Use of FTA elute card impregnated with cervicovaginal sample directly into the amplification reaction increases the detection of human papillomavirus DNA

This study aimed to evaluate the use of the FTA elute cardTM impregnated with cervicovaginal sample directly in the PCR amplification for detection of HPV-DNA. The results were compared to a reference technique. This method was more efficient than the protocol indicated by the manufacturer, identifying 91.7% against 54.2% of the positive samples.

Análise dos polimorfismos HLADQB1*0201/DQB1*0302 em pacientes portadores de diabetes melito tipo 1 no Vale do Sinos / Analysis of the HLA-DQB1*0201DQB*0302 polymorphisms in type 1

O diabetes melito do tipo 1 (DM1) é uma doença auto-imune de caráter multifatorial. Dentre os fatores genéticos envolvidos no seu desencadeamento, os genes do sistema de histocompatibilidade humano (HLA) são responsáveis por 40 do componente genético desta doença crônica. Este trabalho analisou a freqüência dos polimorfismos HLA-DQB1*0201/DQB1*0302 em pacientes diabéticos do tipo 1 residentes na região do Vale do Sinos (RS-Brasil) através da técnica da reação em cadeia da polimerase e de sondas específicas. Como resultado, verificou-se que a freqüência destes polimorfismos era mais elevada em pacientes quando comparada com um grupo controle, dado muito semelhante àqueles descritos na literatura. Enfim, a análise das freqüências é de extrema importância para o entendimento da etiologia do DM1, contribuindo assim para o diagnóstico precoce e auxiliando no controle e no acompanhamento eficaz dos pacientes acometidos por esta patologia.

Genetic polymorphisms at the leptin receptor gene in three beef cattle breeds

The genetic diversity of a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at the exon 20 (T945M) of the leptin receptor gene (LEPR) and of three short tandem repeats (STRs BM7225, BMS694, and BMS2145) linked to LEPR was investigated in three beef cattle herds (Brangus Ibagé, Charolais, and Aberdeen Angus). A cheap and effective new method to analyze the T945M polymorphism in cattle populations was developed and the possible role of these polymorphisms in reproduction and weight gain of postpartum cows was evaluated. High levels of genetic diversity were observed with the average heterozygosity of STRs ranging from 0.71 to 0.81. No significant association was detected between LEPR markers and reproductive parameters or daily weight gain. These negative results suggest that the LEPR gene polymorphisms, at least those herein described, do not influence postpartum cows production.