APOE polymorphism is associated with lipid profile, but not with arterial stiffness in the general population

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the main cause of death and disability in developed countries. In most cases, the progress of CVD is influenced by environmental factors and multifactorial inheritance. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between <it>APOE </it>genotypes, cardiovascular risk factors, and a non-invasive measure of arterial stiffness in the Brazilian population.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A total of 1493 urban Brazilian individuals were randomly selected from the general population of the Vitoria City Metropolitan area. Genetic analysis of the <it>APOE </it>polymorphism was conducted by PCR-RFLP and pulse wave velocity analyzed with a noninvasive automatic device.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Age, gender, body mass index, triglycerides, creatinine, uric acid, blood glucose, blood pressure phenotypes were no different between ε2, ε3 and ε4 alleles. The ε4 allele was associated with higher total-cholesterol (p < 0.001), LDL-C (p < 0.001), total-cholesterol/HDL-C ratio (p < 0.001), LDL/HDL-C ratio (p < 0.001), lower HDL-C values (p < 0.001) and higher risk to obesity (OR = 1.358, 95% CI = 1.019-1.811) and hyperuricemia (OR = 1.748, 95% CI = 1.170-2.611). Nevertheless, pulse wave velocity (p = 0.66) measures were no different between genotypes. The significant association between APOE genotypes and lipid levels persisted after a 5-year follow-up interval, but no interaction between time and genotype was observed for lipids longitudinal behavior.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The ε4 allele of the <it>APOE </it>gene is associated with a worse lipid profile in the Brazilian urban population. In our relatively young sample, the observed effect of <it>APOE </it>genotype on lipid levels was not translated into significant effects in arterial wall stiffness.</p

Potential biological properties of lycopene in a self-emulsifying drug delivery system

In recent years, lycopene has been highlighted due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, associated with a beneficial effect on human health. The aim of this study was to advance the studies of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms on human keratinocytes cells (HaCaT) of a self-emulsifying drug delivery system (SEDDS) loaded with lycopene purified from red guava (nanoLPG). The characteristics of nanoLPG were a hydrodynamic diameter of 205 nm, a polydispersity index of 0.21 and a zeta potential of −20.57, providing physical stability for the nanosystem. NanoLPG demonstrated antioxidant capacity, as shown using the ORAC methodology, and prevented DNA degradation (DNA agarose). Proinflammatory activity was evaluated by quantifying the cytokines TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-8, with only IL-8 showing a significant increase (p < 0.0001). NanoLPG showed greater inhibition of the tyrosinase and elastase enzymes, involved in the skin aging process, compared to purified lycopene (LPG). In vitro treatment for 24 h with 5.0 µg/mL of nanoLPG did not affect the viability of HaCaT cells. The ultrastructure of HaCaT cells demonstrated the maintenance of morphology. This contrasts with endoplasmic reticulum stresses and autophagic vacuoles when treated with LPG after stimulation or not with LPS. Therefore, the use of lycopene in a nanoemulsion may be beneficial in strategies and products associated with skin health.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Actividades realizadas pelo CCPA no decorrer da XII Expedição Científica do Departamento de Biologia - Pico/2005

XII Expedição Científica do Departamento de Biologia - Pico 2005.O Centro de Conservação e Protecção do Ambiente (CCPA) do Departamento de Biologia (DB) promove acções de Educação Ambiental junto das populações. Neste âmbito, a nossa deslocação à ilha do Pico teve como principal objectivo realizar acções de sensibilização e promoção da melhoria do estado de conservação do meio ambiente. As nossas acções tiveram como público-alvo sobretudo crianças e jovens, e como tal pretendeu-se que as mesmas tivessem lugar na Ecoteca do Pico e nas Escolas Básicas e Secundárias locais

CERVICALGIA AGUDA LIMITANTE EM PACIENTE IDOSA

Caso clínico: Paciente feminina, 69 anos, apresentou queixa há 10 dias de crises intensas de dor cervical, que irradiavam para membros superiores e impediam-na de movimentar o pescoço. Relatou presença de rigidez matinal com duração de 30 minutos e dores noturnas importantes. A paciente referia gonalgia crônica bilateral e dor em quadril à direita. Realizou exame de Ressonância Magnética de coluna cervical com achados inespecíficos. Complementou-se a investigação com Tomografia Computadorizada (TC) de coluna cervical (Figura 1), exame que elucidou o diagnóstico

Prevalence, treatment, and control of dyslipidemia in diabetic participants of two Brazilian cohorts: a place far from heaven

Diabetes is one of the leading causes of cardiovascular mortality. Over the last years, mortality has decreased significantly, more in individuals with diabetes than in healthy ones. That is mostly due to the control of other cardiovascular risk factors. The objective of our study was to analyze the dyslipidemia control in two diabetes cohorts. Patients from two distinct cohorts were studied, 173 patients from the BHS (Brasilia Heart Study) and 222 patients from the BDS (Brazilian Diabetes Study). The data on dyslipidemia control were studied in both different populations. All patients had diabetes. There are significant differences concerning comorbidities between the LDL-C and BDS groups. The average glycated hemoglobin is of 8.2 in the LDL-C > 100 group in comparison with 7.7 and 7.5 in the 70-100 and 100 groups (54.3% and 54.9%, respectively; p = 0.005). Diastolic pressure is higher in the group with LDL > 100, with an average of 87 mmHg, in comparison with 82.6 mmHg and 81.9 mmHg in the 70-100 and 100 has the greatest percentage of smokers (8.7%) in comparison with the groups with LDL between 70-100 and 100 groups, respectively (p < 0.001). The data in our study have shown that the dyslipidemia control in diabetic patients is inadequate and there is a tendency of direct association between lack of blood glucose control and lack of dyslipidemia control, in addition to the association with other cardiovascular risk factors, such as diastolic hypertension and smoking. This worsened control might be related to the plateau in the descending curve of mortality, and investments in this regard can improve the cardiovascular health in diabetic patients.6513

Implante Toracoscópico de Eletrodo Epimiocárdico no Ventrículo Esquerdo para Estimulaçao Biventricular com Auxílio da Técnica Robótica

Objetivo: Quando o implante de eletrodo de seio coronário para a estimulaçao biventricular é impraticável, técnicas alternativas sao consideradas, entre elas o implante epimiocárdio do eletrodo ventricular esquerdo mediante toracotomia. Visando reduzir o trauma da toracotomia, desenvolvemos a técnica de implante toracoscópico do eletrodo com assistência robótica, procedimento realizado em três pacientes com miocardiopatia dilatada e insuficiência cardíaca severa. Métodos: No implante toracoscópico do eletrodo, 3 trocateres foram colocados no tórax esquerdo e utilizados para instrumentaçao, introduçao do eletrodo e posicionamento do endoscópio manipulado por robô (modelo AESOP, Computer Motion, EUA). O pericárdio foi aberto e o eletrodo epicárdico sem sutura ELC 54-UP (Biotronik, Alemanha) foi fixado na parede lateral do ventrículo esquerdo. Sua extremidade proximal foi passada à regiao peitoral, em que haviam sido introduzidos eletrodos transvenosos atrial e ventricular direito. Os eletrodos foram conectados a um gerador multicameral de pulsos. Os pacientes foram extubados após o procedimento e tiveram alta da sala de recuperaçao em menos de 12 horas. A avaliaçao do implante ocorreu durante cirurgia e um mês após. Resultados: as avaliaçoes eletrofisiológicas do eletrodo ventricular esquerdo foram satisfatórias. A estimulaçao biventricular ocorreu nos pacientes durante o período estudado, embora um deles apresentasse arritmia supraventricular, o que impossibilitou um efeito hemodinâmico consistente. Conclusoes: O implante de eletrodo ventricular esquerdo mediante toracoscopia assistida por robô foi realizado com sucesso e minimizou o trauma cirúrgico. Resultados satisfatórios foram observados a curto prazo, sendo necessário um acompanhamento mais prolongado para confirmar a eficácia da técnica

Chemical Constituents and Evaluation of Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Activities of Kielmeyera coriacea

Many essential oils (EOs) of different plant species possess interesting antimicrobial effects on buccal microorganisms and cytotoxic properties. EOs of Kielmeyera coriacea Mart. & Zucc. were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The EO from leaves is rich in sesquiterpenes hydrocarbons and oxygenated sesquiterpenes. The three major compounds identified were germacrene-D (24.2%), (E)-caryophyllene (15.5%), and bicyclogermacrene (11.6%). The inner bark EO is composed mainly of sesquiterpenes hydrocarbons and the major components are alpha-copaene (14.9%) and alpha-(E)-bergamotene (13.0%). The outer bark EO is composed mainly of oxygenated sesquiterpenes and long-chain alkanes, and the major components are alpha-eudesmol (4.2%) and nonacosane (5.8%). The wood EO is mainly composed of long-chain alkanes and fatty acids, and the major components are nonacosane (9.7%) and palmitic acid (16.2%). The inner bark EO showed the strongest antimicrobial activity against the anaerobic bacteria Prevotella nigrescens (minimum inhibitory concentration-MIC of 50 µg mL−1). The outer bark and wood EOs showed MICs of 100 µg mL−1 for all aerobic microorganisms tested. The EOs presented low toxicity to Vero cells. These results suggest that K. coriacea, a Brazilian plant, provide initial evidence of a new and alternative source of substances with medicinal interest