Recruitment of crustose coralline algae on tiles material for monitoring coral larvae settlement's consolidators at Nature Reserve Pulau Sempu, East Java, Indonesia / Recrutamento de algas coralinas crustosas em azulejos para monitorar consolidadores de assentamentos de larvas de coral na Reserva Natural Pulau Sempu, Java Oriental, Indonésia

Crustose coralline algae (Corallinophycideae) are red algae that produced calcium carbonate and are well recognized as foundation species in the epipelagic zone of the marine ecosystem. These algae induced settlement juvenile of coral by released chemical cues from bacterial communities on the surface of their colonies. Their extracellular calcium carbonate also can stabilize reef structure that influencing many invertebrate attaches and growth in the seabed. Crustose coralline algae (CCA) have obtained attention because of their distribution and health compromise to increasing seawater temperature, ocean acidification, and pollutant. As a cryptic species in the ecosystem, the presence of CCA recruit sometimes doesn’t have attention, especially on their capability to occupy the empty space. This study aimed to document coverage and number of CCA recruit in two different recruitment tile’s material. The highest CCA percentage of the cover was showed inside surface than others surface in all stations. Light intensity and low sedimentation were suggested as a key factor of success of high coverage. Overall, station higher CCA recruits have shown from Tiga Warna. Low sedimentation and protection from aerial exposure became the main reason for it. No significant difference number of CCA recruits between marble and sandstone in this study. Successful CCA recruitment in this study can give a wide picture that natural recruitment of coral and other reef biodiversity in Southern Malang might be will succeed because of the abundance of coralline algae that support their life history stage.

As algas coralinas crustosas (Corallinophycideae) são algas vermelhas que produzem carbonato de cálcio e são bem reconhecidas como espécies de base na zona epipelágica do ecossistema marinho. Essas algas induziram o assentamento juvenil de coral por meio de estímulos químicos liberados por comunidades bacterianas na superfície de suas colônias. Seu carbonato de cálcio extracelular também pode estabilizar a estrutura do recife que influencia muitos invertebrados anexados e crescimento no fundo do mar. As algas coralinas crustosas (CCA) têm obtido atenção devido à sua distribuição e comprometimento da saúde com o aumento da temperatura da água do mar, acidificação dos oceanos e poluentes. Como uma espécie enigmática no ecossistema, a presença de recrutamento CCA às vezes não recebe atenção, especialmente em sua capacidade de ocupar o espaço vazio. Este estudo teve como objetivo documentar a cobertura e o número de recrutamento de CCA em dois materiais de recrutamento diferentes. A maior porcentagem de CCA da cobertura foi mostrada na superfície interna do que nas outras superfícies em todas as estações. A intensidade da luz e a baixa sedimentação foram sugeridas como um fator-chave para o sucesso da alta cobertura. De modo geral, recrutas de CCA mais graduados mostraram-se em Tiga Warna. A baixa sedimentação e a proteção contra a exposição aérea se tornaram a principal razão para isso. Não houve diferença significativa no número de recrutas CCA entre mármore e arenito neste estudo. O recrutamento bem-sucedido de CCA neste estudo pode dar uma imagem ampla de que o recrutamento natural de corais e outros recifes da biodiversidade no sul de Malang será bem-sucedido por causa da abundância de algas coralinas que sustentam seu estágio de história de vida.

Recruitment of crustose coralline algae on tiles material for monitoring coral larvae settlements consolidators at Nature Reserve Pulau Sempu, East Java, Indonesia

Abstract Crustose coralline algae (Corallinophycideae) are red algae that produced calcium carbonate and are well recognized as foundation species in the epipelagic zone of the marine ecosystem. These algae induced settlement juvenile of coral by released chemical cues from bacterial communities on the surface of their colonies. Their extracellular calcium carbonate also can stabilize reef structure that influencing many invertebrate attaches and growth in the seabed. Crustose coralline algae (CCA) have obtained attention because of their distribution and health compromise to increasing seawater temperature, ocean acidification, and pollutant. As a cryptic species in the ecosystem, the presence of CCA recruit sometimes doesnt have attention, especially on their capability to occupy the empty space. This study aimed to document coverage and number of CCA recruit in two different recruitment tiles material. The highest CCA percentage of the cover was showed inside surface than others surface in all stations. Light intensity and low sedimentation were suggested as a key factor of success of high coverage. Overall, station higher CCA recruits have shown from Tiga Warna. Low sedimentation and protection from aerial exposure became the main reason for it. No significant difference number of CCA recruits between marble and sandstone in this study. Successful CCA recruitment in this study can give a wide picture that natural recruitment of coral and other reef biodiversity in Southern Malang might be will succeed because of the abundance of coralline algae that support their life history stage.

Resumo As algas coralinas crustosas (Corallinophycideae) são algas vermelhas que produzem carbonato de cálcio e são bem reconhecidas como espécies de base na zona epipelágica do ecossistema marinho. Essas algas induziram o assentamento juvenil de coral por meio de estímulos químicos liberados por comunidades bacterianas na superfície de suas colônias. Seu carbonato de cálcio extracelular também pode estabilizar a estrutura do recife que influencia muitos invertebrados anexados e crescimento no fundo do mar. As algas coralinas crustosas (CCA) têm obtido atenção devido à sua distribuição e comprometimento da saúde com o aumento da temperatura da água do mar, acidificação dos oceanos e poluentes. Como uma espécie enigmática no ecossistema, a presença de recrutamento CCA às vezes não recebe atenção, especialmente em sua capacidade de ocupar o espaço vazio. Este estudo teve como objetivo documentar a cobertura e o número de recrutamento de CCA em dois materiais de recrutamento diferentes. A maior porcentagem de CCA da cobertura foi mostrada na superfície interna do que nas outras superfícies em todas as estações. A intensidade da luz e a baixa sedimentação foram sugeridas como um fator-chave para o sucesso da alta cobertura. De modo geral, recrutas de CCA mais graduados mostraram-se em Tiga Warna. A baixa sedimentação e a proteção contra a exposição aérea se tornaram a principal razão para isso. Não houve diferença significativa no número de recrutas CCA entre mármore e arenito neste estudo. O recrutamento bem-sucedido de CCA neste estudo pode dar uma imagem ampla de que o recrutamento natural de corais e outros recifes da biodiversidade no sul de Malang será bem-sucedido por causa da abundância de algas coralinas que sustentam seu estágio de história de vida.

Construction of a prediction model for postoperative prognosis in patients with resectable cholangiocarcinoma based on SIRT2 expression / 浙江大学学报·医学版

OBJECTIVES@#To develop a prediction model for postoperative prognosis in patients with cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) based on the expression of silence information regulator 2 (SIRT2).@*METHODS@#The differential expression of SIRT2 between CCA and normal tissues was analyzed using TCGA and GEO databases. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was used to explore potential mechanisms of SIRT2 in CCA. The expression of SIRT2 protein in CCA tissues and normal tissues (including 44 pairs of specimens) was also detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining in 89 resectable CCA patients who underwent surgical treatment in The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College between January 2016 and December 2021. The relationship between SIRT2 expression and clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of CCA patients was analyzed. A survival prediction model for patients with resectable CCA was constructed with COX regression results, the calibration curve and the time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) were used to evaluate the performance of the constructed model, and the predictive power between this model and the AJCC/TNM staging system (8th Edition) was compared.@*RESULTS@#SIRT2 mRNA was overexpressed in CCA tissues as shown in TCGA and GEO databases. IHC staining showed that SIRT2 protein expression in CCA tissues was significantly higher than that in adjacent non-tumor tissues. GSEA results showed that elevated SIRT2 expression may be involved in multiple metabolism-related signaling pathway, such as fatty acid metabolism, oxidative phosphorylation, amino acid metabolism, etc. SIRT2 expression level was related to serum triglycerides level, tumor size and lymph node metastasis (all P<0.05). The survival analysis results showed that the patients with higher SIRT2 expression had a significant lower overall survival (OS) than patients with lower SIRT2 expression (P<0.05). Univariate COX regression analysis suggested that pathological differentiation, clinical stage, postoperative treatment and SIRT2 expression level were associated with the prognosis of CCA patients (all P<0.05). Multivariate regression analysis confirmed that clinical stage and SIRT2 expression level were independent predictors of OS in postoperative CCA patients (both P<0.05). A nomogram based on SIRT2 for prediction of survival in postoperative CCA patients was constructed. The C-index of the model was 0.675, and the area under the time-dependent ROC curve (AUC) for predicting survival in the first, second, and third years was 0.879, 0.778, and 0.953, respectively, which were superior to those of AJCC/TNM staging system (8th Edition).@*CONCLUSIONS@#SIRT2 is highly expressed in CCA tissues, which is associated with poor prognosis in patients with resectable CCA. The nomogram developed based on SIRT2 may have better predictive power than the AJCC/TNM staging system (8th Edition) in prediction of survival of postoperative CCA patients.

Accuracy of the urine point-of-care circulating cathodic antigen assay for diagnosing Schistosomiasis mansoni infection in Brazil: A multicenter study

ABSTRACT Background: The World Health Organization recommends a market-ready, urine-based point-of-care diagnostic test for circulating cathodic antigens (CCA) to determine the prevalence of S. mansoni. This study evaluated the performance of the URINE CCA (SCHISTO) ECO TESTE® (POC-ECO), which is currently available in Brazil. Methods: Residents from eight sites with different prevalence estimates provided one urine sample for POC-ECO and one stool sample for Kato-Katz (KK) and Helmintex® (HTX) testing as an egg-detecting reference for infection status. Results: None of the study sites had significantly higher POC-ECO accuracy than KK. Conclusions: POC-ECO is not currently recommended in Brazilian schistosomiasis elimination programs.

Reliability of point-of-care circulating cathodic antigen assay for diagnosing schistosomiasis mansoni in urine samples from an endemic area of Brazil after one year of storage at -20 degrees Celsius

ABSTRACT Background The World Health Organization recommends reliable point-of-care (POC) diagnostic testing to eliminate schistosomiasis. Lateral flow immunoassay that detects schistosome circulating cathodic antigen (CCA) in urine to establish prevalence thresholds for intervention in endemic areas is recommended. Stored urine may be useful if surveying at-risk populations is delayed or interrupted by unforeseen circumstances, such as the current COVID-19 pandemic. This study evaluated the manufacturer's claim that Schistosoma mansoni infection can be reliably diagnosed in urine samples stored at -20°C for one year. Methods Two-hundred-forty-two subjects from an endemic site in Brazil provided one urine sample each for testing with URINE CCA (SCHISTO) ECO TESTE® (POC-ECO) and one stool sample each for testing with Kato-Katz (KK) and Helmintex® (HTX) as a robust reference standard for infection status. At least 2 ml of urine from each participant was stored at -20°C; after one year, 76 samples were randomly selected for POC-ECO retesting. Results: The POC-ECO agreement between freshly collected and stored urine was inadequate considering trace results as positive (Cohen's kappa coefficient κ = 0.08) and negative (κ = 0.36). POC-ECO accuracy was not significantly greater than that of routine KK (54%; 95% confidence interval: 42.1%-65.5%). Conclusions The precision and accuracy of POC-ECO have to be optimized in both freshly collected and stored urine before it can be recommended for use in control programs in Brazil.

PTBP1 Promotes Growth, Migration and Invasion of Cholangiocarcinoma Cells by Regulating mRNA Alternative Splicing / 中国生物化学与分子生物学报

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a highly invasive type of cancer with insidious onset and high mortality. Polypyrimidine tract-binding protein 1 (PTBP1) is highly over-expressed in various types of tumor tissues, which contributes to cancer progression. But the role of PTBP1 in CCA has not been explored yet. In this study, we aim to investigate the function of PTBP1 in CCA. Therefore, we used publicly available data from the cancer genome atlas (TCGA) to evaluate the dysregulation of PTBP1 in CCA. The results showed that the PTBP1 is significantly up-regulated in CCA tissues compared to the matched non-tumor tissues (P < 0. 05). We assessed the effects of PTBP1 on the growth of CCA cell lines RBE and HuH28 by performing CCK-8 and plate colony formation assays. The results showed that overexpression of PTBP1 significantly promoted the growth (P < 0. 01) of CCA cells, whereas knockdown of PTBP1 exhibited opposite effects. Transwell and Invasion assays revealed that overexpression of PTBP1 significantly promotes the migration and invasion of CCA cells (P < 0. 001), whereas knockdown of PTBP1 exhibited opposite effects (P < 0. 001). The RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis in PTBP1-depleted cells showed that the up-regulated genes are significantly enriched in p53 signaling pathway, while the down-regulated genes are represented by cholesterol metabolism, Rho GTPase and TGF-β pathways. Then, the alternative splicing analysis revealed that inhibition of PTBP1 led to series of aberrant alternative splicing events, including several cancer-associated ones, such as splicing events within the TGF-β regulator TGIF1 and the p53 activity-correlated gene GNAS. These results indicate that PTBP1 promotes the progression of CCA likely by regulating the transcriptome alternative splicing to influence multiple cancer-associated signaling pathways.

Anti-tumor activity of rice bran hydrolysates on migration, invasion and angiogenesis

Objective: To investigate anti-tumor effect of rice bran hydrolysates (RBH) on proliferation, migration, invasion, and angiogenesis of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) cells, and elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Methods: RBH was prepared from Tubtim Chumprae rice (Oryza sativa L.) by hydrothermolysis followed by protease digestion. Phenolic content in RBH was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Human CCA cells, KKU-156, KKU-452, and KKU-100, were used to study the effects of RBH on proliferation, migration, invasion, and adhesion by wound healing, Transwell chamber, and fibronectin cell adhesion assays. Angiogenesis was evaluated using human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Proteins associated with cancer progression were analyzed by immunobloting assays. Results: RBH contained carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and various phenolic compounds and flavonoids. RBH did not inhibit CCA proliferation, but strongly suppressed migration, invasion, adhesion of CCA cells, and the formation of tube-like capillary structures of human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Moreover, RBH down-regulated phosphorylation of FAK, PI3K, and Akt, suppressed NF-κB nuclear translocation, decreased the expression of ICAM-1, vimentin and vascular endothelium growth factor (VEGF), and increased the expression of E-cadherin. Conclusions: RBH suppresses CCA cell migration and invasion and decreases expression of proteins involved in cancer metastasis. RBH is a potential food supplement for cancer prevention.

Deubiquitinase JOSD2 stabilizes YAP/TAZ to promote cholangiocarcinoma progression

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) has emerged as an intractable cancer with scanty therapeutic regimens. The aberrant activation of Yes-associated protein (YAP) and transcriptional co-activator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) are reported to be common in CCA patients. However, the underpinning mechanism remains poorly understood. Deubiquitinase (DUB) is regarded as a main orchestrator in maintaining protein homeostasis. Here, we identified Josephin domain-containing protein 2 (JOSD2) as an essential DUB of YAP/TAZ that sustained the protein level through cleavage of polyubiquitin chains in a deubiquitinase activity-dependent manner. The depletion of JOSD2 promoted YAP/TAZ proteasomal degradation and significantly impeded CCA proliferation

Early life history of the Caribbean coral Orbicella faveolata (Scleractinia: Merulinidae) / Historia de vida temprana del coral caribeño Orbicella faveolata (Scleractinia: Merulinidae)

Introduction: Rehabilitation of hermatypic coral species that have declined in the Caribbean in recent decades is a priority. Production of sexual recruits is considered the best restoration method to aid affected populations. Objective: To gain knowledge of early life stages of Orbicella faveolata and to enhance production of new sexual recruits. Methods: Gamete bundles from the coral species O. faveolata were collected over two years (2018 and 2019) from Los Corales del Rosario y de San Bernardo Natural National Park, Cartagena, Colombia. Assisted fertilization, larval rearing, settlement (onto crustose coralline algae, CCA) and post settlement survival in laboratory conditions were monitored. Results: Embryonic and larval development were documented over 55 hours after the first cleavage, when larvae were fully developed and started pre-settlement behavior. Settlement began 7 days after first cleavage and after 37 days polyps had acquired zooxanthellae. Larval settlement was higher on Lythophyllum congestum and Titanoderma prototypum than in response to Porolithon pachydermum, Neogoniolithon sp., Hydrolithon sp., and Lythophyllum sp. Larvae did not settle on dead coral or on the negative control (sterilized seawater). After the first week post settlement survival was 59 % amongst O. faveolata recruits. During the second week, survival dropped to 42 %, and was further reduced to 0 % at the end of the third week. Conclusions: O. faveolata larvae require cues from certain CCA species to settle, they do not settle in absence of CCA. Increased larvae availability is possible through assisted fertilization in the laboratory, however, due to the high mortality in early post-settlement phases, additional research needs to be conducted in order to scale up larvae production and improve understanding of the cues that enhance settlement and the factors which cause post-settlement mortality.

Introducción: La rehabilitación de las especies de corales hermatípicos del Caribe que han disminuido en las últimas décadas es una prioridad. La producción de reclutas sexuales se considera el mejor método de restauración para ayudar a las poblaciones afectadas. Objetivo: Obtener conocimiento de las primeras etapas de la vida de O. faveolata y mejorar la producción de nuevos reclutas sexuales. Métodos: Por dos años (2018 y 2019), seis días después de luna llena en septiembre, se recolectaron paquetes gaméticos en arrecifes del Parque Nacional Natural Los Corales del Rosario y de San Bernardo, Cartagena, Colombia. Se siguió la fertilización asistida, la cría de larvas, el asentamiento y la supervivencia posterior al asentamiento en algas coralinas costrosas (ACC) en condiciones de laboratorio. Resultados: El desarrollo de embriones y larvas se documenta a lo largo de 55 h después del primer clivaje, cuando la larva está desarrollada completamente y comenzó el comportamiento previo al asentamiento. El asentamiento comienza 7 días después del primer clivaje y 37 días después, la mayoría de los pólipos presentan zooxantelas. El asentamiento larval fue más alto en Lythophyllum congestum y Titanoderma prototypum que en respuesta a Porolithon pachydermum, Neogoniolithon sp., Hydrolithon sp., y Lythophyllum sp. No hubo asentamiento sobre coral muerto ni en el control negativo (agua de mar esterilizada). La supervivencia bajó de un 59 % en la primera semana después del asentamiento, a 42 % durante la segunda semana y 0 % para el final de la tercera semana. Conclusiones: Las larvas de O. faveolata requieren señales de ciertas especies de ACC para asentarse, ellas no se asientan en ausencia de ACC. La disponibilidad de larvas es posible mediante la fertilización asistida en laboratorio. Sin embargo, debido a la alta mortalidad en las primeras fases posteriores al asentamiento, queda mucho por hacer para aumentar la producción de larvas y mejorar nuestro conocimiento y comprensión de las señales que mejoran el asentamiento y las que previenen o inhiben la supervivencia del recluta.

Schistosomiasis: an epidemiological update on Brazils southernmost low endemic area in Esteio

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Brazil's southernmost state, Rio Grande do Sul (RGS), was considered schistosomiasis-free until 1998 when a low endemic focus was identified in Esteio, a city located next to the capital of RGS. In the last two decades, the control interventions applied in the region have been apparently successful, and the absence of new cases indicated the possibility of interrupted schistosomiasis transmission. The objective of this study was to update the clinical and epidemiological data of schistosomiasis in Esteio. METHODS: We reviewed all 28 individuals diagnosed with the infection since 1997 and a survey was applied to a group of 29 school-aged children residing in Vila Pedreira, one of the most affected neighborhoods. RESULTS No eggs were detected in fecal samples using the Helmintex method, and all samples were negative for serum antibodies on examination by the western blot technique using the Schistosoma mansoni microsomal antigen (MAMA- WB). In contrast, 23 individuals (79%) tested positive for the cathodic circulating antigen with the point-of-care immunochromatographic test (POC-CCA) on urine samples. Of the 28 formerly infected individuals, only eight were located, of which four tested positive, and four tested negative for serum antibodies using the MAMA-WB technique. CONCLUSIONS: Current adverse conditions for S. mansoni transmission in Esteio and the absence of a confirmed diagnosis suggests that there is (i) a lack of specificity of the POC-CCA test in low endemic settings, and (ii) a high probability that interruption of schistosomiasis has been achieved in Esteio.

The use of the circulating cathodic antigen (CCA) urine cassette assay for the diagnosis and assessment of cure of Schistosoma mansoni infections in an endemic area of the Amazon region

Abstract INTRODUCTION Schistosomiasis is a poverty-related disease that affects people in 78 countries worldwide. This study aimed to evaluate the point-of-care circulating cathodic antigen (POC-CCA) test performance using sensitive parasitological methods as a reference standard (RS) in individuals before and after treatment. METHODS The RS was established by combining the results of 16 Kato-Katz slides and the Helmintex® method. Positivity rates of the POC-CCA test and Kato-Katz and Helmintex® methods were calculated before treatment and 30 days afterward. Furthermore, the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and kappa coefficient before treatment were determined by comparing the methods. The cure rate was defined 30 days after treatment. RESULTS Among the 217 participants, the RS detected a total of 63 (29.0%) positive individuals. The POC-CCA test identified 79 (36.4%) infections. The evaluation of POC-CCA test performance in relation to the RS revealed a sensitivity of 61.9%, specificity of 74.0%, accuracy of 70.5%, and kappa coefficient of 0.33. Out of the 53 remaining participants after treatment, a total of 45 (81.1%) showed egg negative results, and 8 (18.9%) were egg positive according to the RS. A total of 5 (9.4%) egg-positive and 37 (69.8%) egg-negative individuals were positive by the POC-CCA test. CONCLUSIONS Our data show that the POC-CCA test has potential as an auxiliary tool for the diagnosis of Schistosoma mansoni infection, yielding better results than 16 Kato-Katz slides from three different stool samples. However, the immunochromatographic test lacks sufficient specificity and sensitivity for verifying the cure rate after treatment.

Alterações do córtex cingulado anterior como um preditor de resposta à terapia cognitivo-comportamental / Alterations of anterior cingulate cortex as predictors of response to cognitive-behavioral therapy

RESUMO Objetivo A terapia cognitivo-comportamental (TCC) tem eficácia bem-documentada na literatura científica para transtornos relacionados aos sintomas da ansiedade. No entanto, há uma parcela de pacientes que não responde ao tratamento psicoterápico. Por isso, os estudos sobre as alterações no córtex cingulado anterior (CCA) como preditoras neurais do tratamento têm contribuído para encontrar respostas sobre as diferenças nas respostas ao tratamento. O objetivo do presente estudo é descrever, por meio de revisão sistemática, os estudos encontrados até o ano de 2018 sobre o papel do CCA na predição de resposta à terapia. Métodos Foram realizadas buscas nas bases PsycInfo, Web of Science e PubMed com termos referentes ao tema "córtex cingulado anterior", "terapia cognitivo-comportamental" e "predição de respostas", incluindo estudos com neuroimagem estrutural e funcional. Resultados As buscas apresentaram 14 artigos sobre "transtorno de estresse pós-traumático (TEPT)", "transtorno obsessivo-compulsivo (TOC)" e "transtorno de ansiedade social (TAS)". Os estudos com neuroimagem estrutural apresentaram resultados promissores. A maior espessura do CCA foi preditora de melhor resposta ao tratamento para TEPT e TOC. Os resultados de neuroimagem funcional foram promissores para maior ativação como preditora de melhor resposta para TAS. Por outro lado, os resultados para TEPT apontaram que a menor ativação pode ser preditora de melhores respostas. Conclusão As alterações nos estudos de neuroimagem sugerem que o CCA tenha um papel de predição de resposta ao tratamento com TCC. Estudos posteriores com amostras maiores podem contribuir para a ampliação da eficácia nos tratamentos de tais transtornos.

ABSTRACT Objective The efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) on the treatment of anxiety-related disorders has been well documented. However, a number of patients do not respond to psychotherapeutic treatment. Therefore, changes in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) as a neural predictor of treatment response have contributed to understanding the differences in treatment outcome. The aim of this study is to describe, through a systematic review, studies published until 2018 that investigate the role of the anterior cingulate cortex on the prediction of response to therapy. Methods Searches have been conducted in the PsycInfo, Web of Science and PubMed databases for articles related to the terms "anterior cingulate cortex", "cognitive-behavioral therapy" and "prediction of response", including studies with structural and functional neuroimaging. Results We selected 14 articles on "post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)", "obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)" and "social anxiety disorder (SAD)". Overall, Structural neuroimaging studies functional neuroimaging results were promising. A greater thickness on the ACC was associated with a better response to treatment for PTSD and OCD. Greater activation of the ACC was positively associated with a greater response to treatment for patients with SAD. On the other hand, for those with PTSD, lower activation may be a better predictor of improvement. Conclusion The structural and functional alterations observed in neuroimage studies suggest that the ACC has a role in predicting treatment response to CBT. Future studies with larger samples may contribute to the improvement of treatment efficacy in such disorders.

Insights into the microbial community structure of anaerobic digestion of municipal solid waste landfill leachate for methane production by adaptive thermophilic granular sludge

BACKGROUND: The amount of municipal solid waste (MSW) gradually increased along with the rapid development of modern cities. A large amount of landfill leachate are generated with excessive chemical oxygen demand (COD), which create a great deal of pressure on the environment-friendly treatment process. Anaerobic digestion is an ideal technique to solve the above problem. RESULTS: A thermophilic granular sludge was successfully adapted for anaerobic digestion of MSW leachate (from an aging large-scale landfill) for methane production. The COD degradation efficiency improved by 81.8%, while the methane production rate reached 117.3 mL CH4/(g VS d), which was 2.34-fold more than the control condition. The bacterial and archaeal communities involved in the process were revealed by 16S rRNA gene high-throughput pyrosequencing. The richness of the bacterial community decreased in the process of thermophilic granular sludge, while the archaeal community structure presented a reverse phenomenon. The bacterial genus, Methanosaeta was the most abundant during the mesophilic process, while Methanobacterium, Methanoculleus, Methanosaeta and Methanosarcina were more evenly distributed. The more balanced community distribution between hydrogenotrophic and acetotrophic methanogens implied a closer interaction between the microbes, which further contributed to higher methane productivity. The detailed relationship between the key functional communities and anaerobic digestion performances were demonstrated via the multivariate canonical correspondence analysis. Conclusions: With the assistance of adaptive thermophilic granular sludge, microbial community structure was more evenly distributed, while both of COD degradation rate and methane production was improved during anaerobic digestion of MSW landfill leachate.

Diagnosis of Schistosoma mansoni infections: what are the choices in Brazilian low-endemic areas?

The population of Brazil is currently characterised by many individuals harbouring low-intensity Schistosoma mansoni infections. The Kato-Katz technique is the diagnostic method recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) to assess these infections, but this method is not sensitive enough in the context of low egg excretion. In this regard, potential alternatives are being employed to overcome the limits of the Kato-Katz technique. In the present review, we evaluated the performance of parasitological and immunological approaches adopted in Brazilian areas. Currently, the diagnostic choices involve a combination of strategies, including the utilisation of antibody methods to screen individuals and then subsequent confirmation of positive cases by intensive parasitological investigations.

Morbidity of schistosomiasis mansoni in a low endemic setting in Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Despite the advances of disease control programs, severe forms of schistosomiasis are prevalent. The prevalence of the disease in areas frequented by tourists urges for permanent prevention and control. The aim of this study was to describe the morbidity of schistosomiasis in the district of Antônio Pereira, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil. METHODS: The proportion of positives was defined by Kato-Katz coproscopy and urinary POC-CCA rapid test. Hepatosplenic form was diagnosed using abdominal ultrasound. RESULTS: Out of 180 participants,97 were examined by Kato-Katz, with 4 (4.1%) being positive. Thirty-four (22.1%) out of 154 were positive by POC-CCA. Five (2.8%) of 177 examined by ultrasound had hepatosplenic form. One of them had undergone splenectomy. One (0.6%)participant had myeloradiculopathy. CONCLUSIONS: Severe forms of schistosomiasis are still prevalent in low endemic areas and should be thoroughly investigated.

Sensitivity and specificity of the circulating cathodic antigen rapid urine test in the diagnosis of Schistosomiasis mansoni infection and evaluation of morbidity in a low- endemic area in Brazil

Abstract INTRODUCTION: The Kato-Katz technique is the standard diagnostic test for Schistosoma mansoni infection in rural areas. However, the utility of this method is severely limited by the day-to-day variability in host egg excretion in the stool. In high-transmission areas, the point-of-care circulating cathodic antigen (POC-CCA) urine assay has proven to be a reliable test. However, investigations of the reliability of the POC-CCA assay in low-transmission regions are under way. This study aimed to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the POC-CCA assay and the morbidity of schistosomiasis in a low-endemic area in Brazil. METHODS: Pains City is a low-transmission zone for schistosomiasis. A total of 300 subjects aged 7-76 years were randomly selected for the POC-CCA cassette test. For S. mansoni diagnosis, three stool samples on six slides were compared with one urine sample for each subject. The sensitivity and specificity in the absence of a gold standard were calculated using latent class analysis. Clinical examinations and abdominal ultrasounds were performed in 181 volunteers to evaluate morbidity associated with schistosomiasis. RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity of the Kato-Katz technique were 25.6% and 94.6%, respectively. By contrast, the sensitivity and specificity of the POC-CCA assay were 68.1% and 72.8%, respectively. Hepatosplenic schistosomiasis was diagnosed in two patients (1.1%). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the POC-CCA urine assay proved to be a useful test for diagnosing S. mansoni in a low-endemic area in Brazil. Severe clinical forms of schistosomiasis can be present even in such low-endemic areas.

Application of computer-controlled anaesthesia with autiovisual distraction of video-eyewear system in pediatric endodontic treatment / 实用口腔医学杂志

Eligible 112 children aged 4-12 years old were recruited and assigned to 2 groups with block random design.For the first treatment session,the subjects in group 1 received computer-controlled anaesthesia(CCA) with autiovisual distraction of video-eyewear system(ADVS) intervention based on the routine therapy,those group 2 received only CCA and routine therapy.For the second session,a crossover of intervention methods were conducted for the 2 groups.Before and after each session,pain intensity and dental anxiety of each group were evaluated.Results showed that the group receiving CCA-ADVS presented significantly lower pain intensity and dental anxiety than the group receiving CCA only(P＜0.05).Evident differences were detected in the assessment outcomes in each treatment session (P＜0.0001).The combination of CCA and ADVS can effectively reduce pain perception and dental anxiety of children in pediatric endodontic treatment.

Influence of environmental variables on stream fish fauna at multiple spatial scales

Effects of environmental variables at different spatial scales on freshwater fish assemblages are relatively unexplored in Neotropical ecosystems. However, those influences are important for developing management strategies to conserve fish diversity and water resources. We evaluated the influences of site- (in-stream) and catchment-scale (land use and cover) environmental variables on the abundance and occurrence of fish species in streams of the Upper Araguari River basin through use of variance partitioning with partial CCA. We sampled 38 1st to 3rd order stream sites in September 2009. We quantified site variables to calculate 11 physical habitat metrics and mapped catchment land use/cover. Site and catchment variables explained > 50% of the total variation in fish species. Site variables (fish abundance: 25.31%; occurrence: 24.51%) explained slightly more variation in fish species than catchment land use/cover (abundance: 22.69%; occurrence: 18.90%), indicating that factors at both scales are important. Because anthropogenic pressures at site and catchment scales both affect stream fish in the Upper Araguari River basin, both must be considered jointly to apply conservation strategies in an efficient manner.(AU)

Os efeitos das variáveis ambientais em diferentes escalas espaciais sobre as assembleias de peixes de água doce ainda é um tema pouco explorado na região Neotropical. Entretanto é um assunto de extrema relevância, pois gera subsídios para definições de estratégias de manejo e conservação de ictiofauna e dos recursos hídricos. Nós avaliamos a influência de variáveis ambientais em escalas local (dentro do rio) e da paisagem (uso e cobertura do solo) na abundância e ocorrência das espécies de peixes de riachos da bacia do alto rio Araguari através da partição da variância usando CCA parcial. Um total de 38 riachos de até 3ª ordem foi amostrado em setembro de 2009. Nós quantificamos variáveis locais para calcular 11 métricas de hábitats físicos e mapeamos o uso e cobertura do solo. O conjunto de dados (variáveis locais e da paisagem) explicou mais de 50% da variação total nas espécies de peixes. Variáveis em escala local (abundância: 25,31%; ocorrência: 24,51%) explicaram levemente uma maior variação nas assembleias de peixes do que o uso e cobertura do solo (abundância: 22,69%; ocorrência: 18,90%), indicando que os fatores em ambas as escalas de estudo são importantes. Uma vez que a influência antrópica em diferentes escalas afeta as espécies de peixes em riachos da bacia do alto rio Araguari, ambas devem ser consideradas juntamente para a adoção de estratégias de conservação de uma forma racional.(AU)

Research progress on TRAIL and its related apoptosis regulating mechanism in cholangiocarcinoma / 实用肿瘤学杂志

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a common cancer in hepatobiliary system .Because CCA is in sensitive to conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy ,the current treatment is mainly depending on the surgical operation when diagnosed early .Tumor necrosis factor related apoptosis inducing ligand ( TRAIL) plays a key role in the process of controlling cell proliferation by binding with its receptor and therefore mediated cell apoptosis . Although the characteristic of selectively killing tumor cells by TRAIL makes it become the new direction of clini -cal treatment of cancer ,the condition that CCA cells are resistant to TRAIL mediated apoptosis restricts its scope of application.Nowadays many studies demonstrate that multiple signaling pathways can regulate the sensitive of CCA cells to TRAIL mediated apoptosis .In this review,we summarize the expression and effects of TRAIL and its receptor in CCA , and conclude the mechanism of multiple pathways restoring the sensitivity of CCA cells to TRAIL mediated apoptosis .

Annelida (Oligochaeta and Aphanoneura) from the Natural Reserve of Isla Martín García (upper Río de la Plata estuary, Argentina): biodiversity and response to environmental variables / Annelida (Oligochaeta e Aphanoneura) da Reserva Natural de Usos Múltiplos Ilha Martín García, Río de La Plata: biodiversidade e reposta às variáveis ambientais

The Island of Martín García – located in the Upper Río de la Plata, to the south of the Uruguay River – is an outcropping of the crystalline basement. Fourteen sampling sites were selected, five along the littoral section of the island and nine in inland ponds. Four major environmental variables were measured: water temperature, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, and pH. A total of 34 species of Oligochaeta and Aphanoneura were found, 30 belonging to Naididae plus one species each of the Narapidae, Lumbricidae, Enchytraeidae, and Aeolosomatidae. The thirteen most frequent species were: A. leydigi (30%), N. bonettoi (13%), L. hoffmeisteri (11%), N. variabilis (10%), S. trivandrana (6.5%), A. pigueti (5.6%), D. sawayai (4.5%), D. digitata (3.5%), C. diastrophus (2.7%), A. costatus (2.5%), P. longiseta (2.0%), Enchytraeidae (1.5%), and A. p. paraguayensis (1.4%). UPGMA clustering of species based on their occurrence in different ecological conditions revealed two main species groups. Canonic-correspondence analysis (CCA) was conducted with the 15 most frequent and abundant species in the 9 sampling sites and the 4 environmental variables. Results from the CCA revealed that the order of fluctuation of the environmental variables during the sampling period was, from the greatest to the least: dissolved oxygen, conductivity, pH, and water temperature. Approximately 97.6% of the correlations between species and environmental variables were expressed on axis 1 of the ordination diagram. Species richness correlated with the four environmental variables in the following order, from the weakest to the strongest: water temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, and dissolved oxygen.

A ilha de Martín García, que está localizada na parte alta do Rio de la Plata, ao sul da desembocadura do rio Uruguai, é um afloramento do embasamento cristalino. Quatorze pontos de coleta foram selecionados, cinco ao longo da seção litoral da ilha e nove de lagoas do interior. Quatro principais variáveis ambientais foram medidas: temperatura da água, oxigênio dissolvido, condutividade elétrica e pH. Um total de 34 espécies de Oligochaeta e Aphanoneura foram encontradas, 30 pertencentes a Naididae mais uma espécie cada de Narapidae, Lumbricidae, Enchytraeidae e Aelosomatidae. As treze espécies mais frequentes foram: A. leydigi (30%), N. bonettoi (13%), L. hoffmeisteri (11%), N. variabilis (10%), S. trivandrana (6,5%), A. pigueti (5,6%), D. sawayai (4,5%), D. digitata (3,5%), C. diastrophus (2,7%), A. costatus (2,5%), P. longiseta (2,0%), Enchytraeidae (1,5%) e A. p. paraguayensis (1,4%). A análise de agrupamento das espécies (UPGMA) com base na sua ocorrência em diferentes condições ecológicas revelou dois grupos de espécies principais. Análise canônica de correspondência análise (CCA) foi realizada com as 15 espécies mais frequentes e abundantes nos 9 pontos de amostragem e as quatro variáveis ambientais. Os resultados do CCA revelaram que a ordem de flutuação das variáveis ambientais durante o período de amostragem foi, desde o maior ao menor: oxigênio dissolvido, condutividade, pH e temperatura da água. Cerca de 97,6% das correlações entre as espécies e as variáveis ambientais foram expressos no eixo 1 do diagrama de ordenação. A riqueza de espécies foi correlacionada com as quatro variáveis ambientais na seguinte ordem, do mais fraco ao mais forte: oxigênio a temperatura da água, pH, condutividade elétrica, e oxigênio dissolvido.