Evaluation of Clinical and Inflammatory Markers of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Postmenopausal Women with Metabolic Syndrome

Background: The aim of this study was to assess clinical and inflammatory markers in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in postmenopausal women with metabolic syndrome.Methods: This cross-sectional study included 180 Brazilian women (age >= 45 years and amenorrhea >= 12 months). Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed by the presence of at least three of the following indicators: Waist circumference (WC) > 88 cm, triglycerides (TGs) >= 150 mg/dL, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) < 50 mg/dL; blood pressure >= 130/85 mmHg; and glucose >= 100 mg/dL. NAFLD was diagnosed by abdominal ultrasound. Participants were divided into three groups: Metabolic syndrome alone (n = 53); metabolic syndrome + NAFLD (n = 67); or absence of metabolic syndrome or NAFLD (control, n = 60). Clinical, anthropometric, and biochemical variables were quantified. The inflammatory profile included adiponectin, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). Data were submitted to statistical analysis using a Tukey test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), chi-squared, Pearson correlation, and logistic regression (odds ratio, OR).Results: Women with metabolic syndrome + NAFLD, abdominal obesity, high glucose, and insulin resistance by HOMA-IR were compared to women with metabolic syndrome alone and controls (P < 0.05). High values of IL-6 and TNF-alpha and low values of adiponectin were observed among women with metabolic syndrome alone or metabolic syndrome + NAFLD when compared to controls (P < 0.05). In multivariate analysis, the variables considered as risk of NAFLD development were: High systolic blood pressure (SBP) [(OR 1.02, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.0-1.04]; large WC (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.01-1.13); insulin resistance (OR 3.81, 95% CI 2.01-7.13); and metabolic syndrome (OR 8.68, 95% CI 3.3-24.1). Adiponectin levels reduced NAFLD risk (OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.80-0.96).Conclusion: In postmenopausal women, metabolic syndrome, abdominal obesity, and insulin resistance were risk markers for the development of NAFLD, whereas higher adiponectin values indicated a protection marker.

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

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

Evaluation of Toll-Like Receptor 2 and 4 RNA Expression and the Cytokine Profile in Postmenopausal Women with Metabolic Syndrome

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

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

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

Pólipos endometriais e seu risco de malignização: aspectos epidemiológicos, clínicos e imunoistoquímicos

Endometrial polyps are neoformations that result from focal hyperplasia of the endometrial basal layer associated with hormonal hyperstimulation. Their pathogenesis is still unclear, and there is no consensus on their natural history, actual relevance as pathologic entities, and relationship with endometrial neoplasia. Endometrial polyps are the most frequent indication of surgical hysteroscopy, but their optimal management remains controversial. Therefore, an overview of this condition may help choosing the most adequate treatment strategies.

Necklace fibers as histopathological marker in a patient with severe form of X-linked myotubular myopathy

X-linked myotubular myopathy due to mutations in the MTM1 gene is classically characterized by a severe neonatal phenotype and a typical muscle biopsy presenting globular and centrally located nuclei in muscle myofibers. Recently, four patients with mild late-onset form have been described, a male with a hemizygous mutation and three females with heterozygous mutations in the MTM1 gene. The muscle biopsies were performed at 13-35 years of age and a new histological marker, the necklace fibers, was described. Here, we report two siblings with the pathogenic c.664 C > T mutation in the MTM1 gene, presenting a severe muscle weakness and respiratory impairment requiring ventilatory support since the first months of life until death, at the age of 36 months and 5 months. In the older brother the muscle biopsy, performed at the age of 30 months, showed almost 100% of necklace fibers, which were not present in the younger one submitted to muscle biopsy at 5 months of age. Our findings confirm the necklace fibers can be a histopathological finding of MTM1 myopathies, even in the severe neonatal form, and suggest that the necklace fibers appear or increase in number over time. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Relatório de Estágio

O presente relatório integra a fase final do Mestrado em Auditoria Empresarial e Pública, 2º Ciclo de acordo com o Processo de Bolonha, no ISCAC. Este relatório procura reproduzir, de forma sucinta a realização de um estágio curricular como assistente de auditoria, na sociedade Jorge Silva & António Neto SROC, Lda., em Aveiro, pelo período de 6 meses. Este vinha a ser o meu primeiro contacto com o mundo laboral. O relatório de estágio está dividido em 2 partes. Na 1ª parte está incluída uma breve apresentação da empresa acolhedora, António Neto & Jorge Silva, SROC Lda., e dos objetivos do estágio curricular, abordando-se, ainda algumas considerações relativamente ao conceito de Auditoria assim como asserções, riscos e planeamento. Este último é de extrema importância, uma vez que evidencia os procedimentos adotados, os papéis de trabalho utilizados e as conclusões a que chegámos. De salientar que quando iniciei o meu estágio, este ponto já se encontrava terminado. Todavia, dada a sua importância foi explicado de uma forma sucinta. Na 2ª parte são descritas as principais tarefas realizadas no estágio, correspondendo estas às atividades de um assistente numa equipa de auditoria financeira. Assim foram reunidos todos os papéis de trabalho e efetuada uma descrição clara dos procedimentos utilizados na abordagem aos temas supracitados e consequentemente, as respetivas conclusões. Nesta última parte, a numeração do trabalho está elaborado conforme tratamento dado pela empresa.

Annual Average Value of Solar Radiation and its Variability in Portugal

Solar resource assessment is essential for the different phases of solar energy projects, such as preliminary design engineering, financing including due diligence and, later, insurance phases. An important aspect is the long term resource estimation. This kind of estimation can only be obtained through the statistical analysis of long-term data series of solar radiation measurements, preferably ground measurements. This paper is a first step in this direction, with an initial statistical analysis performed over the radiation data from a national measurement network, consisting of eighty-nine meteorological stations. These preliminary results are presented in figures that represent the annual average values of Global Horizontal Irradiation (GHI) and its Variability in the Portuguese continental territory. These results show that the South of Portugal is the most suitable area for the implementation of medium to large scale solar plants.

PDIA3, HSPA5 and viementin, proteins identified by 2-DE in the valvular tissue, are the target antigens of peripheral and heart infiltrating T cells from chronic rheumatic heart disease patients

Rheumatic fever (RF) is a post-infectious autoimmune disease due to sequel of group A streptococcus (GAS) pharyngitis. Rheumatic heart disease (RHD), the major manifestation of RF, is characterized by inflammation of heart valves and myocardium. Molecular mimicry between GAS antigens and host proteins has been shown at B and T cell level. However the identification of the autoantigens recognized by B and T cells within the inflammatory microenvironment of heart tissue in patients with RHD is still incompletely elucidated. In the present study, we used two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and mass spectrometry to identify valvular tissue proteins target of T cells from chronic RHD patients. We could identify three proteins recognized by heart infiltrating and peripheral T cells as protein disulfide isomerase ER-60 precursor (PDIA3), 78 kD glucose-regulated protein precursor (HSPA5) and vimentin, with coverage of 45%, 43 and 34%, respectively. These proteins were recognized in a proliferation assay by peripheral and heart infiltrating T cells from RHD patients suggesting that they may be involved in the autoimmune reactions that leads to valve damage. We also observed that several other proteins isolated by 2-DE but not identified by mass spectrometry were also recognized by T cells. The identified cardiac proteins are likely relevant antigens involved in T cell-mediated autoimmune responses in RF/RHD that may contribute to the development of RHD

Genotypic Characteristics of HIV Type 1 Based on gp120 Hypervariable Region 3 of Isolates from Southern Brazil

The aim of this study was to investigate HIV-1 molecular diversity and the epidemiological profile of HIV-1-infected patients from Ribeirao Preto, Brazil. A nested PCR followed by sequencing of a 302-base pair fragment of the env gene (C2-V3 region) was performed in samples from HIV-1-positive patients. A total of 45 sequences were aligned with final manual adjustments. The phylogenetic analyses showed a higher prevalence of HIV-1 subtype B in the studied population (97.8%) with only one sample yielding an F1 subtype. The viral genotyping prediction showed that CCR5 tropism was the most prevalent in the studied cohort. Geno2pheno analysis showed that R5 and CXCR4 prediction were 69% and 31%, respectively. There was no statistical significance, either in viral load or in CD4(+) T cell count when R5 and X4 prediction groups were compared. Moreover, the GPGR tetramer was the most common V3 loop core motif identified in the HIV-1 strains studied (34.1%) followed by GWGR, identified in 18.1% of the samples. The high level of B subtype in this Brazilian population reinforces the nature of the HIV epidemic in Brazil, and corroborates previous data obtained in the Brazilian HIV-infected population.

Direct detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in bovine and bubaline tissues through nested-PCR

Post-mortem bacterial culture and specific biochemical tests are currently performed to characterize the etiologic agent of bovine tuberculosis. Cultures take up to 90 days to develop. A diagnosis by molecular tests such as PCR can provide fast and reliable results while significantly decreasing the time of confirmation. In the present study, a nested-PCR system, targeting rv2807, with conventional PCR followed by real-time PCR, was developed to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) organisms directly from bovine and bubaline tissue homogenates. The sensitivity and specificity of the reactions were assessed with DNA samples extracted from tuberculous and non-tuberculous mycobacteria, as well as other Actinomycetales species and DNA samples extracted directly from bovine and bubaline tissue homogenates. Regarding the analytical sensitivity, DNA of the M. bovis AN5 strain was detected up to 1.5 pg by nested-PCR, whereas DNA of M. tuberculosis H37Rv strain was detected up to 6.1 pg. The nested-PCR system showed 100% analytical specificity for MTC when tested with DNA of reference strains of non-tuberculous mycobacteria and closely-related Actinomycetales. A clinical sensitivity level of 76.7% was detected with tissues samples positive for MTC by means of the culture and conventional PCR. A clinical specificity of 100% was detected with DNA from tissue samples of cattle with negative results in the comparative intradermal tuberculin test. These cattle exhibited no visible lesions and were negative in the culture for MTC. The use of the nested-PCR assay to detect M. tuberculosis complex in tissue homogenates provided a rapid diagnosis of bovine and bubaline tuberculosis.

NARRATIVAS DE EXPERIÊNCIAS VIVIDAS POR DOCENTES E DISCENTES COM USO DE TECNOLOGIA DE INFORMAÇÃO E COMUNICAÇÃO – TDIC NA EDUCAÇÃO BÁSICA

Vivemos um período de transformações políticas, econômicas, sociais e culturais que, a todo instante, nos impõe desafios. Neste contexto, nas últimas décadas, o uso da tecnologia tem sido ampliado na realização de diversas atividades cotidianas, na divulgação de informações, na comunicação, como forma de expressão e organização da sociedade. A escola, enquanto instituição social, precisa reconhecer esta nova realidade, esta diferente possibilidade de aquisição e transformação de saber, para que possa intervir, ressignificar e redirecionar sua ação, a fim de atender as demandas de seu tempo. O objetivo geral desta pesquisa, a partir da apresentação e análise de experiências realizadas com o uso de Tecnologias da Informação e Conhecimento, é o de refletir sobre como inserir estas ferramentas no processo de ensinar e aprender na escola a partir da visão de professores e alunos, visando a formação integral do educando. Deste modo, no desenvolvimento, entendemos como necessário conhecer e considerar o contexto histórico, bem como as perspectivas relacionadas a escola e seus protagonistas (professores e estudantes) na chamada Sociedade da Informação e do Conhecimento. Ressaltamos a importância do docente (sua formação) e seu papel de mediador nos processos de aprendizagem, assim como a recepção à tecnologia, observando função e espaço de atuação desta. Destacamos experiências com a utilização de TDIC, realizada por professores e alunos, como a produção de game, revistas científicas, escrita de histórias, produções artísticas, blogs, vlogs, discussões em grupos presentes em redes sociais. A metodologia utilizada nesta pesquisa é qualitativa, na modalidade de pesquisa-ação e narrativa, em função do envolvimento com o grupo e com as atividades desenvolvidas, nas quais os participantes compartilham com o pesquisador suas histórias pessoais e de aprendizagem relacionadas às ações ou às atividades que realiza, fornecendo informações e indícios relevantes sobre o seu processo de formação ao longo do tempo. A revisão de literatura foi realizada por meio de análise bibliográfica e documental em livros, teses, dissertações, periódicos específicos sobre o assunto, além de artigos publicados na Internet. A coleta de dados foi realizada a partir de conversas informais, entrevistas semiestruturadas e filmagem dos relatos. A análise foi realizada a partir da abordagem hermenêutico-fenomenológica, que busca descrever e interpretar fenômenos da experiência humana, a fim de investigar a essência por meio da identificação de temas. Os resultados apontam para a necessidade e possibilidade da ampliação da utilização de TDIC como recurso no processo de ensino e aprendizagem, por meio de formação, diálogo, interação, intencionalidade, expectativas, esperança e seus desdobramentos.