The objective of this study was to evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of Dicer, Drosha, and Exportin-5 in the eutopic and ectopic endometrium of women with adenomyosis. Twenty-two paired ectopic and eutopic endometrium from women with adenomyosis and 10 eutopic endometrium samples from control women undergoing hysterectomy were included in the study. Paraffin-embedded tissue blocks were cut and stained for immunohistochemistry. The percentage of epithelial cells positively marked was identified digitally after an automated slide scanning process. Mann-Whitney test or Wilcoxon signed-rank test was performed for independent and paired groups, respectively. A lower expression of Drosha was observed in the eutopic endometrium of women with adenomyosis than in the eutopic endometrium of women without the disease (69.9±3.4% vs 85.2±2.9%, respectively) (P=0.016; 95%CI: 3.4 to 27.4%). We also detected lower Drosha expression in the ectopic endometrium of women with adenomyosis than in the eutopic endometrium of the same women (59.6±3.2% vs 69.9±3.4%, respectively) (P=0.004; 95%CI: 2.3 to 16.7%). Additionally, we observed a correlation between Drosha expression in the ectopic and paired eutopic endometrium (P=0.034, rho=0.454). No significant difference in Dicer or Exportin expression was observed. Predominant pattern of cytoplasmic staining for the anti-Drosha antibody and both a nuclear and cytoplasmic pattern for the anti-Exportin antibody were observed. Drosha expression was significantly lower in the endometrium of women with adenomyosis compared to the eutopic endometrium of asymptomatic women without the disease. Furthermore, its expression was lower in the ectopic endometrium but correlated to the paired eutopic endometrium.

Endometriosis is a benign, estrogen-dependent disease with symptoms such as pelvic pain and infertility, and it is characterized by the ectopic distribution of endometrial tissue. The expression of the ID2, PRELP and SMOC2 genes was compared between the endometrium of women without endometriosis in the proliferative phase of their menstrual cycle and the eutopic and ectopic endometrium of women with endometriosis in the proliferative phase. Paired tissue samples from 20 women were analyzed: 10 from endometrial and peritoneal endometriotic lesions and 10 from endometrial and ovarian endometriotic lesions. As controls, 16 endometrium samples were collected from women without endometriosis in the proliferative phase of menstrual cycle. Analysis was performed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). There was no significant difference between gene expression in the endometrium of women with and without endometriosis. The ID2 gene expression was increased in the most advanced stage of endometriosis and in ovarian endometriomas, the PRELP was more expressed in peritoneal lesions, and the SMOC2 was highly expressed in both peritoneal and endometrioma lesions. Considering that the genes studied participate either directly or indirectly in cellular processes that can lead to cell migration, angiogenesis, and inappropriate invasion, it is possible that the deregulation of these genes caused the development and maintenance of ectopic tissue.

RESUMO A leishmaniose visceral (LV) expandiu-se de forma rápida e extensa pelos municípios da Região Metropolitana de Belo Horizonte. Objetivou-se estudar a dinâmica da LV em uma coorte prospectiva de cães em Juatuba, entre 2010 e 2011, para verificar a incidência e fatores de risco associados à infecção por Leishmania infantum. Foi feito um estudo observacional e prospectivo de coorte fechada por meio de análise sorológica em cães selecionados aleatoriamente em todo o município, com acompanhamento semestral dos resultados soronegativos e indeterminados na imunofluorescência indireta (IFI). Usou-se questionário semiestruturado junto aos proprietários de cães para avaliação da soroconversão e dos fatores determinantes a essa, por meio da regressão logística. O coeficiente de incidência canina foi de 206/1000 cães.ano (IC: 178 - 238), e foi identificado cluster em área com elevada concentração de cães soropositivos, mas com baixa densidade populacional canina. A variável cão de porte grande foi identificada como fator de risco, e as variáveis idade do cão superior a quatro anos, limpeza diária do peridomicílio e melhores condições socioeconômicas como fatores de proteção. A infecção por LV está ocorrendo em curto período de tempo e com ampla distribuição em Juatuba.

ABSTRACT Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) has spread rapidly across cities in the metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte. The aim of this study was to investigate VL dynamics in a prospective cohort study of dogs in Juatuba, between 2010 and 2011, to confirm the incidence of Leishmania infantum, and to assess possible risk factors associated with infection. An observational and prospective closed cohort study was performed using serology testing in dogs, randomly selected from the whole municipality. All seronegative dogs, or dogs with inconclusive results were monitored using indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) at 6-month intervals. The dog's owners completed a semi-structured questionnaire to assess possible causal factors of seroconversion, and the responses were assessed using logistic regression. The canine incidence coefficient was 206/1,000 dogs per year (CI: 178-238), and a cluster was identified in an area with a high concentration of seropositive dogs, but a low overall canine population. Large dogs were identified as a risk factor and the following variables were identified as protection factors: dogs aged over 4 years, daily peridomicile cleaning, and better socioeconomic conditions. VL is spreading over a large area in Juatuba in a short period of time.

The parasympathetic nervous system is important for β-cell secretion and mass regulation. Here, we characterized involvement of the vagus nerve in pancreatic β-cell morphofunctional regulation and body nutrient homeostasis in 90-day-old monosodium glutamate (MSG)-obese rats. Male newborn Wistar rats received MSG (4 g/kg body weight) or saline [control (CTL) group] during the first 5 days of life. At 30 days of age, both groups of rats were submitted to sham-surgery (CTL and MSG groups) or subdiaphragmatic vagotomy (Cvag and Mvag groups). The 90-day-old MSG rats presented obesity, hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance, and hypertriglyceridemia. Their pancreatic islets hypersecreted insulin in response to glucose but did not increase insulin release upon carbachol (Cch) stimulus, despite a higher intracellular Ca2+ mobilization. Furthermore, while the pancreas weight was 34% lower in MSG rats, no alteration in islet and β-cell mass was observed. However, in the MSG pancreas, increases of 51% and 55% were observed in the total islet and β-cell area/pancreas section, respectively. Also, the β-cell number per β-cell area was 19% higher in MSG rat pancreas than in CTL pancreas. Vagotomy prevented obesity, reducing 25% of body fat stores and ameliorated glucose homeostasis in Mvag rats. Mvag islets demonstrated partially reduced insulin secretion in response to 11.1 mM glucose and presented normalization of Cch-induced Ca2+ mobilization and insulin release. All morphometric parameters were similar among Mvag and CTL rat pancreases. Therefore, the higher insulin release in MSG rats was associated with greater β-cell/islet numbers and not due to hypertrophy. Vagotomy improved whole body nutrient homeostasis and endocrine pancreatic morphofunction in Mvag rats.

The objective of this prospective study was to determine the plasma levels of nitric oxide (NO) in women with chronic pelvic pain secondary to endometriosis (n=24) and abdominal myofascial pain syndrome (n=16). NO levels were measured in plasma collected before and 1 month after treatment. Pretreatment NO levels (μM) were lower in healthy volunteers (47.0±12.7) than in women with myofascial pain (64.2±5.0, P=0.01) or endometriosis (99.5±12.9, P<0.0001). After treatment, plasma NO levels were reduced only in the endometriosis group (99.5±12.9 vs 61.6±5.9, P=0.002). A correlation between reduction of pain intensity and reduction of NO level was observed in the endometriosis group [correlation = 0.67 (95%CI = 0.35 to 0.85), P<0.0001]. Reduction of NO levels was associated with an increase of pain threshold in this group [correlation = -0.53 (-0.78 to -0.14), P<0.0001]. NO levels appeared elevated in women with chronic pelvic pain diagnosed as secondary to endometriosis, and were directly associated with reduction in pain intensity and increase in pain threshold after treatment. Further studies are needed to investigate the role of NO in the pathophysiology of pain in women with endometriosis and its eventual association with central sensitization.

The objective of this study was to determine the inter- and intra-examiner reliability of pain pressure threshold algometry at various points of the abdominal wall of healthy women. Twenty-one healthy women in menacme with a mean age of 28 ± 5.4 years (range: 19-39 years) were included. All volunteers had regular menstrual cycles (27-33 days) and were right-handed and, to the best of our knowledge, none were taking medications at the time of testing. Women with a diagnosis of depression, anxiety or other mood disturbances were excluded. Women with previous abdominal surgery, any pain condition or any evidence of inflammation, hypertension, smoking, alcoholism, or inflammatory disease were also excluded. Pain perception thresholds were assessed with a pressure algometer with digital traction and compression and a measuring capacity for 5 kg. All points were localized by palpation and marked with a felt-tipped pen and each individual was evaluated over a period of 2 days in two consecutive sessions, each session consisting of a set of 14 point measurements repeated twice by two examiners in random sequence. There was no statistically significant difference in the mean pain threshold obtained by the two examiners on 2 diferent days (examiner A: P = 1.00; examiner B: P = 0.75; Wilcoxon matched pairs test). There was excellent/good agreement between examiners for all days and all points. Our results have established baseline values to which future researchers will be able to refer. They show that pressure algometry is a reliable measure for pain perception in the abdominal wall of healthy women.

Foram identificadas a divergência e a variabilidade genética, por meio do polimorfismo de seis marcadores microssatélites, de duas populações de Odontesthes bonariensis, utilizadas em manejos de cultivo e com potencial para fornecimento de reprodutores para programas de melhoramento genético. Do total de seis loci, cinco demonstraram eficiência para análise genética nas duas populações de O. bonariensis. A diferenciação genética significante nas populações analisadas pode fornecer a base para futuros programas de melhoramentos genéticos, através da combinação de material das populações divergentes para o desenvolvimento de linhagens ou execução de um programa de seleção.

Endometriosis is a complex and multifactorial disease. Chromosomal imbalance screening in endometriotic tissue can be used to detect hot-spot regions in the search for a possible genetic marker for endometriosis. The objective of the present study was to detect chromosomal imbalances by comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) in ectopic tissue samples from ovarian endometriomas and eutopic tissue from the same patients. We evaluated 10 ovarian endometriotic tissues and 10 eutopic endometrial tissues by metaphase CGH. CGH was prepared with normal and test DNA enzymatically digested, ligated to adaptors and amplified by PCR. A second PCR was performed for DNA labeling. Equal amounts of both normal and test-labeled DNA were hybridized in human normal metaphases. The Isis FISH Imaging System V 5.0 software was used for chromosome analysis. In both eutopic and ectopic groups, 4/10 samples presented chromosomal alterations, mainly chromosomal gains. CGH identified 11q12.3-q13.1, 17p11.1-p12, 17q25.3-qter, and 19p as critical regions. Genomic imbalances in 11q, 17p, 17q, and 19p were detected in normal eutopic and/or ectopic endometrium from women with ovarian endometriosis. These regions contain genes such as POLR2G, MXRA7 and UBA52 involved in biological processes that may lead to the establishment and maintenance of endometriotic implants. This genomic imbalance may affect genes in which dysregulation impacts both eutopic and ectopic endometrium.

Neste trabalho desenvolveu-se um novo método de produção fibras de hidroxiapatite (HA), combinando a técnica de electrofiação com um sistema sol-gel de base não-alcóxida, utilizando precursores baratos. Como precursores de fósforo e de cálcio, foram usados o pentóxido de fósforo (P2O5) e o nitrato de cálcio tetrahidratado (Ca(NO3)2.4H2O), respectivamente. As fibras obtidas resultam da electrofiação de uma mistura do gel formado a partir do sistema Ca(NO3)2.4H2O/P2O5 com soluções poliméricas de polivinilpirrolidona (PVP) em água e misturas etanol/água. As fibras obtidas foram analisadas quanto à sua morfologia (Microscopia Electrónica de Varrimento, MEV), composição química (Espectroscopia de Infravermelho de transformada de Fourier, FTIR) e estrutural (Difracção de raios-X, DRX). Obtiveram-se nano e microfibras, maioritariamente constituídas por HA carbonatada do tipo B e com vestígios de óxido de cálcio (CaO) e de β-fosfato tricálcico (β-TCP). Pela análise de MEV verificou-se que uma maior concentração de PVP nas soluções de electrofiação conduz à formação de fibras de forma cilíndrica e que uma maior quantidade de água permite obter fibras de menor diâmetro e com menor dispersão de diâmetros. As fibras de HA produzidas têm potencial para a utilização quer biotecnológica (por ex. membranas de permuta iónica), quer biomédica (por ex. matrizes para crescimento de células ósseas).

This paper reports a new method of producing hydroxyapatite (HA) fibres, combining electrospinning and a non-alcoxide sol-gel system, using cheap precursors. Phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5) and calcium nitrate tetrahydrate (Ca(NO3)2.4H2O) were used as precursors of phosphorus and calcium, respectively. The fibres were electrospun from a mixture of the gel formed from the system Ca(NO3)2.4H2O/P2O5 with polymeric solutions of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) in water and ethanol/water mixtures. The fibres were analyzed for their morphology (Scanning Electron Microscopy, SEM), chemical composition (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, FTIR) and structure (X-ray diffraction, XRD). Nano and microfibres were obtained, composed mainly of type B carbonated HA with traces of calcium oxide (CaO) and β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP). From SEM analysis it was found that higher concentration of PVP in the electrospinning solutions leads to the formation of cylindrical fibres and that a larger amount of water allows for smaller diameter fibres and narrow diameters distribution. HA fibres produced have potential use either in Biotechnology (eg. Ion-exchange membranes) and Biomedicine (eg. Scaffolds for Tissue Engineeering).

A elaboração e realização de experimentos, associadas à interpretação dos resultados, construção e aplicação de conceitos e uso de recursos da informatica, constituem uma opção metodológica desafiadora no ensino de física dos dias atuais, considerando as necessidades de conhecimento, habilidades e criatividade que as novas gerações devem ter para enfrentar os problemas científicos e tecnológicos. Este trabalho tem como objetivos apresentar o problema de cálculo das forças atuantes em cabos e hastes que sustentam massas no espaço, desenvolver um modelo matemático geral, como um estudo de modelagem fortemente integrador dos conteúdos das disciplinas de Mecânica Geral, Algebra Linear e Cálculo Numérico de cursos de engenharia, física ou matemática. O modelo foi testado com verificação experimental para varias situações, sendo três delas descritas no artigo: casos simétrico e assimétrico com forças de tração e um caso assimétrico com força de compressão. Foi realizada a analise de incerteza das medidas de comprimento dos cabos e posicionamento dos apoios. O trabalho evidenciou a riqueza de situações de aprendizagem e aplicação de conceitos, técnicas de tratamento de dados de medida e desafios matemáticos, ao associar ações teóricas e experimentais para a validação do modelo, além de apresentar outras investigações relacionadas com o tema abordado.

The elaboration and accomplishment of experiments, together with the analysis of the results, construction and application of concepts and the use of computing resources are a challenging methodological option in the physics education when considering the needs of knowledge, abilities and creativity that the new generations must have to face the scientific and technological problems. This work has the objective to present the problem of calculation of acting forces in handles and connecting rods that support masses in the space, to develop a general mathematical model and to argue the nature of the tensions of some specific cases, as a modelling study combining the contents of courses like General Mechanics, Linear Algebra and Numerical Calculus for engineering, physics or mathematics. The model was tested for some situations, being three of them described in this article: symmetrical and anti-symmetrical with traction forces and an anti-symmetrical case with compression force. It is presented the analysis of the uncertainty for the measurements of the handles length and the positioning of the supports. This work shows the variety of learning situations and application of concepts, mathematical techniques of data handling and challenges, when associating theoretical and experimental actions for the validation of the model, besides presenting other related inquiries as extensions of the given subject.

Estudou-se o efeito da aplicação de misoprostol intravaginal, na dilatação cervical de ovelhas Dorper, com o objetivo de se viabilizar a coleta transcervical de embriões. Para isso, 68 fêmeas foram sincronizadas com dispositivo intravaginal de progesterona, superovuladas com FSHp, inseminadas por laparoscopia com sêmen fresco, 36 horas após a remoção do dispositivo intravaginal, e submetidas à coleta transcervical de embriões. Os animais foram distribuídos em dois tratamentos: tratamento 1 (n=10), controle, sem aplicação de misoprostol intravaginal antes da coleta de embriões, e tratamento 2 (n=58), com aplicação prévia de 200µ g de misoprostol no fundo do saco vaginal, cinco horas antes da coleta dos embriões. Não foi possível realizar a transposição cervical em nenhum dos animais do tratamento 1, o que inviabilizou as coletas dos embriões, diferentemente do tratamento 2, em que foi possível a transposição cervical em 94,8% dos animais (P<0,05). A técnica de coleta descrita foi realizada no tempo médio de 30,14±9,00 minutos, com recuperação média de 6,02±3,61 embriões/animal. Conclui-se que a técnica transcervical, com administração prévia vaginal de misoprostol, mostrou-se viável para coleta de embriões em ovelhas Dorper.

The effect of intravaginal misoprostol application on the cervical expansion in Dorper ewes was evaluated to make feasible the transcervical embryo recovery. Sixty-eight female donors were synchronized with an impregnated vaginal device of progesterone; superovulated with FSHp; inseminated by laparoscopy technique with fresh semen, 36 hours after the removal of impregnated vaginal device; and submitted to transcervical embryo recovery. The ewes were arranged in two treatments: treatment 1 (n=10), representing the control group, without intravaginal misoprostol application before embryo recovery; and treatment 2 (n=58), with application of 200µ g of misoprostol in the vagine, five hours before the embryo recovery. The control group did not allow the cervical transposition, making unfeasible the recovery. Animals from treatment 2 reached 94.8% of cervical transposition, resulting in significant (P<0.05) difference between treatments. The described recovery technique was accomplished in a mean time of 30.14±9.00 minutes, allowing a mean recovery of 6.02±3.61 of embryos per animal. It was concluded that the transcervical technique, with previous intravaginal misoprostol application, was a feasible method to recover embryos of Dorper ewes.

Foram estudadas a presença de anexina II (Ann-II) durante a fase inicial do desenvolvimento embrionário bovino e sua regulação pelo retinol e pelo fator de crescimento semelhante à insulina (IGF-I). Embriões bovinos em diferentes estádios de desenvolvimento foram produzidos in vitro em fluido sintético de oviduto (SOF) sem suplementação (grupo-controle) ou suplementado com retinol (grupo retinol; 0,1ng/ml medium) ou IGF-I (grupo IGF-I; 10 ng/ml de meio). Os embriões foram processados para extração de mRNA, produção de cDNA e posterior análise por reação em cadeia da polimerase (PCR) com oligonucleotídeos específicos para Ann-II. Em todos os estádios de desenvolvimento embrionário, Ann-II foi detectada, exceto no estádio de 16 células. Os índices de blastocisto foram significativamente maiores (P<0,05) no grupo suplementado com retinol (37,8%, 45/119) durante o cultivo in vitro de embriões (PIV) que aqueles obtidos no grupo controle (20,5%, 24/117) ou no IGF-I (25,8%, 24/93). Análise semiquantitativa da expressão de Ann-II em embriões produzidos em meio suplementado com IGF-I ou retinol revelou uma menor expressão desse gene quando comparado com embriões cultivados somente em SOF (P<0,05). A expressão de Ann-II não foi diferente em embriões cultivados na presença de retinol e IGF-I. A presença de retinol aumentou a produção de embriões in vitro, e diminuiu a expressão de Ann-II em estádios iniciais do desenvolvimento embrionário bovino.

The presence of annexin II (Ann-II) during the initial stages of bovine embryo development and the regulation of Ann-II expression by retinol and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) were studied. Bovine embryos at different stages of development were produced in vitro on Synthetic Oviductal Fluid (SOF) medium (control group), SOF supplemented with retinol (retinol group; 0.1ng/ml), or IGF-I (IGF-I group; 10ng/ml). The embryos were processed for mRNA extraction, cDNA production and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using Ann-II-specific oligonucleotides. Ann-II was detected in all stages of early embryo development, except for the 16-cell stage. The blastocyst rates were significantly higher (P<0.05) in the group supplemented with retinol (37.8%, 45/119) during in vitro embryo culture (IVC) than in those cultured in SOF (20.5%, 24/117) or SOF with IGF-I (25.8%, 24/93). Semiquantitative analysis of Ann-II expression in embryos produced in medium supplemented with IGF-I or retinol revealed a lower expression of this gene when compared with embryos cultured in SOF (P<0.05). The Ann-II expression was not different in embryos cultured in the presence of retinol and IGF-I. The presence of retinol increased the production of embryos in vitro by decreasing the expression of Ann-II in early-stage of bovine embryo.

It has been shown that mental rotation of objects and human body parts is processed differently in the human brain. But what about body parts belonging to other primates? Does our brain process this information like any other object or does it instead maximize the structural similarities with our homologous body parts? We tried to answer this question by measuring the manual reaction time (MRT) of human participants discriminating the handedness of drawings representing the hands of four anthropoid primates (orangutan, chimpanzee, gorilla, and human). Twenty-four right-handed volunteers (13 males and 11 females) were instructed to judge the handedness of a hand drawing in palm view by pressing a left/right key. The orientation of hand drawings varied from 0º (fingers upwards) to 90º lateral (fingers pointing away from the midline), 180º (fingers downwards) and 90º medial (finger towards the midline). The results showed an effect of rotation angle (F(3, 69) = 19.57, P < 0.001), but not of hand identity, on MRTs. Moreover, for all hand drawings, a medial rotation elicited shorter MRTs than a lateral rotation (960 and 1169 ms, respectively, P < 0.05). This result has been previously observed for drawings of the human hand and related to biomechanical constraints of movement performance. Our findings indicate that anthropoid hands are essentially equivalent stimuli for handedness recognition. Since the task involves mentally simulating the posture and rotation of the hands, we wondered if "mirror neurons" could be involved in establishing the motor equivalence between the stimuli and the participants' own hands.