RESUMO
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a common autosomal recessive disorder, being the p.F508del the most frequent mutation. Also, a nearby restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) named XK (KM19 and XV2C) is non-randomly associated with specific CF alleles. Our aim was to analyze the occurrence of the p.F508del mutation and XK haplotypes in Afro-Brazilians CF patients and controls, since these data is available for the other two main ethnic groups found in Brazil (Euro-Brazilians and Brazilian Amerindians), contributing for the whole comprehension of these haplotypes in the Brazilian population. A total of 103 patients and 54 controls were studied. PCR and PCR-RFLP methodologies were used to identify the presence of the p.F508del and the XK haplotype in the subjects. The combined data show that 84.2% of p.F508del mutation is associated with haplotype B and only 15.8% with haplotype A; no other haplotypes were found to be associated with this mutation. Our data suggest that the occurrence of p.F508del mutation and haplotype B in Afro-Brazilian patients occurs probably due to admixture with Euro-descendants. Therefore this mutation and haplotype could be used as a admixture marker.
Assuntos
Regulador de Condutância Transmembrana em Fibrose Cística/genética , Fibrose Cística/genética , Etnicidade/genética , Haplótipos , Mutação , Alelos , Brasil , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Frequência do Gene , Genética Populacional , Humanos , MasculinoRESUMO
Microscopy has been used in the routine evaluation of sperm metabolism. Nevertheless, it has limited capacity to preview male fertility. As calorimetry may be used to evaluate directly the metabolic activity of a biological system, the aim of this study was to use microcalorimetry as an additive method for sperm metabolism evaluation of cooled equine semen. Two ejaculates of four stallions were collected and motility, viability (eosin 3%) and membrane functional integrity (hyposmotic swelling test) of spermatozoa were evaluated. Sperm samples were processed following different protocols and the metabolism of these samples was accessed by calorimetry. Centrifugation is part of some of these processing protocols and although this procedure has been deleterious for sperm viability and plasma membrane integrity, no decrease in sperm motility was observed. Microcalorimetry was capable of detecting the positive effect of re-suspending the sperm pellet with Kenney extender. Thus, the use of microcalorimetry offered additional information for equine sperm metabolism evaluation and was efficient in detecting important information from sperm cell metabolism.
Assuntos
Cavalos , Preservação do Sêmen/veterinária , Espermatozoides/metabolismo , Animais , Calorimetria , Criopreservação/veterinária , Masculino , Análise do Sêmen/veterinária , Motilidade dos EspermatozoidesRESUMO
The N-acetyl-galactosamine specific lectin from Macrotyloma axillare seeds (LMA) was purified by precipitation and ion exchange chromatography. The LMA 0.2 mol L(-1) fraction showed hemagglutinating activity on erythrocytes A1. The results for molecular mass determinations were about 28 kDa. The LMA pH-dependent assays showed best hemagglutinating activity at pH 6.0-8.0; being decreased at acidic/alkaline conditions and by EDTA treatment. LMA is a tetramer at pH 8.2 and a dimer at pH 4.0. Human erythrocytes from ABO system confirmed the A1 specificity for LMA. This new methodology is useful and easy, with low costs, for lectin purification in large amounts.
Assuntos
Bioquímica/economia , Bioquímica/métodos , Fabaceae/química , Lectinas de Plantas/isolamento & purificação , Sementes/química , Cálcio/farmacologia , Precipitação Química , Cromatografia em Gel , Cromatografia por Troca Iônica , Misturas Complexas/química , Ácido Edético/farmacologia , Eletroforese em Gel de Poliacrilamida , Etanol , Hemaglutinação/efeitos dos fármacos , Humanos , Concentração de Íons de Hidrogênio/efeitos dos fármacos , Manganês/farmacologia , Peso Molecular , Lectinas de Plantas/química , Espectrometria de Massas por Ionização por Electrospray , TemperaturaRESUMO
Bacillus thuringiensis is a sporulating bacterium, which produces parasporal inclusions toxic to insects. Widely used methodologies to isolate Bt from soil consist of a thermal shock treatment followed by selective germination of spores. The results presented here suggest that a preliminary 5 h dry-heat treatment largely enhance the selectivity of these procedures.
Assuntos
Bacillus thuringiensis/isolamento & purificação , Bacillus thuringiensis/fisiologia , Microbiologia do Solo , Técnicas Bacteriológicas , Contagem de Colônia Microbiana , Temperatura Alta , Esporos Bacterianos/fisiologiaRESUMO
alpha-Trypsin is a serine-protease with a polypeptide chain of 223 amino acid residues and six disulfide bridges. It is a globular protein with predominance of antiparallel ss-sheet secondary structure and it has two domains with similar structures. In the present work, a stability study of alpha-trypsin in the acid pH range was performed and some physical-chemical denaturation parameters were measured by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The alpha-trypsin has a shelf-life (t(95%)) of about 10 months at pH 3.0 and 4 degrees C and its hydrolysis into the psi-trypsin isoform is negligible during 6 months. The observed ratio DeltaH(cal)/DeltaH(vH) is close to unity, which suggests the occurrence of a two-state transition. At pH 3.0, alpha-trypsin unfolded with T(m) = 325.9 K and DeltaH = 99.10 kcal mol(-1), and the change in heat capacity between the native and unfolded forms of the protein was estimated to be 1.96+/-0.18 kcal mol(-1)K(-1). The stability of alpha-trypsin calculated at 298 K was DeltaG(U)=6.10 kcal mol(-1) at pH 3.0. These values are in the range expected for a small globular protein. These results show that the thermodynamic parameters of unfolding of beta-trypsin do not change substantially after its conversion to alpha-trypsin.
Assuntos
Varredura Diferencial de Calorimetria , Tripsina/química , Animais , Varredura Diferencial de Calorimetria/métodos , Estabilidade Enzimática , Concentração de Íons de Hidrogênio , Isoenzimas/química , Isoenzimas/isolamento & purificação , Estrutura Secundária de Proteína , Estrutura Terciária de Proteína , Termodinâmica , Fatores de Tempo , Tripsina/isolamento & purificaçãoRESUMO
AIDS-related stigma has impacted the lives of many individuals, including Haitians. Little, however, is known about the long-term effects AIDS-stigmatization has had on Haitian women living in the United States. A pilot study was conducted to explore Haitian-American women's perceptions of the impact of the AIDS epidemic on their lives. The long-term effects of AIDS-stigmatization fell into five categories: rejection by the dominant society, self-doubt, effect on self-esteem, effect on intimate relationships, and rejection by Haitians within their community. More extensive research is needed to explore the long-term effects of the AIDS epidemic on Haitian women. Additionally, to counter the negative effects of the AIDS epidemic, intervention strategies need to be developed and tested.
Assuntos
Síndrome da Imunodeficiência Adquirida/etnologia , Síndrome da Imunodeficiência Adquirida/psicologia , Atitude Frente a Saúde/etnologia , Estereotipagem , Mulheres/psicologia , Adulto , Idoso , Estudos Transversais , Feminino , Grupos Focais , Haiti/etnologia , Humanos , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Pesquisa Metodológica em Enfermagem , Projetos Piloto , Preconceito , Autoimagem , Vergonha , Inquéritos e Questionários , Estados UnidosRESUMO
UNLABELLED: Massive hepatobiliary fascioliasis. Report of two cases. INTRODUCTION: Liver fascioliasis is the most frequent parasitic disease of the biliary tract in Mexico. Massive infestation is common in sheep and bovines and rarely occurs in humans. Only two previous cases of massive fascioliasis has been reported and we present here in two additional cases. Case reports. Both cases presented in alcohol-related liver disease patients who had eaten watercress Nasturium officinalis. Upper abdominal pain, obstructive jaundice, and choledochal dilatation were the salient manifestations. Diagnosis was made by surgical exploration and adult fluke identification. One patient died due to progressive liver failure and the other, is alive and received praziquantel treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Since 1935, approximately fifty cases of massive hepatobiliary fascioliasis have been reported in Mexico, most misdiagnosed as cholelithiasis; however, a history of watercress ingestion has been recorded in most of these cases.
Assuntos
Fasciolíase/patologia , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Anti-Helmínticos/uso terapêutico , Colecistite/complicações , Doença Crônica , Terapia Combinada , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/complicações , Fasciolíase/complicações , Fasciolíase/tratamento farmacológico , Fasciolíase/epidemiologia , Fasciolíase/cirurgia , Evolução Fatal , Feminino , Contaminação de Alimentos , Parasitologia de Alimentos , Humanos , Hipertensão/complicações , Cirrose Hepática Alcoólica/complicações , Falência Hepática/etiologia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Plantas Comestíveis/parasitologia , Praziquantel/uso terapêuticoRESUMO
The involvement of GABA-A receptors in the control of nociception was studied using the tail-flick test in rats. Non-hypnotic doses of the barbiturates phenobarbital (5-50 mg/kg), pentobarbital (17-33 mg/kg), and thiopental (7.5-30 mg/kg), of the benzodiazepine midazolam (10 mg/kg) or of ethanol (0.4-1.6 g/kg) administered by the systemic route reduced the latency for the tail-flick response, thus inducing a 'hyperalgesic' state in the animals. In contrast, non-convulsant doses of the GABA-A antagonist picrotoxin (0.12-1.0 mg/kg) administered systemically induced an increase in the latency for the tail-flick response, therefore characterizing an 'antinociceptive' state. Previous picrotoxin (0.12 mg/kg) treatment abolished the hyperalgesic state induced by effective doses of the barbiturates, midazolam or ethanol. Since phenobarbital, midazolam and ethanol reproduced the described hyperalgesic effect of GABA-A-specific agonists (muscimol, THIP), which is specifically antagonized by the GABA-A antagonist picrotoxin, our results suggest that GABA-A receptors are tonically involved in the modulation of nociception in the rat central nervous system.
Assuntos
Barbitúricos/farmacologia , Depressores do Sistema Nervoso Central/farmacologia , Etanol/farmacologia , Moduladores GABAérgicos/farmacologia , Hiperalgesia/induzido quimicamente , Midazolam/farmacologia , Receptores de GABA-A/efeitos dos fármacos , Animais , Antagonistas GABAérgicos/farmacologia , Masculino , Pentobarbital/farmacologia , Fenobarbital/farmacologia , Picrotoxina/farmacologia , Ratos , Ratos Sprague-Dawley , Tiopental/farmacologiaRESUMO
The involvement of GABA-A receptors in the control of nociception was studied using the tail-flick test in rats. Non-hypnotic doses of the barbiturates phenobarbital (5-50 mg/kg), pentobarbital (17-33 mg/kg), and thiopental (7.5-30 mg/kg), of the benzodiazepine midazolam (10 mg/kg) or of ethanol (0.4-1.6 g/kg) administered by the systemic route reduced the latency for the tail-flick response, thus inducing a 'hyperalgesic' state in the animals. In contrast, non-convulsant doses of the GABA-A antagonist picrotoxin (0.12- 1.0 mg/kg) administered systemically induced an increase in the latency for the tail-flick response, therefore characterizing an 'antinociceptive' state. Previous picrotoxin (0.12 mg/kg) treatment abolished the hyperalgesic state induced by effective doses of the barbiturates, midazolam or ethanol. Since phenobarbital, midazolam and ethanol reproduced the described hyperalgesic effect of GABA-A-specific agonists (muscimol, THIP), which is specifically antagonized by the GABA-A antagonist picrotoxin, our results suggest that GABA-A receptors are tonically involved in the modulation of nociception in the rat central nervous system.
Assuntos
Ratos , Animais , Masculino , Barbitúricos/farmacologia , Etanol/farmacologia , Hiperalgesia/induzido quimicamente , Midazolam/farmacologia , Picrotoxina/farmacologia , Receptores de GABA-A/efeitos dos fármacos , Depressores do Sistema Nervoso Central/farmacologia , Pentobarbital/farmacologia , Fenobarbital/farmacologia , Ratos Sprague-Dawley , Tiopental/farmacologiaRESUMO
In our country, Intensive Care Units (ICU) for both adults and children include medical equipment of high technology that saves the lives of patients in critical condition. Many of these patients for different pathologies need the use of a mechanical ventilator which keeps the patient's respiration and allows the medical staff to assist them with other means. In practice, there are a lot of different situations that the medical staff have to face and make adequate decisions that will help save the patients' lives. In this case, the mechanical ventilator must be used, requiring a great deal of experience acquired along many years of work. The mechanical ventilator SERVO 900C made by Siemens Elema is available in all ICUs; this equipment is used for the treatment of more critical patients due to his reliability and technical features. Based on this fact, a simulator was designed to help train the less experienced staff in the use of the ventilator and to allow them to face real case simulations, making decisions that will be adequate or wrong with no risk to the patient's life. In this way, they would acquire the necessary knowledge on how to use the equipment in real-life situations. The created system displays the control panel of the ventilator allowing the user to interact. The control panel includes both analogical and digital devices that show different parameters and also the gases mixer which is connected to the equipment. During the work, the user can access a calculator to facilitate the adjustment of some parameters in case any calculation is needed. The system is divided into modules. The module "Exercises" permits you to choose one out of a set and solve it by means of the adjustment of the controls; this answer is analyzed and warning messages are displayed in case a control has been set incorrectly. The aim of these exercises is that the users learn how to handle the equipment by parts and are conceived for a sequence of question-answer. The module "Problems" describes the condition of a given patient which must be treated with the ventilator. The user will then simulate his performance in the adjustment of it. The sequence question-answer will change dynamically according to the evolution previously previewed for the patient by the professor. The simulator has a set of acoustic and visual alarms which are activated during the occurrence of different anomalies. These alarms work according to the professor's will at the moment of planning the lesson. The module "Information" gives the user the possibility of consulting topics about the equipment such as: functions, patient's safety, installation, clinical judgment and location of failures. In the last module "Options" the user defines the files (exercises or problems) he is going to use as well as the directory of work and the initialization file. The system uses pull-down menus, providing a context-sensitive on screen help with information about the function of each control and how to handle it. For the preparation of the files of exercises and problems only Servo editor can be used; this editor works independently from the simulator. The system requires a PC IBM Compatible with 640 kb RAM, MS-DOS operating system, and VGA color display. We consider that with the implementation this system the user can gain experience and knowledge about the use of the ventilator before he faces real situations.
Assuntos
Simulação por Computador , Instrução por Computador , Respiração Artificial , Adulto , Criança , HumanosRESUMO
Para estudar a diurese induzida por clonidina, esta substância foi administrada, por via intraperitoneal, em ratos. Intenso efeito diurético foi observado com doses entre 0,025 e 1,25 mg/kg, além de excreçäo aumentada de íons sódio e potássio. Esse efeito diurético foi intensamente inibido pela administraçäo prévia de ioimbina (bloqueador de receptores alfa-dois adrenérgicos) ou N-metil-nalorfina (bloqueador de receptores) opióides que penetra mal o sistema nervoso central). Por outro lado, seu efeito diurético foi aumentado, pela administraçäo prévia de naloxona, um bloqueador de receptores opióides mi. É provável que a ativaçäo de receptores alfa-dois adrenérgicos pela clonidina possa induzir a liberaçäo de substâncias endógenas opióides que causem diurese através da ativaçäo de receptores periféricos com baixa afinidade por naloxona
Assuntos
Clonidina/farmacocinética , Diurese/efeitos dos fármacos , Peptídeos Opioides/metabolismo , RatosRESUMO
Os níveis sanguíenos de sulfametoxazol (SMT) foram determinados em caninos e ovinos, após administraçäo de produto comercial potencializado pela trimeoprina, em dose única de 30 mg/kg, por via intramuscular. Os níveis máximos alcançados foram: 6,52 mg/l em cäes, 4 h após a administraçäo, decaindo gradativamente até 24 h e 5,50 mg/l, em ovinos 2 h após a administraçäo, decaindo gradativamente até 12 h. A meia-vida biológica foi de 7,55 h para os caninos e 3,93 h, para os ovinos. O "clearance" total foi de 7,16 e 12,66 ml/min/kg, respectivamente no cäo e no carneiro. Cálculos adicionais mostraram que para se manter, nos ovinos, os mesmos níveis sanguíneos previstos para os caninos será necessário administrar dose 1,56 vezes maior ou diminuir o intervalo entre as administraçöes, nesta mesma proporçäo
Assuntos
Animais , Cães , Posologia Homeopática , Ovinos , Sulfametoxazol/sangueRESUMO
Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) protoplast was analyzed by using isoelectric focusing techniques. Two populations, representing 68 and 32% of the total sample, with mean isoelectric points of 4.48 and 4.60, were obtained using mesophyll protoplasts. The use of this technique allows demonstration of a discontinuous distribution of protoplast isoelectric point from one species according to their surface potential.