Universidade Estadual de Londrina

About: Universidade Estadual de Londrina is a education organization based out in Londrina, Brazil. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Toxoplasma gondii. The organization has 13052 authors who have published 19291 publications receiving 212123 citations.

O método da análise documental: seu uso numa pesquisa historiográfica

Abstract: Com o intuito de contribuir para a utilizacao de analise documental em pesquisa, este texto apresenta o processo de uma investigacao que objetivou compreender as relacoes entre psicologia e educacao, no contexto socio-historico brasileiro, entre as decadas de 50 e 80. Partindo de uma autora cuja relevância na historia recente se deve, especialmente, a criacao de uma proposta de alfabetizacao, o Programa Alfa, foram pesquisadas as interseccoes entre producao teorica da psicologia e atividade pratica em educacao. Sao descritos os instrumentos e meios de realizacao da analise de conteudo, apontando o percurso em que as decisoes foram sendo tomadas quanto as tecnicas de manuseio dos documentos: desde a organizacao e classificacao do material ate a elaboracao das categorias de analise. A perspectiva historiografica adotada nesse estudo procurou superar a dicotomia entre as abordagens internalista e externalista da historia das ciencias, propiciando compreender o âmbito socio-historico em que se constituiu a referida producao cientifica.

Molecular markers for breast cancer: prediction on tumor behavior.

Abstract: Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers with greater than 1,300,000 cases and 450,000 deaths each year worldwide. The development of breast cancer involves a progression through intermediate stages until the invasive carcinoma and finally into metastatic disease. Given the variability in clinical progression, the identification of markers that could predict the tumor behavior is particularly important in breast cancer. The determination of tumor markers is a useful tool for clinical management in cancer patients, assisting in diagnostic, staging, evaluation of therapeutic response, detection of recurrence and metastasis, and development of new treatment modalities. In this context, this review aims to discuss the main tumor markers in breast carcinogenesis. The most well-established breast molecular markers with prognostic and/or therapeutic value like hormone receptors, HER-2 oncogene, Ki-67, and p53 proteins, and the genes for hereditary breast cancer will be presented. Furthermore, this review shows the new molecular targets in breast cancer: CXCR4, caveolin, miRNA, and FOXP3, as promising candidates for future development of effective and targeted therapies, also with lower toxicity.

Neotropical freshwater fishes imperilled by unsustainable policies

Abstract: Neotropical freshwater fishes are the most diverse on the planet (>5,500 species), although nations in Latin America have been negligent regarding their conservation National policies have historically encouraged unsustainable practices, and recent decades have witnessed a sharp increase in harmful activities Our aim with this review was to expose this situation and illustrate how national policies constitute the main threat to freshwater fish biodiversity We explain that the most devastating, pervasive and systemic threats are rooted in official policies, particularly unsustainable activities (eg hydropower, water diversion, mining, aquaculture, agriculture and fishing), poor management/conservation (eg fish stocking and passages) and harmful legislation (eg poor licensing, non-native species) We provide a broad portrait of the Neotropical scenario, where unsustainable policies have caused considerable damage to freshwater ecosystems, and focus on major examples from Brazil, where development projects have caused large-scale losses to fish biodiversity Such modus operandi of human development is incompatible with the persistence of biodiversity, and no simple solution is available to correct or minimize its effects The current situation demands a profound behavioural shift towards better practices and policies, or these multiple high-impact activities will continue eroding freshwater fish biodiversity and impairing essential ecosystem services

IL-17 mediates articular hypernociception in antigen-induced arthritis in mice.

Abstract: IL-17 is an important cytokine in the physiopathology of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, its participation in the genesis of nociception during RA remains undetermined. In this study, we evaluated the role of IL-17 in the genesis of articular nociception in a model of antigen (mBSA)-induced arthritis. We found that mBSA challenge in the femur-tibial joint of immunized mice induced a dose- and time-dependent mechanical hypernociception. The local IL-17 concentration within the mBSA-injected joints increased significantly over time. Moreover, co-treatment of mBSA challenged mice with an antibody against IL-17 inhibited hypernociception and neutrophil recruitment. In agreement, intraarticular injection of IL-17 induced hypernociception and neutrophil migration, which were reduced by the pre-treatment with fucoidin, a leukocyte adhesion inhibitor. The hypernociceptive effect of IL-17 was also reduced in TNFR1(-/-) mice and by pre-treatment with infliximab (anti-TNF antibody), a CXCR1/2 antagonist or by an IL-1 receptor antagonist. Consistent with these findings, we found that IL-17 injection into joints increased the production of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and CXCL1/KC. Treatment with doxycycline (non-specific MMPs inhibitor), bosentan (ET(A)/ET(B) antagonist), indomethacin (COX inhibitor) or guanethidine (sympathetic blocker) inhibited IL-17-induced hypernociception. IL-17 injection also increased PGE(2) production, MMP-9 activity and COX-2, MMP-9 and PPET-1 mRNA expression in synovial membrane. These results suggest that IL-17 is a novel pro-nociceptive cytokine in mBSA-induced arthritis, whose effect depends on both neutrophil migration and various pro-inflammatory mediators, as TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, CXCR1/2 chemokines ligands, MMPs, endothelins, prostaglandins and sympathetic amines. Therefore, it is reasonable to propose IL-17 targeting therapies to control this important RA symptom.