Paranaguá bay is a complex estuary located in southern Brazil containing three protected areas listed by UNESCO. Historically, the estuary has been affected by urban, industrial, agricultural and harbor activities, and occasional accidents. Specifically, the explosion of the Chilean ship Vicuña in December 2004 spilled methanol and crude and fuel oils which affected both protected and non-protected areas. The present study sought to investigate the pollution threat to aquatic organisms in order to evaluate the potential effects of pollutants. One hundred and twenty adult fish Atherinella brasiliensis were collected from different sites within Paranaguá estuary, including the harbor and open ocean, during summer, autumn and winter of 2005. Among the biomarkers, the somatic index, chemical analysis of bile, biochemical, genetic and morphological parameters were considered. Chemical analysis of bile showed a continuous bioavailability of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) according to proximity to the harbor site. The histopathological findings have demonstrated aconsiderable incidence of severe pathologies in the liver and gills, corroborated by biochemical disturbances and genetic damage. These findings indicate that more studies are necessary to evaluate both water quality and fish health so as to permit a better analysis of the impact of pollution in Paranaguá estuary.
Objective:
The aim of our study was to identify the prevalence of HPV in the semen of
men submitted to ART treatment and look into the possible impacts of the
virus on sperm parameters.
Methods:
Thirty-five patients treated for infertility from March to August 2016 were
invited to join the study. Samples with a minimum concentration of
40x10
6
spermatozoa per milliliter were included in the study.
After the evaluation of semen parameters, DNA extraction and PCR were
performed to verify the presence of HPV by electrophoresis in 8%
polyacrylamide gel.
Results:
Patient age ranged from 27 to 68 years (mean 39.2 years). Semen analysis
showed a mean volume of 2.5mL; mean concentration of 58.9x10
6
;
and mean motility of 51.8%. HPV DNA was identified in seven semen samples
from 25 patients (28%). Ten samples with DNA concentrations below
10ng/µL were excluded from the study due to poor amplification
quality. There was no statistical difference in sperm concentration when
HPV-negative and HPV-positive samples were compared (65.9x10
6
vs.
62.3x10
6
;
p
=0.70). However, sperm motility
was significantly higher in HPV-positive semen (65% vs. 46.6%;
p
=0.02).
Conclusions:
HPV prevalence was 28% in the semen of patients submitted to ART treatment.
HPV-positive samples had statistically increased motility compared to
negative samples (65% vs. 46.6%;
p
=0.02).
In order to evaluate the Getúlio Vargas refinery oil spill-2000, Paraná State-Brazil the presence of PAHs in the sediment, PAHs bioavailability through bile chemical analysis and biochemical and morphological biomarkers were investigated in a native fish species Hyphessobrycon reticulates. The histophatological parameters were also considered to another native species Phalloceros caudimaculatus. Sediment analysis showed the presence of 5-6 rings PAHs on the surface layer and 2-3 rings PAHs in the deepest sediment showing that oil is still accumulated in sediment, and its bioavailability is confirmed by the accumulation of PAHs in bile. Lipid peroxidation, catalase (CAT), GST and cholinesterase activities indicated respectively oxidative stress in liver of H. reticulatus and neurotoxicity, also evidenced by genotoxic and histopathological damages. Despite of the occurrence of other pollutants not identified in the current study, the data presented here may suggest that 5 years after the accident animals as fish can be still affected by hydrocarbons and PAHs presented in the sediment. Concluding, studies must be done to confirm that with a more sophisticated chemical analysis, but this work is the only study realized after the accident. We strongly suggest a new study to compare and verify if still there is risk to biota
Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a necessary cause for cervical cancer (CC), but it also depends on genetic factors, such as HLA polymorphism. However, few reports addressed the role of amino acids residues at the HLA peptide-binding cleft in HPV-related cervical disease. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the association between HLA-B, HLA-C, and HLA-DRB1 polymorphism and amino acid residues composing the pockets of the peptide-binding cleft of the respective polypeptide chains with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN II/III). HLA typing was performed by PCR-SSOP in 184 women with CIN II/III and 174 controls from South Brazil. Associations were estimated by multivariate logistic regression. FDR test was performed to correct the p-value for multiple comparisons. HLA-DRB1*13:01 was associated with protection against CIN II/III, while HLA-C*03:04 was associated with susceptibility. The amino acid residues isoleucine, tyrosine, and leucine at positions 95, 116, and 163 of HLA-C, respectively, were associated with CIN II/III susceptibility. In
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