PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

F Nogueira

Publications and source records attributed to F Nogueira.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

A novel system for large-scale gene expression analysis: bacterial colonies array.

In the present work, we report the use of bacterial colonies to optimize macroarray technique. The devised system is significantly cheaper than other methods available to detect large-scale differential gene expression. Recombinant Escherichia coli clones containing plasmid-encoded copies of 4,608 individual expressed sequence tag (ESTs) were robotically spotted onto nylon membranes that were incubated for 6 and 12 h to allow the bacteria to grow and, consequently, amplify the cloned ESTs. The membranes were then hybridized with a beta-lactamase gene specific probe from the recombinant plasmid and, subsequently, phosphorimaged to quantify the microbial cells. Variance analysis demonstrated that the spot hybridization signal intensity was similar for 3,954 ESTs (85.8%) after 6 h of bacterial growth. Membranes spotted with bacteria colonies grown for 12 h had 4,017 ESTs (87.2%) with comparable signal intensity but the signal to noise ratio was fivefold higher. Taken together, the results of this study indicate that it is possible to investigate large-scale gene expression using macroarrays based on bacterial colonies grown for 6 h onto membranes.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2005

Flooded native pastures of the northern region of the Pantanal of Mato Grosso: biomass and primary productivity variations.

The Pantanal comprises a number of landscape units, submitted to a flood pulse with variable intensity or regularity. One of these units, the flooded plains, is important in cattle raising. This study was carried out in the northern portion of the Pantanal and presents data related to the productive dynamics of the flooded native pastures both protected from and exposed to cattle. The greatest total biomass values were for the protected pasture due to accumulated dead biomass. Net primary production presented smaller values at the flood-season start and increasing gradually beginning in the subsequent rainy season. However, consumption by cattle was also more intense during the months of greater precipitation. The effect of cattle in pastures is of fundamental importance to management since it prevents the dead biomass excess that increases fire risks.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed2003

Maternal psychological stress and distress as predictors of low birth weight, prematurity and intrauterine growth retardation.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate: (1) the associations between maternal psychological stress, distress and low birth weight (LBW), prematurity and intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR); (2) the interactions between maternal stress, distress and smoking, alcohol and coffee intake; (3) the prevalences of stress and distress in pregnancy. DESIGN: Longitudinal cohort study. SETTING: Jundiaí city, São Paulo state, Brazil. SUBJECTS: A total of 865 pregnant women who attended antenatal care between September 1997 and August 2000. METHODS: Measures of stress and distress were obtained, by interview, three times in pregnancy: at a gestational age (GA) lower than 16 weeks, from 20 to 26 weeks and from 30 to 36 weeks. Stress was investigated by the perceived stress scale, PSS, and distress by both the general health questionnaire, GHQ, and the State Trait Anxiety inventories, STAI. The outcomes were: LBW (birth weight <2500 g), prematurity (gestational age (GA) at birth <37 weeks) and IUGR (birth weight for GA <or=10th percentile of William's curve). The associations between the outcomes and the psychological measures were assessed in multiple logistic regression models. RESULTS: Maternal distress was associated with LBW (RR=1.97, P=0.019) and prematurity (RR=2.32, P=0.015), respectively. There was an interaction between distress and smoking in the second interview (P=0.05). The prevalences of stress and distress in the different interviews of pregnancy varied from 22.1 to 52.9%. CONCLUSIONS: The present study has confirmed that distress is associated with both birthweight and GA. Further research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of psychological interventions that can improve maternal and foetal well-being.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Geostatistics as a tool to improve sampling and statistical analysis in wetlands: a case study on dynamics of organic matter distribution in the Pantanal of Mato Grosso, Brazil.

The Pantanal of Mato Grosso presents distinct landscape units: permanently, occasionally and periodically flooded areas. In the last ones, sampling is especially difficult due to the high heterogeneity occurring inter and intrastratas. This paper presents a comparison of different methodological approaches showing that they can influence decisively the knowledge of distribution organic matter dynamics. In such an area in order to understand the role of the flood pulse in the distribution dynamics of organic matter in a wetland at the Pantanal, we considered that there is spatial dependence between points. This consideration contradicts the classical statistic principle that focuses on the aleatority, and allowed the obtainment of a larger volume of information from a minor sampling effort, which means better performance, with time and money economy.

Brazil↗
PubMed2001

The value of the Ecological Station of Jataí's ecosystem services and natural capital.

The capacity of a given natural ecosystem to provide certain goods and services that satisfy human needs depends on its environmental characteristics (natural processes and components). It was described the availability of these goods and services (environmental functions) controlled and sustained by ecological processes operating in Ecological Station of Jataí (Luiz Antônio, SP). The environmental functions identified were grouped in four main categories. To make environmental values an integrated factor in planning and decision making it was assessed their socio-economic importance in qualitative terms and, if possible their monetary value. The combined potential annual return from identified functions of Ecological Station of Jataí is at least US$ 708.83/ha/year. In comparison to calculations made for other natural ecosystems this is a rather moderate estimate. The Ecological Station of Jataí is poorly protected and managed, it too is still threatened by human activity (agriculture) and many development plans. Although present day market economics do not recognize the monetary value of most environmental functions, such calculations do provide a revealing insight into the great socio-economic importance of Ecological Station of Jataí. More awareness of these values may provide an important incentive for their preservation and sustainable use.

Brazil↗
PubMed1997

[Total mercury in hair: a contribution to the evaluation of mercury exposure levels in Poconé, Mato Grosso, Brazil]

There are some 60 gold-mining sites in the Bento Gomes River basin (Mato Grosso), at the border of the Mato Grosso Pantanal (Swamp), where mercury is used to agglutinate fine gold particles through amalgamation. During burning of the amalgam to release the gold, mercury vapor is lost to the atmosphere, since closed systems for mercury recovery are not always used. This study shows the results of total mercury analysis in hair from four volunteer groups living in Poconé, Mato Grosso, and presents a general environmental description pertaining to the presence of mercury in water and sediments from the Bento Gomes River. Atomic fluorescence was used for measuring mercury concentrations. The results were lower than for other populations from gold-mining areas in Brazil.

Journal Article↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Detection of atovaquone and Malarone resistance conferring mutations in Plasmodium falciparum cytochrome b gene (cytb).

Clinical treatment failures of the hydroxynaphthoquinone atovaquone or its combination with proguanil (Malarone) in Plasmodium falciparum malaria has been recently documented. These events have been associated to single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the parasite cytochrome b gene (cytb). In this report we describe a set of nest PCR-RFLP methods developed for the fast detection of all known cytb mutations associated to resistance to these drugs. The methods were successfully applied for the analysis of phenol-chloroform extracted DNA samples from patients not cured by Malarone, and from an established parasite clone. Further, the protocol for the detection of the A803C mutation was applied to 164 DNA field samples extracted through crude methanol-based protocols, originated from several malaria settings. The PCR-RFLP methods here presented can be used as a valuable for the clinical detection and study of Malarone and atovaquone P. falciparum resistance.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Malignant localized fibrous tumor of the pleura].

The authors report a case of a localized fibrous tumour of the pleura with huge proportions of 26 x 14 x 12 cm and 1.25 Kgr of weight, in a 56 year old female patient. The tumour occupied practically the inferior 2/3 of the right pulmonary field and had an unusual insertion in the diaphragmatic parietal pleura. It was non pediculous and had histological features of malignancy. The diagnosis of localized fibrous tumour of the pleura was achieved through observation of the sample obtained by fine needle aspiration. The immunohistochemical study subsequently done on the surgical specimen, confirmed the previous diagnosis. The evaluation of malignancy was based ou the following histological criteria: high cellularity, cellular pleomorphism, mitotic activity (more than four mitotic figures per 10 high power fields), hemorrhagic areas and necrosis.

Female↗