Polimorfismos de nucleotídeo único (SNPS) dos genes PPARy2, lipase lipoproteica, receptor de LDL, apolipoproteina C3, e adiponectina podem modular o perfil lipídico de pacientes com a síndrome de Berardinelli-Seip

A Síndrome de Berardinelli-Seip (SBS) é um distúrbio raro do metabolismo dos lipídios, caracterizada pela ausência quase total de tecido adiposo subcutâneo, hipertrigliceridemia, hipoleptinemia e diabetes insulino resistente ou lipoatrófico. Sua etiologia envolve implicações hipotalâmicas, alterações nos receptores de insulina e mutações nos genes AGPAT2, Gng3lg, CAV1 e PTRF. O tecido adiposo secreta diversas substâncias, tais como: leptina, resistina, adiponectina, esteróides, TNF , IL-6, PAI-1, angiotensinogênio, IGF-1. Muitas delas estão associadas ao diabetes mellitus tipo 2, obesidade e hipertensão. Os PPARs são fatores transcricionais pertencentes à superfamília de receptores nucleares ligantes ativados. Sabe-se que o PPAR , é importante para o metabolismo lipídico e glicídico e que o ligante natural do PPAR é derivado do ácido graxo. Nesse sentido, foram avaliados 24 pacientes portadores da SBS, provenientes do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte, com a mediana das idades de 18,5 anos (0,55 a 47 a), sendo 9 (37,5 %) do gênero masculino e 15 (62,5 %) do gênero feminino. Quanto ao grupo étnico, foram classificados em caucasóides (brancos) 21 (87,5 %) e negróides 3 (12,5 %) pacientes. Foram feitas avaliações clínico-endocrinológica, bioquímica, hormonal, molecular e o estudo dos polimorfismos Adiponectina ADIPOQ, PPARγ2 Pro12Ala, LPL-PvuII, APOC3-SstI e LDLR-AvaII em portadores da SBS. Nesta população nós não encontramos nenhuma associação de parâmetros lipídicos e glicídicos com os polimorfismos LPL-PvuII, APOC3-SstI e LDLR-AvaII. Porém, observamos associação entre Adiponectina ADIPOQ e PPARγ2 Pro12Ala e níveis lipídicos mais elevados, sugerindo um papel biológico para estes fatores, indicando estudos mais aprofundados

Influência da esplenectomia na biodistribuição do ácido dimercaptosuccínico-tecnécio-99m (99mTc-DMSA) em ratos Wistar

A esplenectomia é indicada em doenças hematológicas, hiperesplenismo grave, traumas e tem sido causa de importantes alterações metabólicas e imunológicas. O objetivo do presente trabalho é avaliar se a retirada do baço altera a biodistribuição do radiofármaco DMSA Tc99m em ratos Wistar e se há correlação com possíveis alterações da função renal. Foram usados dois grupos: esplenectomia (n=6) e controle (n=6) animais não operados. Após 15 dias, foi administrado 0,1 ml de DMSA-Tc99m via plexo orbital (0,66 MBq). Trinta minutos depois, foram retiradas amostras do rim, coração, pulmão, tireóide, estômago, bexiga, fêmur, sangue. Após pesadas as amostras, foi determinado o percentual de radioatividade/g (% ATI/g) em cada uma delas, com o Wizard Gama Counter Perkin-Elmer . Dosadas uréia e creatinina sérica, hematócrito, plaquetas e leucócitos. Estatística pelo teste t, com significância 0,05. Foi observada redução significante no %ATI/g no rim e sangue (p<0,05) dos animais esplenectomizados, aumento significante (p<0,05) da uréia (88,8±18,6mg/dL) e creatinina (0,56±0,08), comparado aos controles (51,5±1,6 e 0,37±0,02mg/dL, respectivamente) assim como leucocitose, aumento de plaquetas e redução de hematócrito. Em conclusão, a esplenectomia provocou comprometimento da função renal, repercutindo na alteração da captação de DMSA 99mTc pelo rim de ratos. Uma parceria entre a Unidade de Medicina Nuclear da Liga Norteriograndense Contra o Câncer e o Núcleo de Cirurgia Experimental da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande doNorte tornou possível a realização deste trabalho, que contou com a participação de profissionais de diferentes áreas como: Biologia, Biomedicina, Medicina Nuclear, Cirurgia Geral, Bioquímica e Estatística, atestando dessa forma o caráter multidisciplinar do trabalho

Avaliação da incontinência urinária de esforço em mulheres na pós-menopausa com e sem queixa de perda urinária através da aplicação do pad-test de 1 hora

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is defined as "involuntary loss of urine" due to several processes that alter the ability of the bladder to hold urine properly, regarded as a social and hygienic problem that adversely affects quality of life. In postmenopausal women, IU is associated with atrophy and weakness of the pelvic floor muscles. The objective this study was investigate, using the onehour pad test, stress urinary leakage (SUI), evaluate and compare their results in postmenopausal and premenopausal women. The survey was characterized as a cross-sectional study. The study consisted of 60 postmenopausal women were divided into GIU - consisting of 34 volunteers complaining of involuntary loss of urine during stress - and GSIU - consisting of 26 volunteers without complaints of loss of urine during stress, and 15 women, during the premenopausal (GPM), and ovulatory with normal menstrual cycle. All volunteers were evaluated clinically, subjected to one-hour pad test, after the biochemical evaluation of blood and sex hormones. Statistical analysis was performed by descriptive analysis, ANOVA, Turkey´s post-test and Pearson correlation. The results showed that 100% of postmenopausal patients had involuntary loss of urine during one hour pad test (GIU: 4.0 g; GSIU: 4.5 g). GPM remained continent after an hour pad test (GPM: 0.4 g). In addition, Pearson showed a strong correlation between urine loss with time since menopause (r = 0.8, p <0.01) and body mass index - BMI (r = 0.7; p = 0.01). These data suggest that the one-hour pad test is a useful test to assess and quantify urinary leakage, including those volunteers who had no previous complaint of SUI

Avaliação da atividade biológica de óleos essenciais sobre candida não albicans de origem clínica

Candidíase é um problema de importância crescente, devido o aumento do número de indivíduos imunocomprometidos e o surgimento de cepas resistentes aos antifúngicos convencionais. É de fundamental importância a busca por novos agentes antifúngicos mais eficazes, menos tóxicos, sendo os óleos essenciais (OEs) excelentes alternativas para esse propósito. Esse estudo investigou a atividade biológica do OE de Mentha spicata L. sobre Candida guilliermondii de origem anal e vaginal. Para tanto foram determinadas a Concentração Inibitória Mínima (CIM), Concentração Fungicida Mínima (CFM), cinética do crescimento das leveduras (Time-Kill), alterações micromorfológicas (técnica do microcultivo em câmara úmida) e investigação do mecanismo de ação antifúngico, utilizando o bioensaio do sorbitol. O OE de M. spicata foi obtido pelo processo de extração por destilação a vapor. Na análise fitoquímica desse óleo foi observada a presença de carvona com 84,32%, seguida pelo limoneno (13,70%) e traços de iso-dihidrocarvona (0,82%). Os resultados da análise da CIM variou entre 32 e 128 μg/mL. A CFM variou entre 64 e 1024 μg/mL. Na avaliação da ação de OE e da nistatina 100UI/mL, o antifúngico padrão apresentou o efeito fungicida a partir de 4 horas e para OE de M. spicata foi observado efeito fungistático na CIM, CIMX2 e CIMX4 frente às cepas avaliadas. O OE de M. spicata apresentou forte atividade antifúngica contra as cepas de C. guilliermondii, promovendo alterações micromorfológicas visíveis por microscopia óptica, nas concentrações testadas (CIM, CIMx2), resultado semelhante ao que se observou com a nistatina (100UI/mL). Na investigação do mecanismo de ação antifúngico foi constatado que houve alteração da CIM na presença de sorbitol, com elevação dos valores quatro vezes maior que a concentração inicial, o que indica que os componentes desse OE apresentam ação direta sobre a parede celular das leveduras. Conclui-se que o OE de Mentha spicata é um potencial agente terapêutico no tratamento de candidíase

Large scale laboratory cultures of Ankistrodesmus gracilis (Reisch) Korsikov (Chlorophyta) and Diaphanosoma biergei Korinek, 1981 (Cladocera)

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

Doença cardiovascular em mulheres com histórico de pré-eclâmpsia e seguimento no sistema único de saúde

The aim of the present study was to analyze cardiovascular risk of women with a history of preeclampsia, as well as its follow-upin the National Health System.This is a cross-sectional quantitative research conducted at the Januário Cicco Maternity School. The study population was composed of 573 women selected from a databank belonging to the Women s Health Research Group of the Gynecology Department at Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, with a history of preeclampsia, and normotensives who gave birth at this institution five years before. The final sample consisted of 147 women, 64 in the group with a history of PE and 83 normotensives. Data were collected on a questionnaire containing the following: sociodemographic aspects, anthropometric measures, life habits, personal and family history of pregnancy-induced hypertension, family history of cardiovascular diseases and frequency of measuring current blood pressure levels. In relation to the association between cardiovascular risk and altered blood pressure (≥130x85 mmHg), the likelihood of exhibiting the latter condition was significantly higher in women with a history of preeclampsia (CI 95% 4.12-38.92), the overweight and obese (CI 95% 1.70-20.75), and in those with a family historyof CVD and personal history of PIH (CI 95% 0.78-47.07 and CI 95% 3.20-25.39) respectively. Likewise, the probability of having altered blood pressure was higher in women with fasting glycemia ≥100mg/dL (CI 95% 2.09-24.73), as well as in those with triglycerides ≥150mg/dl (CI 95% 1.72-9.66). After fitting the logistic model, diagnosis previous preeclampsia and altered triglycerides remained as explanatory variables.The women with a history of preeclampsia five years before exhibited altered blood pressure levels, clinical and laboratory manifestations suggestive of elevated risk for cardiovascular disease, as well as family and personal history of hypertension. There is no differential treatment or adequate outpatient follow-up for this population in basic health care units

Population growth and development of two species of Cladocera, Moina micrura and Diaphanosoma birgei, in laboratory

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Isolation and characterization of Flavobacterium columnare (Bernardet et al. 2002) from four tropical fish species in Brazil

Flavobacterium columnare é o agente etiológico da columnariose em peixes de água doce, ocasionando enfermidade na pele e nas brânquias, provocando freqüentemente um grande número de mortalidade. O objetivo deste estudo foi o isolamento e a caracterização de Flavobacterium columnare em peixes tropicais no Brasil. Piracanjuba (Brycon orbignyanus), pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus), tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) e cascudo (Hypostomus plecostomus) foram examinados externamente com relação a sinais característicos de columnariose, como manchas acinzentadas na cabeça, região dorsal e pedúnculo caudal dos peixes. A amostragem compreendeu a coleta de 50 exemplares de peixes, representando as quatro diferentes espécies escolhidas para este estudo. Amostras para o isolamento foram obtidas através de raspado com swab estéril das lesões e do rim dos peixes clinicamente diagnosticados como acometidos por columnarios e imediatamente semeados em meios de culturas artificiais (líquido e sólido) próprios para o estudo de Flavobacterium segundo Carlson e Pacha (1968). No meio líquido, houve o desenvolvimento de microrganismos que observados em gota pendente apresentaram a forma de bacilos finos, longos, móveis por deslizamento. Através da coloração de Gram, apresentaram morfologia de bacilos finos, Gram negativos, agrupados em colunas. em meio sólido, as colônias eram pequenas, cinza-amareladas, com borda em forma de raiz. No total, foram obtidos quatro isolamentos: 01 cepa de Brycon orbignyanus; 01 cepa de Piaractus mesopotamicus; 01 cepa de Colossoma macropomum; e 01 cepa de Hypostomus plecostomus. A caracterização bioquímica das amostras, como absorção do vermelho Congo, produção de flexirrubina, produção de H2S e redução do nitrato, sugere que os isolamentos poderiam ser classificados como Flavobacterium columnare.

Segurança e eficácia da tibolona na transição menopausal: um ensaio clínico randomizado, duplo-cego e controlado com placebo

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico

Freqüência e etiologia das dermatomicoses em pacientes atendidos no Hospital Giselda Trigueiro, Natal, RN

Dermatomycoses are fungal infections that attack the skin, hair and nails, in addition to the mucosal and cutaneous-mucosal zones. Objective: Observe the frequency of dermatomycoses, identify etiological agents and establish an association between the results and sex. Age, collection site, time and lesion location. Methods: Between February, 2002 and December, 2004, samples were collected from patients at Giselda Trigueiro Hospital in Natal, Brazil, by lesion scraping and hair removal, following 70% alcohol disinfection, and submitted to direct and culture examination. Results: Of the 817 lesions collected, 325 (39.8%) were fungus positive, with the hair collection site yielding the highest number of positive results (65.8%) and the scalp and hair representing the most frequent lesion sites (65.9%). Negative results occurred mainly in the lower limbs (78.6%). Of the species identified, 55.9% were yeasts, 41.6% dermatophytes and 2.5% Fusarium spp. Non-albicans Candida was the most isolated yeast (43.3%), mainly in females (61.7%) over the age of 40 years (56.4%). T. rubrum was the most isolated dermatophyte (67.9%),notably in males (59.2%) in the 0-20 age group (44.7%). With respect to collection site, 73.9% of the dermatophytes were present in the skin and 61.1% of the yeasts in the nails. When assessing the collection site, the inguinocrural regional was 22.6% positive for dermatophytes, and the nails and hands, 41.8% for yeasts. Conclusions: The results obtained verified that: most of the positive lesions were found in the hair, whereas skin and nail lesions yielded more negative results; T. rubrum was the most isolated dermatophyte and non-albicans candida the most commonly found yeast; positivity was greater in males in the 0-20 year age group at the skin site and in the inguinocrural region, while yeasts were more frequent in females in the over-40 age group at the nail sites

Candidíase vulvovaginal: sintomatologia, fatores de risco e colonização anal concomitante

Post-menarche patients with clinical signs of vulvovaginitis were analyzed in this study, whose aims were the following: identify the frequency of C. albicans and non C. albicans species and negative results, correlate the vaginal culture for yeast with risk factors and symptomatology; compare positive and negative results for yeast in the vaginal and anal cultures; compare the positive results for C. albicans with other results found in the vaginal and anal cultures; and compare concomitant positivity for C. albicans and non C. albicans in the vaginal and anal cultures. Sample selection occurred between May, 2003 and May, 2005, and included 99 patients from Natal, Brazil. The laboratory methods used consisted of CHROMagar Candida culture medium, thermotolerance test at 42-45°C and hypertonic NaCL, in addition to the classic methods of carbohydrate assimilation and fermentation. We used absolute numbers, percentages, means of central tendency, chi-squared test (χ2) with Yates correction, Fisher s exact test and odds ratio for statistical analysis. The most frequent species was C. albicans in 69% of the cases. The positivity for Candida spp showed an association with the use of tight-fitting intimate clothing and/or synthetics, allergic diseases and the occurrence of itching, leukorrhea and erythema. Anal colonization increased the likelihood of vaginal contamination by 2.8 and 4.9 times, respectively, for Candida spp and C. albicans. When compared to the other species, C. albicans-positive anal colonization increased by 3.7 times the likelihood of vaginal positivity. These data suggest likely vaginal contamination originating in the anus

Fermentação alcoólica de substrato amiláceo e hidrolisado enriquecido com melaço de cana

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Identificação e fatores de virulência de Candida spp isoladas da cavidade bucal de transplantados renais do hospital universitário Onofre Lopes em Natal-RN

Despite Candida species are often human commensals isolated from various oral sites such as: tongue, cheek and palatal mucosa plus subgingival region, there are some properties linked to the organism commonly known as virulence factors which confer them the ability to produce disease. Oral candidiasis is one of the main oral manifestations reported in literature related to kidney transplant patients. The objectives of the present study were to identify and investigate virulence factors of yeasts isolated from the oral cavity of kidney transplant recipients admitted at the Hospital Universitário Onofre Lopes, in Natal RN. Seventy Candida species isolated from 111 kidney transplant recipients were investigated in this study. Identification of the isolates was performed by using the evidence of germ tube formation, hypertonic broth, tolerance to grow at 42°C, micromorphology and biochemical profiles. We observed a high rate of isolation of yeasts from the oral cavity of kidney transplant recipients (63.1%) being C. albicans was the most prevalent species. Oral candidiasis was diagnosed in 14.4% of transplant recipients. We evaluated virulence properties of the isolates regarding to: biofilm formation on polystyrene microplates as well as XTT reduction, adherence to acrylic resin and human buccal epithelial cells and proteinase activity. Most isolates were able to form biofilm by the method of adhesion to polystyrene. All isolates of Candida spp. remained viable during biofilm formation when analyzed by the method of XTT reduction. The number of CFU attached to the acrylic resin suggested high adherence for C. parapsilosis. C. albicans isolates showed higher median adherence to human buccal epithelial cells than non-C. albicans Candida isolates. Nevertheless, this difference was not statistically significant. C. dubliniensis showed low ability to adhere to plastic and epithelial cells and biofilm formation. Proteolytic activity was observed for all the isolates investigated, including the unique isolate of C. dubliniensis. There was a statistically significant association between proteinase production and the presence of oral candidiasis. Studies related to oral candidiasis in renal transplant recipients are limited to clinical and epidemiological data, but investigations concerning Candida spp. virulence factor for this group of individuals are still scarce. We emphasize the importance of studies related to virulence factors of yeasts isolated from this population to contribute to the knowledge of microbiological aspects of oral candidiasis

Aspectos de patogenicidade e relacionamento genético de isolados clínicos vaginas e anais de Candida albicans oriundos de pacientes com candidíase vulvovaginal

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is one of the most common causes of vaginitis and affects about 75% of women of reproductive age. The majority of cases (80 to 90%) are due to C. albicans, the most virulent species of the genus Candida. Virulence attributes are scarcely investigated and the source of infection remains uncertain. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the virulence factors and genotypes of clinical isolates of C. albicans sequentially obtained from the anus and vagina of patients with sporadic and recurrent VVC. Materials and methods: We analyzed 62 clinical isolates of C. albicans (36 vaginal and 26 anal strains). Direct examination of vaginal and anal samples and colony forming units (CFU) counts were performed. Yeasts were identified using the chromogenic media CHROMagar Candida® and by classical methodology, and phenotypically characterized regarding to virulence factors, including the ability to adhere to epithelial cells, proteinase activity, morphogenesis and biofilm formation. The genotypes of the strains were investigated with ABC genotyping, microsatellite genotyping with primer M13 and RAPD. Results: We found 100% agreement between direct examination and culture of vaginal samples. Filamentous forms were present in most of the samples of vaginal secretion, which presented CFU counts significantly higher than the samples of anal secretion. There was no statistically significant difference between virulence factors of infecting vaginal isolates and those presented by colonizing anal isolates; as well as for the comparison of the vaginal isolates from patients with different clinical conditions (sporadic or recurrent VVC). There was a decrease in the ability to adhere to HBEC, morphogenesis and biofilm formation of the vaginal isolates during the progress of infection. There was an association between the ability to express different virulence factors and the clinical manifestations presented by the patients. Genotype A was the most prevalent (93.6%), followed by genotype C (6.4%). We found maintenance of the same ABC genotype and greater prevalence of microevolution for the vaginal strains of C. albicans sequentially obtained. Vaginal and anal isolates of C. albicans obtained simultaneously from the same patient presented the same ABC genotype and high genetic relatedness. Conclusion: It is noteworthy that the proliferation of yeast and bud-to-hypha transition are important for the establishment of CVV. The expression of virulence factors is important for the pathogenesis of VVC, although it does not seem to be determinant in the transition from colonization to infection or to the installation of recurrent condition. Genotype A seems to be dominant over the others in both vaginal and anal isolates of patients with VVC. The most common scenario was microevolution of the strains of C. albicans in the vaginal environment. It is suggested that the anal reservoir constituted a possible source of vaginal infection, in most cases assessed

Extração, caracterização e atividades biológicas de proteínas da espécie cnidoscolus urens (L.) Arthur

The extraction, chemical and structural characterization of a wide variety of compounds derived from plants has been a major source of bioactive molecules. Several proteases have been isolated in the plant kingdom, with numerous pharmacological and biotechnological applications. Among the proteases isolated from plants, are the fibrinogenolytic, with relevant application in the treatment of disorders in the coagulation cascade, in addition to potential use as a tool in clinical laboratories. In this study, in addition to evaluating the effects of the protein extract of Cnidoscolus urens (L.) Arthur (Euphorbiaceae) in the coagulation cascade also investigates the presence of antimicrobial activity and characterizes the proteolytic activity detected in this extract, aiming to determine their potential pharmacological and biotechnological application. In this way, crude protein extracts obtained from the leaves of C. urens in Tris-HCl 0.05M, NaCl 0.15M, pH 7.5, were precipitated in different concentrations of acetone, and assessed for the presence of proteolytic activity in azocaseína and fibrinogen. The most active fraction (F1.0) in these tests was chosen for assessment of biological activity and biochemical characterization. The Aα chain and Bβ of fibrinogen were completely cleaved at a concentration of 0.18 μg/μL of protein fraction in 4 minutes. Fibrinogenolytic activity presented total inhibition in the presence of E-64 and partial in the presence of EDTA. The fraction demonstrated coagulant activity in plasm and reduced the APTT, demonstrating acting on the factors coagulation of the intrinsic pathway and common, not exerting effects on the PT. Fibrinolytic activity on plasma clot was detected only in SDS-PAGE in high concentrations of fraction, and there were no defibrinating. Although several proteases isolated from plants and venomous animals are classically toxic, the fraction F1.0 of C. urens not expressed hemorrhagic nor hemolytic activities. Fraction F1.0 also showed no antimicrobial activity. In proteolytic activity on the azocasein, the optimal pH was 5.0 and optimum temperature of 60ºC. The enzyme activity has been shown to be sensitive to the presence of salts tested, with inhibition for all compounds. The surfactant triton did not influence the enzyme activity, but the tween-20 and SDS inhibited the activity. In the presence of reducing agents increase in enzyme activity occurred, a typical feature of enzymes belonging to the class of cysteine proteases. Several bands with proteolytic activity were detected in zymogram, in the region of high-molecular-weight, which were inhibited by E-64. In this study, we found that C. urens presents in its constitution cysteine proteases with fibrinogenolytic and procoagulant activity, which may be isolated, with potential application in treatment of bleeding disorders, thrombolytic and clinical laboratory