RESUMO
The emergence of new technologies from the genomics revolution will transform the potential application of biomarkers to assess how pollutants impact people, animals, and ecosystems. Genetic databases provide a huge resource from which candidate molecular biomarkers can be identified and, subsequently, exploited to address these issues. However, a major challenge is to link these novel molecular indices to ecologically relevant whole-organism life-cycle traits (such as reproduction and growth). Such a functional link is provided by annetocin, previously characterized as a member of the vasopressin/oxytocin superfamily of neuropeptides. It is expressed in annelid worms within the neurons of the central nervous system and has been shown to be involved in the induction of egg-laying behavior. This paper outlines the validation of annetocin as a novel biomarker of reproductive fitness in the earthworm Eisenia fetida. The design of primer pairs targeted toward oligochaete annetocin has facilitated the isolation of a full-length annetocin cDNA from this species. Optimization of a real-time quantitative PCR procedure exploiting the fluorescent DNA-binding molecule, Sybr Green, has allowed the measurement of annetocin transcript levels over a range covering six orders of magnitude. Using this approach, gene expression was measured in earthworms exposed to soils polluted with high concentrations of zinc and lead. Traditional growth and reproductive indices, including cocoon production, were also recorded and related to the molecular parameter. The future use of annetocin as a molecular genetic biomarker in terrestrial ecotoxicology is discussed.
Assuntos
Ecossistema , Hormônios de Invertebrado/genética , Oligoquetos/genética , Peptídeos Cíclicos/genética , Reprodução/genética , Toxicologia/métodos , Sequência de Aminoácidos , Animais , Biomarcadores/análise , Hormônios de Invertebrado/metabolismo , Chumbo/análise , Chumbo/toxicidade , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Oligoquetos/efeitos dos fármacos , Oligoquetos/metabolismo , Peptídeos Cíclicos/metabolismo , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase , RNA/análise , Reprodutibilidade dos Testes , Reprodução/efeitos dos fármacos , Sensibilidade e Especificidade , Solo/análise , Poluentes do Solo/análise , Poluentes do Solo/toxicidade , Zinco/análise , Zinco/toxicidadeRESUMO
Thirty patients with peripheral arterial disease were evaluated using an ultrasonic duplex scanner. A total of 338 arterial segments from the level of the iliac to the popliteal artery were studied and compared with the results of arteriography read independently by two radiologists who were unaware of the results with the scanner. The results demonstrate that this method is not only suitable for clinical use but is as good as arteriography in defining both the location and extent of the arterial involvement.
Assuntos
Arteriopatias Oclusivas/diagnóstico , Perna (Membro)/irrigação sanguínea , Ultrassonografia , Adulto , Idoso , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Fluxo Sanguíneo Regional , ReologiaAssuntos
Paraganglioma/patologia , Neoplasias Retroperitoneais/patologia , Neoplasias das Glândulas Suprarrenais/diagnóstico , Diagnóstico Diferencial , Feminino , Quadril , Humanos , Lipossarcoma/cirurgia , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Paraganglioma/diagnóstico , Paraganglioma/cirurgia , Feocromocitoma/diagnóstico , Neoplasias Retroperitoneais/diagnóstico , Neoplasias Retroperitoneais/cirurgia , Neoplasias de Tecidos Moles/cirurgia , Fatores de TempoRESUMO
Experimentally produced renal injuries are shown by arteriography, venography, and retrograde pyelography using geometric magnification techniques. Arteriography is the most satisfactory modality examined. Venography is technically more difficult and generally less sensitive than arteriography, although extravasation of contrast material was shown with equal frequency. Retrograde pyelography is inferior to arteriography and correlates closely with the venographic findings.