Mercapturate Pathway in the Tubulocentric Perspective of Diabetic Kidney Disease

BACKGROUND: The recent growing evidence that the proximal tubule underlies the early pathogenesis of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is unveiling novel and promising perspectives. This pathophysiological concept links tubulointerstitial oxidative stress, inflammation, hypoxia, and fibrosis with the progression of DKD. In this new angle for DKD, the prevailing molecular mechanisms on proximal tubular cells emerge as an innovative opportunity for prevention and management of DKD as well as to improve diabetic dysmetabolism. SUMMARY: The mercapturate pathway (MAP) is a classical metabolic detoxification route for xenobiotics that is emerging as an integrative circuitry detrimental to resolve tubular inflammation caused by endogenous electrophilic species. Herein we review why and how it might underlie DKD. Key Messages: MAP is a hallmark of proximal tubular cell function, and cysteine-S-conjugates might represent targets for early intervention in DKD. Moreover, the biomonitoring of urinary mercapturates from metabolic inflammation products might be relevant for the implementation of preventive/management strategies in DKD.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Finasteride 5 mg/day Treatment of Patterned Hair Loss in Normo-androgenetic Postmenopausal Women

BACKGROUND: There is no consensus on the standard treatment options for female pattern androgenetic alopecia (AGA). Efficacy of finasteride in women is controversial. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of 5 mg/day oral finasteride in normoandrogenic postmenopausal woman. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 40 normoandrogenic postmenopausal women with AGA was enrolled in this study. They were treated with oral finasteride 5 mg/day for 18 months. Efficacy was evaluated by patient's satisfaction and global photograph assessment. All the 40 patients completed 18 months of finasteride treatment schedule. RESULTS: After 6 months, 22 patients referred significant improvement, 12 moderate improvement, and 6 no improvement. Regarding to global photo assessment, 8 patients showed no improvement, 16 showed moderate improvement and 16 showed significant improvements at the 6(th) month. A slight improvement was observed over time from 6 to 12 and 18 months observation. Maintained libido reduction was referred by four patients and liver enzymes increase was observed in one patient. Older patients were more prone to worse response. DISCUSSION: Finasteride 5 mg/day is effective and safe for the treatment of female AGA in postmenopausal women in the absence of clinical or laboratory signs of hyper-androgenism

Photoprotection and optimization of sucrose usage contribute to faster recovery of photosynthesis after water deficit at high temperatures in wheat

Plants are increasingly exposed to events of elevated temperature and water deficit, which threaten crop productivity. Understanding the ability to rapidly recover from abiotic stress, restoring carbon assimilation and biomass production, is important to unravel crop climate resilience. This study compared the photosynthetic performance of two Triticum aestivum L. cultivars, Sokoll and Paragon, adapted to the climate of Mexico and UK, respectively, exposed to one week water deficit and high temperatures, in isolation or combination. Measurements included photosynthetic assimilation rate, stomatal conductance, in vitro activities of Rubisco (EC 4.1.1.39) and invertase (INV, EC 3.2.1.26), antioxidant capacity and chlorophyll a fluorescence. In both genotypes, under elevated temperatures and water deficit (WD38℃), the photosynthetic limitations were mainly due to stomatal restrictions and to a decrease in the electron transport rate. Chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters clearly indicate differences between the two genotypes in the photoprotection when subjected to WD38℃ and showed faster recovery of Paragon after stress relief. The activity of the cytosolic invertase (CytINV) under these stress conditions was strongly related to the fast photosynthesis recovery of Paragon. Taken together, the results suggest that optimal sucrose export/utilization and increased photoprotection of the electron transport machinery are important components to limit yield fluctuations due to water shortage and elevated temperatures

Plasmon-Assisted Delivery of Single Nano-Objects in an Optical Hot Spot

Fully exploiting the capability of nano-optics to enhance light-matter interaction on the nanoscale is conditioned by bringing the nano-object to interrogate within the minuscule volume where the field is concentrated. There currently exists several approaches to control the immobilization of nano-objects but they all involve a cumbersome delivery step and require prior knowledge of the “hot spot” location.1−6 Herein, we present a novel technique in which the enhanced local field in the hot spot is the driving mechanism that triggers the binding of proteins via three-photon absorption. This way, we demonstrate exclusive immobilization of nanoscale amounts of bovine serum albumin molecules into the nanometer-sized gap of plasmonic dimers. The immobilized proteins can then act as a scaffold to subsequently attach an additional nanoscale object such as a molecule or a nanocrystal. This universal technique is envisioned to benefit a wide range of nano-optical functionalities including biosensing,7−12 enhanced spectroscopy like surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy13,14 or surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy,15 as well as quantum optics.1,2,

Ulnar nerve contribution in the innervation of the triceps brachii muscle ulnar nerve to the triceps brachii

The ulnar nerve is considered the thickest terminal branch of the medial cord in the brachial plexus and most authors does not mention the possibility of this nerve emitting branches to the arm. However, some studies reported that the ulnar nerve could supply the medial head of triceps brachii muscle. The main objective in this study was identifying the presence of ulnar nerve branches in triceps brachii muscle. Sixty upper limbs of adult Brazilian corpses of both sexes were used. The estimated age was between 25 and 80 years old. Every studied piece had the nerves and their branches quantified and measured with a manual mechanic caliper. The branches were photographed and had the data registered in individual files. Were found ulnar nerve branches for all the heads of triceps brachii muscle: 1 branch (9,1%) to lateral head, 2 branches (18,1%) to long head and 8 branches (72,7%) to medial head. Thus, we can conclude that the contribution of ulnar nerve to triceps brachii muscle constitutes an important anatomical variation.Key words: Ulnar nerve; Triceps brachii muscle; Innervation

Xanthan Gum–Konjac Glucomannan Blend Hydrogel for Wound Healing

Hydrogels are considered to be the most ideal materials for the production of wound dressings since they display a three-dimensional structure that mimics the native extracellular matrix of skin as well as a high-water content, which confers a moist environment at the wound site. Until now, different polymers have been used, alone or blended, for the production of hydrogels aimed for this biomedical application. From the best of our knowledge, the application of a xanthan gum-konjac glucomannan blend has not been used for the production of wound dressings. Herein, a thermo-reversible hydrogel composed of xanthan gum-konjac glucomannan (at different concentrations (1% and 2% w/v) and ratios (50/50 and 60/40)) was produced and characterized. The obtained data emphasize the excellent physicochemical and biological properties of the produced hydrogels, which are suitable for their future application as wound dressings.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Levels of Angiopoietin 2 Are Predictive for Mortality in Patients Infected With Yellow Fever Virus

In 2018 there was a large yellow fever outbreak in São Paulo, Brazil, with a high fatality rate. Yellow fever virus can cause, among other symptoms, hemorrhage and disseminated intravascular coagulation, indicating a role for endothelial cells in disease pathogenesis. Here, we conducted a case-control study and measured markers related to endothelial damage in plasma and its association with mortality. We found that angiopoietin 2 is strongly associated with a fatal outcome and could serve as a predictive marker for mortality. This could be used to monitor severe cases and provide care to improve disease outcome

The role of gut-liver axis in the restriction of intrauterine growth in a model of experimental gastroschisis

PURPOSE: To evaluate the intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) by the expression of IR-&#946;, IRS-1, IRS-2, IGF-IR&#946; and Ikappa&#946; in experimental model of gastroschisis. METHODS: Pregnant rats at 18.5 days of gestation were submitted to surgery to create experimental fetal gastroschisis (term = 22 days) were divided in three groups: gastroschisis (G), control (C) and sham (S). Fetuses were evaluated for body weight (BW), intestinal (IW), liver (LW) and their relations IW/BW and LW/BW. IR-&#946; and IGF-IR&#946; receptors, IRS-1 and IRS-2 substrates and Ikappa&#946; protein were analyzed by western blotting. RESULTS: BW was lower in G, the IW and IW / BW were greater than C and S (p<0.05) groups. The liver showed no differences between groups. In fetuses with gastroschisis, compared with control fetuses, the expression of IGF-IR&#946; (p<0.001) and Ikappa&#946; (p<0.001) increased in the liver and intestine, as well as IR-&#946; (p<0.001) which decreased in both. In contrast to the intestine, IRS-1 (p<0.001) increased in the liver and IRS-2 decreased (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: The axis of the intestine liver has an important role in inflammation, with consequent changes in the metabolic pathway of glucose can contribute to the IUGR in fetuses with gastroschisis