Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-12T20:12:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 PGEF14MA047.pdf: 93789 bytes, checksum: 5a7cdb0b1f0327506fa6f01fd57c89cb (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-05-30 / Among the economically important species of eucalyptus for southern Brazil, the most suitable are Eucalyptus benthamii and Eucalyptus dunnii, due to its tolerance to low temperatures. However, there is little information about the nutritional requirements and studies showing aspects involving nutrition versus the development of these species. Coupled with the high demand for use of fertilizers and, in order to obtain substantial productivity gains for most of eucalyptus forests located in the South of Brazil soils, it is necessary to determine suitable doses depending of the soil type and the genetic material. This study aimed to evaluate the initial response of Eucalyptus benthamii and Eucalyptus dunnii to different doses of phosphorus fertilization and liming in the study region. There were specific objectives, as: to evaluate the initial growth of the plants of Eucalyptus benthamii and Eucalyptus dunnii, based on the dendrometric variables height and crown diameter; evaluate and interpret the effect of different doses of rock phosphate (RF), mixed mineral fertilizer (MF) and limestone in the initial growth of these species. Thus, it was conducted a field experiment, located in the city of Rio Negrinho - SC, in the period November 2012 to November 2013. The experimental design was a randomized block design with three replications, conducted in three 2 x 4 factorial schemes. Considering the A factor constituted by two species (Eucalyptus benthamii and Eucalyptus dunnii) and the B factor: a) four levels of RF (0, 400, 600 and 800 kg ha-1 in the form of reactive Gafsa RF); b) four doses of MF (0, 150, 200 and 250 kg ha-1 of NPK 6-30-6 formulation); c) four liming levels (0, 3.5, 6 and 10 t ha-1 in the form of dolomitic lime). The plots had 270 m² of area, with 45 plants in each. Total height measures and diameter of the tree canopy to 330 days after planting were performed. The results showed that the phosphate fertilizer (RF and MFM) and liming increased growth in height and crown diameter of Eucalyptus benthamii and Eucalyptus dunnii plants during the first 11 months of grow. The growth response of Eucalyptus benthamii was higher than Eucalyptus dunnii, in all evaluated factorial schemes. The lowest dose of RF was effective for the growth of Eucalyptus benthamii and obtained slightly higher growth for Eucalyptus dunnii when associated with dose of 6 t ha-1 of lime and, mainly, to 10 t ha-1 of lime. The higher dose of MF was effective on the Eucalyptus benthamii growth and slightly higher for Eucalyptus dunnii, but only when combined with a dose of 10 t ha-1 of lime. The lower dose of lime had satisfactory growth for Eucalyptus dunnii, while the higher dose of lime was effective in the growth of Eucalyptus benthamii, when associated with a dose of 400 kg ha-1 RF, a condition that was found slightly higher than results of the studied dendrometric parameters / Entre as espécies de eucalipto economicamente importantes para a Região Sul do Brasil, as mais indicadas são Eucalyptus benthamii e Eucalyptus dunnii, devido às suas tolerâncias às baixas temperaturas. No entanto, são escassas as informações sobre as exigências nutricionais e estudos que apresentem aspectos que envolvam a nutrição versus o desenvolvimento dessas espécies. Aliado a elevada demanda por utilização de fertilizantes e corretivos para que se obtenham ganhos substanciais de produtividade para grande maioria das florestas de eucaliptos situados nos solos do Sul do Brasil, é necessário determinar doses adequadas em função do tipo de solo e do material genético. O trabalho objetivou avaliar a resposta inicial de Eucalyptus benthamii e Eucalyptus dunnii a diferentes doses de adubação fosfatada e calagem na região do Planalto Norte Catarinense. Tendo como objetivos específicos: avaliar o crescimento inicial das plantas de Eucalyptus benthamii e Eucalyptus dunnii, a partir das variáveis dendrométricas altura e diâmetro de copa; avaliar e interpretar o efeito de diferentes doses de fosfato natural (FN), fertilizante mineral misto (FM) e calcário no crescimento inicial dessas espécies. Nesse sentido, foi conduzido experimento a campo, localizado no Município de Rio Negrinho SC, no período de novembro de 2012 a novembro de 2013. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos ao acaso com três repetições, conduzido em três esquemas fatoriais 2 x 4. Sendo fator A constituído por duas espécies (Eucalyptus benthamii e Eucalyptus dunnii) e o fator B por: a) quatro doses de FN (0, 400, 600 e 800 kg ha-1 na forma de FN reativo de Gafsa); b) quatro doses de FM (0, 150, 200 e 250 kg ha-1 da formulação 6-30-6 de NPK); e c) quatro doses de calcário (0, 3,5, 6 e 10 t ha-1 na forma de calcário dolomítico). As parcelas possuíam 270 m² de área útil, apresentando 45 plantas em cada. Foram realizadas medidas de altura total e diâmetro de copa das árvores aos 330 dias após plantio. Os resultados mostraram que a adubação fosfatada (FN e FM) e a calagem aumentaram o crescimento em altura e diâmetro de copa das plantas de Eucalyptus benthamii e Eucalyptus dunnii durante os primeiros 11 meses de cultivo. A resposta de crescimento do Eucalyptus benthamii foi superior em relação ao Eucalyptus dunnii, em todos os esquemas fatorais avaliados. A menor dose de FN foi efetiva no crescimento de Eucalyptus benthamii e obteve crescimento ligeiramente superior para Eucalyptus dunnii, quando associada à dose de 6 t ha-1 de calcário e, principalmente, à 10 t ha-1 de calcário. A maior dose de FM foi efetiva no crescimento de Eucalyptus benthamii e ligeiramente superior para Eucalyptus dunnii, porém, somente quando associada à dose de 10 t ha-1 de calcário. A menor dose de calcário obteve crescimento satisfatório para Eucalyptus dunnii, enquanto a maior dose de calcário foi efetiva no crescimento de Eucalyptus benthamii, quando associada à dose de 400 kg ha-1 de FN, condição que foi constatada resultados ligeiramente superiores dos parâmetros dendrométricos estudados

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a severe psychiatric illness with a consistent genetic influence, involving complex interactions between numerous genes and environmental factors. Immediate early genes (IEGs) are activated in the brain in response to environmental stimuli, such as stress. The potential to translate environmental stimuli into long-term changes in brain has led to increased interest in a potential role for these genes influencing risk for psychiatric disorders. Our recent finding using network-based approach has shown that the regulatory unit of early growth response gene 3 (EGR3) of IEGs family was robustly repressed in postmortem prefrontal cortex of BD patients. As a central transcription factor, EGR3 regulates an array of target genes that mediate critical neurobiological processes such as synaptic plasticity, memory and cognition. Considering that EGR3 expression is induced by brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) that has been consistently related to BD pathophysiology, we suggest a link between BDNF and EGR3 and their potential role in BD. A growing body of data from our group and others has shown that peripheral BDNF levels are reduced during mood episodes and also with illness progression. In this same vein, BDNF has been proposed as an important growth factor in the impaired cellular resilience related to BD. Taken together with the fact that EGR3 regulates the expression of the neurotrophin receptor p75NTR and may also indirectly induce BDNF expression, here we propose a feed-forward gene regulatory network involving EGR3 and BDNF and its potential role in BD.

No description available.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / In the south of Brazil, one of the largest limitations of cattle activity is the forage lack in the autumn and beginning of winter, causing decrease in milk and meat production. One of the alternatives to minimize this problem is the use of double-purpose winter cereals, that they can supply early green forage and still to produce grains. Then, the objective of this research was to evaluate early growth, forage yield and nutritive value, grains and silage yield of 12 genotypes of six double purpose winter species, submitted to harvest at Depressão Central region of Rio Grande do Sul state. Species and genotypes tested were: BRS 277, BRS Guatambu, BRS Tarumã and BRS Umbu wheat; Agro Zebu, UPFA 21 - Moreninha and Commom black-oat; UPF 18 white oat; BR 1 and BRS Serrano rye; BRS Marciana barley; and BRS 148 triticale. The genotypes were distributed in 36 experimental plots in completely randomized design, with 12 treatments and three replications. Studied variables were herbage mass, botanical and structural composition, forage and grains production. Samples of the superior stratum to 10 cm height of forage were used to nutritive value analysis. Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) technique was used to determine contents of crude protein, insoluble neutral detergent fiber, insoluble acid detergent fiber, dry matter digestibility and minerals calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and potassium. Also were evaluated yield and nutritive value of silage on different genotypes in soft dough grain stage. Early genotypes for forage production were BR 1 rye and BRS 148 triticale. BRS Tarumã wheat presented higher leaf blade and forage yield. BRS Umbu wheat presented higher grains production and hectoliter weight. Oat genotypes present best nutritive value results and mineral composition presents small variability among tested genotypes. Higher pre-ensilage forage production was observed to BR 1 rye and UPF 18 white oat and BRS Umbu wheat has the best nutritive value of silage. Results demonstrate that winter cereals produced early forage with high nutritive value and presents satisfactory conditions to silage production. / No sul do Brasil, uma das maiores limitações da atividade pecuária é a carência de forragem no outono e início do inverno, ocasionando quedas na produção de leite e de carne. Uma das alternativas para minimizar este problema é a utilização de cereais de inverno de duplo propósito, que podem fornecer forragem verde de forma precoce e ainda produzir grãos. Assim, esta pesquisa foi conduzida com o objetivo de avaliar a precocidade, a produtividade, o valor nutritivo da forragem e o rendimento de silagem ou de grãos de 12 genótipos de seis espécies de cereais de inverno de duplo propósito, submetidos ao corte, na região da Depressão Central do Rio Grande do Sul. As espécies e genótipos testados foram: trigo BRS 277, BRS Guatambu, BRS Tarumã, BRS Umbu; aveia preta Agro Zebu, UPFA 21 - Moreninha e Comum; aveia branca UPF 18; centeio BR 1 e BRS Serrano; Cevada BRS Marciana; e triticale BRS 148. Os genótipos foram distribuídos em 36 parcelas experimentais, em delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado, com 12 tratamentos e três repetições. As variáveis estudadas foram a massa de forragem, a composição botânica e estrutural, a produção de forragem e de grãos. Para as análises de valor nutritivo foram coletadas amostras do estrato superior a 10cm de altura das forragens. Pelo método da reflectância do infravermelho proximal (NIRS), foram determinadas a proteína bruta, a fibra insolúvel em detergente neutro, a fibra insolúvel em detergente ácido, a digestibilidade da matéria seca e os minerais cálcio, fósforo, magnésio e potássio. Também foram avaliados o rendimento, os parâmetros fermentativos e o valor nutritivo das silagens dos diferentes genótipos, elaboradas no estádio fenológico de grão pastoso. Os genótipos mais precoces para produção de forragem foram o centeio BR 1 e o triticale BRS 148. O trigo BRS Tarumã apresentou maior produção de lâminas foliares e de forragem. O trigo BRS Umbu apresentou maior produção de grãos e peso do hectolitro. Os genótipos de aveia apresentaram os melhores resultados de valor nutritivo e a composição mineral apresentou pequena variabilidade entre os genótipos testados. Os maiores rendimentos de forragem pré-ensilada foram observados para o centeio BR 1 e para a aveia branca UPF 18. O trigo BRS Umbu apresentou o melhor valor nutritivo da silagem. Os resultados demonstram que os cereais de inverno produzem forragem precoce, com elevado valor nutritivo e apresentam condições satisfatórias para produção de silagem.

Background: In Nigeria, there is an escalating incidence of hypertension, its complications and other cardiovascular risks, likely to have their origins in early life. Malaria is still hyperendemic, with pregnant women at increased risk, with associated consequences of maternal anemia and high rates of delivering low birth-weight babies. Aims and Hypothesis: In this study, we have tested the hypothesis that malaria in pregnancy will not only enhance the risk of small birth size and poor infant growth, but will also generate higher blood pressures in infancy and beyond. We also tested the hypothesis that metabolic markers in pregnant mothers affected by malaria would relate to infant birth size. Thus the aims of this project were: 1) to define relationships between the type of malaria exposure and birth size, 2) to characterize the association between maternal and cord metabolic biomarkers and birth size on the background of prenatal malaria exposure and 3) to examine the effect prenatal malaria exposure on first year growth and whether higher blood pressure (BP) is generated. Methods: Healthy pregnant women were recruited and followed at Adeoyo Maternity Hospital, Ibadan. Anthropometric, BP, and biomarkers (lipids, glucose, insulin and TNFα) measurements were obtained in the mothers at booking. Birth size and growth at 3 and 12 months along with biomarkers (as above) and IGF-I measures in cord blood were assessed in the infants. Blood films for malaria parasites were taken throughout pregnancy including delivery and in all babies. Women were grouped to distinguish between the timing of malaria parasitaemia (either during pregnancy only or during pregnancy and at delivery) and the severity of malaria infection (low vs high parasite load). At birth, 436 mother-baby pairs were measured. 467 maternal samples were obtained for metabolic profile and 187 cord blood samples. 318 babies were all followed from birth to 3 and 12 months. Results: Malaria parasitaemia was found in 48% of the women, associated with younger maternal age, being primigravid and a lower haematocrit. Babies of mothers with high parasitaemia through pregnancy had the smallest birth growth parameters compared with those without malaria (weight, length, and head circumference were smaller by 300g, 1.1cm and 0.7cm respectively, all p≤0.005) but their systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) adjusted for weight were higher than those with low parasitaemia by 1.7 and 1.4 mmHg/kg respectively. SBPs were lowest in babies of mothers with malaria at delivery implying an acute effect on the babies’ circulation. Mothers with malaria had significantly lower lipids (except triglycerides) but higher TNFa, effect not seen in cord blood. Cord IGF-I was significantly lower in babies whose mothers had malaria. Significant determinants of birth size were maternal total cholesterol, LDL- cholesterol, insulin, malarial status and cord insulin and IGF-I. Babies exposed to maternal malaria remained smaller at 1 year, most marked in boys, whose SBP adjusted for weight at 3 and 12 months was higher than those not exposed. Change in SBP over the first year was greater in boys than girls while the change in girls was greater in those exposed to maternal malaria than those not exposed (18.7 vs 12.7 mmHg, 95% CI 1-11, p=0.02). 11% of boys ( > twice expected) had BP >95th percentile (hypertensive, US criteria) of whom 68% had maternal malaria exposure. Gender, maternal malaria exposure and weight change were all independently associated with increased change in BP to 1 year. Conclusion: Intrauterine exposure to malaria appears not only to have an important impact on birth size but also gender-dependent effects on growth and changes in infant BP. These findings have potential implications for cardiovascular health in sub-Saharan Africa and may contribute to the global burden of hypertension.

Thesis (M.S.)--Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 2005. / Typescript (photocopy).

Les maladies cardio-vasculaires (MCV), telles que l’hypertension et l’athérosclérose, s’accompagnent de modifications structurales et fonctionnelles au niveau vasculaire. Un fonctionnement aberrant de la migration, l’hypertrophie et la prolifération des cellules musculaires lisses vasculaires (CMLV) sont des évènements cellulaires à l’origine de ces changements. L’endothéline-1 (ET-1) contribue à la pathogénèse des anomalies vasculaires, notamment via l’activation des protéines MAPK et PI3-K/PKB, des composantes clés impliquées dans les voies prolifératives et de croissance cellulaires. Il a été suggéré que le stress oxydant jouerait un rôle intermédiaire dans les effets pathophysiologiques vasculaires de l’ET-1. En conséquence, une modulation de la signalisation induite par l’ET-1 peut servir comme éventuelle stratégie thérapeutique contre le développement des MCV. Il apparaît de nos jours un regain d’intérêt dans l’utilisation des agents phyto-chimiques pour traiter plusieurs maladies. La curcumine, constituant essentiel de l’épice curcuma, est dotée de plusieurs propriétés biologiques parmi lesquelles des propriétés anti-oxydantes, anti-prolifératrices et cardio-protectrices. Cependant, les mécanismes moléculaires de son effet cardio-protecteur demeurent obscurs. Dans cette optique, l’objectif de cette étude a été d’examiner l’efficacité de la curcumine à inhiber la signalisation induite par l’ET-1 dans les CMLV. La curcumine a inhibé la phosphorylation des protéines IGF-1R, PKB, c-Raf et ERK1/2, induite par l’ET-1 et l’IGF-1. De plus, la curcumine a inhibé l’expression du facteur de transcription Egr-1 induite par l’ET-1 et l’IGF-1, dans les CMLV. Ces résultats suggèrent que la capacité de la curcumine à atténuer ces voies de signalisation serait un mécanisme d’action potentiel de ses effets protecteurs au niveau cardiovasculaire. / Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including hypertension and atherosclerosis, are associated with vascular functional and structural changes. Some of the cellular events underlying these processes include aberrant vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation, hypertrophy and migration. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of vascular abnormalities through the hyperactivation of key components of growth promoting and proliferative signaling pathways, including MAPKs and PI3-K/PKB. Vascular oxidative stress has also been suggested to play an intermediary role in mediating ET-1-induced pathophysiological effects. Interference with ET-1-induced signaling may therefore serve as a potential therapeutic strategy against the progression of cardiovascular disorders. There is presently a surge of interest in the use of plant-derived phytochemicals for the treatment of various diseases. Curcumin, the main constituent of the spice turmeric, exhibits multiple biological properties, amongst them, antioxidant, anti-proliferative and cardioprotective properties. However, the molecular mechanisms of its cardiovascular protective action remain obscure. Therefore, in the present studies, we investigated the effectiveness of curcumin to inhibit ET-1-induced signaling events in VSMC. Curcumin inhibited ET-1-induced as well as IGF-1-induced phosphorylation of IGF-1R, PKB, c-Raf and ERK1/2, in VSMC. Furthermore, curcumin inhibited the expression of transcription factor early growth response-1 (Egr-1) induced by ET-1 and IGF-1, in VSMC. In summary, these results demonstrate that curcumin is a potent inhibitor of ET-1 and IGF-1-induced mitogenic and proliferative signaling events in VSMC, suggesting that the ability of curcumin to attenuate these effects may contribute as potential mechanism for its cardiovascular protective response.

Les maladies cardio-vasculaires (MCV), telles que l’hypertension et l’athérosclérose, s’accompagnent de modifications structurales et fonctionnelles au niveau vasculaire. Un fonctionnement aberrant de la migration, l’hypertrophie et la prolifération des cellules musculaires lisses vasculaires (CMLV) sont des évènements cellulaires à l’origine de ces changements. L’endothéline-1 (ET-1) contribue à la pathogénèse des anomalies vasculaires, notamment via l’activation des protéines MAPK et PI3-K/PKB, des composantes clés impliquées dans les voies prolifératives et de croissance cellulaires. Il a été suggéré que le stress oxydant jouerait un rôle intermédiaire dans les effets pathophysiologiques vasculaires de l’ET-1. En conséquence, une modulation de la signalisation induite par l’ET-1 peut servir comme éventuelle stratégie thérapeutique contre le développement des MCV. Il apparaît de nos jours un regain d’intérêt dans l’utilisation des agents phyto-chimiques pour traiter plusieurs maladies. La curcumine, constituant essentiel de l’épice curcuma, est dotée de plusieurs propriétés biologiques parmi lesquelles des propriétés anti-oxydantes, anti-prolifératrices et cardio-protectrices. Cependant, les mécanismes moléculaires de son effet cardio-protecteur demeurent obscurs. Dans cette optique, l’objectif de cette étude a été d’examiner l’efficacité de la curcumine à inhiber la signalisation induite par l’ET-1 dans les CMLV. La curcumine a inhibé la phosphorylation des protéines IGF-1R, PKB, c-Raf et ERK1/2, induite par l’ET-1 et l’IGF-1. De plus, la curcumine a inhibé l’expression du facteur de transcription Egr-1 induite par l’ET-1 et l’IGF-1, dans les CMLV. Ces résultats suggèrent que la capacité de la curcumine à atténuer ces voies de signalisation serait un mécanisme d’action potentiel de ses effets protecteurs au niveau cardiovasculaire. / Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including hypertension and atherosclerosis, are associated with vascular functional and structural changes. Some of the cellular events underlying these processes include aberrant vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation, hypertrophy and migration. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of vascular abnormalities through the hyperactivation of key components of growth promoting and proliferative signaling pathways, including MAPKs and PI3-K/PKB. Vascular oxidative stress has also been suggested to play an intermediary role in mediating ET-1-induced pathophysiological effects. Interference with ET-1-induced signaling may therefore serve as a potential therapeutic strategy against the progression of cardiovascular disorders. There is presently a surge of interest in the use of plant-derived phytochemicals for the treatment of various diseases. Curcumin, the main constituent of the spice turmeric, exhibits multiple biological properties, amongst them, antioxidant, anti-proliferative and cardioprotective properties. However, the molecular mechanisms of its cardiovascular protective action remain obscure. Therefore, in the present studies, we investigated the effectiveness of curcumin to inhibit ET-1-induced signaling events in VSMC. Curcumin inhibited ET-1-induced as well as IGF-1-induced phosphorylation of IGF-1R, PKB, c-Raf and ERK1/2, in VSMC. Furthermore, curcumin inhibited the expression of transcription factor early growth response-1 (Egr-1) induced by ET-1 and IGF-1, in VSMC. In summary, these results demonstrate that curcumin is a potent inhibitor of ET-1 and IGF-1-induced mitogenic and proliferative signaling events in VSMC, suggesting that the ability of curcumin to attenuate these effects may contribute as potential mechanism for its cardiovascular protective response.

No description available.