477 results match your criteria: "Biological Sciences Center[Affiliation]"

Predictors of residual force enhancement in voluntary contractions of elbow flexors.

J Sport Health Sci

July 2018

Biomechanics Laboratory, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Campus Reitor João David Ferreira Lima, Florianópolis, SC 88040-900, Brazil.

Background: The steady-state increase in muscle force generating potential following a lengthening contraction is called residual force enhancement (RFE). In this study, we aimed to test for differences in torque, electromyographic activity (EMG), and the associated neuromuscular efficiency (NME) between isometric voluntary contractions of elbow flexors preceded and not preceded by a lengthening contraction. The dependence of such differences on (i) stretch amplitude, (ii) the region of the force-length (FxL) relationship where contraction occurs, and (iii) the individual's ability to produce (negative) work during the stretch was investigated.

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Objective: To evaluate agreement of the body adiposity index (BAI) and paediatric body adiposity index (BAIp) in estimating body fat compared with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and to propose cut-off points for these indices to classify excess adiposity in Brazilian children and adolescents.

Design: Cross-sectional study. Measures of weight, height, hip circumference, BMI and body fat percentage (%BF) assessed by DXA were taken, and BAI and BAIp were calculated.

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Objective: To evaluate the ability of anthropometric measurements to identify excess android fat and to propose cut-off points for excess central adiposity in children, according to age and sex.

Design: A cross-sectional study with children from a municipality of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Receiver-operating characteristic curve analyses were performed to evaluate waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and conicity index (C-index) in estimating excess android fat by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA).

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The aim was to evaluate if maternal treatment with metformin (MET) during pregnancy and lactation could be safe for metabolic and cardiovascular parameters of adult male and female offspring. Wistar female rats were treated with MET (293 mg/kg/d) or tap water, by gavage during gestation (METG or CTRG) or gestation and lactation (METGL or CTRGL). At 75 days of life, male and female MET offspring presented similar blood pressure when compared with their CTR.

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Biomarkers in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Perspectives of Individualized Targeted Therapy.

Anticancer Agents Med Chem

August 2019

Laboratory of DNA Polymorphisms and Immunology, Department of Pathological Sciences, Biological Sciences Center, State University of Londrina, Parana, Brazil.

Introduction: The understanding of cancer has evolved into a complex disease, which has heterogeneous characteristics between different patients, and more than that, a broad range of genetically distinct cells in the same tumor. Chronic and non-transmissible diseases such as cancer have become even more important worldwide and advances in their characterization and properties are running out. In a suitable setting, early diagnosis of cancer and proper treatment are essential to overcome the barriers of tumor healing and quality assurance of the patient's life.

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It has been brought to our attention that there was an important omission of the word 'shRNA', which should have been featured in a couple of places in the above article. The authors incorrectly claimed that the RNA‑dependent protein kinase (PKR) acts as a tumor suppressor; in fact, it is the PKR shRNA that would fulfil the role of being a tumor suppressor. Therefore, the text in the Abstract on p.

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Resorcinolic lipid 3-heptyl-3,4,6-trimethoxy-3H-isobenzofuran-1-one is a strategy for melanoma treatment.

Life Sci

September 2018

Graduate Program in Biotechnology and Biodiversity, Pro Midwest Network, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Food and Nutrition, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil; Graduate Program in Chemistry, Chemistry Institute, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Electronic address:

Aims: Previous studies performed by our research group indicated that cytosporone analogues are capable of prevent or repair DNA damages. This work presents the evaluation of the activity of AMS35AA for metastatic murine melanoma cells (B16F10) in experimental model in vitro and, in pre-clinic assay of metastatic melanoma in vivo, using mice lineage C57BL/6.

Main Methods: In vitro assays were performed: MTT and comet assay, flow cytometry evaluation, gene expression assay by RT-PCR, qualitative evaluation of cell death using B16F10 cells.

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Fish and shellfish, which represent important sources of nutrients (i.e., n-3 fatty acids), can contain significant amounts of methylmercury (MeHg), a neurotoxic compound.

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Amino acid transporters alanine-serine-cysteine transporter 2 (ASCT2) and L-Type Amino Acid Transporter 1 (LAT1) are coordinately enhanced in human cancers where among other roles, they are thought to drive mechanistic target-of-rapamycin (mTOR) growth signaling. To assess ASCT2 and LAT1 as therapeutic targets, nine unique short hairpin RNA (shRNA) vectors were used to stably suppress transporter expression in human epithelial (Hep3B) and mesenchymal (SK-Hep1) hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines. In addition, six unique CRISPR-Cas9 vectors were used to edit the ASCT2 () and LAT1 () genes in epithelial (HUH7) and mesenchymal (SK-Hep1) HCC cells.

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Spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis are not fully established during puberty. Especially during this period, children and adolescents may be chronically sleep deprived due to early school hours and constant exposure to artificial light and interactive activities. We have previously shown that sleep restriction (SR) during peripuberty impairs sperm motility and has consequences on epididymal development in rats.

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Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are known to accumulate in traditional food animals of the Arctic, and arctic indigenous peoples may be exposed via consumption of subsistence-harvested animals. PFASs are suspected of disrupting thyroid hormone homeostasis in humans. The aim of this study is to assess the relationship between serum PFASs and thyroid function in a remote population of Alaska Natives.

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Apoptosis is one form of cell death that is intimately related to health and pathological conditions. In most neuroinflammatory and/or neurodegenerative diseases, apoptosis is associated with disease development and pathology and inhibition of this process leads to considerable amelioration. It is becoming evident that apoptosis also participates in the pathogenesis of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and its animal model, Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE).

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CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling has been implicated in breast carcinogenesis, and genetic polymorphisms in these molecules have been associated with different types of cancer. The present study analyzed genetic polymorphisms in CXCL12 (rs1801157, G > A) and CXCR4 (rs2228014, C > T) and CXCR4 immunostaining in tumor tissues from patients with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) aiming to evaluate their possible role in its' susceptibility and prognosis. Genetic polymorphisms were analyzed in 59 TNBC patients and 150 control women; age-adjusted logistic regression showed no association when variants were considered in isolation; however, a statistically significant interaction was noted for heterozygosis for both allelic variants increasing the odds for TNBC (CXCL12-GA by CXCR4-CT: OR 7.

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Aim: To examine clinical and biomarkers in depressed female smokers, in order to better clarify the process that link mood disorders, childhood trauma and smoking in women.

Methods: The clinical sample comprised women with unipolar or bipolar depression, divided into subgroups of smokers and never-smoker. The control groups comprised two subgroups non-depressed women, separated into smokers and never-smokers.

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The biguanide metformin (MET) has been used during pregnancy for treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome and gestational diabetes. MET crosses the placenta and maternal treatment can expose the progeny to this drug during important phases of body development. Direct vascular protective effects have been described with the treatment of metformin.

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The global burden of air pollution-associated deaths-how many are needed for countries to react?

Lancet Planet Health

August 2017

Department of Biophysics and Radiobiology, Biological Sciences Center, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, PE 50670-901, Brazil; Department of Immunology, Aggeu Magalhães Research Institute (CPqAM), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Recife, PE 50740-465, Brazil.

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In Brazil, bioethanol is produced by sucrose fermentation from sugarcane by Saccharomyces cerevisiae in a fed-batch process that uses high density of yeast cells (15-25 % of wet weight/v) and high sugar concentration (18-22 % of total sugars). Several research efforts have been employed to improve the efficiency of this process through the isolation of yeasts better adapted to the Brazilian fermentation conditions. Two important wild strains named CAT-1 and PE-2 were isolated during the fermentation process and were responsible for almost 60 % of the total ethanol production in Brazil.

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Neuromotor deficits are an important sign of manganese (Mn) toxicity in humans and laboratory animals. However, the impacts of Mn exposure on the motor function of wild animals remains largely unknown. Here, we assessed the impact of chronic exposure to Mn from active mining operations on Groote Eylandt, Australia on the motor function of the semi-arboreal northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus), an endangered species.

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Obesity and absence of physical exercise are global problems that affect concentration and sperm quality in the male reproductive system. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of obesity and resistance training, considered separately or in association, on testicular function and reproductive capacity. Twenty pubertal male Wistar rats were distributed into four groups: control (C) and exercise (E) groups that received standard rat chow; and obese (O) and obese with exercise (OE) groups that received a high-fat diet.

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Chromatin remodelling factors (CHRs) typically function to alter chromatin structure. CHRs also reside in ribonucleoprotein complexes, but little is known about their RNA-related functions. Here we show that CHR2 (also known as BRM), the ATPase subunit of the large switch/sucrose non-fermentable (SWI/SNF) complex, is a partner of the Microprocessor component Serrate (SE).

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Campomanesia pubescens is a fruit plant widely distributed in South America and used by the population for medicinal and nutritional purposes, with important economic and cultural value. This study evaluated the toxic potential of the ethanolic extract from C. pubescens (EEFCP) fruits through acute and short-term toxicity tests.

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Advancing Predictive Hepatotoxicity at the Intersection of Experimental, in Silico, and Artificial Intelligence Technologies.

Chem Res Toxicol

June 2018

Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and Department of Biological Sciences Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies , Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy , New York 12180 , United States.

Article Synopsis
  • - Adverse drug reactions, especially drug-induced liver injury (DILI), lead to significant drug failures in clinical trials and are a primary reason for drug withdrawals despite major investments in research.
  • - The challenges in predicting hepatotoxicity stem from a lack of understanding of the mechanisms that cause liver damage after drug metabolism, which hampers existing cellular assays, animal models, and computational strategies.
  • - This assessment reviews various predictive models, including in vitro (cell-based), in vivo (animal-based), and computational approaches, emphasizing the potential of improved methods, particularly using artificial intelligence, to enhance predictions of DILI and refine experimental techniques.
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The study aimed to evaluate if maternal exposure to fluoxetine (FLX) during pregnancy and lactation would result in altered aortic reactivity in adult offspring. We also sought to understand the role of endothelium derived relaxing factors in aortic response. Wistar rats (75–80 days old), whose progenitors had received FLX (5 mg/kg, FLX offspring) or tap water (control offspring) during pregnancy and lactation were anesthetized, after which the aorta was removed and cut into two rings, one with (Endo+) and the other without (Endo-) endothelium.

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Effects of adjunctive N-acetylcysteine on depressive symptoms: Modulation by baseline high-sensitivity C-reactive protein.

Psychiatry Res

May 2018

Department of Clinical Medicine, Psychiatry Unit, Health Sciences Center, Londrina State University, University Hospital, Brazil; Center of Approach and Treatment for Smokers, University Hospital, Londrina State University, University Campus, Brazil; Health Sciences Graduate Program, Health Sciences Center, State University of Londrina, Brazil.

Unlabelled: Outcomes in a RCTs of 12 weeks of theclinical efficacy of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) as an adjunctive treatment on depression and anxiety symptoms and its effects on high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels. A wide array of measures were made. The 17-item version of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS17); the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A); Sheehan Disability Scale; Quality of Life; Clinical Global Impression (CGI); anthropometrics measures; and vital signs and biochemical laboratory.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study aimed to standardize the repeated forced-swimming test (rFST) for female rats, recognizing that previous research primarily focused on males.
  • Young or adult Wistar female rats were housed in either standard or enriched environments, and all reached sexual maturity before behavioral testing.
  • Results showed that immobility time in female rats was consistent across different test sessions, suggesting that rFST can be reliably applied to females under various experimental conditions.
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