BACKGROUND: Spondyloarthritis is a family of related inflammatory diseases including psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. The cytokine IL-23 is known to play an important role in spondyloarthritis development. Overexpression of IL-23 using IL-23 minicircle DNA in B10.RIII mice results in the development of a spondyloarthritis-like disease. B10.RIII is a major histocompatibility complex (MHC) congenic mouse strain that is susceptible to a number of autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases. Contaminating regions outside the congenic interval from the donor strain, RIII, have been previously detected. While B10.RIII mice develop collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) and collagen antibody induced arthritis (CAIA), the background strain, C57BL/10 (B10) does not. The MHC region is known to play a role in the susceptibility of B10.RIII mice to CIA, but not in CAIA development, so other regions must be involved in arthritis development as well. These contaminating RIII-derived regions may control susceptibility to IL-23 minicircle induced arthritis in B10.RIII mice. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify RIII-derived regions in the genome of B10.RIII mice and begin to interrogate their effects on IL-23 minicircle induced arthritis. METHODS: A systematic literature review was conducted using Pubmed and Web of Science. Articles using B10.RIII mice to study inflammatory disease models were included and data about year of publication, inbred mouse strains used, disease model, and inbred strain notation were extracted. Genome sequences of B10.RIII(71NS)/Sn, C57BL/10SnJ, and C57BL/10J were compared to identify RIII-derived clusters of variation in the B10.RIII genome. B10.RIII mice were crossed with B10 mice and subsequently backcrossed to B10.RIII mice to introduce the B10 allele at chromosome 15. Chr15b/b, Chr15b/r, and Chr15r/r B10.RIII mice were hydrodynamically injected with IL-23 minicircles, and arthritis development was monitored every other day for two weeks. RESULTS: The systematic literature review yielded 8 studies that compared arthritis development in B10.RIII to RIII or B10. These studies identified three arthritis susceptibility regions: Cia5/Eae3 on chromosome 3, Eae2 on chromosome 15, and Eae39 on chromosome 5. Eae2 is further split into four sub-regions: Cia30, Cia31, Cia32, and Cia26. Genome sequence comparison identified RIII-derived clusters in B10.RIII mice on chromosomes 10, 14, 15, and 17. The chromosome 15 region overlaps with the Eae2 susceptibility region for approximately 17 Mbp and includes the arthritis susceptibility loci Cia26 and Cia32. When this region was interrogated in vivo, Chr15r/r and Chr15b/r B10.RIII mice developed IL-23 minicircle arthritis, while Chr15b/b mice did not. CONCLUSION: The B10.RIII(71NS)/Sn strain contains several large RIII/WySn-derived regions outside the congenic MHC region. One of these clusters on chromosome 15 includes the arthritis susceptibility loci Cia26 and Cia32 and appears to determine susceptibility to IL-23 minicircle induced arthritis. Future studies will interrogate the role of the chromosome 15 RIII-derived region in arthritis development in more detail and aim to identify the specific gene variants that control arthritis susceptibility. / 2023-01-28T00:00:00Z

The focus of my Ph.D. project is the investigation of the analogies between the dynamics of oil production, the economy and the physical laws that are related to every natural process. The difficulty to retrieve data on the oil market has suggested me that there is a correspondence in Science Communication: indeed, while in the magazines we find many articles that talk about climate change, for instance, we seldom met articles on related topics with keywords such as "energy resources" or "energy depletion". I started to investigate the relationship between the phase-plot of worldwide oil production (1965-2014) and its price. My idea was that the laws regulating the convective intensity and the oil production on one side, and the energy flow in human society on the other, were similar. In particular, this analogy could be true for the change from a slow diffusion process to a faster convective movement. In a first approximation, I tried to describe the phase-plot system in a theoretical way: I imagined the system without perturbations with a worldwide average EROI that varies from 60 (1965) to 15 (2014). Similarly, I picked up the value of world production in 1965 (1,567 Million ton/years) and the same value in 2014 (4,220 Million ton/years) and I assumed a constant increment of the production. Obviously, the phase-plot de-scribes the evolution of the real system and appropriately shows two evident "loops" in correspondence of the two major oil crises in recent times (in the '70s of the last century and in the '10s of the current century), although it is also apparent a "background" (or floor) price the system has never overcome. Following the idea of a possible description of the global oil market trend as a dynamical system, I investi-gated the eventual analogies between oil market and a classical dynamical system which is well known to exhibit an almost doubly cyclic behavior, i.e., the Lorentz attractor. However, this suggestion remained nothing better than that, because the major criticism is that it is rather difficult to conceive that only two loops in a phase-plot could be assimilated tout court to a Lorenz attractor: the investigated period 1965-2014 is in fact too short to validate such an analogy. Therefore, the output of the research was an article deposited it in the arXiv online repository . The relationship between natural phenomena and price-production dynamics of oil extraction, however, could be seen from another point of view. Indeed, the phase-plot, behind the "random walk" initially de-scribed as a Lorenz attractor, suggested us two peaks in correspondence with the upper part of those loops. This "swinging" (macro)behavior is rather similar to that of the theoretical model where we only have two stocks of oil and two prices for them: the first delimited by a price of 100 $/barrel, for a production that re-mains between 0 and 1,000 barrels/day; the second with a cost of 200 $ for a production in the range 1,000-1,500 barrels/day. In this ideal case, following the consumption, we expect the same swinging behavior: if the consumption is in the range between 0 and 1,000 barrels/day, the oil at the lower price will be only used, with a price (ideally) of 100 $/barrel. Since consumption generally grows, the economic system reach-es a point in which it needs to use the second stock of oil at the higher price. As the oil is a global commodi-ty, the price of all oil is determined by the marginal oil barrel, that is to say by the most expensive one (200$). In this ideal dynamics, the price suddenly jumps to the higher level instead of slowly shifting up. If the oil price increases, however, the consumption decreases and, sooner or later, the society comes back to the previous range of extraction intensity. The main characteristic of the simple oil-price dynamics here de-scribed is that there are two rapid movements on the cycle (rise and descent of the price) and two slow movements (consumption that goes up and down, to adapt to the oil price). At this level could be useful in terms of EROI instead of oil stocks (with high and low prices). Therefore, natural variables seem to be more similar to medium price and medium EROI (fast the former, slow the latter). The Lotka-Volterra equations describe the prey-predator ecological mechanisms and many cases are well known and well-studied. One of them seems to have the same features of the simple oil market behavior just described. More specifically, the analogy is between a prey, the American spruce, and a predator, the caterpillars of the species Choristoneura fumiferana that feed on the spruce. The caterpillar population is regarded as the fast variable, since there are periodically observed demographic outbreaks of this species, considered a real scourge , whereas the spruce leaf whole surface is assumed to be the slow variable be-cause the regeneration of the leaves - and not only - is a process that lasts several decades. This dynamic model requires a good evaluation of the worldwide EROI for the oil. This is, in any case, fun-damental as an index of the energy quality used by the society. This is the reason why the EROI is crucial to determine the goodness of an energy resource in general and particularly for oil and gas, that nowadays sat-isfy about 57% of primary energy demand . This dimensionless index is generally defined as the ratio between the energy extracted from a given re-source and the energy costs sustained to get that energy. In a following step of my research, I tried to set up an alternative method for the calculation of the EROI of oil companies. The difficulties to retrieve the data by the oil companies is notorious, thus the strategy consisted in using as a proxy of the energy costs, i.e. the available data about the CO2 emissions of the same oil companies, as reported in their own sustainability reports (SRs). International organizations such as IPCC and WBCSD recommend to the involved companies to compile these reports, but they are not mandatory. The second step was to use, as a proxy of the energy ex-tracted, the CO2 emissions estimate obtained by a stoichiometric conversion of the oil production declared by the oil companies. The resulting estimates of EROI are rather homogeneous and not too different from the values reported in the literature. The method could be suitable for year-by-year comparison of the time evolution of this im-portant energy quality parameter for the individual energy-producing and energy-delivering companies . I defined this parameter as the "corporate's EROI". In particular, this last work had its main difficulty in finding data to make comparisons between the different oil companies. As mentioned above, this is also reflected in the communication sector. If we look at the fol-lowing diagram, we can discover, for example, the differences between related argument ("climate change") and keywords like "energy resource" or "energy depletion". The graph includes all the terms worldwide for the last year (October 1st, 2017 - October 1st, 2018) . I am personally committed to filling the gap (thanks to my previous background in Science Communication), to sensitize the citizenship to the energy transition problem and last year, at the Bright event (European Researchers’ Night) I have developed a game about the Hubbert oil peak to play with people and explain to them the dynamics of peak and resource depletion.

Introdução: Diabetes tipo 1A(DM1A) é uma doença causada pela destruição autoimune das células beta. Em adição aos linfócitos T helper 1(Th1) e Th2, um subtipo específico de células T helper recentemente descrito, Th17, caracterizado pela produção da interleucina 17(IL-17A), IL-17F e IL-22, está também envolvido na imunidade adaptativa e autoimunidade, incluindo DM1A. A IL-23 tem função fundamental na expansão e sobrevivência das células Th17. A mesma é composta por 2 subunidades: a p19-específica (IL-23A) e a p40. Variantes dos genes IL-23A e de seu receptor (IL-23R) ou o aumento das concentrações séricas da IL-23 estão associados a várias doenças autoimunes, mas seus efeitos no DM1A não estão definidos. Com o intuito de avaliar a importância da IL-23 na patogênese do DM1A, as variantes dos genes IL23A e IL23R foram analisadas. Metodologia: A região codificadora e os regiões intrônicas proximais do gene IL23A, incluindo a região 5 proximal foram sequenciadas. Duas variantes do gene IL23A (rs2066808 e rs11171806) e duas do gene IL-23R (rs11209026 e rs10889677) foram também genotipadas. A amostra contou com 370 pacientes com DM1A e 314 indivíduos controles saudáveis. As medidas das concentrações séricas da IL-23 e os autoanticorpos pancreáticos e extra-pancreáticos foram determinados. Resultados: Nós observamos somente uma das seis variantes da IL-23 descritas nos bancos de dados (rs11171806 G>A localizada no exon 3) e descrevemos uma nova variante no gene IL-23A, que consistiu na substituição da citosina por timina na posição c.-403 (C>T) na região 5 proximal deste gene (encontrada em heterozigose em apenas uma paciente com DM1A, do sexo feminino, com 28 anos ao diagnóstico).Os alelos G dessas duas variantes estiveram em forte desequilíbrio de ligação (D\' = -0,825 para controles, p<2,0X10-6 e D\' = -0,902, p<2,0X10-17 para pacientes). Em consequência, a análise dos haplótipos destas variantes foi realizada. O haplótipo GG foi mais frequente nos controles (16.7%) do que nos pacientes com DM1A (9.5%), conferindo proteção à doença (pc = 0,0009, OR = 0,53) . A presença do haplótipo GG diferiu de acordo com a etnia no conjunto de pacientes e controles, sendo menor naqueles de etnia caucasóide (18%) em relação aos outros grupos (39%); p<0.0001. Entretanto, o efeito protetor da haplótipo GG foi independente da etnia. As duas variantes do gene IL23R (rs10889677 e rs11209026) tinham frequência alélica e genotípica semelhante entre pacientes com DM1A e controles. Não foi observada diferença significante nas concentrações da IL-23 entre 135 pacientes com DM1A (5,65 ± 14,0 pg/mL) e 112 indivíduos controles (9,06 ± 23,7pg/mL) (p =0,18). , mesmo quando analisamos apenas o pacientes com duração do diabetes inferior a dois anos, nos quais a resposta imune contra as células beta ainda está presente, (4.65 ± 6.94 pg/mL e 9.07 ± 23.62 pg/mL, p = 0.076). Não foi encontrada associação entre as variantes do gene IL23A com a idade diagnóstica, presença do peptídeo C residual e auto-anticorpo anti-descarboxilase do ácido glutâmico em pacientes com diagnóstico recente de DM1A. Estas variantes também não influenciaram na freqüência dos auto anticorpos extrapancreáticos: anti-tireoglobulina, anti-peroxidase, anti-21 hidroxilase, fator anti-núcleo, fator reumatóide e anti-citoplasma de neutrófilos. Conclusões: O haplótipo GG das variantes do gene lL23A (rs11171806 e rs2066808) foi associado a proteção ao DM1A. As variantes do gene IL23R (rs11209026 e rs10889677) não foram associadas ao DM1A. As concentrações séricas da IL-23 foram semelhantes entre os grupos. / Introduction: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) is a disorder caused by the immune-mediated destruction of insulin-secreting pancreatic beta cells. In addition to T helper 1 (Th1) and Th2 cells, a recently discovered subset of T helper cells, Th17, characterized by the production of interleukin 17 A (IL-17A), IL-17F, and IL-22 is also involved in adaptive immunity and autoimmunity, including T1D. The Interleukin IL-23 has a central role in the expansion and survival of Th 17 cells. It is composed of two subunits: p19-specific (IL-23A) and p40. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of IL-23A and IL-23 receptor (IL-23R) genes or increased IL-23 serum concentrations were associated with several autoimmune diseases, but their role in T1D has not been defined. We therefore searched for variants of IL-23A and IL-23R genes that could predispose to T1D. Methods:The coding regions and boundary intron sequences of IL-23A gene, including the 5 proximal region were sequenced. Two variants (rs2066808 and rs 11171806) of IL-23A and two of IL-23R (rs11209026 and rs10889677) genes were also genotyped. IL-23 serum levels and pancreatic and extra-pancreatic auto-antibodies were also determined. The cohort involved 370 patients with T1D and 314 healthy control subjects.Results: We observed only 1 out of 6 IL-23A coding variants (rs11171806 G>A localized in exon 3) described in a database repository . A new allelic variant of the IL-23A gene, consisting of the substitution of a cytosine by a thymine at position c.-403 (C>T) in the 5 proximal region of the IL-23A gene (found in heterozygosis in only 1 female patient with T1D) was described. The G alleles of rs11171806 and rs2066808 variants of IL-23A gene were in strong linkage disequilibrium (D\' = -0,825 for controls, p<2,0X10-6 and D\' = -0,902, p<2,0X10-17 for patients). So, further analyses were performed with the haplotypes instead of separated SNPs. The GG haplotype was more frequent in controls (16,7%) than in T1D patients (9,5%), conferring a protection to the disease (pc= 0,0009, OR = 0.53). The presence of haplotype GG was also different according to the ethnic group in the overall sample (patients+controls), when we pooled the Caucasians (18%) against the other groups (39%); p<0.0001. However, the lower susceptibility to T1D conferred by GG haplotype was independent of the ethnic group. Two IL-23R gene variants (rs10889677 and rs11209026) were also analyzed. The allelic and genotypic frequency of the variants did not differ between patients with T1D and control subjects. No significant differences were observed between the plasma IL-23 concentrations of 135 T1D patients (5.65 ± 14.0) and 112 control subjects (9.06 ± 23.7) (p = 0.18), even when we only the patients with less than 2 years disease duration (n = 43), when the immune attack to beta cells is still present, were included (4.65 ± 6.94 pg/mL and 9.07 ± 23.62 pg/mL, p = 0.076). No association was found between IL-23A variants with age at diagnosis of diabetes, presence of residual C-peptide levels or frequency of glutamic acid anti-decarboxilase antibody in patients with recent-onset T1D. Furthermore, these variants were not related to the presence of the extrapancreatic autoantibodies such as thyroid peroxidase (TPO) Ab, thyroglobulin (TG) Ab, 21-Hydroxilase (21OH) Ab, Anti nuclear factor (ANA) Ab, rheumatoid factor (FR) Ab and Neutrophil cytoplasmic (ANCA) Ab. Conclusions : The GG haplotype of lL23A gene variants( rs11171806 and rs2066808) was protective against T1D. The IL23R variants (rs11209026 and rs10889677) were not associated with susceptibility toT1D . IL-23 serum concentrations did not differ between T1D patients and controls.

<p>Det här självständiga arbetet i militärteknik avhandlar huruvida Försvarsmakten, med i huvudsak redan befintlig materiel, genom en teknisk aktiv skyddslösning kan uppnå en förbättrad skyddsförmåga mot indirekt eld. Förmågan som söks är främst avsedd för, men inte begränsad till, att kunna nyttjas för att erhålla ett förbättrat skydd av Försvarsmaktens internationella camper. Därmed utgörs hotbilden framförallt av granatkastarammunition och raketer vilka inom ramen för en teknisk aktiv skyddslösning först måste kunna detekteras för att sen medge förvarning, eller ännu hellre avvärjning, innan de når sitt mål. Arbetets resultat presenteras i form av Förvarsmaktens möjligheter idag tillsammans med en rekommendation om hur skyddsförmågan kan säkerställas på något längre sikt.</p> / <p>This thesis in Military Technology deals with whether the Armed Forces, with mainly pre-existing equipment and using a technical active protection solution, can achieve enhanced protection capability against indirect fire. The capability sought is primarily for, but not limited to, the purpose of obtaining greater protection for the Swedish Armed Forces’ international camps. The threat, typically mortar ammunition and rockets, should within the framework of a technical active protection solution be detectable in order to provide early warning and preferably also interception before reaching its target. The results of the thesis are presented as possibilities for the Swedish Armed Forces today and as recommendations on how this capability can be achieved in the longer term.</p>

Made available in DSpace on 2015-07-22T20:50:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-09-29 / Centro de Integração Empresa Escola (CIEE) / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Fundação de Apoio e Desenvolvimento ao Ensino, Pesquisa e Extensão Universitária no Acre (FUNDAPE) / Nesta dissertação são apresentados dois estudos envolvendo isolados clínicos de Acinetobacter baumannii que apresentaram mecanismos enzimáticos de resistência aos carbapenêmicos, a produção de carbapenemases do tipo OXA. O primeiro estudo avalia a relação genética de amostras de A. baumannii multirresistentes produtoras de OXA-23 provenientes de distintas cidades brasileiras. 91 amostras clínicas de A. baumannii foram isoladas em 17 centros médicos localizados nas cidades de São Paulo (SP), Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Belo Horizonte (MG), Porto Alegre (RS), Blumenau (SC), Curitiba (PR), São Luiz (MA) e Salvador (BA). Nesta coleção observamos altas taxas de resistência aos carbapenêmicos (91.2%) e presença do gene blaOXA-23-like em 83,5% dos isolados. O elemento de insersão ISAba1 à montante ao gene blaOXA-23 foi detectado em todos os 76 isolados de A. baumannii produtores de OXA-23. Nove grupos de genótipos foram observados entre os 76 isolados produtores de OXA-23. Nossos achados sugerem que o gene blaOXA-23 presente nestes isolados estava localizado DNA cromossomal. Três principais grupos (A, B e D) foram observados circulando em seis cidades das regiões sudeste e sul do Brasil, sendo que o genótipo predominante (A) apresentou relação clonal àquele primeiramente descrito na cidade de Curitiba, em 2003. Em contrapartida foi encontrado um único genótipo de A. baumannii produtor de OXA-23 na cidade de São Luís. Embora existam estudos brasileiros prévios reportando a disseminação de clones de A. baumannii pordutores de OXA-23 localmente, nenhum estudo brasileiro demonstrou antes, i) a análise comparativa dos genótipos originários de diferentes e distantes cidades brasileiras, ii) a provável localização do gene blaOXA-23 e iii) a presença do elemento ISAba1 à montante ao gene blaOXA-23,o que pode ter levado ao alto grau de resistência aos carbapenens observado. Desta maneira, o estudo demonstra a circulação de clones de A. baumannii produtores de OXA-23 no Brasil e enfatiza que medidas de controle de infecção são urgentemente necessárias para reduzir tanto a disseminação de isolados multirresistenes quanto o número de infecções causadas por este patógeno. O segundo estudo trata de um relato de caso de um paciente internado em um hospital da cidade de São Paulo, que apresentou uma infecção por A. baumannii produtor de OXA-72. O isolado em questão, A 30235, apresentou resistência a todos os antimicrobianos testados, com excessão à ampicilina/sulbactam tendo apresentado redução da sensibilidade a esta associação. Foi realizada com sucesso a transformação do plasmídeo presente no isolado A30235 na cepa de A. baumannii ATCC 19606. A confirmação da presença do gene blaOXA-72 no transformante evidenciou a localização plasmidial deste determinante de resistência. O plasmídio contendo o gene blaOXA-72 apresentou um peso molecular de aproximadamente 86 Kb. Neste estudo identificamos pela primeira vez no Brasil, um isolado clínico de A. baumannii produtor de OXA-72. A presença deste determinante de resistência codificado por um gene localizado em um elemento genético móvel demonstra a crescente diversidade de carbapenemase do tipo OXA no Brasil com potencial de disseminação. Medidas de controles adequadas deverão ser tomadas para evitar a disseminação de isolados produtores de OXA-72 entre os hospitais brasileiros, o que tem ocorrido com os isolados de A. baumannii produtor de OXA-23. / In this dissertation we present two studies involving carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii clinical isolates due to the production of carbapenems modifying enzymes, the OXA-type carbapenemases. The first study aimed to determine the genetic relationship of multi-drug-resistant A. baumannii producing OXA-23 that was isolated in distinct Brazilian cities. A total of 91 A. baumannii clinical isolates were recovered from 17 medical centers located at eight cities, namely São Paulo (SP), Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Belo Horizonte (MG), Porto Alegre (RS), Blumenau (SC), Curitiba (PR), São Luiz (MA) and Salvador (BA). In this collection we observed high rates of carbapenems resistance (91.2%). Also, the blaOXA- 23-like gene was present in 83.5% of isolates. The insertion sequence ISAba1 was positioned upstream the blaOXA-23 gene in all OXA-23-producing A. baumannii identified. Nine clusters were observed among OXA-23 producers. Our fidings suggest that the blaOXA-23 gene was probably chromosomally-located in all isolates studied. Three clusters (A, B and D) were found in six cities from southeast and southern reagions of Brazil. In addition, the predominant cluster (A) was clonally related to that first described in Curitiba, in2003. In contrast, a single cluster of A. baumannii producing OXA-23 was found in São Luís city. Although there were previous reports regarding the spread of OXA-23-producing A. baumannii in Brazil the following features had not yet been assessed: i) the comparative analysis of OXA-23 producers genotypes originating in distinct and distant Brazilian cities, ii) the genetic location of the blaOXA-23 gene and iii) the presence of ISAba1 upstream blaOXA-23 probably resulting in high degree of carbapenem resistance. Thus, our study demonstrates that the clonal dissemination of OXA-23- producing A. baumannii had occurred in Brazil. These findings emphasize that infection control measures are urgently needed to reduce both the spread of multidrug resistantstrains and the number of infections caused by this pathogen. The second study refers to a case report involving a hospitalized patient that presented an wound infection due to OXA-72-producing A. baumannii. The referred clinical isolate, A 30235, was resistant to most antibiotics tested and showed reduced susctptibility to ampicillin/sulbactam. Successful transformation assays using A. baumannii ATCC 19606 as the recipient strain revealed the plasmid location of the blaOXA-72 gene. This plasmid showed molecular weight of about 86 Kb. We identified for the first time in Brazil, an A. baumannii clinical isolate producing OXA-72. The presence of this resistance determinant encoded by a gene located in a mobile genetic elemet, points out to an increasing diversity of OXA-type carbapenemase in Brazil with potential spread. Appropriate control measures should be taken to prevent the spread of OXA-72 producers among Brazilian hospitals, which it we have experienced with OXA-23- producing-A. baumannii in this country. / TEDE / BV UNIFESP: Teses e dissertações

A hiperfosfatemia está relacionada com o hiperparatireoidismo secundário renal (HPTSR) e com a progressão da doença renal crônica (DRC). A retenção de fósforo estimula a síntese do fator de crescimento de fibroblastos 23 (FGF-23), o qual promove fosfatúria, com o objetivo de evitar o aparecimento de hiperfosfatemia. Atualmente, o tratamento disponível para DRC é de manutenção e, portanto, novas estratégias para evitar a progressão da DRC seriam de grande relevância. Recentemente têm sido demonstrado o papel da célula-tronco mesenquimal (CTM) em minimizar os mecanismos inflamatórios e imunológicos envolvidos na progressão da DRC. Portanto, o estudo teve como hipótese de que a CTM possa evitar ou controlar a progressão para o HPTSR, investigada por meio da avaliação de biomarcadores do metabolismo de fósforo, ou seja, as concentrações sérica de fósforo (sP), FGF-23, cálcio total e cálcio ionizado, bem como a excreção fracionada de fósforo urinária (uFEP) em cães com DRC nos estágios 2 (Grupo A) e 3 (Grupo B), submetidos ou não a terapia com CTM, bem como investigar se os valores elevados de FGF-23 estariam relacionados com o menor tempo de sobrevida. Trata-se de um estudo prospectivo, longitudinal, duplo-cego e randomizado em que foram avaliados 22 cães com DRC, tratados com solução fisiológica (SF) ou CTM, avaliados a cada 30 a 45 dias em 12 momentos (T0 a T12). No Grupo A (n= 9; SF: n= 6, CTM: n= 3) todos os cães eram normofosfatêmicos no momento inicial do acompanhamento (T0) e foi observado níveis elevados de FGF-23 em 33,3% dos cães (3 de 9), assim como o aumento de uFEP foi detectado em 33,3% dos casos (3 de 9). A média ± EPM dos valores de FGF-23 sérico do Grupo A foi de 481,5 ± 75,23pg/mL. Já no Grupo B (n = 13; SF: n = 6, CTM: n = 7), todos os cães apresentaram altas concentrações séricas de FGF-23 desde T0 (média ± EPM de 12744 ± 6879pg/mL), sendo que 53,8% dos cães eram normofosfatêmicos. A média ± EPM de fósforo sérico em T0, T6 e T12 ou momento do óbito no Grupo A e B foi de 3,74 ± 0,13mg/dL e 6,40 ± 0,54mg/dL. Ao longo do curso da doença, o desenvolvimento de hiperfosfatemia foi observada em apenas 11,1% dos cães do Grupo A e em 84,6% dos cães do Grupo B. O Grupo B (SF e CTM) apresentou valores mais elevados de FGF-23 do que o Grupo A (SF e CTM), e foi detectada diferença estatística entre os dois grupos. A uFEP nos cães dos Grupos A e B em T0, T6 e T12 ou óbito obteve média ± EPM de 20,93 ± 3,92% e 24,05 ± 2,22%, respectivamente. Além disso, a sobrevida foi menor no Grupo B, a qual estava associada com hiperfosfatemia intensa, altas concentrações de FGF-23 e diminuição da uFEP. Dessa forma, em cães DRC normofosfatêmicos, a presença de aumentos de uFEP e de FGF-23 parece terem atuado como marcador precoce do HPTSR. Em contrapartida, nos estágios tardios da DRC, o aumento de FGF-23 associado a diminuição da uFEP pode indicar mau prognóstico. Em relação à terapia com CTM nos cães com DRC, de acordo com o número de cães avaliados e os resultados obtidos, não foi possível concluir de forma contundente sobre o efeito da terapia com CTM na doença renal crônica de curso natural em cães, entretanto, os resultados obtidos foram relevantes, pois suscitaram questões quanto ao momento ou o estágio da DRC que seria o mais adequado para a indicação da terapia celular para que os efeitos benéficos possam ser obtidos. Assim, ainda se faz necessária a condução de mais pesquisas com um número maior de cães com DRC para avaliar efeito da CTM em evitar o distúrbio no metabolismo mineral, bem como a progressão da DRC em cães / Hyperphosphatemia is associated with renal secondary hyperparathyroidism (SRHP) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression. Phosphorus retention stimulates the synthesis of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23), which promotes phosphaturia in order to avoid the onset of hyperphosphatemia. Conservative treatment of CKD is currently avaliable and new strategies are needed and welcome to avoid the progression of renal injury. Recent studies have shown the role of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) in minimizing inflammatory and immunological mechanisms known as mediators of CKD progression. Therefore, it was hypothesized that MSCs could avoid or control the progression to SRHP, assessed by serum phosphorus (sP), FGF-23, total and ionized calcium and fractional excretion of phosphorus (uFEP) in CKD dogs in Stages 2 (Group A) and 3 (Group B), also was investigated whether high values of FGF-23 could be associatted with shorter survival time. Prospective, double-blind, randomized and longitudinal study was conducted enrolling 22 dogs with CKD treated with saline solution (SS) or MSC, which were evaluated every 30 to 45 days in 12 moments (T0 to T12). In Group A (n = 9; SF: n = 6, CTM: n = 3) all dogs were normophosphatemic at the beginning of the follow-up (T0) and high levels of FGF-23 were already detected in 33.3% of dogs (3 of 9), as well as increased in uFEP (33.3%; 3 of 9). The mean ± SEM of serum FGF-23 in Group A was 481.50 ± 75.23pg/mL. In Group B (n = 13; SS: n = 6, MSC: n = 7), all dogs showed high concentrations of serum FGF-23 since T0 (mean ± SEM of 12744 ± 6979pg/mL), and normophosphatemia detected in 53.8% of them. The mean ± SEM of serum phosphorus at T0, T6 and T12 or death in Group A and B was 3.74 ± 0.13mg/dL and 6.40 ± 0.54mg/dL. Hyperphosphatemia developed during the follow-up in only 11.1% of the dogs of Group A and 84.6% of the dogs of Group B. Group B (SS and MSC) had higher levels of FGF-23 than Group A (SS and MSC), and difference bewteen those groups detected. The uFEP in dogs of Groups A and B at T0, T6 and T12 or death obtained mean ± SEM of 20.93 ± 3.92% and 24.05 ± 2.22%, respectively. Furthermore, the survival rate was lower in Group B, which was associated with severe hyperphosphatemia, high values of serum FGF-23 and decreased uFEP. Therefore in normophophatemic CKD dogs, the increased in uFEP and high levels of FGF-23 may act as an early marker of SRHP. However, in later stages of CKD, increased levels of serum FGF-23 associated with decreased uFEP and hyperphosphatemia may indicate poor prognosis. Regarding to the MSC therapy in dogs with CKD, the number of dogs involved and also according to the results, it still has not allowed to conclude the effect of therapy with mesenchymal stem cell in spontaneous chronic kidney disease; however, the results obtained raised important questions such as the time or the stage of CKD that could be more suitable for the use of stem cell therapy in order to get its beneficial effects. Therefore, futher studies are needed, including greater number of dogs with CKD and then to evaluate the effect or action of MSC to avoid disturbances in mineral metabolism as well as the progression of CKD in dogs

Introdução: Diabetes tipo 1A(DM1A) é uma doença causada pela destruição autoimune das células beta. Em adição aos linfócitos T helper 1(Th1) e Th2, um subtipo específico de células T helper recentemente descrito, Th17, caracterizado pela produção da interleucina 17(IL-17A), IL-17F e IL-22, está também envolvido na imunidade adaptativa e autoimunidade, incluindo DM1A. A IL-23 tem função fundamental na expansão e sobrevivência das células Th17. A mesma é composta por 2 subunidades: a p19-específica (IL-23A) e a p40. Variantes dos genes IL-23A e de seu receptor (IL-23R) ou o aumento das concentrações séricas da IL-23 estão associados a várias doenças autoimunes, mas seus efeitos no DM1A não estão definidos. Com o intuito de avaliar a importância da IL-23 na patogênese do DM1A, as variantes dos genes IL23A e IL23R foram analisadas. Metodologia: A região codificadora e os regiões intrônicas proximais do gene IL23A, incluindo a região 5 proximal foram sequenciadas. Duas variantes do gene IL23A (rs2066808 e rs11171806) e duas do gene IL-23R (rs11209026 e rs10889677) foram também genotipadas. A amostra contou com 370 pacientes com DM1A e 314 indivíduos controles saudáveis. As medidas das concentrações séricas da IL-23 e os autoanticorpos pancreáticos e extra-pancreáticos foram determinados. Resultados: Nós observamos somente uma das seis variantes da IL-23 descritas nos bancos de dados (rs11171806 G>A localizada no exon 3) e descrevemos uma nova variante no gene IL-23A, que consistiu na substituição da citosina por timina na posição c.-403 (C>T) na região 5 proximal deste gene (encontrada em heterozigose em apenas uma paciente com DM1A, do sexo feminino, com 28 anos ao diagnóstico).Os alelos G dessas duas variantes estiveram em forte desequilíbrio de ligação (D\' = -0,825 para controles, p<2,0X10-6 e D\' = -0,902, p<2,0X10-17 para pacientes). Em consequência, a análise dos haplótipos destas variantes foi realizada. O haplótipo GG foi mais frequente nos controles (16.7%) do que nos pacientes com DM1A (9.5%), conferindo proteção à doença (pc = 0,0009, OR = 0,53) . A presença do haplótipo GG diferiu de acordo com a etnia no conjunto de pacientes e controles, sendo menor naqueles de etnia caucasóide (18%) em relação aos outros grupos (39%); p<0.0001. Entretanto, o efeito protetor da haplótipo GG foi independente da etnia. As duas variantes do gene IL23R (rs10889677 e rs11209026) tinham frequência alélica e genotípica semelhante entre pacientes com DM1A e controles. Não foi observada diferença significante nas concentrações da IL-23 entre 135 pacientes com DM1A (5,65 ± 14,0 pg/mL) e 112 indivíduos controles (9,06 ± 23,7pg/mL) (p =0,18). , mesmo quando analisamos apenas o pacientes com duração do diabetes inferior a dois anos, nos quais a resposta imune contra as células beta ainda está presente, (4.65 ± 6.94 pg/mL e 9.07 ± 23.62 pg/mL, p = 0.076). Não foi encontrada associação entre as variantes do gene IL23A com a idade diagnóstica, presença do peptídeo C residual e auto-anticorpo anti-descarboxilase do ácido glutâmico em pacientes com diagnóstico recente de DM1A. Estas variantes também não influenciaram na freqüência dos auto anticorpos extrapancreáticos: anti-tireoglobulina, anti-peroxidase, anti-21 hidroxilase, fator anti-núcleo, fator reumatóide e anti-citoplasma de neutrófilos. Conclusões: O haplótipo GG das variantes do gene lL23A (rs11171806 e rs2066808) foi associado a proteção ao DM1A. As variantes do gene IL23R (rs11209026 e rs10889677) não foram associadas ao DM1A. As concentrações séricas da IL-23 foram semelhantes entre os grupos. / Introduction: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) is a disorder caused by the immune-mediated destruction of insulin-secreting pancreatic beta cells. In addition to T helper 1 (Th1) and Th2 cells, a recently discovered subset of T helper cells, Th17, characterized by the production of interleukin 17 A (IL-17A), IL-17F, and IL-22 is also involved in adaptive immunity and autoimmunity, including T1D. The Interleukin IL-23 has a central role in the expansion and survival of Th 17 cells. It is composed of two subunits: p19-specific (IL-23A) and p40. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of IL-23A and IL-23 receptor (IL-23R) genes or increased IL-23 serum concentrations were associated with several autoimmune diseases, but their role in T1D has not been defined. We therefore searched for variants of IL-23A and IL-23R genes that could predispose to T1D. Methods:The coding regions and boundary intron sequences of IL-23A gene, including the 5 proximal region were sequenced. Two variants (rs2066808 and rs 11171806) of IL-23A and two of IL-23R (rs11209026 and rs10889677) genes were also genotyped. IL-23 serum levels and pancreatic and extra-pancreatic auto-antibodies were also determined. The cohort involved 370 patients with T1D and 314 healthy control subjects.Results: We observed only 1 out of 6 IL-23A coding variants (rs11171806 G>A localized in exon 3) described in a database repository . A new allelic variant of the IL-23A gene, consisting of the substitution of a cytosine by a thymine at position c.-403 (C>T) in the 5 proximal region of the IL-23A gene (found in heterozygosis in only 1 female patient with T1D) was described. The G alleles of rs11171806 and rs2066808 variants of IL-23A gene were in strong linkage disequilibrium (D\' = -0,825 for controls, p<2,0X10-6 and D\' = -0,902, p<2,0X10-17 for patients). So, further analyses were performed with the haplotypes instead of separated SNPs. The GG haplotype was more frequent in controls (16,7%) than in T1D patients (9,5%), conferring a protection to the disease (pc= 0,0009, OR = 0.53). The presence of haplotype GG was also different according to the ethnic group in the overall sample (patients+controls), when we pooled the Caucasians (18%) against the other groups (39%); p<0.0001. However, the lower susceptibility to T1D conferred by GG haplotype was independent of the ethnic group. Two IL-23R gene variants (rs10889677 and rs11209026) were also analyzed. The allelic and genotypic frequency of the variants did not differ between patients with T1D and control subjects. No significant differences were observed between the plasma IL-23 concentrations of 135 T1D patients (5.65 ± 14.0) and 112 control subjects (9.06 ± 23.7) (p = 0.18), even when we only the patients with less than 2 years disease duration (n = 43), when the immune attack to beta cells is still present, were included (4.65 ± 6.94 pg/mL and 9.07 ± 23.62 pg/mL, p = 0.076). No association was found between IL-23A variants with age at diagnosis of diabetes, presence of residual C-peptide levels or frequency of glutamic acid anti-decarboxilase antibody in patients with recent-onset T1D. Furthermore, these variants were not related to the presence of the extrapancreatic autoantibodies such as thyroid peroxidase (TPO) Ab, thyroglobulin (TG) Ab, 21-Hydroxilase (21OH) Ab, Anti nuclear factor (ANA) Ab, rheumatoid factor (FR) Ab and Neutrophil cytoplasmic (ANCA) Ab. Conclusions : The GG haplotype of lL23A gene variants( rs11171806 and rs2066808) was protective against T1D. The IL23R variants (rs11209026 and rs10889677) were not associated with susceptibility toT1D . IL-23 serum concentrations did not differ between T1D patients and controls.

A hiperfosfatemia está relacionada com o hiperparatireoidismo secundário renal (HPTSR) e com a progressão da doença renal crônica (DRC). A retenção de fósforo estimula a síntese do fator de crescimento de fibroblastos 23 (FGF-23), o qual promove fosfatúria, com o objetivo de evitar o aparecimento de hiperfosfatemia. Atualmente, o tratamento disponível para DRC é de manutenção e, portanto, novas estratégias para evitar a progressão da DRC seriam de grande relevância. Recentemente têm sido demonstrado o papel da célula-tronco mesenquimal (CTM) em minimizar os mecanismos inflamatórios e imunológicos envolvidos na progressão da DRC. Portanto, o estudo teve como hipótese de que a CTM possa evitar ou controlar a progressão para o HPTSR, investigada por meio da avaliação de biomarcadores do metabolismo de fósforo, ou seja, as concentrações sérica de fósforo (sP), FGF-23, cálcio total e cálcio ionizado, bem como a excreção fracionada de fósforo urinária (uFEP) em cães com DRC nos estágios 2 (Grupo A) e 3 (Grupo B), submetidos ou não a terapia com CTM, bem como investigar se os valores elevados de FGF-23 estariam relacionados com o menor tempo de sobrevida. Trata-se de um estudo prospectivo, longitudinal, duplo-cego e randomizado em que foram avaliados 22 cães com DRC, tratados com solução fisiológica (SF) ou CTM, avaliados a cada 30 a 45 dias em 12 momentos (T0 a T12). No Grupo A (n= 9; SF: n= 6, CTM: n= 3) todos os cães eram normofosfatêmicos no momento inicial do acompanhamento (T0) e foi observado níveis elevados de FGF-23 em 33,3% dos cães (3 de 9), assim como o aumento de uFEP foi detectado em 33,3% dos casos (3 de 9). A média ± EPM dos valores de FGF-23 sérico do Grupo A foi de 481,5 ± 75,23pg/mL. Já no Grupo B (n = 13; SF: n = 6, CTM: n = 7), todos os cães apresentaram altas concentrações séricas de FGF-23 desde T0 (média ± EPM de 12744 ± 6879pg/mL), sendo que 53,8% dos cães eram normofosfatêmicos. A média ± EPM de fósforo sérico em T0, T6 e T12 ou momento do óbito no Grupo A e B foi de 3,74 ± 0,13mg/dL e 6,40 ± 0,54mg/dL. Ao longo do curso da doença, o desenvolvimento de hiperfosfatemia foi observada em apenas 11,1% dos cães do Grupo A e em 84,6% dos cães do Grupo B. O Grupo B (SF e CTM) apresentou valores mais elevados de FGF-23 do que o Grupo A (SF e CTM), e foi detectada diferença estatística entre os dois grupos. A uFEP nos cães dos Grupos A e B em T0, T6 e T12 ou óbito obteve média ± EPM de 20,93 ± 3,92% e 24,05 ± 2,22%, respectivamente. Além disso, a sobrevida foi menor no Grupo B, a qual estava associada com hiperfosfatemia intensa, altas concentrações de FGF-23 e diminuição da uFEP. Dessa forma, em cães DRC normofosfatêmicos, a presença de aumentos de uFEP e de FGF-23 parece terem atuado como marcador precoce do HPTSR. Em contrapartida, nos estágios tardios da DRC, o aumento de FGF-23 associado a diminuição da uFEP pode indicar mau prognóstico. Em relação à terapia com CTM nos cães com DRC, de acordo com o número de cães avaliados e os resultados obtidos, não foi possível concluir de forma contundente sobre o efeito da terapia com CTM na doença renal crônica de curso natural em cães, entretanto, os resultados obtidos foram relevantes, pois suscitaram questões quanto ao momento ou o estágio da DRC que seria o mais adequado para a indicação da terapia celular para que os efeitos benéficos possam ser obtidos. Assim, ainda se faz necessária a condução de mais pesquisas com um número maior de cães com DRC para avaliar efeito da CTM em evitar o distúrbio no metabolismo mineral, bem como a progressão da DRC em cães / Hyperphosphatemia is associated with renal secondary hyperparathyroidism (SRHP) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression. Phosphorus retention stimulates the synthesis of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23), which promotes phosphaturia in order to avoid the onset of hyperphosphatemia. Conservative treatment of CKD is currently avaliable and new strategies are needed and welcome to avoid the progression of renal injury. Recent studies have shown the role of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) in minimizing inflammatory and immunological mechanisms known as mediators of CKD progression. Therefore, it was hypothesized that MSCs could avoid or control the progression to SRHP, assessed by serum phosphorus (sP), FGF-23, total and ionized calcium and fractional excretion of phosphorus (uFEP) in CKD dogs in Stages 2 (Group A) and 3 (Group B), also was investigated whether high values of FGF-23 could be associatted with shorter survival time. Prospective, double-blind, randomized and longitudinal study was conducted enrolling 22 dogs with CKD treated with saline solution (SS) or MSC, which were evaluated every 30 to 45 days in 12 moments (T0 to T12). In Group A (n = 9; SF: n = 6, CTM: n = 3) all dogs were normophosphatemic at the beginning of the follow-up (T0) and high levels of FGF-23 were already detected in 33.3% of dogs (3 of 9), as well as increased in uFEP (33.3%; 3 of 9). The mean ± SEM of serum FGF-23 in Group A was 481.50 ± 75.23pg/mL. In Group B (n = 13; SS: n = 6, MSC: n = 7), all dogs showed high concentrations of serum FGF-23 since T0 (mean ± SEM of 12744 ± 6979pg/mL), and normophosphatemia detected in 53.8% of them. The mean ± SEM of serum phosphorus at T0, T6 and T12 or death in Group A and B was 3.74 ± 0.13mg/dL and 6.40 ± 0.54mg/dL. Hyperphosphatemia developed during the follow-up in only 11.1% of the dogs of Group A and 84.6% of the dogs of Group B. Group B (SS and MSC) had higher levels of FGF-23 than Group A (SS and MSC), and difference bewteen those groups detected. The uFEP in dogs of Groups A and B at T0, T6 and T12 or death obtained mean ± SEM of 20.93 ± 3.92% and 24.05 ± 2.22%, respectively. Furthermore, the survival rate was lower in Group B, which was associated with severe hyperphosphatemia, high values of serum FGF-23 and decreased uFEP. Therefore in normophophatemic CKD dogs, the increased in uFEP and high levels of FGF-23 may act as an early marker of SRHP. However, in later stages of CKD, increased levels of serum FGF-23 associated with decreased uFEP and hyperphosphatemia may indicate poor prognosis. Regarding to the MSC therapy in dogs with CKD, the number of dogs involved and also according to the results, it still has not allowed to conclude the effect of therapy with mesenchymal stem cell in spontaneous chronic kidney disease; however, the results obtained raised important questions such as the time or the stage of CKD that could be more suitable for the use of stem cell therapy in order to get its beneficial effects. Therefore, futher studies are needed, including greater number of dogs with CKD and then to evaluate the effect or action of MSC to avoid disturbances in mineral metabolism as well as the progression of CKD in dogs

The aim of the diploma thesis "The Shepherd as the Anthropomorphism of God" is to clarify the role of the shepherd in antiquity and today and to present this knowledge in the use of the shepherd's anthropomorphism in biblical texts by means of literary research and comparison of texts, exegesis and reflection of own experience. In the introductory chapters we focus on the person of the shepherd, his characteristics, where special attention is paid to the shepherd's staff, as it also has an abundant biblical metaphorical use. The role of the shepherd in antiquity, in biblical texts and today is also discussed. Attention is also paid to the metaphor of the shepherd in ancient mythology, the use of this metaphor in various religious cults and its content. From a similar point of view, grazing animals are viewed, especially sheep, and special attention is paid to the role of the lamb in biblical texts. But we also talk about pigs and goats as pastoral animals. The following chapters first deal with anthropomorphisms in general, followed by chapters from specific biblical books where anthropomorphism is used. The texts are divided according to their inclusion in the Bible - first, Tanach texts are discussed, where the most common occurrence of anthropomorphisms is in the prophetic books. The next...

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