Scavenging Activity of Dermestes maculatus (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) on Burned Cadaveric Tissue.

The aim of this work was to study the effect that fire exposure in tissues may have on Dermestes maculatus DeGeer (Dermestidae: Dermestini) taphonomic behaviour under controlled conditions. Two different times of fire exposure (treatments) were evaluated, 15 min and 30 min, after spraying pig trotters with gasoil. The pig trotters were provided to adult hide beetles and both were maintained at 24 ± 0.1°C, 55.4% ± 2% relative humidity, and a 12:12 h day/night cycle. An unburned pig trotter was used as a control for each treatment. Observations were made and photographs were taken every 4-5 days for 4 months. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were performed. Dermestes maculatus was able to feed and reproduce on burned tissues. Beetles in adult and larvae stages produced different types of marks in several kinds of tissues such as integumental, connective, and muscular, in the controls and treatments. Apparently, 15 min of burning the pig trotters were not sufficient enough to cause differences in the taphonomic marks with respect to the control, but post mortem burning for 30 min may have implicated changes (lesser insect damage represented by lesser number and surface of both depressions and holes were found with respect to the control; greater surfaces and diameters were noticed compared to those found in the unburned pig trotters). The shape of the marks was equal in the controls and treatments.

Stereoisomers and functional groups in oxidorhenium(v) complexes: effects on catalytic activity.

The syntheses of oxidorhenium(v) complexes [ReOCl(L1a-c)2] (3a-c), equipped with the bidentate, mono-anionic phenol-dimethyloxazoline ligands HL1a-c are described. Ligands HL1b-c contain functional groups on the phenol ring, compared to parent ligand 2-(4,4-dimethyl-4,5-dihydro-1,3-oxazol-2-yl)-phenol H1a; namely a methoxy group ortho to the hydroxyl position (2-(4,4-dimethyl-4,5-dihydro-1,3-oxazol-2-yl)-6-methoxyphenol, H1b), or a nitro group para to the hydroxyl position (2-(4,4-dimethyl-4,5-dihydro-1,3-oxazol-2-yl)-4-nitrophenol, H1c). Furthermore, oxidorhenate(v) complexes (NBu4)[ReOCl3(L1a-b)] (2a-b) were synthesized for solid state structural comparisons to 3a-b. All novel complexes are fully characterized including NMR, IR and UV-Vis spectroscopy, MS spectrometry, X-ray crystallography, elemental analysis as well as cyclic voltammetry. The influence of functional groups (R = -H, -OMe and -NO2) on the catalytic activity of 3a-c was investigated in two benchmark catalytic reactions, namely cyclooctene epoxidation and perchlorate reduction. In addition, the previously described oxidorhenium(v) complex [ReOCl(oz)2] (4), employing the phenol-oxazoline ligand 2-(4,5-dihydro-2-oxazolyl)phenol Hoz, was included in these catalysis studies. Complex 4 is a rare case in oxidorhenium(v) chemistry where two stereoisomers could be separated and fully characterized. With respect to the position of the oxazoline nitrogen atoms on the rhenium atom, these two stereoisomers are referred to as N,N-cis and N,N-trans isomer. A potential correlation between spectroscopic and structural data to catalytic activity was evaluated.

Iron catalyzed oxidation of benzylic alcohols to benzoic acids.

The bidentate N,O-ligands phenol-pyrazole (HL1), naphthol-pyrazole (HL2) and the commercially available ligand 5-methylphenol-benzotriazole (HL3) were used for the synthesis of novel iron(iii) complexes. The mononuclear iron complexes [FeCl(L1)2] (1), [FeCl(L2)2] (2) and [FeCl(L3)2] (3) are stable to air and moisture, both in the solid state as well as in solution, while the dinuclear, µ-oxido bridged complex [{Fe(L1)2}2(µ-O)] (1a) is air sensitive. All four complexes 1, 2, 3 and 1a were investigated for their catalytic activity in the direct one-pot oxidation of primary alcohols to carbonic acids with 30% aq. hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as the oxidation agent. The activity in oxidation reactions of the isolated, mononuclear complexes 1-3 was further compared to their in situ prepared analogues IS1-3. Experimentally obtained results indicate a tendency of higher activity for the oxidation of primary alcohols for the in situ prepared complexes. In conclusion, the oxidation of aromatic primary alcohols to carboxylic acids using isolated iron(iii) complexes and in situ generated complexes in the presence of H2O2 results in good to high yields. The reaction is straight-forward, clean and generates water as the only by-product.

Reinforcement of the pelvic diaphragm using a purse-string suture in dogs: description of technique / Reforço do diafragma pélvico por meio de sutura em bolsa de fumo: descrição de técnica

Recurrence of perineal hernias is frequent, and is associated to poor identification of anatomical structures during surgery, inadequate suture placement, and failure of physical support of the pelvic diaphragm after surgical reconstruction. The objective of this work is to describe a novel surgical technique for reinforcement of the pelvic diaphragm after performing the internal obturator transposition technique in dogs with perineal hernia.(AU)

As recidivas das hérnias perineais são frequentes e associadas à falha no isolamento das estruturas anatômicas, inadequada colocação de suturas e falência na sustentação do diafragma pélvico reconstruído cirurgicamente. Objetiva-se descrever uma nova técnica cirúrgica para reforço do diafragma pélvico após a realização da técnica de elevação do músculo obturador interno em cães com hérnia perineal.(AU)

Biological Strategies of Dermestes maculatus DeGeer (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) at Larval Stages in Different Temperatures.

The intraspecific variation in larval instars is a widely distributed phenomenon amongst holometabolous insects. Several factors can affect the number of instars, such as temperature, humidity, and density. Only a few references could be found in the literature because the invariability in the number of larval instars is considered normal, and the issue has raised little to no interest. Despite this, no study to date has intended to assess or focus on the larval development. Here, we analyzed the effect of different rearing temperature on the larval stage of Dermestes maculatus DeGeer (Coleoptera: Dermestidae). The results indicated that at all temperatures, L5 represented a decisive point for individuals as well as the other later larval instars, because the next step to follow was to pupate or molt to the next larval instar. Furthermore, there were mainly two populations, L5 and L6, although in different proportions according to temperature. We also found that at a greater number of instars, the larval development at all temperatures lasted longer. Moreover, the exponential model was the best adjustment in the developmental time of all populations as well as for the accumulated developmental time of L1-L4. Thus, we conclude that random factors such as genetics could probably cause interspecific variability in D. maculatus larval development.

Active Search on Carcasses versus Pitfall Traps: a Comparison of Sampling Methods.

The study of insect succession in cadavers and the classification of arthropods have mostly been done by placing a carcass in a cage, protected from vertebrate scavengers, which is then visited periodically. An alternative is to use specific traps. Few studies on carrion ecology and forensic entomology involving the carcasses of large vertebrates have employed pitfall traps. The aims of this study were to compare both sampling methods (active search on a carcass and pitfall trapping) for each coleopteran family, and to establish whether there is a discrepancy (underestimation and/or overestimation) in the presence of each family by either method. A great discrepancy was found for almost all families with some of them being more abundant in samples obtained through active search on carcasses and others in samples from traps, whereas two families did not show any bias towards a given sampling method. The fact that families may be underestimated or overestimated by the type of sampling technique highlights the importance of combining both methods, active search on carcasses and pitfall traps, in order to obtain more complete information on decomposition, carrion habitat and cadaveric families or species. Furthermore, a hypothesis advanced on the reasons for the underestimation by either sampling method showing biases towards certain families. Information about the sampling techniques indicating which would be more appropriate to detect or find a particular family is provided.

Correction of rectal sacculation through lateral resection in dogs with perineal hernia - technique description / Correção de saculação retal por meio de ressecção lateral em cães com hérnia perineal - descrição da técnica

The occurrence of perineal hernias in dogs during routine clinical surgery is frequent. The coexistence of rectal diseases that go undiagnosed or are not correctly treated can cause recurrence and postoperative complications. The objective of this report is to describe a surgical technique for treatment of rectal sacculation through lateral resection in dogs with perineal hernia, whereby restoring the rectal integrity.

A ocorrência de hérnias perineais em cães na rotina clínica cirúrgica é frequente. A coexistência de doenças do reto não diagnosticadas ou não tratadas corretamente pode causar recidiva e complicações pós-operatórias. Este relato tem como objetivo descrever uma técnica cirúrgica para o tratamento de saculação retal por meio de ressecção lateral em cães com hérnia perineal, com restabelecimento da integridade retal.

Bone morphogenetic proteins inhibit the tumorigenic potential of human brain tumour-initiating cells.

Transformed, oncogenic precursors, possessing both defining neural-stem-cell properties and the ability to initiate intracerebral tumours, have been identified in human brain cancers. Here we report that bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), amongst which BMP4 elicits the strongest effect, trigger a significant reduction in the stem-like, tumour-initiating precursors of human glioblastomas (GBMs). Transient in vitro exposure to BMP4 abolishes the capacity of transplanted GBM cells to establish intracerebral GBMs. Most importantly, in vivo delivery of BMP4 effectively blocks the tumour growth and associated mortality that occur in 100% of mice after intracerebral grafting of human GBM cells. We demonstrate that BMPs activate their cognate receptors (BMPRs) and trigger the Smad signalling cascade in cells isolated from human glioblastomas (GBMs). This is followed by a reduction in proliferation, and increased expression of markers of neural differentiation, with no effect on cell viability. The concomitant reduction in clonogenic ability, in the size of the CD133+ population and in the growth kinetics of GBM cells indicates that BMP4 reduces the tumour-initiating cell pool of GBMs. These findings show that the BMP-BMPR signalling system--which controls the activity of normal brain stem cells--may also act as a key inhibitory regulator of tumour-initiating, stem-like cells from GBMs and the results also identify BMP4 as a novel, non-cytotoxic therapeutic effector, which may be used to prevent growth and recurrence of GBMs in humans.

Syntheses and characterization of mu,eta(1),eta(1)-3,5-di-tert-butylpyrazolato derivatives of aluminum.

The 3,5-di-tert-butylpyrazolato (3,5-tBu(2)pz) derivatives of aluminum [(eta(1),eta(1)-3,5-tBu(2)pz)(mu-Al)R(1)R(2)](2) (R(1) = R(2) = Me 1; R(1) = R(2) = Et, 2; R(1) = R(2) = Cl, 3; R(1) = R(2) = I, 4; [(eta(2)-3,5-tBu(2)pz)(3)Al], 5; [Al(2)(eta(1),eta(1)-3,5-tBu(2)pz)(2)(mu-E)(C triple bond CPh)(2)] (E = S (6), Se (7), Te (8)) have been prepared in good yield. Compounds 1 and 2 were obtained by the reactions of H[3,5-tBu(2)pz] with Me(3)Al and Et(3)Al, respectively. Reaction of [(eta(1),eta(1)-3,5-tBu(2)pz)(mu-Al)H(2)](2) with the pyrazole H[3,5-tBu(2)pz] gave [(eta(2)-3,5-tBu(2)pz)(3)Al] (5). The reaction of [(eta(1),eta(1)-3,5-tBu(2)pz)(mu-Al)R(2)](2) (R = H, Me) and I(2) yielded 4, while the reaction of 1 equiv of K[3,5-tBu(2)pz] and AlCl(3) afforded 3. In addition, the reaction of [Al(2)(eta(1),eta(1)-3,5-tBu(2)pz)(2)(mu-E)H(2)] and HC triple bond CPh gave 6, 7, and 8. All compounds have been characterized by elemental analysis, NMR, and mass spectroscopy. The molecular structure analyses of compounds 1, 3, 6, and 7 by X-ray crystallography showed that complexes 1 and 3 are dimeric with two eta(1),eta(1)-pyrazolato groups in twisted conformation while 6 and 7 with two eta(1),eta(1)-pyrazolato groups display a boat conformation.

Insuficiencia Renal Aguda (IRA) inducida por ifosfamida y contraste iodado

La toxicidad renal por ifosfamida puede ser potenciada por otras drogas. Se reporta un paciente varón de 57 años de edad con carcinoma indiferenciado de pulmón no a celulas pequeñas, estadio IIIB. Recibió cada 28 días ifosfamida 2,5 g/m2, días 1 y 15, dexametasona 8 mg, MESNA 4,8 g/ciclo y clorhidrato de granisetrón. Con orina y función renal normales, se realizó TAC de tórax con contraste y a las tres semanas recibió un cuarto ciclo. Un mes despues ingresó con IRA no oligúrica, urea 306 mg/dl, CrP 11 mg/dl, Kp 3 meq, Nap 130 mq/, Na urinario 30.5 meq/l, Hb 9,6 g/dl, GB 11.000, hipergamma con componente M gamma lento Kappa y Lambda, proteinuria 1.2 g/24 horas, tubular, Bence Jones negativa y microhematuria. Ecografía renal normal. La PAMO descartó plasmocitoma. La biopsia renal mostró nefritis túbulo - intersticial con necrosis y atrofia tubular, fibrosis instersticial y afectación glomerular con proliferación celular e inmunofluorescencia negativa. Realizó tratamiento medico con recuperación parcial de la función renal y proteinuria negativa a los seis meses. Se recomienda no utilizar contrastes iodados durante el tratamiento con ifosfamida y monitorear beta 2 microglobulina y función renal como indicadores de daño renal (AU)

Insuficiencia Renal Aguda (IRA) inducida por ifosfamida y contraste iodado

La toxicidad renal por ifosfamida puede ser potenciada por otras drogas. Se reporta un paciente varón de 57 años de edad con carcinoma indiferenciado de pulmón no a celulas pequeñas, estadio IIIB. Recibió cada 28 días ifosfamida 2,5 g/m2, días 1 y 15, dexametasona 8 mg, MESNA 4,8 g/ciclo y clorhidrato de granisetrón. Con orina y función renal normales, se realizó TAC de tórax con contraste y a las tres semanas recibió un cuarto ciclo. Un mes despues ingresó con IRA no oligúrica, urea 306 mg/dl, CrP 11 mg/dl, Kp 3 meq, Nap 130 mq/, Na urinario 30.5 meq/l, Hb 9,6 g/dl, GB 11.000, hipergamma con componente M gamma lento Kappa y Lambda, proteinuria 1.2 g/24 horas, tubular, Bence Jones negativa y microhematuria. Ecografía renal normal. La PAMO descartó plasmocitoma. La biopsia renal mostró nefritis túbulo - intersticial con necrosis y atrofia tubular, fibrosis instersticial y afectación glomerular con proliferación celular e inmunofluorescencia negativa. Realizó tratamiento medico con recuperación parcial de la función renal y proteinuria negativa a los seis meses. Se recomienda no utilizar contrastes iodados durante el tratamiento con ifosfamida y monitorear beta 2 microglobulina y función renal como indicadores de daño renal

Comparison between ectoderm-conditioned medium and fibronectin in their effects on chondrogenesis by limb bud mesenchymal cells.

Limb bud ectoderm inhibits chondrogenesis by limb bud mesenchymal cells cultured at high density or on collagen gels. This ectodermal antichondrogenic influence has been postulated to function in vivo in regulating the spatial patterning of cartilage and soft connective tissue in the limb. We have developed a method for preparing ectoderm-conditioned medium containing antichondrogenic activity. Using a simple bioassay, we have investigated some characteristics of the ectodermal products and their effects on limb bud mesenchymal cells. Inhibition of chondrogenesis by ectoderm-conditioned medium was tested on limb bud mesenchymal cells cultured on collagen gels. The antichondrogenic influence involves enhanced cell spreading and is alleviated by agents, such as cytochalasin D, that induce cell rounding. Fibronectin resembles ectoderm-conditioned medium in its ability to inhibit chondrogenesis and promote cell spreading in collagen gel cultures of limb bud mesenchymal cells. However, Western blot analysis shows that the antichondrogenic activity of ectoderm-conditioned medium is not due to fibronectin in the medium. Peptides related to the fibronectin cell-binding domain block the antichondrogenic effect of fibronectin, but not that of ectoderm-conditioned medium. On the other hand, an antibody to an integrin, as well as heparan sulfate, alleviates the antichondrogenic effects of both fibronectin and ectoderm-conditioned medium. The antichondrogenic effect of ectoderm-conditioned medium may be mediated by an integrin and by a cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycan, but it does not depend directly upon fibronectin-mediated cell spreading.

Epithelial effects on limb chondrogenesis involve extracellular matrix and cell shape.

Collagen gel cultures of limb bud mesenchymal cells are normally permissive for chondrogenesis but become inhibitory for chondrogenesis when they are preconditioned by limb ectoderm. This inhibition is specific for cartilage differentiation, inasmuch as myoblast differentiation is unaffected and flattened, fibroblastic cells are more numerous on conditioned gels. The antichondrogenic effect of ectoderm-conditioned gels is not blocked by agents that elevate intracellular cyclic AMP levels and that promote chondrogenesis under other conditions. In contrast, the inhibitory effect of the ectoderm is alleviated when cultures are treated with cytochalasin D, a cytoskeleton-disrupting agent that causes the cells to remain spherical. These results suggest that ectoderm-conditioned collagen gels inhibit chondrogenesis through an effect on cell shape.

Extracellular matrix mediates epithelial effects on chondrogenesis in vitro.

It has been previously observed that single chick embryonic limb mesenchymal cells can differentiate into chondrocytes without cell-cell interactions when cultured in collagen or agarose gels. In the present study, limb ectoderm, but not dermis, inhibits chondrogenesis when placed on such collagen gel cultures. The inhibitory influence can be transmitted extensive distances in the gel, even when the ectoderm is placed on a porous filter. Collagen gels, preconditioned with limb ectoderms, are also inhibitory to chondrogenesis. On the other hand, chondrogenesis is less inhibited by ectoderm when the mesenchymal cells are placed in agarose. These results suggest that the antichondrogenic effect of limb ectoderm is mediated through alterations of the collagenous extracellular matrix and support the idea that the extracellular matrix must be considered as an organized, functional unit capable of regulating cell differentiation.

Induction of chondrogenesis in limb mesenchymal cultures by disruption of the actin cytoskeleton.

Cell shape is known to influence the chondrogenic differentiation of cultured limb bud mesenchyme cells (Solursh, M., T. F. Linsenmayer, and K. L. Jensen, 1982, Dev. Biol., 94: 259-264). To test whether specific cytoskeletal components mediate this influence of cell shape, we examined different cytoskeleton disrupting agents for their ability to affect chondrogenesis. Limb bud cells cultured at subconfluent densities on plastic substrata normally become flattened, contain numerous cytoplasmic microtubules and actin bundles, and do not undergo spontaneous chondrogenesis. If such cultures are treated with 2 micrograms/ml cytochalasin D during the initial 3-24 h in culture, the cells round up, lose their actin cables, and undergo chondrogenesis, as indicated by the production of immunologically detectable type II collagen and a pericellular Alcian blue staining matrix. Cytochalasin D also induces cartilage formation by high-density cultures of proximal limb bud cells, which normally become blocked in a protodifferentiated state. In addition, cytochalasin D was found to reverse the normal inhibition by fibronectin of chondrogenesis by proximal limb bud cells cultured in hydrated collagen gels. Agents that disrupt microtubules have no apparent effect on the shape or chondrogenic differentiation of limb bud mesenchymal cells. These results suggest an involvement of the actin cytoskeleton in controlling cell shape and chondrogenic differentiation of limb bud mesenchyme. Interactions of the actin cytoskeleton and extracellular matrix components may provide a regulatory mechanism for mesenchyme cell differentiation into cartilage or fibrous connective tissue in the developing limb.

O uso de metodos anticoncepcionais entre favelas de Santo Andre, SP. / Use of contraceptive methods among beehived women of Santo Andre, SP

Atraves de entrevistas pessoais, pesquisa-se a posicao de 91 mulheres faveladas do Municipio de Santo Andre, Sao Paulo.As entrevistas referiram grande numero de gestacoes e de partos, sendo a maioria usuaria de algum metodo, anticoncepcional ou de esterilizacao. Apenas 11 dessas mulheres desejam engravidar a curto prazo, enquanto 7 outras nao tem vida sexual ativa, atual, 5 estao gravidas e 4 lactando. Dentre as 64 restantes, 13 foram submetidas a laqueadura tubaria e 51 utilizam metodos anticoncepcionais. O metodo anticoncepcional preferido por 70,6% das entrevistadas e o anticoncepcional oral, sendo de salientar a raridade do uso de dispositivo intra-uterino

Evidence for a role of 13S axonemal ATPase in modulation of ciliary microtubule sliding.

We recently demonstrated that elevated concentrations (greater than 20 microM) of the dynein substrate MgATP2- inhibit the spontaneous ATP-induced sliding disintegration of isolated, Triton-demembranated Tetrahymena cilia. We have used a turbidimetric assay (delta A350 nm) and electron microscopy to examine the effect of ATP on sliding disintegration when activated by other divalent cations. Mg2+, Ca2+, and Mn2+ are each capable of activating sliding, but only with Mg2+ and Mn2+ is disintegration inhibited by elevated ATP concentrations (greater than or equal to 1 mM). The two major ATPase activities obtained by KCl extraction of Tetrahymena axonemes differ in their cation specificities such that Mg2+ and Ca2+ activate the 21S dynein ATPase with equal efficiency, whereas the 13S axonemal ATPase activity is reduced by approximately 50% when CaATP2- replaces MgATP2- as substrate. With 1 mM MgATP2- as substrate, 10(-7) to 10(-2) M added CaCl2 alleviates the ATP-dependent inhibition of disintegration and likewise represses 13S MgATPase activity. In contrast, free Ca2+ has no effect on either the disintegration response or Mg-ATPase activity. In contrast to Triton-treated cilia, glycerinated cilia, which beat in 1 mM MgATP2-, are inhibited from beating by high CaATP2- concentrations. These substrate specificities suggest that concentration-dependent, substrate inhibition of sliding disintegration may be a manifestation of a physiological mechanism that is mediated by the 13S axonemal ATPase and that may function to modulate sliding during bend formation. However, the effects of added CaCl2 probably do not reflect a physiological mechanism for regulating beat parameters, but rather may result from CaATP2- competing for MgATP2- binding sites on the 13S ATPase, thereby blocking expression of the 13S ATPase.