Caregiver report versus clinician impression: disagreements in rating neuropsychiatric symptoms in Alzheimer's disease patients

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Effect of biotransformation by liver S9 enzymes on the mutagenicity and cytotoxicity of melanin extracted from Aspergillus nidulans

A mutant that exhibited increased melanin pigment production was isolated from Aspergillus nidulans fungus. This pigment has aroused biotechnological interest due to its photoprotector and antioxidant properties. In a recent study, we showed that melanin from A. nidulans also inhibits NO and TNF-α production. The present study evaluates the mutagenicity and cytotoxicity of melanin extracted from A. nidulans after its exposure to liver S9 enzymes. The cytotoxicity of multiple concentrations of melanin (31.2-500 μg/mL) against the McCoy cell line was evaluated using the Neutral Red assay, after incubation for 24 h. Mutagenicity was assessed using the Ames test with the Salmonella typhimurium strains TA98, TA97a, TA100, and TA102 at concentrations ranging from 125 μg/plate to 1 mg/plate after incubation for 48 h. The cytotoxicity of A. nidulans melanin after incubation with S9 enzymes was less than (CI50 value= 413.4 ± 3.1 μg/mL) that of other toxins, such as cyclophosphamide (CI50 value = 15 ± 1.2 μg/mL), suggesting that even the metabolised pigment does not cause significant damage to cellular components at concentrations up to 100 μg/mL. In addition, melanin did not exhibit mutagenic properties against the TA 97a, TA 98, TA 100, or TA 102 strains of S. typhimurium, as shown by a mutagenic index (MI)  <2 in all assays. The significance of these results supports the use of melanin as a therapeutic reagent because it possesses low cytotoxicity and mutagenic potential, even when processed through an external metabolising system.

Atividade física para promoção da saúde de idosos com doença de Alzheimer e seus cuidadores

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Nível de atividade física, sono e qualidade de vida em pacientes com doença de Alzheimer

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Effect of byrosima crassa and phenolic constituents on helicobacter pylori: induced neutrophils oxdative burst

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Impact of sub-inhibitory concentrations of amoxicillin on helicobacter pylori virulence factors

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

The triad indole-3-acetic acid ethyl ester/esterase/horseradish peroxidase as a new cytotoxic prodrug/enzyme combination

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Utilização da modelagem sistêmica para analisar o efeito da variação climática no parâmetro produtividade da água na laranja Natal (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck) no Estado de São Paulo

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Irrigação e Drenagem) - FCA

Long-term multimodal exercise program enhances mobility of patients with Parkinson's disease

Objective. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a long-period multimodal exercise program on balance, mobility and clinical status of patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Methods. Thirty-three PD patients were assigned into two groups: a training group (TG—n = 22; aged 67.23 ± 8.39 years) and a control group (CG—n = 9; aged 71.56 ± 8.50 years). The TG patients were enrolled in a 6-month multimodal exercise program. This program was designed to improve physical capacity components and to reduce PD impairments. Balance and mobility were assessed immediately before and after the training protocol using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), the “Timed up and go” (TUG), and the Posture Locomotion Test (PLM). Also, clinical variables were assessed (disease stage and impairments). Results. The TG showed an improvement in the TUG (P = 0.006) while CG were not influenced by the 6-months period. Both groups showed no differences for BBS and PLM and for their disease impairments—assessed through the Unified Parkinson’s disease Scale. Conclusions. Long-term multimodal exercise programs are able to improve mobility of patients with Parkinson’s disease and therefore should be used on clinical day life.

Effect of framework soldering on the deformation of implant abutments after framework seating

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Long duration exercise program in individuals with parkinson´s disease: effects on functional capacity

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of long duration exercise program on physical fitness components of functional capacity in individuals with Parkinson disease (PD) and to evaluate ongoing effects of exercise after 8 to 10-week follow-up without exercise. Twenty-four individuals with PD were randomly assigned to two groups: generalized exercise program and stretching exercise program (control group). The generalized exercise program provided training in physical fitness components of functional capacity. The stretching exercise program was characterized by low intensity and volume, mainly with static exercises. Both groups were evaluated before (BI) and after the 4-month (AI) exercise program. In addition, the individuals of generalized exercise program were also evaluated after 8-month exercise program and after 8 to 10- week follow-up without exercise. The generalized exercise program improved flexibility (BI - 38.50±12.42 cm; AI - 44.00±12.74 cm) and agility (BI - 30.59±7.54 s; AI - 28.56±8.20 s) while the stretching exercise program worsened coordination (BI - 23.27±6.58 s; AI - 28.06±7.37 s) and aerobic resistance (BI- 13.64±3.76 min; AI - 17.27±5.15 min) and improved balance (BI - 44.00±7.79 pts; AI - 46.57±6.53 pts). Lower-limb strength and UPDRS-motor scale scores were better at 8 months (14.75±2.92 rep and 26.25±13.97 pts, respectively) compared to baseline (13.13±2.59 rep and 31.63±12.82 pts, respectively) and 4 months (13.50±1.93 rep and 30.38±14.52 pts, respectively) for generalized exercise program. However, the benefits of 8 months of exercise were lost after 8 to 10-week follow-up without exercise (lower-limb strength - 12.43±3.15 rep and UPDRS-motor scale - 32.57±14.05 pts). In conclusion, generalized exercise program improved the functional capacity in individuals with PD, differently of stretching exercise program. In addition, a long duration exercise program promoted benefits for functional capacity and disease progression in individuals with PD. However, benefits were lost after a short period without exercise.

Visual conditions and postural directions affect postural sway variability in patients with Parkinson’s disease

Postural sway variability was evaluated in Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients at different stages of disease. Twenty PD patients were grouped into two groups (unilateral, 14; bilateral, 6) according to disease severity. The results showed no significant differences in postural sway variability between the groups (p ≥ 0.05). Postural sway variability was higher in the antero-posterior direction and with the eyes closed. Significant differences between the unilateral and bilateral groups were observed in clinical tests (UPDRS, Berg Balance Scale, and retropulsion test; p ≤ 0.05, all). Postural sway variability was unaffected by disease severity, indicating that neurological mechanisms for postural control still function at advanced stages of disease. Postural sway instability appears to occur in the antero-posterior direction to compensate for the stooped posture. The eyes-closed condition during upright stance appears to be challenging for PD patients because of the associated sensory integration deficit. Finally, objective measures such as postural sway variability may be more reliable than clinical tests to evaluate changes in balance control in PD patients.

Hanseníase virchowiana: comprometimento medular

Paciente feminino 36 anos, com queixa de febre noturna, astenia, parestesia de membros inferiores, artralgia, hepatoesplenomegalia, lesões cutâneas, anemia hipocrômica, microcítica e linfopenia. Sorologia negativa para Hepatite B,C e HIV; FAN e anti-DNA também negativos. Histopatologia da medula óssea mostrou-se discretamente hipercelular, com presença de focos de histiócitos com citoplasma vacuolado (células pseudo-gaucher-like),aspecto megaloblástico, linfoplasmocitico e lipogranulomatoso. A coloração Ziehl- -Nielsen positivo; diagnóstico morfológico: micobacteriose de medula óssea. A cultura do sangue e do aspirado de medula óssea foi negativo para M.tuberculosis. Biópsia das lesões cutâneas máculas e pápulas hipercrômicas dos membros inferiores e superiores revelou hanseníase de padrão Vichowiana. A pesquisa BAAR pela Faraco demonstrou numerosos bacilos, sendo a maioria de padrão granuloso. Pacientes com hanseníase virchowiana tem acometimento cutâneo em 100% dos casos, o baço é o órgão mais frequentemente acometido com disseminação através do sangue periférico. O quadro anêmico e a linfopenia provavelmente se deve à cronicidade da infecção, levando a infiltração medular. A ocorrência do comprometimento medular em paciente com hanseníase Virchowiana é excepcional, mesmo em países endêmicos, e pode indicar necessidade de tratamento mais prolongado.

Ocorrência de eritema nodoso hansênico

Introdução: A Hanseníase, em pacientes de formas multibacilares, pode apresentar episódios reacionais de Eritema Nodoso Hansênico, que podem ocorrer antes, durante e após o tratamento, causando neurites, iridociclites e orquiepidimites, levando a sequelas importantes, como cegueira e incapacidade motora. Objetivo: observar a freqüência de surtos de ENH de acordo com o tratamento com PQT e o número de vezes em que se repetiu. Métodos: ocorrência de ENH em pacientes com hanseníase multibacilar. Resultados: Foram avaliados 344 pacientes, 59,88% da forma MB; destes, 59,2% apresentaram ENH. A faixa etária variou de 12 a 86 anos, a maioria, 51,63%, entre 40-59 anos; dois (1,63%) eram menores de 15 anos; 52 eram da forma D e 70 da V; 66,39% do sexo masculino e 33,60% do feminino. Os episódios reacionais variaram de 1 a 17 por paciente; 16,39% o apresentaram uma vez e 17,21% acima de 7; 40,77% não o apresentaram. No geral, 68,02% apresentaram mais de três episódios. Quanto ao tratamento, em 8,19% o episódio manifestou-se antes do início, em 64,75% durante e em 30,32%, após. 51,63% apresentaram durante e após. Observou-se que em 63,11% o IB foi considerado alto, maior ou igual a 3 +++. Conclusão: considerou-se elevados o número de pacientes que o apresentaram e o número de repetições acima de 3 vezes, o que aumenta os riscos dos danos e seqüelas. Todas as medidas para evitá-lo devem consideradas.