A successful approach to conrol burning mouth syndrome using matricaria recutita and cognitive therapy

The burning mouth syndrome (BMS) has no specific clinical and laboratory signs. Its etiology is yet to be elucidated, but it is considered to be affected by multifactorial, psychological, and local and systemic factors. This condition is considered of great morbidity, and the main complaint of patients maybe associated with xerostomia, thirst, and altered taste. The present study aims to report two cases of BMS and to evaluate the outcome of cognitive therapy (CT) plus phytotherapy in the control of BMS. The patients were female, Caucasian, and aged between 58 and 69 years. The most BMS-affected anatomical parts were the lips and the tongue. In the clinical approach, oral and systemic evaluation, and disease management with CT plus chamomile tea were done. The patients were reassured, and their response to therapy one year after was found to be excellent despite few exacerbations in periods of great emotional stress. Thus, we conclude that psychological treatment is vital in the management of BMS, as CT, along with Matricaria recutita phytotherapy, displayed excellent results in the control of BMS

Early loss of cardiac function in acute myocardial infarction is associated with redox imbalance

BACKGROUND: The loss of viable myocardium subsequent to myocardial infarction (MI) impairs cardiac function, and oxidative stress is considered to be critical in this process. OBJECTIVES: To assess cardiac function and correlate it with oxidative stress and antioxidant levels in cardiac tissue at 48 h post-MI. METHODS: Adult male Wistar rats (n=6 per group) with a mean (± SD) weight of 229±24 g were randomly assigned to either an infarcted group or a control group. MI was induced by occlusion of the left coronary artery. Cardiac function was evaluated by measuring left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction, LV fractional shortening, cardiac output, myocardial performance index and the peak early diastolic velocity/peak atrial velocity ratio using echocardiography. The myocardial oxidative stress profile was assessed by measuring the reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione ratio, H2O2 levels, peroxiredoxin-6 protein levels and activity levels of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase. Lipid peroxidation was quantified using chemiluminescence, and protein oxidation was determined by measuring protein carbonyl levels. RESULTS: LV ejection fraction and LV fractional shortening were lower in the infarcted group compared with the sham group, whereas the peak early diastolic velocity/peak atrial velocity ratio and myocardial performance index were significantly increased, indicating systolic dysfunction. Lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyls and superoxide dismutase and catalase activity levels did not differ between the groups. Peroxyredoxin-6 levels were increased in the infarcted group, while H2O2 levels were reduced. The reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione ratio and the glutathione peroxidase activity were reduced in the infarcted group compared with control. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: These data suggest that MI-induced cardiac dysfunction and impaired redox balance may be associated with the activation of counter-regulatory responses to maintain reduced H2O2 concentrations and, thereby, prevent further oxidative damage at this early time point.Fil: Vicente Tavares, Angela María. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saude; BrasilFil: da Rosa Araujo, Alex Sande. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Llesuy, Susana Francisca. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad Medicina. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Química Analítica y Fisicoquímica. Cátedra de Química General e Inorgánica; ArgentinaFil: Khaper, Neelam. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saude; BrasilFil: Rohde, Luis Eduardo. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saude; BrasilFil: Clausell, Nadine. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saude; BrasilFil: Bello Klein, Adriane. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; Brasi

Moderate hyperhomocysteinemia provokes dysfunction of cardiovascular autonomic system and liver oxidative stress in rats

Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) is associated with cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis and reactive oxygen species generation. Thus, our aim was to investigate whether there was an association between HHcy, blood pressure, autonomic control and liver oxidative stress. Male Wistar rats were divided into 2 groups and treated for 8 weeks: one group (control, CO) received tap water, while the other group (methionine, ME) was given a 100 mg/kg of methionine in water by gavage. Two catheters were implanted into the femoral artery and vein to record arterial pressure (AP) and heart rate (HR) and drug administration. Signals were recorded by a data acquisition system. Baroreflex sensitivity was evaluated by HR responses to AP changes induced by vasoactive drugs. HR variability and AP variability were performed by spectral analysis in time and frequency domains to evaluate the contribution of the sympathetic and parasympathetic modulation. Lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzyme activities were evaluated by measuring superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase in liver homogenates. the ME group presented a significant increase in systolic arterial pressure (118 +/- 9 vs 135 +/- 6 mm Hg), diastolic arterial pressure (81 +/- 6 vs. 92 +/- 4) and mean arterial pressure (95 +/- 7 vs. 106 +/- 6). in addition, pulse interval variability presented a significant decrease (41%), while the low frequency component of AP was significantly increased (delta P = 6.24 mmHg(2)) in the ME group. We also found a positive association between lipid peroxidation and cardiac sympathetic modulation, sympathetic and vagal modulation ratio and systolic pressure variability. Collectively, these findings showed that HHcy induced dysfunction of cardiovascular autonomic system and liver oxidative stress. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)FAPERGSUniv Fed Rio Grande do Sul, Inst Ciencias Basicas Saude, Dept Fisiol, Lab Fisiol Cardiovasc, BR-90046900 Porto Alegre, RS, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Inst Coracao, Unidade Hipertensao, BR-05508 São Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Ciencias Saude Porto Alegre, BR-90050170 Porto Alegre, RS, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Biociencias, São Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Rio de Janeiro, Inst Nutr Josue Castro, BR-21941 Rio de Janeiro, BrazilUniv Santo Amaro, Programa Posgrad Ciencias Saude, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Biociencias, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Evidence that oxidative stress is increased in patients with X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy

AbstractX-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) is a hereditary disorder of peroxisomal metabolism biochemically characterized by the accumulation of very long chain fatty acids (VLCFA), particularly hexacosanoic acid (C26:0) and tetracosanoic acid (C24:0) in different tissues and in biological fluids. The disease is clinically characterized by central and peripheral demyelination and adrenal insufficiency, which is closely related to the increased concentrations of these fatty acids. However, the mechanisms underlying the brain damage in X-ALD are poorly known. Considering that free radical generation is involved in various neurodegererative disorders, like Parkinson disease, multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease, in the present study we evaluated various oxidative stress parameters, namely chemiluminescence, thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBA-RS), total radical-trapping antioxidant potential (TRAP), and total antioxidant reactivity (TAR) in plasma of X-ALD patients, as well as the activities of the antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in erythrocytes and fibroblasts from these patients. It was verified a significant increase of plasma chemiluminescence and TBA-RS, reflecting induction of lipid peroxidation, as well as a decrease of plasma TAR, indicating a deficient capacity to rapidly handle an increase of reactive species. We also observed a significant increase of erythrocytes GPx activity and of catalase and SOD activities in fibroblasts from the patients studied. It is therefore proposed that oxidative stress may be involved in pathophysiology of X-ALD

Effect of trolox C on cardiac contracture induced by hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) perfused into the aorta of the isolated rat heart induces a positive inotropic effect, with cardiac arrhythmia such as extrasystolic potentiation or cardiac contractures, depending on the dose. The last effect is similar to the “stone heart” observed in reperfusion injury and may be ascribed to lipoperoxidation (LPO) of the membrane lipids, to protein damage, to reduction of the ATP level, to enzymatic alterations and to cardioactive compounds liberated by LPO. These effects may result in calcium overload of the cardiac fibers and contracture (“stone heart”). Hearts from male Wistar rats (300- 350 g) were perfused at 31o C with Tyrode, 0.2 mM trolox C, 256 mM H2O2 or trolox C + H2O2. Cardiac contractures (baseline elevation of the myograms obtained) were observed when hearts were perfused with H2O2 (Tyrode: 5.9 ± 3.2; H2O2: 60.5 ± 13.9% of the initial value); perfusion with H2O2 increased the LPO of rat heart homogenates measured by chemiluminescence (Tyrode: 3,199 ± 259; H2O2: 5,304 ± 133 cps mg protein-1 60 min-1), oxygen uptake (Tyrode: 0.44 ± 0.1; H2O2: 3.2 ± 0.8 nmol min-1 mg protein-1) and malonaldehyde (TBARS) formation (Tyrode: 0.12 ± 0; H2O2: 0.37 ± 0.1 nmol/ml). Previous perfusion with 0.2 mM trolox C reduced the LPO (chemiluminescence: 4,098 ± 531), oxygen uptake (0.51 ± 0) and TBARS (0.13 ± 0) but did not prevent the H2O2-induced contractures (33.3 ± 16%). ATP (Tyrode: 2.84 ± 0; H2O2: 0.57 ± 0) and glycogen levels (Tyrode: 0.46 ± 0; H2O2: 0.26 ± 0) were reduced by H2O2. Trolox did not prevent these effects (ATP: 0.84 ± 0 and glycogen: 0.27 ± 0). Trolox C is known to be more effective than α-tocopherol or γ-tocopherol in reducing LPO though it lacks the phytol portion of vitamin E to be fixed to the cell membranes. Trolox C, unlike vitamin A, did not prevent the glycogen reduction induced by H2O2. Trolox C induced a positive chronotropic effect that resulted in higher energy consumption. The reduction of energy level seemed to be more important than LPO in the mechanism of H2O2-induced contracture

Myocardial ultrasonic tissue characterization in patients with thyroid dysfunction

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Structural myocardial abnormalities have been extensively documented in hypothyroidism. Experimental studies in animal models have also shown involvement of thyroid hormones in gene expression of myocardial collagen. This study was planned to investigate the ability of ultrasonic tissue characterization, as evaluated by integrated backscatter (IBS), to early identify myocardial involvement in thyroid dysfunction.</p> <p>Patients and Methods</p> <p>We studied 15 patients with hyperthyroidism (HYPER), 8 patients with hypothyroidism (HYPO), 14 patients with subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) and 19 normal (N) subjects, who had normal LV systolic function. After treatment, 10 HYPER, 6 HYPO, and 8 SCH patients were reevaluated. IBS images were obtained and analyzed in parasternal short axis (papillary muscle level) view, at left ventricular (LV) posterior wall. The following IBS variables were analyzed: 1) the corrected coefficient (CC) of IBS, obtained by dividing IBS intensity by IBS intensity measured in a rubber phantom, using the same equipment adjustments, at the same depth; 2) cardiac cyclic variation (CV) of IBS - peak-to-peak difference between maximal and minimal values of IBS during cardiac cycle; 3) cardiac cyclic variation index (CVI) of IBS - percentual relationship between the cyclic variation (CV) and the mean value of IBS intensity.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>CC of IBS was significantly larger (p < 0.05) in HYPER (1.57 ± 0.6) and HYPO (1.53 ± 0.3) as compared to SCH (1.32 ± 0.3) or N (1.15 ± 0.27). The CV (dB) (HYPO: 7.5 ± 2.4; SCH: 8.2 ± 3.1; HYPER: 8.2 ± 2.0) and the CVI (HYPO: 35.6 ± 19.7%; SCH: 34.7 ± 17.5%; HYPER: 37.8 ± 11.6%) were not significantly different in patients with thyroid dysfunction as compared to N (7.0 ± 2.0 and 44.5 ± 15.1%).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>CC of IBS was able to differentiate cardiac involvement in patients with overt HYPO and HYPER who had normal LV systolic function. These early myocardial structural abnormalities were partially reversed by drug therapy in HYPER group. On the other hand, although mean IBS intensity tended to be slightly larger in patients with SCH as compared to N, this difference was not statistical significant.</p

Drosophila Neurotrophins Reveal a Common Mechanism for Nervous System Formation

Neurotrophic interactions occur in Drosophila, but to date, no neurotrophic factor had been found. Neurotrophins are the main vertebrate secreted signalling molecules that link nervous system structure and function: they regulate neuronal survival, targeting, synaptic plasticity, memory and cognition. We have identified a neurotrophic factor in flies, Drosophila Neurotrophin (DNT1), structurally related to all known neurotrophins and highly conserved in insects.By investigating with genetics the consequences of removing DNT1 or adding it in excess, we show that DNT1 maintains neuronal survival, as more neurons die in DNT1 mutants and expression of DNT1 rescues naturally occurring cell death, and it enables targeting by motor neurons. We show that Spa¨ tzle and a further fly neurotrophin superfamily member, DNT2, also have neurotrophic functions in flies. Our findings imply that most likely a neurotrophin was present in the common ancestor of all bilateral organisms, giving rise to invertebrate and vertebrate neurotrophins through gene or whole-genome duplications. This work provides a missing link between aspects of neuronal function in flies and vertebrates, and it opens the opportunity to use Drosophila to investigate further aspects of neurotrophin function and to model related diseases

Efeito in vitro do Óleo de Lorenzo sobre alguns parâmetros de estresse oxidativo em córtex e fígado de ratos jovens

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Multiwavelength studies of MHD waves in the solar chromosphere: An overview of recent results

The chromosphere is a thin layer of the solar atmosphere that bridges the relatively cool photosphere and the intensely heated transition region and corona. Compressible and incompressible waves propagating through the chromosphere can supply significant amounts of energy to the interface region and corona. In recent years an abundance of high-resolution observations from state-of-the-art facilities have provided new and exciting ways of disentangling the characteristics of oscillatory phenomena propagating through the dynamic chromosphere. Coupled with rapid advancements in magnetohydrodynamic wave theory, we are now in an ideal position to thoroughly investigate the role waves play in supplying energy to sustain chromospheric and coronal heating. Here, we review the recent progress made in characterising, categorising and interpreting oscillations manifesting in the solar chromosphere, with an impetus placed on their intrinsic energetics.Comment: 48 pages, 25 figures, accepted into Space Science Review