Cetacean movements in coastal waters of the southwestern Atlantic ocean / Movimentos de cetáceos pelas águas costeiras do sudoeste do oceano Atlântico

Abstract: Cetaceans were monitored along ca. 700 km of the southeast coast of Brazil (22°S to 25°S) from 1995 to 2014 using photo-identification. The objective of this study was to identify any presence of long-distance movements for monitored cetacean species and discuss implications. Data on long-range movements of four of the monitored species are presented after the analysis of 321,765 photographs taken for individual identification. Seven individuals from four populations of Guiana dolphins (Sotalia guianensis) considered resident to particular estuaries or bays were reported in dispersal involving movement between pairs of protected areas over long-range distances varying between 86 and 135 km. Three cataloged rough-toothed dolphins (Steno bredanensis), first seen in Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro state (22°46'S) in November 2011, were sighted 240 km southwards as members of the same group in coastal waters of São Paulo state (23°46'S) in July 2014. Water depth for those sightings ranged from 16 to 52.7 m; local sightings of rough-toothed dolphins in Brazil have frequently been in shallow waters, but the species global distribution is usually associated with deeper waters. In a 27-day interval in the spring of 2012, a group of 16 orcas (Orcinus orca) travelled ca. 277 km in shallow coastal waters ranging from 20 to 30 m deep. Orcas are commonly observed between November and February in southeast Brazil, probably in search for prey. In summer months between 2012 and 2014, three Bryde's whales (Balaenoptera edeni) sighted in waters ranging from 14 to 49 m deep, moved between 218 and 327 km. Bryde's whales are usually found in local coastal waters where they spend summer months feeding on sardines. To date, these are the longest estimated movements reported to S. guianensis, S. bredanensis, O. orca and B. edeni in the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean.

Resumo: Cetáceos foram monitorados em cerca de 700 km da costa sudeste do Brasil (22°S a 25°S) entre 1995 e 2014 com o uso da fotoidentificação. O objetivo deste estudo foi de identificar quaisquer presenças de movimentos de longa distância de indivíduos das espécies monitoradas e discutir suas implicações. Dados de movimentos de longa distância de quatro das espécies monitoradas são apresentados após a análise de 321.765 fotos obtidas para identificações individuais. Sete indivíduos de quatro populações de boto-cinza (Sotalia guianensis) consideradas residentes a estuários e baías particulares foram reportados em movimentos de dispersão envolvendo pares de áreas protegidas em distâncias que variaram entre 86 e 135 km. Três golfinhos-de-dentes-rugosos (Steno bredanensis) catalogados e avistados primeiramente na Baía de Guanabara, Rio de Janeiro (22°46'S), em novembro de 2011, foram avistados 240 km mais ao sul como membros de um mesmo grupo nas águas costeiras do Estado de São Paulo (23°46'S) em julho de 2014. A profundidade da água onde essas avistagens aconteceram variou entre 16 e 52,7 m; avistagens de golfinhos-de-dentes-rugosos têm sido efetuadas em águas rasas na costa sudeste do Brasil, embora a distribuição global da espécie esteja associada a águas profundas. Em um intervalo de 27 dias na primavera de 2012, um grupo de 16 orcas (Orcinus orca) se desclocou cerca de 277 km em águas rasas variando entre 20 e 30 m. Orcas são comumente avistadas entre novembro e fevereiro no sudeste do Brasil, possivelmente em busca de presas. Nos meses de verão entre 2012 e 2014, três baleias-de-Bryde (Balaenoptera edeni) avistadas em águas de 14 a 49 m de profundidade, moveram-se entre 218 e 327 km. baleias-de-Bryde são encontradas em águas costeiras locais onde passam os meses de verão se alimentando de sardinhas. Até o presente momento, esses são os deslocamentos estimados como os de maiores distâncias observados para S. guianensis, S. bredanensis, O. orca and B. edeni no Atlântico Sudoeste.

Estudio piloto de diagnóstico de parasitosis intestinal y respuesta al uso de Mebendazol en niños de edad escolar en las escuelas Charcas II, El Sillar y la Cascada, gestión 2010 La Paz / Pilot study of intestinal parasitosis diagnostic and response to Mebendazol on school age children at schools in Charcas II, El Sillar and La Cascada, year 2010 La Paz

El proyecto IDH 09: Desparasitación de niños en escuelas rurales", llevo adelante un trabajo piloto experimental de diagnóstico sobre parásitos intestinales en niños en las Escuelas de las Comunidades: Charcas II; La Cascada y El Sillar, Provincia Sud Yungas, Departamento de La Paz, Bolivia. El análisis coproparasitológico fue en 93 muestras tomadas entre Inicial y quinto de primaria, con edades entre 5 y 12 años. En promedio, el 97,9% de las muestras indicaron presencia de Protozoarios y hasta un 54,5% de Helmintos, concomitantemente, con una relación promedio de 2,0 veces más Protozoarios. En las escuelas de Charcas II y La Cascada la relación fue de 1,8 y en El Sillar fue de 2,5. Hasta 12 parásitos fueron identificados entre los Protozoarios: Blatocystis hominis (92,7%); Entamoeba coli (50,3%); Endolimax nana (44,0%); Giardia lamblia (39,3%); Iodamoeba bütschlii (25,0%) y Chilomastix mesnili (8,3%) y entre los Helmintos: Ascaris lumbricoides (30,0%); Uncinaria spp (21,7%), Strongyloides stercoralis (9,0%); Hymenolepis nana (7,0%) y Trichuris trichiura (5,7%), en una muestra se detectó Enterobius vermicularis. En la escuela Charcas II, de acuerdo a sus programas de desparasitación, los niños recibieron tratamiento con Mebendazol y el efecto de la medicación fue evaluado, aleatoriamente, a los 7 días, sobre un total de 21 niños. El Mebendazol (1200mg) elimino 50% de los Helmintos. A. lumbricoides fue eliminado de todas las muestras, Uncinaria spp, S. stercoralisy T. trichiura fueron eliminados en un 50%, mientras que H. nana persistió en todas las muestras, mientras que los Protozoarios fueron eliminados solo en un 19% de las muestras.

The Project Deworming of children in rural schools carried out a pilot experimental field work to determine intestinal parasites levels in kids in rural schools, at Charcas II, La Cascada and El Sillar communities, South Yungas province, Department of La Paz, Bolivia. The coproparasitologic studies were carry out on 93 feces samples, from kids from initial to fifth grade, within ages from 5 to 12 years. An average of 97,9% of the samples showed presence of protozoa parasites and up to 54,5% showed, additionally, presence of Helminthes, with a general ratio of Protozoan to Helminthes of 2,0. At Charcas II School and La Cascada School the ratio was of 1,8; while at El Sillar gave a ratio of 2,5. A total of 12 parasites were identified, among the protozoa: Blatocystishominis (92,7%); Entamoeba coli (50,3%); Endolimax nana (44,0%); Giardia lamblia (39,3%); Iodamoeba bütschlii (25,0%) and Chilomastix mesnili:(8,3%) and among the Helminthes: Ascaris lumbriocoides (30,0%); Uncinaria spp (21,7%), Strongyloides stercoralis (9,0%); Hymenolepis nana (7,0%) and Trichuris trichiura (5,7%) and in one sample we detected Enterobius vermicularis. According to their deworming program, at Charcas II School, kids received treatment with Mebendazol (1200mg) and the effect was evaluated 7 days after treatment. On a total of 21 children. Mebendazol eliminated 50% of Helminthes. A. lumbricoides was eliminated from all samples; Uncinaria spp, S. stercoralis y T. trichiura only from 50% of the samples and H. nana persisted in all samples, while Protozoan parasites were eliminated on nearly 19% of the samples

The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene Val66Met polymorphism affects memory performance in older adults

Objective: Memory impairment is an important contributor to the reduction in quality of life experienced by older adults, and genetic risk factors seem to contribute to variance in age-related cognitive decline. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is an important nerve growth factor linked with development and neural plasticity. The Val66Met polymorphism in the BDNF gene has been associated with impaired episodic memory in adults, but whether this functional variant plays a role in cognitive aging remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism on memory performance in a sample of elderly adults. Methods: Eighty-seven subjects aged > 55 years were recruited using a community-based convenience sampling strategy in Porto Alegre, Brazil. The logical memory subset of the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised was used to assess immediate verbal recall (IVR), delayed verbal recall (DVR), and memory retention rate. Results: BDNF Met allele carriers had lower DVR scores (p = 0.004) and a decline in memory retention (p = 0.017) when compared to Val/Val homozygotes. However, we found no significant differences in IVR between the two groups (p = 0.088). Conclusion: These results support the hypothesis of the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism as a risk factor associated with cognitive impairment, corroborating previous findings in young and older adults.

Trypanosomatids (Protozoa: Kinetoplastida) in three species of Armored Catfish from Mogi-Guaçu river, Pirassununga, São Paulo, Brazil / Tripanossomatídeos (Protozoa: Kinetoplastida) em três espécies de cascudos do rio Mogi-Guaçu, Pirassununga, São Paulo, Brasil

Abstract Trypanosome infections have been reported in several species of fish, in majority of cases described on the basis of morphological characteristics. Trypanosomes in fish are heteroxenous and transmitted by hirudineans. This study aims to evaluate the prevalence and density of infections by Trypanosoma sp. in blood from three species of catfish, Hypostomus regani, H. strigaticeps, H. albopunctatus, from the Mogi Guaçu River, Pirassununga, São Paulo, Brazil. Further, this study intends to characterize the Trypanosoma specimens found in the blood of these fish by morphological and molecular techniques. The trypanosomes overall prevalence observed was 47.6% with a general average density of 0.75 parasites/µl of blood. Hypostomus regani and Hypostomus strigaticeps showed a significant difference in prevalence. The average densities of parasites were not significantly different among the three fish species. Similar findings were observed for the monthly variations in densities. The parasites found in the three species of catfish studied showed similar morphological characteristics. The morphological data and the statistical analyses used in this study didn’t show the formation of groups. The analyses provided evidence of the presence of pleomorphisms in the trypanosomes found in the three studied fish.

Resumo Infecções por tripanossomas foram descritas em diversas espécies de peixes, sendo a maioria das descrições baseada nas características morfológicas. Tripanossomas de peixes são heteroxenos e transmitidos por hirudíneos. Este estudo tem como objetivo a avaliação da prevalência e densidade da infecção por Trypanosoma sp. no sangue de três espécies de cascudos, Hypostomus regani, H.strigaticeps, H.albopunctatus, do Rio Mogi-Guaçu, Pirassununga, São Paulo, Brasil. Além disso, pretende-se a caracterização das espécies de Trypanosoma encontradas no sangue desses peixes, por meio da utilização de técnicas morfólogicas e moleculares. A prevalência total de tripanossomas foi de 47,6%, e a densidade média foi de 0,75 parasitas/ µl de sangue. Hypostomus regani e Hypostomus strigaticeps apresentaram diferenças significativas em prevalência. As médias das densidades dos parasitas não apresentaram diferenças significativas entre as três espécies de peixes estudadas. O mesmo foi observado com a variação mensal das densidades. Os parasitas encontrados nas três espécies de cascudo possuíam características morfológicas semelhantes. As análises morfológicas e estatísticas obtidas neste estudo não mostraram a formação de grupos. As análises evidenciaram a presença de pleomorfismo dos tripanossomas encontrados nas três espécies de peixes estudados.

Crack-cocaine dependence and aging: effects on working memory

Objective: To compare the working memory (WM) performance of young adult crack-cocaine dependent users, healthy older adults, and a control group of healthy young adults. Methods: A total of 77 female participants took part in this study: 26 young adult crack-cocaine dependent users (CRK), 19 healthy older adults (HO), and 32 healthy younger adults (HC). All participants completed the N-back verbal task. Results: A multivariate analysis of covariance was performed. The model included education, income, and medication use as covariates. A group effect (F6,140 = 7.192, p < 0.001) was found. Post-hoc analyses showed that the performance of the CRK and HO groups was reduced compared to the HC group in two N-back conditions. No differences between the HO and CRK groups on WM performance were found. Conclusions: CRK participants perform similar to HO participants on a WM task, despite the well-known effects of age on WM and the young age of CRK. These data point to a possible parallel between cognitive declines associated with crack use and developmental aging.

El virus del papiloma humano y el cáncer cervical: una revisión de la historia actualizada sobre la investigación del cáncer del cuello uterino en Venezuela / Human papilloma virus and cervical cancer: an historical review on the development of research on cancer of the cervix uteri in Venezuela

Se examinó la historia de la relación entre la infección con el VPH, las lesiones intraepiteliales y el cáncer del cuello uterino. Inicialmente los hallazgos fueron descritos en Maracaibo (1971), luego en México en 1973 y posteriormente los estudios sobre la ultraestructura e inmunohistoquímica de este virus y su importancia en la génesis del cáncer cervical. Se describió la ultraestructura de los viriones y sus diferentes proteínas señalando el rol de ellas en la incorporación del genoma viral a los queratinocitos del cérvix. La cubierta glicoproteica de los queratinocitos ha sido objeto de estudios y se señaló la importancia de la misma durante la infección con el VPH y su relación con p16, los antígenos de grupos sanguíneos y alteraciones tempranas en diferentes genes, las que conllevan cambios en el ciclo celular con pérdida de la heterocigosis, fenómenos que estimulados por la infección con el VPH de alto riesgo, conducen al cáncer del cuello uterino.

The history on the relationship of VPH infection and cervical cancer was examined. Findings were initially reported in Maracaibo(1971), later in Mexico(1973) and thereafter several studies on the ultrastructure and immunohistochemistry of VPH infection and its role on cervical cancer were described. The ultrastructural findings of viral particles of HPV and their proteins, as well as their role in the incorporation of the viral genome to the human cervical cells were also described. Glycoproteins on the surface of cervical cells were reviewed and their importance on HPV infection was related to p16, blood group antigens and early genetic changes in the cell cycle with loss of heterozigocity, all of which, stimulated by the high risk HPV infection lead to cervical cancer.

Importancia de los estudios de inmunohistoquímica en el diagnóstico y la evaluación pronóstica de la neoplasia intraepitelial y el cáncer cervical: revisión / Importance of immunohistochemical studies in the diagnosis and the prognostic evaluation of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix: review

Se evaluó la expresión de proteínas dependientes de genes en el epitelio cervical, en la neoplasia intraepitelial cervical (NIC) y en el carcinoma del cuello uterino (CC) a través de diversos estudios de inmunohistoquímica (IHQ). Se examinó la detección de ciertas proteínas como p53, bcl2, C-Myc, Ki 67, Ciclinas, P16 INK4a, p21, p27, b-catenina, Wnt y MCM, en relación con la evolución de la neoplasia intraepitelial, el carcinoma cervical y la infección con el virus del papiloma humano (VPH). Se señaló como la actividad transcripcional de diversos genes provoca alteraciones de la heterocigosis y pérdida de regiones cromosómicas que influyen en la sobrexpresión de proteínas o en la pérdida parcial de la expresión de algunas glicoproteínas en la superficie celular por la activación de genes del VPH.

Immunohistochemical studies in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical carcinoma are evaluated in this review. A variety of proteíns like p53, bcl2, C-Myc, Ki 67, Cyclines, P16 INK4a, p21, p27, b-catenin, Wnt and MCM, have been related to the development of cervical neoplasia and human papilloma virus infection. It is described how transcriptional factors of genes induce loss of heterozygosity, numerical chromosome abnormality and inactivation of gene products or the partial loss of some membrane glycoproteins induced by oncogenic human papillomaviruses (HPV).

Importancia de la expresión de E-cadherina en el diagnóstico inmunohistoquímico del cáncer de mama / Importance of E-cadherin; expression in the inmunohistochemical diagnosis of breast cancer

Se ha propuesto que luego de unos 20 años se produce un cambio de fenotipo de lobulillar a ductal en el 50 por ciento de los carcinomas lobulillares (CL). Las grandes diferencias en el pronóstico y el tratamiento de ambos tumores de mama, el carcinoma lobulillar (CL) y el carcinoma ductal (CD), justifican la investigación inmunohistoquímica de E-cadherina (EC), una glucoproteína de superficie cuya expresión está perdida en el CL y se encuentra en las células de los CD. Entre 385 casos de cáncer de mama remitidos durante el año 2005 para su estudio inmunohistoquímico, se seleccionaron 90 con diagnóstico o apariencia histológica de CL o de carcinoma mixto (CMx) y 30 casos de CD, para examinar la presencia de E-cadherina. Los resultados mostraron como en 349 casos se hizo el diagnóstico de CD. Al examinar con EC los 90 casos seleccionados, 36 se diagnosticaron como CL y CMx; de éstos, en un 44,4 por ciento fue modificado el diagnóstico histológico. En 7 casos el diagnóstico de CL se cambió a CD, y 10 casos diagnosticados como CMx fueron considerados CD. En 8 casos diagnosticados como CD y /o CMx, el diagnóstico luego de la EC fue de CL. Estos resultados indican que histológicamente no es fácil diagnosticar un CL y pueden verse casos de CD con apariencia de CL, o casos de CL y CMx que simulan ser CD. Las fallas diagnósticas en un 44,4 por ciento de los casos clasificados como CL y CMx luego del estudio para EC, es una cifra que se aproxima al 50 por ciento de supuestas transformaciones del fenotipo lobulillar a fenotipo ductal. Estos resultados con EC sugieren que las aparentes variaciones del fenotipo, se deben a fallas diagnósticas secundarias a la sutil diferencia histológica entre CL y CD. Estudios recientes relacionan la expresión de EC con receptores del Factor de Crecimiento Epidérmico (EGFR) y receptores de tirosina-cinasa que intervienen en la proliferación e invasión de los tumores epiteliales, por lo que se recomienda utilizar con más frecuencia la det...