IL-22 increases the production of sFRP3 by FLS in inflammatory joint diseases

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) are inflammatory diseases with different bone remodeling patterns. Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) are cells involved in the transition from an acute and reparable phase to a chronic and persistent stage in these diseases. The distinction of joint phenotypes involves inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-17, and IL-22 directly or through key signaling pathways such as Wnt. To evaluate the role of FLS as the source of Wnt antagonists (sFRP3/FRZB and Dkk1) in the synovia, levels of TNF- α, IL-17, IL-22, Dkk1, and sFRP3 were measured by ELISA directly in the synovial fluid of patients with RA, PsA, or AS. Dkk1 and sFRP3 were also measured in the FLS culture supernatants after different inflammatory stimulus. sFRP3 and Dkk1 are constitutively expressed by FLS. IL-22 and sFRP3 were positively correlated (r=0.76; P<0.01) in synovial fluid. The stimulation of FLS with IL-22, but not TNF-alpha and IL-17, increased the production of sFRP3. No stimulus altered the basal expression of Dkk1. These results showed, for the first time, the ability of IL-22 to increase the expression of sFRP3/FRZB by human FLS in both in vitro and ex vivo models. This finding linked IL-22 to local inhibition of Wnt signaling and possibly to blockade of osteogenesis. Furthermore, FLS presented as a source of this inhibitor in synovial fluid, assigning to this cell a bone injury mechanism.

Ação antibacteriana de cimentos resinosos sobre micro-organismos do biofilme dental / Antibacterial action of resin cements on microorganisms of dental biofilm

Objetivo: objetivou-se analisar a ação antibacteriana de cimentos resinosos duais sobre micro-organismos do biofilme dental. Materiais e método: foram selecionados três cimentos resinosos (Panavia® F2.0, Fill Magic Dual Cement® e Enforce®) além das linhagens bacterianas de Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguis, Streptococcus sobrinus e Lactobacillus casei. O teste de difusão em ágar, por meio das técnicas do poço e da superfície, foi utilizado com os cimentos no estado fresco e fotopolimerizado. Após 24 horas de incubação, foram realizadas as leituras dos halos de inibição. Resultados: o cimento Panavi® F2.0 produziu halos deinibição sobre todas as linhagens bacterianas, independente do estado ou da técnica empregada. O Fill Magic Dual Cement®, no estado fresco, apresentou ação antibacteriana sobre todas as linhagens estudadas, no entanto, no estado fotopolimerizado, produziu ação antibacteriana apenas sobre as linhagens S. sanguis e L. casei. Já o cimento resinoso Enforce® não produziu halos sobre nenhuma linhagem bacteriana. Conclusão:o Panavi® F2.0 foi o cimento resinoso que apresentou maior ação antibacteriana, seguido do Fill Magic Dual Cement®. Já o cimento Enforce® não apresentou nenhuma ação antibacteriana sobre os micro-organismos do biofilme dental.

Atributos de qualidade da carne de paca (Agouti paca): perfil sensorial e força de cisalhamento / Quality attributes of paca meat (Agouti paca): sensory profile and shear force

Avaliaram-se as características sensoriais e determinou-se a força de cisalhamento de cortes de carne de paca (Agouti paca). As análises foram realizadas nos cortes desossados de paleta, lombo e pernil de nove pacas, preparados por cocção até a temperatura interna de 70ºC. A avaliação de aspecto, cor, sabor, odor e maciez foi realizada pela aplicação de teste afetivo a 146 provadores, utilizando-se escala hedônica, e a força de cisalhamento foi determinada pela técnica Warner Bratzler. Na avaliação sensorial, os cortes de paleta, lombo e pernil de paca mostraram diferença significativa (p<0,05) para os atributos de aspecto e cor. A paleta obteve pontuação mais baixa para o aspecto e mostrou coloração mais forte em relação aos demais cortes. Para a força de cisalhamento, não houve diferença (p>0,05) entre os cortes, que se mostraram igualmente macios. A carne de paca apresentou-se sensorialmente semelhante à carne suína e com boa aceitação pelos consumidores. O estudo evidenciou o potencial da paca como uma espécie silvestre para a produção comercial de carne para o mercado de carnes vermelhas ou exóticas.

Sensory characteristics and shear force of paca meat (Agouti paca) were assessed in this study. Analyses were performed in the bonelessshoulder,loin andhamobtained from nine paca carcassesprepared by cookinguntil reaching the internal temperatureof 70°C. The evaluation of flavor, aroma, color, appearance and tenderness was carried out by the application of an affective test using the hedonic scaleand a 146 consumer panel. Shear force was determined by the Warner-Bratzler technique. Shoulder, loin and ham had significant differences (p<0.05) in appearance and color. Shoulder presented the lowest score for appearance and showed darker color compared to the other cuts. Shear force values had no significant differences (p > 0.05) among the cuts, which were similarly tender. Paca meat was found to resemble pork meat in sensory evaluation and had good acceptance by consumers. This study showed the potential of paca (Agouti paca) asa wild species for meat production in the red or exotic meat market.

From a water resource to a point pollution source: the daily journey of a coastal urban stream

The aim of this study was to understand how a stream ecosystem that flows from its fountainhead to its mouth inside a city, changes from a water resource to a point pollution source. A multidisciplinary descriptive approach was adopted, including the short-term temporal and spatial determination of physical, chemical, biological and ecotoxicological variables. Results showed that water quality rapidly decreases with increasing urbanization, leading the system to acquire raw sewage attributes even in the first hundred meters after the fountainheads. Despite the tidal circulation near the stream mouth being restricted by shallowness, some improvement of the water quality was detected in this area. The multidisciplinary evaluation showed to be useful for obtaining a more realistic understanding of the stream degradation process, and to forecast restoration and mitigation measures.

Este trabalho teve o objetivo de compreender como um ecossistema de córrego que flui desde as nascentes até sua desembocadura dentro de uma cidade, transforma-se de recurso hídrico em fonte pontual de poluição. Foi adotada uma abordagem descritiva multidisciplinar, incluindo a determinação espacial e temporal em escala diária de variáveis físicas, químicas, biológicas e ecotoxicológicas. Os resultados mostraram que a qualidade da água rapidamente diminui com o aumento da intensidade espacial de urbanização, levando o sistema a adquirir características típicas de esgoto bruto já após suas primeiras centenas de metros de curso. Apesar da circulação relacionada à maré junto a desembocadura ser restrita devido às baixas profundidades, foi registrada certa melhora na qualidade da água nessa área. A avaliação multidisciplinar se mostrou útil para obter uma compreensão mais realista do processo de degradação do córrego e para propor medidas de restauração ou mitigação dos impactos.

Reproduction of Blue-black Grassquits in central Brazil

During the reproductive season Blue-black grassquit (Volatinia jacarina) males are found in clusters, wherein they exhibit a distinctive display that consists of repeated, vertical leaps while simultaneously producing a brief vocalization. The main objective of this study was to describe details of the species' reproductive behavior in a "Cerrado" area of central Brazil and compare these data with some studies carried out in other areas. The data obtained concerning different aspects of nesting, laying and hatching were generally similar to those obtained in previous studies in other areas. However, we found that the typical clutch size of two eggs per nest is lower, and egg and nestling mortality rates higher in our area than what has been reported elsewhere. Our results suggest that males differ in time expended with different activities according to their reproductive condition and also provide extensive parental care. We found that display execution rates peak in the early morning and in the late afternoon and are higher in the middle of the breeding season. We also found that there is an inverse relation between the height of the display leap and the height of the perch.

Durante a estação reprodutiva, machos de tiziu (Volatinia jacarina) são encontrados agregados e apresentam uma exibição bastante conspícua, que consiste de saltos verticais associados a uma curta vocalização. Através de observações realizadas em uma área de Cerrado na região do Brasil central, este trabalho teve como objetivos detalhar alguns aspectos da biologia reprodutiva de V. jacarina e comparar tais dados com os poucos trabalhos existentes sobre a espécie. Os dados obtidos neste estudo com relação aos diferentes aspectos da nidificação, postura e eclosão dos ovos se mostraram semelhantes, em geral, àqueles encontrados em estudos anteriores, diferindo apenas com relação ao número de ovos por ninho (a maioria dos ninhos com apenas dois ovos) e às taxas de predação, que se mostraram mais elevadas. Os dados mostram ainda que machos variam com relação ao gasto de tempo com diferentes atividades de acordo com a condição reprodutiva e que os mesmos investem parentalmente. Foram encontradas ainda, que as taxas de execução de exibição são mais elevadas no início da manhã e no final da tarde, assim como também tem um pico no meio da estação reprodutiva. Encontramos também uma relação inversa entre a altura do salto da exibição e a altura do poleiro.

Prevalencia de anticuerpos antirrubéola y antiparvovirus B19 en embarazadas de la ciudad de Córdoba y en mujeres en edad fértil de la ciudad de Villa Mercedes, San Luis / Prevalence of anti-rubella and anti-parvovirus B19 antibodies in pregnant women in the city of Córdoba, and in women of fertile age in the city of Villa Mercedes, province of San Luis

Se determinó la prevalencia de anticuerpos contra virus rubéola en 100 muestras de suero de mujeres embarazadas que concurrían a chequeos de rutina en una institución privada de la ciudad de Córdoba y en 100 muestras de suero de mujeres en edad fértil (42 de ellas embarazadas) que concurrían a dispensarios de la ciudad de Villa Mercedes, provincia de San Luis. En las muestras tomadas en la ciudad de Córdoba también se determinaron anticuerpos IgG contra parvovirus B19. Por inhibición de la hemoaglutinación, los resultados de los sueros de Córdoba mostraron una prevalencia de anticuerpos antirrubéola del 98%; en las muestras de Villa Mercedes se observó una prevalencia del 96%. La prevalencia de anticuerpos antiparvovirus B19 en los sueros de Córdoba fue del 66%. Estos datos se asemejan a los de la bibliografía mundial y fundamentan el interés en continuar estudios de este tipo para monitorear el plan de inmunización para rubéola, que en Argentina se lleva a cabo desde 1997, como así también la relevancia de la determinación de IgM antiparvovirus B19 en aquellas embarazadas sintomáticas con resultado negativo para rubéola, a fin de elaborar un diagnóstico diferencial.

We determined the prevalence of anti-rubella antibodies in 100 serum samples from pregnant women who attended routine examination at a private institution in the city of Córdoba, and in 100 serum samples from women of gestational age, 42 of whom were pregnant, attending health centres in the city of Villa Mercedes, province of San Luis. IgG antibodies against parvovirus B19 were also determined in the serum samples from Córdoba. Using the hemmagglutination inhibition test, we found a 98 % prevalence of anti-rubella antibodies among pregnant women in Córdoba and of 96 % among the women in Villa Mercedes, whereas the prevalence of anti-parvovirus B19 was 66% in the serum samples from Córdoba. These results coincide with those reported for other cities in the world, and establish an interest in continuing similar studies in order to monitor the immunization plan, which in Argentina has been going on since 1997. They also suggest the importance of the determination of IgM anti-parvovirus B19 in pregnant women who are symptomatic but with a negative result for rubella.

Effect of intracerebroventricularly injected insulin on urinary sodium excretion by cerebroventricular streptozotocin-treated rats

Recent evidence suggests that insulin may influence many brain functions. It is known that intracerebroventricular (icv) injection of nondiabetogenic doses of streptozotocin (STZ) can damage insulin receptor signal transduction. In the present study, we examined the functional damage to the brain insulin receptors on central mechanisms regulating glomerular filtration rate and urinary sodium excretion, over four periods of 30 min, in response to 3 æl insulin or 0.15 NaCl (vehicle) injected icv in STZ-treated freely moving Wistar-Hannover rats (250-300 g). The icv cannula site was visually confirmed by 2 percent Evans blue infusion. Centrally administered insulin (42.0 ng/æl) increased the urinary output of sodium (from 855.6 ± 85.1 to 2055 ± 310.6 delta percent/min; N = 11) and potassium (from 460.4 ± 100 to 669 ± 60.8 delta percent/min; N = 11). The urinary sodium excretion response to icv insulin microinjection was markedly attenuated by previous central STZ (100 æg/3 æl) administration (from 628 ± 45.8 to 617 ± 87.6 delta percent/min; N = 5) or by icv injection of a dopamine antagonist, haloperidol (4 æg/3 æl) (from 498 ± 39.4 to 517 ± 73.2 delta percent/min; N = 5). Additionally, insulin-induced natriuresis occurred by increased post-proximal tubule sodium rejection, despite an unchanged glomerular filtration rate. Excluding the possibility of a direct action of STZ on central insulin receptor-carrying neurons, the current data suggest that the insulin-sensitive response may be processed through dopaminergic D1 receptors containing neuronal pathways

Aplicação da termogravimetria (TG) no controle de qualidade da milona (Cissampelos sympodialis Eichl. ) Menispermaceae

This work proposes the application of the thermogravimetry (TG) in the control of quality of Cissampelos sympodialis, known popularly as 'milona'. After the extraction process, the alkaloids became the majority substances and the extracts showed the kinetic behavior of the bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids. This seems to be an important and useful parameter for the quality control of the 'milona' extracts.

Thermal behavior of biflorin by beans TG and a DSC photovisual system

This work proposes thermal characterization, of the biflorine, orto-quinon of Capraria biflora L., through the TG and DSC photovisual data. The thermogravimetric results showed that the decomposition reaction biflorine occurs three steps under air atmosphere, The DSC of biflorin presented five peaks relating to phase transitions. The DSC photovisual system demonstrated changes in biflorin.

Evaluación de los equipos comerciales utilizados en los bancos de sangre de Córdoba para la detección de anticuerpos anti HTLV-I/II / Evaluation of commercial equipment used in blood banks in Córdoba for the detection of anti-HTLV-I/II antibodies

In order to assess the efficiency of currently used screening tests, Abbott HTLV-I/HTLV-II EIA, Vironostika HTLV-I/II Organon Teknika, Particle Agglutination (PA) assay Serodia Fujirebio Inc. (Tokyo, Japan) for HTLV-I/II antibody detection in blood donors samples, a panel of 100 sera from different blood banks of Córdoba city were studied. An "in house" indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) was used as reference test. The correlation rates were: 66 for Abbott HTLV-I/HTLV-II EIA, 97 for Vironostika HTLV-I/II Organon Teknika EIA and 99 for PA Serodia. Vironostika HTLV-I/II Organon Teknika EIA and PA Serodia assay proved to be more reliable for HTlV-I/II antibody screening in blood donors from Córdoba, yielding a very low rate of false positive results as compared with Abbot HTLV-I/HTLV-II EIA.