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Genomes are affected by a wide range of damage, which has resulted in the evolution of a number of widely conserved DNA repair pathways. Most of these repair reactions have been described in the African trypanosome Trypanosoma brucei, which is a genetically tractable eukaryotic microbe and important human and animal parasite, but little work has considered how the DNA damage response operates throughout the T. brucei life cycle. Using quantitative PCR we have assessed damage induction and repair in both the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes of the parasite. We show differing kinetics of repair for three forms of DNA damage, and dramatic differences in repair between replicative life cycle forms found in the testse fly midgut and the mammal. We find that mammal-infective T. brucei cells repair oxidative and crosslink-induced DNA damage more efficiently than tsetse-infective cells and, moreover, very distinct patterns of induction and repair of DNA alkylating damage in the two life cycle forms. We also reveal robust repair of DNA lesions in the highly unusual T. brucei mitochondrial genome (the kinetoplast). By examining mutants we show that nuclear alkylation damage is repaired by the concerted action of two repair pathways, and that Rad51 acts in kinetoplast repair. Finally, we correlate repair with cell cycle arrest and cell growth, revealing that induced DNA damage has strikingly differing effects on the two life cycle stages, with distinct timing of alkylation-induced cell cycle arrest and higher levels of damage induced death in mammal-infective cells. Our data reveal that T. brucei regulates the DNA damage response during its life cycle, a capacity that may be shared by many microbial pathogens that exist in variant environments during growth and transmission.

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The mini tomato production has expanded, becoming an amazing alternative for enterprise. Despite all commercial potential, the cultivation has the occurrence of pests as main obstacle during the crop development. Nowadays, there are no researches that aimed obtaining genotypes with high acylsugar content, capable of providing a broad-spectrum resistance to pests. This study aimed the selection of mini tomato genotypes, with high acylsugar content, and checking the resistance level to the silverleaf whitefly [Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius)] and to the two-spotted spider mites (Tetranychus urticae Koch). Sixteen genotypes were evaluated, from which 12 were on the generation F2BC1, originated from the interespecific cross between Solanum pennellii versus Solanum lycopersicum L. and 4 were check treatments, being three of cultivated tomatos (cv. Santa Clara, UFU-02, and UFU-73) and the wild accession LA-716 (S. pennellii). The variables analyzed were acylsugar content, repellency to the silverleaf whitefly, repellence to the two-spotted spider mites, and density of glandular trichomes. The genotypes UFU-22-F2BC1#9 and UFU-73-F2BC1#11 have high acylsugar content and both are resistant to the pests that were evaluated. New studies must be conducted seeking for inbred lines, obtained from the selected genotypes, aiming to get commercial hybrids with high acylsugar content.

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BACKGROUND: The presence of lipids in alveolar macrophages (AMs) may impair their phagocytic response, and determine airway inflammation and obstruction. OBJECTIVE: To determine the factors such as severity of asthma, chronic cough, airway inflammation and obesity that may influence the presence of lipids in lung macrophages. METHODS: Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was obtained from 38 asthmatics (21 severe and 17 mild/moderate), 16 subjects with chronic cough and 11 healthy control subjects. The presence of lipids in macrophages was detected using an Oil-red-O stain and an index of lipid-laden macrophages (LLMI) was obtained. RESULTS: LLMI scores were higher in healthy subjects (median 48 [IQR 10-61]) and the severe asthma group (37 [11.5-61]) compared to mild/moderate asthmatics (7 [0.5-37]; p < 0.05 each). Subjects reporting a history of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) had higher LLMI values (41.5 [11.3-138] versus 13 [0-39.3], p = 0.02). There was no significant correlation between LLMI and chronic cough, BAL cell differential counts, FEV1, FEV1/FVC or body mass index (BMI). CONCLUSIONS: The reduced LLMI in mild/moderate asthma may be related to lower incidence of GORD. However, this was not related to the degree of airflow obstruction, obesity or airway inflammation.

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Cats with orthopedic conditions are a prominent part of the clinical work of veterinary. Conditions such as comminuted fractures, bone tumors and non-unions are often difficult to repair and may require the use of bone grafts for treatment. This study evaluated cortical bone allografts preserved in honey, frozen or lyophilized for correcting long bone defects created in the diaphysis of the right femur of domestic cats (n=24). In the control group (n=6), the defect was repaired using autogenous cortical bone graft. In the remaining animals (n=6/group), the defect was repaired with cortical bone allografts preserved in honey, frozen or lyophilized. Success of graft incorporation and length of time for consolidation were assessed through clinical, radiographic and histological evaluations performed up to 180 days. In the control, frozen, honey and lyophylized groups, respectively, success of graft incorporation was 91.6%, 83.3%, 75%, and 25%, with corresponding mean length of time for consolidation of 83.1, 78, 105 and 120 days. Incorporation percentage in the lyophilized group was significantly lower than in the frozen and control groups. In conclusion, bone grafts preserved in honey or frozen were effective for repairing cortical defects in the femurs of cats as compared to autogenous cortical bone grafts.

Afecções ortopédicas em gatos são frequentes, podendo-se encontrar fraturas cominutivas, neoplasias ósseas ou não-uniões de fraturas. Uma opção para o tratamento dessas afecções é a utilização de enxerto ou implante ósseo. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar implantes ósseos corticais alógenos conservados em mel, congelados ou liofilizados na substituição de segmento diafisário do fêmur de felinos. Foi confeccionada uma falha óssea na diáfise do fêmur de 24 felinos. Em seis felinos a falha foi preenchida com o próprio osso removido e nos outros 18 animais, com implantes ósseos corticais alógenos conservados em mel, congelados ou liofilizados. Os animais foram avaliados clínica, radiográfica e histologicamente durante 180 dias. A incorporação foi de 91,6% no grupo controle, com tempo médio para consolidação de 83,1 dias; no mel foi de 75%, com tempo médio de 105 dias; no congelado foi de 83,3% com tempo médio de 78 dias e no liofilizado foi de 25%, com tempo médio de 120 dias. A porcentagem de consolidação foi significativamente menor no grupo liofilizado em relação aos grupos congelado e controle. É possível concluir que os implantes ósseos autógenos e os conservados no mel e congelados são eficazes no preenchimento de defeito cortical em fêmur de felinos.

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The treatment of malignant or benign colorectal pathologies that require more complex management are priorities in tertiary hospitals such as "Hospital das Clínicas" University of São Paulo Medical Center (HCFMUSP). Therefore, benign, uncomplicated orifice conditions are relegated to second place. The number of patients with hemorrhoids, perianal fistulas, fissures, condylomas and pilonidal cysts who seek treatment at the HFMUSP is very great, resulting in over-crowding in the outpatient clinics and a long waiting list for recommended surgical treatment (at times over 18 months). The authors describe the experience of the HCFMUSP over an eight-day period with day-hospital surgery in which 140 patients underwent surgery. Data was prospectively taken on the patients undergoing surgery for benign orifice pathologies including age, sex, diagnosis, surgery performed, immediate and late postoperative complications, and follow-up, 140 patients operated on over eight days were studied, 68 were males (48.75%) with ages ranging from 25 to 62 (mean 35.2 yrs.). Hemorrhoids was the most frequent condition encountered (82 hemorrhoidectomies, 58.6%), followed by perineal fistula (28 fistula repairs, 20.0%). The most common complication was headache secondary to rachianesthesia occurring in 9 patients (6.4%). One patient (0.7%) developed bleeding immediately PO that required reoperation. Mean follow-up was 104 days. Day-surgery characterized by quality care and low morbidity is feasible in tertiary public hospitals, permitting surgery for benign orifice pathologies on many patients within a short period of time.

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Being quality an updated concept in several productive sectors, we have tried to study this concept in nursing service environment at the patient's point of view. For reaching this goal, a questionnaire has been made upon which 45 Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre interned patients have produced their opinions. It has been shown that generally speaking, the nursing service has been satisfactory although there is some critic from some clients and improvement could be worked out.

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