Abstract The concern about the risks of viral infections transmission through blood transfusion has led into a search for improvements on screening tests used for the selection of blood donors. Molecular biology techniques applied in researches of viral genomes, known as Nucleic Acid-amplification-Test (NAT), represent a technology capable of increasing transfusion safety by shortening the diagnostic window period. In Brazil, the implementation of this technology for the detection of HIV, HCV and HBV occurred due to the implantation of the NAT Kit – produced by Immunobiological Technology Institute (Biomanguinhos-FIOCRUZ), in the Brazilian blood centers. The National Health Surveillance Agency attaches great importance to validation, since it standardizes, disciplines and regulates criteria for the registration of health products. This work aims to establish a protocol of performance validation by real-time PCR method, taking as the object of study the Bio-Manguinhos NAT Kit, in order to update the product registration or to meet any future needs to ensure all regulatory requirements for the performance validation of the real-time PCR diagnostic kit. The protocol developed followed the ICH recommendations. The results revealed that the adopted methodology contemplates the necessary requirements for compliance with the Brazilian legislation, as well as the established validation parameters.

The beneficial effects of drugs that act via nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) on Parkinson's disease (PD) symptomatology may explain the negative correlation between cigarette smoking and risk of this neurological condition. Varenicline, an α4β2 nAChR partial agonist approved for smoking cessation treatments, could be valuable for PD treatment. Here, we investigated varenicline effects in a 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) PD mouse model. From postnatal day (PN) 90 to PN119, male C57BL/6 mice were exposed daily to varenicline (2 mg/kg) by gavage. After that, MPTP was injected (30 mg/kg, ip) once a day for five days. At PN125, locomotor and anxiety-like effects were assessed with the open field test. At PN126, immobile behavior was assessed with the forced swimming test. At PN127, the frontal cerebral cortex was collected to evaluate dopamine and DOPAC levels. To verify whether varenicline was protective during the MPTP insult, a separate group of MPTP animals received varenicline from PN90 to PN124. MPTP reduced cortical dopamine content and increased dopamine turnover. Those effects were not reversed by varenicline treatment. Interestingly, varenicline reversed the MPTP-induced hyperactivity in the open field. Both maintenance of varenicline treatment during MPTP exposure or its interruption before MPTP exposure elicited similar results. No alterations were observed in anxiety-like behavior or in immobility time. Altogether, these findings suggested that varenicline treatment reduced the MPTP-induced hyperactivity, but did not protect against dopaminergic damage. Based on this partial protective effect, varenicline could exert neuroprotective effects on circuits that control motor activity in PD.

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the weight and body yield of two families of selectively bred tambaqui farmed in different environments. Two families (FA and FB) were reared in the municipalities (environments) of Santo Antônio de Leverger (MT) and Campo Grande (MS) for 431 days. Pre-bleeding weight, body yield, and the interaction effect between families and environments on these traits were investigated. No interaction effect between the evaluated families and environments was detected on the evaluated traits. Pre-bleeding weight did not differ significantly between the families in MT (FA: 2,421.7g; FB: 2,478.0g) or in MS (FA: 1,138.7g; FB: 1,389.8g), but the fish from MT had a higher (P<0.05) pre-bleeding weight than those farmed in MS. The visceral fat yield (considering the two environments) was higher (P<0.05) in FB family (3.8%) than in FA family (3.3%).Fish from MS showed higher (P<0.05) offal yield (10.6%) and visceral fat yield (3.9%) but a lower clean-trunk yield (70.6%) than the tambaqui farmed in MT (offal: 7.7%; visceral fat: 3.1%; and clean trunk: 72.6%). In conclusion, the MT environment provides higher pre-bleeding weight and clean-trunk yield and lower offal and visceral-fat yields than the MS environment.

Carassius auratus is a teleost fish that has been largely used in behavioral studies. However, little is known about potential environmental influences on its performance of learning and memory tasks. Here, we investigated this question in C. auratus, and searched for potential correlation between exercise and visuospatial enrichment with the total number of telencephalic glia and neurons. To that end, males and females were housed for 183 days in either an enriched (EE) or impoverished environment (IE) aquarium. EE contained toys, natural plants, and a 12-hour/day water stream for voluntary exercise, whereas the IE had none of the above. A third plus-maze aquarium was used for spatial and object recognition tests. Different visual clues in 2 of its 4 arms were used to guide fish to reach the criteria to complete the task. The test consisted of 30 sessions and was concluded when each animal performed three consecutive correct choices or seven alternated, each ten trials. Learning rates revealed significant differences between EE and IE fish. The optical fractionator was used to estimate the total number of telencephalic cells that were stained with cresyl violet. On average, the total number of cells in the subjects from EE was higher than those from subjects maintained in IE (P=0.0202). We suggest that environmental enrichment significantly influenced goldfish spatial learning and memory abilities, and this may be associated with an increase in the total number of telencephalic cells.

Autosomal dominant tubulointerstitial kidney disease (ADTKD) is characterized by autosomal dominant inheritance, progressive chronic kidney disease, and a bland urinary sediment. ADTKD is most commonly caused by mutations in the UMOD gene encoding uromodulin (ADTKD-UMOD). We herein report the first confirmed case of a multi-generational Brazilian family with ADTKD-UMOD, caused by a novel heterozygous mutation (c.163G>A, GGC→AGC, p.Gly55Ser) in the UMOD gene. Of 41 family members, 22 underwent genetic analysis, with 11 individuals found to have this mutation. Three affected individuals underwent hemodialysis, one peritoneal dialysis, and one patient received a kidney transplant from a family member later found to be genetically affected. Several younger individuals affected with the mutation were also identified. Clinical characteristics included a bland urinary sediment in all tested individuals and a kidney biopsy in one individual showing tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Unlike most other reported families with ADTKD-UMOD, neither gout nor hyperuricemia was found in affected individuals. In summary, we report a novel UMOD mutation in a Brazilian family with 11 affected members, and we discuss the importance of performing genetic testing in families with inherited kidney disease of unknown cause.

RESUMO O carcinoma indiferenciado de pâncreas é uma neoplasia maligna, incomum entre as espécies domésticas, especialmente em calopsitas (Nymphicus hollandicus), uma das aves mais populares como animal de companhia no mundo. O objetivo deste trabalho foi descrever a ocorrência de carcinoma indiferenciado de pâncreas em Nymphicus hollandicus. Uma ave, macho adulto, com morte natural e com aumento de volume em região abdominal, foi encaminhada para necropsia. Ao exame macroscópico foram observados mau estado corporal, cavidade celômica repleta de líquido e massa esbranquiçada aderida ao pâncreas e outra menor aderida ao duodeno. Amostras de tecidos e órgãos foram colhidas em formol 10% tamponado, processadas rotineiramente para histopatologia e coradas por hematoxilina e eosina. Na microscopia foi observada neoplasia epitelial com padrão predominantemente sólido, com invasão linfática e implantação na serosa intestinal. Com esses achados, comprovou-se a ocorrência de carcinoma indiferenciado de pâncreas em Nymphicus hollandicus, o qual pode ser diagnosticado por meio de histopatologia.

ABSTRACT Undifferentiated carcinoma of the pancreas is a malignant neoplasm that is uncommon among domestic species, especially cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus), one of the most popular birds kept as a pet throughout the world. The aim of this study was to describe the occurrence of an undifferentiated carcinoma in the pancreas of a cockatiel. A bird, an adult male that died naturally with swelling in the abdominal region, was referred to necropsy. Macroscopic examination showed poor body condition, the coelomic cavity filled with liquid and a white mass attached to the pancreas and other smaller masses attached to the duodenum. Tissue samples and organs were harvested and fixed in 10% buffered formalin, then routinely processed for histopathology and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Microscopic analysis demonstrated an epithelial neoplasia with a predominantly solid pattern, lymphatic invasion and involvement of the intestinal serous membrane. These findings indicate the occurrence of an undifferentiated pancreatic carcinoma in a cockatiel that was diagnosed by histopathology.

The present work synthesizes the experimental results obtained in the characterization of 64 microstrips crystalline silicon detector designed for experiments in high energies physics, with the objective of studying its possible application in advanced médical radiography, specifically in digital mammography and angiography. The research includes the acquisition of two-dimensional radiography of a mammography phantom using the scanning method, and its comparison with similar images simulated mathematically for different X rays sources. The paper also shows the experimental radiography of two biological samples taken from biopsies of mammas, where it is possible to identify the presence of possible pathological lesions. The results reached in this work point positively toward the effective possibility of satisfactorily introducing those advanced detectors in médical digital imaging applications.

El presente trabajo sintetiza los resultados experimentales obtenidos en la caracterización de un detector de silicio cristalino de 64 microbandas diseñado para experimentos de física de las altas energías, con el objetivo de estudiar su posible aplicación en la imagenelogía médica, específicamente en mamografía y angiografía digital. La Investigación incluyó la obtención de radiografías bidimensionales de un maniquí mamográfico empleando el método de barrido y su comparación con similares resultados simulados matemáticamente para diferentes fuentes de rayos X. También se presentan las imágenes reales obtenidas luego de radiografiar dos muestras de tejido biológico tomadas de biopsias de mamas, donde se identifica la existencia de un tipo de lesion pretumoral. Los resultados alcanzados apuntan positivamente hacia la posibilidad real de que estos detectores de avanzada puedan ser satisfactoriamente introducidos en la obtención de imágenes radiográficas digitales médicas.

RESUMO O presente trabalho teve como objetivo caracterizar geneticamente 1.073 isolados de Bacillus thuringiensis, de três coleções brasileiras, provenientes da UNESP, Jaboticabal, da ESALQ/ Piracicaba e da EMBRAPA. Sete Lagoas, analisando os tipos de genes cry1 apresentados pelos isolados. Para isso, foram elaborados oligonucleotídeos iniciadores a partir de 16 regiões conservadas e 4 regiões não conservadas das seqüências de cada uma das 16 subclasses do gene cry1. Essas seqüências foram amplificadas por PCR e a presença de amplicons para cada subclasse foi calculada em porcentagem por gene e por coleção. Nessa análise, 55,7% dos isolados apresentaram amplificação para o gene cry1, e as subclassescry1Aa, cry1Ab, cry1Ac, cry1Ad, cry1Ae, cry1Af, cry1Ag, e cry1Bf, cry1Ca e cry1Fa estão presentes em alta proporção de isolados, variando de 43,4% a 54,9%. Verificou-se que existe uma distribuição das subclasses dentro do banco de isolados de B. thuringiensis em estudo, com maior porcentagem de isolados portadores dos genes cry1Ab (42,12%) e com menor porcentagem de representantes da subclasse cry1Db (0,6%). A variabilidade gênica, nas coleções analisadas, destaca as coleções de Jaboticabal e Piracicaba como fontes de isolados promissores para uso em programas de Controle Biológico de pragas da ordem Lepidoptera. A coleção de Sete Lagoas, na qual as freqüências das subclasses estudadas foram relativamente baixas (abaixo de 20%), destaca somente o gene cry1Ab, presente em 38,5% dos isolados desta coleção.

ABSTRACT The aim of this work was to genetically characterize 1,073 isolates of B. thuringiensis, from three Brazilian collections – UNESP/Jaboticabal, ESALQ/Piracicaba and EMBRAPA/Sete Lagoas– with the main emphasis on the analysis of the cry1 gene types presented by these isolates. To achieve this purpose, oligonucleotide primers were designed based on 16 conserved and 4 unconserved regions of the corresponding sequences from each one of the 16 subclasses of the cry1 set of genes and used in PCR amplification assays. These sequences were amplified and the presence of amplicons for each subclass was evaluated in terms of percentage of gene type per bacterial collection. As a result, 55.7% of the isolates reacted to the primer Gral cry1, and the subclasses cry1Aa, cry1Ab, cry1Ac, cry1Ad, cry1Ae, cry1Af, cry1Ag, cry1Bf, cry1Ca and cry1Fa were detected in high percentages among the isolates ranging from 43.4 to 54.9%. A subclass distribution was observed among the set of isolates from these collections, with the greater percentage of isolates harboring the cry1Ab (42.12%) and the lowest percentage for thecry1Db subclass (0.6%). The genetic variability of the analyzed bacterial collections seems to indicate the ESALQ/Piracicaba and the UNESP/Jaboticabal subsets as sources of promising isolates for the control of Lepidoptera pest insects. For the EMBRAPA/Sete Lagoas subset of isolates, in which the evaluated subclasses frequencies were considered low (below 20%), the cry1B was the most frequently observed gene type present in 38.5% of the isolates.

Em seis indústrias madeireiras de Manaus, Amazonas, foi realizado um trabalho de pesquisa, com a utilização de um questionário,para averiguar as condições de uso e processamento da madeira e as medidas preventivas contra o ataque de insetos. Foram realizados, também,um levantamento da ocorrência de insetos em 19 espécies de madeiras utilizadas por essas indústrias e a avaliação do dano provocado pelas principais espécies de Coleoptera (besouros) e Isoptera (cupins). Das respostas apuradas, constatou-se que nenhuma das empresas visitadas emprega qualquer produto para prevenir o ataque de insetos às toras, assim como a secagem e a estocagem das toras são feitas de forma incorreta, contribuindo para aumentar a intensidade de ataque de insetos. Foram encontradas uma família de cupins e 16 de besouros, ressaltando que destas apenas cinco causam danos à madeira. Do total de 13 espécies de insetos coletados, destacam-se Xyleborus affinis Eichhoff e Platypus parallelus (Fabricius), encontradas em 18 espécies madeireiras, sendo conseqüentemente responsáveis pela maioria dos danos nas toras X. volvulus (Fabricius) e Platypus sp. foram encontradas em cinco espécies; X. ferrugineus (Fabricius) em três espécies; Minthea rugicolis Walk, Minthea sp. e Nasutitermes corniger (Motschulsky) em duas, e Dinoderus bifoveolatus Wollaston, Anoplotermes sp.; e Cnesinus sp. em uma. As espécies de madeiras que sofreram maior grau de deterioração, causada principalmente por coleópteros, foram Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn. e Copaifera multijuga Hayne, seguidas por Couroupitaguianensis Aubl., Calophyllum brasiliense Cambess., Cedrela odorata L., Hevea brasiliensis Müll. Arg., Hura crepitans L., Hymenolobium sp., Maquira coriacea (Karsten) C.C. Berg, Nectandra sp., Virolasurinamensis Warb. e Vochysia sp.

This work was carried out in two stages in six wood industries of Manaus, Amazonas. In the first stage, the handling conditions, wood processing as well as the preventive measures against insect attack were evaluated through a questionnaire. In the second stage an evaluation was conducted on the incidence of insects in 19 forest species utilized by those industries and on the deterioration degree caused by the main species of Coleoptera (beetles) and Isoptera (termites). One family of termites and five to 16 families of beetles were found to cause damage on wood. Out of the thirteen beetles collected, Xyleborus affinis Eichhoff and Platypus parallelus (Fabricius) stand out and were found in 18 wood species. Consequently, they were found to be responsible for most of the wood damages. X. volvulus (Fabricius) and Platypus sp. were found in five species, X. ferrugineus (Fabricius) in three species, Minthea rugicolis Walk, Minthea sp. and Nasutitermes corniger (Motschulsky) in two, and Anoplotermes sp. in one species. The wood species, Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn. and Copaifera multijuga Hayne presented the highest degree of deterioration, caused mainly by Coleoptera, followed by Couroupita guianensis Aubl., Calophyllum brasiliense Cambess., Cedrela odorata L., Hevea brasiliensis Mull. Arg., Hura crepitans L., Hymenolobium sp., Maquira coriacea (Karsten) C.C. Berg, Nectandra sp., Virola surinamensis Warb. and Vochysia sp.

Astroglial cells derived from lateral and medial midbrain sectors differ in their abilities to support neuritic growth of midbrain neurons in cocultures. These different properties of the two types of cells may be related to the composition of their extracellular matrix. We have studied the synthesis and secretion of sulfated glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) by the two cell types under control conditions and ß-D-xyloside-stimulated conditions, that stimulate the ability to synthesize and release GAGs. We have confirmed that both cell types synthesize and secrete heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate. Only slight differences were observed between the proportions of the two GAGs produced by the two types of cells after a 24-h labeling period. However, a marked difference was observed between the GAGs produced by the astroglial cells derived from lateral and medial midbrain sectors. The medial cells, which contain derivatives of the tectal and tegmental midline radial glia, synthesized and secreted ~2.3 times more chondroitin sulfate than lateral cells. The synthesis of heparan sulfate was only slightly modified by the addition of ß-D-xyloside. Overall, these results indicate that astroglial cells derived from the two midbrain sectors have marked differences in their capacity to synthesize chondroitin sulfate. Under in vivo conditions or a long period of in vitro culture, they may produce extracellular matrix at concentrations which may differentially affect neuritic growth.