly(3HB) granules in the cells. PhaP3 was expressed at a significantly higher level in PhaP1-negative mutants. Occurrence of an unknown protein with an N-terminal amino-acid sequence identical to that of PhaP2 in crude cellular extracts ofR. eutrophahad previously been shown by others. Although PhaP2 could not be localizedin vivoon poly(3HB) granules,in vitroexperiments clearly demonstrated binding of PhaP2 to these granules. Further analysis of complete or partial genomes of other poly(3HB)-accumulating bacteria revealed the existence of multiple phasin homologues inRalstonia solanacearum,Burkholderia fungorumandAzotobacter vinelandii. These new and unexpected findings should affect our current models of PHA-granule structure and may also have a considerable impact on the establishment of heterologous production systems for PHAs.