Enalapril effects on nitric oxide synthase inhibition-induced hypertension: hemodynamic and oxidative stress evaluations

This study examined the effects of enalapril treatment on L-NAME-induced hypertensive rats and oxidative profile in the heart. Four experimental groups were established: control (received water for three weeks); L-NAME (600 mg/L in drinking for three weeks); enalapril (20 mg/L in drinking two last weeks); L-NAME + enalapril, treated with L-NAME for one week, and L-NAME plus enalapril in the last two weeks. Arterial blood pressure, lipid peroxidation (TBARS and chemiluminescence-CL), and catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione-S-transferase activities were evaluated. An increase by 47 % in the arterial blood pressure was observed in L-NAME-treated rats. Hypertension was reduced (9 %) with enalapril. Hypertension increased TBARS (177 %), CL (23 %), and glutathione peroxidase (31 %), this last, reducing by 11 % in L-NAME + enalapril group. Glutathione-Stransferase increased by 46 % in enalapril group. These results suggest that L-NAME administration increased arterial pressure and oxidative stress, indicating glutathione peroxidase as an important antioxidant in this model.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Resolving the Sources of Plasma Glucose Excursions following a Glucose Tolerance Test in the Rat with Deuterated Water and [U-13C]Glucose

Sources of plasma glucose excursions (PGE) following a glucose tolerance test enriched with [U-13C]glucose and deuterated water were directly resolved by 13C and 2H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy analysis of plasma glucose and water enrichments in rat. Plasma water 2H-enrichment attained isotopic steady-state within 2–4 minutes following the load. The fraction of PGE derived from endogenous sources was determined from the ratio of plasma glucose position 2 and plasma water 2H-enrichments. The fractional gluconeogenic contributions to PGE were obtained from plasma glucose positions 2 and 5 2H-positional enrichment ratios and load contributions were estimated from plasma [U-13C]glucose enrichments. At 15 minutes, the load contributed 26±5% of PGE while 14±2% originated from gluconeogenesis in healthy control rats. Between 15 and 120 minutes, the load contribution fell whereas the gluconeogenic contribution remained constant. High-fat fed animals had significant higher 120-minute blood glucose (173±6 mg/dL vs. 139±10 mg/dL, p<0.05) and gluconeogenic contributions to PGE (59±5 mg/dL vs. 38±3 mg/dL, p<0.01) relative to standard chow-fed controls. In summary, the endogenous and load components of PGE can be resolved during a glucose tolerance test and these measurements revealed that plasma glucose synthesis via gluconeogenesis remained active during the period immediately following a glucose load. In rats that were placed on high-fat diet, the development of glucose intolerance was associated with a significantly higher gluconeogenic contribution to plasma glucose levels after the load

An original phylogenetic approach identified mitochondrial haplogroup T1a1 as inversely associated with breast cancer risk in BRCA2 mutation carriers

Introduction: Individuals carrying pathogenic mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes have a high lifetime risk of breast cancer. BRCA1 and BRCA2 are involved in DNA double-strand break repair, DNA alterations that can be caused by exposure to reactive oxygen species, a main source of which are mitochondria. Mitochondrial genome variations affect electron transport chain efficiency and reactive oxygen species production. Individuals with different mitochondrial haplogroups differ in their metabolism and sensitivity to oxidative stress. Variability in mitochondrial genetic background can alter reactive oxygen species production, leading to cancer risk. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that mitochondrial haplogroups modify breast cancer risk in BRCA1/2 mutation carriers. Methods: We genotyped 22,214 (11,421 affected, 10,793 unaffected) mutation carriers belonging to the Consortium of Investigators of Modifiers of BRCA1/2 for 129 mitochondrial polymorphisms using the iCOGS array. Haplogroup inference and association detection were performed using a phylogenetic approach. ALTree was applied to explore the reference mitochondrial evolutionary tree and detect subclades enriched in affected or unaffected individuals. Results: We discovered that subclade T1a1 was depleted in affected BRCA2 mutation carriers compared with the rest of clade T (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.55; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.34 to 0.88; P = 0.01). Compared with the most frequent haplogroup in the general population (that is, H and T clades), the T1a1 haplogroup has a HR of 0.62 (95% CI, 0.40 to 0.95; P = 0.03). We also identified three potential susceptibility loci, including G13708A/rs28359178, which has demonstrated an inverse association with familial breast cancer risk. Conclusions: This study illustrates how original approaches such as the phylogeny-based method we used can empower classical molecular epidemiological studies aimed at identifying association or risk modification effects.Peer reviewe

Voltando o olhar para o professor: a psicologia e pedagogia caminhando juntas Turning our eyes to the teacher: psychology and pedagogy walking together

O presente estudo busca apresentar o trabalho da Equipe de Estágio do 5º ano de Psicologia da Universidade Estadual de Maringá (UEM), em uma escola pública, no ano de 2000. A importância deste trabalho está na reflexão sobre o papel do psicólogo escolar, bem como de suas práticas, considerando que o trabalho realizado desenvolveu um processo de questionamento das relações estabelecidas nessa escola no que diz respeito à indisciplina e à prática pedagógica. Uma intervenção foi proposta a partir das queixas apresentadas, relacionadas à indisciplina dos alunos das quintas séries. O trabalho envolveu os integrantes da instituição escolar: professores, pais, equipe técnico-pedagógica e alunos. Como resultados pôde-se verificar que alguns integrantes do grupo de professores conseguiram perceber as relações existentes entre indisciplina, contexto escolar e social e prática pedagógica. Além disso, ocorreu uma integração entre os alunos, diminuindo a rivalidade e a indisciplina existentes entre eles.<br>The purpose of this study is to discuss the work of a group of Psychology students from the "State University of Maringá (UEM)" at a public school, in 2000. The importance of their work is the characterization the role of the school psychologist, as well as his practices, which was made possible through a critical examination of the relationships established in that school in regard to indiscipline and teaching practices. The idea of an intervention arose from the complaints expressed and which were related to indiscipline among students in the first year of grammar school. The work involved teachers, parents, the technical-pedagogical team and students. It was observed that some teachers were capable of identifying a relationship between indiscipline, social context, teaching practice and school context. Besides that, it was observed integration among students along with the decline of rivalry and unruly behavior