Breeding and biology of Hypsipyla grandella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) fed with mahogany seeds (Swietenia macrophylla King)

Marcelo Tavares de Castro,Sandro Coelho Linhares Montalvão,Rose Gomes Monnerat 한국응용곤충학회 2016 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.19 No.1

The shoot borer, Hypsipyla grandella Zeller, is a Lepidopteran that practically covers the entire Brazilian territory. Its damage to mahogany is so intense that it can prevent establishment of commercial plantations of the species. Studies of its control are critical for mahogany planting in different regions to be feasible and sustainable. To conduct bioassays and studies of this insect's biology, mass rearing is necessary. This study aimed to develop a method of mass rearing based on a diet of mahogany seeds. Caterpillars arising from mahogany populations located in Brasilia, Brasil were placed in plastic containers containing mahogany seeds. Morphological and morphometric aspects were evaluated through eight successive generations. The mahogany seeds produced a good supply of quality insects for performance of bioassays, with uniform sizes and weights for each instar and a low adult deformation rate.

Developing Smart Grids Based on GPRS and ZigBee Technologies Using Queueing Modeling–Based Optimization Algorithm

Gustavo Batista de Castro Souza,Flávio Henrique Teles Vieira,Cláudio Ribeiro Lima,Getúlio Antero de Deus Júnior,Marcelo Stehling de Castro,Sérgio Granato de Araujo,Thiago Lara Vasques 한국전자통신연구원 2016 ETRI Journal Vol.38 No.1

Smart metering systems have become widespread around the world. RF mesh communication systems have contributed to the creation of smarter and more reliable power systems. This paper presents an algorithm for positioning GPRS concentrators to attain delay constraints for a ZigBee-based mesh network. The proposed algorithm determines the number and placement of concentrators using integer linear programming and a queueing model for the given mesh network. The solutions given by the proposed algorithm are validated by verifying the communication network performance through simulations.

Identification of Secreted Virulence Factors of Chromobacterium violaceum

Thiago Castro-Gomes,Santuza M. R. Teixeira,Mariana S. Cardoso,Wanderson D. DaRocha,Letícia A. Laibida,Andréa M. A. Nascimento,Luciana W. Zuccherato,Maria Fátima Horta,Marcelo P. Bemquerer 한국미생물학회 2014 The journal of microbiology Vol.52 No.4

Chromobacterium violaceum, a component of tropical soilmicrobiota, is an opportunistic pathogenic bacterium thatcan infect humans and other animals. In addition to identifyinga large number of genes that demonstrate the vast biotechnologicalpotential of this bacterium, genome sequencingrevealed several virulence factors, including different cytolysins,which can be related to its pathogenicity. Here weconfirmed these predictions from genomic analyses by identifying,through mass spectrometry, proteins present in theculture supernatant of C. violaceum that may constitute secretedvirulence factors. Among them, we identified a secretedcollagenase and the product of a gene with sequence similarityto previously characterized bacterial porins.

Analgesic and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of the 2,8-Dihydroxy-1,6-Dimethoxyxanthone from Haploclathra paniculata (Mart) Benth (Guttiferae)

Maria Eliza Castro Moreira,Rosemary Gualberto Fonseca Alvarenga Pereira,Marcelo Jose Dias Silva,Danielle Ferreira Dias,Vanessa Silva Gontijo,Alexandre Giusti-Paiva,Marcia Paranho Veloso,Antônio Carlos 한국식품영양과학회 2014 Journal of medicinal food Vol.17 No.6

In the present study, the pharmacological effects of 2,8-dihydroxy-1,6-dimethoxyxanthone from the bark of Haploclathra paniculata were investigated in mice using in vivo inflammation and nociception models. Acetic acid-induced writhing, paw licking induced by formalin, hot plate, and carrageenan-induced paw edema tests were used to investigate the antiinflammatory and antinociceptive activities of the xanthone compound. Xanthone, at both doses, inhibited abdominal writhing and the formalin test. At a dose of 20mg/kg, the time of reaction to the hot plate increased, and significant effects were observed after 30, 60 and 90min of treatment. At doses of 10 and 20mg/kg p.o., the 2,8-dihydroxy-1,6-dimethoxyxanthone significantly reduced paw edema at 3 h after the stimulus. The tests also showed no acute toxicity of the xanthone compound in mice. 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging ability was also studied and confirmed the antioxidant activity of the xanthone. To propose the mechanism of action of anti-inflammatory activity of the xanthone, a molecular docking was performed using the isoenzymes cyclooxygenase 1 and 2 and the results indicate that the molecule is capable of inhibiting both the enzymes. Therefore, it can be concluded that 2,8-dihydroxy-1,6-dimethoxyxanthone from H. paniculata demonstrates analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities.

MDR1/ABCB1 gene polymorphisms in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia

Mabel Lardo,Marcelo Castro,Beatriz Moiraghi,Francisca Rojas,Natalia Borda,Jorge A Rey,Alberto Lazarowski 대한혈액학회 2015 Blood Research Vol.50 No.3

BackgroundTyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are the recommended treatment for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). The MDR1/ABCB1 gene plays a role in resistance to a wide spec-trum of drugs, including TKIs. However, the association of MDR1/ABCB1 gene poly-morphisms (SNPs) such as C1236T, G2677T/A, and C3435T with the clinical therapeutic evolution of CML has been poorly studied. We investigated these gene polymorphisms in CML-patients treated with imatinib, nilotinib and/or dasatinib.MethodsABCB1-SNPs were studied in 22 CML-patients in the chronic phase (CP) and 2 CML-pa-tients in blast crisis (BC), all of whom were treated with TKIs, and compared with 25 healthy controls using nested-PCR and sequencing techniques.ResultsSeventeen different haplotypes were identified: 7 only in controls, 6 only in CML-patients, and the remaining 4 in both groups. The distribution ratios of homozygous TT-variants present on each exon between controls and CML-patients were 2.9 for exon 12, and 0.32 for the other 2 exons. Heterozygous T-variants were observed in all controls (100%) and 75% of CML-patients. Wt-haplotype (CC-GG-CC) was observed in 6 CML-patients (25%). In this wt-group, two were treated with nilotinib and reached a major molecular response. The remaining 4 cases had either a minimal or null molecular response, or developed bone marrow aplasia.ConclusionOur results suggest that SNPs of the MDR1/ABCB1 gene could help to characterize the prognosis and the clinical-therapeutic evolution of CML-patients treated with TKIs. Wt-haplotype could be associated with a higher risk of developing CML, and a worse clin-ical-therapeutic evolution.

MDR1/ABCB1 gene polymorphisms in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia

Mabel Lardo,Marcelo Castro,Beatriz Moiraghi,Francisca Rojas,Natalia Borda,Jorge A Rey,Alberto Lazarowski 대한혈액학회 2015 Blood Research Vol.50 No.3

BackgroundTyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are the recommended treatment for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). The MDR1/ABCB1 gene plays a role in resistance to a wide spec-trum of drugs, including TKIs. However, the association of MDR1/ABCB1 gene poly-morphisms (SNPs) such as C1236T, G2677T/A, and C3435T with the clinical therapeutic evolution of CML has been poorly studied. We investigated these gene polymorphisms in CML-patients treated with imatinib, nilotinib and/or dasatinib.MethodsABCB1-SNPs were studied in 22 CML-patients in the chronic phase (CP) and 2 CML-pa-tients in blast crisis (BC), all of whom were treated with TKIs, and compared with 25 healthy controls using nested-PCR and sequencing techniques.ResultsSeventeen different haplotypes were identified: 7 only in controls, 6 only in CML-patients, and the remaining 4 in both groups. The distribution ratios of homozygous TT-variants present on each exon between controls and CML-patients were 2.9 for exon 12, and 0.32 for the other 2 exons. Heterozygous T-variants were observed in all controls (100%) and 75% of CML-patients. Wt-haplotype (CC-GG-CC) was observed in 6 CML-patients (25%). In this wt-group, two were treated with nilotinib and reached a major molecular response. The remaining 4 cases had either a minimal or null molecular response, or developed bone marrow aplasia.ConclusionOur results suggest that SNPs of the MDR1/ABCB1 gene could help to characterize the prognosis and the clinical-therapeutic evolution of CML-patients treated with TKIs. Wt-haplotype could be associated with a higher risk of developing CML, and a worse clin-ical-therapeutic evolution.

The Effects of Green Tea Consumption and Resistance Training on Body Composition and Resting Metabolic Rate in Overweight or Obese Women

Gabrielle Aparecida Cardoso,Jocelem Mastrodi Salgado,Marcelo de Castro Cesar,Carlos Mario Donado-Pestana 한국식품영양과학회 2013 Journal of medicinal food Vol.16 No.2

Green tea has been shown to have thermogenic and antiobesity properties. Therefore, it is important to investigate its effect on weight loss in humans, especially in women. We investigated the effects of green tea consumption combined with resistance training on the body composition and the resting metabolic rate (RMR) in women who were overweight or obese (grade I). After 4 weeks on an adaptive diet, 36 women were divided into four groups (group 1 green tea; group 2 placebo; group 3 green tea plus resistance training; group 4 placebo plus resistance training). The study was double-blinded and placebo-controlled. The RMR and body composition were ascertained for each volunteer, blood tests were performed, and subjects in groups 3 and 4 were tested for their one repetition maximum. Each subject followed the protocol and continued the diet for eight additional weeks, and periodic evaluations were administered. The mean RMR of group 1 decreased significantly and was accompanied by weight loss, maintenance of lean body mass, and decreases in both waist circumference and body mass index. Group 2 showed no variations in anthropometric or blood variables and significantly decreased their mean RMR. Group 3 showed significant increases in RMR, lean body mass, and muscle strength, and significant decreases in body fat, triglycerides, and waist circumference as compared to group 4. Green tea combined with resistance training its potential is increased with decreasing body fat, waist circumference, and triacylglyceride levels and by increasing lean body mass and muscle strength.

Mineral content in fishes in the lower course of the itapecuru river in the state of Maranhão, Brazil

Heliene Leite Ribeiro Porto,Antonio Carlos Leal de Castro,James Werllen de Jesus Azevedo,Leonardo Silva Soares,Cássia Fernanda Chagas Ferreira,Marcelo Henrique Lopes Silva,Helen Roberta Silva Ferreira 한국화학공학회 2017 Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering Vol.34 No.7

Concentrations of calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, copper, selenium and nickel were determined in the muscle tissue of seven species of fish (Plagioscion squamosissimus, Geophagus surinamensis, Prochilodus lacustres, Curimata sp., Schizodon dissimilis, Ageneiosus ucayalensis and Hypostomus plecostomus) collected from the lower course of the Itapecuru River in the state of Maranhão, Brazil. The samples were digested in a nitricperchloric solution and analyzed using an inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometer, with the construction of specific calibration curves for each element. The highest concentrations of constituent minerals were found for phosphorus, potassium, nickel and magnesium (399.83, 144.60, 90.20 and 29.49mg 100 g−1, respectively) in G. surinamensi, P. lacustres and Curimata sp. The lowest concentrations were found for copper, zinc, iron and selenium (0.12, 0.51, 1.05 and 8.31mg 100 g−1, respectively) in Curimata sp., S. dissimilis, A. ucayalensis and P. squamosissimus. The concentrations of all minerals can be considered low and are below the maximum limit established by Brazilian legislation for the human ingestion of fish meat. A comparison of the seven species of fish investigated revealed no statistically significant differences regarding the concentrations of minerals, suggesting that size and different dietary habits do not exert an influence on absorption. The low concentrations of metals, such as Fe, Cu, Zn and Ni, may be related to the environmental conditions of the mouth of the river, which receives ocean inputs that produce particular tide cycles with a strong dispersion capacity, thereby diminishing residence time in the water column and reducing the availability of these metals to species of fish.

Changes in Invasive Breast Carcinomas after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Can Influence Adjuvant Therapeutic Decisions

Bárbara Jaime dos Santos,Débora Balabram,Virginia Mara Reis Gomes,Carolina Costa Café de Castro,Paulo Henrique Costa Diniz,Marcelo Araújo Buzelin,Cristiana Buzelin Nunes 대한암학회 2024 Cancer Research and Treatment Vol.56 No.1

Purpose Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) can change invasive breast carcinomas (IBC) and influence the patients’ overall survival time (OS). We aimed to identify IBC changes after NACT and their association with OS.Materials and Methods IBC data in pre- and post-NACT samples of 86 patients were evaluated and associated with OS.Results Post-NACT tumors changed nuclear pleomorphism score (p=0.025); mitotic count (p=0.002); % of tumor-infiltrating inflammatory cells (p=0.016); presence of <i>in situ</i> carcinoma (p=0.001) and lymphovascular invasion (LVI; p=0.002); expression of estrogen (p=0.003), progesterone receptors (PR; p=0.019), and Ki67 (p=0.003). Immunohistochemical (IHC) profile changed in 26 tumors (30.2%, p=0.050). Higher risk of death was significatively associated with initial tumor histological grade III (hazard ratio [HR], 2.94), high nuclear pleomorphism (HR, 2.53), high Ki67 index (HR, 2.47), post-NACT presence of LVI (HR, 1.90), luminal B–like profile (HR, 2.58), pre- (HR, 2.26) and post-NACT intermediate mitotic count (HR, 2.12), pre- (HR, 4.45) and post-NACT triple-negative IHC profile (HR, 4.52). On the other hand, lower risk of death was significative associated with pre- (HR, 0.35) and post-NACT (HR, 0.39) estrogen receptor–positive, and pre- (HR, 0.37) and post-NACT (HR, 0.57) PR-positive. Changes in IHC profile were associated with longer OS (p=0.050). In multivariate analysis, pre-NACT grade III tumors and pre-NACT and post-NACT triple negative IHC profile proved to be independent factors for shorter OS.Conclusion NACT can change tumor characteristics and biomarkers and impact on OS; therefore, they should be reassessed on residual samples to improve therapeutic decisions.

Single Cupping Thearpy Session Improves Pain, Sleep, and Disability in Patients with Nonspecific Chronic Low Back Pain

Maria P. Volpato,Izabela C.A. Breda,Ravena C. de Carvalho,Caroline de Castro Moura,Laís L. Ferreira,Marcelo L. Silva,Josie R.T. Silva 사단법인약침학회 2020 Journal of Acupuncture & Meridian Studies Vol.13 No.2

The objective of this study was to evaluate if a single session of real or placebo cupping therapy in patients with chronic low back pain would be enough to temporarily reduce pain intensity and functional disability, enhancing their mechanical threshold and reducing local skin temperature. The outcome measures were Brief Pain Inventory, pressure pain threshold, RolandeMorris disability questionnaire and low back skin temperature. This is an experimental clinical trial; after examination (AV0), patients were submitted to real or placebo cupping therapy (15 minutes, bilaterally at the points BL23 (Shenshu), BL24 (Qihaishu) and BL25 (Dachangshu) and were revaluated immediately after the session (AV1) and after one week (AV2). The patients showeda significant improvement in all pain severity items and sleep in the Brief Pain Inventory (p < 0.05) and a decrease in disability in RolandeMorris disability questionnaire (p < 0.001). No significant differences were found in pressure pain threshold or skin temperature. No significant differences were found in any outcome of the placebo cupping therapy group. Thus, thecupping therapy is effective in reducing low back pain and decreasing disability after one single session but not in changing skin mechanical threshold or temperature.