Orofacial manifestations in outpatients with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa focusing on the vomiting behavior

Objective: This case-control study aims to evaluate the oral health status and orofacial problems in a group of outpatients with eating disorders (ED)—either anorexia nervosa (AN) or bulimia nervosa (BN)—further focusing on the influence of vomit. Materials and methods: Fifty-five women outpatients with AN or BN diagnosis were invited to participate, of which 33 agreed. ED outpatients and matched controls were submitted to a questionnaire and clinical oral examination. Results: Multivariate analysis identified a significantly higher incidence of teeth-related complications (i.e., tooth decay, dental erosion, and self-reported dentin hypersensitivity), periodontal disease, salivary alterations (i.e., hyposalivation and xerostomia), and oral mucosa-related complications in ED outpatients. Dental erosion, self-reported dentin hypersensitivity, hyposalivation, xerostomia, and angular cheilitis were found to be highly correlated with the vomiting behavior. Conclusions: ED outpatients were found to present a higher incidence of oral-related complications and an inferior oral health status, compared to gender- and age-matched controls. Alterations verified within outpatients were acknowledged to be quite similar to those previously reported within inpatients, in both of nature and severity, thus sustaining that the cranio-maxillofacial region is significantly affected by ED, even in the early/milder forms of the condition, as expectedly verified within outpatients.The work was supported by the Faculty of Dental Medicine, U. Porto

System analysis of metabolism in Helicobacter pylori

Systems biology integrates different levels of information for understanding biological systems. The availability of the genome sequence of Helicobacter pylori has allowed the construction of a genome-scale metabolic model for this organism. In order to study the behaviour of H. pylori and understand the mechanisms associated with infection using systems biology tools and controlled cultivation conditions, fermentations in a chemically defined medium were performed and several conditions were tested. The experimental data obtained were compared with simulated data generated by the existing model. The simultaneous use of both approaches allows to correct the in silico model and, on the other hand, to rationally adjust the medium components. The improvement of the genome-scale metabolic model will allow the identification of potential targets in order to design more effective drugs for the inactivation of H. pylori

Identification of differentially expressed genes in pathways of cerebral neurotransmission of anovulatory mice

Polycystic ovary syndrome is the classic example of loss of functional cyclicity and anomalous feedback. In this case, the excessive extra-glandular production and conversion of androgens to estrogens are the pathophysiological basis of the chronic anovulation. The literature describes an experimental model of the polymicrocystic ovary in obese diabetic mice with insulin resistance. The fact that these animals exhibit obesity, insulin resistance, and infertility demonstrates their skill as an experimental model for polycystic ovary. A recent study using long protocol for up to 40 weeks showed that anovulatory and obese mice transplanted with adipose tissue from animals with normal weight have multiple changes in their phenotype. These changes include reduction of body weight, prevention of obesity, insulin level normalization, and insulin tolerance tests, preventing the elevation of steroids and especially the reversal of fertility restoration with anovulation. Considering that there are close relationships between the ovulation process and the central nervous system, we propose to evaluate the gene expression levels of 84 different genes involved in neurotransmission and insulin pathways in addition to examining the neurolipidosis differential murine brain before and after reversal of anovulation. The present study showed changes in gene expression of molecular markers in brain tissue of animals for brain neurotransmission pathways as well as pathways for insulin. GABAergic genes, muscarinic, serotonin receptors, receptor tyrosine kinase, and genes of interleukin 6 showed overexpression profile. There was also a change in the lipid content in anovulatory brain, obesity, and insulin resistant mice (Ob-/Ob-) compared with controls. The re-introduction of leptin in these animals appears to reverse, at least in part, this profile.Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Lab Ginecol Mol, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Lab Ginecol Mol, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Respiratory and non-respiratory outcomes of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in adolescents: A systematic review

Background: There is lack of evidence synthesis on the global consequences of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in adolescence. Aim: Assess the impact of bronchopulmonary dysplasia on respiratory and non-respiratory outcomes in adolescents.Methods: A systematic review of studies assessing the outcomes of adolescents aged 10 to 19 years-old with BPD was conducted. We independently screened studies published until 6th March 2023 in PubMed (R) and Scopus (R) databases. Data on methodologic design, sample descriptive and findings were extracted from each study. Risk of bias was assessed using quality assessment tools.Results: Thirty-one studies were included. Adolescents with a history of BPD present with more respiratory symptoms (wheezing, respiratory exacerbations, need for respiratory medication) and twenty-five studies showed a reduction in pulmonary function, with varying impact according to BPD severity and no differences before and after the surfactant era. Spirometry evaluation throughout the years is not consensual, but meth-acholine and salbutamol response in BPD groups is increased compared to non-BPD groups. Markers of eosin-ophilic airway inflammation are not increased as in asthma patients. Exercise potential is identical, but data regarding physical capacity and activity are inconsistent. More frequent radiologic abnormalities translate into higher high-resolution computed tomography scores, with linear (72.2 %) and triangular subpleural opacities (58.3 %) as the most common findings. There is a higher risk for special needs in education, but quality of life seems to be equal to non-BPD adolescents.Conclusions: BPD negatively impacts both pulmonary and non-pulmonary outcomes in adolescents

Uncovering the metabolic capacities of H. pylori 26695 using 13C labeling experiments

The determination of nutritional requirements of pathogenic organisms is of great significance for understanding host-pathogen interactions. Despite the knowledge obtained so far concerning amino acid requirements in H. pylori, it is still unclear which are the metabolic pathways used for biosynthesis and catabolism. Thus, information on the carbon flow in this organism is required. Glutamate is a very important metabolite in bacterial metabolism that can be used as a carbon and nitrogen source. 13C flux analysis has been largely applied to characterize phenotypes by quantifying in vivo the carbon fluxes. One of the most important applications of this approach is the identification of active pathways in less-studied organisms. Thus, in order to clarify the metabolic pathways used by H. pylori 26695, 13C labeling experiments with 13C-glutamate were conducted and labeled amino acids in biomass hydrolysates were analyzed by GC-MS. The obtained results confirmed L-glutamate as a potential sole and effective carbon source for H. pylori. Overall, all non-essential amino acids, except proline, presented a 13C labeling pattern. We hypothesized that L-proline is produced from L-arginine, while L-alanine is probably produced from pyruvate by alanine dehydrogenase. Additionally, the full usage of complete TCA cycle, under the conditions used, was also demonstrated

A importância da microscopia electrónica no estudo taxonómico do recife algal fóssil da Prainha.

XXXVIII Reunião Anual da Sociedade Portuguesa de Microscopia Electrónica e Biologia Celular. Ponta Delgada, Açores, 5-7 de Dezembro de 2003

Cobble beaches in oceanic islands : how they react to hydrodynamics and location in the island?

1st Mares Conference on Marine Ecosystems Health and Conservation. Olhão, Portugal 17-21 November 2014.Cobble beaches are a particular part of the coastal scenery in the Azores. The islands are geological recent and most of its coasts are composed of cliffs and basaltic lava flows, leaving only few spots for the accumulation of cobbles and the construction of cobble beaches. The beach structure changes with the hydrodynamics intensity from summer to winter, but wit it will its biological communities necessarily change? Will the location of a beach in one island be important in the community structure? This study was made in the island of Terceira. Four beaches were assessed, two in the northern coast, with heavy hydrodynamics and two in the eastern coast, more sheltered from the surge intensity. Each beach was surveyed in the summer and in the winter of 2013. At Each beach a beach profile was made for each season, cobble size was measured in three fringes of the shore, and animal and algal communities abundances were assessed as well. Data concerning wave size, direction and intensity and sea water temperature for the island all year round was obtained through oceanic buoys. Comparisons were made between seasons for each beach as well as between beaches from the north coast and beaches from the east coast of the island. Results showed differences between beaches and at the same beach between seasons, showing that the location of a cobble beach can influence its biological community, ant that seasonal alterations made by wave intensity are important in shaping the biological communities