Evaluation of burn blister fluid

Although edema is evident immediately after a burn, the diffusion of nutrient chemical constituents of the body is not impaired. Blister fluid, not unlike plasma or serum, contained all substances found in the body, including parenterally administered penicillin. The elevation of potassium and the cation to anion imbalance is primarily due to the Na/K cellular pump malfunction, and the destruction of the permeability of the cell membrane is most likely a direct result of complement and other cellular enzymes, which include the prostaglandins and thromboxanes. The elevated SGOT, CPK, and LDH indicated severe trauma to the cells in the immediate area of burn and possibly to the skeletal muscle. The presence of immunoglobulins indicated that high-molecular-weight proteins diffuse equally well during this edematous phase (IgM, 900,000; IgG, 190,000). Evidence of this nature strongly suggests that the integrity of the burn blister by maintained.     

Visual Evoked Cortical Potential (VECP) Elicited by Sinusoidal Gratings Controlled by Pseudo-Random Stimulation

The contributions of contrast detection mechanisms to the visual cortical evoked potential (VECP) have been investigated studying the contrast-response and spatial frequency-response functions. Previously, the use of m-sequences for stimulus control has been almost restricted to multifocal electrophysiology stimulation and, in some aspects, it substantially differs from conventional VECPs. Single stimulation with spatial contrast temporally controlled by m-sequences has not been extensively tested or compared to multifocal techniques. Our purpose was to evaluate the influence of spatial frequency and contrast of sinusoidal gratings on the VECP elicited by pseudo-random stimulation. Nine normal subjects were stimulated by achromatic sinusoidal gratings driven by pseudo random binary m-sequence at seven spatial frequencies (0.4–10 cpd) and three stimulus sizes (4°, 8°, and 16° of visual angle). At 8° subtence, six contrast levels were used (3.12–99%). The first order kernel (K1) did not provide a consistent measurable signal across spatial frequencies and contrasts that were tested–signal was very small or absent–while the second order kernel first (K2.1) and second (K2.2) slices exhibited reliable responses for the stimulus range. The main differences between results obtained with the K2.1 and K2.2 were in the contrast gain as measured in the amplitude versus contrast and amplitude versus spatial frequency functions. The results indicated that K2.1 was dominated by M-pathway, but for some stimulus condition some P-pathway contribution could be found, while the second slice reflected the P-pathway contribution. The present work extended previous findings of the visual pathways contribution to VECP elicited by pseudorandom stimulation for a wider range of spatial frequencies.     

Cultivable fungi present in deep-sea sediments of Antarctica: taxonomy,diversity, and bioprospecting of bioactive compounds

Extremophiles - We accessed the culturable mycobiota present in marine sediments at different depths in Antarctica Ocean. Acremonium fusidioides, Penicillium allii-sativi, Penicillium chrysogenum,...     

Interplay between the RNA binding‐protein Musashi and developmental signaling pathways

Musashi comprises an evolutionarily conserved family of RNA‐binding proteins (RBP) that regulate cell fate decisions during embryonic development and play key roles in the maintenance of self‐renewal and differentiation of stem cells and adult tissues. More recently, several studies have shown that any dysregulation of MSI1 and MSI2 can lead to cellular dysfunctions promoting tissue instability and tumorigenesis. Moreover, several reports have characterized many molecular interactions between members of the Musashi family with ligands and receptors of the signaling pathways responsible for controlling normal embryonic development: Notch, Transforming Growth Factor Beta (TGF‐β), Wingless (Wnt) and Hedgehog Signaling (Hh); all of which, when altered, are strongly associated with cancer onset and progression, especially in pediatric tumors. In this context, the present review aims to compile possible cross‐talks between Musashi proteins and members of the above cited molecular pathways for which dysregulation plays important roles during carcinogenesis and may be modulated by these RBP.