Evaluation of clinical and inflammatory markers of subclinical carotid atherosclerosis in postmenopausal women

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

Nutritional parameters are associated with mortality in acute kidney injury

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to perform a nutritional assessment of acute kidney injury patients and to identify the relationship between nutritional markers and outcomes.METHOD: This was a prospective and observational study. Patients who were hospitalized at the Hospital of Botucatu School of Medicine were evaluated between January 2009 and December 2011. We evaluated a total of 133 patients with a clinical diagnosis of acute kidney injury and a clinical presentation suggestive of acute tubular necrosis. We explored the associations between clinical, laboratory and nutritional markers and in hospital mortality. Multivariable logistic regression was used to adjust for confounding and selection bias.RESULTS: Non-survivor patients were older (67 +/- 14 vs. 59 +/- 16 years) and exhibited a higher prevalence of sepsis (57.1 vs. 21.4%) and higher Acute Tubular Necrosis-Individual Severity Scores (0.60 +/- 0.22 vs. 0.41 +/- 0.21) than did survivor patients. Based on the multivariable analysis, laboratorial parameters such as blood urea nitrogen and C-reactive protein were associated with a higher risk of death (OR: 1.013, p = 0.0052; OR: 1.050, p = 0.01, respectively), and nutritional parameters such as low calorie intake, higher levels of edema, lower resistance based on bioelectrical impedance analysis and a more negative nitrogen balance were significantly associated with a higher risk of death (OR: 0.950, p = 0.01; OR: 1.138, p = 0.03; OR: 0.995, p = 0.03; OR: 0.934, p = 0.04, respectively).CONCLUSIONS: In acute kidney injury patients, a nutritional assessment seems to identify nutritional markers that are associated with outcome. In this study, a low caloric intake, higher C-reactive protein levels, the presence of edema, a lower resistance measured during a bioelectrical impedance analysis and a lower nitrogen balance were significantly associated with risk of death in acute kidney injury patients.

Exames laboratoriais importantes no diagnóstico da Piometra canina

Canine Pyometra is a uterine disease that occurs in sexually mature bitches, with higher incidence in nulliparous and animals over 4 years and is characterized by presenting an accumulation of pus in the uterine lumen, usually occurring in diestrus. Laboratory tests are important tools for the detection of metabolic abnormalities associated with sepsis and renal function, which are serious consequences of pyometra. In blood the main findings are normochromic non-regenerative anemia, presence of dehydration, and sometimes thrombocytopenia. The WBC count may be normal but most often occurs a neutrophilic leukocytosis with a left shift, monocytosis and the presence of toxic neutrophils. In less than 1 / 3 of the animals the presence of azotemia is present and a density lower than 1035 is detected in the urine of almost 90% of bitches which may be in normal range at the onset of the desease. Urinary protein loss is rare but the protein may be elevated in the reagent strip due to urinary contamination by uterine secretion. The increase of gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and creatine kinase (CK) may be present, indicating disorders in the liver. Currently, additional laboratory tests are being studied for the diagnosis of pyometra and its prognosis, such as the measurement of C-reactive protein and fibrinogen for monitoring the recovery of the inflammatory process and the urine electrophoresis to characterize the origin of proteinuria in these animals . The aim of this work is to review the literature on the main laboratory tests that aid the diagnosis of Pyometra

Influência da composição corporal e da síndrome metabólica sobre a relação da aptidão cardiorrespiratória com o estresse inflamatório

Physical activity is associated with lower cardiovascular disease risk factors, being cardiorespiratory fitness a major component of physical activity health related. Body fatness and sarcopenia are related to sedentary lifestyle leading to proinflammatory stress and lower cadiorespiratory capacity. This study aimed correlates C-reactive protein with cardiorespiratory fitness, analyzing the influences of anthropometrics variables and metabolic syndrome (MS) presence. the cross-sectional retrospective study included baseline data of 194 adults (62 male and 132 female), 53,74 ± 8,77 years, clinically and ethically selected for a lifestyle modification program. Total cholesterol (TC) and cholesterol lipoprotein fractions, triglycerides (TG) and glucose was dosed by dry chemistry (Vitros® system, Johnson & Johnson). Blood leukocytes was quantified by automatic cell counter (Coulter ABX®, Horiba). LDL-cholesterol was obtained by Friedwald formula. Serum ultrasensitive C-reactive protein (US-CRP) was accessed by the immunochemoluminescence method (Immulite 2000®, DPC Medlab). Weight, height, body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) were measured. Muscular mass and fat mass were obtained by bioelectrical impedance analysis (impedancemeter Quantum BIA-101Q®, Clinton Township). Arterial blood pressure was checked by auscultatory method and cardiorespiratory fitness was determined by ergoespirometric test (Balke protocol). The metabolic syndrome was diagnosed according NCEP – ATP III (2001), following recommendations of American Diabetes Association (2004). Pearson’s correlation crude and adjusted for confounders variables with p<0,05. The prevalence of MS was 30.4%. Crude correlation shows hsCRP was correlated inverse and significantly with VO2max (r= -0.21; p=-0.003) ...(Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Efeito do 1,3/1,6 beta-glucano no sistema imune de cadelas submetidas a ovário-histerectomia

Pós-graduação em Medicina Veterinária - FCAV

Redox-tagged peptide for capacitive diagnostic assays

Early detection assays play a key role in the successful treatment of most diseases. Redox capacitive biosensors were recently introduced as a potential electroanalytical assay platform for point-of-care applications but alternative surfaces (besides a mixed layer containing ferrocene and antibody receptive component) for recruiting important clinical biomarkers are still needed. Aiming to develop alternative receptive surfaces for this novel electrochemical biosensing platform, we synthesized a ferrocene redoxtagged peptide capable of self-assembly into metallic interfaces, a potentially useful biological surface functionalization for bedside diagnostic assays. As a proof of concept we used C-reactive protein (CRP), as a model biomarker, and compared the obtained results to those of previously reported capacitive assays. The redox-tagged peptide approach shows a limit of detection of 0.8 nmol L 1 (same as 94 ng mL 1 ) and a linear range (R2 ∼98%) with the logarithm of the concentration of the analyte comprising 0.5–10.0 nmol L 1 , within a clinical relevant range for CRP.

Desenvolvimento de biossensores capacitivos constituídos de monocamadas peptídicas nanometricamente estruturadas

Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia - IQ

Effects of omega-3 on metabolic markers in postmenopausal women with metabolic syndrome

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

Acute phase proteins as markers of infectious diseases in small animals

During the acute phase response, there is an increased production and release of certain proteins known as acute phase proteins (APPs) which can be produced by hepatocytes and peripheral tissues such as C-reactive protein (CRP), serum amyloid A (SAA), haptoglobin (Hp), alpha-1 acid glycoprotein (AGP). These proteins have been investigated as markers of various infectious diseases in small animals and the purpose of this review is to update the current knowledge about APPs in infectious diseases in dogs and cats.

Influence of daily consumption of synbiotic soy-based product supplemented with okara soybean by-product on risk factors for cardiovascular diseases

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

Serum vitamin A and inflammatory markers in individuals with and without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

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

Clinical and laboratory description of a series of cases of acute viral myositis

Describe the clinical and laboratory profile, follow-up, and outcome of a series of cases of acute viral myositis. A retrospective analysis of suspected cases under observation in the emergency department was performed, including outpatient follow-up with the recording of respiratory infection and musculoskeletal symptoms, measurement of muscle enzymes, creatine phosphokinase (CPK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), transaminases (AST and ALT), blood count, C-reactive protein, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate in the acute phase and during follow-up until normalization. Between 2000 and 2009, 42 suspected cases were identified and 35 (27 boys) were included. The median age was 7 years and the diagnosis was reported in 89% in the first emergency visit. The observed respiratory symptoms were cough (31%), rhinorrhea (23%), and fever (63%), with a mean duration of 4.3 days. Musculoskeletal symptoms were localized pain in the calves (80%), limited ambulation (57%), gait abnormality (40%), and muscle weakness in the lower limbs (71%), with a mean duration of 3.6 days. There was significant increase in CPK enzymes (5507±9180U/L), LDH (827±598U/L), and AST (199±245U/L), with a tendency to leukopenia (4590±1420) leukocytes/mm(3). The complete recovery of laboratory parameters was observed in 30 days (median), and laboratory and clinical recurrence was documented in one case after 10 months. Typical symptoms with increased muscle enzymes after diagnosis of influenza and self-limited course of the disease were the clues to the diagnosis. The increase in muscle enzymes indicate transient myotropic activity related to seasonal influenza, which should be considered, regardless of the viral identification, possibly associated with influenza virus or other respiratory viruses.

Anti-inflammatory effects of Brazilian ginseng (Pfaffia paniculata) on TNBS-induced intestinal inflammation: experimental evidence

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic, relapsing, idiopathic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Clinical studies suggest that the initiation of IBD is multifactorial, involving genetics, the immune system and environmental factors, such as diet, drugs and stress. Pfaffia paniculata is an adaptogenic medicinal plant used in Brazilian folk medicine as an anti-stress agent. Thus, we hypothesised that the P. paniculata enhances the response of animals subjected to colonic inflammation. Our aim was to investigate the intestinal anti-inflammatory activity of P. paniculata in rats before or after induction of intestinal inflammation using trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS). The animals were divided into groups that received the vehicle, prednisolone or P. paniculata extract daily starting 14days before or 7days after TNBS induction. At the end of the procedure, the animals were killed and their colons were assessed for the macroscopic damage score (MDS), extent of the lesion (EL) and weight/length ratio, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and glutathione (GSH), cytokines and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. Histological evaluation and ultrastructural analysis of the colonic samples were performed. Treatment with the 200mg/kg dose on the curative schedule was able to reduce the MDS and the EL. In addition, MPO activity was reduced, GSH levels were maintained, and the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and CRP were decreased. In conclusion, the protective effect of P. paniculata was related to reduced oxidative stress and CRP colonic levels, and due to immunomodulatory activity as evidenced by reduced levels of IL-1β, INF-γ, TNF-α and IL-6.

Red-fleshed sweet orange juice improves the risk factors for metabolic syndrome

Orange juice consumption can promote lower levels of oxidative stress and inflammation due to the antioxidant activity of citrus flavonoids and carotenoids. In addition, red-fleshed sweet orange juice (red orange juice) also contains lycopene. This study investigated the effects of red orange juice consumption on risk factors for metabolic syndrome. Volunteers consumed red orange juice daily for 8 weeks, with clinical and biochemical assessments performed at baseline and on the final day. There was no change in the abdominal obesity, but low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, C-reactive protein decreased, while there was an increase of the antioxidant activity in serum after red orange juice consumption. Insulin resistance and systolic blood pressure were reduced in normal-weight volunteers, while diastolic blood pressure decreased in overweight volunteers after intervention. Red orange juice showed anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and lipid-lowering properties that may prevent the development of metabolic syndrome.

Associação entre concentração sérica de vitamina D e alterações da massa muscular esquelética em pacientes com doenças inflamatórias intestinais

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)