RESUMO
Sharks have been of great cultural and socioeconomic importance in Mexico since the late 19th century, when the first fisheries were prosecuted in the Gulf of California to export fins to China. Mexican shark and ray fisheries are classified mainly by the size of the fishing vessel and include small- (7.5-10m), medium- (10-27m), and large-sized (>27m) fisheries. All are multispecies fisheries that use longline or gillnet gear, with their relative productivity varying over time. Off the Pacific coast, early shark small size vessel fisheries in the Gulf of California were driven by the need for vitamin A from livers, especially during World War II. As this fishery declined, new shark fishing opportunities arose because of government support and the development of the medium-sized fishery, which was capable of farther offshore excursions. Shark meat became an important part of the diets of poor and impoverished citizens during the 1950s and 1960s. The establishment of a Mexican Exclusive Economic Zone in 1976 pushed foreign vessels from Asia out of Mexican waters and led to the development of the large-sized vessel fishery to exploit pelagic sharks in offshore waters. By the early 1980s, Mexico shark fisheries were among the most productive in the world; however, a national economic crisis reduced effort and landings until the late 1980s, when several new fisheries emerged. Landings from Pacific states fluctuated between ~13,000 and 24,000t (dressed weight) during 1987-2012 but expanded steadily thereafter because of government support and offshore fleet expansion. Shark fisheries landings from the Mexican Pacific are currently at their highest recorded levels, exceeding 31,000t; however, a lack of species-specific landings and life history information has precluded population assessments of targeted stocks. In addition, though several recent management measures have been enacted to protect Mexican shark and ray fishery resources, the enforcement of these regulations is severely lacking. Therefore, the long-term sustainability of current fishing levels is unknown but should engender concern based on anecdotal evidence of serial depletion among historical elasmobranch targets in the Mexican Pacific.
Assuntos
Conservação dos Recursos Naturais , Pesqueiros , Tubarões , Animais , México , Dinâmica PopulacionalRESUMO
RATIONALE: Zebrafish have a sophisticated color- and shape-sensitive visual system, so we examined color cue-based novel object recognition in zebrafish. We evaluated preference in the absence or presence of drugs that affect attention and memory retention in rodents: nicotine and the histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) phenylbutyrate (PhB). OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to evaluate whether nicotine and PhB affect innate preferences of zebrafish for familiar and novel objects after short- and long-retention intervals. METHODS: We developed modified object recognition (OR) tasks using neutral novel and familiar objects in different colors. We also tested objects which differed with respect to the exploratory behavior they elicited from naïve zebrafish. RESULTS: Zebrafish showed an innate preference for exploring red or green objects rather than yellow or blue objects. Zebrafish were better at discriminating color changes than changes in object shape or size. Nicotine significantly enhanced or changed short-term innate novel object preference whereas PhB had similar effects when preference was assessed 24 h after training. Analysis of other zebrafish behaviors corroborated these results. CONCLUSIONS: Zebrafish were innately reluctant or prone to explore colored novel objects, so drug effects on innate preference for objects can be evaluated changing the color of objects with a simple geometry. Zebrafish exhibited recognition memory for novel objects with similar innate significance. Interestingly, nicotine and PhB significantly modified innate object preference.
Assuntos
Comportamento Exploratório/efeitos dos fármacos , Inibidores de Histona Desacetilases/farmacologia , Nicotina/farmacologia , Agonistas Nicotínicos/farmacologia , Reconhecimento Visual de Modelos/efeitos dos fármacos , Fenilbutiratos/farmacologia , Animais , Comportamento Animal/efeitos dos fármacos , Feminino , Masculino , Memória/efeitos dos fármacos , Reconhecimento Psicológico/efeitos dos fármacos , Tempo , Percepção Visual/efeitos dos fármacos , Peixe-ZebraRESUMO
The isolation of potentially probiotic strains and the subsequent study of their properties are very important steps to gain insight in the health benefits ascribed to sugary and milk kefir. The aim of the present study was to characterise fifteen Lactobacillus strains isolated from these beverages by determining some surface properties and their ability to antagonise enterocyte cell damage after Salmonella infection in vitro. Lactobacillus surface properties were determined by hydrophobicity, autoaggregation, and coaggregation assays with Salmonella. In addition, lactobacilli adhesion to Caco-2/TC-7 cells and the effect on Salmonella invasion were evaluated. Finally, the disassembly of F-actin cytoskeleton on intestinal epithelial cells was assayed in vitro when Salmonella infection was performed in the presence of selected Lactobacillus strains. Ten out of the 15 strains showed a high adhesion capacity to Caco-2/TC-7 cells. Most of the strains were hydrophilic and non-autoaggregating. Strains isolated from sugary kefir were non-coaggregating with Salmonella, while strains Lactobacillus paracasei CIDCA 83120, 83121, 83123, 83124, 8339, 83102 isolated from milk kefir were able to coaggregate after 1 h. L. paracasei CIDCA 8339 and Lactobacillus kefiri CIDCA 83102 were able to diminish Salmonella invasion to the enterocytes. An antagonistic effect on cytoskeleton disruption elicited by the pathogen was also demonstrated. Our results suggest that both strains isolated from milk kefir could be considered as appropriate probiotic candidates.
Assuntos
Enterócitos/microbiologia , Kefir/microbiologia , Lactobacillus , Leite/microbiologia , Probióticos/uso terapêutico , Infecções por Salmonella/terapia , Animais , Aderência Bacteriana , Células CACO-2 , Linhagem Celular , Humanos , Interações Hidrofóbicas e Hidrofílicas , Lactobacillus/isolamento & purificação , Lactobacillus/fisiologiaRESUMO
Este estudio exploratorio con abordaje cualitativo fenomenológico busca identificar la eficacia de intervenciones educativas en \r\nla adherencia terapéutica de un grupo de pacientes hipertensos, seleccionados de un barrio con alto grado de vulnerabilidad \r\ndel municipio de Toluviejo, Sucre, a quienes se invitó a participar en la investigación. Para recolectar la información socioeco\r\n-\r\nnómica de los participantes, se construyó una ficha de caracterización; para determinar el grado de adherencia al tratamiento \r\nfarmacológico prescrito para la hipertensión, se utilizó el test de Morisky-Green antes y después de la intervención con estrategias \r\neducativas, tales como charlas grupales, grupos focales con pacientes y cuidadores, y jornadas lúdicas.\r\nComo resultado se logró establecer que los pacientes modificaron significativamente su respuesta al seguimiento del tratamiento, \r\ncon un aumento del 26,70% de los pacientes con respuestas indicativas de adherencia, comparado con los resultados iniciales. Se \r\nconcluye que la intervención educativa pudo tener alguna incidencia de manera directa y efectiva sobre el grupo en estudio, lo \r\ncual influyó en los resultados obtenidos.
An exploratory study was performed using a phenomenolo-\r\ngical qualitative approach, aimed at identifying the effective\r\n-\r\nness of educational mediation on the therapeutic adherence \r\nof hypertensive patients in the high-vulnerability municipality \r\nof Toluviejo, Sucre. Socioeconomic information was collected \r\nthrough a characterization chart; A Morisky-Green Test was \r\nused before and after the mediation in order to determine the \r\nadherence to the hypertension treatment. Educational strate\r\n-\r\ngies, such as group discussions, focus groups with patients and \r\ncaregivers, and recreational days were used.\r\nResults showed a significant improvement of treatment \r\nresponse with an increased adherence of 26.70% in comparison \r\nto previous results. We conclude that educational mediation \r\ncould have had some direct and effective impact on the study \r\ngroup, contributing to the results obtained
Este estudo exploratório, com abordagem qualitativa feno\r\n-\r\nmenológica teve como objetivo identificar a eficácia das \r\nintervenções educativas sobre a adesão terapêutica de um \r\ngrupo de pacientes hipertensos, selecionados a partir de um \r\nbairro com um alto grau de vulnerabilidade, do município de \r\nToluviejo, Sucre, os quais foram convidados a participar da \r\ninvestigação. Para a coleta de informações socioeconômicas \r\ndos participantes, uma ficha de caracterização foi construída; \r\ne para determinar o grau de adesão ao tratamento farmaco\r\n-\r\nlógico prescrito para hipertensão, o teste de Morisky-Green foi \r\nutilizado antes e após a intervenção com estratégias educa\r\n-\r\ncionais, tais como discussões em grupo, grupos focais com \r\npacientes e cuidadores, e atividades recreativas.\r\nComo resultado, ficou estabelecido que os pacientes modifi\r\n-\r\ncaram significativamente a sua resposta à monitorização do \r\ntratamento, com um aumento de 26,70% dos pacientes com \r\nrespostas indicativas de adesão, em comparação com os resul\r\n-\r\ntados iniciais. Concluímos que a intervenção educativa pode \r\nter impactado direta e efetivamente o grupo em estudo, o que \r\ninfluenciou nos resultados obtidos.
Assuntos
Adesão à Medicação , Hipertensão , Anti-HipertensivosRESUMO
The activity of kefiran, the exopolysaccharide present in kefir grains, was evaluated on intestinal bacterial populations in BALB/c mice. Animals were orally administered with kefiran and Eubacteria, lactobacilli and bifidobacteria populations were monitored in faeces of mice at days 0, 2, 7, 14 and 21. Profiles obtained by Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE) with primers for Eubacteria were compared by principal component analysis and clearly defined clusters, correlating with the time of kefiran consumption, were obtained. Furthermore, profile analysis of PCR products amplified with specific oligonucleotides for bifidobacteria showed an increment in the number of DGGE bands in the groups administered with kefiran. Fluorescent In Situ Hybridisation (FISH) with specific probes for bifidobacteria showed an increment of this population in faeces, in accordance to DGGE results. The bifidobacteria population was also studied on distal colon content after 0, 2 and 7 days of kefiran administration. Analysis of PCR products by DGGE with Eubacteria primers showed an increment in the number and intensity of bands with high GC content of mice administered with kefiran. Sequencing of DGGE bands confirmed that bifidobacteria were one of the bacterial populations modified by kefiran administration. DGGE profiles of PCR amplicons obtained by using Bifidobacterium or Lactobacillus specific primers confirmed that kefiran administration enhances bifidobacteria, however no changes were observed in Lactobacillus populations. The results of the analysis of bifidobacteria populations assessed on different sampling sites in a murine model support the use of this exopolysaccharide as a bifidogenic functional ingredient.
Assuntos
Microbioma Gastrointestinal , Polissacarídeos/metabolismo , Administração Oral , Animais , Bactérias/classificação , Bactérias/genética , Bactérias/isolamento & purificação , Bifidobacterium/genética , Bifidobacterium/fisiologia , Fezes/microbiologia , Feminino , Microbioma Gastrointestinal/efeitos dos fármacos , Trato Gastrointestinal/metabolismo , Trato Gastrointestinal/microbiologia , Lactobacillus/genética , Lactobacillus/fisiologia , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Probióticos/administração & dosagem , Probióticos/metabolismoRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Factors that modify risk related to APOE variants have been examined primarily in unrelated patients and controls, but seldom in family-based studies. Stroke, vascular risk factors, estrogen replacement therapy (ERT), head injury (HI), and smoking have been reported to influence risk of sporadic but not familial Alzheimer disease (AD). OBJECTIVES: To examine the potential relationship between these risk factors and APOE, the authors used a family study design in a population in which the APOE-epsilon4 variant is strongly associated with risk of AD. METHODS: Latino families primarily from the Caribbean Islands in which two or more living relatives had dementia were identified in the New York City metropolitan area, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico. A total of 1,498 participants from 350 families underwent a clinical interview, medical and neurologic examinations, neuropsychological testing, and APOE genotyping. Diagnosis was made by consensus using research criteria for AD. RESULTS: APOE-epsilon4 was associated with a nearly twofold increased risk of AD. A history of stroke was also associated with a fourfold increased risk. A statistical interaction between APOE-epsilon4 and stroke was observed. Women with an APOE-epsilon4 who took ERT did not have an increased risk of AD, but in women with a history of stroke ERT was a deleterious effect modifier. CONCLUSIONS: APOE-epsilon4 and stroke independently increase risk of familial Alzheimer disease (AD) among Latinos, and may interact to further increase AD risk. Among women, the risk of AD associated with APOE-epsilon4 may be attenuated by a history of ERT.
Assuntos
Doença de Alzheimer/epidemiologia , Doença de Alzheimer/genética , Apolipoproteínas E/genética , Predisposição Genética para Doença/genética , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/epidemiologia , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/genética , Idoso , Doença de Alzheimer/etnologia , Apolipoproteína E4 , Causalidade , República Dominicana/epidemiologia , Terapia de Reposição de Estrogênios/estatística & dados numéricos , Estrogênios/uso terapêutico , Saúde da Família , Feminino , Hispânico ou Latino/genética , Hispânico ou Latino/estatística & dados numéricos , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Cidade de Nova Iorque/epidemiologia , Porto Rico/epidemiologia , Fatores de Risco , Fatores Sexuais , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/etnologiaRESUMO
Familial Alzheimer's disease (AD [MIM 104300]) has been a focus of intense investigation, primarily in Caucasian families from Europe and North America families. Although the late-onset form of familial AD, beginning after age 65 years, has been linked to regions on chromosomes 10q and 12p, the specific genetic variants have not yet been consistently identified. Using a unique cohort of families of Caribbean Hispanics ancestry, we screened the genome using 340 markers on 490 family members from 96 families with predominantly late-onset AD. We observed the strongest support for linkage on 18q (LOD=3.14). However, 17 additional markers (chromosomes 1-6, 8, 10, 12, and 14) exceeded a two-point LOD score of 1.0 under the affecteds-only autosomal dominant model or affected sibpair model. As we previously reported the fine-mapping effort on 12p showing modest evidence of linkage, we focused our fine-mapping efforts on two other candidate regions in the current report, namely 10q and 18q. We added 31 family members and eight additional Caribbean Hispanic families to fine map 10q and 18q. With additional microsatellite markers, the evidence for linkage for 18q strengthened near 112 cM, where the two-point LOD score for D18S541 was 3.37 and the highest NPL score in that region was 3.65 (P=0.000177). This narrow region contains a small number of genes expressed in the brain. However, at 10q (134-138 cM), the NPL score decreased from 3.15 (P=0.000486) to 2.1 (P=0.0218), but two broad peaks remained overlapping with previously reported peaks. Our results provide modest support for linkage on 10q and 12p in this cohort of Caribbean Hispanic families with familial Alzheimer's disease, and strong evidence for a new locus on 18q.
Assuntos
Doença de Alzheimer/etnologia , Doença de Alzheimer/genética , Cromossomos Humanos Par 10/genética , Cromossomos Humanos Par 18/genética , Hispânico ou Latino/genética , Idoso , Apolipoproteína E4 , Apolipoproteínas E/genética , Região do Caribe/etnologia , Mapeamento Cromossômico , Cromossomos Humanos Par 12/genética , República Dominicana/epidemiologia , Feminino , Ligação Genética/genética , Predisposição Genética para Doença , Genótipo , Humanos , Escore Lod , Masculino , New York/epidemiologia , Linhagem , Porto Rico/epidemiologiaRESUMO
The interaction of the dihydroxyanthraquinones, emodin (1), aloe-emodin (2), and rhein (3) with human serum albumin (HSA) has been studied through fluorescence spectroscopy. Quenching studies and the association constant of the anthraquinoid compounds 1, 2, and 3 in the presence of HSA were estimated. The binding and quenching studies suggest that only emodin (1) may serve as a useful fluorescence probe for structure/function studies of different emodin binding proteins. No photoinduced binding was observed after irradiation of compounds 1, 2, and 3 in presence of human serum albumin.
RESUMO
CONTEXT: Genetic determinants of Alzheimer disease (AD) have not been comprehensively examined in Caribbean Hispanics, a population in the United States in whom the frequency of AD is higher compared with non-Hispanic whites. OBJECTIVE: To identify variant alleles in genes related to familial early-onset AD among Caribbean Hispanics. DESIGN AND SETTING: Family-based case series conducted in 1998-2001 at an AD research center in New York, NY, and clinics in the Dominican Republic. PATIENTS: Among 206 Caribbean Hispanic families with 2 or more living members with AD who were identified, 19 (9.2%) had at least 1 individual with onset of AD before the age of 55 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The entire coding region of the presenilin 1 gene and exons 16 and 17 of the amyloid precursor protein gene were sequenced in probands from the 19 families and their living relatives. RESULTS: A G-to-C nucleotide change resulting in a glycine-alanine amino acid substitution at codon 206 (Gly206Ala) in exon 7 of presenilin 1 was observed in 23 individuals from 8 (42%) of the 19 families. A Caribbean Hispanic individual with the Gly206Ala mutation and early-onset familial disease was also found by sequencing the corresponding genes of 319 unrelated individuals in New York City. The Gly206Ala mutation was not found in public genetic databases but was reported in 5 individuals from 4 Hispanic families with AD referred for genetic testing. None of the members of these families were related to one another, yet all carriers of the Gly206Ala mutation tested shared a variant allele at 2 nearby microsatellite polymorphisms, indicating a common ancestor. No mutations were found in the amyloid precursor protein gene. CONCLUSIONS: The Gly206Ala mutation was found in 8 of 19 unrelated Caribbean Hispanic families with early-onset familial AD. This genetic change may be a prevalent cause of early-onset familial AD in the Caribbean Hispanic population.
Assuntos
Doença de Alzheimer/genética , Hispânico ou Latino/genética , Proteínas de Membrana/genética , Idade de Início , Idoso , Alanina , Doença de Alzheimer/epidemiologia , Precursor de Proteína beta-Amiloide/genética , Apolipoproteínas E/genética , Região do Caribe/etnologia , Análise Mutacional de DNA , República Dominicana/etnologia , Éxons , Genótipo , Glicina , Haplótipos , Humanos , Repetições de Microssatélites , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Mutação , Fenótipo , Polimorfismo Genético , Presenilina-1 , Porto Rico/etnologia , Estados Unidos/epidemiologiaRESUMO
RET/PTC oncogene expression is restricted to papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTC). At least three forms of this oncogene have been described. These are generated by the rearrangement of the 5'-terminal region of different expressed genes with the tyrosine-kinase (TK) domain of the ret proto-oncogene. Several studies showing the correlation between the expression of this oncogene, clinical outcome, and histological subtypes have been published. Thirty-five paraffin-embedded PTC samples from patients without a history of radiation exposure were studied. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and in situ hybridization (ISH) were used to determine a possible correlation between RET activation, clinical outcome, and tumor subtype. Almost half of the studied cases presented with tumoral extension or metastases. Ret gene transcripts and protein were found in all PTC variants as well as in their corresponding metastases. In contrast, none of the follicular adenomas, goiters, or normal follicular cells from the thyroid gland showed evidence of ret activation. We observed a high frequency of ret expression in PTCs, suggesting that ret activation is a common event in nonradiation-related PTC from Mexican patients.
Assuntos
Carcinoma Papilar/enzimologia , Proteínas de Drosophila , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas/metabolismo , Receptores Proteína Tirosina Quinases/metabolismo , Neoplasias da Glândula Tireoide/enzimologia , Adulto , Carcinoma Medular/química , Carcinoma Papilar/química , Carcinoma Papilar/genética , Ativação Enzimática , Feminino , Expressão Gênica , Humanos , Imuno-Histoquímica , Hibridização In Situ , Masculino , México , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Proto-Oncogene Mas , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas/análise , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas/genética , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas c-ret , Receptores Proteína Tirosina Quinases/análise , Receptores Proteína Tirosina Quinases/genética , Neoplasias da Glândula Tireoide/química , Neoplasias da Glândula Tireoide/genéticaRESUMO
This paper examines social networks and social support among poor elderly ill in Guadalajara, Mexico. We interviewed 40 hospitalized elderly patients. The mean size of social networks was 7.5, basically involving women, multiple generations, and members of the extended family. Emotional support was more frequent than other types of social support. Elderly women had larger social networks and received more social support than men. Married elderly also had larger social networks and more social support than single patients. There were no differences between age and living arrangements with social networks and social support. Future studies are needed on the social and cultural environment of social support for the elderly.
Assuntos
Idoso , Redes Comunitárias , Pobreza , Apoio Social , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Estado Civil , México , Distribuição por Sexo , Fatores SocioeconômicosRESUMO
The dominantly inherited Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia cancer syndrome type 2B (MEN2B) is characterized by the presence of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), phaechromocytoma (PHAEO), mucosal neuromas, ganglioneuromas of the intestinal tract, skeletal and ophthalmic abnormalities. MEN2B has been associated with a specific point mutation in the tyrosine kinase domain of the RET proto-oncogene (918RET mutation). We investigated a Mexican patient MEN2B for the presence of the 918RET mutation using the polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction endonuclease digestion. We have detected this mutation in DNA from the patient's MTC, PHAEO, and peripheral blood cells, but not in DNA from the patient's mother, suggesting that this mutation arose de novo. Our results are in agreement with the suggestion that the 918RET mutation is present in a vast majority of MEN2B cases around the world.
Assuntos
Proteínas de Drosophila , Neoplasia Endócrina Múltipla Tipo 2b/genética , Mutação , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas/genética , Receptores Proteína Tirosina Quinases/genética , Adulto , DNA/genética , DNA/metabolismo , Enzimas de Restrição do DNA/metabolismo , Eletroforese , Feminino , Humanos , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase , Proto-Oncogene Mas , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas c-retRESUMO
Se realizó un estudio prospectivo de morbilidad con 139 pacientes a las que se les practicó esterilización con minilaparotomía de Pomeroy en el subcentro de salud de Tamayo, República Dominicana, durante el período enero 1986-enero 1987. Se empleó anestesia infiltrativa en 83 pacientes; 40 casos se aplicó anestesia general y raquianestesia en 16 casos. En 67 pacientes se realizó miniparotomía puerperal de las cuales se presentaron 9 casos (6.48%) de morbilidad post operatoria y en 72 casos minilaparatomía de intervalo donde hubo 15 casos (10.79%) de morbilidad post-operatoria. De las pacientes intervenidas 2 volvieron a embarazarse, para una tasa de fracaso de 1.44%