Graft transmission efficiencies and multiplication of 'Candidatus Liberibacter americanus' and 'ca. Liberibacter asiaticus' in citrus plants.

In Brazil 'Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus' and 'Ca. L. americanus' cause huanglongbing (also known as greening), the most destructive citrus disease.

A "hyperextensive" review of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is a heterogeneous group of connective tissue disorders characterized by hyperextensibility, delayed wound healing, joint hypermobility, thin skin, easy bruising, tissue fragility, "cigarette-paper" scarring over bony prominences, mitral valve prolapse, and other findings. There are 6 main types of EDS. Regardless of presentation as a chief concern or an incidental finding, physicians should be aware that the prominent skin findings of EDS are cutaneous signs of an important systemic disorder.

Lysosomal cathepsin B participates in the podosome-mediated extracellular matrix degradation and invasion via secreted lysosomes in v-Src fibroblasts.

Podosomes mediate cell migration and invasion by coordinating the reorganization of actin cytoskeleton and focal matrix degradation. MMP and serine proteases have been found to function at podosomes. The lysosomal cysteine cathepsins, a third major class of matrix-degrading enzymes involved in tumor invasion and tissue remodeling, have yet to be linked to podosomes with the exception of cathepsin K in osteoclasts.

Radioiodine studies, low serum thyrotropin, and the influence of statin drugs.

Background: A low serum thyrotropin (TSH) concentration is an excellent predictor of hyperthyroidism, either overt or subclinical. Whether statin use influences the ability of a low serum TSH measurement to detect hyperthyroidism has not been evaluated.

Methods: In a cohort of 307 patients with low or undetectable serum TSH concentrations suggestive of hyperthyroidism, we determined whether concurrent statin use influenced the results of radioiodine uptakes and scans.

Rapid cleavage of unactivated, unstrained amide bonds at neutral pH.

Building upon the discovery of Suggs and Pires that N-(2-hydroxyethyl)glycine amides undergo rapid amide cleavage under mild conditions [ Suggs, J. W. ; Pires, R.

Facial skin tightening with an 1100-1800 nm infrared device.

Background/objectives: To determine the efficacy of the 1100-1800 nm infrared device for facial and cervical skin tightening.

Methods: Ten female patients, with a mean age of 56.5 years, received two treatments 1 month apart with a chilled tip infrared device (Titan; Cutera, Brisbane, CA, USA).

Biphenylalkylacetylhydroquinone ethers suppress the proliferation of murine B16 melanoma cells.

Hydroquinone, an activator of caspase-9 activity via reactive oxygen species, and farnesol, a post-translational down-regulator of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase activity suppress the growth of murine 816 melanoma cells. Our previous studies have shown that farnesyl-O-acetylhydroquinone has a markedly greater growth-suppressive activity than that predicted by the responses to the parent compounds. Perillyl alcohol, a modulator of small G-protein activity, and biphenyl compounds, activators of Fas-mediated death pathways, suppress B16 growth.

The Brazilian Peritoneal Dialysis Multicenter Study (BRAZPD) : characterization of the cohort.

The Brazilian Peritoneal Dialysis Multicenter Study (BRAZPD) was launched in December 2004 aiming to collect data monthly and continuously from a representative cohort, allowing for a continuous snapshot of the peritoneal dialysis (PD) reality in the country. This is an observational study of PD patients comprising follow-up from December 2004 to February 2007 (mean follow-up of 13.6 months-ranging from 1 to 26 months) in 114 Brazilian centers.

Unsuspected, disseminated coccidioidomycosis without maternofetal morbidity diagnosed by placental examination: case report and review of the literature.

Historically, untreated disseminated coccidioidomycosis during pregnancy was thought to be associated with 100% maternal fatality and 50% fetal mortality and was the leading cause of maternal deaths in areas of endemicity. As recently as 1995, therapeutic abortions and early deliveries were advocated in certain contexts. This report describes an unrecognized case of disseminated coccidioidomycosis diagnosed at the time of placental examination in a woman who completed her pregnancy without significant maternofetal complications.

Natural perovskite: (Ca(0.95 (1))Ce(0.011 (2))Na(0.010 (4)))(Fe(0.022 (2))Ti(0.98 (1)))O(3).

A natural sample of perovskite (calcium caesium sodium iron titanium oxide) from the Tapira Alkaline Complex in southeastern Brazil was found by electron microprobe analysis to have the chemical formula (Ca(2+) (0.95 (1))Ce(3+) (0.011 (2))Na(+) (0.

A patient with vertebral, cognitive and behavioural abnormalities and a de novo deletion of NRXN1alpha.

The authors report a patient with mild mental retardation, autistic features, multiple vertebral malformations, and an unusual facial appearance who carries a de novo submicroscopic deletion of chromosome 2p16.3. The patient's deletion is approximately 320 kb in size and includes only the part of the NRXN1 gene that codes for the neurexin1alpha promoter and initial coding exons.

Use of docking peptides to design modular substrates with high efficiency for mitogen-activated protein kinase extracellular signal-regulated kinase.

The mitogen-activated protein kinase extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) plays a key role in the regulation of cellular proliferation. Mutations in the ERK cascade occur in 30% of malignant tumors. Thus understanding how the kinase identifies its cognate substrates as well as monitoring the activity of ERK is central to cancer research and therapeutic development.

Assessment of algorithms for high throughput detection of genomic copy number variation in oligonucleotide microarray data.

Background: Genomic deletions and duplications are important in the pathogenesis of diseases, such as cancer and mental retardation, and have recently been shown to occur frequently in unaffected individuals as polymorphisms. Affymetrix GeneChip whole genome sampling analysis (WGSA) combined with 100 K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping arrays is one of several microarray-based approaches that are now being used to detect such structural genomic changes. The popularity of this technology and its associated open source data format have resulted in the development of an increasing number of software packages for the analysis of copy number changes using these SNP arrays.

An experimental evaluation of the antidiabetic and antilipidemic properties of a standardized Momordica charantia fruit extract.

Background: The MCE, Momordica charantia fruit extract Linn. (Cucurbitaceae) have been documented to elicit hypoglycemic activity on various occasions. However, due to lack of standardization of these extracts, their efficacy remains questionable.

[Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine resistance in Maputo, Mozambique: presence of mutations in the dhfr and dhps genes of Plasmodium falciparum].

The frequency and distribution of mutations in Plasmodium falciparum, dihydrofolate reductase and dihydropteroate synthase genes were analyzed, using the polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism methodology, in infected blood samples from Mozambican children living in Maputo, before and seven days after treatment with sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine (S/P). The results showed the occurrence of point mutations in the genes studied and the presence of combinations of three alleles in dhfr (51Ile, 59Arg and 108Asn) and "quintuple" mutant (dhfr 51Ile, 59Arg, 108Asn and dhps 437Gly, 540Glu). Both of these situations were associated with seven-day therapeutic failure, following treatment with S/P.

Lupine sensitisation in a population of 1,160 subjects.

Lupin is part of the Mediterranean diet and is also used as a thickener of food products. It has been recognised as a cause of serious allergic reactions. This study aims at determining the prevalence of lupin sensitisation in 1,160 subjects consulting allergologists.

Mycobacterium parascrofulaceum in acidic hot springs in Yellowstone National Park.

Mycobacterium parascrofulaceum was found in Norris Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, in a system composed of two acidic (pH 3.0) springs with temperatures between 56 degrees C at the source and 40 degrees C at the confluence of both springs. Growth and survival assays at 56 degrees C for 60 days were performed, confirming the origin of the strain.

Subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis caused by Cladophialophora sp.: a case report.

A case of subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis caused by Cladophialophora sp. is reported. The patient, an immunosuppressed host presented a nodule on the dorsum of the right hand which relapsed four months after excision.

Modeling breast cancer-associated c-Src and EGFR overexpression in human MECs: c-Src and EGFR cooperatively promote aberrant three-dimensional acinar structure and invasive behavior.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), a member of the ErbB family of receptor tyrosine kinases, is overexpressed in as many as 60% cases of breast and other cancers. EGFR overexpression is a characteristic of highly aggressive molecular subtypes of breast cancer with basal-like and BRCA1 mutant phenotypes distinct from ErbB2-overexpressing breast cancers. Yet, EGFR is substantially weaker compared with ErbB2 in promoting the oncogenic transformation of nontumorigenic human mammary epithelial cells (human MEC), suggesting a role for cooperating oncogenes.

Activation of the kinase activity of ATM by retinoic acid is required for CREB-dependent differentiation of neuroblastoma cells.

The ATM protein kinase is mutated in ataxia telangiectasia, a genetic disease characterized by defective DNA repair, neurodegeneration, and growth factor signaling defects. The activity of ATM kinase is activated by DNA damage, and this activation is required for cells to survive genotoxic events. In addition to this well characterized role in DNA repair, we now demonstrate a novel role for ATM in the retinoic acid (RA)-induced differentiation of SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells into post-mitotic, neuronal-like cells.

Analysis of sulphadoxine/pyrimethamine resistance-conferring mutations of Plasmodium falciparum from Mozambique reveals the absence of the dihydrofolate reductase 164L mutant.

Background: Plasmodium falciparum is the predominant human malaria species in Mozambique and a lead cause of mortality among children and pregnant women nationwide. Sulphadoxine/pyrimethamine (S/P) is used as first line antimalarial treatment as a partner drug in combination with artesunate.

Methods: A total of 92 P.

G-coupled protein receptors and breast cancer progression: potential drug targets.

Breast cancer remains a leading cause of death despite early screening and advances in medicine. Bone marrow metastasis often complicates the clinical picture by requiring more aggressive treatment and worsening long-term prognoses. Recent therapeutic targeting of hormonal receptors such as human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 and estrogen receptor has shown limited success in treating localized disease for those patients whose cancer cells are responsive.

A short hydrogen bond investigation by polarized Raman spectra of Co2+ and Zn2+ salts of pyromellitic acid.

Cobalt and zinc salts of 1,2,4,5-benzenetetracarboxylic acid (pyromellitic acid), [C(6)H(2)(COO)(4)H(4)], have been synthesized and investigate by polarized Raman spectroscopy. These compounds present short intramolecular hydrogen bonds (SHB) between adjacent carboxyl groups. Raman spectra indicate the presence of this interaction in both salts.

N-nitrosoanonaine and N-nitrosoxylopine, aporphine alkaloids from Duguetia furfuracea.

Two new aporphine alkaloids, N-nitrosoanonaine (1) and N-nitrosoxylopine (2), were isolated from the aerial parts of Duguetia furfuracea, a weed found in several Brazilian regions. Their structures were elucidated by NMR analysis, CHN analysis, CD, IR, and MS data. The single-crystal X-ray structural determination of the structure of 1 was also performed.

Oligonucleotide microarray analysis of genomic imbalance in children with mental retardation.

The cause of mental retardation in one-third to one-half of all affected individuals is unknown. Microscopically detectable chromosomal abnormalities are the most frequently recognized cause, but gain or loss of chromosomal segments that are too small to be seen by conventional cytogenetic analysis has been found to be another important cause. Array-based methods offer a practical means of performing a high-resolution survey of the entire genome for submicroscopic copy-number variants.