RESUMO
Biological data on development of Hermetia illucens (Linnaeus, 1758) is useful to calculate the postmortem interval (PMI), thus being important for solving crimes. We aimed at gathering bionomic information on H. illucens, during the decomposition of a Sus scrofa, in the urban zone of Manaus, Amazonas State. Mature females and eggs were collected on the swine carcass. After hatching under natural conditions, larvae were observed daily. Different instars were fixed in ethylic alcohol to determine instar duration by the evaluation of the frequency distribution of cephalic capsule measurements and the principal components analysis (PCA). Females laid 620-700 eggs per posture in concealed locations preferentially, such as cranial cavities and slots on the metal cage. The larvae were found under the swine skin and on bones. After feeding, the larvae of H. illucens began to move slowly to pupate, did not seek for drier sites to do it, and buried themselves into the carcass instead. Pupae were observed as of the 60th day after death. H. illucens completed its life cycle in 53-82 d, which encompassed six larval instars and the pupa. About 93% of the eggs hatched, 11% reached the adult stage and the sex ratio was 0.49. Our results are complementary to the biological information of this species in Central Amazon, since most of the data were not known yet. This should render PMI calculation more accurate, even for corpses in advanced decomposition stages, as H. illucens spends relatively more time on the carcasses than most dipterans.
Assuntos
Dípteros/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Cadeia Alimentar , Estágios do Ciclo de Vida , Animais , Brasil , Cadáver , Larva/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Pupa/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Razão de Masculinidade , Sus scrofaRESUMO
Information on biomass is substantial for calculating growth rates and may be employed in the medicolegal and economic importance of Hermetia illucens (Linnaeus, 1758). Although biomass is essential to understanding many ecological processes, it is not easily measured. Biomass may be determined by directly weighing or indirectly through regression models of fresh/dry mass versus body dimensions. In this study, we evaluated the association between morphometry and fresh/dry mass of immature H. illucens using linear, exponential, and power regression models. We measured width and length of the cephalic capsule, overall body length, and width of the largest abdominal segment of 280 larvae. Overall body length and width of the largest abdominal segment were the best predictors for biomass. Exponential models best fitted body dimensions and biomass (both fresh and dry), followed by power and linear models. In all models, fresh and dry biomass were strongly correlated (>75%). Values estimated by the models did not differ from observed ones, and prediction power varied from 27 to 79%. Accordingly, the correspondence between biomass and body dimensions should facilitate and motivate the development of applied studies involving H. illucens in the Amazon region.
Assuntos
Peso Corporal , Dípteros/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Larva/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Animais , SuínosRESUMO
The emergent pathogen Candida glabrata differs from other yeasts because it assimilates only two sugars, glucose and the disaccharide trehalose. Since rapid identification tests are based on the ability of this yeast to rapidly hydrolyze trehalose, in this work a biochemical and molecular characterization of trehalose catabolism by this yeast was performed. Our results show that C. glabrata consumes and ferments trehalose, with parameters similar to those observed during glucose fermentation. The presence of glucose in the medium during exponential growth on trehalose revealed extracellular hydrolysis of the sugar by a cell surface acid trehalase with a pH optimum of 4.4. Approximately â¼30% of the total enzymatic activity is secreted into the medium during growth on trehalose or glycerol. The secreted enzyme shows an apparent molecular mass of 275 kDa in its native form, but denaturant gel electrophoresis revealed a protein with â¼130 kDa, which due to its migration pattern and strong binding to concanavalin A, indicates that it is probably a dimeric glycoprotein. The secreted acid trehalase shows high affinity and activity for trehalose, with Km and Vmax values of 3.4 mM and 80 U (mg protein)(-1), respectively. Cloning of the CgATH1 gene (CAGLOK05137g) from de C. glabrata genome, a gene showing high homology to fungal acid trehalases, allowed trehalose fermentation after heterologous expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
Assuntos
Candida glabrata , Fermentação , Trealase/metabolismo , Trealose/metabolismo , Candida glabrata/genética , Candida glabrata/metabolismo , Regulação Fúngica da Expressão Gênica , Glucose/metabolismo , Glicoproteínas/metabolismo , Saccharomyces cerevisiae/genética , Saccharomyces cerevisiae/metabolismo , Trealase/genéticaRESUMO
This study investigated the correlation between KIT gene expression determined by immunohistochemistry and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and the rate of tumour recurrence and tumour-related deaths in dogs affected with mast cell tumour (MCT). Kaplan-Meier curves were constructed to compare tumour recurrence and tumour-related death between patients. The log-rank test was used to check for significant differences between curves. KIT-I, KIT-II and KIT-III staining patterns were observed in 9 (11.11%), 50 (61.73%) and 22 (27.16%) tumours, respectively. Tumour recurrence rates and tumour-related deaths were not associated with KIT staining patterns (P = 0278, P > 0.05), KIT (P = 0.289, P > 0.05) or KIT ligand (P = 0.106, P > 0.05) gene expression. Despite the lack of association between KIT staining pattern and patient survival time, the results suggest a correlation between aberrant KIT localization and increased proliferative activity of MCTs. RT-PCR seems to be a sensible method for quantitative detection of KIT gene expression in canine MCT, although expressions levels are not correlated with prognosis.
Assuntos
Doenças do Cão/metabolismo , Imuno-Histoquímica/veterinária , Mastocitoma/veterinária , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase em Tempo Real/veterinária , Neoplasias Cutâneas/veterinária , Fator de Células-Tronco/metabolismo , Animais , Biomarcadores Tumorais , Doenças do Cão/patologia , Cães , Regulação Neoplásica da Expressão Gênica , Mastocitoma/metabolismo , Mastocitoma/patologia , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas c-kit/genética , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas c-kit/metabolismo , Neoplasias Cutâneas/metabolismo , Neoplasias Cutâneas/patologia , Fator de Células-Tronco/genéticaRESUMO
Hepatitis Delta virus (HDV) is endemic worldwide, but its prevalence varies in different geographical areas. While in the Brazilian Amazon, HDV is known to be endemic and to represent a significant public health problem, few studies have assessed its prevalence in other regions in the country. This study evaluated the seroprevalence of HDV among HBsAg chronic carriers from Maranhão state, a region located in the Northeast of Brazil. Among 133 patients, 5 had anti-HD, of whom 3 had HDV RNA. HDV genotypes were characterized by Bayesian phylogenetic analysis of nucleotide sequences from the HDAg coding region. HDV-3 was identified in one patient who lives in Maranhão, but was born in Amazonas state (Western Amazon basin). Phylogenetic analysis shows that this HDV-3 sequence grouped with other HDV-3 sequences isolated in this state, which suggests that the patient probably contracted HDV infection there. Surprisingly, the other two patients were infected with HDV-8, an African genotype. These patients were born and have always lived in Urbano Santos, a rural county of Maranhão state, moreover they had never been to Africa and denied any contact with people from that continent. This is the first description of the HDV-8 in non-native African populations. This genotype may have been introduced to Brazil through the slaves brought to the country from the West Africa regions during the 16-18th centuries. Our results indicate that the need of clinical and epidemiological studies to investigate the presence of this infection in other areas in Brazil.
Assuntos
Doenças Endêmicas , Hepatite D/epidemiologia , Hepatite D/virologia , Vírus Delta da Hepatite/classificação , Vírus Delta da Hepatite/isolamento & purificação , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Brasil/epidemiologia , Análise por Conglomerados , Feminino , Genótipo , Anticorpos Anti-Hepatite/sangue , Antígenos de Superfície da Hepatite B/sangue , Vírus Delta da Hepatite/genética , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Filogenia , RNA Viral/genética , RNA Viral/isolamento & purificação , Análise de Sequência de DNA , Estudos Soroepidemiológicos , Adulto JovemRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Interferon regulatory factor 6 (IRF6) gene has emerged as a potential susceptibility gene for non-syndromic cleft lip and/or palate (NSCL/P) in different populations. The aim of this study was to determine the association of IRF6 rs2235371 and rs642961 polymorphisms with NSCL/P in a Brazilian population. METHODS: Two hundred and twenty-eight patients affected by NSCL/P and 126 healthy individuals were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assay. RESULTS: Overall genotype distributions of rs2235371 and rs642961 polymorphisms were as expected by Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium test. The rs2235371 polymorphic genotype GA was identified in 10.1% of the patients with NSCL/P and in 10.3% of the control group, revealing no statistical difference. Similarly, the frequency of rs642961 minor genotypes (GA and AA) was quite similar between control group (28.6%) and NSCL/P group (25.4%), without significant difference. CONCLUSION: Our findings are consistent with a lack of involvement of IRF6 rs2235371 and rs642961 polymorphisms in the NSCL/P pathogenesis in the Brazilian population.
Assuntos
Fenda Labial/genética , Fissura Palatina/genética , Fatores Reguladores de Interferon/genética , Polimorfismo Genético/genética , Adenina , Alelos , Brasil , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Frequência do Gene , Predisposição Genética para Doença/genética , Genótipo , Guanina , Haplótipos , Humanos , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase , Polimorfismo de Fragmento de Restrição/genéticaRESUMO
INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to investigate the oral colonization profile of Candida albicans strains isolated from diabetic patients and their non-diabetic consorts. In addition hydrolytic enzyme activity of these isolates was analysed. METHODS: The genetic diversity of C. albicans oral isolates from 52 couples was established using isoenzyme marker and cluster analysis. Hydrolytic enzyme characteristics, namely secreted aspartyl proteinases (SAPs) and phospholipases (PLs) were also analysed. RESULTS: Simultaneous colonization by C. albicans was observed in the consorts of 12 couples (23.1%). Patterns of monoclonal and polyclonal oral colonization by C. albicans strains were identified and the coexistence of identical or highly related strains was observed in both members of eight couples. The genetic diversity observed in the total yeast population revealed four large, genetically distinct groups (A to D) and the coexistence of strains in couples or consorts conjugally unrelated. SAP and PL activity was observed in the majority of C. albicans isolates without any association to particular strain, strain clusters (highly related isolates), or clinical characteristics of the consorts (diabetic, non-diabetic, and gender). CONCLUSION: Possible sources of transmission and oral propagation of groups (clusters) of strains of C. albicans can occur between diabetic and non-diabetic consorts. A conjugal genotypic identity exists in most C. albicans-positive couples, that is, both consorts share identical or highly related strains; however, this identity is not couple-specific as seen by the coexistence of clusters in couples and unrelated consorts.
Assuntos
Ácido Aspártico Proteases/metabolismo , Candida albicans/enzimologia , Candida albicans/genética , Candidíase Bucal/microbiologia , Complicações do Diabetes , Fosfolipases/metabolismo , Adulto , Idoso , Alelos , Candidíase Bucal/complicações , Candidíase Bucal/transmissão , Análise por Conglomerados , Transmissão de Doença Infecciosa , Eletroforese/métodos , Feminino , Variação Genética , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Especificidade da Espécie , Cônjuges , VirulênciaRESUMO
Staphylococcus aureus belongs to the normal flora of the skin, mucosa and nasopharynx of several animal species, including man, but it is also associated to illnesses such as abscesses, bacteremia, endocarditis and osteomyelitis, besides showing resistance to multiple drugs. The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the disinfecting ability of ozone when dissolved in water. Suspensions of Staphylococcus aureus with concentrations varying from 10(6) to 10(16) microorganisms/ml were prepared. One milliliter of each recently prepared suspension was added to 99 ml of distilled water (with or without previous ozonization) contained in a crystal reactor. Aliquots of 0.1 ml of this new suspension were taken at various time intervals and, then, serially diluted and inoculated on plaques. The data indicated that there was difference in the disinfecting effect when distilled water was used with and without previous ozonization.
Assuntos
Ozônio/farmacologia , Staphylococcus aureus/efeitos dos fármacos , Esterilização , Soluções Farmacêuticas , ÁguaRESUMO
Exploiting the biolistic process we have generated stable transgenic bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) plants with unlinked and linked foreign genes. Co-transformation was conducted using plasmid constructions containing a fusion of the gus and neo genes, which were co-introduced with the methionine-rich 2S albumin gene isolated from the Brazil nut and the antisense sequence of AC1, AC2, AC3 and BC1 genes from the bean golden mosaic geminivirus. The results revealed a co-transformation frequency ranging from 40% to 50% when using unlinked genes and 100% for linked genes. The introduced foreign genes were inherited in a Mendelian fashion in most of the transgenic bean lines. PCR and Southern blot hybridization confirmed the integration of the foreign genes in the plant genome.
RESUMO
PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of urapidil (a new central and peripheral antihypertensive agent) in patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension. METHODS: Thirty-one patients were randomized, double-blindly, to receive either placebo (15 patients) or urapidil (16 patients) for 3 months. The initial dose of urapidil was 30mg twice daily, per oral. The dose was increased progressively till achievement of good blood pressure control or the dose of 60mg three times a day. RESULTS: Seventy percent of the patients on urapidil group responded to therapy against 30% on the placebo group. There were 3 cases of hypertensive crises (2 on urapidil and 1 on placebo) on the early therapy. The adverse events with urapidil were unfrequent and the most common were headache and dizziness. There were no modification on blood sugar and lipids level. CONCLUSION: Urapidil appears to be a safe antihypertensive agent in the treatment of mild to moderate essential hypertension. It also did not demonstrate any clinical effect on the carbohydrates and lipids profile.
Assuntos
Anti-Hipertensivos/uso terapêutico , Pressão Sanguínea/efeitos dos fármacos , Hipertensão/tratamento farmacológico , Piperazinas/uso terapêutico , Adulto , Idoso , Método Duplo-Cego , Feminino , Humanos , Hipertensão/fisiopatologia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-IdadeRESUMO
PURPOSE: To evaluate the left ventricular hypertrophy correlation with blood pressure variability during day and night time as well as throughout the 24h period. METHODS: Fifteen patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension underwent to bi-dimensional echocardiographic study and to 24h ambulatory blood pressure monitorization. Left ventricular mass was calculated according to previous validated formulas. The standard deviation of the mean blood pressures during day-time, night-time and 24h period was taken as blood pressure variability indices. The mean age of the group was 42 years old; 9 patients were male and all were white. RESULTS: This study showed that only the systolic and diastolic blood pressure variability during the 24h period correlated significantly with left ventricular mass, (r = 0.53 and p < 0.05; r = 0.58 and p < 0.05 respectively). There was no significant correlation of the day-time and night-time pressures variability with left ventricular mass. CONCLUSION: The systolic and diastolic blood pressure variability during the 24h period may be one of the many determinants of left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with mild to moderate hypertension.
Assuntos
Pressão Sanguínea/fisiologia , Hipertensão/fisiopatologia , Hipertrofia Ventricular Esquerda/fisiopatologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Criança , Estudos Transversais , Diástole , Eletrocardiografia Ambulatorial , Feminino , Humanos , Hipertrofia Ventricular Esquerda/etiologia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Sístole , Fatores de TempoRESUMO
High yields of viable protoplasts were obtained by enzymatic treatment from cotyledonary leaves of various greenhouse grown Phaseolus vulgaris L. cultivars. The protoplasts divided and formed cell clusters in a liquid medium. Early transfer before 10 days in the same medium was necessary for the development of cell colonies. When transferred to solid medium, the colonies gave rise to proliferating green calli. Deep green patches developed on these calli but failed to form shoots.