Development of 14 microsatellite markers for a montane meadow frog (Bokermannohyla saxicola, Hylidae) in southeastern Brazil

We report 14 microsatellite loci for Bokermmanohyla saxicola, a frog species endemic of the Espinha?o mountain chain in southeastern Brazil. We used a sample of 53 individuals from a single locality to characterize these polymorphic loci. Number of alleles per locus ranged from 3 to 17, observed heterozygosity and expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.125 to 0.925 and from 0.137 to 0.907, respectively. These loci will be useful to understand population structure of this frog throughout its distribution, aiding to landscape conservation planning in the Espinha?o, considered a center of endemism and a priority area for conservation.     

Upper limb function evaluation scales for individuals with cerebral palsy: a systematic review

[Purpose] The aim of the present study was to perform a systematic review of the literature on the scales and methods most often used for the evaluation of upper limb function in individuals with cerebral palsy. [Materials and Methods] Searches were conducted in the Medline, PEDro, Lilacs, Scielo, and PubMed databases. The following inclusion criteria were used for the selection of articles: randomized controlled study, evaluation of upper limb function in individuals with cerebral palsy, and publication between 2006 and 2014. The methodological quality of the articles was evaluated using the PEDro evidence scale. [Results] Five articles met the inclusion criteria and achieved 6 points or higher on the PEDro scale of methodological quality. [Conclusion] The studies analyzed used different evaluation scales, but no consensus has been reached thus far on which scale is the most appropriate. Thus, further studies are needed to establish an adequate method for the evaluation of upper limb function in individuals with cerebral palsy.Key words: Cerebral palsy, Scale function, Upper limbs     

Mandibular advancement device and CPAP upon cardiovascular parameters in OSA

Purpose

This study aims to compare the effects of a mandibular advancement device (MAD) with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) on blood pressure (BP), oxidative stress, and heart rate variability (HRV) in a randomized, crossed-over, single-blind, and controlled trial.

Methods

Twenty-nine moderate-to-severe adult OSA patients underwent MAD, CPAP, and placebo oral appliance treatment. Polysomnography, Epworth sleepiness scale, 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring, oxidative stress parameters (malondialdehyde, catalase, superoxide dismutase, vitamins C, E, B₆, B₁₂, folate, homocysteine, uric acid), and HRV were assessed at baseline and after 1 month of each treatment. Diaries were used to evaluate compliance for devices and a pressure–time meter for CPAP.

Results

Both active treatments resulted in decreases in apnea and hypopnea index and Epworth sleepiness scale; CPAP showed a greater effect. Frequency of diastolic BP dipping was higher in the MAD group compared with the CPAP group. A significant drop from baseline levels for catalase activity was observed after MAD. For HRV, there was a significant decrease in total power at night with CPAP and MAD compared with POA, and a decrease in index of sleep autonomic variation with MAD compared with baseline levels. Compliance rates were higher with MAD rather than CPAP.

Conclusions

Even though CPAP proved to be more effective at attenuating OSA, better compliance with MAD favored the reduction of one of the enzymes which participates in oxidative stress and better autonomic modulation during sleep.     

Nuclear inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate is a necessary and conserved signal for the induction of both pathological and physiological cardiomyocyte hypertrophy

It is well established that inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) dependent Ca(2+) signaling plays a crucial role in cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. However, it is not yet known whether nuclear IP3 represents a Ca(2+) mobilizing pathway involved in this process. The goal of the current work was to investigate the specific role of nuclear IP3 in cardiomyocyte hypertrophic response. In this work, we used an adenovirus construct that selectively buffers IP3 in the nuclear region of neonatal cardiomyocytes. We showed for the first time that nuclear IP3 mediates endothelin-1 (ET-1) induced hypertrophy. We also found that both calcineurin (Cn)/nuclear factor of activated T Cells (NFAT) and histone deacetylase-5 (HDAC5) pathways require nuclear IP3 to mediate pathological cardiomyocyte growth. Additionally, we found that nuclear IP3 buffering inhibited insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) induced hypertrophy and prevented reexpression of fetal gene program. Together, these results demonstrated that nuclear IP3 is an essential and a conserved signal for both pathological and physiological forms of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy.     

Non-neuronal cholinergic machinery present in cardiomyocytes offsets hypertrophic signals

Recent work has provided compelling evidence that increased levels of acetylcholine (ACh) can be protective in heart failure, whereas reduced levels of ACh secretion can cause heart malfunction. Previous data show that cardiomyocytes themselves can actively secrete ACh, raising the question of whether this cardiomyocyte derived ACh may contribute to the protective effects of ACh in the heart. To address the functionality of this non-neuronal ACh machinery, we used cholinesterase inhibitors and a siRNA targeted to AChE (acetylcholinesterase) as a way to increase the availability of ACh secreted by cardiac cells. By using nitric oxide (NO) formation as a biological sensor for released ACh, we showed that cholinesterase inhibition increased NO levels in freshly isolated ventricular myocytes and that this effect was prevented by atropine, a muscarinic receptor antagonist, and by inhibition of ACh synthesis or vesicular storage. Functionally, cholinesterase inhibition prevented the hypertrophic effect as well as molecular changes and calcium transient alterations induced by adrenergic overstimulation in cardiomyocytes. Moreover, inhibition of ACh storage or atropine blunted the anti-hypertrophic action of cholinesterase inhibition. Altogether, our results show that cardiomyocytes possess functional cholinergic machinery that offsets deleterious effects of hyperadrenergic stimulation. In addition, we show that adrenergic stimulation upregulates expression levels of cholinergic components. We propose that this cardiomyocyte cholinergic signaling could amplify the protective effects of the parasympathetic nervous system in the heart and may counteract or partially neutralize hypertrophic adrenergic effects.     

Immunogenicity of Recombinant Proteins Consisting of Plasmodium vivax Circumsporozoite Protein Allelic Variant-Derived Epitopes Fused with Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium Flagellin

A Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (CSP)-based recombinant fusion vaccine is the first malaria vaccine to reach phase III clinical trials. Resistance to infection correlated with the production of antibodies to the immunodominant central repeat region of the CSP. In contrast to P. falciparum, vaccine development against the CSP of Plasmodium vivax malaria is far behind. Based on this gap in our knowledge, we generated a recombinant chimeric protein containing the immunodominant central repeat regions of the P. vivax CSP fused to Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium-derived flagellin (FliC) to activate the innate immune system. The recombinant proteins that were generated contained repeat regions derived from each of the 3 different allelic variants of the P. vivax CSP or a fusion of regions derived from each of the 3 allelic forms. Mice were subcutaneously immunized with the fusion proteins alone or in combination with the Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR-3) agonist poly(I·C), and the anti-CSP serum IgG response was measured. Immunization with a mixture of the 3 recombinant proteins, each containing immunodominant epitopes derived from a single allelic variant, rather than a single recombinant protein carrying a fusion of regions derived from each of 3 allelic forms elicited a stronger immune response. This response was independent of TLR-4 but required TLR-5/MyD88 activation. Antibody titers significantly increased when poly(I·C) was used as an adjuvant with a mixture of the 3 recombinant proteins. These recombinant fusion proteins are novel candidates for the development of an effective malaria vaccine against P. vivax.     

Proximal opening-wedge osteotomy of the first metatarsal for moderate and severe hallux valgus using low profile plates

BackgroundTo present the results of the treatment of hallux valgus with the proximal metatarsal opening wedge (PMOW) osteotomy using two different screw and plate systems.MethodsForty-one patients with moderate and severe hallux valgus were treated with the PMOW osteotomy between 2005 and 2009. The fixation was obtained by the Darco^® BOW or by the Arthrex^® LPS plate. Biplanar chevron and/or Akin osteotomy were associated according to the magnitude of distal angles. Each patient was evaluated with weight-bearing radiographs and AOFAS score.ResultsThe HV, IM, DMA and IP angles improved by a mean of 14°, 8°, 11°, 7° respectively. The sesamoid position improved in 79% of the feet. AOFAS score improved from a mean of 50 to 82.ConclusionThe PMOW osteotomy is effective to correct high-level hallux valgus deformities. Both systems guarantee the stability and correction of the osteotomy site. The combination with distal procedures is advisable to correct distal angles.