Teneurin proteins possess a carboxy terminal sequence with neuromodulatory activity

We have previously shown that a bioactive neuropeptide-like sequence is present at the carboxy-terminus of the teneurin transmembrane proteins. We have subsequently called this peptide 'teneurin C-terminal associated peptide' (TCAP). The sequence encodes a peptide 40 or 41 amino acids long flanked by a cleavage motif on the amino terminus and an amidation motif on the carboxy terminus, characteristic of bioactive peptides. This sequence is highly conserved in all vertebrates. A TCAP-like sequence is encoded by each of the four teneurin genes. We have therefore examined the neurological role TCAP-1 may play in mice and rats. In situ hybridization studies showed that the teneurin-1 mRNA containing the TCAP-1 sequence is expressed in regions of the forebrain and limbic system regulating stress and anxiety. A synthetic version of amidated mouse/rat TCAP-1 was prepared by solid-phase synthesis and used to investigate the in vitro and in vivo activity. TCAP-1 induces a dose-dependent change in cAMP accumulation and MTT activity in immortalized mouse neurons. Administration of synthetic TCAP-1 into the basolateral amygdala significantly increases the acoustic startle response in low-anxiety rats and decreases the response in high-anxiety animals in a dose-dependent manner. When 30 pmol TCAP-1 is administered into the lateral ventricles each day for 5 days, the sensitization of the rats to the acoustic startle response is abolished. These data indicate that TCAP may possess functions that are independent of the teneurin proprotein and together, the teneurins and TCAP, may represent a novel system to regulate neuronal function and emotionality.     

A constrained-syntax genetic programming system for discovering classification rules: application to medical data sets

This paper proposes a new constrained-syntax genetic programming (GP) algorithm for discovering classification rules in medical data sets. The proposed GP contains several syntactic constraints to be enforced by the system using a disjunctive normal form representation, so that individuals represent valid rule sets that are easy to interpret. The GP is compared with C4.5, a well-known decision-tree-building algorithm, and with another GP that uses Boolean inputs (BGP), in five medical data sets: chest pain, Ljubljana breast cancer, dermatology, Wisconsin breast cancer, and pediatric adrenocortical tumor. For this last data set a new preprocessing step was devised for survival prediction. Computational experiments show that, overall, the GP algorithm obtained good results with respect to predictive accuracy and rule comprehensibility, by comparison with C4.5 and BGP.     

GFAP expression in astrocytes of suprachiasmatic nucleus and medial preoptic area are differentially affected by malnutrition during rat brain development

The aim of the present study was investigate, in young rats, the effects of malnutrition on astrocyte distribution of two hypothalamic regions, the circadian pacemaker suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) and the medial preoptic area (MPA). Control rats were born from mothers fed on commercial diet since gestation and malnourished rats from mothers fed on multideficient diet, from the beginning of gestation (GLA group) or from the onset of lactation (LA group). After weaning, pups received ad libitum the same diet as their mothers, and were maintained under a 12/12 h light/dark cycle. The animals were analyzed either at 30-33, or 60-63 days of life. Brain coronal sections (50 microm) were processed to visualize glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunoreactivity. Compared to control rats, both malnourished groups of 30 and 60 days exhibited a reduced number of GFAP-immunoreactive astrocytes in the SCN. The total GFAP-immunoreactive area in the SCN of the GLA group differed from the control group at both age ranges analyzed. The GFAP expression as measured by the relative optical density (ROD) exhibited a 50-60% reduction in the MPA in both malnourished groups, compared to controls. The results suggest that malnutrition early in life leads to alterations in gliogenesis or glial cell proliferation in both nuclei, being these alterations greater in the MPA. Compensatory plasticity mechanisms in the GFAP-expression seem to be developed in the astrocyte differentiation process in the SCN, especially when the malnutrition is installed from the lactation.     

Quality of life in renal transplant patients: impact of a functioning graft

Objective measures to evaluate quality of life are gaining importance as an adjuvant in assessing therapeutic interventions. The study purpose was to compare quality of life in renal transplant patients with functioning graft and those who restarted dialysis after graft loss. Quality of life was measured using the World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire (WHOQOL-Bref). One hundred and thirty two patients were interviewed, and divided into two groups: group I, 100 patients on regular follow-up in outpatient clinics and stable graft functioning; and group II, 32 patients who restarted dialysis after graft loss. The WHOQOL-Bref showed better quality of life in those renal transplant patients with a functioning graft, especially regarding the physical and psychological domains assessed in the general questions. There were no differences between the groups in the social relationship and environmental domains. WHOQOL-Bref is an efficient tool and can be useful for better approaching these patients, not only on a medical basis.     

Validation of a health survey questionnaire focusing on risk factors for coronary artery disease in a group of public employees in Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais State, Brazil

The validity of a health survey questionnaire used in a family health promotion program to identify individuals at risk of developing coronary artery disease (CAD) was studied in a random sample of 297 State public employees in Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The sample was stratified by sex, and subjects were 40 years of age or older. Results obtained in interviews were compared to laboratory and clinical data. We assessed the questionnaire's sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values in relation to questions about current or previous history of diabetes, hypertension, smoking, and high cholesterol. Among individuals with at least one altered clinical or laboratory test, 81% (total sensitivity) were identified by the referred risk inquiry when reporting at least one risk factor. Sheffield and New Zealand tables were used to determine the individuals with increased risk of developing CAD and to assess if they would also be identified by the health survey questionnaire. The sensitivity for identifying this subgroup was 100%.     

Beauveria bassiana isolated from engorged females and tested against eggs and larvae of Boophilus microplus (Acari: Ixodidae)

The purpose of this work was to evaluate the in vitro virulence of three isolates of Beauveria bassiana to eggs and larvae of the tick Boophilus microplus. The fungus tested were isolated from engorged females of B. microplus collected on the field, and identified as Bb28, Bb29 and Bb30. These isolates were evaluated by immersion of eggs and larvae in suspensions with different conidial concentrations: 10(8), 10(7), 10(6) and 10(5) conidia/ml and compared to the control groups. In the treated eggs, there was a percentage much smaller of hatching than that observed in the controls. The egg hatch was inversely proportional to the conidial concentration. In larval bioassays, all isolates resulted in a higher mortality of larvae compared to the control according to the conidial concentrations/ml, 10 days after treatment inoculation.     

Stroke volumes generated by precordial compression during cardiac resuscitation

OBJECTIVES: To quantitate stroke volumes generated by precordial compression during cardiopulmonary resuscitation and to determine their relationship to coronary perfusion pressure and the success of resuscitation. DESIGN: Prospective, observational animal study. SETTING: Medical research laboratory in a university-affiliated research and educational foundation. SUBJECTS: Domestic pigs. INTERVENTIONS: Ventricular fibrillation was electrically induced in 25 anesthetized male domestic pigs. After an interval of 7 mins, electrical defibrillation was attempted. Failing to reverse ventricular fibrillation in each instance, precordial compression was begun coincident with mechanical ventilation. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Stroke volumes were computed from differences between diastolic and systolic areas of the left ventricle by utilizing transesophageal echocardiography. Both stroke volumes and coronary perfusion pressure were consistently greater in successfully resuscitated animals. Progressive decreases in stroke volumes during precordial compression were predictive of unsuccessful resuscitation. A linear correlation between stroke volume and coronary perfusion pressure (r =.70) was documented. CONCLUSION: These observations support the concept that stroke volumes generated by precordial compression are quantitatively related to the coronary perfusion pressure and to the success of cardiopulmonary resuscitation.     

Globin haplotypes of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I-infected individuals in Salvador,Bahia, Brazil,suggest a post-Columbian African origin of this virus

The city of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, has sociodemographic characteristics similar to some African cities. Up to now, it has had the highest prevalence of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) infection (1.74%) in the country. To investigate which strains of HTLV-I are circulating in Salvador, we studied isolates from 82 patients infected with HTLV-I: 19 from the general population, 21 from pregnant women, 16 from intravenous drug users, and 26 from patients and their family attending a neurologic clinic. Phylogenetic analysis from part of the LTR fragments showed that most of these isolates belonged to the Transcontinental subgroup of the Cosmopolitan subtype (HTLV-Ia). Only one sample from a pregnant woman was closely related to the Japanese subgroup, suggesting recent introduction of a Japanese HTLV-I lineage into Salvador. betaA-Globin haplotypes were examined in 34 infected individuals and found to be atypical, confirming the racial heterogeneity of this population. A total of 20 chromosomes were characterized as Central African Republic (CAR) haplotype (29.4%), 31 (45.6%) were characterized as Benin (BEN) haplotype, and 17 (25%) were characterized as Senegal (SEN) haplotype. Five patients' genotypes (14.7%) were CAR/CAR; 10 (29,4%), BEN/BEN; 9 (26.5%), CAR/BEN; 2 (5.9%), BEN/SEN; and 7 (20.6%), SEN/SEN. One patient's genotype (2.9%) was CAR/SEN. The betaA-globin haplotype distribution in Salvador is unusual compared with other Brazilian states. Our data support the hypothesis of multiple post-Columbian introductions of African HTLV-Ia strains in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.