Where do we aspire to publish? A position paper on scientific communication in biochemistry and molecular biology

The scientific publication landscape is changing quickly, with an enormous increase in options and models. Articles can be published in a complex variety of journals that differ in their presentation format (online-only or in-print), editorial organizations that maintain them (commercial and/or society-based), editorial handling (academic or professional editors), editorial board composition (academic or professional), payment options to cover editorial costs (open access or pay-to-read), indexation, visibility, branding, and other aspects. Additionally, online submissions of non-revised versions of manuscripts prior to seeking publication in a peer-reviewed journal (a practice known as pre-printing) are a growing trend in biological sciences. In this changing landscape, researchers in biochemistry and molecular biology must re-think their priorities in terms of scientific output dissemination. The evaluation processes and institutional funding for scientific publications should also be revised accordingly. This article presents the results of discussions within the Department of Biochemistry, University of São Paulo, on this subject.

Squamous odontogenic tumor: report of a case of unusual involvement / Tumor odontogênico escamoso: relato de um caso de envolvimento incomum

ABSTRACT The squamous odontogenic tumor (SOT) is defined as a very rare benign neoplasm, locally infiltrative and can extend to neighboring structures. This study aimed to report a case of SOT unusual involvement. A female patient, 56-year-old, smoker showed mild swelling in the chin region in the portion between the left canine and right first premolar. Axial, coronal and sagittal images showed expansive hypodense lesion in the mandibular symphysis and parasymphysis. Partial removal of the lesion was performed, which led to the diagnosis of SOT. The patient presented no recurrence during 4 years and 2 months follow-up.

RESUMO O tumor odontogênico escamoso (TOE) é definido como uma neoplasia benigna rara, localmente infiltrativa, podendo estender-se a estruturas vizinhas. Objetivou-se relatar um caso de TOE de acometimento incomum. Paciente do sexo feminino, 56 anos de idade, fumante, demonstrou leve aumento de volume na região do mento na porção compreendida entre o canino esquerdo e o primeiro pré-molar direito. Imagens axial, coronal e sagital demonstraram lesão expansiva hipodensa na sínfise e na linha média mandibular. Fez-se a remoção parcial da lesão, o que levou ao diagnóstico de TOE. A paciente não apresentou recidiva durante quatro anos e dois meses de acompanhamento.

Application of the comet assay in erythrocytes of Oreochromis niloticus (Pisces): a methodological comparison

The present study applied the comet assay to erythrocytes of Oreochromis niloticus with the aim of improving protocols to detect DNA damage in these cells, by using two distinct pHs (pH = 12.1 and pH > 13) and evaluating whether there is a correspondence between silver and ethidium bromide staining. Comets were visually examined and, the frequency of cells with and without damage was obtained, as well as the distribution of classes and scores. By using the Kruskal-Wallis test, our results revealed that pH 12.1 is more effective, although both pHs can be used. Our findings also suggest that silver staining can substitute ethidium bromide, an expensive and highly toxic stain that requires specific equipment for examination.

Leishmaniose visceral entre índios no Estado de Roraima, Brasil: aspectos clínicoepidemiológicos de casos observados no período de 1989 a 1993 / Visceral leishmaniasis among Indians of the State of Roraima, Brazil: clinical and epidemiologic aspects of the cases observed from 1989 to 1993

Descreve-se o perfil epidemiológico da leishmaniose visceral entre índios no estado de Roraima, Brasil, baseado na ocorrência de casos humanos observados e nos inquéritos caninos e entomológicos realizados no período de 1989 a 1993. Foram registrados 82 casos humanos de leishmaniose visceral em seis dos oito municípios então existentes no estado; houve predomínio de 69,5 por cento para o sexo masculino entre os casos observados. A maioria (52,4 por cento) dos casos foi entre crianças de zero a dez anos de idade. Registrou-se o índice de 10,3 por cento de infecção canina natural, entre 3.773 cães examinados em 74 localidades pesquisadas. A Lutzomyia longipalpis foi encontrada nas áreas de maior prevalência da doença, em 31 localidades diferentes. Os casos humanos, caninos e vetores estão concentrados em regiões onde predominam serras e lavrados, áreas características de ocorrência da leishmaniose visceral americana. A introdução e intensificação das atividades garimpeiras na região podem ter contribuído para a introdução da doença.

La residencia de Cirugía General en nuestro hospítal: Cómo se creó, qué hacemos y qué resultados obtenemos. Un análisis de doce años / The General Surgery residence in our hospital: How it was created, what we do and what results we get. A twelve year analysis

Se presenta una reseña sobre la Residencia del Servicio de Clínica Quirúrgica del HIG Dr. José Penna, de Bahía Blanca. En doce años de existencia, se han formado íntegramente o están completando su instrucción, 26 profesionales sobre 27 ingresantes; 25 varones y 2 mujeres, con una edad promedio, al ingreso de 26 años. Diecisiete residentes provinieron de la provincia de Buenos Aires (once de la zona de influencia del hospital y seis de otras regiones); 9, de otras provincias y uno de la República del Perú. La Universidad Nacional de La Plata fue la mayor proveedora de recurso humano con 18 ingresantes, distribuyéndose el resto entre las U. N. de Córdoba, Litoral, Buenos Aires y Católica, de Córdoba. Cada residente asistió, en promedio, a 728 pacientes, realizó 545 operaciones como cirujano y ayudó en más de 2.000 intervenciones, durante su período formativo. Actualmente, 15 residentes han sido absorbidos por el ámbito laboral local (8 en nuestro hospital y 7 en otros establecimientos privados). Los restantes se desempeñan como cirujanos en otros sitios del país. Se concluye que nuestro servicio, además de ser evaluado y jerarquizado por la Asociación Argentina de Cirugía, ha demostrado competencia para formar un recurso humano útil para el hospital, con una capacitación adecuada y sin dificultad de integración laboral, en nuestro medio o en otros lugares. Aún resta una mayor complementación con otras especialidades para poder dotar a nuestros residentes de un bagaje práctico más amplio y una optimización de su formación teórica.

In this paper we present a review about the Residency at the Unit of Surgical Clinic of the HIG Dr. José Penna, in Bahía Blanca. In the last twelve years, 26 professionals, out of 27 entrant students, have been trained comprehensively or are still completing their training program. The group includes 25 male students and 2 female students who, in average, are 26 years old at the time they begin the training. Seventeen residents came from Buenos Aires Province (eleven from the area of service of the hospital and six from other regions), nine from other provinces, and one from the Republic of Perú. The Universidad Nacional de La Plata was the largest supplier of human resources, with 18 entrant students, the rest came from the following universities: U. N. de Córdoba, Litoral, Buenos Aires and Católica, from Córdoba. Each resident assisted an average of 728 patients, performed 545 operations as surgeon and helped in more than 2,000 surgeries during their training period. At present, 15 residents are working at local institutions (8 at our hospital and 7 at other private facilities). The rest are practicing surgeons in other parts of the country. We conclude that our unit, in addition to the assessment and hierarchy granted by the Argentine Association of Surgery, has shown competence in the training of human resources useful for the hospital, with adequate training and with no difficulty to become part of the work market, either in our area or in other places. We still have to achieve a greater complementation with other specializations in order to offer our residents wider handson experience and better theoretical training.

Tempo de permanência hospitalar de recém-nascidos com mais de 1.000 gramas de peso de nascimento / Time of hospital stay for newborn at the Neonatal Unit of HIAE with more of the 1.000 gram of birth weight

Foi estudado o tempo de permanência hospitalar de recém-nascidos da unidade Neonatal do HIAE, segundo o peso de nascimento e critérios de alta estabelecidos previamente. Foram calculados as médias e seus respectivos desvios-padräo, de modo a possibilitar análises individuais do comportamento de cada recém-nascido e identificar as possíveis causas de eventuais desvios

Nonspecific blockade of vascular free radical signals by methylated arginine analogues

Methylated arginine analogues are often used as probes of the effect of nitric oxide; however, their specificity is unclear and seems to be frequently overestimated. This study analyzed the effects of N G -methyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) on the endothelium-dependent release of vascular superoxide radicals triggered by increased flow. Plasma ascorbyl radical signals measured by direct electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy in 25 rabbits increased by 3.8 ñ 0.7 nmol/l vs baseline (28.7 ñ 1.4 nmol/l, P<0.001) in response to papaverine-induced flow increases of 121 ñ 12 por cento. In contrast, after similar papaverine-induced flow increases simultaneously with L-NMMA infusions, ascorbyl levels were not significantly changed compared to baseline. Similar results were obtained in isolated rabbit aortas perfused ex vivo with the spin trap Ó-phenyl-N- tert -butylnitrone (N = 22). However, in both preparations, this complete blockade was not reversed by co-infusion of excess L-arginine and was also obtained by N-methyl-D-arginine, thus indicating that it is not related to nitric oxide synthase. L-arginine alone was ineffective, as previously demonstrated for N G -methyl-L-arginine ester (L-NAME). In vitro , neither L-arginine nor its analogues scavenged superoxide radicals. This nonspecific activity of methylated arginine analogues underscores the need for careful controls in order to assess nitric oxide effects, particularly those related to interactions with active oxygen species

Possible roles of nitric oxide and peroxynitrite in murine leishmaniasis

Activated macrophages simultaneously synthesize nitric oxide and superoxide anion which can react with each other producing peroxynitrite. Consequently, it has been difficult to assess the precise contribution of each of the formed reactive oxygen- and nitrogenderived species to the microbicidal activities of macrophages, particularly in vivo. To explore this problem, we are examining the formation and potential roles of nitrogen-derived intermediates in Leishmania amazonensis murine infection. Thus far, our results have demonstrated that peroxynitrite is a potent leishmanicidal agent in vitro and that both nitric oxide and peroxynitrite are formed during infection of susceptible BALB/c mouse strain. Nitric oxide was detected as the nitrosyl-hemoglobin complex by electron paramagnetic resonance analysis of blood drawn from mice at different times of infection, and it was shown to increase with the evolution of the disease. These results will be discussed in the context of the dual physiological role of nitric oxide either as a signaling molecule or as a deleterious agent.

Aspectos epidemiológicos, sociais e sanitários em áreas do médio Solimöes: I - Estudo das localidades de Säo Francisco do Laranjal, Aranaí e Säo Lázaro do Surubim, município de Coari, Amazonas / Epidemiological, social and sanitary aspects in area of Médio Solimöes: I - Study of localities of Säo Francisco do Laranjal, Aranaí and Säo Lázaro do Surubim, municipality of Coari, State of Amazonas

Um estudo seccional foi realizado em 1991 nas localidades de Säo Francisco do Laranjal, Aranaí e Säo Lázaro, no município de Coari, localizado no Médio Solimöes, no Estado do Amazonas, envolvendo 406 pessoas residentes, visando determinar as condiçöes sociais e sanitárias e indicaçöes epidemiológicos e laboratoriais específicos sobre a prevalência de anemia, parasitoses intestinais, malária, toxoplasmose, hepatite B e hanseníase. No inquérito foram aplicadas duas fichas padronizadas, uma domiciliar para avaliaçäo das condiçöes econômicas e sanitárias e outra individual para anamnese e exame físico. De cada pessoa foi solicitado amostra de fezes para exames pelos métodos de Lutz (sedimentaçäo) e de Baerman, e colhido sangue para dosagem de hemoglobina e micro-hematócrito, gota, gota expessa e esfregaço para a malária, sorologia para toxoplasmose e para hepatite por vírus B (HBsAg e Anti-HBs). A principal atividade econômica da populaçäo é a agricultura de subsistência e a pesca. Nas três localidades existe escola de 1§ grau mas em nenhuma existe posto de saúde. O índice de aglomeraçäo foi em média 5,3 pessoas por domicílio dos quais 84,2 por cento säo construídos de madeira e 77,5 por cento têm apenas um dormitório para toda a família. O abastecimento de água é feito diretamente do rio; em 89,4 por cento das casas näo existem instalaçöes sanitárias e em sua totalidade o lixo é abandonado ou jogado no próprio rio. A anemia esteve presente em 56,4 por cento dos examinados, 16,2 por cento com menos de 10g/Hg por cento. O exame de fezes revelou 81,9 por cento com um ou mais parasitos (72,6 por cento com mais de um parasito), com predomínio do Ascaris lumbricoides. Chama a atençäo a E. histolytica com 15,6 por cento, diagnósticada com métodos näo específicos. Surpeendentemente todas as lâminas foram negativas para malária; 65,8 por cento dos soros foram reagentes para toxoplasmose, 10,6 por cento com títulos iguais ou superiores a 1: 1024. No exame físico foram diagnósticados três casos de hanseníase (7,38 por 1.000). Apenas 1,9 por cento dos soros foram HBSAg positivos porém 34,3 por cento tinham anticorpos Anti-HBs

DNA alkylation by carbon-centered radicals

1. Over the last two decades, the prevalent view in chemical carcinogenesis has been that most free radicals do not bind to DNA. Recent studies, however, are demonstrating formation of adducts between DNA and free radicals such as hydroxyl radicals and aromatic cation radicals. 2. Within this context, we discuss the recent work from our group demonstrating DNA alkylation by carbon-centered radicals formed during biotransformation of genotoxic hydrazine derivatives both in vitro and in vivo. 3. The mutagenic potential of the identified methyl radical adduct, C8-methylguanine, is discussed, and other possible biological sources of carbon-centered radicals are presented

Sífilis gástrica: relato de um caso / Gastric syphilis: report of a case

Os autores descrevem o caso de um paciente do sexo masculino, de 30 anos, que apresentou epigastralgia constante, plenitude pós-prandial, anorexia e emagrecimento. No decorrer de sua evoluçäo houve piora de sua quadro clínico e aparecimento de vômitos alimentares pós-prandiais. O estudo radiológico mostrando processo infiltrativo de antro, associado à endoscopia digestiva com biopsia excluindo a possibilidade diagnóstica de noeplasia malígna, foram pontos importantes na orientaçäo para um quadro de sífilis gástrica. Complementou-se o diagnóstico, estudo laboratorial qualitativo e quantitativo para Lues. O tratamento foi efetuado com penicilina benzatínica

Enzymatic activation of the carcinogens 2 phenylethylhydrazine and 1,2 dimethylhydrazine to carbon centered radicals

Spin-trapping experiments demonstrate that oxidation of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine and 2-phenylethylgydrazine generates a comparable yield of carbon-centered radicals when catalyzed by horseradish peroxidase-H2O2. Using oxyhemoglobin as the catalyst, 2-phenylethylgydrazine oxidation generates ten times carbon-centered radicals than 1,2-dimethylhidrazine oxidation. This results is in agreement with oxygen consumption studies from which the apparent KM values of 8.0 mM and 72 mM were calculated for the oxyhemoglobin-catalyzed oxidation of 2-phenylethylhydrazine and 1,2-dimethylhydrazine, respectively. These differences in metabolic activation of mono- and disubstituted hydrazines may be of importance regarding the carcinogenic properties of these derivatives

Abscesso hepático: apresentaçäo clínica de 12 casos / Liver abscess: clinical presentation of 12 cases

Apesar dos avanços tecnológicos que permitem a sua detecçäo, os abscessos hepáticos de qualquer etiologia permanecem ainda hoje um desafio diagnóstico. Objetivou-se avaliar de maneira retrospectiva o comportamento clínico e laboratorial desta entidade nosológica durante o período de 10 anos no Serviço de DIP do Hospital Universitário Pedro Ernesto