Premature impairment of methylation pathway and cardiac metabolic dysfunction in fa/fa obese Zucker rats

Increasing evidence suggests that obesity is a chronic inflammatory disease, in which adipose tissue is involved in a network of endocrine signals to modulate energy homeostasis. These oxidative-inflammatory pathways, which are associated with cardiovascular complications, are also observed during the aging process. In this study, we investigated the interaction between aging and the development of obesity in a hyperphagic rat model. Metabolic profiles of the liver, white adipose tissue (WAT) and heart from young and adult Zucker lean (fa/+) and obese (fa/fa) rats were characterized using a (1)H NMR-based metabonomics approach. We observed premature metabolic modifications in all studied organs in obese animals, some of which were comparable to those observed in adult lean animals. In the cardiac tissue, young obese rats displayed lower lactate and scyllo-inositol levels associated with higher creatine, choline and phosphocholine levels, indicating an early modulation of energy and membrane metabolism. An early alteration of the hepatic methylation and transsulfuration pathways in both groups of obese rats indicated that these pathways were affected before diabetic onset. These findings therefore support the hypothesis that obesity parallels some metabolic perturbations observed in the aging process and provides new insights into the metabolic modifications occurring in pre-diabetic state.

Functional and Structural Connectivity Between the Perigenual Anterior Cingulate and Amygdala in Bipolar Disorder

Objective: Abnormalities in the morphology and function of two gray matter structures central to emotional processing, the perigenual anterior cingulate cortex (pACC) and amygdala, have consistently been reported in bipolar disorder (BD). Evidence implicates abnormalities in their connectivity in BD. This study investigates the potential disruptions in pACC-amygdala functional connectivity and associated abnormalities in white matter that provides structural connections between the two brain regions in BD. Methods: Thirty-three individuals with BD and 31 healthy comparison subjects (HC) participated in a scanning session during which functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during processing of face stimuli and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) were performed. The strength of pACC-amygdala functional connections was compared between BD and HC groups, and associations between these functional connectivity measures from the fMRI scans and regional fractional anisotropy (FA) from the DTI scans were assessed. Results: Functional connectivity was decreased between the pACC and amygdala in the BD group compared with HC group, during the processing of fearful and happy faces (p < .005). Moreover, a significant positive association between pACC-amygdala functional coupling and FA in ventrofrontal white matter, including the region of the uncinate fasciculus, was identified (p < .005). Conclusion: This study provides evidence for abnormalities in pACC-amygdala functional connectivity during emotional processing in BD. The significant association between pACC-amygdala functional connectivity and the structural integrity of white matter that contains pACC-amygdala connections suggest that disruptions in white matter connectivity may contribute to disturbances in the coordinated responses of the pACC and amygdala during emotional processing in BD.

Alguns efeitos distorcivos gerados pela aplicação da legislação comercial e tributária brasileira nas conclusões de uma análise de demonstrativos contábeis (ADC): proposta corretivas, ou, ADC: uma visão crítica da realidade comercial tributária brasileira

Revisa as principais técnicas de Análise de Demonstrativos Contábeis, apontando algumas das causas que afastam da realidade, as conclusões obtidas por tal sistemática. Aborda com destaque as limitações de ordem técnica, vinculadas ao processo contábil, e aquelas de ordem estrutural decorrentes da exigência legal da adoção de certos procedimentos contábeis impróprios em diversas situações. Apresenta algumas propostas corretivas.

Modificações introduzidas pelos treinamentos cardiopulmonar e neuromuscular nos níveis séricos basais de fatores de crescimento insulina símile i (igf-1), cortisol, autonomia funcional e qualidade de vida de mulheres idosas

Changes introduced by cardiopulmonar and neuromuscular training on basal serum insulin-like grow factor-1 (IGF-1) and cortisol levels, functional autonomy and quality of life in elderly women The aim of this study was to compare the effects of strength and aerobic training on basal serum IGF-1 and Cortisol levels, functional autonomy (FA) and quality of life (QoL) in elderly women after 12 weeks of training. The subjects were submitted the strength training (75-85% 1-RM) with weight exercises (SG; n=12; age=66.08 ± 3,37 years; BMI=26,77 ± 3,72 kg/m2), aerobic training with aquatic exercises (AG; n=13; age=68,69 ± 4,70 years; BMI=29,19 ± 2,96 kg/m2) and control group (CG; n=10; age=68,80 ± 5,41 years; BMI=29,70 ± 2,82 kg/m2). Fasting blood was analyzed to measure basal IGF-1 and cortisol levels by chemiluminescence method. The t-Student test showed increased IGF-1 in the SG (p<0.05) for intragroup comparison. The Repeated-measure ANOVA presented increased IGF-1 (p<0.05) in the SG compared to the other two groups. There were no differences in cortisol levels. All the FA tests (GDLAM autonomy protocol) presented decreased significant in the time marked in seconds to the SG. The same results were found in the AG, except in the rise from a sitting position test. The autonomy index presented significant improvements (p<0.05) in the SG related to the AG and CG and in the AG to the CG. The SG showed increased QoL (p<0.05) (by WHOQOL-Old questionnaire) in the facet 1 (sensorial functioning) and facet 5 (death and dying). Thus, the SG obtained positive changes on IGF-1 and FA levels when compared to the AG. This suggests that strength training can indicated to decrease the effects of ageing.

Inclusão do farelo de amendoim em dietas para juvenis de tilápia do Nilo

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Dacriocistografia em cães com o emprego da ressonância magnética (DCG-RM) e da tomografia computadorizada (DCG-TC)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Desgaste e rugosidade superficial de um cimento de ionômero de vidro nanoparticulado

To compare the abrasion wear resistance and superficial roughness of different glass ionomer cements used as restorative materials, focusing on a new nanoparticulate material. Material and Method: Three glass ionomer cements were evaluated: Ketac Molar, Ketac N100 and Vitremer (3M ESPE, St. Paul, MN, USA), as well as the Filtek Z350 (3M ESPE, St. Paul, MN, USA). For each material were fabricated circular specimens (n=12), respecting the handling mode specified by the manufacturer, which were polished with sandpaper disks of decreasing grit. The wear was determined by the amount of mass (M) lost after brushing (10,000 cycles) and the roughness (Ra) using a surface roughness tester. The difference between the Minitial and Mfinal (ΔM) as well as beroughness of aesthetic restorative materials: an in vitro comparison. SADJ. 2001; 56(7): 316-20. 11. Yip HK, Peng D, Smales RJ. Effects of APF gel on the physical structure of compomers and glass ionomer cements. Oper. Dent. 2001; 26(3): 231-8. 12. Ma T, Johnson GH, Gordon GE. Effects of chemical disinfectants on the surface characteristics and color of denture resins. J Prosthet Dent 1997; 77(2): 197-204. 13. International organization for standardization. Technical specification 14569-1. Dental Materials – guidance on testing of wear resistance – PART I: wear by tooth brushing. Switzerland: ISO; 1999. 14. Bollen CML, Lambrechts P, Quirynen M. Comparison of surface roughness of oral hard materials to the threshold surface roughness for bacterial plaque retention: a review of the literature. Dent Mater.1997; 13(4): 258-9. 15. Kielbassa AM, Gillmann C, Zantner H, Meyer-Lueckel H, Hellwig E, Schulte-Mönting J. Profilometric and microradiographic studies on the effects of toothpaste and acidic gel abrasivity on sound and demineralized bovine dental enamel. Caries Res. 2005; 39(5): 380-6. 16. Tanoue N, Matsumara H, Atsuta M. Wear and surface roughness of current prosthetic composites after toothbrush/dentifrice abrasion. J Prosthet Dent. 2000; 84(1): 93-7. 17. Heath JR, Wilson HJ. Abrasion of restorative materials by toothpaste. J Oral Rehabil. 1976; 3(2): 121-38. 18. Frazier KB, Rueggeberg FA, Mettenburg DJ. Comparasion of wearresistance of class V restorative materials. J Esthet Dent. 1998; 10(6): 309-14. 19. Momoi Y, Hirosakil K, Kohmol A, McCabe JF. In vitro toothebrushdentifrrice abrasion of resin-modified glass ionomers. Dent Mater. 1997; 13(2): 82-8. 20. Turssi CP, Magalhães CS, Serra MC, Rodrigues Jr.AL. Surface roughness assessment of resin-based materials during brushing preceded by pHcycling simulations. Oper Dent. 2001; 26(6): 576-84. 21. Wang L, Cefaly DF, Dos Santos JL, Dos Santos JR, Lauris JR, Mondelli RF, et al. In vitro interactions between lactic acid solution and art glassionomer cements. J Appl Oral Sci. 2009; 17(4): 274-9. 22. Carvalho FG, Fucio SB, Paula AB, Correr GM, Sinhoreti MA, PuppinRontani RM. Child toothbrush abrasion effect on ionomeric materials. J Dent Child (Chic). 2008; 75(2): 112-6. 23. Coutinho E, Cardoso MV, De Munck J, Neves AA, Van Landuyt KL, Poitevin A, et al. Bonding effectiveness and interfacial characterization of a nano-filled resin-modified glass-ionomer. Dent Mater. 2009; 25(11): 1347-57. tween Rainitial and Rafinal (ΔRa) were also used for statistical analysis (α=0.05). Results: Except for the composite, significant loss of mass was observed for all glass ionomer cements and the ΔM was comparable for all of them. Significant increase in roughness was observed only for Vitremer and Ketac N100. At the end of the brushing cycle, just Vitremer presented surface roughness greater than the composite resin. Conclusion: All glass ionomer cements showed significant weight loss after 10,000 cycles of brushing. However, only Vitremer showed an increase of roughness greater than the Z350 resin, while the nanoparticulate cement Ketac N100 showed a smooth surface comparable to the composite.

Identificazione di profili di rischio cardiovascolare nel trapianto di rene: polimorfismi di geni coinvolti nei processi di infiammazione e di apoptosi

Introduction. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) represents the main cause of morbidity and mortality in kidney recipients. This study was undertaken to assess the impact of functional polymorphisms located in cytokine and apoptosis genes on CVD after kidney transplantation. Cytokine polymorphisms, generally located in gene regulatory regions, are associated with high and low cytokine production and are likely to modulate the magnitude of inflammatory responses following transplantation, depending on the balance between the levels of pro-inflammatory and antiinflammatory cytokines. The role of apoptosis in atherosclerosis has not been completely elucidated, and here we explored the hypothesis that the heterogeneity in cardiovascular risk in kidney recipients may also be linked to functional polymorphisms involved in apoptosis induction. Purpose. In the search for relevant genetic markers of predisposition to CVD after renal transplant, the present investigation was undertaken to identify the clinical impact of polymorphisms of cytokines TNF-α, TGF-β, IL-10, IL-6, IFN-γ and IL-8 and of apoptosis genes Fas and Caspase 9 in a population of kidney transplant recipients. Materials and methods. The study involved 167 patients who received cadaveric kidney transplantation at our centre between 1997 and 2005 (minimum follow-up of 12 months); 35 of them had experienced cardiovascular events (CVD group) and 132 had no cardiovascular complications (non-CVD group). Genotyping was performed using RFLP (Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism) for RFLP per IL-8/T-251A, Fas/G-670A e Casp9/R221Q polymorphism and SSP (Sequence Specific Primer) for TNF-α/G-308A, TGF-β/L10P, TGF-β/R25P, IL-10/G-1082A, IL- 10/C-819T, IL-10/C-592A, IL-6/G-174C, IFN-γ/T+874A polymorphisms.Results. We found a significant difference in TNF-α and IL-10 genotype frequencies between the patients who had suffered cardiovascular events and those with no CVD history. The high producer genotype for proflogistic cytokine TNF-α appeared to have a significantly superior prevalence in the CVD group compared to the non-CVD group (40.0% vs 21.2%) and it resulted in a 2.4-fold increased cardiovascular risk (OR=2.361; p=0.0289). On the other hand, the high producer genotype for the antiinflammatory cytokine IL-10 was found in 2.8% of the CVD group and in 16.7% of non-CVD group; logistic regression showed a 0.3-fold reduced risk of CVD associated with genetically determined high IL-10 production (OR=0.278; p<0.0001). The other polymorphisms did not prove to have any impact on CVD. Conclusions. TNF-α and IL-10 gene polymorphisms might represent cardiovascular risk markers in renal transplant recipients.