Pulse wave velocity distribution in a cohort study: from arterial stiffness to early vascular aging

BACKGROUND: By contrast with other southern European people, north Portuguese population registers an especially high prevalence of hypertension and stroke incidence. We designed a cohort study to identify individuals presenting accelerated and premature arterial aging in the Portuguese population. METHOD: Pulse wave velocity (PWV) was measured in randomly sampled population dwellers aged 18-96 years from northern Portugal, and used as a marker of early vascular aging (EVA). Of the 3038 individuals enrolled, 2542 completed the evaluation. RESULTS: Mean PWV value for the entire population was 8.4?m/s (men: 8.6?m/s; women: 8.2?m/s; P??10?m/s). Logistic regression models indicated gender differences concerning the risk of developing large artery damage, with women having the same odds of PWV above 10?m/s 10 years later than men. CONCLUSION: The population PWV values were higher than expected in a low cardiovascular risk area (Portugal). High prevalence rates of EVA and noteworthy large artery damage in young ages were found.

A new page on the road book of inorganic mercury in fish body - tissue distribution and elimination following waterborne exposure and post-exposure periods

prova tipográfica / uncorrected proof

Influence of emphysema distribution on pulmonary function parameters in COPD patients

Objective: To evaluate the impact that the distribution of emphysema has on clinical and functional severity in patients with COPD. Methods: The distribution of the emphysema was analyzed in COPD patients, who were classified according to a 5-point visual classification system of lung CT findings. We assessed the influence of emphysema distribution type on the clinical and functional presentation of COPD. We also evaluated hypoxemia after the six-minute walk test (6MWT) and determined the six-minute walk distance (6MWD). Results: Eighty-six patients were included. The mean age was 65.2 ± 12.2 years, 91.9% were male, and all but one were smokers (mean smoking history, 62.7 ± 38.4 pack-years). The emphysema distribution was categorized as obviously upper lung-predominant (type 1), in 36.0% of the patients; slightly upper lung-predominant (type 2), in 25.6%; homogeneous between the upper and lower lung (type 3), in 16.3%; and slightly lower lung-predominant (type 4), in 22.1%. Type 2 emphysema distribution was associated with lower FEV1 , FVC, FEV1 /FVC ratio, and DLCO. In comparison with the type 1 patients, the type 4 patients were more likely to have an FEV1 < 65% of the predicted value (OR = 6.91, 95% CI: 1.43-33.45; p = 0.016), a 6MWD < 350 m (OR = 6.36, 95% CI: 1.26-32.18; p = 0.025), and post-6MWT hypoxemia (OR = 32.66, 95% CI: 3.26-326.84; p = 0.003). The type 3 patients had a higher RV/TLC ratio, although the difference was not significant. Conclusions: The severity of COPD appears to be greater in type 4 patients, and type 3 patients tend to have greater hyperinflation. The distribution of emphysema could have a major impact on functional parameters and should be considered in the evaluation of COPD patients.

Molecular mass distribution of materials solubilized by xylanase treatment of Douglas-Fir kraft pulp

Irgazyme, a commercial xylanase preparation from Trichoderma longibrachiatum, and xylanase D a purified enzyme from Trichoderma harzianum E58 were tested for their ability to enhance peroxide bleaching of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) kraft pulp. A treatment with Irgazyme caused a much larger increase in brightness than did xylanase D. A double xylanase treatment with Irgazyme, before and after peroxide bleaching, resulted in the highest final brightness. Alkaline extraction increased the brightness of Douglas-fir brownstock. Treatment with Irgazyme released more lignin and carbohydrates than did xylanase D. The molecular mass of the lignin extracted from Irgazyme-treated brownstock was much larger than that from the control pulp. The lignin-like macromolecules directly solubilized from peroxide bleached pulps were substantially larger than those solubilized from the brownstock, irrespective of whether they were produced during xylanase or control treatments. This indicates that different kinds of materials were solubilized when a xylanase treatment was applied at different points in the bleaching sequence and raises concerns about the role of lignin entrapment in the mechanism by which xylanase enhances peroxide bleaching.

A importância dos espaços verdes para a promoção de Guimarães a capital verde da Europa

Relatório de estágio de mestrado em Geografia (área de especialização em Planeamento e Gestão do Território)

Distribution of cardiac geometric patterns on echocardiography in essential hypertension. Impact of two criteria of stratification

PURPOSE: To evaluate 2 left ventricular mass index (LVMI) normality criteria for the prevalence of left ventricular geometric patterns in a hypertensive population ( HT ) . METHODS: 544 essential hypertensive patients, were evaluated by echocardiography, and different left ventricular hypertrophy criteria were applied: 1 - classic : men - 134 g/m² and women - 110 g/m² ; 2- obtained from the 95th percentil of LVMI from a normotensive population (NT). RESULTS: The prevalence of 4 left ventricular geometric patterns, respectively for criteria 1 and 2, were: normal geometry - 47.7% and 39.3%; concentric remodelying - 25.4% and 14.3%; concentric hypertrophy - 18.4% and 27.7% and excentric hypertrophy - 8.8% and 16.7%, which confered abnormal geometry to 52.6% and 60.7% of hypertensive. The comparative analysis between NT and normal geometry hypertensive group according to criteria 1, detected significative stuctural differences,"( *p < 0.05):LVMI- 78.4 ± 1.50 vs 85.9 ±0.95 g/m² *; posterior wall thickness -8.5 ± 0.1 vs 8.9 ± 0.05 mm*; left atrium - 33.3 ± 0.41 vs 34.7 ± 0.30 mm *. With criteria 2, significative structural differences between the 2 groups were not observed. CONCLUSION: The use of a reference population based criteria, increased the abnormal left ventricular geometry prevalence in hypertensive patients and seemed more appropriate for left ventricular hypertrophy detection and risk stratification.

Physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness, dietary content, and risk factors that cause a predisposition towards cardiovascular disease

OBJECTIVE: To analyze associations between levels of physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness, dietary content, and risk factors that cause a predisposition towards cardiovascular disease. METHODS: Sixty-two individuals aged between 20 and 45 years were evaluated. Levels of physical activity were established by estimates of energy demand corresponding to everyday activity; indices for cardiorespiratory fitness were obtained from estimates of maximal oxygen consumption; information about dietary content was obtained from dietary records kept on seven consecutive days. To indicate risk factors that cause a predisposition towards cardiovascular disease, use was made of body mass indexes, waist-hip circumference relationships, levels of arterial pressure and of plasma lipid-lipoprotein concentration. To establish associations between the variables studied, multiple regression analysis was used. RESULTS: Physical activity levels and cardiorespiratory fitness levels were inversely correlated with the amount and distribution of body fat and arterial pressure. Taken together, the two variables were responsible for between 16% and 19% of the variation in arterial pressure. Total and saturated fat ingestion was associated with higher serum lipid levels. Both dietary components were responsible for between 49% and 61% of the variation in LDL-cholesterol. CONCLUSION: High ingestion of food rich in total and saturated fat and decreased levels of physical activity and of cardiorespiratory fitness are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, which supports previous data.

Distribution of risk factors in parents and siblings of patients with early coronary artery disease

OBJECTIVE: Early coronary artery disease (CAD) is associated with risk factors (RF). Offspring of parents with a RF have a greater prevalence of them. However, the distribution of RF in parents and siblings of patients with early CAD is unknown. METHODS: The study comprised the parents and siblings of 42 patients with early CAD (< 45 years), 29 males. Their mean age was 39.5±3.7 years. The following major RF were analyzed: smoking (> 5 cigarretes/day), hypercholesterolemia (total cholesterol > 200 mg/dL), hypertension (diastolic blood pressure > 90 mmHg), and diabetes (glycemia > 126 mg/dL). RESULTS: Of a total of 102 RF, 4, 3, 2, and 1 were observed in, respectively, 5, 15, 15, and 7 patients with early CAD, the most prevalent being smoking (86%) and hypercholesterolemia (83%). Diabetes was observed in 15 (36%) and hypertension in 16 (38%) patients. Smoking was more prevalent in the fathers (76%) and hypercholesterolemia in the mothers (30%). In 183 siblings, 131 RF were observed (1 patient with the disease had a mean of 4.7 siblings). The prevalences of smoking, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes in the siblings were, respectively, 32%, 18%, 14%, and 9%. The incidence of RF was as follows: 72 (39%) siblings had 1 RF, 25 (14%) siblings had 2 RF, and 3 (2%) siblings had 3 RF. In parents and their offspring, smoking was moderately correlated (r=0.43; P=0.02) with CAD. CONCLUSION: Smoking habit of parents is passed on to offspring, and, in association with hypercholesterolemia, it was the major cause of early CAD in offspring. High prevalence of smoking in offspring shows the potential responsibility of parents in the incidence of the disease in offspring.

Distribution méthodique de la famille des Graminées /par Charles-Sigismond Kunth. Ouvrage accompagnée de deux cent vingt planches représentant autant d'espèces nouvelles ou peu connues, dessinées par Eulalie Delile.

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Distribution méthodique de la famille des Graminées /par Charles-Sigismond Kunth. Ouvrage accompagnée de deux cent vingt planches représentant autant d'espèces nouvelles ou peu connues, dessinées par Eulalie Delile.

v.2

Distribution méthodique de la famille des Graminées /par Charles-Sigismond Kunth. Ouvrage accompagnée de deux cent vingt planches représentant autant d'espèces nouvelles ou peu connues, dessinées par Eulalie Delile.

Plates

Participación del tráfico y la distribución de proteínas en la polaridad y el desarrollo de procesos neuronales. Protein sorting and trafficking participation in neuronal processes polarity and development.

El estudio del tráfico intracelular en neuronas ha despertado gran interés en los últimos años, debido a que un gran número de enfermedades neurodegenerativas y neuropsiquiátricas parecen tener origen en en el transporte defectuoso de proteínas en estos tipos celulares. Mediante el uso de técnicas de biología celular y molecular, fuimos capaces de describir una de las vías que regula la fisión de las vesículas que llevan su cargo desde la última cisterna del Aparato de Golgi hacia la superficie celular en células epiteliales no polarizadas. Uno de los componentes clave de esa vía resultó ser la Proteina Kinasa D1 (PKD1), cuya actividad en el Aparato de Golgi es esencial para un normal transporte intracelular. Sorprendentemente, observamos que la PKD1 en neuronas con polaridad establecida no regula la fisión en el Golgi, pero si estaría involucrada en la selectividad y distribución (sorting) de vesículas cuyo cargo debe ser específicamente dirigido a las membranas dendríticas. El bloqueo de la actividad de la PKD1 no solamente cambia el destino final de estos cargos, que son enviados de esta forma a la membrana terminal del axón, sino que también es capaz de inducir defectos en el desarrollo y crecimiento de los procesos dendríticos a largo plazo. En este proyecto estudiaremos de que manera influye la perturbación del sorting, en ausencia de PKD1 activa y de otros componentes que la regulan, en la distribución de receptores de factores neurotróficos y de neurotransmisores glutamatérgicos, y cómo estos cambios en su distribución afectan el número, tamaño, y funcionalidad de los procesos neuronales (axones y dendritas). Estos resultados contribuirán a adquirir mayores conocimientos de los mecanismos dependientes del transporte y sorting de proteínas de membrana que participan en la regulación del crecimiento neuronal, los cuales a su vez aportarán información valiosa en la comprensión de un gran número de enfermedades neurológicas. The study of intracellular trafficking in neurons has arisen a great deal of interest in the last years, since a great number of neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders seem to be originated in abnormal protein transport in these type of cells. Using cell and molecular biology methodologies, we have been capable of describe one of the pathways that regulate the fission of vesicles that carry their cargo from the last Golgi Apparatus cisternae to the cell surface in non-polarized epithelial cells. One of the key components in this pathway is the Protein Kinase D1 (PKD1), whose activity in the Golgi Apparatus is essential for a normal intracelular transport. Surprisingly, we have observed that PKD1 does not regulate fission in neurons with established polarity, but it would be involved in vesicles' sorting at Golgi, particularly of those that carry specific dendritic cargo. Blocking PKD1 activity changes the final destination of these cargoes, which is now sent to the axons' terminal membranes, and also produces late dendritic development and growing defects. In this project we will study how sorting perturbation in absence of PKD1 and its regulators activities influences selectivity and distribution of neurotrophic and neurotransmitter receptors, and how these sorting changes affect number, size and functionality of neuronal processes (axons and dendrites). These results will help to acquire greater knowledge about transport and sorting mechanisms of neuronal growth regulatory membrane proteins. In addition, these studies will contribute with new valuable information necessary to understand numerous neurological diseases.