Phoretic mites (Rhinoseius spp. ) in Apodiformes from Cerrado and Pantanal Biomes in midwestern Brazil / Ácaros Foréticos (Rhinoseius spp. ) em Apodiformes dos Biomas Cerrado e Pantanal no Centro-Oeste do Brasil

Abstract Nasal mites are commonly found in hummingbirds (Apodiformes). In most cases, endoparasitic mites were reported to parasitize the respiratory system, particularly the anterior nasal chambers, larynx, trachea, lungs, and the air and conjunctival sacs. However, some mites are only carried by hummingbirds, because flowers serving as a nutrient source for these small mites, such as for Apodiformes, a tropical nectar-feeding in their natural habitat. From August 2012 to May 2014, humminbirds were captured using mist nets, and examined for the presence of nasal mites (identified according to specific keys) in the Pantanal, and Cerrado biomes, from the Mato Grosso state, midwestern Brazil. Overall, 76 Apodiform specimens, from the Trochilidae family were captured, and 20 female nasal mites, identified as being from the Rhinoseius genus, were collected from eight hosts (10.5%), of the following species: Amazilia fimbriata, Amazilia versicolor, Eupetonema macroura, and Thalurania furcata. The Rhinoseius spp. has been reported on, in many ecosystems in the Americas, including Brazil, however, this is the first report on Apodiformes from the Pantanal biome. Phoretic mites are not responsible for direct damage to the population of Apodiformes, as they are not pathogenic. However, they compete for food with hummingbirds and decrease the quantity of food available in the environment. They also affect the reproductive dynamics of plants, feed on pollen, and interfere with the intricacies of the biodiversity where they live.

Resumo Os ácaros nasais são comumente encontrados em beija-flores (Apodiformes). Na maioria dos casos, os ácaros foram relatados como endoparasitas, parasitando o sistema respiratório, particularmente as câmaras nasais anteriores, a laringe, a traqueia, os pulmões e os sacos aéreos e conjuntivais. No entanto, alguns ácaros são transportados apenas por beija-flores, pois flores servem como fonte de nutrientes para esses pequenos ácaros, assim como para Apodiformes tropicais alimentados de néctar em seu habitat natural. De agosto de 2012 a maio de 2014, beija-flores foram capturadas com redes de neblina e examinadas quanto à presença de ácaros nasais (identificados de acordo com chaves específicas) nos biomas Pantanal e Cerrado, no estado do Mato Grosso, Centro-Oeste do Brasil. No total, 76 exemplares Apodiformes da família Trochilidae foram capturados e 20 fêmeas de ácaros nasais, identificados como pertencentes ao gênero Rhinoseius, foram coletados de oito hospedeiros (10,5%), das seguintes espécies: Amazilia fimbriata, Amazilia versicolor, Eupetonema macroura e Thalurania furcata. Rhinoseius spp. foi relatado em muitos ecossistemas nas Américas, incluindo o Brasil, no entanto, este é o primeiro relato em Apodiformes do bioma Pantanal. Os ácaros foréticos não são responsáveis ​​por danos diretos à população de Apodiformes, pois não são patogênicos. No entanto, eles competem por comida com beija-flores e diminuem a quantidade de comida disponível no ambiente. Eles também afetam a dinâmica reprodutiva das plantas, se alimentam de pólen e interferem nas interações da biodiversidade em que vivem.

Phoretic mites (Rhinoseius spp.) in Apodiformes from Cerrado and Pantanal Biomes in midwestern Brazil.

Nasal mites are commonly found in hummingbirds (Apodiformes). In most cases, endoparasitic mites were reported to parasitize the respiratory system, particularly the anterior nasal chambers, larynx, trachea, lungs, and the air and conjunctival sacs. However, some mites are only carried by hummingbirds, because flowers serving as a nutrient source for these small mites, such as for Apodiformes, a tropical nectar-feeding in their natural habitat. From August 2012 to May 2014, humminbirds were captured using mist nets, and examined for the presence of nasal mites (identified according to specific keys) in the Pantanal, and Cerrado biomes, from the Mato Grosso state, midwestern Brazil. Overall, 76 Apodiform specimens, from the Trochilidae family were captured, and 20 female nasal mites, identified as being from the Rhinoseius genus, were collected from eight hosts (10.5%), of the following species: Amazilia fimbriata, Amazilia versicolor, Eupetonema macroura, and Thalurania furcata. The Rhinoseius spp. has been reported on, in many ecosystems in the Americas, including Brazil, however, this is the first report on Apodiformes from the Pantanal biome. Phoretic mites are not responsible for direct damage to the population of Apodiformes, as they are not pathogenic. However, they compete for food with hummingbirds and decrease the quantity of food available in the environment. They also affect the reproductive dynamics of plants, feed on pollen, and interfere with the intricacies of the biodiversity where they live.

CD47 expression is decreased in hematopoietic progenitor cells in patients with myelofibrosis

Myelofibrosis (MF) is characterized by increased circulating hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs), abnormal cytokine levels, and the survival advantage of neoplastic progenitors over their normal counterparts, which leads to progressive disappearance of polyclonal hematopoiesis. CD47 is a surface glycoprotein with many functions, such as acting as a phagocytosis inhibitor of the expressing cell, that is increased in normal hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells mobilized into the blood and several human cancer-initiating cells, such as in acute myeloid leukemia. We compared CD47 expression in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells of patients with MF and controls and found it to be decreased in progenitors of MF. Exposure of control HPCs to the cytokines transforming growth factor β and stromal-derived factor 1, which are important regulators of hematopoietic stem cell cycling and are overexpressed in patients with MF, did not modulate CD47 expression.

CD47 expression is decreased in hematopoietic progenitor cells in patients with myelofibrosis.

Myelofibrosis (MF) is characterized by increased circulating hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs), abnormal cytokine levels, and the survival advantage of neoplastic progenitors over their normal counterparts, which leads to progressive disappearance of polyclonal hematopoiesis. CD47 is a surface glycoprotein with many functions, such as acting as a phagocytosis inhibitor of the expressing cell, that is increased in normal hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells mobilized into the blood and several human cancer-initiating cells, such as in acute myeloid leukemia. We compared CD47 expression in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells of patients with MF and controls and found it to be decreased in progenitors of MF. Exposure of control HPCs to the cytokines transforming growth factor ß and stromal-derived factor 1, which are important regulators of hematopoietic stem cell cycling and are overexpressed in patients with MF, did not modulate CD47 expression.

Phoretic mites (Rhinoseius spp.) in Apodiformes from Cerrado and Pantanal Biomes in midwestern Brazil

Abstract Nasal mites are commonly found in hummingbirds (Apodiformes). In most cases, endoparasitic mites were reported to parasitize the respiratory system, particularly the anterior nasal chambers, larynx, trachea, lungs, and the air and conjunctival sacs. However, some mites are only carried by hummingbirds, because flowers serving as a nutrient source for these small mites, such as for Apodiformes, a tropical nectar-feeding in their natural habitat. From August 2012 to May 2014, humminbirds were captured using mist nets, and examined for the presence of nasal mites (identified according to specific keys) in the Pantanal, and Cerrado biomes, from the Mato Grosso state, midwestern Brazil. Overall, 76 Apodiform specimens, from the Trochilidae family were captured, and 20 female nasal mites, identified as being from the Rhinoseius genus, were collected from eight hosts (10.5%), of the following species: Amazilia fimbriata, Amazilia versicolor, Eupetonema macroura, and Thalurania furcata. The Rhinoseius spp. has been reported on, in many ecosystems in the Americas, including Brazil, however, this is the first report on Apodiformes from the Pantanal biome. Phoretic mites are not responsible for direct damage to the population of Apodiformes, as they are not pathogenic. However, they compete for food with hummingbirds and decrease the quantity of food available in the environment. They also affect the reproductive dynamics of plants, feed on pollen, and interfere with the intricacies of the biodiversity where they live.

Resumo Os ácaros nasais são comumente encontrados em beija-flores (Apodiformes). Na maioria dos casos, os ácaros foram relatados como endoparasitas, parasitando o sistema respiratório, particularmente as câmaras nasais anteriores, a laringe, a traqueia, os pulmões e os sacos aéreos e conjuntivais. No entanto, alguns ácaros são transportados apenas por beija-flores, pois flores servem como fonte de nutrientes para esses pequenos ácaros, assim como para Apodiformes tropicais alimentados de néctar em seu habitat natural. De agosto de 2012 a maio de 2014, beija-flores foram capturadas com redes de neblina e examinadas quanto à presença de ácaros nasais (identificados de acordo com chaves específicas) nos biomas Pantanal e Cerrado, no estado do Mato Grosso, Centro-Oeste do Brasil. No total, 76 exemplares Apodiformes da família Trochilidae foram capturados e 20 fêmeas de ácaros nasais, identificados como pertencentes ao gênero Rhinoseius, foram coletados de oito hospedeiros (10,5%), das seguintes espécies: Amazilia fimbriata, Amazilia versicolor, Eupetonema macroura e Thalurania furcata. Rhinoseius spp. foi relatado em muitos ecossistemas nas Américas, incluindo o Brasil, no entanto, este é o primeiro relato em Apodiformes do bioma Pantanal. Os ácaros foréticos não são responsáveis por danos diretos à população de Apodiformes, pois não são patogênicos. No entanto, eles competem por comida com beija-flores e diminuem a quantidade de comida disponível no ambiente. Eles também afetam a dinâmica reprodutiva das plantas, se alimentam de pólen e interferem nas interações da biodiversidade em que vivem.

Third-stage larvae of the enoplid nematode Dioctophyme renale (Goeze, 1782) in the freshwater turtle Trachemys dorbigni from southern Brazil.

The giant kidney worm Dioctophyme renale is normally found in wild carnivores and domestic dogs, with aquatic oligochaetes acting as intermediate hosts. In the present study a prevalence of 50% of third-stage larvae of D. renale was recorded in 60 specimens of the freshwater turtle Trachemys dorbigni from southern Brazil. Larvae were encysted in muscles, the coelomic cavity and mesentery, the serous lining of the stomach and on the surfaces of the lung, heart, liver, pancreas, spleen and intestines. There are no previous records of reptiles being part of the life cycle of D. renale, although fish and amphibians normally act as paratenic hosts. This is the first report of third-stage D. renale larvae in the freshwater turtle, T. dorbigni.

Nasal mites of Tyrannidae (Aves) in Brazil.

A total of 81 Tyraniidae birds were examined, 80 Pitangus sulphuratus (Linnaeus, 1766) (Great kiscadee), and one Machetornis rixosa (Vieilot, 1819) (Cattle tyrant), for collection of nasal mites, which were identified as Ptilonyssus spinosus (Brooks & Strandtmann, 1960) and Sternostoma longisetosae (Hyland, 1961) (Rhinonyssidae). This finding characterises the first report of P. spinosus and S. longisetosae in P. sulphuratus, and the first record of P. spinosus in M. rixosa, and expands the geographic distribution of these species. It is the first occurrence of S. longisetosae in the Neotropics, and the first citation of P. spinosus in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

The function of ORAOV1/LTO1, a gene that is overexpressed frequently in cancer: essential roles in the function and biogenesis of the ribosome.

ORAOV1 (oral cancer overexpressed) is overexpressed in many solid tumours, making a key contribution to the development of cancer, but the cellular role of ORAOV1 is unknown. The yeast orthologue of this protein is encoded by the hitherto uncharacterized essential gene, YNL260c. Expression of ORAOV1 restores viability to yeast cells lacking YNL260c. Under nonpermissive conditions, our conditional mutants of YNL260c are defective in the maturation of the 60S ribosomal subunit, whereas maturation of the 40S subunit is unaffected. Also, initiation of translation is abrogated when YNL260c function is lost. YNL260c is indispensible for life in oxygen, but is nonessential under anaerobic conditions. Consequently, the toxic affects of aerobic metabolism on biogenesis and function of the ribosome are alleviated by YNL260c, hence, we rename YNL260c as LTO1; required for biogenesis of the large ribosomal subunit and initiation of translation in oxygen. Lto1 is found in a complex with Rli1/ABCE1, an ATP-binding cassette (ABC)-ATPase bearing N-terminal [4Fe-4S] clusters. Like Lto1, the Rli1/ABCE1 [4Fe-4S] clusters are not required for viability under anaerobic conditions, but are essential in the presence of oxygen. Loss of Lto1 function renders cells susceptible to hydroperoxide pro-oxidants, though this type of sensitivity is specific to certain types of oxidative stress as the lto1 mutants are not sensitive to an agent that oxidizes thiols. These findings reflect a functional interaction between Lto1 and the Rli1/ABCE1 [4Fe-4S] clusters, as part of a complex, which relieves the toxic effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS) on biogenesis and function of the ribosome. This complex also includes Yae1, which bridges the interaction between Lto1 and Rli1/ABCE1. Interactions between members of this complex were demonstrated both in vivo and in vitro. An increased generation of ROS is a feature shared by many cancers. The ORAOV1 complex could prevent ROS-induced ribosomal damage, explaining why overexpression of ORAOV1 is so common in solid tumours.

Phthiraptera and Gamasida parasites of Columbina picui (Temminck) (Columbiformes: Columbidae) in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Southern Brazil.

Thirty-two specimens of Columbina picui (picui ground-dove) were examined, and a collection of arthropods was made by washing the external surface of the body and the nasal cavity. The species in the order Phthiraptera found and their respective prevalences, mean abundance and mean intensity were: Columbicola passerinae (84.4%; 10.3; 12.2), Hohorstiella passerinae (21.9%; 0.7; 3.1) and Physconelloides eurysema (3.1%; 0.1; 2). The gamasid mites found in the birds and their respective prevalences, mean abundance and mean intensity were: Pellonyssus marui (31.3%; 1.2; 3.9), Ornithonyssus bursa (15.6%; 0.2. ;1.2) and Mesonyssus sp. (6.3%; 0.1; 1). Columbicola passerinae, H. passerinae, P. eurysema, O. bursa, P. marui and Mesonyssus sp. were recorded for the first time infecting C. picui in Brazil. Except for O. bursa, the other species are reported for the first time in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

Nasal mites (Gamasida: Rhinonyssidae) of Paroaria coronata (Miller) (Passeriformes: Emberezidae).

With the aim of identifying the species of nasal mites of Paroaria coronata (red-crested cardinal), the nasal cavity of 40 birds were examined. The nasal mites were identified as Ptilonyssus sairae de Castro and Sternostoma pirangae Pence, with 50% and 7.5% of prevalence, respectively. This is the first record of these mite species parasitizing P. coronata. This report also amplifies the area of occurrence of S. pirangae for Brazil and that of P. sairae for Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

Ejaculate fractions of asthenozoospermic and teratozoospermic patients have differences in the sperm DNA integrity.

The initial fraction of the human ejaculate mainly contains prostatic secretions and the subsequent fraction holds majority of the spermatozoa suspended in the secretions from the seminal vesicle. Apart from large series of proteins, human ejaculate also contains antioxidants and reactive oxygen species that are specific to certain accessory sexual glands; however, the influence of these components on the sperm DNA integrity has not been elucidated till date. The present investigation was conducted using split (first and second) ejaculate fractions of forty-one subjects having various semen abnormalities. Sperm DNA integrity was assessed in the individual fractions by comet assay and quantified. The amount of sperm DNA damage between the split fractions is not significantly different in normozoospermic semen samples. In contrast, split fraction-2 had significantly elevated level of DNA-damaged spermatozoa in asthenozoospermic (P < 0.01) and teratozoospermic groups (P < 0.001) when compared to whole ejaculate. The split fraction analysis using various types of ejaculates demonstrated the difference in sperm DNA integrity, which has not been reported till date. Hence, in a clinical point of view, the use of initial ejaculate fraction may be considered superior to whole ejaculate in assisted conception if the DNA integrity is a concern especially in asthenozoospermic and teratozoospermic samples.

Assessment of the degree of satisfaction among living kidney donors.

BACKGROUND: Organ donation during life is an act of great altruism, with unique family, social, economic, and psychological impacts. The group of anesthesiologists involved in this program sought to assess the degree of satisfaction among kidney donors between 2007 and 2008 and, in particular, with the anesthetic approach. METHODS: A telephone survey of kidney donors in 2007 and 2008 complemented a retrospective evaluation of the records of the Acute Pain Unit. RESULTS: Among 32 kidney donors, 2 were excluded as impossible to contact. Their mean age was 44.33 years including 60% women. The degree of relationship was fathers (43.3%), siblings (50%) or spouses (6.7%). Donors who underwent outpatient anesthesia were satisfied (40%) or very satisfied (60%) with the information received, all willing to repeat the experience of kidney donation. The positive aspects were: good reception (83.4%), help to a family member (30%), good information (13.3%), and confidence in the team (6.6%). No downside was mentioned by 50% of donors. Postoperative analgesia was performed using an epidural catheter (93.3%) or patient-controlled analgesia with morphine (6.7%) associated with intravenous paracetamol in all cases. With regard to analgesia using an epidural catheter, the mean total dose of morphine was 7.7 mg and 27.4 mg for 0.2% ropivacaine over an average of 3.32 days. Pain was assessed in the first 24 hours postoperatively using a scale ranging from 0 (no pain) to 4 (unbearable pain): 30% reported 0; 60% 1; and 10% 2. The complaints were pruritus (40%), nausea/vomiting (16.7%), constipation (6.7%) and/or urinary retention (3.3%). No donor showed an altered state of consciousness, motor block, or paresthesias. CONCLUSIONS: Living kidney donors showed a high degree of overall satisfaction. The anesthesia consultation was extremely helpful with a positive impact on kidney donation. An epidural catheter for analgesia after surgery proved to be effective and appropriate for this type of procedure.

Ocorrência de siphonaptera em preá cavia aperea exerleben, 1777 (rodentia: caviidae) no Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil / Occurrence of siphonaptera in cavia aperea exerleben, 1777 (rodentia: caviidae) in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil

Due to limited knowledge of Siphonaptera fauna of the Cavia aperea (Brazilian guinea pig) in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, 43 specimens were examined. Six percent of the Brazilian guinea pigs were parasitized with Siphonaptera, which were identified as Polygenis (Neopolygenis) atopus and Polygenis (Polygenis) axius proximus (Rhopalopsyllidae), both with 2.3% of prevalence. P. (Neopolygenis) atopus and P. (Polygenis) axius proximus are reported for the first time on C. aperea in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Southern Brazil.

A putative gene located at the MHC class I region around the D6S105 marker contributes to the setting of CD8+ T-lymphocyte numbers in humans.

Significant associations between human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-A and -B alleles and CD8+ T-lymphocyte numbers have been reported in the literature in both healthy populations and in HFE-haemochromatosis patients. In order to address whether HLA alleles themselves or alleles at linked genes are responsible for these associations, several genetic markers at the MHC class I region were typed on a population of 147 apparently healthy unrelated subjects phenotypically characterized for their CD8+ and CD4+ T-lymphocyte numbers. By using a machine learning approach, a set of rules was generated that predict the number of CD8+ T-lymphocyte numbers on the basis of the information of the D6S105 microsatellite alleles only. We demonstrate that the previously reported associations with HLA-A and -B alleles are due to the presence of common long (up to 4 megabases long) haplotypes that increased in frequency recently due to positive selection and that encompass a region where a putative gene contributing to the setting of CD8+ T lymphocytes is located, in the neighbourhood of microsatellite locus D6S105, in the 6p21.3 region.

Deviations in brain development due to caloric undernutrition and scope of their prevention by rehabilitation: alterations in the power spectra of the EEG of areas of the neocortex and limbic system.

Wistar rats underwent caloric undernutrition so as to produce undernourished pups (F1, both male and female), which were put on a reduced diet throughout life, causing deficits in body weight of 40-70%, and in brain weight of 14-20% by adulthood. These chronic undernourished rats were mated and their progeny (F2), which had suffered gestational and postnatal undernutrition, were undernourished, like their parents, throughout life until the moment of use in this study. At this degree of chronic undernutrition, rats do not appear to be sick or morbid, but only small-for-age, they are active and can reproduce. The computer-generated power spectra of the EEG of two neocortical areas (visual and motor) and of 3 regions of the limbic system (cingulate, hippocampus and olfactory bulb) of the chronically undernourished pups were obtained at different ages from birth to adulthood, and compared with the normal ontogenetic patterns of corresponding areas obtained from age-matched controls. In another group of rats, the undernutrition was imposed on normal pups from the day of weaning (21st day), i.e., after the major part of the brain growth spurt is over. Finally, the effect of restituting normal rehabilitatory nutrition from the day of weaning on the chronic group was also studied. The results show that all brain regions studied were affected by the chronic caloric undernutrition. The deviations from the normal consist of: (1) an initial lag or delay in the development of the EEG amplitude and activity by several days, (2) a later development of an abnormally high amplitude or power in the EEG power spectra by about the weaning age, and (3) an imbalance in the occurrence of the characteristics of the EEG of the respective areas of the brain (the low and high frequency spindles of slow sleep, the slow and fast theta activities of paradoxical sleep of the hippocampus, the delta rhythm, etc.). While the chronic undernutrition was continuing there was also a certain degree of spontaneous reduction in the magnitude of abnormality after about 80 days of age, instead of worsening with age, perhaps due to an intrinsic adaptational readjustment to the stress of the nutritional deprivation. The results reveal a variation in the susceptibility of development to these abnormalities. Typical examples of the range of variation of the effects are presented in the results showing that there can be nearly normal EEG patterns in some undernourished subjects (about 14-22%), and also that there can be abnormal EEG power spectra in a proportion of normals (up to about 20%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Experimental study on rats to find the usefulness of nutritional supplementation to undernourished offspring of parents undernourished life-long.

Undernourished parents getting only about half of normal feed requirement and whose body weights were deficient by 40-65% were mated and out of the resulting litters, the medium size (about 8) ones were culled to 8 per dam whose food supply was restricted to 10 g per day during the suckling (category M2). Another category (M3) was constituted out of large (over 12) litters born to similar undernourished parents and culling the litter size to 15 per dam besides restricting the dam's food to only 10 g per day during first week and to 15 g per day during the second and third weeks of suckling. Another category (M1) was constituted like M3 except that the parents were provided with normal, ad libitum nutrition throughout. Effects of post-weaning continuation of undernutrition or of rehabilitation with ad libitum food were studied in M2 groups of pups till 425 days of age. Further, an additional protein-deficient type of undernutrition (M4) was also superimposed in one group of M2 category of pups between day 41 and 60 of age, and then rehabilitated on to normal diet to find the additional effect of this additional load of the protein-malnutrition. The control groups of normal pups were also reared along with the above groups for comparisons. The normal diet had: 22.8% protein, 10.6% fat, 61% carbohydrate, and vitamins and minerals. By 21 days of age, the deficiencies of the M1, M2 and M3 were about 28%, 64% and 77% respectively in body weights, and about 8%, 21% and 30% respectively in brain weights. Continuing the undernutrition after weaning on half of normal feed, the M2 group of males and females stabilized at about 41% and 62% respectively of normal body weights by about 150 days of age. Rehabilitation of M2 or M4 groups by providing ad libitum feed had never recovered their pre-rehabilitation body weight deficits even after the ad libitum feeding for as long as 425 days of age. On the contrary, the brain weights seemed to have partially recovered from the earlier deficits, but here also the general conclusion of permanency of deficits stood unequivocally. The present study affirms that different degrees of gestational, lactational and post-weaning undernutrition can lead to different degrees of growth deficits and that supplemental feeding regimens introduced afterwards cannot bring out recoveries from such previous deficits which seem to remain permanently.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)