Desrostificação e nomadopolítica em bla bla bla (1968), de Andrea Tonacci / Defacement and nomadopolitics in bla bla bla (1968), by Andrea Tonacci / Desfiguración y nomadopolítica en bla bla bla (1968), de Andrea Tonacci

Este texto é fruto de parte da pesquisa de doutorado em que buscamos defender, nas três primeiras produções do cineasta Andrea Tonacci, um nomadismo do pensamento, haja vista que, com suas imagens fílmicas, ele realiza um esforço de criação que foge ou faz fugir os mecanismos de poder e controle, optando pelo que vai além da opinião, dos clichês e da conservação, buscando doar um caráter revolucionário e minoritário à sua arte, possibilitando maquinar e construir junto a sua imagem novos sentidos, por meio da promoção do encontro capaz de fazer explodir as forças intensivas e ativas uma vez presentes nelas. Aportamo-nos no média-metragem Bla Bla Bla (1968), de forma a buscar perceber como, nesta película, Tonacci realiza movimentos inventivos de desrostificação, capazes de denunciar o esgotamento de um rosto político e abrir a sua imagem a novas possibilidades, realizando, com isso, uma nomadopolítica, atitude típica de um cinema-menor.

This text is the result of part of the doctoral research in which we seek to defend, in the first three productions of filmmaker Andrea Tonacci, a nomadism of thought, because with his filmic images, he makes an effort of creation that escapes the mechanisms of power and control, opting for what goes beyond opinion, clichés and conservation. Thus, he gives a revolutionary and minority character to his art, making it possible to machine and build new meanings together with his image. Based on his film Bla Bla Bla (1968), we will seek to understand how Tonacci carries out inventive movements of defacement, capable of denouncing the exhaustion of a political face and opening his image to new possibilities, thus realizing a nomadopolitics, a typical attitude of a minor cinema.

Este texto es el resultado de parte de la investigación doctoral en que buscamos defender, en las tres primeras producciones del cineasta Andrea Tonacci, un nomadismo de pensamiento, ya que con sus imágenes fílmicas realiza un esfuerzo de creación que huye o hace huir de los mecanismos de poder y control, optando por lo que va más allá de la opinión, de los clichés y de la conservación, buscando dar un carácter revolucionario y minoritario a su arte, posibilitando la construcción de nuevos significados junto a su imagen. A partir de su mediometraje Bla Bla Bla (1968), buscaremos comprender cómo, en este filme, Tonacci realiza movimientos inventivos de desfiguración, capaces de denunciar el agotamiento de un rostro político y abrir su imagen a nuevas posibilidades, realizando así, una nomadopolítica, actitud típica de un cine menor.

Recovery of Toxoplasma gondii DNA in experimentally mummified skin and bones: Prospects for paleoparasitological studies to unveil the origin of toxoplasmosis.

Paleoparasitology studies parasite infections by finding the parasites' remains in preserved organic remains such as natural or artificial mummy tissues, skeletons, teeth, and coprolites, among others. However, some currently important infections like toxoplasmosis have not been studied by paleoparasitology. The reasons include this parasite's complex life cycle, the resulting difficulties in locating this protozoan in the intermediate host tissues, and the limitation of coprolite studies to felines, the protozoan's definitive host. The current study thus aimed to produce an experimental model for molecular diagnosis of toxoplasmosis, prioritizing its study in bones and skin, the most abundant materials in archeological collections and sites. The study demonstrated the feasibility of recovering Toxoplasma gondii DNA from desiccated material, including bones and skin, in experimental models both with circulating tachyzoites (RH strain), characteristic of acute infection, and with cysts (ME49 cystogenic strain), characteristic of chronic infection. At present, most individuals with T. gondii infection are in the chronic phase, and the same was probably true in the past. The current study thus expands the odds of finding the parasite in archeological material, enhanced by the nature of the material in which the diagnosis was made. Finding the parasite may help answer questions that are widely debated in the literature on this protozoan's origin (Old World versus New World). In addition, when conditions do not allow ideal storage of samples for molecular tests, the methodology creates the possibility of testing oven-dried samples transported at room temperature.

The flagellar protein FLAG1/SMP1 is a candidate for Leishmania-sand fly interaction.

Leishmaniasis is a serious problem that affects mostly poor countries. Various species of Leishmania are the agents of the disease, which take different clinical manifestations. The parasite is transmitted by sandflies, predominantly from the Phlebotomus genus in the Old World and Lutzomyia in the New World. During development in the gut, Leishmania must survive various challenges, which include avoiding being expelled with blood remnants after digestion. It is believed that attachment to the gut epithelium is a necessary step for vector infection, and molecules from parasites and sand flies have been implicated in this attachment. In previous work, monoclonal antibodies were produced against Leishmania. Among these an antibody was obtained against Leishmania braziliensis flagella, which blocked the attachment of Leishmania panamensis flagella to Phlebotomus papatasi guts. The protein recognized by this antibody was identified and named FLAG1, and the complete FLAG1 gene sequence was obtained. This protein was later independently identified as a small, myristoylated protein and called SMP1, so from now on it will be denominated FLAG1/SMP1. The FLAG1/SMP1 gene is expressed in all developmental stages of the parasite, but has higher expression in promastigotes. The anti-FLAG1/SMP1 antibody recognized the flagellum of all Leishmania species tested and generated the expected band by western blots. This antibody was used in attachment and infection blocking experiments. Using the New World vector Lutzomyia longipalpis and Leishmania infantum chagasi, no inhibition of attachment ex vivo or infection in vivo was seen. On the other hand, when the Old World vectors P. papatasi and Leishmania major were used, a significant decrease of both attachment and infection were seen in the presence of the antibody. We propose that FLAG1/SMP1 is involved in the attachment/infection of Leishmania in the strict vector P. papatasi and not the permissive vector L. longipalpis.

Weight loss in the first month post-gastroplasty following diet progression with introduction of solid food three weeks after surgery.

BACKGROUND: Bariatric surgery is an effective tool in treating severe obesity. It provides significant weight loss in morbidly obese people accompanied by improvement in comorbidities and quality of life. AIM: To investigate the weight loss outcomes in the first month after bariatric surgery after introduction of solids three weeks postoperatively. METHODS: Thirty-two charts of patients who underwent bariatric surgery were analyzed at a private nutritional clinic in São Sebastião do Paraíso, MG, Brazil; 93,75% of the subjects underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, and 6,25% vertical gastrectomy. The subjects were 16 to 60 years. A body mass index of 30 to 69 Kg/m2 was obtained. Patients were instructed to eat small amounts several times a day, eat slowly, chew foods thoroughly, substitute sugar for sweetener, stop drinking gassy beverages, set the utensils down in between meals, drink only in between meals, avoid processed condiments and fried and greasy foods. RESULTS: In the first month after surgery, the mean weight loss was 9,7% and the percentage of excess weight loss was 23,9%. It was found that there was significant statistical difference in relation to initial and final weight (p=0,00; p<0,05). CONCLUSION: This protocol provides more freedom of choice in health care once one does not have to go on food intake modifications for more than three weeks; more nutritional guidelines is followed and prospective weight loss is presented.

Weight loss in the first month post-gastroplasty following diet progression with introduction of solid food three weeks after surgery / Perda de peso no primeiro mês pós-gastroplastia seguindo evolução de dieta com introdução de alimentos sólidos a partir da terceira semana

BACKGROUND: Bariatric surgery is an effective tool in treating severe obesity. It provides significant weight loss in morbidly obese people accompanied by improvement in comorbidities and quality of life. AIM: To investigate the weight loss outcomes in the first month after bariatric surgery after introduction of solids three weeks postoperatively. METHODS: Thirty-two charts of patients who underwent bariatric surgery were analyzed at a private nutritional clinic in São Sebastião do Paraíso, MG, Brazil; 93,75% of the subjects underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, and 6,25% vertical gastrectomy. The subjects were 16 to 60 years. A body mass index of 30 to 69 Kg/m2 was obtained. Patients were instructed to eat small amounts several times a day, eat slowly, chew foods thoroughly, substitute sugar for sweetener, stop drinking gassy beverages, set the utensils down in between meals, drink only in between meals, avoid processed condiments and fried and greasy foods. RESULTS: In the first month after surgery, the mean weight loss was 9,7% and the percentage of excess weight loss was 23,9%. It was found that there was significant statistical difference in relation to initial and final weight (p=0,00; p<0,05). CONCLUSION: This protocol provides more freedom of choice in health care once one does not have to go on food intake modifications for more than three weeks; more nutritional guidelines is followed and prospective weight loss is presented. .

RACIONAL: A cirurgia bariátrica é ferramenta eficaz no tratamento da obesidade grave. Ela tem proporcionado perdas ponderais importantes em indivíduos com obesidade mórbida, com consequente melhora das comorbidades e da qualidade de vida. OBJETIVO: Verificar a perda de peso no primeiro mês após a cirurgia bariátrica com a introdução de alimentos sólidos a partir da terceira semana do pós-operatório. MÉTODOS: No consultório próprio de nutrição em São Sebastião do Paraíso, MG, foram estudados os prontuários de 32 pacientes que se submeteram à cirurgia bariátrica, sendo que 93,75% submeteram-se ao bypass gastrointestinal em Y-de-Roux e 6,25% à gastrectomia vertical. Os pacientes apresentavam variação do índice de massa corporal de 30 a 69 Kg/m2 e variação de 16 a 60 anos de idade. O paciente passava por três consultas de aproximadamente uma hora no pré-operatório para correção de hábitos alimentares inadequados, esclarecimento de dúvidas e mudança de comportamento antes da operação. Era orientado a fracionar as refeições, comer devagar, mastigar exaustivamente os alimentos, substituir o açúcar por adoçante, cortar do cardápio bebidas gasosas e bebidas alcoólicas, descansar os talheres após cada garfada, diminuir aos poucos a quantidade de comida que ingere, não beber líquidos durante as refeições, evitar temperos industrializados, evitar preparações gordurosas e frituras. RESULTADOS: Foi observada média na redução do peso corporal no primeiro mês após a operação de 9,7% e observou-se média de perda de excesso de peso de 23,9% no primeiro mês. Houve diferença estatisticamente significativa comparando o peso inicial ...

EST sequencing of blood-fed and Leishmania-infected midgut of Lutzomyia longipalpis, the principal visceral leishmaniasis vector in the Americas.

Leishmaniasis is an important worldwide public health problem. Visceral leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania infantum chagasi is mainly transmitted by Lutzomyia longipalpis in the Americas. Leishmania development within the sand fly vector is mostly restricted to the midgut. Thus, a comparative analysis of blood-fed versus infected midguts may provide an invaluable insight into various aspects of sand fly immunity, physiology of blood digestion, and, more importantly, of Leishmania development. To that end, we have engaged in a study to identify expressed sequenced tags (ESTs) from L. longipalpis cDNA libraries produced from midguts dissected at different times post blood meal and also after artificial infection with L. i. chagasi. A total of 2,520 ESTs were obtained and, according to the quality of the sequencing data obtained, assembled into 378 clusters and 1,526 individual sequences or singletons totalizing 1,904 sequences. Several sequences associated with defense, apoptosis, RNAi, and digestion processes were annotated. The data presented here increases current knowledge on the New World sand fly transcriptome, contributing to the understanding of various aspects of the molecular physiology of L. longipalpis, and mechanisms underlying the relationship of this sand fly species with L. i. chagasi.

Late, but not early, inhibition of soluble guanylate cyclase decreases mortality in a rat sepsis model.

Overproduction of nitric oxide and activation of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) are important in sepsis-induced hypotension and hyporesponsiveness to vasoconstrictors. A time course of the expression and activity of sGC in a sepsis model [cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)] was evaluated in rats. Soluble GC alpha-1 and beta-1 subunit mRNA levels increased in the lungs, but not in the aorta. However, in both tissues, the protein levels increased 24 h after sepsis and remained high for up to 48 h. Sodium nitroprusside-stimulated cGMP accumulation was higher 48 h after CLP in the lung and aorta. NOS-2 protein expression peaked 24 h after CLP, decreasing thereafter. The impact of inhibiting the expression of sGC early (8 h) or late (20 h) on vascular reactivity and the indexes of organ damage and mortality were also studied. Late administration of methylene blue (MB) or ODQ (1H-[1,2,4]-oxadiazole[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one) restored the blood pressure and vascular responsiveness to vasoconstrictors to normal levels but was ineffective in early sepsis. Late MB injection reduced the plasma levels of urea, creatinine, and lactate. MB improved the survival if administered late, but it increased the mortality when administrated early after sepsis onset. The increased sGC expression/activity may be relevant for the late hypotension and hyporesponsiveness to vasoconstrictors in sepsis. In accordance, MB increased survival if administered in late sepsis, but not in early sepsis. Therefore, differential responsiveness to sGC during the course of sepsis may determine the success or failure of treatment with sGC inhibitors.

Caracterização das proteínas de superfície Flag e Sup de Leishmania potencialmente envolvidas na interação com o vetor / Characterization of surface proteins of Leishmania Sup Flag and potentially involved in interaction with the vector

A leishmaniose visceral é uma doença de alta mortalidade quando não tratada. Aproximadamente 500.000 novos casos ocorrem todo ano, frequentemente em países pobres e em desenvolvimento. No Brasil, a leishmaniose visceral é causada pela Leishmania chagasi, que é transmitida principalmente pelo inseto vetor Lutzomyia longipalpis. Após 72 h de alimentação sanguínea num hospedeiro infectado, parasitas procíclicos são vistos aderidos ao intestino do inseto via flagelo. Esta adesão é vital para a evolução do ciclo de transmissão do parasita. Em vetores espécie-específicos foi proposto um papel para um lipofosfogligano (LPG) de superfície de Leishmania na adesão, porém, em vetores permissíveis, tem-se sugerido que esta adesão seja independente de LPG. Com o interesse de identificar e caracterizar moléculas que possam ter uma participação na interação parasito-vetor, nós iniciamos o estudo de duas moléculas de L. chagasi denominadas Flag e Sup, pertencentes à família de proteínas pequenas miristiladas (SMPs), que anteriormente haviam sido implicadas em adesão ao tubo digestivo de flebotomíneos. Amplificamos e sequenciamos o gene Flag de L. chagasi e observamos por alinhamento múltiplo o alto grau de conservação deste gene entre as espécies de Leishmania. Proteínas Flag e Sup recombinantes foram produzidas e utilizadas para produção de anticorpos policlonais em coelhos. Vimos por Western Blot de extrato protéico de várias espécies de Leishmania, que os anticorpos monoclonal e policlonal anti-Flag/MBP e o anticorpo policlonal anti-Sup, reconhecem as proteínas em todas as espécies, evidenciando a conservação destas. A imunolocalização destas proteínas mostrou que a proteína Flag está preferencialmente localizada na forma promastigota na bolsa flagelar e no flagelo, e, em amastigota, na bolsa flagelar e no flagelo interno curto, enquanto que a proteína Sup mostrou localização em toda a superfície do corpo em ambas as formas. Experimentos de RT-PCR mostraram que há transcrição diferencial de Flag e Sup quando comparamos entre as formas evolutivas amastigotas e promastigotas. Flag tem uma expressão parecida nas duas formas evolutivas enquanto Sup é mais expresso em amastigotas. Ensaios de inibição ex-vivo incubando previamente L. chagasi com anticorpo monoclonal anti-Flag ou policlonal anti-Sup, mostrou redução significativa de parasitas aderidos ao intestino de L. longipalpis. Na tentativa de identificar um potencial receptor para o parasita no intestino de L. longipalpis, observamos a marcação de uma proteína de 27 kDa no extrato protéico do vetor utilizando parasita biotinilado em experimentos de ligand blot.