Comparative transcriptome analysis of endothelial progenitor cells of HbSS patients with and without proliferative retinopathy

Among sickle cell anemia (SCA) complications, proliferative sickle cell retinopathy (PSCR) is one of the most important, being responsible for visual impairment in 10-20% of affected eyes. The aim of this study was to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) present in pathways that may be implicated in the pathophysiology of PSCR from the transcriptome profile analysis of endothelial progenitor cells. RNA-Seq was used to compare gene expression profile of circulating endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs) from HbSS patients with and without PSCR. Furthermore, functional enrichment analysis and protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks were performed to gain further insights into biological functions. The differential expression analysis identified 501 DEGs, when comparing the groups with and without PSCR. Furthermore, functional enrichment analysis showed associations of the DEGs in 200 biological processes. Among these, regulation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase activity, positive regulation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), and positive regulation of Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (STAT) receptor signaling pathway were observed. These pathways are associated with angiogenesis, cell migration, adhesion, differentiation, and proliferation, important processes involved in PSCR pathophysiology. Moreover, our results showed an over-expression of VEGFC (vascular endothelial growth factor-C) and FLT1 (Fms-Related Receptor Tyrosine Kinase 1) genes, when comparing HbSS patients with and without PSCR. These results may indicate a possible association between VEGFC and FLT1 receptor, which may activate signaling pathways such as PI3K/AKT and MAPK/ERK and contribute to the mechanisms implicated in neovascularization. Thus, our findings contain preliminary results that may guide future studies in the field, since the molecular mechanisms of PSCR are still poorly understood.

Polymorphisms in the melatonin receptor gene promoter and their associations with fertility characteristics in buffalo herd in Eastern Amazon

Buffalo production is spreading globally because of its economic advantage. Then, it has become necessary to improve the reproductive and productive efficiency of these animals, as well as to look for genetic factors that increase this efficiency. The objectives of this study were to characterize the promoter region of the melatonin 1A receptor gene (MTRN1A), to detect possible SNPs and associate them with fertility characteristics, and identify binding sites of transcription factors involved in the regulation of genetic expression in buffaloes in the Amazon. The conventional PCR method was carried out using the two primers designed from the reference sequence deposited in the GenBank AY52466.1. The products of the PCRs were purified, sequenced, and subsequently edited and aligned. Twenty-six SNPs were found, where 73% presented allele frequencies of wild nucleotides above 0.5, and 73% presented deviations from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P < 0.05) and F_IS varying between 0.06 and 1.00, characterizing high degrees of inbreeding within the population. A block of ACAA deletion (position -1483) was observed in 25% of samples. The associations between these SNPs and reproductive characteristics were observed for calving interval and 5 SNPs: -1289, -1139, -911, -724, and -656 (P < 0.05), and three other SNPs: -1395, -724, and -94 (P < 0.05) were associated significantly with age at first calving, and were not associated with calving concentration. The promoter region was characterized by the different types of binding factors, where only 11 sites are significantly strong enough for transcription factor bindings. The ACAA deletion also exhibited a strong association with transcription factors. As a result, it would be necessary to test the SNPs above with other reproductive characteristics of economic relevance to approve the gene as a strong candidate for the selection of buffaloes in the Amazon.

Corrigendum Polymorphism in the melatonin receptor gene in buffalo populations of the Brazilian Amazon - Genet. Mol. Res. 15 (2): gmr.15027960

The correction is only in the name of the first author and should be: E.M. Barbosa(1), B.B. Souza(2), R.C. Guimarães(2), J.S.N. Azevedo(3), E.C. Gonçalves(4), H.F.L. Ribeiro(2), S.T. Rolim Filho(2), E. Silva Filho(2).

Efeitos dos cloretos de potássio e de amônia sobre o desempenho e deposição de gordura na carcaça de frangos de corte criados no verão

Foram utilizados 240 frangos machos, Hubbard, com peso médio inicial de 1204g, em DIC, com os tratamentos em esquema fatorial 2 x 3 x 2, sendo 2 níveis de KCl (0,0% e 1,2%) x 3 níveis de NH4Cl (0,0%; 0,2% e 0,4%) x 2 níveis de energia (3000 e 3200 kcal EM/kg de ração), com 4 repetições de 5 aves por parcela. Os parâmetros avaliados foram: peso médio (PM), consumo de ração (CR), ganho de peso (GP), conversão alimentar (CA), rendimento de carcaça (RC) e gordura abdominal (GA). Os dados foram analisados pelo programa estatístico Statistical Analyses System (SAS, 1996). As temperaturas máxima e mínima foram de 32,7° e 22,8°C, e o índice de temperatura do globo negro e umidade (ITGU) observado às 9:00 e 15:00 horas foi de 76 e 83, respectivamente. A análise de variância revelou interação (p<0,05) apenas entre o KCl e o nível energético da ração sobre o CR. Não se verificou efeito (p>0,05) dos fatores estudados sobre o PM e GP. Para a CA houve efeito (p<0,05) do NH4Cl e do nível energético da ração. Para o rendimento de carcaça, não se observou efeito (p>0,05) dos fatores estudados. Os frangos que receberam ração suplementada com 1,2% KCl apresentaram menor teor de gordura abdominal (p<0,05) em relação aos que não receberam a suplementação (1,16% vs 1,40%, respectivamente) e o nível energético alto elevou significativamente (p<0,01) a gordura abdominal em relação ao nível baixo (1,42% vs 1,14%, respectivamente). Com os resultados obtidos, concluiu-se que a elevação do nível energético da ração melhorou a conversão alimentar e aumentou a gordura abdominal; o KCl não afetou o desempenho, mas reduziu (p<0,05) a gordura abdominal independente do nível de energia da dieta; e a suplementação com 0,4% de NH4Cl piorou a conversão alimentar de frangos de corte criados no verão.

Importance of nasal fiberoptic examination in the presence of a normal X-ray of the cavum

A total of 45 children aged 4-12 years were studied at the Rhinosinusology out-patient clinic of HCFMRP. The patients complained of marked nasal obstruction refractory to any clinical treatment, and a cavum X-ray showed no sign of airway obstruction. All children were submitted to nasal fiberoptic examination in order to determine the number of false-negative results. The examinations showed 12 cases of severe hypertrophy of adenoid vegetations (27%) and 19 cases of moderate hypertrophy (42%). Furthermore, we detected six cases of hypertrophy of the turbinate cauda (13.3%) and three cases of posterior septal deviation (6.6%). These data suggest the importance of the indication of this examination, which permits a tri-dimensional and dynamic evaluation of the cavum area.