6-Dec-2012 Mexican paradox: While opinion surveys overestimate abortions 10-fold, abortion mortality clearly decreases MELISA Institute Peer-Reviewed Publication There seems to be a paradox between estimated abortion figures and the significant decrease in abortion deaths in Mexico. A multinational collaborative study shows up to 10-fold overestimation of the actual induced abortion figures in Mexico DF when opinion surveys were used. Moreover, the report shows that 98 percent of maternal death causes are unrelated to induced abortion, highlighting the importance of increasing emergency and specialized obstetric care in Mexico to improve maternal health.
13-Nov-2012 A sip of resveratrol and a full p53: Ingredients for a successful cell death Publicase International Peer-Reviewed Publication Researchers at the Universidade Federal in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil have found that introduction of a normal copy of the p53 gene in p53-defective cancer cell lines makes these cells sensitive to the anti-tumor proprieties of resveratrol, the naturally occurring dietary compound found in red wine. Journal PLOS One Funder Rio de Janeiro State Foundation for Research, Ministry Of Health, Cancer Foundation, National Council for Scientific and Technological Development, National Institute of Science and Technology for Structural Biology and Bioimaging
24-Oct-2012 Climate change may alter amphibian evolution Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Peer-Reviewed Publication Tropical frogs that can lay their eggs either in or out of the water may have an advantage as rainfall patterns change. Journal The American Naturalist Funder Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
8-Oct-2012 A DNA-made trap may explain amyloidosis aggravation Publicase International Peer-Reviewed Publication New study done at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil reveals that amyloid fibers are caught in a cellular trap, with devastating consequences for amyloidosis patients. The study's results have clear implications for the etiology of amyloidosis, an often-deadly disease against which little progress has been made in recent years. Journal Journal of Biological Chemistry Funder CNPq, Faperj, CAPES
4-Sep-2012 Try a little tenderness and your brain will tell Publicase International Peer-Reviewed Publication Using functional MRI, researchers at the Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience Unit at the D'Or Institute, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil have found that the human brain responds to affiliative experiences in a very particular way. These findings may greatly improve our current understanding of how our emotions are triggered. Funder D’Or Institute for Research and Education, Rio de Janeiro Research Foundation (FAPERJ)
25-Jul-2012 Tropical arks reach tipping point Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Peer-Reviewed Publication Almost half of the tropical forest reserves in a new study are ineffective, according to results published in the journal Nature by William Laurance, research associate at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute now at James Cook University in Australia and more than 200 co-authors. Journal Nature
16-Jul-2012 Have thieving rodents saved tropical trees? Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Peer-Reviewed Publication Big seeds produced by many tropical trees were probably once ingested and then defecated whole by huge mammals called gomphotheres that dispersed the seeds over large distances. But gomphotheres were probably hunted to extinction more than 10,000 years ago. So why aren't large-seeded plants also extinct? A new report suggests that rodents may have taken over the seed dispersal role of gomphotheres. Journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Funder National Science Foundation, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
11-Jul-2012 Fossil turtle from Colombia round like car tire Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Peer-Reviewed Publication Even the world's largest snake, Titanoboa, could probably not have swallowed this new, very round fossil turtle species from Colombia. Journal Journal of Paleontology
29-Jun-2012 Preventing the immune system from going haywire during sepsis Publicase International Peer-Reviewed Publication Many strategies aiming at holding back the extreme response of the immune system during sepsis have been developed but little progress has been made. A new study shows that a drug known as RC-3095 attenuates the release of exacerbating immune response elements in patients with sepsis and limits the spread of infection in sepsis animal models, indicating the potential of RC-3095 in preventing sepsis-induced multiple organ dysfunctions. Journal Molecular Medicine Funder National Institutes of Health grant AA025387 and Institute for Translational Medicine (ITM), National Council for Scientific and Technological Development
25-Jun-2012 Prions and cancer: A story unfolding Publicase International Peer-Reviewed Publication Prions, the causal agents of mad cow and other diseases, are very unique infectious particles. In a paper published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, researchers in Brazil present new evidence that a prion-like behavior may be responsible for tumor formation and progression. The new finding may dramatically transform our way of thinking of cancer and treating cancer patients. Journal Journal of Biological Chemistry Funder Rio de Janeiro State Foundation for Research, Ministry Of Health, National Institute of Science and Technology for Structural Biology and Bioimaging, National Council for Scientific and Technological Development