This paper presents the first pedoanthracological study carried out on two mountains of the Northern Apennines, Monte Cimone, and Corno alle Scale, where the results provided new palaeoenvironmental ...data. The pedoantracological sampling followed an elevation gradient from the current timberline to the highest possible elevation, also adapted to the geomorphological characteristics of the study areas. Based on radiocarbon datings (16 at Monte Cimone and 9 at Corno alle Scale), the soil charcoal fragments provided data about the vegetation dynamics and plant landscape reconstruction, primarily indicating the Late Holocene. The landscape over the last 3000 years appears very similar to the current one with very small altitudinal variations of the timberline and treeline. The present study shows a lack of radiocarbon dates for the Middle Holocene and two hypotheses are discussed to explain this finding. Data suggest that past fires were locally linked to periods of climate optimum and possibly with the management of natural resources (especially animal grazing) by human societies. Some questions concerning the absence of Abies alba, today only present as plantation and normally associated with Fagus sylvatica at these latitudes, are discussed.
Modena, founded by the Romans (183 BC), has always been conditioned by water in all its urban history. In the city, numerous archaeobotanical investigations have been carried out in order to ...reconstruct the natural landscape and human–environment interactions over time. During these investigations, four archaeological sites (two Roman and two medieval) have revealed deposits with a marked character of palaeobiocoenosis, largely resulting from the natural environment surrounding the sites, due to natural “seed rain”. These deposits are characterized by widespread evidence of plants related to water, constituting a valuable archive to investigate habitats which currently have become very rare and threatened, if they have not completely disappeared. The present paper aims to reveal the peculiarities of the Roman/medieval archaeocarpological floristic lists (through a comparison with the flora over the last two centuries in the area of Modena) and highlight the possible causes explaining the presence or the demise of several taxa , considering also the palaeoecological reconstruction of the environment in which they have been found.
La recherche de doctorat ici présentée porte sur l’histoire et sur l’évolution du paysage végétal montagnard nord-apenninique et de son lien avec les activités anthropiques qui l’ont façonné au fil ...du temps. Notre idée de thèse est née grâce au projet international AGRESPE (réseAu Gestion de Ressources Environnementales passéeS et Patrimonialisation paysagèrE), dirigé par Marie Bal du laboratoire de Géographie GEOLAB UMR/CNRS 6042 de l’Université de Limoges. Le travail de thèse a été mené en cotutelle avec l’Université de Modena et Reggio Emilia (Italie).Le paysage végétal des Apennins du Nord a fait l'objet de nombreuses recherches scientifiques sur le paléo-environnement, représentées surtout par des études polliniques (ex. Cruise 1990a, 1990b ; Lowe, 1992 ; Watson, 1996 ; Vescovi et al, 2010a, 2010a, 2010b ; Branch, 2013), mais il présente encore des lacunes sur les recherches paléoenvironnementales et paléoécologiques de haute résolution spatiale. À cause de facteurs liés aux conditions physiques de la montagne et aux intérêts des chercheurs, la recherche archéologique (notamment celle pastorale) n’est pas très développée par rapport aux études de la plaine (Fontana, 1997 ; Cardarelli et Malnati, 2006 ; Ferrari et al., 2006). Ce manque d'études sur les relations entre les sociétés et leur environnement dans les Apennins nous a donc encouragés à en découvrir davantage. Au sein de ce secteur montagnard nous avons choisi deux montagnes clés : le Monte Cimone et le Corno alle Scale. Faisant partie de deux parc régionaux, ces zones d’étude sont caractérisées par des hêtraies qui, jusqu’au milieu du XXe siècle, ont été gérées en taillis pour la production de bois de chauffage et de charbon. La limite altitudinale de la forêt est plus basse que celle écologique potentielle. Au Monte Cimone elle est localisée à 1700 m, tandis que dans la zone du Corno alle Scale elle est située à environ 1600 m. Au-dessus de la limite forestière il y a des bruyères à myrtille et des prairies qui, à l’instar du passé, sont aujourd’hui destinées au pâturage.
This PhD thesis concerns the reconstruction and the development of the Late Holocene plant landscape of two mountain areas of the Northern Apennines: the area of Monte Cimone and the area of Monte Corno alle Scale, located in the two regional parks. Previous research in the two study areas consists of quite numerous pollen analyses at regional scale while studies at local-scale, such as archaeoanthracology and pedoanthracology, are scarce.We have therefore decided to study these two mountain areas through pedoanthracology that is the taxonomic identification of wood charcoals contained in soils. Moreover, archaeoanthracology was applied to charcoal platforms and consists in the analysis of charcoals contained in the platforms which were used until the mid-20th century to produce charcoal. In the methodology used in this thesis are also included field surveys with the aim of locate and geolocalize ancient pastoral structures, witnesses of pastoral activities at high elevations.The main objectives of this research were: - to reconstruct the plant landscape; - to understand how human activities (e.g. pastoralism and forest exploitation) have transformed the landscape; to study the fire history; - to identify the variations of tree and timberline in the past.In the Monte Cimone area, nine pedoanthracological trenches were cut between 1650 m and 2078 m of elevation, and about 4000 charcoals were analyzed; moreover, 10 pastoral structures were found and georeferenced. In the Corno alle Scale area, eight pedoanthracological trenches were cut between 1600 m and 1860 m of elevation, and more than 2000 charcoals were analyzed; no pastoral structure were identified here. In each study area, four charcoal platforms were sampled with a total of 1200 charcoals analysed. Overall, 33 C14datings were performed on charcoals. Almost all C14 dates of soil charcoal are concentrated in the Late Holocene and only two are from the Early Holocene. The anthracomass of the low elevation sampling points (e.g. 962.8 mg/kg) is higher than the anthracomass of the high elevation sampling points (e.g. 1.6 mg/kg). The charcoals are evidence of the past presence of Ericaceae, Fabaceae, Juniperus sp., Abies alba, Quercus sp./Castanea sp., Prunus sp., Betula sp., Taxus baccata, Fagus sylvatica, Fraxinus sp. And Acer sp.The main results of this research show a plant landscape during the last 3000 years that is very similar to the current one with little variations in the tree and timberline. Charcoal platforms analysis has shown a beech charcoal production during the centuries between the 15th and mid-20th centuries. Estimation of the wood size used suggest a well-run exploitation of the timber resource. The two main activity in high mountain, pastoralism and charcoal production, seem to have played an important role in the shaping the current plant landscape.
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Objetivos: Verificar a freqüência referida de fatores de risco cardiovascular,;
notadamente a ...hipertensão arterial sistêmica, de cuidadores de pacientes crônicos do;
município de Maringá, Paraná, comparativamente à observada em controles pareados;
por idade. Métodos: Estudo descritivo, com delineamento transversal envolvendo 146;
controles e 78 cuidadores, de ambos os sexos, com idade mínima de 40 anos. Foram;
coletados dados referentes às condições sociodemográficas, hábitos de vida e doenças;
pré-existentes. Foi avaliada a pressão arterial, estatura, massa corporal, circunferência;
da cintura e quadril. Para análise estatística dos dados utilizou-se os testes t-Student;
para amostras independentes, Qui-quadrado ou Exato de Fisher quando aplicáveis.;
Também foi calculado a odds ratio (OR) para definir a associação entre a hipertensão;
arterial e os demais fatores de risco cardiovascular, com intervalo de confiança (IC) de;
95%. O nível de significância adotado foi de p<0,05. Resultados: Houve predomínio de;
mulheres (58,9% no grupo controle e 82,1% no cuidador) com média de idade de 59;
(±10,7) e 56 (±12,42) anos nos grupos controle e cuidador respectivamente. Eram;
brancos 63% e 66,7%, tinham escolaridade referente ao ensino fundamental 50,7% e;
60,2%, referiram renda familiar em torno de 3 a 10 salários mínimos 42% e 53,8% e;
referiram história familiar para doenças cardiovasculares 60% e 64,1% para os grupos;
controle e cuidador respectivamente. Observou-se que o grupo controle foi;
estatisticamente mais idoso, com maior circunferência da cintura e razão cintura/quadril;
do que o grupo cuidador, ao passo que as médias das pressões arteriais sistólicas e;
diastólicas e o índice de massa corporal não foram diferentes. Foram encontradas;
freqüências de 29% e 37% de hipertensão arterial relatada, 6% e 9% de doença;
cardíaca, 8% e 4% de doença pulmonar, 13% e 9% de diabete melito, 69% e 73% de;
sedentarismo, 75% e 86% de alcoolismo nos grupos controle e cuidador;
respectivamente. Testando-se a associação das variáveis entre os grupos, não houve;
diferença entre eles. Em relação à associação entre hipertensão arterial referida e os;
fatores de risco cardiovascular, observou-se que o relato de colesterol elevado se;
apresentou fortemente associado em ambos os grupos (OR = 2,4; IC 95% = 1,06-5,27;;
p = 0,0322 no grupo controle e OR = 3,16; IC 95% = 1,04-9,56; p = 0,0368 no cuidador). A hipertensão arterial também se relacionou positivamente, somente no;
grupo controle, com a circunferência da cintura (OR = 3,35; IC95% = 0,65-5,21; p =;
0,0014) e com a razão cintura/quadril (OR = 2,5; IC95% = 0,707-7,01; p = 0,0285). Não;
houve correlação entre hipertensão arterial referida e freqüência de tabagismo,;
alcoolismo e sedentarismo na amostra estudada. Conclusões: A ocorrência de fatores;
de risco cardiovascular não foi maior em cuidadores crônicos comparativamente aos;
controles. Independentemente da condição de cuidador ou não, a freqüência de relato;
de hipertensão arterial foi alto, portanto deve ser valorizado epidemiologicamente na;
predição de risco cardiovascular aumentado.
Objectives: To check the referred frequency of cardiovascular risk factors, notably the;
systemic arterial hypertension, in caregivers of chronic patients from the city of Maringá,;
Paraná, comparatively to observed in controls equaled by age. Methods: A descriptive;
and cross-sectional design study, with 146 people in control group and 78 in caregivers,;
of both sex and minimum age of 40 years old. Data of the socioeconomic conditions,;
demographics, life style and pre-existent diseases were collected. The arterial pressure,;
height, weight, and waist and hip circumferences were measured. For the statistic;
analysis of the data it was used the t-Student test, Q-square test or Fisher Exact test,;
where applicable. The odds ratio (OR) were also calculated in order to define the;
association between the arterial hypertension and other cardiovascular risk factors, with;
a confidence interval (CI) of 95%. The adopted level of significance was p<0,05.;
Results: There was a predominance of women (58.9% in the control group and 82.1%;
in the caregivers) and the mean age was 59 (±10.7) and 56 (±12.42) years old in the;
control and caregivers groups, respectively. 63% and 66.7% were white, 50.7% and;
60.2%, had finished and unfinished school degree, 42% and 53.8% reported a familiar;
income between 3 and 10 minimum wages, and 60% and 64.1% reported a familiar;
history for cardiovascular diseases, for the control and caregivers groups, respectively.;
The control group was statistically more elderly, with a larger waist circumference and;
ratio waist/hip than the caregivers group, while the average arterial systolic and diastolic;
pressure and body mass index were similar. Frequencies of 29% and 37% of referred;
arterial hypertension, 6% and 9% of cardiac disease, 8% and 4% of pulmonary disease,;
13% and 9% of diabetes mellitus, 69% and 73% of sedentary lifestyle, 75% and 86% of;
alcohol consumption were found in the control and caregivers groups, respectively.;
Regarding the association between the referred arterial hypertension and the;
cardiovascular risk factors, the referred high cholesterol was associated in both groups;
(OR = 2.4; CI 95% = 1.06-5.27; p = 0.0322 in the control group and OR = 3.16; CI 95%;
= 1.04-9.56; p = 0.0368 in the caregivers group). The arterial hypertension was also;
positively associated, only in the control group, with the waist circumference (OR =;
3.35; CI 95% = 0.65-5.21; p = 0.0014) and with ratio waist/hip (OR = 2.5; CI 95% =;
0.707-7.01; p = 0.0285). No correlations were found among arterial hypertension and smoking habit frequency, alcohol consumption and sedentary lifestyle in the studied;
sample. Conclusions: The occurrence of cardiovascular risk factors was not larger in;
caregivers comparatively to the controls. Independently of caregiver's condition or not,;
the report of arterial hypertension was high and should be valued epidemiologically in;
the prediction of increased cardiovascular risk.
BV UNIFESP: Teses e dissertações
Regulated gene expression is essential for a proper progression through the cell cycle. The transcription factor NF-Y has a fundamental function in transcriptional regulation of cell cycle genes, ...particularly of G2/M genes. In order to investigate common and distinct functions of NF-Y subunits in cell cycle regulation, NF-YA, NF-YB and NF-YC have been silenced by shRNAs in HCT116 cells. NF-YA loss led to a delay in S-phase progression, DNA damage and apoptosis: we showed the activation of the replication checkpoint, through the recruitment of Δp53 and of the replication proteins PCNA and Mcm7 to chromatin. Differently, NF-YB depletion impaired cells from exiting G2/M, but did not interfere with S-phase progression. Gene expression analysis of NF-YA and NF-YB inactivated cells highlighted a common set of hit genes, as well as a plethora of uncommon genes, unveiling a different effect of NF-Y subunits loss on NF-Y binding to its target genes. Chromatin extracts and ChIP analysis showed that NF-YA depletion was more effective than NF-YB in hitting NF-Y recruitment to CCAAT-promoters. Our data suggest a critical role of NF-Y expression, highlighting that the lack of the single subunits are differently perceived by the cells, which activate diverse cell cycle blocks and signaling pathways.
Many studies have evaluated the role of high levels of microsatellite instability (MSI) as a prognostic marker and predictor of the response to chemotherapy in colorectal cancer (CRC); however, the ...results are not conclusive. The aim of this study was to analyze the prognostic significance of high levels of MSI (MSI-H) in CRC patients in relation to fluorouracil-based chemotherapy.
In three different institutions, 1,263 patients with CRC were tested for the presence of MSI, and CRC-specific survival was then analyzed in relation to MSI status, chemotherapy, and other clinical and pathologic variables.
Two hundred and fifty-six tumors were MSI-H (20.3%): these were more frequently at a less advanced stage, right-sided, poorly differentiated, with mucinous phenotype, and expansive growth pattern than microsatellite stable carcinomas. Univariate and multivariate analyses of 5-year-specific survival revealed stage, tumor location, grade of differentiation, MSI, gender, and age as significant prognostic factors. The prognostic advantage of MSI tumors was particularly evident in stages II and III in which chemotherapy did not significantly affect the survival of MSI-H patients. Finally, we analyzed survival in MSI-H patients in relation to the presence of mismatch repair gene mutations. MSI-H patients with hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer showed a better prognosis as compared with sporadic MSI-H; however, in multivariate analysis, this difference disappeared.
The type of genomic instability could influence the prognosis of CRC, in particular in stages II and III. Fluorouracil-based chemotherapy does not seem to improve survival among MSI-H patients. The survival benefit for patients with hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer is mainly determined by younger age and less advanced stage as compared with sporadic MSI-H counterpart.
Until recently, Amblyomma cajennense (Fabricius, 1787) was considered to represent a single tick species in the New World. Recent studies have split this taxon into six species. While the A. ...cajennense species complex or A. cajennense (sensu lato) (s.l.) is currently represented by two species in Brazil, A. cajennense (sensu stricto) (s.s.) and Amblyomma sculptum Berlese, 1888, their geographical distribution is poorly known.
The distribution of the A. cajennense (s.l.) in Brazil was determined by morphological examination of all lots of A. cajennense (s.l.) in two large tick collections of Brazil, and by collecting new material during three field expeditions in the possible transition areas between the distribution ranges of A. cajennense (s.s.) and A. sculptum. Phylogenetic analysis inferred from the ITS2 rRNA gene was used to validate morphological results. Morphological description of the nymphal stage of A. cajennense (s.s.) is provided based on laboratory-reared specimens.
From the tick collections, a total 12,512 adult ticks were examined and identified as 312 A. cajennense (s.s.), 6,252 A. sculptum and 5,948 A. cajennense (s.l.). A total of 1,746 ticks from 77 localities were collected during field expeditions, and were identified as 249 A. cajennense (s.s.), 443 A. sculptum, and 1,054 A. cajennense (s.l.) these A. cajennense (s.l.) ticks were considered to be males of either A. cajennense (s.s.) or A. sculptum. At least 23 localities contained the presence of both A. cajennense (s.s.) and A. sculptum in sympatry. DNA sequences of the ITS2 gene of 50 ticks from 30 localities confirmed the results of the morphological analyses. The nymph of A. cajennense (s.s.) is morphologically very similar to A. sculptum.
Our results confirmed that A. cajennense (s.l.) is currently represented in Brazil by only two species, A. cajennense (s.s.) and A. sculptum. While these species have distinct distribution areas in the country, they are found in sympatry in some transition areas. The current distribution of A. cajennense (s.l.) has important implications to public health, since in Brazil A. sculptum is the most important vector of the bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii, the etiological agent of Brazilian spotted fever.
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