The presence of black vultures at the calving sites and its effects on cows' and calves' behaviour immediately following parturition.

Black vultures (Coragyps atratus) are often present near calving sites, and under this situation they may play a positive role by removing animal carcasses and afterbirth or a negative role by attacking neonate calves or disturbing cow-calf behaviours following parturition. Cow-calf behaviour was recorded over a 4-year study period from a total of 300 births involving 200 Nellore, 54 Guzerat, 20 Gyr and 26 Caracu cows. The calving site in relation to the location of the herd, considering cow-calf pairs within, close or distant to the herd, the presence of vultures and the behaviour of cows and calves were recorded instantaneously, at 5-min interval.

Attitudes and program preferences of African-American urban young adults about pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).

We elicited attitudes about, and service access preferences for, daily oral antiretroviral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) from urban, African-American young men and women, ages 18-24 years, at risk for HIV transmission through their sexual and drug-related behaviors participating in eight mixed-gender and two MSM-only focus groups in Atlanta, Georgia. Participants reported substantial interest in PrEP associated with its perceived cost, effectiveness, and ease of accessing services and medication near to their homes or by public transportation. Frequent HIV testing was a perceived benefit.

TRIP12 and UBR5 suppress spreading of chromatin ubiquitylation at damaged chromosomes.

Histone ubiquitylation is a prominent response to DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), but how these modifications are confined to DNA lesions is not understood. Here, we show that TRIP12 and UBR5, two HECT domain ubiquitin E3 ligases, control accumulation of RNF168, a rate-limiting component of a pathway that ubiquitylates histones after DNA breakage. We find that RNF168 can be saturated by increasing amounts of DSBs.

Novel, panzootic and hybrid genotypes of amphibian chytridiomycosis associated with the bullfrog trade.

Global amphibian declines are linked with the presence of specific, highly virulent genotypes of the emerging fungal disease chytridiomycosis caused by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) known as the global panzootic lineage (Bd-GPL). The global trade in amphibians for human consumption is suspected to have facilitated emergence of the disease, but evidence to support this is largely lacking. Here, we investigated the role the Lithobates catesbeianus (North American bullfrog) trade in spreading Bd genotypes by comparing strains associated with L.

Interaction between breeding habitat and elevation affects prevalence but not infection intensity of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in Brazilian anuran assemblages.

Chytridiomycosis, an infectious disease of amphibians, is caused by the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) and has been linked to declining amphibian populations worldwide. The susceptibility of amphibians to chytridiomycosis-induced population declines is potentially influenced by many factors, including environmental characteristics, differences among host species and the growth of the pathogen itself. We investigated the effects of elevation and breeding habitat on Bd prevalence and individual infection intensity (zoospore loads) in 3 anuran assemblages of the Atlantic Coastal Forest of Brazil.

Ligand-induced formation of transient dimers of mammalian 12/15-lipoxygenase: a key to allosteric behavior of this class of enzymes?

Mammalian lipoxygenases (LOXs) have been implicated in cellular defense response and are important for physiological homeostasis. Since their discovery, LOXs have been believed to function as monomeric enzymes that exhibit allosteric properties. In aqueous solutions, the rabbit 12/15-LOX is mainly present as hydrated monomer but changes in the local physiochemical environment suggested a monomer-dimer equilibrium.

Exploiting oncogene-induced replicative stress for the selective killing of Myc-driven tumors.

Oncogene-induced replicative stress activates an Atr- and Chk1-dependent response, which has been proposed to be widespread in tumors. We explored whether the presence of replicative stress could be exploited for the selective elimination of cancer cells. To this end, we evaluated the impact of targeting the replicative stress-response on cancer development.

Skin glands, poison and mimicry in dendrobatid and leptodactylid amphibians.

In amphibians, secretions of toxins from specialized skin poison glands play a central role in defense against predators. The production of toxic secretions is often associated with conspicuous color patterns that warn potential predators, as it is the case of many dendrobatid frogs, including Ameerega picta. This species resembles the presumably nontoxic Leptodactylus lineatus.

Putting respondent-driven sampling on the map: insights from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Background: Hard-to-reach populations with high background infection rates for HIV are particularly relevant in countries with restricted HIV epidemics, such as Brazil, where the very dynamics of the epidemic depends on the bridges between those populations and the general population. Respondent-driven sampling (RDS) has been one of the key strategies to assess such populations and inform policy making.

Objectives: To geocode and visualize an RDS-based study on 605 heavy drug users, conducted in Rio de Janeiro, in 2009.

Substrate binding to mammalian 15-lipoxygenase.

Lipoxygenases (LOs) are implicated in the regulation of metabolic processes and in several human diseases. Revealing their exact role is hindered by an incomplete understanding of their activity, including substrate specificity and substrate alignment in the active site. Recently, it has been proposed that the change in substrate specificity for arachidonic acid (AA) or linoleic acid (LA) could be part of an auto-regulatory mechanism related to cancer grow.

Targeting ATR and Chk1 kinases for cancer treatment: a new model for new (and old) drugs.

Trying to kill cancer cells by generating DNA damage is by no means a new idea. Radiotherapy and genotoxic drugs are routinely used in cancer therapy. More recent developments also explored the potential of targeting the DNA damage response (DDR) in order to increase the toxicity of radio- and chemo- therapy.

A cell-based screen identifies ATR inhibitors with synthetic lethal properties for cancer-associated mutations.

Oncogene activation has been shown to generate replication-born DNA damage, also known as replicative stress. The primary responder to replicative stress is not Ataxia-Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM) but rather the kinase ATM and Rad3-related (ATR). One limitation for the study of ATR is the lack of potent inhibitors.

[Prevalence of hospital admission due to adverse drug reaction in Salvador, Bahia].

Objective: To determine the prevalence of hospital admissions due to ADR in Salvador, Bahia and their outcomes.

Methods: All patients admitted in four Sentinel Hospital (ANVISA) in Salvador-Ba were evaluated and followed to determine the prevalence of admissions due to ADR and their outcomes from April to December 2007. Cases were validated by 03 algorithms.

Bowel habits in the first 24 months of life: preterm- versus term-born infants.

Background And Aim: New prospective studies concerning feeding and bowel habits of term and preterm infants from birth to 24 months of life are needed. The aim of the present study was to describe and compare feeding and bowel habits between term- and preterm-born infants starting from birth up to the age of 24 months.

Patients And Methods: Between August and November 2006 all of the infants admitted to an academic and nonacademic neonatal care unit with gestational age 25 to 42 weeks participated in the study.

[Features and trend of AIDS, among the elderly in the State of Espirito Santo].

Introduction: AIDS among older adults is a public health problem emerging. This study compared the demographic and epidemiological profile and the evolution and trend of the epidemic among men and women aged 50 years and older and 20 to 39 years affected by AIDS in the State of Espirito Santo, Brazil.

Methods: We conducted a time serie study with secondary data from SINAN/AIDS for the period January 1991 to December 2006.

Insights into the mechanism of binding of arachidonic acid to mammalian 15-lipoxygenases.

Mammalian 15-lipoxygenases (15-LOs) are key pharmaceutical targets under strong investigation because of their implication in atherosclerosis and cancer. Here, we present an atomic-level study of the binding modes of arachidonic acid (AA) to rabbit reticulocyte 15-LO, with a particular insight into the 15-LO:AA complexes consistent with known catalytic activity. We take into account both ligand and protein flexibility, by combining protein-ligand docking techniques and molecular dynamics simulations.

The archipelago of Fernando de Noronha: an intriguing malformed toad hotspot in South America.

Malformed anurans raise concern among scientists, because deformities may relate to the recent global crisis among amphibian populations, although declining populations also may be associated with other causes (e.g., diseases, over-exploitation, and land use/land cover change).

[Pattern of HIV/AIDS infection in Manaus, State of Amazonas, between 1986 and 2000].

The objective of this study was to describe HIV infection in Manaus, Amazonas, between 1986 and 2000. This was a descriptive study on confirmed cases of HIV/AIDS among adults, from the medical records of the State Reference Service. To delineate the spatial epidemiological profile and historical trends, the following periods were considered: 1986-1990, 1991-1995 and 1996-2000.

[Neurofibromatosis type 1: more frequent and severe then usually thought].

Objective: To study prevalence of clinical features among Brazilian patients diagnosed with neurofibromatosis type 1(NF1), comparing these features with international data to evaluate the severity and visibility of the disease and quantify less frequent manifestations such as short stature, macrocephaly, muscle strength, voice abnormalities and oral motor disorders.

Methods: 183 patients diagnosed with NF1, attended at the Neurofibromatosis Outpatient Reference Center, were evaluated for clinical manifestations and complications of NF1. Severity and visibility were verified using the Riccardi and Ablon scales respectively.

Emerging techniques in aesthetic plastic surgery.

This article outlines the experience of authorities on emerging techniques in plastic surgery that are discussed within this issue, such as mesotherapy and lipodissolve, Russian threads, radiofrequency, and "laser lipo." Readers are invited to analyze the findings and determine whether there is something that could apply to their practices.