Numerous genetic variants displaying stereotypic circling behaviour have been described in rodents. The majority are recessive mutants expressing dopaminergic alterations in the striatum- often with associated vestibular defects. We describe a novel circling mouse (Cr) with intact vestibular function frequently obtained from crosses of non-transgenic wild type mice (WT) and transgenic growth hormone mice (TGM). We have characterized Cr with stereotypic circling, head bobbing, hyperkinesia, aggressiveness, and elevated dopamine when compared to the transgenic growth hormone mouse. The Cr also demonstrates self-mutilating behaviour found in mice with dysregulated striatal dopamine levels. Cr oppositely mirrors most traits of the TGM including alterations in sleep, activity, eating, and drinking. TGM displayed superior performance than WT in novel object recognition, but this decreased with aging. Comparatively, Cr performed poorly in this test. The memory of young TGM exceeded controls, whereas young Cr displayed poorer memory with an age related improvement. In a stepdown test of emotionality, TGM step down more readily, while Cr are more hesitant than WT. TGM and Cr also demonstrate opposite alterations in striatal dopamine. Further analysis demonstrated differential responsiveness of TGM and Cr under dopaminergic drugs, and potentially sexually dimorphic differences in behaviour associated with elevated GH in TGM. TGM are characterized by increased levels of circulating growth hormone and alterations in sleep and activity. We hypothesize that frequent generation of Cr may reflect unintended selection of modifier genes that counterbalance negative consequences of elevated GH in TGM. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

Hypertension has been associated with causing deleterious effects to the cerebrovasculature, which are thought to underlie the formation of white matter lesions (WML) and predispose individuals to age related cognitive decline. In humans hypertension frequently occurs concomitantly with other vascular risk factors making it difficult to ascertain the primary mechanisms of hypertension in isolation. Animal models of hypertension have been used in an aid to establish the mechanisms of hypertension in isolation. To date the knowledge gleaned from animal models has undoubtedly provided an insight as to the role of hypertension and cerebrovasculature remodelling but, these models have limitations such as lack of genetically matched controls and the inability to control the severity of hypertension, restricting the understanding of the underlying mechanisms. All studies within this thesis used the Cyp1a1 Ren2 inducible hypertensive rat model, induced by dietary addition of Indole-3-carbinol (I3C), allowing the severity and duration of hypertension to be tightly controlled and compared to genetically matched controls. This thesis set out to address the hypothesis that sustained hypertension will lead to alterations to the structural integrity of the cerebrovasculature and white matter, which will be exacerbated with age and that hypertension will be associated with alterations to gene expression and cognitive function. Initially this thesis sought to investigate the effect of hypertension on the structural integrity of the vasculature in the Cyp1a1 Ren2 rat model. Firstly, blood pressure in the Cyp1a1 Ren2 rat model was characterised and it was found that the dietary addition of I3C, caused a sustained level of increased blood pressure in all three cohorts. Cerebrovascular alterations were found to consist of increased eNOS expression in the young brain, which progressed with increased duration of hypertension to vascular morphological alterations of decreased vessel width and a redistribution of tight junction protein claudin-5. With age, hypertensive vascular alterations consisted of increased eNOS expression and vascular density. Additionally, there was evidence that hypertension caused a vascular inflammatory response in the young and aged brain. Secondly, this thesis investigated the effect of hypertension on gene expression. Overall it was found that hypertension altered genes related to collagen growth factors, ion channels, eNOS related Map-Kinase pathway and inflammatory genes. Thirdly, this thesis sought to investigate the impact of hypertension on the overall structural integrity of the brain and white matter examining neurons, myelin, oligodendrocytes, axons and microglia, in several regions of the young and aged brain. In general, this study found that hypertension did not cause overt structural or myelin alterations in the majority of regions analysed, with only evidence of myelin alterations occurring within the subcortex of hypertensive animals from each of the young cohorts analysed. However, an adverse subcortical inflammatory response was found in hypertensive animals of the young 6-month cohort and also in hypertensive animals from the aged 4-month cohort, where the inflammatory response was not exclusive to the subcortex of hypertensive animals but also occurred in multiple white matter tracts. Lastly this thesis chose to examine the effect of hypertension on cognitive function, specifically spatial reference and working memory using the Morris water maze and found no evidence of alterations in the cognitive functions examined. Conclusions The results presented within this thesis demonstrated that hypertension in isolation leads to modest alterations to the integrity of the cerebrovasculature and white matter, with no evidence of alterations to specific cognitive functions examined, demonstrating the importance of studying hypertension in isolation. Additionally, this study highlights the initial hypertensive induced alterations to the cerebrovasculature, such as endothelial signalling, vascular structure and inflammation, providing a window for therapeutic intervention at a time point when there are minimal alterations to the overall structural integrity of the brain. Future studies in this model should concentrate on examining different severities of hypertension and also hypertension concomitantly with other vascular risk factors to try and recapitulate pathological alterations found in humans.

The loss and dysfunction of selected populations of synapses is characteristic of mammalian brain ageing and alterations in these receptive compartments are considered to underpin age-related cognitive decline. Discrete neuro-anatomical regions of the cortical architecture harbour disparate populations of synapses that demonstrate significant heterogeneity with regards to advancing age. Of particular interest is the hippocampus, which is selectively vulnerable during ageing. The hippocampal synaptic architecture exhibits subtle structural and biophysical alterations, which are considered to promote the manifestation of cognitive symptoms in aged patients. This notion of “selective synaptic vulnerability” has been the focal point of a multitude of morphological studies investigating age-related cognitive decline, which have often provided tentative conclusions as to how this phenomenon may be regulated. The molecular correlates bolstering the reported age-dependent morphological and functional shift remain elusive and studies are only now beginning to unravel how discrete organelles, proteins and signalling cascades may hierarchically or synergistically attenuate synaptic function. Until there is considerable comprehension of how functional mediators drive the biochemical substrates regulating age-related cognitive decline, there are limited strategic avenues for the development of efficacious therapeutic interventions that promote successful ageing. To address the phenomenon of selective synaptic vulnerability, we have utilised an unbiased combinatorial approach, including quantitative proteomic analyses coupled with in vivo candidate assessments in lower order animals (Drosophila), to temporally profile regional synapse and synaptic mitochondrial biochemistry during normal healthy ageing. We begin by demonstrating that cortical mitochondria located at the synaptic terminal are morphologically distinct from non-synaptic mitochondria in adult rodents and human patients. Biochemical isolation and purification of discrete mitochondrial subpopulations from control adult rat fore-brain enabled generation of synaptic and non-synaptic mitochondrial molecular fingerprints using quantitative proteomics, which revealed that expression of the mitochondrial proteome is highly dependent on subcellular localisation. We subsequently demonstrate that the molecular differences observed between mitochondrial sub-populations are capable of selectively influencing synaptic morphology in-vivo. Next, we sought to examine how the synaptic mitochondrial proteome was dynamically and temporally regulated throughout ageing to determine whether protein expression changes within the mitochondrial milieu are actively regulating the age-dependent vulnerability of the synaptic compartment. Proteomic profiling of wild-type mouse cortical synaptic and non-synaptic mitochondria across the lifespan revealed significant age-dependent heterogeneity between mitochondrial subpopulations, with aged organelles exhibiting unique protein expression profiles. Recapitulation of aged synaptic mitochondrial protein expression at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction has the propensity to perturb the synaptic architecture, demonstrating that temporal regulation of the mitochondrial proteome may directly modulate the stability of the synapse in vivo. Although we had comprehensively characterised the temporal regulation of rodent cortical mitochondrial subpopulations, providing a number of novel candidates that may be mediating synaptic vulnerability during ageing, we sought to establish whether similar alterations were occurring in the primate brain. Using synaptic isolates from neuroanatomically distinct age-resistant (occipital cortex) and age-vulnerable (hippocampus) regions, we demonstrate that synaptic ageing is brainregion dependent and that discrete populations of synapses significantly differ at a biochemical level in the healthy human and non-human primate brain. Recapitulation of aged hippocampal protein expression with genetic manipulation in vivo revealed numerous novel candidates that have the propensity to significantly modulate multiple morphological parameters at the synapse. Furthermore, we demonstrate that several of these candidates sit downstream of TGFβ1 and activation of the TGFβ1 signalling cascade in hippocampal synaptic populations drives the aberrant expression of selected candidates during ageing. Finally, we show that selective pharmacological inhibition of this pathway rescues synaptic phenotypes in multiple candidate lines. The data affirmed that activation of the TGFβ1 transduction pathway modulates synaptic stability and thus may contribute to the selective vulnerability of hippocampal synapses during ageing.

Orientador: Luiz Antônio de Lima Resende / Banca: Luiz Antônio de Lima Resende / Banca: Pasqual Barretti / Banca: Heloisa Almeida de Lima Castro / Resumo: Este trabalho analisa alterações odontológicas em pacientes com insuficiência renal crônica, em programa de hemodiálise. As alterações odontológicas estudadas foram índice de dentes cariados, perdidos e obturados (CPOD), presença ou ausência de doença periodontal, número de desdentados totais e parciais. Os pacientes foram submetidos a exame neurológico dos nervos cranianos. Foi determinado o pH da saliva antes e após diálise. Dentre os 44 pacientes estudados, foram encontrados 23 desdentados totais, 7 desdentados parciais e 14 dentados. Vários apresentaram cáries, sem diferenças estatisticamente significativas em relação ao grupo controle; 7 pacientes apresentaram doença periodontal. Alterações de nervos cranianos foram encontradas em 36 pacientes. Os nervos cranianos mais freqüentemente acometidos foram VIII - vestíbulo-coclear, II - óptico e V - trigêmio. Alterações trigeminais foram encontradas em 20 pacientes. É provável que as alterações trigeminais aferentes estejam relacionadas com as perdas dentárias, na insuficiência renal crônica. / Abstract: This paper analyzes odontological alterations in hemodialysis patients with chronic renal failure. Odontological alterations were: index of decayed, lost, or filled teeth (DLFT); presence or absence of periodontal disease; and totally and partially toothless. Patients were submitted to neurological examination of the cranial nerves. Saliva pH was recorded before and after dialysis. Out of 44 patients, 23 were totally toothless, 7 partially toothless, and 14 dentate. Several had decay, but this was not statistically significant to controls; 7 had periodontal disease. Cranial nerve alterations were found in 36 patients. The most frequently compromised nerves were the VIII - vestibulocochlear, II - optic, and V - trigeminal. Trigeminal alterations were found in 20 patients. Probably afferent trigeminal alterations are related to tooth loss in chronic renal failure. / Mestre

The practice of altering Shakespeare's plays, begun during the Restoration and continued throughout the eighteenth century and well into the nineteenth, originated in continuously evolving literary and dramatic principles that went much deeper than the capricious whims of individual dramatists. Thus, each Shakespearean alterations in, perhaps, a century's time, a comparative study can provide some insight into the changing rules of dramatic valuation in the eighteenth century. Such a study is the purpose of this work, in which are examined the Shakespearean alterations of John Phillip Kemble. The sheer breadth of Kembles Shakespearean repertoire, his reputation among contemporary Shakespeare scholars and his renown for a quarter of a century as England's foremost Shakespearean dramatist and actor at both Drury Lane and Covent Garden all serve to emphasize the validity of such an undertaking.

The present experiments were designed to evaluate the effects of pifithrin-α (PFT-α), which is a p53 inhibitor, on doxorubicin (DOX)-induced apoptosis and cardiac injury. Administration of DOX (22.5 mg/kg ip) in mice upregulated the mRNA levels of Bax and MDM2, whereas PFT-α attenuated those levels when administered at a total dose of 4.4 mg/kg at 30 min before and 3 h after DOX challenge. DOX treatment led to an upregulation of p53 protein levels, which was preceded by elevated levels of phosphorylated p53 at Ser15. PFT-α had no effect on the level of p53 or its phosphorylated form. The protein levels of Bax and MDM2 were elevated by DOX and attenuated by PFT-α. DOX gave rise to increased apoptosis-positive nuclei in cardiac cells, elevated serum creatine phosphokinase, ultrastructural alterations, and cardiac dysfunction. PFT-α offered protection against all of the aforementioned changes. Finally, PFT-α did not interfere with the antitumor potency of DOX. This study demonstrates that PFT-α effectively inhibits DOX-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis, which suggests that PFT-α has the potential to protect cancer patients against DOX-induced cardiac injury.

A Distrofia Muscular de Duchenne (DMD) é uma doença de origem genética de caráter recessivo, ligada ao cromossomo X, caracterizada pela ausência da proteína distrofina. Com a evolução do quadro do paciente com DMD, algumas alterações sistêmicas se fazem presentes, entre elas: insuficiência respiratória, cardiopatias, osteoporose e hipertensão arterial, os dois últimos associados ao uso de corticóides utilizados para o tratamento da DMD. Este estudo teve como objetivo identificar as principais alterações sistêmicas e orais dos pacientes com DMD para assim adequar o manejo odontológico destes pacientes. Foram avaliados trinta pacientes com diagnóstico médico de DMD atendidos no Centro de Atendimento a Pacientes Especiais (CAPE) da Faculdade de Odontologia da Universidade de São Paulo (FOUSP). Na primeira etapa foi aplicado um questionário em que foram realizadas perguntas sobre dados demográficos, dados sobre o desenvolvimento, alterações sistêmicas, história odontológica e as medicações utilizadas pelos pacientes. A segunda etapa constou de um exame físico detalhado, onde foram coletados os seguintes índices CPOD, ICP, IP, além da presença e tipo de maloclusões. Obtivemos os seguintes resultados: 20 pacientes (66,67%) apresentam algum tipo de cardiopatia, 56% dos pacientes apresentavam insuficiência respiratória, 11 pacientes (36,67%) apresentaram alguma alteração gastrointestinal. A maioria dos pacientes utilizava antihipertensivos e glicocorticóides. Quanto às alterações orais, a maioria dos pacientes apresentava oclusão de classe III de Angle, 24 pacientes (80%) tinham mordida cruzada, 19 pacientes (63,33%) tinham mordida aberta, 22 (23,33%) pacientes tinham cálculo independente da quantidade, o índice de CPOD/CEO médio foi de 7,37, o índice de biofilme teve uma média de 76,83% e 7 pacientes (23,33%) apresentaram periodontite grave. A análise estatística mostrou relação estatística (p= 0,032) entre as variáveis responsável pela higiene oral e a presença de cálculo dental, e entre as variáveis CPOD e tipo de utensílio utilizado para a higiene bucal (p= 0,005). Concluímos que a maioria dos pacientes com DMD apresenta alterações sistêmicas que interferem no tratamento odontológico, sendo as principais as cardiopatias e insuficiência respiratória e a osteoporose; devendo o cirurgião-dentista avaliar a necessidade de uso de anestésico local sem vasoconstritor adrenérgico e profilaxia antibiótica; e a possibilidade de ocorrência de osteonecrose dos maxilares. Os pacientes com DMD apresentaram pobre saúde bucal, caracterizada por altos índices de biofilme, e de CPOD, cálculo dentário e periodontite moderada e grave. A maioria dos pacientes com DMD apresentou maloclusão, caracterizada, principalmente por oclusão de Angle classe III e mordida cruzada posterior. / Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is a X- linked recessive genetic disorder, characterized by absence of dystrophin. The evolution of the disease carries out some systemic alterations such as respiratory failure, heart disease, osteoporosis and hypertension. Osteoporosis and hypertension are side effects of the systemic treatment of DMD performed with corticosteroids. The aim of this study was to identify the main systemic and oral alterations in DMD patients and discuss the dental management of them. Thirty patients with a medical diagnosis of DMD attending to the Special Care Dentistry Center (CAPE), School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo (FOUSP) were evaluated A questionnaire was filled out with demographic and development data, systemic alterations, dental history and drugs in use by patients. The second phase consisted of a detailed physical examination, where we observed the following items: DMFT, PCI, IP, and the presence and type of malocclusion. Results: 20 patients (66.67%) have some form of heart disease, 56% of patients had respiratory insufficiency, 11 patients (36.67%) showed some gastrointestinal alterations. Most patients used antihypertensive drugs and glucocorticoids. As oral alterations, the majority of patients presented an Angle class III occlusion, 24 patients (80%) had cross-bite, 19 patients (63.33%) had an open bite, 22 (23.33%) patients presented calculus, average DMFT/DEF index was 7.37, the average rate of biofilm was 76.83%, and 7 patients (23.33%) presented severe periodontitis. Statistical analysis showed a statistical relationship (p = 0.032) between the variables responsible for oral hygiene and the presence of calculus, and between the variables DMFT and type of utensil used for oral hygiene (p = 0.005). We conclude that the majority of patients with DMD have systemic alterations that interfere in dental treatment, such as heart diseases, respiratory failure and osteoporosis. The dentist should evaluate the use of local anesthetic without adrenergic vasoconstrictor and antibiotic prophylaxis; and the possibility of development of osteonecrosis of the jaws. Patients with DMD had poor oral health, characterized by high level of biofilm indices and DMFT, dental calculus and moderate to severe periodontitis. The majority of patients with DMD had malocclusion, characterized mainly by Angle class III occlusion and crossbite.

A Distrofia Muscular de Duchenne (DMD) é uma doença de origem genética de caráter recessivo, ligada ao cromossomo X, caracterizada pela ausência da proteína distrofina. Com a evolução do quadro do paciente com DMD, algumas alterações sistêmicas se fazem presentes, entre elas: insuficiência respiratória, cardiopatias, osteoporose e hipertensão arterial, os dois últimos associados ao uso de corticóides utilizados para o tratamento da DMD. Este estudo teve como objetivo identificar as principais alterações sistêmicas e orais dos pacientes com DMD para assim adequar o manejo odontológico destes pacientes. Foram avaliados trinta pacientes com diagnóstico médico de DMD atendidos no Centro de Atendimento a Pacientes Especiais (CAPE) da Faculdade de Odontologia da Universidade de São Paulo (FOUSP). Na primeira etapa foi aplicado um questionário em que foram realizadas perguntas sobre dados demográficos, dados sobre o desenvolvimento, alterações sistêmicas, história odontológica e as medicações utilizadas pelos pacientes. A segunda etapa constou de um exame físico detalhado, onde foram coletados os seguintes índices CPOD, ICP, IP, além da presença e tipo de maloclusões. Obtivemos os seguintes resultados: 20 pacientes (66,67%) apresentam algum tipo de cardiopatia, 56% dos pacientes apresentavam insuficiência respiratória, 11 pacientes (36,67%) apresentaram alguma alteração gastrointestinal. A maioria dos pacientes utilizava antihipertensivos e glicocorticóides. Quanto às alterações orais, a maioria dos pacientes apresentava oclusão de classe III de Angle, 24 pacientes (80%) tinham mordida cruzada, 19 pacientes (63,33%) tinham mordida aberta, 22 (23,33%) pacientes tinham cálculo independente da quantidade, o índice de CPOD/CEO médio foi de 7,37, o índice de biofilme teve uma média de 76,83% e 7 pacientes (23,33%) apresentaram periodontite grave. A análise estatística mostrou relação estatística (p= 0,032) entre as variáveis responsável pela higiene oral e a presença de cálculo dental, e entre as variáveis CPOD e tipo de utensílio utilizado para a higiene bucal (p= 0,005). Concluímos que a maioria dos pacientes com DMD apresenta alterações sistêmicas que interferem no tratamento odontológico, sendo as principais as cardiopatias e insuficiência respiratória e a osteoporose; devendo o cirurgião-dentista avaliar a necessidade de uso de anestésico local sem vasoconstritor adrenérgico e profilaxia antibiótica; e a possibilidade de ocorrência de osteonecrose dos maxilares. Os pacientes com DMD apresentaram pobre saúde bucal, caracterizada por altos índices de biofilme, e de CPOD, cálculo dentário e periodontite moderada e grave. A maioria dos pacientes com DMD apresentou maloclusão, caracterizada, principalmente por oclusão de Angle classe III e mordida cruzada posterior. / Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is a X- linked recessive genetic disorder, characterized by absence of dystrophin. The evolution of the disease carries out some systemic alterations such as respiratory failure, heart disease, osteoporosis and hypertension. Osteoporosis and hypertension are side effects of the systemic treatment of DMD performed with corticosteroids. The aim of this study was to identify the main systemic and oral alterations in DMD patients and discuss the dental management of them. Thirty patients with a medical diagnosis of DMD attending to the Special Care Dentistry Center (CAPE), School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo (FOUSP) were evaluated A questionnaire was filled out with demographic and development data, systemic alterations, dental history and drugs in use by patients. The second phase consisted of a detailed physical examination, where we observed the following items: DMFT, PCI, IP, and the presence and type of malocclusion. Results: 20 patients (66.67%) have some form of heart disease, 56% of patients had respiratory insufficiency, 11 patients (36.67%) showed some gastrointestinal alterations. Most patients used antihypertensive drugs and glucocorticoids. As oral alterations, the majority of patients presented an Angle class III occlusion, 24 patients (80%) had cross-bite, 19 patients (63.33%) had an open bite, 22 (23.33%) patients presented calculus, average DMFT/DEF index was 7.37, the average rate of biofilm was 76.83%, and 7 patients (23.33%) presented severe periodontitis. Statistical analysis showed a statistical relationship (p = 0.032) between the variables responsible for oral hygiene and the presence of calculus, and between the variables DMFT and type of utensil used for oral hygiene (p = 0.005). We conclude that the majority of patients with DMD have systemic alterations that interfere in dental treatment, such as heart diseases, respiratory failure and osteoporosis. The dentist should evaluate the use of local anesthetic without adrenergic vasoconstrictor and antibiotic prophylaxis; and the possibility of development of osteonecrosis of the jaws. Patients with DMD had poor oral health, characterized by high level of biofilm indices and DMFT, dental calculus and moderate to severe periodontitis. The majority of patients with DMD had malocclusion, characterized mainly by Angle class III occlusion and crossbite.

No description available.

The laminin-binding integrin (LBI) family are cell adhesion molecules that are essential for invasion and metastasis of human epithelial cancers and cell adhesion mediated drug resistance. We investigated whether copy number alteration (CNA) or mutations of a five-gene signature (ITGB4, ITGA3, LAMB3, PLEC, and SYNE3), representing essential genes for LBI adhesion, would correlate with patient outcomes within human epithelial-type tumor data sets currently available in an open access format.