BACKGROUND Skin wounds are common injuries that affect quality of life and incur high costs.A considerable portion of healthcare resources in Western countries is allocated to wound treatment,mainly using mechanical,b...BACKGROUND Skin wounds are common injuries that affect quality of life and incur high costs.A considerable portion of healthcare resources in Western countries is allocated to wound treatment,mainly using mechanical,biological,or artificial dressings.Biological and artificial dressings,such as hydrogels,are preferred for their biocompatibility.Platelet concentrates,such as platelet-rich plasma(PRP)and platelet-rich fibrin(PRF),stand out for accelerating tissue repair and minimizing risks of allergies and rejection.This study developed PRF and PRP-based dressings to treat skin wounds in an animal model,evaluating their functionality and efficiency in accelerating the tissue repair process.AIM To develop wound dressings based on platelet concentrates and evaluating their efficiency in treating skin wounds in Wistar rats.METHODS Wistar rats,both male and female,were subjected to the creation of a skin wound,distributed into groups(n=64/group),and treated with Carbopol(negative control);PRP+Carbopol;PRF+Carbopol;or PRF+CaCl_(2)+Carbopol,on days zero(D0),D3,D7,D14,and D21.PRP and PRF were obtained only from male rats.On D3,D7,D14,and D21,the wounds were analyzed for area,contraction rate,and histopathology of the tissue repair process.RESULTS The PRF-based dressing was more effective in accelerating wound closure early in the tissue repair process(up to D7),while PRF+CaCl_(2) seemed to delay the process,as wound closure was not complete by D21.Regarding macroscopic parameters,animals treated with PRF+CaCl_(2) showed significantly more crusting(necrosis)early in the repair process(D3).In terms of histopathological parameters,the PRF group exhibited significant collagenization at the later stages of the repair process(D14 and D21).By D21,fibroblast proliferation and inflammatory infiltration were higher in the PRP group.Animals treated with PRF+CaCl_(2) experienced a more pronounced inflammatory response up to D7,which diminished from D14 onwards.CONCLUSION The PRF-based dressing was effective in accelerating the closure of cutaneous wounds in Wistar rats early in the process and in aiding tissue repair at the later stages.展开更多
Vocal individuality is essential for social discrimination but has been poorly studied in animals that produce communal signals(duets or choruses).Song overlapping and temporal coordination make the assessment of indi...Vocal individuality is essential for social discrimination but has been poorly studied in animals that produce communal signals(duets or choruses).Song overlapping and temporal coordination make the assessment of individuality in communal signals more complex.In addition,selection may favor the accurate identifcation of pairs over individuals by receivers in year-round territorial species with duetting and long-term pair bonding.Here,we studied pair and individual vocal signatures in the polyphonal duets of rufous horneros Furnarius rufus,a Neotropical bird known for its long-term pair bonds.Hornero partners engage in duets to deter territorial intruders and protect their partnership year-round and can discern duets from neighbors versus strangers.Using a dataset of 471 duets from 43 pairs in 2 populations,we measured fne-scale acoustic features across different duet levels(e.g.,complete duets to non-overlapping syllable parts)and analysis levels(pair or individual).Permuted linear discriminant function analyses classifed pairs and individuals more accurately than expected by chance(means:45%and 47%vs.4 and 2%).Pair identity explained more variance in the multivariate acoustic features of duets than individual or population identities.The initial frequency of the duet showed strong potential for encoding pair identity.The acoustic traits contributing most to individual vocal signatures varied between sexes,which might facilitate the simultaneous assessment of duetters’identities by receivers.Our study indicates that vocal individuality may exist even in species with intricate and innate communal signals and elucidates the mechanisms employed by horneros in their social discrimination ability.展开更多
As hydropower development expands across lowland tropical forests,flooding and concomitant insular fragmentation have become important threats to biodiversity.Newly created insular landscapes serve as natural laborato...As hydropower development expands across lowland tropical forests,flooding and concomitant insular fragmentation have become important threats to biodiversity.Newly created insular landscapes serve as natural laboratories to investigate biodiversity responses to fragmentation.One of these most iconic landscapes is the Balbina Hydroelectric Reservoir in Brazilian Amazonia,occupying>400000 ha and comprising>3500 forest islands.Here,we synthesise the current knowledge on responses of a wide range of biological groups to insular fragmentation at Balbina.Sampling has largely concentrated on a set of 22 islands and three mainland sites.In total,39 studies were conducted over nearly two decades,covering 17 vertebrate,invertebrate,and plant taxa.Although species responses varied according to taxonomic group,island area was consistently included and played a pivotal role in 66.7%of all studies examining patterns of species diversity.Species persistence was further affected by species traits,mostly related to species capacity to use/traverse the aquatic matrix or tolerate habitat degradation,as noted for species of vertebrates and orchid bees.Further research is needed to improve our understanding of such effects on wider ecosystem functioning.Environmental Impact Assessments must account for changes in both the remaining habitat amount and configuration,and subsequent long-term species losses.展开更多
Hydropower development has become an important driver of habitat loss and fragmentation across lowland tropical forests.Despite ample evidence on the detrimental effects of insular habitat fragmentation on biodiversit...Hydropower development has become an important driver of habitat loss and fragmentation across lowland tropical forests.Despite ample evidence on the detrimental effects of insular habitat fragmentation on biodiversity,invertebrate taxa,that may be critical to ecosystem functioning,have been overlooked.We assessed the assemblage-level responses of social wasps to forest insularization induced by the Balbina Hydroelectric Dam in Central Brazilian Amazonia.Employing Malaise trapping,we captured wasps on 27 forest islands and three continuous forests.We constructed Generalized Linear Models and employed a model selection approach to examine the impact of local variables(fire severity(FIRE)and basal area of pioneer tree species(PIONEER))and landscape-scale variables(amount of habitat(COVER))on patterns of species richness,composition,and body size of wasps.A total of 374 individuals(29 species)were collected across all sampling sites.COVER was the main predictor of species richness,while PIONEER was the only variable that explained variation in community composition,with a negative effect on body size.Our results add evidence to the pervasive impacts of large hydroelectric dams on tropical forest biodiversity,and suggest that social wasps,among other invertebrates,can be used as bioindicators in infrastructure development projects.展开更多
Particulate organic matter(POM)is an important energy source for aquatic consumers,understanding its origin and composition is essential for understanding the energetic dynamics of aquatic environments.The aim of this...Particulate organic matter(POM)is an important energy source for aquatic consumers,understanding its origin and composition is essential for understanding the energetic dynamics of aquatic environments.The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between POM and phytoplankton(isotopic values and chlorophyll concentration)and abiotic variables during dry and rainy seasons.Sampling was conducted in rivers and lagoons in the floodplain of the Upper ParanáRiver.We found a greater difference in ^(δ13)C values of POM between sampling points than between seasons,indicating that the composition of regional sources influences the composition of POM more than dry and rainy seasons.In addition,the concentration of chlorophyll during the dry season was positively correlated with ^(δ13)C values during that rainy period.Additionally,we found a relationship between factors limiting the growth of phytoplankton and ^(δ13)C values of POM,such as phosphate ions,indicating that variables that regulate phytoplankton growth tend to influence the composition of POM in river floodplains.Therefore,maintaining the variables that regulate the phytoplankton community is of fundamental importance for the composition of POM,an important energy source in aquatic environments.展开更多
Forest-grassland mosaics comprise a major component of tropical landscapes,hosting invaluable biodiversity and providing essential ecosystem services to hundreds of millions of people worldwide.While open biomes often...Forest-grassland mosaics comprise a major component of tropical landscapes,hosting invaluable biodiversity and providing essential ecosystem services to hundreds of millions of people worldwide.While open biomes often benefit from disturbance,forests can particularly be susceptible to structural changes resulting from such disruptions.Here we evaluate the influence of fire on the structure and landscape properties within natural forest islands immersed in a matrix of megadiverse montane grasslands.We conducted this study in 15 forest islands located in southeastern Brazil,assessing its fire frequency,intensity,and post-fire time over an eleven-year period from January 2012 to December 2022.Our results show that fire frequency is linked to soil characteristics and the percentage of herbaceous cover within the forest islands.We also found that the post-fire time is related to the percentage cover of the forest islands’associated herbs and shrubs.However,neither fire frequency,intensity,nor post-fire time was connected to significant changes in plant species richness,abundance,or in the upper vegetation strata(tree species richness and abundance,and canopy cover)in the interior of the forest islands.Furthermore,these fire-related variables did not result in temporal changes in the forest island’s canopy variation or landscape metrics.Our results underscore a low fire frequency and intensity within our study area,potentially explaining the limited fire-associated impact,and primarily on the lower vegetation strata.Despite acknowledging the relative stability of these forest islands under current fire regimes,we suggest further studies that can experimentally manipulate not only fire but also other anthropic disturbances for understanding the temporal dynamics of the forest islands and,consequently,their preservation.This perspective is indispensable for comprehensively understanding the ecological consequences of anthropogenic disturbances in natural forest islands.展开更多
Ground penetrating radar (GPR) surveys have being applied to investigate very near-surface stratification of sedimentary units in coastal plains and to define their depositional conditions. This paper presents, howeve...Ground penetrating radar (GPR) surveys have being applied to investigate very near-surface stratification of sedimentary units in coastal plains and to define their depositional conditions. This paper presents, however, low-frequency GPR survey to investigate fault-related depositional systems at greater depths. The Quinta-Cassino area in the Rio Grande do Sul Coastal Plain (RGSCP, Brazil) shows a wide strandplain that is made off by very long, continuous, and linear geomorphic features (beach ridges). This strandplain extends for ~70 km southward. The beach ridges show low-angle truncations against the Quinta escarpment, and also truncations in the strandplain. The traditional approach points that RGSCP was developed by juxtaposition of four lagoons/barrier systems as consequence of sea level changes;previous model assumes that no deformational episode occurred in RGSCP. The geophysical and geological surveys carried out in this area showed the existence of listric fault controlling the beach ridges in the escarpments and hanging-wall blocks. The radargrams could distinguish Pleistocene basement unit anticlockwise rotation, thickening of beach ridges radarfacies close to listric normal faults, and horst structures. These deformational features indicate that the extensional zone of a large-scale gravity-driven structure controlled the mechanical subsidence, the Holocene sedimentation and its stratigraphic and geomorphic features in the Quinta-Cassino area to build up an asymmetric delta. The results point to a new approach in dealing with RGSCP Holocene evolution.展开更多
BACKGROUND Due to saliva and salivary glands are reservoir to severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2),aerosols and saliva droplets are primary sources of cross-infection and are responsible for the...BACKGROUND Due to saliva and salivary glands are reservoir to severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2),aerosols and saliva droplets are primary sources of cross-infection and are responsible for the high human–human transmission of SARS-CoV-2.However,there is no evidence about how SARSCoV-2 interacts with oral structures,particularly resin composites.AIM To evaluate the interaction of SARS-CoV-2 proteins with monomers present in resin composites using in silico analysis.METHODS Four SARS-CoV-2 proteins[i.e.main protease,3C-like protease,papain-like protease(PLpro),and glycoprotein spike]were selected along with salivary amylase as the positive control,and their binding affinity with bisphenol-A glycol dimethacrylate,bisphenol-A ethoxylated dimethacrylate,triethylene glycol dimethacrylate,and urethane dimethacrylate was evaluated.Molecular docking was performed using AutoDock Vina and visualised in Chimera UCSF 1.14.The best ligand–protein model was identified based on the binding energy(ΔG–kcal/moL).RESULTS Values for the binding energies ranged from-3.6 kcal/moL to-7.3 kcal/moL.The 3-monomer chain had the lowest binding energy(i.e.highest affinity)to PLpro and the glycoprotein spike.Non-polymerised monomers and polymerised chains interacted with SARS-CoV-2 proteins via hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions.Those findings suggest an interaction between SARS-CoV-2 proteins and resin composites.CONCLUSION SARS-CoV-2 proteins show affinity to non-polymerised and polymerised resin composite chains.展开更多
Roads are a leading cause of habitat fragmentation and may reduce bird populations by increasing nest predation rates.However,few studies have investigated the effects of traffic volume on the reproductive success of ...Roads are a leading cause of habitat fragmentation and may reduce bird populations by increasing nest predation rates.However,few studies have investigated the effects of traffic volume on the reproductive success of roadside birds in the neotropics.Our goal was to evaluate the effects of spatial,temporal,and vehicle flow variations on the survival of artificial open-cup nests.The study was carried out in a nature reserve on the side of a highway during the breeding season(from October to March)in two restinga(sand-coastal plain)phytophysiognomies in southeastern Brazil:non-floodable(open)and floodable(closed).One hundred thirty nests were distributed along transects ranging from 3 m to 300 m from the highway in each vegetation type(totaling 260 nests).The nests were checked every three days for their status(depredated or intact)over 12 days,and new nests were subsequently placed near sampling points of depredated or successful nests.We estimated survival using logistic exposure generalized linear and additive mixed models.At the end of the 180 days of the experiment,33%of 6202 nests were successful.Nest survival was higher in open restinga than in closed restinga.In both habitats,nest survival was lowest mid-season and highest at the beginning and end.Survival rates peaked near the highway,declined up to 50 m away,then showed a slight increase.Finally,survival increased at moderate-to-high traffic volumes(∼22,000 vehicles/day),particularly in open restinga.We suggest that spatial,temporal,and habitat-specific highway impacts(e.g.,noise,vibration,visual stimuli)can lead to variations in the activity of nest predators,generating fluctuations in nest survival associated with predator behavior.展开更多
Network analysis is a powerful tool to identify key species for the stability of ecological communities.For endangered species like Fernseea itatiaiae,understanding its role within the network is vital for revealing h...Network analysis is a powerful tool to identify key species for the stability of ecological communities.For endangered species like Fernseea itatiaiae,understanding its role within the network is vital for revealing how interactions with pollinators influence its reproductive success and vulnerability.This insight is crucial for conservation strategies.Thus,the community context revealed by interaction networks can inform conservation strategies for threatened species.The ornithophilous bromeliad Fernseea itatiaiae(Wawra)Baker is restricted to the Itatiaia Plateau(southeast Brazil)and is assessed as endangered(EN).Fernseea itatiaiae and 14 other plant species have floral morphology related to hummingbird pollination(ornithophily),serving as floral resources for hummingbirds in the area.We used a field monitoring experiment to assess how the phenology and availability of conspecific and heterospecific ornithophilous floral resources at the community level affect the pollination of F.itatiaiae.We measured the fruit set,seed production(from controlled pollination experiments)and total amount of pollen deposited on stigmas as proxies of F.itatiaiae reproductive success and related it to the community context(monthly abundance of conspecific and ornithophilous flowers,floral display,presence of ornithophilous neighbors).The results showed overlapping flowering peaks of some ornithophilous plant species(Buddleja speciosissima and Gaultheria serrata)with F.itatiaiae.The species with the strongest interactions with shared hummingbirds were Fuchsia regia,F.itatiaiae,and Buddleja speciosissima,based on the relative frequency of hummingbird visitation per hour.Additionally,we found that,although the floral community context had no direct significant influence on the pollination success of F.itatiaiae,its reproductive success depended directly on the presence of hummingbirds.This dependence on pollinators suggests that the conservation of F.itatiaiae may rely not only on measures targeting the species itself,but also on broader effort to protect the ecological interactions that sustain the local pollination network.展开更多
Objectives:Glioblastoma(GB)is a grade IV glial tumor characterized by high malignancy and dismal prognosis,primarily due to high recurrence rates and therapeutic resistance.The epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR),a...Objectives:Glioblastoma(GB)is a grade IV glial tumor characterized by high malignancy and dismal prognosis,primarily due to high recurrence rates and therapeutic resistance.The epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR),a receptor tyrosine kinase(RTK),regulates signaling pathways,including cell growth,proliferation,survival,migration,and cell death.Many cancers utilize immune checkpoints(ICs)to attenuate immune responses.CD73 is an enzyme that functions as an IC by hydrolyzing AMP to adenosine,suppressing immune cells in the tumor microenvironment.However,the role of CD73 in resistance to EGFR inhibitors is poorly understood.This study aims to elucidate the resistance mechanisms induced by anti-EGFR treatment and to evaluate an anti-CD73 approach to overcome resistance mediated by anti-EGFR monotherapy.Methods:The U251 GB cell line was treated with AG1478,an EGFR inhibitor,and the resistance markers MRP-1,PD-L1,and CD73 were evaluated using flow cytometry.Additionally,we assessed the combination effects of AG1478 and APCP(an EGFR and a CD73 inhibitor,respectively)on cell cycle progression,proliferation,apoptosis,and migration in vitro.Results:We observed high EGFR,PD-L1,and CD73 expression in human GB cells.The treatment with AG1478 increased the expression of resistance markers MRP-1,PD-L1,and CD73,whereas it decreased CTLA-4.The combination of AG1478 and APCP did not alter proliferation or apoptosis but interfered with cell cycling,arresting the cells in the G1 phase,decreasing cell motility and partially reversing MRP-1 overexpression.Conclusion:In summary,our findings indicate that CD73 inhibition has a modest effect in overcoming resistance to EGFR monotherapy in vitro.Thus,further in vivo studies are needed,as the inhibition of both EGFR and CD73 affects cells in the tumor microenvironment and could potentially enhance anti-tumor immunity.展开更多
Sexual selection is thought to play a major role in the evolution of color due to the correlation between a signaler’s physiological state and the displayed color.As such,researchers often investigate how color corre...Sexual selection is thought to play a major role in the evolution of color due to the correlation between a signaler’s physiological state and the displayed color.As such,researchers often investigate how color correlates to the quality of the signaler.However,research on the relationship between color and individual quality is often taxonomically limited and researchers typically investigate how color phenotypes relate to one index of quality,such as a linear measure of body size.Here,we investigated the relationship among body size,claw size,claw muscle mass,lipid content,and the color of the claw in male fiddler crabs(Leptuca uruguayensis)which wield an exaggerated claw that varies in color from brown to red.We hypothesized that if the color was correlated to one or more indices of male quality,the color displayed on the claws of male L.uruguayensis could be under sexual selection.We found L.uruguayensis claw color varies substantially among the individuals we photographed.However,we did not find a correlation between claw color and indices of quality;neither brightness nor hue correlated to the indices of quality we measured.Our findings suggest that claw color in L.uruguayensis is unlikely to have evolved to signal quality,but may instead function as a species identity or as a non-indicator sexual signal.展开更多
Obesity is associated with several diseases,including mental health.Adipose tissue is distributed around the internal organs,acting in the regulation of metabolism by storing and releasing fatty acids and adipokine in...Obesity is associated with several diseases,including mental health.Adipose tissue is distributed around the internal organs,acting in the regulation of metabolism by storing and releasing fatty acids and adipokine in the tissues.Excessive nutritional intake results in hypertrophy and proliferation of adipocytes,leading to local hypoxia in adipose tissue and changes in these adipokine releases.This leads to the recruitment of immune cells to adipose tissue and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines.The presence of high levels of free fatty acids and inflammatory molecules interfere with intracellular insulin signaling,which can generate a neuroinflammatory process.In this review,we provide an up-to-date discussion of how excessive obesity can lead to possible cognitive dysfunction.We also address the idea that obesity-associated systemic inflammation leads to neuroinflammation in the brain,particularly the hypothalamus and hippocampus,and that this is partially responsible for these negative cognitive outcomes.In addition,we discuss some clinical models and animal studies for obesity and clarify the mechanism of action of anti-obesity drugs in the central nervous system.展开更多
A growing body of evidence has suggested that the imbalance of epigenetic markers and oxidative stress appears to be involved in the pathophysiology and progression of stroke.Thus,strategies that modulate these biomar...A growing body of evidence has suggested that the imbalance of epigenetic markers and oxidative stress appears to be involved in the pathophysiology and progression of stroke.Thus,strategies that modulate these biomarkers might be considered targets for neuroprotection and novel therapeutic opportunities for these patients.Physical exercise has been reported to induce changes in these epigenetic markers and improve clinical outcomes in different populations.However,little is reported on this in post-stroke patients.The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a single exercise session with WalkAide functional electrical stimulation(FES)on cognitive performance,clinical functional parameters,oxidative stress and epigenetic modulation in post-stroke individuals.In this crossover design study,12 post-stroke individuals aged 54–72 years of either sexes were included and subjected to a single session of exercise(45 minutes)without WalkAide functional electrical stimulation(EXE alone group),followed by another single session of exercise(45 minutes)with WalkAide functional electrical stimulation(EXE+FES group).The clinical functional outcome measures,cognitive performance and blood collections for biomarker measurements were assessed pre-and post-intervention.After intervention,higher Berg Balance Scale scores were obtained in the EXE+FES group than in the EXE alone group.There was no significant difference in the Timed Up and Go test results post-intervention between EXE alone and EXE+FES groups.After intervention,a better cognitive performance was found in both groups compared with before the intervention.After intervention,the Timed Up and Go test scores were higher in the EXE+FES group than in the EXE alone group.In addition,the intervention induced lower levels of lipid peroxidation.After intervention,carbonyl level was lower,superoxide dismutase activity and superoxide dismutase/catalase activity ratio were higher in the EXE+FES group,compared with the EXE group alone.In each group,both histone deacetylase(HDAC2)and histone acetyltransferase activities were increased after intervention compared with before the intervention.These findings suggest that a single exercise session with WalkAide FES is more effective on balance ability and cognitive performance compared with conventional exercise alone in post-stroke patients.This is likely to be related to the regulation of oxidative stress markers.The present study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Methodist University Center-IPA(approval No.2.423.376)on December 7,2017 and registered in the Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials—ReBEC(RBR-9phj2q)on February 11,2019.展开更多
Epigenetic changes have been shown to be associated with both aging process and aging-related diseases.There is evidence regarding the benefits of physical activity on the functionality,cognition,and quality of life o...Epigenetic changes have been shown to be associated with both aging process and aging-related diseases.There is evidence regarding the benefits of physical activity on the functionality,cognition,and quality of life of institutionalized older adults,however,the molecular mechanisms involved are not elucidated.The purpose of this pilot study was to investigate the effects of a multimodal exercise intervention on functional outcomes,cognitive performance,quality of life(QOL),epigenetic markers and brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF)levels among institutionalized older adult individuals.Participants(n=8)without dementia who were aged 73.38±11.28 years and predominantly female(87.5%)were included in this quasi-experimental pilot study.A multimodal exercise protocol(cardiovascular capacity,strength,balance/agility andflexibility,perception and cognition)consisted of twice weekly sessions(60 minutes each)over 8 weeks.Balance(Berg Scale),mobility(Timed Up and Go test),functional capacity(Six-Minute Walk test),cognitive function(Mini-Mental State Examination)and QOL(the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF Scale questionnaire)were evaluated before and after the intervention.Blood sample(15 mL)was also collected before and after intervention for analysis of biomarkers global histone H3 acetylation and brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels.Significant improvements were observed in cognitive function,balance,mobility,functional capacity and QOL after the intervention.In addition,a tendency toward an increase in global histone H3 acetylation levels was observed,while brain-derived neurotrophic factor level remained unchanged.This study provided evidence that an 8-week multimodal exercise protocol has a significant effect on ameliorating functional outcomes and QOL in institutionalized older adult individuals.In addition,it was also able to promote cognitive improvement,which seems to be partially related to histone hyperacetylation status.The Ethics Research Committee of Centro Universitário Metodista-IPA,Brazil approved the current study on June 6,2019(approval No.3.376.078).展开更多
AIM:To investigate the association between human papillomavirus(HPV)and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC)in southern Brazil.METHODS:We studied 189 esophageal samples from125 patients from three different groups...AIM:To investigate the association between human papillomavirus(HPV)and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC)in southern Brazil.METHODS:We studied 189 esophageal samples from125 patients from three different groups:(1)102 biopsies from 51 patients with ESCC,with one sample from the tumor and another from normal esophageal mucosa distant from the tumor;(2)50 esophageal biopsies from 37 patients with a previous diagnosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma(HNSCC);and(3)37 biopsies from esophageal mucosa with normal appearance from 37 dyspeptic patients,not exposed to smoking or alcohol consumption.Nested-polymerase chain reaction(PCR)with the MY09/11 and GP5/6 L1primers was used to detect HPV L1 in samples fixed in formalin and stored in paraffin blocks.All PCR reactions were performed with a positive control(cervicovaginal samples),with a negative control(Human Genomic DNA)and with a blank reaction containing all reagents except DNA.We took extreme care to prevent DNA contamination in sample collection,processing,and testing.RESULTS:The histological biopsies confirmed the diagnosis of ESCC in 52 samples(51 from ESCC group and 1 from the HNSCC group)and classified as well differentiated(12/52,23.1%),moderately differentiated(27/52,51.9%)or poorly differentiated(7/52,13.5%).One hundred twenty-eight esophageal biopsies were considered normal(51 from the ESCC group,42 from the HNSCC group and 35 from dyspeptic patients).Nine had esophagitis(7 from the HNSCC and 2 from dyspeptic patients).Of a total of 189 samples,only 6 samples had insufficient material for PCR analysis:1 from mucosa distant from the tumor in a patient with ESCC,3from patients with HNSCC and 2 from patients without cancer.In 183 samples(96.8%)GAPDH,G3PDH and/orβ-globin were amplified,thus indicating the adequacy of the DNA in those samples.HPV DNA was negative in all the 183 samples tested:52 with ESCC,9 with esophagitis and 122 with normal esophageal mucosa.CONCLUSION:There was no evidence of HPV infection in different ESCC from southern Brazil.展开更多
Metabolic syndrome(MetS)might be defined as the simultaneous accumulation of s everal functional changes that frequently occur in adults over 60 years of age(Gomez et al.,2018).The diagnosis of MetS requires the prese...Metabolic syndrome(MetS)might be defined as the simultaneous accumulation of s everal functional changes that frequently occur in adults over 60 years of age(Gomez et al.,2018).The diagnosis of MetS requires the presence of three or more factors such as high body mass,type-2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM),dyslipidemia,and arterial hypertension,which increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases as well as neurological complications,as stroke and dementia(Dyken and Lacoste,2018).Usually,these functional changes coincide and result in insensitivity for example hormones as leptin,adiponectin,and insulin(Dyken and Lacoste,2018).展开更多
Objective: Although Angelica archangelica is a medicinal and aromatic plant with a long history of use for both medicinal and food purposes, there are no studies regarding the antineoplastic activity of its root.This ...Objective: Although Angelica archangelica is a medicinal and aromatic plant with a long history of use for both medicinal and food purposes, there are no studies regarding the antineoplastic activity of its root.This study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxicity and antitumor effects of the crude extract of A. archangelica root(CEAA) on breast cancer.Methods: The cytotoxicity of CEAA against breast adenocarcinoma cells(4T1 and MCF-7) was evaluated by a 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide(MTT) assay. Morphological and biochemical changes were detected by Hoechst 33342/propidium iodide(PI) and annexin V/PI staining. Cytosolic calcium mobilization was evaluated in cells staining with FURA-4 NW. Immunoblotting was used to determine the effect of CEAA on anti-and pro-apoptotic proteins(Bcl-2 and Bax, respectively).The 4 T1 cell-challenged mice were used for in vivo assay.Results: Using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis, angelicin, a constituent of the roots and leaves of A. archangelica, was found to be the major constituent of the CEAA evaluated in this study(73 mg/mL). The CEAA was cytotoxic for both breast cancer cell lines studied but not for human fibroblasts. Treatment of 4 T1 cells with the CEAA increased Bax protein levels accompanied by decreased Bcl-2 expression, in the presence of cleaved caspase-3 and cytosolic calcium mobilization, suggesting mitochondrial involvement in breast cancer cell death induced by the CEAA in this cell line. No changes on the Bcl-2/Bax ratio were observed in CEAA-treated MCF7 cells. Gavage administration of the CEAA(500 mg/kg) to 4T1 cell-challenged mice significantly decreased tumor growth when compared with untreated animals.Conclusion: Altogether, our data show the antitumor potential of the CEAA against breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Further research is necessary to better elucidate the pharmacological application of the CEAA in breast cancer therapy.展开更多
文摘BACKGROUND Skin wounds are common injuries that affect quality of life and incur high costs.A considerable portion of healthcare resources in Western countries is allocated to wound treatment,mainly using mechanical,biological,or artificial dressings.Biological and artificial dressings,such as hydrogels,are preferred for their biocompatibility.Platelet concentrates,such as platelet-rich plasma(PRP)and platelet-rich fibrin(PRF),stand out for accelerating tissue repair and minimizing risks of allergies and rejection.This study developed PRF and PRP-based dressings to treat skin wounds in an animal model,evaluating their functionality and efficiency in accelerating the tissue repair process.AIM To develop wound dressings based on platelet concentrates and evaluating their efficiency in treating skin wounds in Wistar rats.METHODS Wistar rats,both male and female,were subjected to the creation of a skin wound,distributed into groups(n=64/group),and treated with Carbopol(negative control);PRP+Carbopol;PRF+Carbopol;or PRF+CaCl_(2)+Carbopol,on days zero(D0),D3,D7,D14,and D21.PRP and PRF were obtained only from male rats.On D3,D7,D14,and D21,the wounds were analyzed for area,contraction rate,and histopathology of the tissue repair process.RESULTS The PRF-based dressing was more effective in accelerating wound closure early in the tissue repair process(up to D7),while PRF+CaCl_(2) seemed to delay the process,as wound closure was not complete by D21.Regarding macroscopic parameters,animals treated with PRF+CaCl_(2) showed significantly more crusting(necrosis)early in the repair process(D3).In terms of histopathological parameters,the PRF group exhibited significant collagenization at the later stages of the repair process(D14 and D21).By D21,fibroblast proliferation and inflammatory infiltration were higher in the PRP group.Animals treated with PRF+CaCl_(2) experienced a more pronounced inflammatory response up to D7,which diminished from D14 onwards.CONCLUSION The PRF-based dressing was effective in accelerating the closure of cutaneous wounds in Wistar rats early in the process and in aiding tissue repair at the later stages.
基金P.D.and P.S.A.received Ph.D.scholarships from Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior(CAPES)(Finance Code 001)P.D.received a Postdoctoral fellowship from CAPES(grant number:88887.469218/2019-00)+4 种基金R.H.M.received a fellowship from Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científco e Tecnológico(CNPq)for the duration of the study.Funding was also provided by Animal Behavior Society[ABS Student Research Grant to P.S.A.]Association of Field Ornithologists[E.Alexander Bergstrom Memorial Research Award to P.S.A.]American Ornithological Society[Postdoctoral Research Award to P.D.]the logistic and fnancial support provided by Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia from Universidade de Brasília in association with Programa de Excelência Acadêmica PROEX/CAPES(1789/2015)the fnancial support provided by CNPq(471945/2013-7).
文摘Vocal individuality is essential for social discrimination but has been poorly studied in animals that produce communal signals(duets or choruses).Song overlapping and temporal coordination make the assessment of individuality in communal signals more complex.In addition,selection may favor the accurate identifcation of pairs over individuals by receivers in year-round territorial species with duetting and long-term pair bonding.Here,we studied pair and individual vocal signatures in the polyphonal duets of rufous horneros Furnarius rufus,a Neotropical bird known for its long-term pair bonds.Hornero partners engage in duets to deter territorial intruders and protect their partnership year-round and can discern duets from neighbors versus strangers.Using a dataset of 471 duets from 43 pairs in 2 populations,we measured fne-scale acoustic features across different duet levels(e.g.,complete duets to non-overlapping syllable parts)and analysis levels(pair or individual).Permuted linear discriminant function analyses classifed pairs and individuals more accurately than expected by chance(means:45%and 47%vs.4 and 2%).Pair identity explained more variance in the multivariate acoustic features of duets than individual or population identities.The initial frequency of the duet showed strong potential for encoding pair identity.The acoustic traits contributing most to individual vocal signatures varied between sexes,which might facilitate the simultaneous assessment of duetters’identities by receivers.Our study indicates that vocal individuality may exist even in species with intricate and innate communal signals and elucidates the mechanisms employed by horneros in their social discrimination ability.
基金supported byÁreas Protegidas da Amazônia(ARPA)Amazonas Distribuidora de Energia S.A.,and Associação Comunidade Waimiri Atroari+4 种基金Rufford Foundation(grant number 13675-1)the Conservation Food and Health Foundation,and Idea WildNational Geographic Society grant(NGS-93497C-22)awarded to CAP.I.J is funded through a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship(MR/T019018/1)M.B received a productivity grant from CNPq(304189/2022-7)European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the grant agreement No.854248(TROPIBIO)。
文摘As hydropower development expands across lowland tropical forests,flooding and concomitant insular fragmentation have become important threats to biodiversity.Newly created insular landscapes serve as natural laboratories to investigate biodiversity responses to fragmentation.One of these most iconic landscapes is the Balbina Hydroelectric Reservoir in Brazilian Amazonia,occupying>400000 ha and comprising>3500 forest islands.Here,we synthesise the current knowledge on responses of a wide range of biological groups to insular fragmentation at Balbina.Sampling has largely concentrated on a set of 22 islands and three mainland sites.In total,39 studies were conducted over nearly two decades,covering 17 vertebrate,invertebrate,and plant taxa.Although species responses varied according to taxonomic group,island area was consistently included and played a pivotal role in 66.7%of all studies examining patterns of species diversity.Species persistence was further affected by species traits,mostly related to species capacity to use/traverse the aquatic matrix or tolerate habitat degradation,as noted for species of vertebrates and orchid bees.Further research is needed to improve our understanding of such effects on wider ecosystem functioning.Environmental Impact Assessments must account for changes in both the remaining habitat amount and configuration,and subsequent long-term species losses.
基金supported by a NERC grant to C.A.P.(NE/J01401X/1)a Science Without Borders postdoctoral fellowship awarded to D.S.(CNPq grant 246975/2012-1)+1 种基金M.B.received a productivity grant from CNPq(304189/2022-7)supported by the inaugural Frontiers Planet Prize。
文摘Hydropower development has become an important driver of habitat loss and fragmentation across lowland tropical forests.Despite ample evidence on the detrimental effects of insular habitat fragmentation on biodiversity,invertebrate taxa,that may be critical to ecosystem functioning,have been overlooked.We assessed the assemblage-level responses of social wasps to forest insularization induced by the Balbina Hydroelectric Dam in Central Brazilian Amazonia.Employing Malaise trapping,we captured wasps on 27 forest islands and three continuous forests.We constructed Generalized Linear Models and employed a model selection approach to examine the impact of local variables(fire severity(FIRE)and basal area of pioneer tree species(PIONEER))and landscape-scale variables(amount of habitat(COVER))on patterns of species richness,composition,and body size of wasps.A total of 374 individuals(29 species)were collected across all sampling sites.COVER was the main predictor of species richness,while PIONEER was the only variable that explained variation in community composition,with a negative effect on body size.Our results add evidence to the pervasive impacts of large hydroelectric dams on tropical forest biodiversity,and suggest that social wasps,among other invertebrates,can be used as bioindicators in infrastructure development projects.
基金Supported by the Research Nucleus in LimnologyIchthyology and Aquaculture (NUPELIA) for logistic support+4 种基金the Laboratory of Energetic Ecology and the Long-term Ecological Research Program (PELD/CNPq)Site 6-PIAP (upper ParanáRiver floodplain)PROEXUEMand Fundação Araucária for the scholarship
文摘Particulate organic matter(POM)is an important energy source for aquatic consumers,understanding its origin and composition is essential for understanding the energetic dynamics of aquatic environments.The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between POM and phytoplankton(isotopic values and chlorophyll concentration)and abiotic variables during dry and rainy seasons.Sampling was conducted in rivers and lagoons in the floodplain of the Upper ParanáRiver.We found a greater difference in ^(δ13)C values of POM between sampling points than between seasons,indicating that the composition of regional sources influences the composition of POM more than dry and rainy seasons.In addition,the concentration of chlorophyll during the dry season was positively correlated with ^(δ13)C values during that rainy period.Additionally,we found a relationship between factors limiting the growth of phytoplankton and ^(δ13)C values of POM,such as phosphate ions,indicating that variables that regulate phytoplankton growth tend to influence the composition of POM in river floodplains.Therefore,maintaining the variables that regulate the phytoplankton community is of fundamental importance for the composition of POM,an important energy source in aquatic environments.
基金supported by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development(CNPq)(PELD-441515/2016-9)Minas Gerais State Research Foundation(FAPEMIG)for the funding of the long-term ecological research"PELD Campos Rupestres da Serra do Cipó",and by the Bio-Bridge Initiative(BBI)/CDB-Cascading Long Term Effects of Fire on Savanna Biodiversity in the Southern Hemisphere,Brazil and Namibia for providing additional resources to carry out the study.JK thanks the INCT EECBio(Ecologia,Evolução e Conservação da Biodiversidade)and CNPq for a postdoctoral grant(380009/2023-4)+3 种基金YO thanks Fapemig for her postdoctoral grant(APQ 0031-19)FC thanks CAPES,and FAPEMIG for postdoctoral grants.FSN and GWF thank CNPq for the fellowship grant.DRM thanks CNPq(311002/2023-4)for fundingBSSF and BDA thank Fapemig.RA and LA thanks FONCyT(PICT 2019-1897).EF thanks BBI(UN Environment Programme).APL and BRS thank Fapemig(APQ 0031-19)TLSB thanks CAPES and CNPq.FFG thanks PPBio and FINEP for a postdoctoral grant(01.20.0201.00).
文摘Forest-grassland mosaics comprise a major component of tropical landscapes,hosting invaluable biodiversity and providing essential ecosystem services to hundreds of millions of people worldwide.While open biomes often benefit from disturbance,forests can particularly be susceptible to structural changes resulting from such disruptions.Here we evaluate the influence of fire on the structure and landscape properties within natural forest islands immersed in a matrix of megadiverse montane grasslands.We conducted this study in 15 forest islands located in southeastern Brazil,assessing its fire frequency,intensity,and post-fire time over an eleven-year period from January 2012 to December 2022.Our results show that fire frequency is linked to soil characteristics and the percentage of herbaceous cover within the forest islands.We also found that the post-fire time is related to the percentage cover of the forest islands’associated herbs and shrubs.However,neither fire frequency,intensity,nor post-fire time was connected to significant changes in plant species richness,abundance,or in the upper vegetation strata(tree species richness and abundance,and canopy cover)in the interior of the forest islands.Furthermore,these fire-related variables did not result in temporal changes in the forest island’s canopy variation or landscape metrics.Our results underscore a low fire frequency and intensity within our study area,potentially explaining the limited fire-associated impact,and primarily on the lower vegetation strata.Despite acknowledging the relative stability of these forest islands under current fire regimes,we suggest further studies that can experimentally manipulate not only fire but also other anthropic disturbances for understanding the temporal dynamics of the forest islands and,consequently,their preservation.This perspective is indispensable for comprehensively understanding the ecological consequences of anthropogenic disturbances in natural forest islands.
文摘Ground penetrating radar (GPR) surveys have being applied to investigate very near-surface stratification of sedimentary units in coastal plains and to define their depositional conditions. This paper presents, however, low-frequency GPR survey to investigate fault-related depositional systems at greater depths. The Quinta-Cassino area in the Rio Grande do Sul Coastal Plain (RGSCP, Brazil) shows a wide strandplain that is made off by very long, continuous, and linear geomorphic features (beach ridges). This strandplain extends for ~70 km southward. The beach ridges show low-angle truncations against the Quinta escarpment, and also truncations in the strandplain. The traditional approach points that RGSCP was developed by juxtaposition of four lagoons/barrier systems as consequence of sea level changes;previous model assumes that no deformational episode occurred in RGSCP. The geophysical and geological surveys carried out in this area showed the existence of listric fault controlling the beach ridges in the escarpments and hanging-wall blocks. The radargrams could distinguish Pleistocene basement unit anticlockwise rotation, thickening of beach ridges radarfacies close to listric normal faults, and horst structures. These deformational features indicate that the extensional zone of a large-scale gravity-driven structure controlled the mechanical subsidence, the Holocene sedimentation and its stratigraphic and geomorphic features in the Quinta-Cassino area to build up an asymmetric delta. The results point to a new approach in dealing with RGSCP Holocene evolution.
文摘BACKGROUND Due to saliva and salivary glands are reservoir to severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2),aerosols and saliva droplets are primary sources of cross-infection and are responsible for the high human–human transmission of SARS-CoV-2.However,there is no evidence about how SARSCoV-2 interacts with oral structures,particularly resin composites.AIM To evaluate the interaction of SARS-CoV-2 proteins with monomers present in resin composites using in silico analysis.METHODS Four SARS-CoV-2 proteins[i.e.main protease,3C-like protease,papain-like protease(PLpro),and glycoprotein spike]were selected along with salivary amylase as the positive control,and their binding affinity with bisphenol-A glycol dimethacrylate,bisphenol-A ethoxylated dimethacrylate,triethylene glycol dimethacrylate,and urethane dimethacrylate was evaluated.Molecular docking was performed using AutoDock Vina and visualised in Chimera UCSF 1.14.The best ligand–protein model was identified based on the binding energy(ΔG–kcal/moL).RESULTS Values for the binding energies ranged from-3.6 kcal/moL to-7.3 kcal/moL.The 3-monomer chain had the lowest binding energy(i.e.highest affinity)to PLpro and the glycoprotein spike.Non-polymerised monomers and polymerised chains interacted with SARS-CoV-2 proteins via hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions.Those findings suggest an interaction between SARS-CoV-2 proteins and resin composites.CONCLUSION SARS-CoV-2 proteins show affinity to non-polymerised and polymerised resin composite chains.
基金supports were provided by the Concessionária Rodovia do Sol/SA(RodoSol)the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico(CNPq,grant:45.6446/2014/1)+2 种基金the São Paulo Research Foundation(FAPESP,Process Number#2024/13237-3)PD received a postdoctoral fellowship from the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior(CAPES,grant:88887.469218/2019-00)CD is grateful to CNPq(Bolsa de Produtividade em Pesquisa,grant:308997/2023-9).
文摘Roads are a leading cause of habitat fragmentation and may reduce bird populations by increasing nest predation rates.However,few studies have investigated the effects of traffic volume on the reproductive success of roadside birds in the neotropics.Our goal was to evaluate the effects of spatial,temporal,and vehicle flow variations on the survival of artificial open-cup nests.The study was carried out in a nature reserve on the side of a highway during the breeding season(from October to March)in two restinga(sand-coastal plain)phytophysiognomies in southeastern Brazil:non-floodable(open)and floodable(closed).One hundred thirty nests were distributed along transects ranging from 3 m to 300 m from the highway in each vegetation type(totaling 260 nests).The nests were checked every three days for their status(depredated or intact)over 12 days,and new nests were subsequently placed near sampling points of depredated or successful nests.We estimated survival using logistic exposure generalized linear and additive mixed models.At the end of the 180 days of the experiment,33%of 6202 nests were successful.Nest survival was higher in open restinga than in closed restinga.In both habitats,nest survival was lowest mid-season and highest at the beginning and end.Survival rates peaked near the highway,declined up to 50 m away,then showed a slight increase.Finally,survival increased at moderate-to-high traffic volumes(∼22,000 vehicles/day),particularly in open restinga.We suggest that spatial,temporal,and habitat-specific highway impacts(e.g.,noise,vibration,visual stimuli)can lead to variations in the activity of nest predators,generating fluctuations in nest survival associated with predator behavior.
基金the Minas Gerais State Research Support Foundation(FAPEMIG)for the master's scholarship.MW thanks CNPq(Process 436335/2018-2)PJB thanks FAPERJ(Process E-26/201.867/2020).
文摘Network analysis is a powerful tool to identify key species for the stability of ecological communities.For endangered species like Fernseea itatiaiae,understanding its role within the network is vital for revealing how interactions with pollinators influence its reproductive success and vulnerability.This insight is crucial for conservation strategies.Thus,the community context revealed by interaction networks can inform conservation strategies for threatened species.The ornithophilous bromeliad Fernseea itatiaiae(Wawra)Baker is restricted to the Itatiaia Plateau(southeast Brazil)and is assessed as endangered(EN).Fernseea itatiaiae and 14 other plant species have floral morphology related to hummingbird pollination(ornithophily),serving as floral resources for hummingbirds in the area.We used a field monitoring experiment to assess how the phenology and availability of conspecific and heterospecific ornithophilous floral resources at the community level affect the pollination of F.itatiaiae.We measured the fruit set,seed production(from controlled pollination experiments)and total amount of pollen deposited on stigmas as proxies of F.itatiaiae reproductive success and related it to the community context(monthly abundance of conspecific and ornithophilous flowers,floral display,presence of ornithophilous neighbors).The results showed overlapping flowering peaks of some ornithophilous plant species(Buddleja speciosissima and Gaultheria serrata)with F.itatiaiae.The species with the strongest interactions with shared hummingbirds were Fuchsia regia,F.itatiaiae,and Buddleja speciosissima,based on the relative frequency of hummingbird visitation per hour.Additionally,we found that,although the floral community context had no direct significant influence on the pollination success of F.itatiaiae,its reproductive success depended directly on the presence of hummingbirds.This dependence on pollinators suggests that the conservation of F.itatiaiae may rely not only on measures targeting the species itself,but also on broader effort to protect the ecological interactions that sustain the local pollination network.
基金supported by Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico(CNPq,n°406035/2021-0 and PQ n°311580/2021-1,FigueiróF)Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia-INCT/CNPq/CAPES/FAPERGS Grant no.465671/2014-4Jean Sévigny received support from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada(NSERC,RGPIN-2023-05498).
文摘Objectives:Glioblastoma(GB)is a grade IV glial tumor characterized by high malignancy and dismal prognosis,primarily due to high recurrence rates and therapeutic resistance.The epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR),a receptor tyrosine kinase(RTK),regulates signaling pathways,including cell growth,proliferation,survival,migration,and cell death.Many cancers utilize immune checkpoints(ICs)to attenuate immune responses.CD73 is an enzyme that functions as an IC by hydrolyzing AMP to adenosine,suppressing immune cells in the tumor microenvironment.However,the role of CD73 in resistance to EGFR inhibitors is poorly understood.This study aims to elucidate the resistance mechanisms induced by anti-EGFR treatment and to evaluate an anti-CD73 approach to overcome resistance mediated by anti-EGFR monotherapy.Methods:The U251 GB cell line was treated with AG1478,an EGFR inhibitor,and the resistance markers MRP-1,PD-L1,and CD73 were evaluated using flow cytometry.Additionally,we assessed the combination effects of AG1478 and APCP(an EGFR and a CD73 inhibitor,respectively)on cell cycle progression,proliferation,apoptosis,and migration in vitro.Results:We observed high EGFR,PD-L1,and CD73 expression in human GB cells.The treatment with AG1478 increased the expression of resistance markers MRP-1,PD-L1,and CD73,whereas it decreased CTLA-4.The combination of AG1478 and APCP did not alter proliferation or apoptosis but interfered with cell cycling,arresting the cells in the G1 phase,decreasing cell motility and partially reversing MRP-1 overexpression.Conclusion:In summary,our findings indicate that CD73 inhibition has a modest effect in overcoming resistance to EGFR monotherapy in vitro.Thus,further in vivo studies are needed,as the inhibition of both EGFR and CD73 affects cells in the tumor microenvironment and could potentially enhance anti-tumor immunity.
基金funded by Fundacao de Amparoà Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo(process no:2016/22679-3)funded through an undergraduate student scholarship for scientific research provided by Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico(CNPq,process no:144202/2018-2).
文摘Sexual selection is thought to play a major role in the evolution of color due to the correlation between a signaler’s physiological state and the displayed color.As such,researchers often investigate how color correlates to the quality of the signaler.However,research on the relationship between color and individual quality is often taxonomically limited and researchers typically investigate how color phenotypes relate to one index of quality,such as a linear measure of body size.Here,we investigated the relationship among body size,claw size,claw muscle mass,lipid content,and the color of the claw in male fiddler crabs(Leptuca uruguayensis)which wield an exaggerated claw that varies in color from brown to red.We hypothesized that if the color was correlated to one or more indices of male quality,the color displayed on the claws of male L.uruguayensis could be under sexual selection.We found L.uruguayensis claw color varies substantially among the individuals we photographed.However,we did not find a correlation between claw color and indices of quality;neither brightness nor hue correlated to the indices of quality we measured.Our findings suggest that claw color in L.uruguayensis is unlikely to have evolved to signal quality,but may instead function as a species identity or as a non-indicator sexual signal.
基金supported by the Brazilian funding agencies CNPq,and FUNDECT (to LM)
文摘Obesity is associated with several diseases,including mental health.Adipose tissue is distributed around the internal organs,acting in the regulation of metabolism by storing and releasing fatty acids and adipokine in the tissues.Excessive nutritional intake results in hypertrophy and proliferation of adipocytes,leading to local hypoxia in adipose tissue and changes in these adipokine releases.This leads to the recruitment of immune cells to adipose tissue and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines.The presence of high levels of free fatty acids and inflammatory molecules interfere with intracellular insulin signaling,which can generate a neuroinflammatory process.In this review,we provide an up-to-date discussion of how excessive obesity can lead to possible cognitive dysfunction.We also address the idea that obesity-associated systemic inflammation leads to neuroinflammation in the brain,particularly the hypothalamus and hippocampus,and that this is partially responsible for these negative cognitive outcomes.In addition,we discuss some clinical models and animal studies for obesity and clarify the mechanism of action of anti-obesity drugs in the central nervous system.
基金This work was supported by Fundação de AmparoàPesquisa do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul(FAPERGS)/BrazilandConselhoNacional de DesenvolvimentoCientífico e Tecnológico–CNPq/Brazil.
文摘A growing body of evidence has suggested that the imbalance of epigenetic markers and oxidative stress appears to be involved in the pathophysiology and progression of stroke.Thus,strategies that modulate these biomarkers might be considered targets for neuroprotection and novel therapeutic opportunities for these patients.Physical exercise has been reported to induce changes in these epigenetic markers and improve clinical outcomes in different populations.However,little is reported on this in post-stroke patients.The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a single exercise session with WalkAide functional electrical stimulation(FES)on cognitive performance,clinical functional parameters,oxidative stress and epigenetic modulation in post-stroke individuals.In this crossover design study,12 post-stroke individuals aged 54–72 years of either sexes were included and subjected to a single session of exercise(45 minutes)without WalkAide functional electrical stimulation(EXE alone group),followed by another single session of exercise(45 minutes)with WalkAide functional electrical stimulation(EXE+FES group).The clinical functional outcome measures,cognitive performance and blood collections for biomarker measurements were assessed pre-and post-intervention.After intervention,higher Berg Balance Scale scores were obtained in the EXE+FES group than in the EXE alone group.There was no significant difference in the Timed Up and Go test results post-intervention between EXE alone and EXE+FES groups.After intervention,a better cognitive performance was found in both groups compared with before the intervention.After intervention,the Timed Up and Go test scores were higher in the EXE+FES group than in the EXE alone group.In addition,the intervention induced lower levels of lipid peroxidation.After intervention,carbonyl level was lower,superoxide dismutase activity and superoxide dismutase/catalase activity ratio were higher in the EXE+FES group,compared with the EXE group alone.In each group,both histone deacetylase(HDAC2)and histone acetyltransferase activities were increased after intervention compared with before the intervention.These findings suggest that a single exercise session with WalkAide FES is more effective on balance ability and cognitive performance compared with conventional exercise alone in post-stroke patients.This is likely to be related to the regulation of oxidative stress markers.The present study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Methodist University Center-IPA(approval No.2.423.376)on December 7,2017 and registered in the Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials—ReBEC(RBR-9phj2q)on February 11,2019.
文摘Epigenetic changes have been shown to be associated with both aging process and aging-related diseases.There is evidence regarding the benefits of physical activity on the functionality,cognition,and quality of life of institutionalized older adults,however,the molecular mechanisms involved are not elucidated.The purpose of this pilot study was to investigate the effects of a multimodal exercise intervention on functional outcomes,cognitive performance,quality of life(QOL),epigenetic markers and brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF)levels among institutionalized older adult individuals.Participants(n=8)without dementia who were aged 73.38±11.28 years and predominantly female(87.5%)were included in this quasi-experimental pilot study.A multimodal exercise protocol(cardiovascular capacity,strength,balance/agility andflexibility,perception and cognition)consisted of twice weekly sessions(60 minutes each)over 8 weeks.Balance(Berg Scale),mobility(Timed Up and Go test),functional capacity(Six-Minute Walk test),cognitive function(Mini-Mental State Examination)and QOL(the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF Scale questionnaire)were evaluated before and after the intervention.Blood sample(15 mL)was also collected before and after intervention for analysis of biomarkers global histone H3 acetylation and brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels.Significant improvements were observed in cognitive function,balance,mobility,functional capacity and QOL after the intervention.In addition,a tendency toward an increase in global histone H3 acetylation levels was observed,while brain-derived neurotrophic factor level remained unchanged.This study provided evidence that an 8-week multimodal exercise protocol has a significant effect on ameliorating functional outcomes and QOL in institutionalized older adult individuals.In addition,it was also able to promote cognitive improvement,which seems to be partially related to histone hyperacetylation status.The Ethics Research Committee of Centro Universitário Metodista-IPA,Brazil approved the current study on June 6,2019(approval No.3.376.078).
文摘AIM:To investigate the association between human papillomavirus(HPV)and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC)in southern Brazil.METHODS:We studied 189 esophageal samples from125 patients from three different groups:(1)102 biopsies from 51 patients with ESCC,with one sample from the tumor and another from normal esophageal mucosa distant from the tumor;(2)50 esophageal biopsies from 37 patients with a previous diagnosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma(HNSCC);and(3)37 biopsies from esophageal mucosa with normal appearance from 37 dyspeptic patients,not exposed to smoking or alcohol consumption.Nested-polymerase chain reaction(PCR)with the MY09/11 and GP5/6 L1primers was used to detect HPV L1 in samples fixed in formalin and stored in paraffin blocks.All PCR reactions were performed with a positive control(cervicovaginal samples),with a negative control(Human Genomic DNA)and with a blank reaction containing all reagents except DNA.We took extreme care to prevent DNA contamination in sample collection,processing,and testing.RESULTS:The histological biopsies confirmed the diagnosis of ESCC in 52 samples(51 from ESCC group and 1 from the HNSCC group)and classified as well differentiated(12/52,23.1%),moderately differentiated(27/52,51.9%)or poorly differentiated(7/52,13.5%).One hundred twenty-eight esophageal biopsies were considered normal(51 from the ESCC group,42 from the HNSCC group and 35 from dyspeptic patients).Nine had esophagitis(7 from the HNSCC and 2 from dyspeptic patients).Of a total of 189 samples,only 6 samples had insufficient material for PCR analysis:1 from mucosa distant from the tumor in a patient with ESCC,3from patients with HNSCC and 2 from patients without cancer.In 183 samples(96.8%)GAPDH,G3PDH and/orβ-globin were amplified,thus indicating the adequacy of the DNA in those samples.HPV DNA was negative in all the 183 samples tested:52 with ESCC,9 with esophagitis and 122 with normal esophageal mucosa.CONCLUSION:There was no evidence of HPV infection in different ESCC from southern Brazil.
文摘Metabolic syndrome(MetS)might be defined as the simultaneous accumulation of s everal functional changes that frequently occur in adults over 60 years of age(Gomez et al.,2018).The diagnosis of MetS requires the presence of three or more factors such as high body mass,type-2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM),dyslipidemia,and arterial hypertension,which increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases as well as neurological complications,as stroke and dementia(Dyken and Lacoste,2018).Usually,these functional changes coincide and result in insensitivity for example hormones as leptin,adiponectin,and insulin(Dyken and Lacoste,2018).
基金the Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior-Brasil (CAPES)FAPESPCNPq for the financial support
文摘Objective: Although Angelica archangelica is a medicinal and aromatic plant with a long history of use for both medicinal and food purposes, there are no studies regarding the antineoplastic activity of its root.This study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxicity and antitumor effects of the crude extract of A. archangelica root(CEAA) on breast cancer.Methods: The cytotoxicity of CEAA against breast adenocarcinoma cells(4T1 and MCF-7) was evaluated by a 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide(MTT) assay. Morphological and biochemical changes were detected by Hoechst 33342/propidium iodide(PI) and annexin V/PI staining. Cytosolic calcium mobilization was evaluated in cells staining with FURA-4 NW. Immunoblotting was used to determine the effect of CEAA on anti-and pro-apoptotic proteins(Bcl-2 and Bax, respectively).The 4 T1 cell-challenged mice were used for in vivo assay.Results: Using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis, angelicin, a constituent of the roots and leaves of A. archangelica, was found to be the major constituent of the CEAA evaluated in this study(73 mg/mL). The CEAA was cytotoxic for both breast cancer cell lines studied but not for human fibroblasts. Treatment of 4 T1 cells with the CEAA increased Bax protein levels accompanied by decreased Bcl-2 expression, in the presence of cleaved caspase-3 and cytosolic calcium mobilization, suggesting mitochondrial involvement in breast cancer cell death induced by the CEAA in this cell line. No changes on the Bcl-2/Bax ratio were observed in CEAA-treated MCF7 cells. Gavage administration of the CEAA(500 mg/kg) to 4T1 cell-challenged mice significantly decreased tumor growth when compared with untreated animals.Conclusion: Altogether, our data show the antitumor potential of the CEAA against breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Further research is necessary to better elucidate the pharmacological application of the CEAA in breast cancer therapy.
