RESUMO
Even though exhaustively studied, dormancy alleviation in diaspores of Urochloa humidicola (Rendle) Morrone & Zuloaga remains a mystery. To clarify this, we asked the following question: could dormancy alleviation in diaspores of this species be associated with ageing, GA/ABA balance and remaining structures of the panicoid spikelet? We answer this question using diaspores of U. humidicola cv. BRS Tupi as a biological model, a cultivar with a wide edaphoclimatic range in Neotropical areas and whose diaspores possess 'deep dormancy' when dispersed. We analysed both germination and early plant development using a split-plot model. Our findings demonstrate that dormancy alleviation in diaspores of U. humidicola is a synergic phenomenon driven by crosstalk between age, GA/ABA balance and remaining structures of the panicoid spikelet covering caryopses, since this interaction acts on the dynamics of germination and early plant development. We demonstrate that: (i) spreading germination time is a maternal survival mechanism of this species, which has repercussions for occupational aggressiveness of the species; (ii) remaining structures of the panicoid spikelet covering caryopses are the main modulator of embryo development. These structures control the after-ripening process, which is modulated by some molecular factor. We also highlight that it is necessary to review concepts about dormancy of dispersal units in this grass species.
Assuntos
Dormência de Plantas/fisiologia , Poaceae/fisiologia , Dispersão de Sementes , Ecologia , Germinação/fisiologia , Poaceae/anatomia & histologia , Sementes/anatomia & histologia , Sementes/fisiologia , Clima Tropical , Água/metabolismoRESUMO
In this study, the temperature and pressure of supercritical CO2 extraction were evaluated to obtain oleoresin of Brunfelsia uniflora leaves and flowers. The oleoresin compounds were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by three different methods. The highest oleoresin yields were 3.32% at 40°C and 200 bar for the leaves, and 1.03% at 60°C and 200 bar for the flowers. The main extracted compounds from leaves were phytol varying from 11.95 to 36.42% and α-tocopherol from 15.53 to 43.10%, and from flowers were geranyl linalool from 11.05 to 21.42% and α-amyrin from 9.66 to 22.12%. Oleoresin obtained at 60°C and 150 bar from leaves presented high antioxidant activity by DPPH (IC50 1.90 mg/mL) and by FRAP (1.8 µmol Fe2+/mg). ß-carotene/linoleic acid co-oxidation oleoresin from leaves at 0.25 mg/mL presented higher antioxidant activity than Trolox. The total phenolic content of the oleoresin from leaves ranged from 66.20 to 83.33 µg/mg and from flowers it was just up to 12.46 µg/mg. The extraction conditions affected yield, chemical composition, and antioxidant activity of oleoresin from leaves and flowers. This is the first report on the antioxidant activity of B. uniflora oleoresin from leaves and flowers and provides subsidies for potential applications in chemical, pharmaceutical, and food industries.
Assuntos
Antioxidantes/química , Extratos Vegetais/química , Solanaceae/química , Monoterpenos Acíclicos , Antioxidantes/farmacologia , Diterpenos/análise , Flores/química , Ácido Linoleico/análise , Ácido Oleanólico/análogos & derivados , Ácido Oleanólico/análise , Fitol/análise , Extratos Vegetais/farmacologia , Folhas de Planta/química , Tocoferóis/análise , beta Caroteno/análiseRESUMO
Osteopontin splicing isoforms (OPN-SI) present differential expression patterns and specific tumor roles. Our aims were to characterize OPN-SI expression in prostate cancer (PCa) and benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) tissues, besides evaluating their potential as biomarkers for PCa diagnosis and prognostic implications. Prostatic tissue specimens were obtained from 40 PCa and 30 benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) patients. Quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to measure OPN-SI mRNA expression. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed using an anti-OPNc polyclonal antibody. Biostatistical analyses evaluated the association of OPN-SI and total Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) serum levels with clinical and pathological data. PCa tissue samples presented significantly higher levels of OPNa, OPNb and OPNc transcripts (p<0.01) than in BPH specimens. OPN-SI mRNA expression were positively correlated with Gleason Score (p<0.01). ROC curves and logistic regression analyses demonstrated that OPN-SI and PSA were able to distinguish PCa from BPH patients (p<0.01). The OPNc isoform was the most upregulated variant and the best marker to distinguish patients' groups, presenting sensitivity and specificity of 90% and 100%, respectively. Immunohistochemistry analysis also demonstrated OPNc upregulation in PCa samples as compared to BPH tissues. OPNcprotein was also strongly stained PCa tissues presenting High Gleason Score. Multivariate analysis indicated that OPNc expression levels above the cut-off value presented a chance 4-fold higher for PCa occurrence. We conclude that OPN-SI were overexpressed in PCa tissues, strongly associated with PCa occurrence and with tumor cell differentiation. Our results suggest OPNc splicing isoform as an important biomarker contributing to improve PCa diagnosis and prognosis, besides providing insights into early steps of PCa carcinogenesis.
Assuntos
Osteopontina/genética , Hiperplasia Prostática/genética , Neoplasias da Próstata/genética , Splicing de RNA/genética , RNA Mensageiro/genética , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Anticorpos , Biomarcadores Tumorais/sangue , Diferenciação Celular , Diagnóstico Diferencial , Humanos , Imuno-Histoquímica , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Estadiamento de Neoplasias , Valor Preditivo dos Testes , Prognóstico , Hiperplasia Prostática/diagnóstico , Neoplasias da Próstata/diagnóstico , RNA Mensageiro/metabolismo , RNA Neoplásico/genética , RNA Neoplásico/metabolismo , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase em Tempo Real , Sensibilidade e EspecificidadeRESUMO
The study focuses on the equilibrium of dynamic biosorption in single and binary systems containing Cu(II) and Ni(II) ions using Sargassum filipendula (a marine alga). The experiments were performed in fixed-bed columns with both single-component and bi-component metal solutions (using different molar concentrations). Experimental data were fitted with different equilibrium models such as Langmuir, Langmuir with inhibition, Jain and Snowyink and Langmuir-Freundlich equations. The biosorption of pure metal ions in solution presented adequate capacities both for Cu(II) and Ni(II). In binary solutions the preferential sorption of Cu(II) over Ni(II) was demonstrated by the displacement of Ni(II) (marked overshoot on the breakthrough curves).
Assuntos
Cobre/farmacocinética , Recuperação e Remediação Ambiental/métodos , Modelos Químicos , Níquel/farmacocinética , Sargassum/metabolismo , AbsorçãoRESUMO
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Coffee seed germination represents an interplay between the embryo and the surrounding endosperm. A sequence of events in both parts of the seed determines whether germination will be successful or not. Following previous studies, the aim here was to further characterize the morphology of endosperm degradation and embryo growth with respect to morphology and cell cycle, and the influence of abscisic acid on these processes. METHODS: Growth of cells in a fixed region of the axis was quantified from light micrographs. Cell cycle events were measured by flow cytometry and by immunocytochemistry, using antibodies against beta-tubulin. Aspects of the endosperm were visualized by light and scanning electron microscopy. KEY RESULTS: The embryonic axis cells grew initially by isodiametric expansion. This event coincided with reorientation and increase in abundance of microtubules and with accumulation of beta-tubulin. Radicle protrusion was characterized by a shift from isodiametric expansion to elongation of radicle cells and further accumulation of beta-tubulin. Early cell division events started prior to radicle protrusion. Abscisic acid decreased the abundance of microtubules and inhibited the growth of the embryo cells, the reorganization of the microtubules, DNA replication in the embryonic axis, the formation of a protuberance and the completion of germination. The endosperm cap cells had smaller and thinner cell walls than the rest of the endosperm. Cells in the endosperm cap displayed compression followed by loss of cell integrity and the appearance of a protuberance prior to radicle protrusion. CONCLUSIONS: Coffee seed germination is the result of isodiametric growth of the embryo followed by elongation, at the expense of integrity of endosperm cap cells. The cell cycle, including cell division, is initiated prior to radicle protrusion. ABA inhibits expansion of the embryo, and hence subsequent events, including germination.
Assuntos
Ácido Abscísico/farmacologia , Divisão Celular , Coffea/efeitos dos fármacos , Coffea/embriologia , Germinação/efeitos dos fármacos , Sementes/efeitos dos fármacos , Análise de Variância , Coffea/citologia , Coffea/fisiologia , Microscopia Crioeletrônica , Citometria de Fluxo , Microtúbulos/fisiologia , Sementes/citologia , Tubulina (Proteína)/metabolismoRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Long-term renal transplant survivors display high incidences of hypogonadism, neoplasms, erectile dysfunction, and metabolic syndrome. Although the urologist has a major role in the kidney transplantation surgery and treatment of the graft-related surgical complications, the follow-up of these patients is essentially focused on kidney function and the immunosuppressive regimen. We sought to evaluate the role of a nephrourologic follow-up for kidney transplant recipients. METHODS: We evaluated 27 male patients of mean age of 48.1 +/- 7.5 years and mean renal allograft follow-up of 12.3 +/- 4.3 years. The nephrourologic approach consisted of evaluation of the urinary system, prostate cancer screening, and assessment of voiding function, fertility, erectile dysfunction, hypogonadism, and metabolic syndrome. We also assessed quality of life. RESULTS: Major urologic findings were found in 18 (66.7%) patients. Four patients reported posttransplantation parenthood. The mean serum creatinine was 1.5 +/- 0.6 mg/dL and the calculated clearance, 72.6 +/- 27.4 mL/min/1.73 m(2). Regarding the voiding pattern, 92.6% of patients showed mild to moderate bladder outlet obstruction. Clinically significant increases in prostate volume were observed in 3.7% of patients. Mean serum total prostate-specific antigen was 1.6 +/- 1.5 ng/mL. Erectile dysfunction was displayed by 46.2% and hypogonadism by 74.1% of patients. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed in 44.4% of patients, and quality of life was generally rated as good (4/5). CONCLUSION: Long-term renal transplantation survivors show high prevalences of treatable urologic diseases. Thus, we strongly recommend routine complete nephrourologic follow-up of this population.
Assuntos
Transplante de Rim/fisiologia , Creatinina/sangue , Disfunção Erétil/epidemiologia , Humanos , Masculino , Complicações Pós-Operatórias/epidemiologia , Sobreviventes , Fatores de Tempo , Resultado do TratamentoRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Here we evaluate auto-antibody response against two potential antigenic determinants of genes highly expressed in low Gleason Score prostate cancer (PC) tumor samples, namely FLJ23438 and VAMP3. METHODS: RT-PCR assays were used to analyze mRNA expression profiles of FLJ23438 and VAMP3 transcripts. The auto-antibody response against FLJ23438 and VAMP3 recombinant proteins was tested by immunoblot assays using PC, benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), healthy donors (HD), and other human cancers plasma samples. RESULTS: Our data showed that 37% (10/27) and 7.4% (2/27) of PC plasma samples presented auto-antibodies against FLJ23438 and VAMP3, respectively. Only 8.3% (1/12) of BPH plasma samples were reactive for both auto-antibodies, while none (0/12) of HD plasma samples tested were reactive. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of 37% of positive PC plasma samples for anti-FLJ23438 antibodies suggests that humoral immune response against this antigenic determinant could be a potential serum marker for this cancer.
Assuntos
Adenocarcinoma/imunologia , Autoanticorpos/sangue , Biomarcadores Tumorais/imunologia , Neoplasias da Próstata/imunologia , Proteína 3 Associada à Membrana da Vesícula/imunologia , Adenocarcinoma/epidemiologia , Adenocarcinoma/fisiopatologia , Idoso , Antígenos/genética , Antígenos/imunologia , Biomarcadores Tumorais/sangue , Biomarcadores Tumorais/genética , Neoplasias da Mama , Carcinoma de Células Escamosas , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Neoplasias Colorretais , Neoplasias Esofágicas , Regulação Neoplásica da Expressão Gênica , Humanos , Neoplasias Pulmonares , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Fases de Leitura Aberta/genética , Hiperplasia Prostática/epidemiologia , Hiperplasia Prostática/imunologia , Hiperplasia Prostática/fisiopatologia , Neoplasias da Próstata/epidemiologia , Neoplasias da Próstata/fisiopatologia , RNA Mensageiro/genética , RNA Nuclear Pequeno/genética , RNA Nuclear Pequeno/imunologia , Proteínas Recombinantes/genética , Proteínas Recombinantes/imunologia , Estudos Soroepidemiológicos , Proteína 3 Associada à Membrana da Vesícula/genéticaRESUMO
The mechanism and regulation of coffee seed germination were studied in Coffea arabica L. cv. Rubi. The coffee embryo grew inside the endosperm prior to radicle protrusion and abscisic acid (ABA) inhibited the increase in its pressure potential. There were two steps of endosperm cap weakening. An increase in cellulase activity coincided with the first step and an increase in endo-beta-mannanase (EBM) activity with the second step. ABA inhibited the second step of endosperm cap weakening, presumably by inhibiting the activities of at least two EBM isoforms and/or, indirectly, by inhibiting the pressure force of the radicle. The increase in the activities of EBM and cellulase coincided with the decrease in the force required to puncture the endosperm and with the appearance of porosity in the cell walls as observed by low-temperature scanning electronic microscopy. Tissue printing showed that EBM activity was spatially regulated in the endosperm. Activity was initiated in the endosperm cap whereas later during germination it could also be detected in the remainder of the endosperm. Tissue printing revealed that ABA inhibited most of the EBM activity in the endosperm cap, but not in the remainder of the endosperm. ABA did not inhibit cellulase activity. There was a transient rise in ABA content in the embryo during imbibition, which was likely to be responsible for slow germination, suggesting that endogenous ABA also may control embryo growth potential and the second step of endosperm cap weakening during coffee seed germination.
Assuntos
Ácido Abscísico/farmacologia , Coffea/efeitos dos fármacos , Coffea/embriologia , Germinação/efeitos dos fármacos , Reguladores de Crescimento de Plantas/farmacologia , Manosidases/metabolismo , Pressão Osmótica , Reguladores de Crescimento de Plantas/fisiologia , Fatores de TempoRESUMO
Studies suggest that the concepts that drug dependent persons have about their problems could influence adherence to treatment and outcome. The objective of this study was to compare these concepts in different groups of patients. Three groups of drug-dependent patients (diagnosed according to DSM-III-R criteria) were compared: 64 dependent on alcohol only, 56 dependent only on other drugs and 39 dependent on both alcohol and drugs. They were asked: "What do you think about your problem?" and the responses were qualitatively analyzed and classified into themes. For the whole sample, the main themes mentioned were: the function of alcohol and drugs in their lives (50%), the etiology of dependence (32%) and reasons for initial use (21%). Patients dependent on alcohol associated their use with coping, while patients dependent on other drugs reported pleasure seeking. In regard to etiology, most patients classified their dependence as a habit. Patients dependent on alcohol tended to attribute an organic etiology to their problem, while those dependent on other drugs most frequently considered moral aspects as important. This study suggests that there are differences between these three groups in the appraisal of their problem. Professionals interested in treatment matching need to take these findings into account, as they may influence compliance and treatment outcome.
Assuntos
Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Substâncias/psicologia , Alcoolismo/diagnóstico , Alcoolismo/epidemiologia , Alcoolismo/psicologia , Análise de Variância , Brasil/epidemiologia , Coleta de Dados/métodos , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Substâncias/diagnóstico , Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Substâncias/epidemiologiaAssuntos
Programas de Imunização , Tétano/prevenção & controle , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Brasil , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Feminino , Humanos , Lactente , Recém-Nascido , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Toxoide TetânicoRESUMO
A study was designed to develop a measure of both acute and chronic effects of THC administration on memory in the rat. Errors in an 8-arm radial maze, before and after two delay intervals (5 s and 1 h, introduced between the fourth and the fifth arm choice), constituted the principal dependent measures. The first experiment involved testing the animals shortly after administration of 1.25 mg/kg THC. The drug did not affect performance in the pre-delay tests, although a significant effect was observed after the 5-s delay but not after 1-h delay. In the second experiment, 5 mg/kg THC or saline were administered 6 days/week for 90 days. Testing was conducted 18 h after each drug administration. During chronic administration the pre-delay performance did not differ between groups but the post-delay performance of the THC group deteriorated in a gradual manner, relative to their controls, in both the 5-s and 1-h delay conditions. After discontinuation of drug administration, the differences between groups reversed only after 30 days. The results provided evidence that both acute and chronic administration of THC affected working-memory in the radial arm maze test, although it did not interfere with the general cues of the task (reference memory). Chronic drug effects on memory were reversible after prolonged abstinence. Thus, the 8-arm radial maze task proved to be a useful measure of THC effects on memory and could be further used to investigate more thoroughly the mechanisms involved in such drug effects.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Assuntos
Aprendizagem por Discriminação/efeitos dos fármacos , Dronabinol/farmacologia , Rememoração Mental/efeitos dos fármacos , Orientação/efeitos dos fármacos , Animais , Masculino , Atividade Motora/efeitos dos fármacos , Ratos , Ratos Endogâmicos , Tempo de Reação/efeitos dos fármacos , Retenção Psicológica/efeitos dos fármacosRESUMO
A pulmonary nodule in a patient with a previous or concomitant diagnosis of extrathoracic malignancy is not always a synonym of metastasis. When dealing with breast cancer this is very important since the pulmonary lesion is usually not related to the primary tumor. We present a white, 69 years old patient, submitted to mastectomy four years earlier, in which a solitary pulmonary nodule was found, and after resection, the histopathologic examination disclosed a intravascular bronchoalveolar tumor. This is a rare lesion, here represented in an unusual way.
Assuntos
Adenocarcinoma Bronquioloalveolar/patologia , Neoplasias da Mama , Neoplasias Pulmonares/patologia , Neoplasias Primárias Múltiplas/patologia , Adenocarcinoma Bronquioloalveolar/cirurgia , Idoso , Neoplasias da Mama/cirurgia , Feminino , Humanos , Neoplasias Pulmonares/cirurgia , Mastectomia , Neoplasias Primárias Múltiplas/cirurgia , Radiografia , Nódulo Pulmonar Solitário/diagnóstico por imagem , ToracotomiaRESUMO
A randomised controlled trial compared the effectiveness and toxicity in pulmonary tuberculosis of two drug regimens containing rifampicin and isoniazid given daily or twice-weekly for 4 months after a 2-month period of intensive treatment with daily isoniazid, rifampicin, and pyrazinamide. 667 patients with newly diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis were randomly allocated to continue daily treatment with isoniazid (400 mg) and rifampicin (600 mg) or to twice-weekly treatment with isoniazid (900 mg) and rifampicin (600 mg). 544 of the 667 patients (81%) completed the 6-month course (287 of 337 [85%] treated daily and 257 of 330 [79%] treated twice-weekly). Drug toxicity was not a great problem; the treatment was permanently discontinued in only 2% of patients. There was no significant difference at the end of months 5 and/or 6 of chemotherapy between the groups treated daily and twice-weekly in the proportions with bacteriological failure (at least one positive sputum culture with more than 20 colonies) or who had died from tuberculosis (17 [6%] vs 10 [3%]). Nor was there a significant difference in the relapse rate (17 [7%] treated daily vs 10 [4%] treated twice-weekly) during follow-up of 12 months. Thus, the twice-weekly regimen was at least as effective as the daily regimen for treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis.
Assuntos
Isoniazida/administração & dosagem , Rifampina/administração & dosagem , Tuberculose Pulmonar/tratamento farmacológico , Administração Oral , Brasil , Custos e Análise de Custo , Esquema de Medicação , Avaliação de Medicamentos , Quimioterapia Combinada , Seguimentos , Humanos , Isoniazida/efeitos adversos , Isoniazida/uso terapêutico , Cooperação do Paciente , Ensaios Clínicos Controlados Aleatórios como Assunto , Rifampina/efeitos adversos , Rifampina/uso terapêutico , Fatores de Tempo , Tuberculose Pulmonar/economia , Tuberculose Pulmonar/epidemiologiaRESUMO
Gastric compliance was measured with an intragastric probe connected to a water manometer in pylorus-ligated anesthetized dogs. Measurements were carried out in the same animal at different levels of extracellular fluid (ECF) obtained by expansion, bleeding and reexpansion. Acute isotonic expansion of the ECF volume shifted gastric compliance curves upwards and to the left, indicating that the stomach retains less volume than the control at the same intraluminal pressure. Conversely, the acute loss of blood shifted gastric compliance curves downwards and to the right. The data suggest that the ECF volume contributes to the modulation of gastric compliance.