Integrated Cytogenetic and Mitochondrial DNA Analyses Indicate That Two Different Phenotypes of Hypancistrus (L066 and L333) Belong to the Same Species.

The diversity of Hypancistrus species in the Xingu River is remarkable and the variation in color morphs represents a real challenge to taxonomists to delimit species boundaries. One of the most recognizable Hypancistrus complexes is the worm-lined species, known in the aquarium trade as King Tiger Plec in English, Hypancistrus "pão" in Portuguese or under the L-numbers L066 and L333 that represent two melanic pigment pattern phenotypes. To assess the identity of these two phenotypes, we described their karyotypes and sequenced part of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene (DNA barcode).

Spine radiosurgery for the local treatment of spine metastases: Intensity-modulated radiotherapy, image guidance, clinical aspects and future directions.

Many cancer patients will develop spinal metastases. Local control is important for preventing neurologic compromise and to relieve pain. Stereotactic body radiotherapy or spinal radiosurgery is a new radiation therapy technique for spinal metastasis that can deliver a high dose of radiation to a tumor while minimizing the radiation delivered to healthy, neighboring tissues.

Validity and reliability of sleep time questionnaires in children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Sleep duration has been associated with several health outcomes in children and adolescents. As an extensive number of questionnaires are currently used to investigate sleep schedule or sleep time, we performed a systematic review of criterion validation of sleep time questionnaires for children and adolescents, considering accelerometers as the reference method. We found a strong correlation between questionnaires and accelerometers for weeknights and a moderate correlation for weekend nights.

Unique PFK regulatory property from some mosquito vectors of disease, and from Drosophila melanogaster.

Background: Arthropod-borne diseases are some of the most rapidly spreading diseases. Reducing the vector population is currently the only effective way to reduce case numbers. Central metabolic pathways are potential targets to control vector populations, but have not been well explored to this aim.

Abdominal obesity and its association with socioeconomic factors among adolescents from different living environments.

Background: Socioeconomic status has been associated with obesity in children and adolescents. This association may be dependent according with where adolescents lives.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between different socioeconomic indicators such as parental education and occupation and socioeconomic status with abdominal obesity in adolescents from two observational studies: the Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence cross-sectional study (HELENA-CSS) and the Brazilian Cardiovascular Adolescent Health (BRACAH) study.

Multilevel Models for the Analysis of Angle-Specific Torque Curves with Application to Master Athletes.

The aim of this paper was to outline a multilevel modeling approach to fit individual angle-specific torque curves describing concentric knee extension and flexion isokinetic muscular actions in Master athletes. The potential of the analytical approach to examine between individual differences across the angle-specific torque curves was illustrated including between-individuals variation due to gender differences at a higher level. Torques in concentric muscular actions of knee extension and knee extension at 60º·s(-1) were considered within a range of motion between 5º and 85º (only torques "truly" isokinetic).

Internalized stigma and quality of life domains among people with mental illness: the mediating role of self-esteem.

Background: People with mental illness who internalize stigma often experience reduced self-esteem and impaired quality of life (QOL).

Aims: To propose a theoretical model in which self-esteem mediates the effects of internalized stigma on the multidimensional domains comprising QOL.

Method: In 403 inpatients and outpatients (DSM-IV, American Psychiatric Association, 1994), from hospital-based and community mental health facilities, self-report measures of internalized stigma (ISMI), self-esteem (RSES) and QOL (WHOQOL-Bref) were administrated.

Self-reported Conflicts of Interest and Trial Sponsorship of Clinical Trials in Prostate Cancer Involving Radiotherapy.

Objectives: To examine the association between trial sponsorship and conflicts of interest (COI) with clinical trial conclusions for prostate cancer trials related to radiotherapy.

Materials And Methods: The MEDLINE database was searched for all prostate cancer clinical trials published between 2004 and 2013 and identified 1396 studies. Two investigators independently identified trials published in the English language of ≥30 patients, and extracted relevant data.

Are sickle cell anaemia and sickle cell trait predictive factors for periodontal disease? A cohort study.

Background And Objective: Periodontal diseases are associated with bacterial challenge and the host immune response, and are also modulated by genetic factors. There is evidence that sickle cell anaemia (SCA) does not represent a risk factor for periodontal diseases. However, it is still unclear whether the heterozygous condition [sickle cell trait (SCT)] is associated with periodontal diseases.

Spot urine sodium excretion as prognostic marker in acutely decompensated heart failure: the spironolactone effect.

Introduction: Loop diuretic resistance characterized by inefficient sodium excretion complicates many patients with acutely decompensated heart failure (ADHF). Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) in natriuretic doses may improve spot urine sodium excretion and outcomes.

Objective: Our primary aim was to assess the association of high-dose spironolactone with short-term spot urine sodium excretion, and our secondary aim was to determine if this higher short-term spot urine sodium excretion is associated with reduction in the composite clinical outcome (of cardiovascular mortality and/or ADHF hospitalization) event rate at 180 days.

Trends in percutaneous coronary intervention from 2004 to 2013 according to the Portuguese National Registry of Interventional Cardiology.

Introduction And Objectives: The aim of the present paper is to report trends in Portuguese interventional cardiology from 2004 to 2013 and to compare them with other European countries.

Methods: Based on the Portuguese National Registry of Interventional Cardiology and on official data from the Directorate-General of Health, we give an overview of developments in coronary interventions from 2004 to 2013.

Results: In 2013, 36 810 diagnostic catheterization procedures were performed, representing an increase of 34% compared to 2007 and a rate of 3529 coronary angiograms per million population.

Effects of clustering of multiple lifestyle-related behaviors on blood pressure in adolescents from two observational studies.

Backgroud: Several lifestyle-related behaviors are associated with cardiovascular health outcomes in adolescents. To examine the associations between clustered lifestyle-related behaviors and blood pressure (BP) levels in adolescents.

Methods: Participants were recruited by multistage random cluster in two cross-sectional studies; one conducted in 2006 and 2007 in ten cities from nine European countries: Athens and Heraklion in Greece, Dortmund in Germany, Ghent in Belgium, Lille in France, Pécs in Hungary, Rome in Italy, Stockholm in Sweden, Vienna in Austria, and Zaragoza in Spain; and another conducted in 2007 one city in Brazil (Maringá/PR).

New transcription factors involved with postnatal ventral prostate gland development in male Wistar rats during the first week.

Aims: The high incidence in men of prostatic diseases, including benign and malignant tumors, makes the understanding of prostate development and biology very important. Understanding the organogenesis of the prostate gland has been a substantial challenge as "prostatic code" is not well defined at the present time. The novelty of this work lies in unveiling new transcription factors (TFs) during neonatal ventral prostate (VP) gland development in male Wistar rats.

n-3 Fatty Acids Induce Neurogenesis of Predominantly POMC-Expressing Cells in the Hypothalamus.

Apoptosis of hypothalamic neurons is believed to play an important role in the development and perpetuation of obesity. Similar to the hippocampus, the hypothalamus presents constitutive and stimulated neurogenesis, suggesting that obesity-associated hypothalamic dysfunction can be repaired. Here, we explored the hypothesis that n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) induce hypothalamic neurogenesis.

Changes of Hematological Markers during a Multi-stage Ultra-marathon Competition in the Heat.

This study examined the changes in resting hematological variables in ultra-endurance runners throughout a multi-stage ultra-marathon competition, and compared athletes that completed all stages with those that failed to complete at least one stage within the cut-off time of competition. 19 ultra-endurance runners competing in a 230 km multi-stage ultra-marathon, conducted over 5 consecutive days in hot ambient conditions (32-40°C T(max)), volunteered to participate in the study. Each day, whole blood samples were collected prior to stage commencement and analyzed for full cell counts by Coulter counter.

Possible role of glutamine synthetase of the prokaryotic type (GSI-like) in nitrogen signaling in Medicago truncatula.

Genes containing domains related to glutamine synthetase of the prokaryotic type (GSI-like) are widespread in higher plants, but their function is currently unknown. To gain insights into the possible role of GSI-like proteins, we characterized the GSI-like gene family of Medicago truncatula and investigated the functionality of the encoded proteins. M.

Sinorhizobium meliloti Controls Nitric Oxide-Mediated Post-Translational Modification of a Medicago truncatula Nodule Protein.

Nitric oxide (NO) is involved in various plant-microbe interactions. In the symbiosis between soil bacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti and model legume Medicago truncatula, NO is required for an optimal establishment of the interaction but is also a signal for nodule senescence. Little is known about the molecular mechanisms responsible for NO effects in the legume-rhizobium interaction.

Stereotactic body radiotherapy in lung cancer: an update.

For early-stage lung cancer, the treatment of choice is surgery. In patients who are not surgical candidates or are unwilling to undergo surgery, radiotherapy is the principal treatment option. Here, we review stereotactic body radiotherapy, a technique that has produced quite promising results in such patients and should be the treatment of choice, if available.

Comparison of the Internal Dynamics of Metalloproteases Provides New Insights on Their Function and Evolution.

Metalloproteases have evolved in a vast number of biological systems, being one of the most diverse types of proteases and presenting a wide range of folds and catalytic metal ions. Given the increasing understanding of protein internal dynamics and its role in enzyme function, we are interested in assessing how the structural heterogeneity of metalloproteases translates into their dynamics. Therefore, the dynamical profile of the clan MA type protein thermolysin, derived from an Elastic Network Model of protein structure, was evaluated against those obtained from a set of experimental structures and molecular dynamics simulation trajectories.

One- and two-photon photoluminescence excitation spectra of CdTe quantum dots in a cryogenic confocal microscopy platform.

In this work we describe a method to obtain photoluminescente excitation spectra, through one and two photon absorption, of CdTe quantum dots, based on a confocal microscope platform. This system becomes an analytical multipurpose characterization platform with spatial, and spectral resolution with temperature control. The capabilities of such platform were demonstrated by photoluminescence and second harmonic generation spectra acquisition as a function of temperature from 10 K to room temperature.

Glutamine synthetase in Medicago truncatula, unveiling new secrets of a very old enzyme.

Glutamine synthetase (GS) catalyzes the first step at which nitrogen is brought into cellular metabolism and is also involved in the reassimilation of ammonium released by a number of metabolic pathways. Due to its unique position in plant nitrogen metabolism, GS plays essential roles in all aspects of plant development, from germination to senescence, and is a key component of nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and plant yield. Understanding the mechanisms regulating GS activity is therefore of utmost importance and a great effort has been dedicated to understand how GS is regulated in different plant species.

Clinical profiles of stigma experiences, self-esteem and social relationships among people with schizophrenia, depressive, and bipolar disorders.

Some mental illnesses and certain mental health care environments can be severely stigmatizing, which seems to be related to decreased self-esteem and a deterioration of the quality of social relationships for people with mental illness. This study aims to identify clinical profiles characterized by clinical diagnoses more strongly associated with the treatment settings and related to internalized stigma, self-esteem and satisfaction with social relationships. It also aimed to analyze associations between clinical profiles and socio-demographic indicators.

Central auditory processing in patients with spinocerebellar ataxia.

Background: Autosomal dominant spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are a group of rare and heterogeneous neurodegenerative diseases characterized by the presence of progressive cerebellar ataxia. Although the symptomatology of SCAs is well known, information regarding central auditory functioning in these patients is lacking. Therefore, we assessed the central auditory processing disorders (CAPD) in patients with different subtypes of SCA.