Testosterone deficiency increases hospital readmission and mortality rates in male patients with heart failure.

BackgroundTestosterone deficiency in patients with heart failure (HF) is associated with decreased exercise capacity and mortality; however, its impact on hospital readmission rate is uncertain. Furthermore, the relationship between testosterone deficiency and sympathetic activation is unknown.ObjectiveWe investigated the role of testosterone level on hospital readmission and mortality rates as well as sympathetic nerve activity in patients with HF.MethodsTotal testosterone (TT) and free testosterone (FT) were measured in 110 hospitalized male patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction < 45% and New York Heart Association classification IV. The patients were placed into low testosterone (LT; n = 66) and normal testosterone (NT; n = 44) groups. Hypogonadism was defined as TT < 300 ng/dL and FT < 131 pmol/L. Muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) was recorded by microneurography in a subpopulation of 27 patients.ResultsLength of hospital stay was longer in the LT group compared to in the NT group (37 ± 4 vs. 25 ± 4 days; p = 0.008). Similarly, the cumulative hazard of readmission within 1 year was greater in the LT group compared to in the NT group (44% vs. 22%, p = 0.001). In the single-predictor analysis, TT (hazard ratio [HR], 2.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.58-4.85; p = 0.02) predicted hospital readmission within 90 days. In addition, TT (HR, 4.65; 95% CI, 2.67-8.10; p = 0.009) and readmission within 90 days (HR, 3.27; 95% CI, 1.23-8.69; p = 0.02) predicted increased mortality. Neurohumoral activation, as estimated by MSNA, was significantly higher in the LT group compared to in the NT group (65 ± 3 vs. 51 ± 4 bursts/100 heart beats; p < 0.001).ConclusionThese results support the concept that LT is an independent risk factor for hospital readmission within 90 days and increased mortality in patients with HF. Furthermore, increased MSNA was observed in patients with LT

CORRELAÇÃO ENTRE O TEOR DE PROTEÍNAS EM GRÃOS DE TRIGO E A QUALIDADE INDUSTRIAL DAS FARINHAS

Estudou-se o efeito da concentração de proteínas do grão de trigo na qualidade industrial das farinhas, bem como o estabelecimento de curvas de calibração mediante espectrofotometria de reflectância no infravermelho proximal (NIR). Amostras de grãos de trigo dos cultivares OR 1 e Rubi foram coletadas em regiões produtoras do sul do Brasil e realizadas análises de umidade, proteína bruta, peso de mil grãos, peso do hectolitro, grau de extração, número de queda, força do glúten (W), tenacidade (P), extensibilidade (L) e relação P/L. As farinhas das amostras de trigo do cultivar Rubi mostraram-se superiores quanto às características alveográficas avaliadas em comparação com as farinhas das amostras de trigo do cultivar OR 1. O teor de proteína bruta das amostras de grãos de trigo do cultivar Rubi apresentou correlação com a força geral do glúten (0,75) e relação P/L (-0,71). Os coeficientes de determinação das equações de proteína bruta (0,99) e umidade (0,95), obtidos nas curvas de calibração pelo NIR foram adequados para predizer a concentração dos constituintes químicos avaliados. CORRELATION BETWEEN PROTEIN CONTENT IN WHEAT GRAINS AND THE INDUSTRIAL QUALITY OF FLOURS Abstract The protein content of wheat grain in the industrial quality of flours was studied, as well as the development of calibration curves by NIR. Samples of wheat cultivars OR-1 and Rubi were collected in several regions and the analysis of moisture, protein content, thousand grain weight, hectoliter weight, flour extraction grade, falling number and alveography were undertaken. The wheat flour samples of the Rubi cultivar were superior for the alveography characteristics evaluated in comparison with the wheat samples of cultivar OR1. The protein content of wheat samples cultivar Rubi showed correlation with dough strength (0,75) and P/L ratio (-0,71). The determination coefficients for protein (0,99) and moisture (0,95) equations were adequate to predict the concentration of the chemical constituents evaluated

A high-fat meal impairs muscle vasodilatation response to mental stress in humans with Glu27 β2-adrenoceptor polymorphism

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Forearm blood flow responses during mental stress are greater in individuals homozygous for the Glu27 allele. A high-fat meal is associated with impaired endothelium-dependent dilatation. We investigated the impact of high-fat ingestion on the muscle vasodilatory responses during mental stress in individuals with the Glu27 allele and those with the Gln27 allele of the β₂-adrenoceptor gene.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A total of 162 preselected individuals were genotyped for the Glu27Gln β₂-adrenoceptor polymorphism. Twenty-four individuals participated in the study. Fourteen were homozygous for the Gln27 allele (Gln27Gln, 40 ± 2 years; 64 ± 2 kg), and 10 were homozygous for the Glu27 allele (Glu27Glu, 40 ± 3 years; 65 ± 3 kg). Forearm blood flow was evaluated by venous occlusion plethysmography before and after ingestion of 62 g of fat.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The high-fat meal caused no changes in baseline forearm vascular conductance (FVC, 2.2 ± 0.1 vs. 2.4 ± 0.2; <it>P </it>= 0.27, respectively), but reduced FVC responses to mental stress (1.5 ± 0.2 vs. 0.8 ± 0.2 units; <it>P </it>= 0.04). When volunteers were divided according to their genotypes, baseline FVC was not different between groups (Glu27Glu = 2.4 ± 0.1 vs. Gln27Gln = 2.1 ± 0.1 units; <it>P </it>= 0.08), but it was significantly greater in Glu27Glu individuals during mental stress (1.9 ± 0.4 vs. 1.0 ± 0.3 units; <it>P </it>= 0.04). High-fat intake eliminated the difference in FVC responses between Glu27Glu and Gln27Gln individuals (FVC, 1.3 ± 0.4 vs. 1.2 ± 0.4; <it>P </it>= 0.66, respectively).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These findings demonstrate that a high-fat meal impairs muscle vasodilatation responses to mental stress in humans. However, this reduction can be attributed to the presence of the homozygous Glu27 allele of the β₂-adrenoceptor gene.</p

Terapia anti-hipertensiva utilizada por pacientes idosos de Porto Alegre/RS, Brasil = Antihypertensive therapy used by elderly patients from Porto Alegre/RS, Brazil

Objetivos: Descrever o perfil de utilização de medicamentos com ação no sistema cardiovascular, especialmente anti-hipertensivos, por idosos residentes na cidade de Porto Alegre. Métodos: Estudo transversal exploratório e observacional com base populacional, realizado em 2006, sobre a utilização qualitativa e quantitativa de medicamentos por pacientes idosos. O instrumento utilizado para a coleta de dados foi uma ficha de seguimento farmacológico. Resultados: Do total de 385 pacientes entrevistados, 62,3% utilizavam medicamentos com ação no sistema cardiovascular, sendo que destes, 86,3% utilizavam anti-hipertensivos. Entre os 35,3% pacientes que faziam uso de monoterapia, 38,4% utilizavam inibidores da enzima conversora de angiotensina (ECA) e 26% utilizavam beta-bloqueadores. Dos 207 pacientes em monoterapia ou terapia combinada de dois ou mais medicamentos, 59,4% utilizavam diuréticos e 51,2% inibidores da ECA. Conclusões: Os diuréticos, inibidores da ECA e betabloqueadores foram os anti-hipertensivos mais utilizados. Muitas vezes o usuário comete erros na medicação, o que pode ser resolvido com uma assistência correta a esse paciente. Diante da prevalência da hipertensão entre os idosos, observa-se a necessidade de uma maior atenção dos profissionais de saú- de a esses paciente

Post-Transcriptional Control of RNA Expression in Cancer

Approximately 80% of the human genome contains functional DNA, including protein coding genes, non-protein coding regulatory DNA elements and non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). An altered transcriptional signature is not only a cause, but also a consequence of the characteristics known as the hallmarks of cancer, such as sustained proliferation, replicative immortality, evasion of growth suppression and apoptotic signals, angiogenesis, invasion, metastasis, evasion of immune destruction and metabolic re-wiring. Post-transcriptional events play a major role in determining this signature, which is evidenced by the fact that alternative RNA splicing takes place in more than half of the human genes, and, among protein coding genes, more than 60% contain at least one conserved miRNA-binding site. In this chapter, we will discuss the involvement of post-transcriptional events, such as RNA processing, the action of non-coding RNAs and RNA decay in cancer development, and how their machinery may be used in cancer diagnosis and treatment

Avaliação da dor durante o cateterismo por via transradial utilizando Escala Visual Analógica

RESUMOIntroduçãoPacientes submetidos a procedimentos por via transradial podem apresentar dor associada ao espasmo da artéria radial. A dor pode ser avaliada utilizando‐se a Escala Visual Analógica (EVA), um método unidimensional de fácil aplicação. Analisamos a percepção de dor utilizando a EVA e a correlacionamos com a percepção de espasmo pelo operador.MétodosRegistro observacional, prospectivo, unicêntrico, que incluiu pacientes submetidos a procedimentos diagnósticos ou terapêuticos por acesso transradial. A EVA é constituída por uma linha horizontal de 100mm, que traz nos extremos as inscrições “ausência de dor” e “dor insuportável”. O paciente foi instruído a marcar o ponto que representava a dor percebida no momento do procedimento. O operador quantificou o espasmo como zero se sem dor, 1 para dor sem resistência à movimentação dos cateteres, 2 para resistência leve, 3 para resistência moderada e 4 para resistência intensa.ResultadosA avaliação de dor pelo paciente por meio da EVA foi possível em todos os pacientes, e teve média de 25,5±25,7mm. Pelo operador, o espasmo foi classificado em grau zero em 53 casos (35,8%); grau 1 em 67 (45,3%); grau 2 em 24 (16,2%); grau 3 em 3 (2,0%); e grau 4 em 1 (0,7%). Os coeficientes de correlação tau b de Kendall e Ro de Spearman foram, respectivamente, de 0,527 e 0,647, mostrando correlação positiva moderada entre a percepção de dor pelo paciente e a percepção de espasmo pelo operador.ConclusõesA EVA pode ser utilizada para a avaliação de espasmo durante os procedimentos que utilizem a via transradial, tendo demonstrado correlação positiva com a avaliação de espasmo pelo operador.ABSTRACTBackgroundPatients undergoing transradial procedures may experience pain associated with radial artery spasm. The pain can be assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), an easy‐to‐apply, one‐dimensional method. This study analyzed the perception of pain using the VAS and correlated it with the perception of spasm by the interventionist.MethodsThis was an observational, prospective, single‐center registry, which included patients undergoing diagnostic or therapeutic transradial procedures. The VAS consists of a 100‐mm horizontal line, which has at its extremes the words “no pain” and “unbearable pain”. The patient was instructed to identify the point that represented the perceived pain during the procedure. The interventionist quantified the spasm as zero for no pain, 1 for pain with no resistance to catheter movement, 2 for mild resistance, 3 for moderate resistance, and 4 for intense resistance.ResultsPain assessment by patients using the VAS was possible in all patients, and had a mean of 25.5±25.7mm. For the interventionist, spasm was classified as grade zero in 53 cases (35.8%); grade 1 in 67 (45.3%); grade 2 in 24 (16.2%); grade 3 in 3 (2.0%); and grade 4 in 1 patient (0.7%). Kendall's tau b and Spearman's (rho) rank correlation coefficients were, respectively, 0.527 and 0.647, showing a moderate positive correlation between the perception of pain by the patient and the perception of spasm by the operator.ConclusionsVAS can be used to assess spasm during procedures that use the transradial access, showing a positive correlation with spasm assessment by the interventionist

Augmented muscle vasodilatory responses in obese children with Glu27 beta(2)-adrenoceptor polymorphism

This study examined forearm vasodilatation during mental challenge and exercise in 72 obese children (OC; age = 10 +/- 0.1 years) homozygous with polymorphism in the allele 27 of the beta(2)-adrenoceptors: Gln27 (n = 61) and Glu27 (n = 11). Forearm blood flow was recorded during 3 min of each using the Stroop color-word test (MS) and handgrip isometric exercise. Baseline hemodynamic and vascular measurements were similar. During the MS, peak forearm vascular conductance was significantly greater in group Glu27 (Delta = 0.35 +/- 0.4 vs. 0.12 +/- 0.1 units, respectively, p = .042). Similar results were found during exercise (Delta = 0.64 +/- 0.1 vs. 0.13 +/- 0.1 units, respectively, p = .035). Glu27 OC increased muscle vasodilatory responsiveness upon the MS and exercise

Extracellular Matrix Proteome Remodeling in Human Glioblastoma and Medulloblastoma

Medulloblastomas (MBs) and glioblastomas (GBMs) are high-incidence central nervous system tumors. Different origin sites and changes in the tissue microenvironment have been associated with the onset and progression. Here, we describe differences between the extracellular matrix (ECM) signatures of these tumors. We compared the proteomic profiles of MB and GBM decellularized tumor samples between each other and their normal decellularized brain site counterparts. Our analysis revealed that 19, 28, and 11 ECM proteins were differentially expressed in MBs, GBMs, and in both MBs and GBMs, respectively. Next, we validated key findings by using a protein tissue array with 53 MB and 55 GBM cases and evaluated the clinical relevance of the identified differentially expressed proteins through their analysis on publicly available datasets, 763 MB samples from the GSE50161 and GSE85217 studies, and 115 GBM samples from RNAseq-TCGA. We report a shift toward a denser fibrillary ECM as well as a clear alteration in the glycoprotein signature, which influences the tumor pathophysiology. MS data have been submitted to the PRIDE repository, project accession: PXD023350