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Objetivo: analisar a tendência do rastreamento do câncer de colo uterino em Mato Grosso, entre 2014 a 2021. Método: estudo descritivo, quantitativo, realizado a partir do DATASUS, com mulheres que realizaram o exame citopatológico em Mato Grosso, no período de 2014 a 2021, por meio de análise de regressão linear. Resultados: a partir da análise dos dados foi observado tendência de estabilidade no período para as variáveis analisadas. A faixa etária que mais realizou o exame foi a de 25 a 64 anos, o principal motivo do exame foi o rastreamento do câncer de colo uterino, a maioria das amostras foram adequadas, a maior parte dos exames apresentou representação de zona de transformação e a maior parte dos exames foi entregue com mais de 30 dias. Conclusão: devido a esta estabilidade observada, necessita-se rever a política de atenção oncológica para as mulheres no estado quanto ao câncer de colo uterino.

Resumo Introdução As informações dos Registros Hospitalares de Câncer (RHC) são fundamentais para a vigilância do câncer. A análise da qualidade dessas informações permite à unidade hospitalar planejar recursos e avaliar a assistência oferecida à pessoa com essa doença. Objetivo Analisar a qualidade das informações ao verificar a completitude e a consistência das bases de dados do RHC do estado de Mato Grosso (MT). Método Estudo quantitativo que avaliou os dados dos RHC/MT, de 2008 a 2014. A tendência temporal das proporções de incompletude foi analisada por regressão polinomial e respectiva significância estatística (p < 0,05). A análise foi realizada por meio dos softwares Epi Info 7.0 e SPSS 25.0. Resultados Fizeram parte do estudo um total de 15.090 registros de câncer. As variáveis que apresentaram maior incompletude foram: tumor-nódulo-metástase, escolaridade, estado da doença ao final do primeiro tratamento e ocupação. Conclusão Educação permanente visando ao maior envolvimento dos profissionais e à melhoria do registro no prontuário é essencial para o aprimoramento das informações da base hospitalar. Ademais, o uso contínuo dessas informações para a gestão da própria unidade hospitalar subsidia o planejamento e a tomada de decisão, além de avaliar a qualidade da assistência prestada.

ABSTRACT: Objective: To analyze the temporal trend of the incidence and mortality rate for prostate, breast, colorectal, lung, cervical, stomach and laryngeal cancer among residents in the city of Cuiabá between 2008 and 2016. Methods: Time series study with data from the Mortality Information System and the Population-Based Cancer Registry. Stratified by sex, the proportional distribution of new cases and deaths by age group and the cancer incidence and mortality rates standardized by the world population were calculated. Linear regression was used and the annual percentage change (APC) was estimated. Results: In males, most new cases and deaths, for the main types of cancer, occurred among those aged 50 years or older, and the incidence rate of prostate cancer showed a tendency to decrease in the period (APC=-4.33%). For females, the proportion of new cases and deaths, due to breast and cervical cancer, were more frequent among women aged 50 years or younger, and lung, stomach and colorectal cancer among women aged 50 years or older. The incidence rate of breast cancer showed an increasing trend (APC=3.60%). For both sexes, the mortality rate remained stable. Conclusion: The incidence rate trend varied between sexes, an increase was observed for breast cancer among women and a reduction for prostate cancer among men. The mortality rate for the main types of cancer was stable.

ABSTRACT: Objective: To describe the mortality trend from all cancers and the five main ones in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil, from 2000 to 2015. Methods: This is a descriptive, ecological, time series study, with data referring to deaths of residents of Mato Grosso due to cancer (ICD-10 codes C00 to C97), from the Mortality Information System (SIM). Time trend analyses of the standardized mortality rate from all cancers and five specific cancers (lung, prostate, breast, colorectal and cervical) for the state and according to macroregion (South, West, North, East and Center-North) were performed using linear regression (p

ABSTRACT: Objective: To describe the trend of incompleteness of cancer death records in the Mortality Information System (SIM, in Portuguese) database, state of Mato Grosso, Brazil, 2000 to 2016. Methods: This is a descriptive, ecological, time series study of records of death from cancer of people living in the state of Mato Grosso (codes C00 to C97 of the 10th revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems – ICD-10), collected from SIM. To asses incompleteness in the filling of the variables of race/skin color, education, marital status, occupation and underlying cause of death, the relative frequency was calculated in the percentage of null values. The time trend analyzes of the incomplete percentage of categories and variables of interest was performed using linear regression (p

ABSTRACT: Objective: To describe the methodological and operational aspects of the “Project for surveillance of cancer and its associated factors: population-based and hospital-based registry” (VIGICAN), in the state of Mato Grosso (MT), Brazil. Methods: VIGICAN was divided into two projects: a university extension one, which updated the data from the Population-based Cancer Registry (PBCR) of MT in the 2008-2016 period; and a research project, which collected primary data, through individual interviews and analysis of medical records of people with a diagnosis of cancer, aged 18 years or older, treated at reference hospitals for oncology. To analyze the factors associated with cancer, the following variables were collected: socioeconomic and demographic, social support, health status and behavior, and environmental exposure. Results: In the 2008-2016 period, approximately one hundred thousand cases of cancer (incident and prevalent) were reported in the PBCR Cuiabá and PBCR Interior. After validation procedures, 50 thousand incident cases were elected. The survey interviewed 1,012 patients, 38.2% living in the municipalities of Cuiabá and Várzea Grande, 60.4% in small cities of the state, and 1.4% in other states. Preliminary data showed that the majority were women (55.0%) and younger than 60 years of age (54.3%). Among the interviewees, 7.2% reported smoking tobacco, 15.5% consumed alcoholic beverages (15.5%), and 32.7% lived nearby crops. Conclusion: The development of these projects allowed the integration of education with health services and will enable the recognition of specificities and different exposure scenarios and factors associated with cancer in the Mato Grosso territory.

Since climate changes have caused water restrictions, safflower stands out as an alternative crop due to its adaptability to restrictive soil and climate conditions. Thus, this research aimed to evaluate the physiological and yield performance of four safflower lines (IMA 02, IMA 04, IMA 14, and IMA 21) under two water regimes [without water deficiency—around 22% soil moisture content—100% of field capacity (FC); and with water deficiency—50% of FC]. The water regimes were imposed for 30 days during the flowering phase, followed by rehydration for 20 days. Water deficiency decreased relative water content, water potential, photosynthetic pigment contents, photosynthetic performance, maximum variable and potential quantum yield of PSII, electron transport rate, and photochemical quenching. In contrast, it increased electrolyte leakage, water use efficiency, and non-photochemical quenching. The decreases in photochemical efficiency and photosynthetic performance as a function of water deficiency caused reductions in the number of capitula, 100-grain mass, and harvest index, with more significant reductions in IMA 02, which was considered susceptible to soil water changes. IMA 04, IMA 14, and IMA 21 were considered tolerant because their physiological variables and yield components were less affected by water restriction, and they also showed recovery after rehydration compared to IMA 02. Thus, these lines can be recommended for commercial use, and safflower breeding programs aiming to select superior genotypes under drought conditions.

Drought stress is one of the most predominant environmental factors hindering soybean productivity. Therefore, the study of stress-mitigating strategies, such as the use of biostimulants, is important in order to mitigate this problem. This study investigated the effects of an exogenous application of biostimulants based on amino acids and macro- and micronutrients in the physiological, biochemical and productive responses of soybean cultivated under drought stress. Treatments consisted of T1—dose 0.0 kg ha−1 (control); T2—dose 0.0 kg ha−1 (with water-deficit stress); T3—dose 0.25 kg ha−1; T4—dose 0.5 kg ha−1; T5—dose 0.75 kg ha−1; T6—dose 1.0 kg ha−1 of biostimulant. Application of T4 maintained photosynthetic metabolism, with main action on stomatal conductance, and increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase by 420%, catalase by 167% and ascorbate peroxidase by 695%. In addition, it increased the levels of proline by 106%, leaf area by 279% and the dry matter mass of the plants by 26%, which was reflected in a 22% increase in productivity. Therefore, application of the studied biostimulant at a dose of 0.5 kg ha−1 is recommended to effectively alleviate the adverse effects of drought stress on soybean.

Objetivo:analisaras ações de controle do câncer de colo uterino (CCU) desenvolvidas pelo enfermeiro na Estratégia de Saúde da Família (ESF) em um município da região Sul de MatoGrosso.Métodos:trata-se de uma pesquisa exploratória, descritiva e com abordagem qualitativa, realizada em doze ESFs.Acoleta de dados ocorreu no período de maio a junho de 2017, com 12 enfermeiros,por meio de entrevistas semiestruturadas. Para a análise dos dados utilizou-se a Análise de Conteúdo de Bardin. A pesquisa foi aprovada por Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa em 26 de abril de 2017.Resultados:a análise dos dados resultou em duas categorias denominadas: “A insegurança na realização do exame Papanicolaou” e “Ações de Controle do CCU”. Conclusão: podemos concluir que embora os enfermeiros reconheçam a necessidade e relevância do rastreamento e diagnóstico precoce, a prática profissional relatada é bem divergente do preconizado pelo Ministério da Saúde.

Plants develop a series of adaptive mechanisms capable of tolerating the action of herbicides; however, little is known about the physiological mechanisms developed by cassava. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the influence of post-emergence herbicides on the physiological and anatomical characteristics of two cassava cultivars subjected to six herbicide treatments. The evaluations occurred at 0, 24, 48, 72, and 168 h after herbicide application. Herbicide application induced changes in the physiological and anatomical leaf profile. These changes were observed through the thickening of the leaf blade midrib caused by the herbicides fomesafen and fenoxaprop-p-ethyl in the Campinas cultivar. On the other hand, the leaves of the Sergipana cultivar showed a reduction in the thickness of the midrib tissues. Minor effects on cassava plants were observed with the herbicide fluazifop-p-butyl.

ABSTRACT: Objective: To analyze the spatial distribution of the four-year cancer mortality rates in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil, from 2000 to 2015. Methodology: Ecological design study, in which mortality from neoplasia was analyzed, from 2000 to 2015, for the municipalities of Mato Grosso State. Mortality rates due to cancer were calculated by the ratio of the sum of deaths by cancer in each quadrennium, divided by the average of the population in the two central years of the period, multiplied by 10,000 inhabitants. Annual percentage change was calculated by the ratio of the linear regression coefficient to the cancer mortality rates in Mato Grosso State at the beginning of the analyzed period (2000 to 2003). Thematic maps were constructed for each quadrennium using intervals of equal classes. Results: Cancer caused 31,097 deaths in the state of Mato Grosso in the period, 13,058 in women and 18,039 in men, with a male to female ratio of 1.38. The top five causes of cancer death in the period were lung (12.2%), prostate (8.7%), stomach (7.7%), breast (6.0%), and liver (4.7%). There was an increase in the number of municipalities with rates greater than 23.67 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants in the period. Conclusion: There was an increase in cancer mortality and an increase in the proportion of municipalities with higher mortality rates. Higher density of cancer mortality occurred in the municipalities located in the West, Center-South, Southeast, and Center-North regions of the state.

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze ten-year specific survival of women with breast cancer in Great Cuiaba, Mato Grosso, Brazil. Methods: A population-based cohort of 61 women diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008 and 2009, in Great Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, followed by 2018 in the regional mortality database. Specific survival was analyzed through the Kaplan-Meier curve, with adjustment of the Weibull model and Log-Weibull Regression. The survival curves of the variables were compared using the log-rank test which were statistically significance (p

Objetivo: Identificar fatores associados à ocorrência de gravidez não planejada em duas Estratégias de Saúde da Família. Método: Estudo transversal, realizado nos meses de agosto/2015 a outubro/2016, com amostra de 89 gestantes e 51 puérperas. Foi realizada coleta de dados secundários no SISPRENATAL WEB. As diferenças entre as proporções foram verificadas, mediante uso dos Testes Qui-quadrado de Pearson e o Exato de Fischer ao nível de 5% de significância estatística e a magnitude das associações entre as variáveis foram avaliadas por meio da razão de prevalência. As análises foram realizadas com o auxílio do software estatístico R. Resultados: Observou-se prevalência de 75% de gestação não planejada. Verificou-se associação estatisticamente significante entre intercorrência durante a gestação atual e o tipo de gravidez não planejada. Conclusão: A elevada ocorrência de gravidez não planejada, sobretudo entre aquelas que apresentaram intercorrência indica a necessidade de estabelecerem estratégias de saúde à atenção desta população. Descritores: Gravidez não planejada; Planejamento familiar; Saúde da mulher.

Staphylococcus aureus is a dangerous pathogen that can cause necrotizing infections characterized by massive inflammatory responses and tissue destruction. Staphylococcal α-hemolysin is an essential virulence factor in severe S. aureus pneumonia. It activates the nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat containing gene family, pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome to induce production of interleukin-1β and programmed necrotic cell death. We sought to determine the role of α-hemolysin-mediated activation of NLRP3 in the pathogenesis of S. aureus pneumonia. We show that α-hemolysin activates the NLRP3 inflammasome during S. aureus pneumonia, inducing necrotic pulmonary injury. Moreover, Nlrp3(-/-) mice have less-severe pneumonia. Pulmonary injury induced by isolated α-hemolysin or live S. aureus is independent of interleukin-1β signaling, implicating NLRP3-induced necrosis in the pathogenesis of severe infection. This work demonstrates the exploitation of host inflammatory signaling by S. aureus and suggests the NLRP3 inflammasome as a potential target for pharmacologic interventions in severe S. aureus infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

No âmbito da Atenção Primária, o controle da realização dos exames colpocitológicos e seus registros de resultados de forma efetiva são instrumentos fundamentais para adequado controle e manejo clínico do câncer de colo de útero, além de permitir análise do perfil epidemiológico em cada área de abrangência. Com objetivo de analisar os Livros de Registros dos resultados de exames colpocitológicos, 10 Unidades de Saúde da Família foram selecionadas. A pesquisa compreendeu 2.054 registros de exames, destes 84,1% foram realizados em mulheres com idade entre 25 a 64 anos. Foi observado a ausência de padronização do registro referente aos resultados entre as unidades analisadas, já que foi visto porcentagens consideráveis de dados sem preenchimento e informação para diferentes aspectos nos exames. Isto é evidenciado quando se observa que em 100% dos resultados não havia a informação sobre a data da última coleta, em 78,25% dos registros não informavam a adequabilidade da amostra e 35,64% dos resultados não definiam quais epitélios estavam presentes no material coletado. Esses dados indicam que o controle dos resultados não está sendo realizado de forma adequada, sendo essencial o treinamento da equipe e padronização dos registros, visando o aprimoramento.

Como a necessidade de recuperação de áreas degradadas, há o aumento do interesse sobre o conhecimento de espécies nativas brasileiras, que são estudadas por apresentarem um potencial econômico devido suas propriedades medicinais e madeireiras, além de ser usada para o reflorestamento e extrativismo. Desta maneira, objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar o grau de umidade, peso de mil sementes e germinação em sementes de Caatingueira Caesalpinia pyramidalis Tul. Foram contabilizadas oito repetições de 100 sementes, pesadas e calculado o desvio padrão das 16 repetições. Para realização do grau de umidade, foi utilizado o método de estufa por 24 horas, e realizado o teste de germinação em quatro repetições de 25 sementes. No período de 24 horas as sementes de Catingueira, atingiram uma umidade de 9,85%. As variáveis grau de umidade e peso de mil sementes devem ser utilizadas para auxiliar no processo de qualificação da espécie. As sementes apresentam moderada percentagem de germinação, quando submetidas à temperatura de 25°C.

O cultivo e o comercio de plantas ornamentais vem cada vez mais ganhando espaço no Brasil, pela grande variedade das espécies existentes e exuberância de suas flores, que oferecem uma maior riqueza ao local. Dessa forma, o objetivo desse trabalho foi realizar o levantamento da população de ácaros associados às plantas ornamentais no município de Arapiraca-AL, em função dos diversos problemas acarretados por essa espécie. O levantamento foi realizado entre os meses de abril a março, através de amostragens mensais de folhas coletadas da parte basal, intermediária e apical de plantas existentes em praças e jardins. Foram coletados 55 ácaros pertencentes à ordem Prostigmata em 20 famílias de plantas. As plantas com as maiores riquezas de ácaros foram as Coleus blumei L. e Bxuxus sempervirens L., que apresentaram 65% dos valores amostrais. Analisando-se as coletas realizadas, pode-se observar que houve uma maior incidência populacional de ácaros na coleta do mês de maio, cuja percentagem foi de 36% de ácaros levantados, sendo que no levantamento dos dados amostrais de março a percentagem encontrada foi de 14%, nas amostragens dos meses de abril e junho, a percentagem amostrada dos dados foi de 22 e 28%, respectivamente. O estudo do levantamento de ácaros em plantas ornamentais permitiu observar a relação entre ácaros e a relação com a planta hospedeira, facilitando posteriormente um estudo mais aprofundado sobre plantas hospedeiras, e pode-se observar que em períodos chuvosos ocorre uma menor incidência populacional.

A utilização da água da chuva é uma alternativa que possibilita minimizar o consumo de águas tratadas. De sobremodo que para as culturas olerícolas como o rabanete que apresenta grande importância econômica na região Nordeste, esta seja uma ótima alternativa à produção, gerando a necessidade de adotar práticas que satisfaçam o desenvolvimento da cultura. Neste trabalho, objetivou-se avaliar a evapotranspiração da cultura do rabanete (Raphanus sativus), em diferentes lâminas de irrigação, na região agreste de Alagoas. Observa-se que o diâmetro do bulbo aos 30 DAS aumentou significativamente com o aumento da lâmina de irrigação, sendo encontrado maior diâmetro nas lâminas de 100 e 125%, contudo vale ressaltar que o tratamento mais afetado com a lâmina de irrigação foi de 25%, comprometendo o crescimento e desenvolvimento da cultura. Contudo, as variáveis estudadas, diâmetro do bulbo (DB), comprimento de bulbo (CB), número de folhas (NF) e diâmetro do caule (DC), responderam positivamente ao aumento da lâmina de água.

A infiltração de água no solo é o processo de entrada de água através da superfície do solo. O conhecimento da taxa de infiltração da água no solo é de fundamental importância para definir técnicas de conservação do solo, planejar e delinear sistemas de irrigação e drenagem, bem como auxiliar na composição de uma imagem mais real da retenção da água e aeração no solo. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo determinar as curvas de infiltração e velocidade de infiltração de água pelo método de infiltrômetro de anel em um solo do agreste alagoano. O Infiltrômetro de anel é um equipamento composto por dois anéis (50 e 25 cm de diâmetro e 30 cm de altura), que são instalados de forma concêntrica e enterrados a 15 cm. Pode-se concluir que o método de infiltrômetro de anel é simples e prático para determinação da infiltração acumulada (I) e a velocidade de infiltração (VI). O solo foi caracterizado como Argissolo Vermelho distrófico e sua VIB (velocidade de infiltração básica) foi classificada como alta (2 cm h-1).

Objetivou-se, com este trabalho, determinar a umidade na capacidade de campo em vasos (CCV) e da coleta indeformada do solo caracterizado por Neossolo amarelo-vermelho distrófico avaliando a capacidade de retenção da água da região agreste –AL. O trabalho foi desenvolvido na unidade experimental dos solos na Universidade Federal de Alagoas/Campus Arapiraca. A determinação da capacidade de campo em vasos consistiu na utilização de 9 vasos, em duas profundidades, 0-10 e 10-20 cm, no período de 0; 24 e 48 horas. Para a coleta com anel volumétrico foram utilizados 6 coletores PVC, na profundidade de 0-15 e 15-30 cm, onde foram determinados massa úmida (MU), massa seca (MS), umidade gravimétrica (UG) e volumétrica (UV) e densidade do solo (DS). Os resultados indicam que houve um decréscimo significativo com relação à profundidade em função do tempo de coleta. Conclui-se que o teor de água apresentado para a obtenção de massa úmida e massa seca é bastante representativo diante do decréscimo obtido na saturação. O modelo polinomial da equação de segundo grau foi ajustado com sucesso aos dados experimentais. A densidade do solo (DS) apresenta um efeito bastante significativo diante das demais variáveis analisadas.

Este estudo foi realizado em um fragmento de floresta estacional semidecídua, sujeito a longo histórico de perturbação antrópica, localizado no perímetro urbano de Uberlândia, MG. Teve como objetivo avaliar a composição e a estrutura do estrato regenerativo e comparar com a comunidade adulta do dossel, de forma a revelar informações importantes sobre o funcionamento do ambiente e a dinâmica dessa formação vegetal. Para o levantamento do estrato regenerativo, utilizaram-se 30 parcelas de 10×10 m, onde todos os indivíduos com altura igual ou superior a um metro tiveram medidos a altura e o diâmetro ao nível do solo. A presença de espécies tardias de grande porte no estrato adulto, sem a correspondência de abundância no estrato regenerativo, sugere que as perturbações atingem diretamente o estrato inferior. O dossel da floresta estacional do Parque do Sabiá é composto de árvores que, provavelmente, possuem dezenas de anos e a formação de clareiras, naturais ou antrópicas, estimula o estabelecimento de espécies pioneiras. De forma geral, as espécies importantes do estrato regenerativo sugerem que a comunidade está sofrendo mudanças na sua composição florística, em um processo de sucessão caracterizado pela presença de grande número de indivíduos regenerantes, de espécies pertencentes aos primeiros estágios sucessionais.This study was carried out in a semideciduous seasonal forest fragment with a long history of manmade disturbance, located in urban Uberlândia, Minas Gerais. The aim was to compare the composition and structure of the regeneration layer with that of the adult canopy layer in order to obtain information on environmental functioning and the dynamics of this plant formation. In 30 plots of 10×10 m, plants equal to or taller than one meter were surveyed, recording height and stem diameter at soil level. The presence of large trees of secondary species in the canopy layer, without corresponding abundance in the regeneration layer, suggests that disturbance affects the understory directly. The canopy of the seasonal forest at Parque do Sabiá is composed of trees probably decades old; natural or manmade gap formation stimulates the establishment of pioneer species. In general, the important species of the regeneration layer suggest that the floristic composition of the community is changing in a process of succession characterized by the presence of many young individuals belonging to species of the early successional stages.

Members of the membrane spanning 4A (MS4A) gene family are clustered around 11q12-13, a region linked to allergy and asthma susceptibility. Other than the known functions of FcεRIβ (MS4A2) and CD20 (MS4A1) in mast cell and B cell signaling, respectively, functional studies for the remaining MS4A proteins are lacking. We thus explored whether MS4A4A, a mast cell expressed homologue of FcεRIβ, has related functions to FcεRIβ in FcεRI signaling. We establish in this study that MS4A4A promotes phosphorylation of PLCγ1, calcium flux and degranulation in response to IgE-mediated crosslinking of FcεRI. We previously demonstrated that MS4A4A promotes recruitment of KIT into caveolin-1-enriched microdomains and signaling through PLCγ1. Caveolin-1 itself is an important regulator of IgE-dependent store-operated Ca 2+ entry (SOCE) and promotes expression of the store-operated Ca 2+ channel pore-forming unit, Orai1. We thus further report that MS4A4A functions through interaction with caveolin-1 and recruitment of FcεRI and KIT into lipid rafts. In addition to proximal FcεRI signaling, we similarly show that MS4A4A regulates Orai1-mediated calcium entry downstream of calcium release from stores. Both MS4A4A and Orai1 had limited effects with compound 48/80 stimulation, demonstrating some degree of selectivity of both proteins to FcεRI receptor signaling over Mas-related G Protein coupled receptor X2 signaling. Overall, our data are consistent with the conclusion that MS4A4A performs a related function to the homologous FcεRIβ to promote PLCγ1 signaling, SOCE, and degranulation through FcεRI in human mast cells and thus represents a new target in the regulation of IgE-mediated mast cell activation., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest related to the reported research., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Although airway mucus dehydration is key to pathophysiology of cystic fibrosis (CF) and other airways diseases, measuring mucus hydration is challenging. We explored a robust method to estimate mucus hydration using sialic acid as a marker for mucin content. Terminal sialic acid residues from mucins were cleaved by acid hydrolysis from airway samples, and concentrations of sialic acid, urea, and other biomarkers were analyzed by mass spectrometry. In mucins purified from human airway epithelial (HAE), sialic acid concentrations after acid hydrolysis correlated with mucin concentrations ( r 2  = 0.92). Sialic acid-to-urea ratios measured from filters applied to the apical surface of cultured HAE correlated to percent solids and were elevated in samples from CF HAEs relative to controls (2.2 ± 1.1 vs. 0.93 ± 1.8, P < 0.01). Sialic acid-to-urea ratios were elevated in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from β-epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) transgenic mice, known to have reduced mucus hydration, and mice sensitized to house dust mite allergen. In a translational application, elevated sialic acid-to-urea ratios were measured in BALF from young children with CF who had airway infection relative to those who did not (5.5 ± 3.7 vs. 1.9 ± 1.4, P < 0.02) and could be assessed simultaneously with established biomarkers of inflammation. The sialic acid-to-urea ratio performed similarly to percent solids, the gold standard measure of mucus hydration. The method proved robust and has potential to serve as flexible techniques to assess mucin hydration, particularly in samples like BALF in which established methods such as percent solids cannot be utilized., (Copyright © 2017 the American Physiological Society.)

Background: Face transplantation is an increasingly feasible option for patients with severe disfigurement. Donors and recipients are currently matched based on immune compatibility, skin characteristics, age, and gender. Aesthetic outcomes of the match are not always optimal and not possible to study in actual cases due to ethical and logistical challenges. We have used a reproducible and inexpensive three-dimensional virtual face transplantation (VFT) model to study this issue., Methods: Sixty-one VFTs were performed using reconstructed high-resolution computed tomography angiographs of male and female subjects aged 20-69 years. Twenty independent reviewers evaluated the level of disfigurement of the posttransplant models. Absolute differences in 9 soft-tissue measurements and 16 bony cephalometric measurements from each of the VFT donor and recipient pretransplant model pairs were correlated to the reviewers' evaluation of disfigurement after VFT through a multivariate logistic regression model., Results: Five soft-tissue measurements and 3 bony measurements were predictive of the rating of disfigurement after VFT (odds ratio; 95% confidence interval): trichion-to-nasion facial height (1.106; 1.066-1.148), endocanthal width (1.096; 1.051-1.142), exocanthal width (1.067; 1.036-1.099), mouth/chelion width (1.064; 1.019-1.110), subnasale-to-menton facial height (1.029; 1.003-1.056), inner orbit width (1.039; 1.009-1.069), palatal plane/occlusal plane angle (1.148; 1.047-1.258), and sella-nasion/mandibular plane angle (1.079; 1.013-1.150)., Conclusions: This study provides early evidence for the importance of soft-tissue and bony measurements in planning of facial transplantation. With future improvements to immunosuppressive regimens and increased donor availability, these measurements may be used as an additional criterion to optimize posttransplant outcomes.

Mast cell activation results in the immediate release of proinflammatory mediators prestored in cytoplasmic granules, as well as initiation of lipid mediator production and cytokine synthesis by these resident tissue leukocytes. Allergen-induced mast cell activation is central to the pathogenesis of asthma and other allergic diseases. Presently, most pharmacological agents for the treatment of allergic disease target receptors for inflammatory mediators. Many of these mediators, such as histamine, are released by mast cells. Targeting pathways that limit antigen-induced mast cell activation may have greater therapeutic efficacy by inhibiting the synthesis and release of many proinflammatory mediators produced in the mast cell. In vitro studies using cultured human and mouse mast cells, and studies of mice lacking A(2B) receptors, suggest that adenosine receptors, specifically the G(s)-coupled A(2A) and A(2B) receptors, might provide such a target. Here, using a panel of mice lacking various combinations of adenosine receptors, and mast cells derived from these animals, we show that adenosine receptor agonists provide an effective means of inhibition of mast cell degranulation and induction of cytokine production both in vitro and in vivo. We identify A(2B) as the primary receptor limiting mast cell degranulation, whereas the combined activity of A(2A) and A(2B) is required for the inhibition of cytokine synthesis.

Ribs are primarily made of cortical bone and are necessary for chest expansion and ventilation. Rib fractures represent the most common type of non-traumatic fractures in the elderly yet few studies have focused on the biology of rib fragility. Here, we show that deletion of βcatenin in Col1a2 expressing osteoblasts of adult mice leads to aggressive osteoclastogenesis with increased serum levels of the osteoclastogenic cytokine RANKL, extensive rib resorption, multiple spontaneous rib fractures and chest wall deformities. Within days of osteoblast specific βcatenin deletion, animals die from respiratory failure with a vanishing rib cage that is unable to sustain ventilation. Increased bone resorption is also observed in the vertebrae and femur. Treatment with the bisphosphonate pamidronate delayed but did not prevent death or associated rib fractures. In contrast, administration of the glucocorticoid dexamethasone decreased serum RANKL and slowed osteoclastogenesis. Dexamethasone preserved rib structure, prevented respiratory compromise and strikingly increased survival. Our findings provide a novel model of accelerated osteoclastogenesis, where deletion of osteoblast βcatenin in adults leads to rapid development of destructive rib fractures. We demonstrate the role of βcatenin dependent mechanisms in rib fractures and suggest that glucocorticoids, by suppressing RANKL, may have a role in treating bone loss due to aggressive osteoclastogenesis.

Prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) has complex effects on airway tone, and the existence of four PGE(2) [E-prostanoid (EP)] receptors, each with distinct signaling characteristics, has provided a possible explanation for the seemingly contradictory actions of this lipid mediator. To identify the receptors mediating the actions of PGE(2) on bronchomotor tone, we examined its effects on the airways of wild-type and EP receptor-deficient mice. In conscious mice the administration of PGE(2) increased airway responsiveness primarily through the EP1 receptor, although on certain genetic backgrounds a contribution of the EP3 receptor was detected. These effects of PGE(2) were eliminated by pretreatment with either atropine or bupivacaine and were undetectable in anesthetized mice or in denervated tracheal rings, where only EP2-mediated relaxation of airway smooth muscle was observed. Together, our findings are consistent with a model in which PGE(2) modulates airway tone by activating multiple receptors expressed on various cell populations and in which the relative contribution of these receptors might depend on the expression of modifier alleles. PGE(2)/EP1/EP3-induced airway constriction occurs indirectly through activation of neural pathways, whereas PGE(2)-induced bronchodilation results from direct activation of EP2 receptors on airway smooth muscle. This segregation of EP receptor function within the airway suggests that PGE(2) analogs that selectively activate the EP2 receptor without activating the EP1/EP3 receptors might prove useful in the treatment of asthma.