Dietary chia seed (Salvia hispanica L.) rich in a-linolenic acid improves adiposity and normalises hypertriacylglycerolaemia and insulin resistance in dyslipaemic rats

The present study investigates the benefits of the dietary intake of chia seed (Salvia hispanica L.) rich in α-linolenic acid and fibre upon dyslipidaemia and insulin resistance (IR), induced by intake of a sucrose-rich (62.5 %) diet (SRD). To achieve these goals two sets of experiments were designed: (i) to study the prevention of onset of dyslipidaemia and IR in Wistar rats fed during 3 weeks with a SRD in which chia seed was the dietary source of fat; (ii) to analyse the effectiveness of chia seed in improving or reversing the metabolic abnormalities described above. Rats were fed a SRD during 3 months; by the end of this period, stable dyslipidaemia and IR were present in the animals. From months 3-5, half the animals continued with the SRD and the other half were fed a SRD in which the source of fat was substituted by chia seed (SRD+chia). The control group received a diet in which sucrose was replaced by maize starch. The results showed that: (i) dietary chia seed prevented the onset of dyslipidaemia and IR in the rats fed the SRD for 3 weeks - glycaemia did not change; (ii) dyslipidaemia and IR in the long-term SRD-fed rats were normalised without changes in insulinaemia when chia seed provided the dietary fat during the last 2 months of the feeding period. Dietary chia seed reduced the visceral adiposity present in the SRD rats. The present study provides new data regarding the beneficial effect of chia seed upon lipid and glucose homeostasis in an experimental model of dislipidaemia and IR.Fil: Chicco, Adriana Graciela. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas. Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas; ArgentinaFil: D'alessandro, Maria Eugenia Guadalupe. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas. Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas; ArgentinaFil: Hein, Gustavo Juan. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas. Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas; ArgentinaFil: Oliva, Maria Eugenia. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas. Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas; ArgentinaFil: Lombardo, Yolanda B.. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas. Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas; Argentin

El sentido del humor, la inteligencia emocional y su incidencia en la salud general

La presente tesina tiene como objetivo principal, medir el sentido del humor y la inteligencia emocional en población general y ver si existe alguna incidencia en la salud general. Para ello se realiza un estudio cuantitativo de tipo descriptivo. El tipo de muestra es no probabilística, de sujetos voluntarios, con las siguientes características específicas: jóvenes y adultos, hombres y mujeres entre 25 y 60 años, pertenecientes a un nivel socio-económico medio alto. Los instrumentos utilizados son: la Escala Multidimensional del Sentido del Humor, “Multidimensional Sense of Humor Scale” (MSHS) (adaptación de Carbelo, 2006), el Inventario de Inteligencia Emocional EQ-I (Baron 1997, adaptación Rivera Castillo,1999) y la Encuesta de salud SF 36 (Ware, J: y Sherbourne, C.D, 1992). Los resultados muestran que el sentido del humor tiene una incidencia positiva sobre la salud general, en tanto que la inteligencia emocional no se asociaría con la salud general. Se observa una tendencia de relación inversa entre sentido del humor y la inteligencia emocional, esto es, a menor inteligencia emocional, mayor sentido del humor.The main objective of this work is to measure the sense of humor and emotional intelligence in normal population and to search if there is any impact on people’s health. It is a descriptive quantitative study with a non-probabilistic sample of volunteer subjects with the following characteristics: women and men, young and adults between 25 and 60 years old belonging to upper middle socioeconomic status. The instruments used are: the "Multidimensional Sense of Humor Scale" (MSHS) (adaptation of Carbelo 2006), the Emotional Intelligence Inventory EQ-I (BarOn 1997, adaptation Rivera Castillo, 1999) and Health Survey SF 36 (Ware, J: and Sherbourne, CD, 1992). The results show that humor sense has an positive impact on general health; emotional intelligence shows no effect on overall health and ultimately resulting in a ratio inverse between sense of humor and emotional intelligence, that is, more humor sense, less emotional intelligence.Fil: Lombardo, Adriana Carolin

A Embrapa e a cooperação técnica internacional para o desenvolvimento na África Subsaariana : o caso do Projeto ProSavana

Dissertação (mestrado)—Universidade de Brasília, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Desenvolvimento, Sociedade e Cooperação Internacional, 2015.A presente dissertação analisa a influência das relações interculturais na Cooperação Técnica entre Países em Desenvolvimento (CTPD), em particular do Brasil com países africanos no âmbito da agricultura, focando em projetos gerenciados pela Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (Embrapa), vinculada ao Ministério de Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento (MAPA). O objetivo principal do estudo é analisar em que medida a aplicação de um enfoque cultural pode auxiliar o desenvolvimento das iniciativas de cooperação técnica oficial entre o Brasil e outros países, promovendo a valorização das diferenças culturais e gerando benefícios mútuos. Para tal fim, será analisado um dos grandes projetos de cooperação da Embrapa (“Projetos Estruturantes”): o ProSavana, realizado em Moçambique. Tem-se como hipótese geral que os projetos não tenham devidamente considerado as dimensões culturais envolvidas na sua implementação. Depois de confirmar esta hipótese, o estudo irá apontar como projetos similares poderão incluir processos específicos de gerenciamento efetivo de relações interculturais entre Brasil e outros países, de acordo com o objetivo principal da CTPD de compartilhar conhecimentos, técnicas e tecnologias previamente testadas e validadas, adaptando-as de forma proveitosa para os países beneficiários. Metodologicamente, a pesquisa é sustentada pelos recursos teóricos e técnicos próprios da antropologia, por ser a ciência que acumulou uma ampla gama de conhecimento sobre a temática das diferenças sociais e culturais. Em razão disso, serão utilizados vários procedimentos (observação, entrevistas semiestruturadas e análise de discurso, entre outros) que têm enfoque qualitativo e múltiplo.This dissertation analyses the influence of intercultural relations on Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries (TCDC), specifically regarding Brazil with African countries in the field of agriculture, focusing on projects managed by the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa), affiliated to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA). The main objective of the study is to analyse to what extent the implementation of a cultural approach can assist the development of official technical cooperation initiatives between Brazil and other countries, promoting the recognition of cultural differences and thus generating mutual benefits. To this end, one of the major cooperation projects of Embrapa ("Structuring Projects") will be analysed: the ProSavana, carried out in Mozambique. The overarching hypothesis is that those projects have not properly considered the cultural dimensions involved in its implementation. After confirming this hypothesis, the study will point out how similar projects could include specific procedures for the effective management of intercultural relations between Brazil and other countries, according to the main objective of TCDC to share knowledge, techniques and technologies which are previously tested and validated, usefully adapting them for the beneficiary countries. In terms of methodology, the research is supported by theoretical and technical resources normally used in anthropology, being this a science field which accumulated an extensive breadth of knowledge on the subject of social and cultural differences. For this reason, several procedures (observation, semi-structured interviews, and critical discourse analysis, among others), which have multiple and qualitative approach, will be used

Dietary chia seed induced changes in hepatic transcription factors and their target lipogenic and oxidative enzyme activities in dyslipidaemic insulin-resistant rats

The present study analyses the effect of dietary chia seed rich in n-3 a-linolenic acid on the mechanisms underlying dyslipidaemia and liver steatosis developed in rats fed a sucrose-rich diet (SRD) for either 3 weeks or 5 months. The key hepatic enzyme activities such as fatty acid synthase (FAS), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH), carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 (CPT-1) and fatty acid oxidase (FAO) involved in lipid metabolism and the protein mass levels of sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 (SREBP-1) and PPARa were studied. (1) For 3 weeks, Wistar rats were fed either a SRD with 11% of maize oil (MO) as dietary fat or a SRD in which chia seed replaced MO (SRD þ Chia). (2) A second group of rats were fed a SRD for 3 months. Afterwards, half the rats continued with the SRD while for the other half, MO was replaced by chia for 2 months (SRD þ Chia). In a control group, maize starch replaced sucrose. Liver TAG and the aforementioned parameters were analysed in all groups. The replacement of MO by chia in the SRD prevented (3 weeks) or improved/normalised (5 months) increases in dyslipidaemia, liver TAG, FAS, ACC and G-6-PDH activities, and increased FAO and CPT-1 activities. Protein levels of PPARa increased, and the increased mature form of SREBP-1 protein levels in the SRD was normalised by chia in both protocols (1 and 2). The present study provides new data regarding some key mechanisms related to the fate of hepatic fatty acid metabolism that seem to be involved in the effect of dietary chia seed in preventing and normalising/ improving dyslipidaemia and liver steatosis in an insulin-resistant rat model.Fil: Rossi, Andrea Silvana. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Bioquimica y Ciencias Biologicas. Departamento de Cs.biologicas; ArgentinaFil: Oliva, Maria Eugenia. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Bioquimica y Ciencias Biologicas. Departamento de Cs.biologicas; ArgentinaFil: Ferreira, María R.. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Bioquimica y Ciencias Biologicas. Departamento de Cs.biologicas; ArgentinaFil: Chicco, Adriana Graciela. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Bioquimica y Ciencias Biologicas. Departamento de Cs.biologicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Santa Fe; ArgentinaFil: Lombardo, Yolanda B.. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Bioquimica y Ciencias Biologicas. Departamento de Cs.biologicas; Argentin

Case Report: An Unusual Case of Biventricular Thrombosis in a COVID-19 Patient With Ischemic Dilated Cardiomyopathy Assessment of Mass Mobility and Embolic Risk by Tissue Doppler Imaging

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein binds to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor on vascular cells. As a consequence, patients with COVID-19 have an increased incidence of thromboembolic complications of the SARS-CoV-2 infection and subsequent endothelial cell damage with consequence of development of systemic vasculitis and diffuse intravascular coagulation. The present case describes a COVID-19 female patient with ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy, who presented with congestive heart failure and echocardiographic evidence of biventricular apical thrombi. The peak antegrade longitudinal velocity (Va) of each thrombotic mass was measured by pulsed wave tissue Doppler imaging (PW-TDI). Both left ventricular and right ventricular apical thrombi were found with a TDI-derived mass peak Va < 10 cm/s. There was no clinical evidence of neither systemic nor pulmonary embolization, probably due to the hypomobility of both left and right ventricular masses

Effects of isolated soy protein on blood pressure and altered glucose metabolism in the heart muscle of dyslipemic insulin–resistant rats

El objetivo del trabajo fue analizar los efectos de la administración de proteína de soja aislada, sobre la hipertensión y alteraciones del metabolismo de la glucosa presentes en el músculo cardíaco de ratas dislipémicas insulino resistentes, inducidas por una ingesta crónica de una dieta rica en sacarosa (DRS). Ratas machos Wistar recibieron durante 4 meses DRS. Finalizado este período, la mitad de los animales continuó con la DRS y en la otra mitad la proteína de soja aislada sustituyó a la caseína como fuente proteica (DRS+PS) durante 4 meses adicionales. El grupo control (DC) consumió dieta control durante toda la experiencia. Los resultados alcanzados demuestran que ésta manipulación dietaría fue capaz de revertir la hipertensión arterial normalizando la alterada fosforilación de la glucosa estimada por la actividad hexoquinasa- y el contenido de glucosa-6-fosfato y glucógeno en el musculo cardiaco. La sustitución de caseína por proteína de soja como fuente proteica normalizó los niveles plasmáticos de triglicéridos, ácidos grasos no esterificados y la moderada hiperglucemia sin cambios en la insulinemia. La sensibilidad insulinica periférica global mejoró notablemente aunque sin alcanzar valores del grupo DC. Los resultados obtenidos muestran a la proteína de soja dietaría como una herramienta nutricional capaz de normalizar la presión arterial, la fosforilación y la vía no oxidativa de la glucosa en el músculo cardíaco en este modelo experimental.The present study analyzes the effect of dietary isolated soy protein on hypertension and impaired glucose metabolism present in the heart muscle of dyslipemic insulin– resistant rats fed a sucrose–rich diet (SRD). Male Wistar rats received a SRD for 4 months. At this time half of the animals continue with the same diet for up to 8 months, the other half was fed an SRD in which isolated soy protein replaced casein as protein source (DRS+PS) for 4 additional months. The control group (CD) consumed control diet throughout the experimental diet. The results obtained show that this dietary manipulation was able to reverse the hypertension normalizing the altered glucose phosphorylation -estimated by hexokinase activity- and glucose 6-phosphate and glycogen content in the heart muscle of SRD fed rats. The replacement of soy protein by casein as protein source normalized plasma levels of triglycerides, NEFA and the moderate hyperglycemia without change of insulinemia. Although the whole body peripheral insulin sensitivity improved significantly values were still higher than those of CD group. The results showed that the dietary soy protein could be a nutritional tool capable to normalized blood pressure, and heart muscle glucose phosphorylation as well as the nonoxidative pathway of glucose in this experimental animal model.Fil: Oliva, Maria Eugenia. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas. Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas. Cátedra de Química Biológica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe; ArgentinaFil: Chicco, Adriana Graciela. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas. Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas. Cátedra de Química Biológica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe; ArgentinaFil: Lombardo, Y. B.. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas. Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas. Cátedra de Química Biológica; Argentin

Preliminary Evidence for IL-10-Induced ACE2 mRNA Expression in Lung-Derived and Endothelial Cells: Implications for SARS-Cov-2 ARDS Pathogenesis

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is a receptor for the spike protein of SARS-COV-2 that allows viral binding and entry and is expressed on the surface of several pulmonary and non-pulmonary cell types, with induction of a \u201ccytokine storm\u201d upon binding. Other cell types present the receptor and can be infected, including cardiac, renal, intestinal, and endothelial cells. High ACE2 levels protect from inflammation. Despite the relevance of ACE2 levels in COVID-19 pathogenesis, experimental studies to comprehensively address the question of ACE2 regulations are still limited. A relevant observation from the clinic is that, besides the pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6 and IL-1\u3b2, the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 is also elevated in worse prognosis patients. This could represent somehow a \u201cdanger signal\u201d, an alarmin from the host organism, given the immuno-regulatory properties of the cytokine. Here, we investigated whether IL-10 could increase ACE2 expression in the lung-derived Calu-3 cell line. We provided preliminary evidence of ACE2 mRNA increase in cells of lung origin in vitro, following IL-10 treatment. Endothelial cell infection by SARS-COV-2 is associated with vasculitis, thromboembolism, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. We confirmed ACE2 expression enhancement by IL-10 treatment also on endothelial cells. The sartans (olmesartan and losartan) showed non-statistically significant ACE2 modulation in Calu-3 and endothelial cells, as compared to untreated control cells. We observed that the antidiabetic biguanide metformin, a putative anti-inflammatory agent, also upregulates ACE2 expression in Calu-3 and endothelial cells. We hypothesized that IL-10 could be a danger signal, and its elevation could possibly represent a feedback mechanism fighting inflammation. Although further confirmatory studies are required, inducing IL-10 upregulation could be clinically relevant in COVID-19-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and vasculitis, by reinforcing ACE2 levels

Bacterias lácticas durante la fermentación alcohólica de vinos mendocinos

Las bacterias lácticas (BAL) forman parte de la microbiota que acompaña a la uva desde el viñedo, que permanece y resiste el proceso de fermentación alcohólica, dependiendo de las prácticas enotécnicas que se realicen. Están presentes durante todas las etapas de la elaboración del vino, aunque su número y proporción varían también, en función de factores físicos, químicos y nutricionales. Las características microbiológicas que presentan son las siguientes: son bacilos, cocobacilos, cocos, Gram (+), no esporulados, catalasa y oxidasa (-), inmóviles, anaerobios aerotolerantes, pertenecientes a variadas especies tales como Lactobacillus, Oenococcus, Pediococcus, Leuconostoc. Estos microorganismos pueden ser utilizados para mejoras organolépticas del vino, fermentación maloláctica, disminuyendo la agresividad del ácido málico que es transformado en ácido láctico con los atributos que esto significa. Así también pueden ser causantes de defectos o enfermedades del vino, picadura láctica, dependiendo del sustrato que puedan atacar, como el azúcar, ácido tartárico, ácido cítrico, glicerol, etc. Los objetivos de trabajo fueron: Estudiar la cinética poblacional de estas bacterias durante la fermentación alcohólica, en un vino Malbec y otro Petit Verdot de Valle de Uco, Mendoza. Determinar la variabilidad en número y características de las especies de BAL involucrada

Recuento de bacterias lácticas durante la fermentación alcohólica en vinos de Mendoza

La riqueza y diversidad de bacterias lácticas en los mostos y los vinos tiene importantes implicaciones estilísticas y son dependientes de las condiciones de éstos, de los parámetros de los mostos y de la propia elaboración del vino. Por lo tanto, determinar las variaciones de la población láctica durante el proceso de vinificación, así como establecer relaciones con las características deseables e indeseables que le confieren al producto, permitirían conocer el manejo de las mismas, para poder orientarlas y obtener los resultados esperados en el producto final. Por otra parte, se sabe que la complejidad de las características de los aromas y sabores de un vino, los que se conocen como secundarios, se producen en esta etapa, durante la fermentación, de allí la importancia de conocer los procesos metabólicos, llevados a cabo por distintas especies microbianas, ocurridos en ella