RESUMO
Faeces similarity among sympatric felid species has generally hampered their use in distributional, demographic and dietary studies. Here, we present a new and simple approach based on a set of species-specific primers, for the unambiguous identification of faeces from sympatric neotropical felids (i.e. puma, jaguar, jaguarundi and ocelot/ margay). This method, referred to as rapid classificatory protocol-PCR (RCP-PCR), consists of a single-tube multiplex PCR yielding species-specific banding patterns on agarose gel. The method was optimized with samples of known origin (14 blood and 15 fresh faeces) and validated in faecal samples of unknown origin (n = 138), for some of which (n = 40) we also obtained species identification based on mtDNA sequencing. This approach proved reliable and provides high identification success rates from faeces. Its simplicity and cost effectiveness should facilitate its application for routine surveys of presence and abundance of these species.
Assuntos
Fezes/química , Felidae/genética , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase/métodos , Animais , América Central , DNA Mitocondrial/genética , Felidae/classificação , América do Sul , Especificidade da EspécieRESUMO
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, which is probably caused by the cytotoxic effect of the amyloid beta-peptide (Abeta). We report here molecular changes induced by Abeta, both in neuronal cells in culture and in rats injected in the dorsal hippocampus with preformed Abeta fibrils, as an in vivo model of the disease. Results indicate that in both systems, Abeta neurotoxicity resulted in the destabilization of endogenous levels of beta-catenin, a key transducer of the Wnt signaling pathway. Lithium chloride, which mimics Wnt signaling by inhibiting glycogen synthase kinase-3beta promoted the survival of post-mitotic neurons against Abeta neurotoxicity and recovered cytosolic beta-catenin to control levels. Moreover, the neurotoxic effect of Abeta fibrils was also modulated with protein kinase C agonists/inhibitors and reversed with conditioned medium containing the Wnt-3a ligand. We also examined the spatial memory performance of rats injected with preformed Abeta fibrils in the Morris water maze paradigm, and found that chronic lithium treatment protected neurodegeneration by rescuing beta-catenin levels and improved the deficit in spatial learning induced by Abeta. Our results are consistent with the idea that Abeta-dependent neurotoxicity induces a loss of function of Wnt signaling components and indicate that lithium or compounds that mimic this signaling cascade may be putative candidates for therapeutic intervention in Alzheimer's patients.
Assuntos
Doença de Alzheimer/metabolismo , Degeneração Neural/metabolismo , Proteínas/metabolismo , Transdução de Sinais/fisiologia , Doença de Alzheimer/tratamento farmacológico , Doença de Alzheimer/patologia , Peptídeos beta-Amiloides/metabolismo , Animais , Comportamento Animal/efeitos dos fármacos , Morte Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , Morte Celular/fisiologia , Células Cultivadas , Meios de Cultivo Condicionados/farmacologia , Proteínas do Citoesqueleto/metabolismo , Humanos , Isoenzimas/metabolismo , Rim/citologia , Lítio/farmacologia , Transtornos da Memória/metabolismo , Transtornos da Memória/patologia , Camundongos , Degeneração Neural/tratamento farmacológico , Degeneração Neural/patologia , Neurônios/efeitos dos fármacos , Neurônios/metabolismo , Neurônios/patologia , Proteína Quinase C/metabolismo , Proteínas/genética , Ratos , Ratos Sprague-Dawley , Transativadores/metabolismo , Transfecção , Proteínas Wnt , Proteína Wnt3 , Proteína Wnt3A , beta CateninaRESUMO
The aim of the present study is bring to the colo-proctologists and clinicians the importance of the correct interpretation of ano-rectal pain. Sometimes this pain is so characteristic that it becomes pathognomonic of some diseases. The authors detail the rectal and anal canal innervation and distinguish 2 opposite types of pain in this region: a cutaneous or superficial and a visceral or deep pain. The pain sensation depends of 2 components: perception through physiologic mechanism and reaction through basically psychogenic mechanism. The authors discuss the characteristics of the pain in many anorectal diseases, like inflammatory ones, piles, tumors and very complex neuralgias found in some psychotic patients.
Assuntos
Doenças Retais/fisiopatologia , Canal Anal/inervação , Doenças do Ânus/fisiopatologia , Humanos , Dor/fisiopatologia , Reto/inervaçãoRESUMO
Two cases are reported of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) observed in the Institute of Gastroenterology of São Paulo-Brazil. These are presented together with a review of the relevant medical literature. Called our attention the delay for a definite diagnosis and the main symptoms that brought the patients to medical care. These were undoubtedly the progressive obstructive jaundice and severe pruritus. The role of the retrograde cholangio-pancreatography for definition of the diagnosis was presented.