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Previous research on the stigma associated with cutaneous leishmaniasis, a vector-transmitted parasitic disease, focuses on aesthetic appearance affectation as the leading cause of stigmatisation. However, Indigenous populations in the hinterland of Amazonian Ecuador trigger stigma expressions by recognising (muco)cutaneous leishmaniasis, primarily through atypical smell, followed by the odd voice sound, appearance and taste. This empirical way of recognising symptoms relies on embodied forms of identifying a disease, contrasting the Western supremacy of visuality and demanding to be understood via multi-sensorial anthropology. Through ethnographic research and data retrieved from eighty-three semistructured interviews and fifteen focus groups in seven Ecuadorian ethnic groups - including six Indigenous groups in the Amazon region - this paper analyses how the sensorium is a health thermometer. Findings reveal that differentiated cultural responses to a sense of peril, contagion and social (self)rejection, understood as stigma expressions, are linked to the holistic approach to health (or well-being) shared by Indigenous populations. In forest societies, well-being is explained through successful (non-)human relationships, and disease permeates through bodies that lack balanced relations.
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Leishmaniose Cutânea , Humanos , Equador , Antropologia Médica , Estigma Social , Antropologia CulturalRESUMO
Mammalian hippocampal circuits undergo extensive remodeling through adult neurogenesis. While this process has been widely studied, the specific contribution of adult-born granule cells (aGCs) to spatial operations in the hippocampus remains unknown. Here, we show that optogenetic activation of 4-week-old (young) aGCs in free-foraging mice produces a non-reversible reconfiguration of spatial maps in proximal CA3 while rarely evoking neural activity. Stimulation of the same neuronal cohort on subsequent days recruits CA3 neurons with increased efficacy but fails to induce further remapping. In contrast, stimulation of 8-week-old (mature) aGCs can reliably activate CA3 cells but produces no alterations in spatial maps. Our results reveal a unique role of young aGCs in remodeling CA3 representations, a potential that can be depleted and is lost with maturation. This ability could contribute to generate orthogonalized downstream codes supporting pattern separation.
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Células-Tronco Neurais , Humanos , Camundongos , Animais , Hipocampo/fisiologia , Neurônios/fisiologia , Encéfalo , Neurogênese/fisiologia , Giro Denteado/fisiologia , MamíferosRESUMO
The functional differentiation of the mammary gland (MG) is fundamental for the prevention of mammary pathologies. This process occurs throughout pregnancy and lactation, making these stages key events for the study of pathologies associated with development and differentiation. Many studies have investigated the link between mammary pathologies and thyroid diseases, but most have ignored the role of thyroid hormone (TH) in the functional differentiation of the MG. In this work, we show the long-term impact of hypothyroidism in an animal model whose lactogenic differentiation occurred at low TH levels. We evaluated the ability of the MG to respond to hormonal control and regulate cell cycle progression. We found that a deficit in TH throughout pregnancy and lactation induces a long-term decrease in Rb phosphorylation, increases p53, p21, Cyclin D1 and Ki67 expression, reduces progesterone receptor expression, and induces nonmalignant lesions in mammary tissue. This paper shows the importance of TH level control during mammary differentiation and its long-term impact on mammary function.
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Hipotireoidismo , Glândulas Mamárias Animais , Gravidez , Feminino , Animais , Lactação/metabolismo , Hipotireoidismo/complicações , Diferenciação CelularRESUMO
Several families of transcription factors (TFs) control the progression of senescence. Many key TFs belonging to the WRKY family have been described to play crucial roles in the regulation of leaf senescence, mainly in Arabidopsis thaliana. However, little is known about senescence-associated WRKY members in floricultural species. Delay of senescence in leaves and petals of Petunia hybrida, a worldwide ornamental crop are highly appreciated traits. In this work, starting from 28 differentially expressed WRKY genes of A. thaliana during the progression of leaf senescence, we identified the orthologous in P. hybrida and explored the expression profiles of 20 PhWRKY genes during the progression of natural (age-related) leaf and corolla senescence as well as in the corollas of flowers undergoing pollination-induced senescence. Simultaneous visualization showed consistent and similar expression profiles of PhWRKYs during natural leaf and corolla senescence, although weak expression changes were observed during pollination-induced senescence. Comparable expression trends between PhWRKYs and the corresponding genes of A. thaliana were observed during leaf senescence, although more divergence was found in petals of pollinated petunia flowers. Integration of expression data with phylogenetics, conserved motif and cis-regulatory element analyses were used to establish a list of candidates that could regulate more than one senescence process. Our results suggest that several members of the WRKY family of TFs are tightly linked to the regulation of senescence in P. hybrida. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-022-01243-y.
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Persistent luminescent materials are present in several recent studies on new applications and novel properties. In this work, we demonstrate, for the first time, the production of translucent flexible persistent composites based on Sr2MgSi2O7:Eu2+,Dy3+ (SMSO) into cellulose ether matrix film. The composite was successfully prepared through a new optimized route of co-precipitation and microwave-assisted annealing followed by (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) coating and dispersion in hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC). The SMSO@APTES/HPMC films show persistent luminescence emission at 475 nm (blue) and high transmittance in the visible range. To understand the fine distribution of the nanoparticles in the matrix, we have investigated their structure and dispersion by using Synchrotron Radiation X-ray fluorescence mapping and Scanning Transmission X-ray Microscopy. This innovative composite could bring new perspectives for the class of persistent luminescence materials, enhancing technologies in progress throwing light on new applications never perceived.
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Luminescência , Nanopartículas , Celulose/química , Éter , Nanopartículas/químicaRESUMO
Microbial communities have been explored in various terrestrial subsurface ecosystems, showing metabolic potentials that could generate noteworthy morphological and molecular biosignatures. Recent advancements in bioinformatic tools have allowed for descriptions of novel and yet-to-be cultivated microbial lineages in different ecosystems due to the genome reconstruction approach from metagenomic data. Using shotgun metagenomic data, we obtained metagenome-assembled genomes related to cultivated and yet-to-be cultivated prokaryotic lineages from a silica and iron-rich cave (Monte Cristo) in Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The Monte Cristo Cave has been shown to possess a high diversity of genes involved with different biogeochemical cycles, including reductive and oxidative pathways related to carbon, sulfur, nitrogen, and iron. Three genomes were selected for pangenomic analysis, assigned as Truepera sp., Ca. Methylomirabilis sp., and Ca. Koribacter sp. based on their lifestyles (radiation resistance, anaerobic methane oxidation, and potential iron oxidation). These bacteria exhibit genes involved with multiple DNA repair strategies, starvation, and stress response. Because these groups have few reference genomes deposited in databases, our study adds important genomic information about these lineages. The combination of techniques applied in this study allowed us to unveil the potential relationships between microbial genomes and their ecological processes with the cave mineralogy and highlight the lineages involved with anaerobic methane oxidation, iron oxidation, and radiation resistance as functional models for the search for extant life-forms outside our planet in silica- and iron-rich environments and potentially on Mars.
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Metagenoma , Microbiota , Brasil , Cavernas/microbiologia , Metagenômica , Microbiota/genética , FilogeniaRESUMO
Shedding synchrotron light on microfluidic systems, exploring several contrasts in situ/operando at the nanoscale, like X-ray fluorescence, diffraction, luminescence, and absorption, has the potential to reveal new properties and functionalities of materials across diverse areas, such as green energy, photonics, and nanomedicine. In this work, we present the micro-fabrication and characterization of a multifunctional polyester/glass sealed microfluidic device well-suited to combine with analytical X-ray techniques. The device consists of smooth microchannels patterned on glass, where three gold electrodes are deposited into the channels to serve in situ electrochemistry analysis or standard electrical measurements. It has been efficiently sealed through an ultraviolet-sensitive sticker-like layer based on a polyester film, and The burst pressure determined by pumping water through the microchannel(up to 0.22 MPa). Overall, the device has demonstrated exquisite chemical resistance to organic solvents, and its efficiency in the presence of biological samples (proteins) is remarkable. The device potentialities, and its high transparency to X-rays, have been demonstrated by taking advantage of the X-ray nanoprobe Carnaúba/Sirius/LNLS, by obtaining 2D X-ray nanofluorescence maps on the microchannel filled with water and after an electrochemical nucleation reaction. To wrap up, the microfluidic device characterized here has the potential to be employed in standard laboratory experiments as well as in in situ and in vivo analytical experiments using a wide electromagnetic window, from infrared to X-rays, which could serve experiments in many branches of science.
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OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of and identify factors associated with gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms among children with channelopathy-associated developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (DEE). STUDY DESIGN: Parents of 168 children with DEEs linked to SCN1A (n = 59), KCNB1 (n = 31), or KCNQ2 (n = 78) completed online CLIRINX surveys about their children's GI symptoms. Our analysis examined the prevalence, frequency, and severity of GI symptoms, as well as DEE type, functional mobility, feeding difficulties, ketogenic diet, antiseizure medication, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and seizures. Statistical analyses included the χ2 test, Wilcoxon rank-sum analysis, and multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: GI symptoms were reported in 92 of 168 patients (55%), among whom 63 of 86 (73%) reported daily or weekly symptoms, 29 of 92 (32%) had frequent or serious discomfort, and 13 of 91 (14%) had frequent or serious appetite disturbances as a result. The prevalence of GI symptoms varied across DEE cohorts with 44% of SCN1A-DEE patients, 35% of KCNB1-DEE patients, and 71% of KCNQ2-DEE patients reporting GI symptoms in the previous month. After adjustment for DEE type, current use of ketogenic diet (6% reported), and gastrostomy tube (13% reported) were both associated with GI symptoms in a statistically, but not clinically, significant manner (P < .05). Patient age, functional mobility, feeding difficulties, ASD, and seizures were not clearly associated with GI symptoms. Overall, no individual antiseizure medication was significantly associated with GI symptoms across all DEE cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: GI symptoms are common and frequently severe in patients with DEE.
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Encefalopatias/complicações , Canalopatias/complicações , Epilepsia/complicações , Gastroenteropatias/etiologia , Adolescente , Encefalopatias/genética , Encefalopatias/terapia , Canalopatias/genética , Canalopatias/terapia , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Epilepsia/genética , Epilepsia/terapia , Feminino , Gastroenteropatias/diagnóstico , Gastroenteropatias/epidemiologia , Marcadores Genéticos , Inquéritos Epidemiológicos , Humanos , Lactente , Canal de Potássio KCNQ2/genética , Modelos Logísticos , Masculino , Canal de Sódio Disparado por Voltagem NAV1.1/genética , Prevalência , Fatores de Risco , Índice de Gravidade de Doença , Canais de Potássio Shab/genéticaRESUMO
Resumen La investigación sobre violencia en la pareja adolescente ha ido aumentando en los últimos años. Sin embargo, son escasos los estudios que profundizan sobre el papel de los valores culturales y preferencias asociadas a la pareja en la posibilidad de sufrir violencia. Esta investigación caracteriza los diferentes perfiles valorativos hacia la pareja adolescente y posteriormente analiza la influencia de estos sobre la victimización de violencia. Se aplicó un cuestionario sobre violencia en la pareja adolescente y aspectos culturales asociados a 417 adolescentes españoles (15-21 años) que mantenían relaciones sentimentales activas desde los últimos 3 meses. Los celos y el control aparecen como las formas más extendidas de violencia y la violencia sexual es la única forma de violencia con diferencias atribuibles al género. El análisis de los valores asociados a la pareja muestra que las mujeres valoran más aspectos comunicativos en la pareja y los hombres de apariencia. Las mujeres prefieren, en mayor medida que los hombres, divertirse, ser libres y sentirse deseadas. Las diferencias valorativas se agruparon en tres perfiles o clusters relacionales: el tradicional-comunicativo, el hedonista-desapegado y el protector-dependiente. Finalmente, las pruebas de contraste negaron una influencia directa de los valores asociados a la pareja sobre la victimización de la violencia de pareja. El análisis de los valores asociados a la pareja aporta valiosa información sobre las transformaciones que se estan produciendo en las relaciones adolescentes, pero no mantiene relación directa con la violencia sufrida.
Abstract Research on intimate partner violence in the adolescent has been increasing in recent years. However, there are few studies that delve into the role of cultural values and preferences associated with the partner in the possibility of suffering violence. This research characterizes the different value profiles towards the adolescent partner and subsequently analyzes the influence of these on violence victimization. A questionnaire on intimate partner violence in the adolescent and associated cultural aspects was applied to 417 Spanish adolescents (15-21 years old) who had been in an active relationship for the last 3 months. Jealousy and control appear as the most widespread forms of violence and sexual violence is the only form of violence with differences attributable to gender. The analysis of the values associated with the couple shows that women value more communicative aspects in the couple and men value appearance. Women prefer, to a greater extent than men, to have fun, to be free and to feel desired. The valuational differences were grouped into three relational profiles or clusters: the traditional-communicative, the hedonistic-detached and the protective-dependent. Finally, contrast tests denied a direct influence of partner-associated values on intimate partner violence victimization. The analysis of the values associated with the couple provides valuable information on the transformations that are taking place in adolescent relationships, but does not maintain a direct relationship with the violence suffered.
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Type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is an expanding global health problem, involving defective insulin secretion by pancreatic ß-cells and peripheral insulin resistance, leading to impaired glucose regulation. Galectin-1-an endogenous lectin with affinity for N-acetyllactosamine (LacNAc)-containing glycans-has emerged as a regulator of inflammatory and metabolic disorders. However, the role of galectin-1 in glucose homeostasis and pancreatic ß-cell function, independently of hypercaloric diets, has not been explored. Here, we identified a phenotype compatible with T2DM, involving alterations in glucose metabolism and pancreatic insulin release, in female but not male mice lacking galectin-1 (Lgals1-/-). Compared with age-matched controls, Lgals1-/- female mice exhibited higher body weight and increased food intake ad libitum as well as after fasting and acute re-feeding. Although fasted serum insulin levels and insulin sensitivity were similar in both genotypes, Lgals1-/- female mice presented altered glucose tolerance and higher basal glucose levels depending on the fasting period. Insulin response to glucose overload was impaired, while pancreatic insulin content was enhanced in the absence of galectin-1. Accordingly, recombinant galectin-1 enhanced glucose-stimulated insulin release in vitro. Our study identifies a role for galectin-1 in regulating glucose metabolism through modulation of pancreatic insulin secretion, highlighting novel opportunities to control T2DM.