Environmental Exposure, Obesity, and Parkinson’s Disease: Lessons from Fat and Old Worms

BACKGROUND: A common link has been exposed, namely, that metal exposure plays a role in obesity and in Parkinson's disease (PD). This link may help to elucidate mechanisms of neurotoxicity. OBJECTIVE: We reviewed the utility of the nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans, as a model organism to study neurodegeneration in obesity and Parkinson's disease (PD), with an emphasis on the neurotransmitter, dopamine (DA). DATA SOURCES: A PubMed literature search was performed using the terms "obesity" and any of the following: "C. elegans," "central nervous system," "neurodegeneration," "heavy metals," "dopamine" or "Parkinson's disease." We reviewed the identified studies, including others cited therein, to summarize the current evidence of neurodegeneration in obesity and PD, with an emphasis on studies carried out in C. elegans and environmental toxins in the etiology of both diseases. DATA EXTRACTION AND DATA SYNTHESIS: Heavy metals and DA have both been linked to diet-induced obesity, which has led to the notion that the mechanism of environmentally induced neurodegeneration in PD may also apply to obesity. C. elegans has been instrumental in expanding our mechanism-based knowledge of PD, and this species is emerging as a good model of obesity. With well-established toxicity and neurogenetic assays, it is now feasible to explore the putative link between metal- and chemical-induced neurodegeneration. CONCLUSIONS: One side effect of an aging population is an increase in the prevalence of obesity, metabolic disorders, and neurodegenerative orders, diseases that are likely to co-occur. Environmental toxins, especially heavy metals, may prove to be a previously neglected part of the puzzle

Association between self-assessment and the analysis of informants about psychopathological symptoms in an adult sample

As escalas de autorrelato se caracterizam pela validade ecológica,viabilidade e facilidade de aplicação. Entretanto, as informações podem estarenviesadas devido aos pacientes terem a tendência a minimizar as respostas sendo,portanto, importante considerar a avaliação de informantes. O objetivo deste estudofoi investigar a associação entre a autoavaliação de adultos e a avaliação realizadapor informantes quanto a sintomas psicopatológicos. A amostra deste estudo foicomposta por 330 adultos com idades entre 18 e 59 anos que responderam a AdultSelf-Report e 330 informantes preencheram a Adult Behavior Checklist. Foramutilizadas análises descritivas e inferenciais. Foi conduzido um Teste t para gruposindependentes para comparar os resultados das escalas preenchidas pelorespondente e pelo informante. A magnitude das diferenças foi calculada a partir dotamanho do efeito (effect size) pelo d de Cohen. Também foi realizada uma análisede Coeficiente de Correlação de Pearson para investigar as associações entre asrespostas das escalas. Os resultados deste estudo corroboram com as evidências deque a avaliação de sintomas psicopatológicos entre respondentes e informantes apresentam diferenças, podendo ser uma vantagem em um processo de avaliação eposterior subsídio para planejamento de tratamento. Conclui-se que, embora asinformações oriundas de questionários de autorrelato sejam relevantes, é necessárioconsiderar outras fontes de dados do quadro do sujeito, a fim de tornar o diagnósticomais acurado.Palavras-chave: autorrelato; avaliação de sintomas; escalas; psicopatologia.Self-report scales are characterized by ecological validity, feasibility andease of application. However, the information might be skewed due to the risks,therefore informants assessment can help. The aim of this study was investigate therelationship between self-report evaluation and the informants assessment topsychopathological symptoms. The sample was composed by 330 adults aged from18 years to 59 years who responded to an adult self-report and 330 informants filledout an Adult Behavior Checklist. Descriptive and inferential analysis wereperformed. T-test was conducted for independent groups to compare the resultsobtained by the respondent and the informant. The size effect was calculated byCohen's d. Pearson correlation coefficient analysis was performed to investigate theassociations between the responses of the scales. The results of this study arecorroborated as indicators of psychopathological evaluation between respondentsand informants who present differences, which may be an advantage in anassessment process and later help the treatment planning. Information frominformants questionnaires are good sources to more accurate diagnosis process.Keywords: self-report; evaluation of symptoms; scales; psychopathology

Protective effect of Melissa officinalis aqueous extract against Mn-induced oxidative stress in chronically exposed mice

AbstractManganese (Mn) is an essential element for biological systems; however occupational exposure to high levels of this metal may lead to neurodegenerative disorders, resembling Parkinson's disease (PD). While its mechanisms of neurotoxicity have yet to be fully understood, oxidative stress plays a critical role. Thus, the main goal of this study was to investigate the efficacy of aqueous extract of Melissa officinalis in attenuating Mn-induced brain oxidative stress in mice. Sixteen male mice were randomly divided into two groups and treated for 3 months: the first group consumed tap water (control group) and the second group was treated with Mn (50mg/kg/day for habituation during the first 15 days followed by 100mg/kg/day for additional 75 days) in the drinking water. After 3 months both groups were sub divided (n=4 per group) and treated for additional 3 months with Mn and/or M. officinalis in the drinking water. The first group (control) was treated with water and served as control; the second group (M. officinalis) was treated with M. officinalis (100mg/kg/day); the third group was treated with Mn (100mg/kg/day); the fourth group (Mn+M. officinalis) was treated with both Mn and M. officinalis (100mg/kg/day each). Mn-treated mice showed a significant increase in thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) levels (a marker of oxidative stress) in both the hippocampus and striatum. These changes were accompanied by a decrease in total thiol content in the hippocampus and a significant increase in antioxidant enzyme activity (superoxide dismutase and catalase) in the hippocampus, striatum, cortex and cerebellum. Co-treatment with M. officinalis aqueous extract in Mn-treated mice significantly inhibited the antioxidant enzyme activities and attenuated the oxidative damage (TBARS and decreased total thiol levels). These results establish that M. officinalis aqueous extract possesses potent antioxidative properties, validating its efficacy in attenuating Mn-induced oxidative stress in the mouse brain

VIII Encuentro de Docentes e Investigadores en Historia del Diseño, la Arquitectura y la Ciudad

Acta de congresoLa conmemoración de los cien años de la Reforma Universitaria de 1918 se presentó como una ocasión propicia para debatir el rol de la historia, la teoría y la crítica en la formación y en la práctica profesional de diseñadores, arquitectos y urbanistas. En ese marco el VIII Encuentro de Docentes e Investigadores en Historia del Diseño, la Arquitectura y la Ciudad constituyó un espacio de intercambio y reflexión cuya realización ha sido posible gracias a la colaboración entre Facultades de Arquitectura, Urbanismo y Diseño de la Universidad Nacional y la Facultad de Arquitectura de la Universidad Católica de Córdoba, contando además con la activa participación de mayoría de las Facultades, Centros e Institutos de Historia de la Arquitectura del país y la región. Orientado en su convocatoria tanto a docentes como a estudiantes de Arquitectura y Diseño Industrial de todos los niveles de la FAUD-UNC promovió el debate de ideas a partir de experiencias concretas en instancias tales como mesas temáticas de carácter interdisciplinario, que adoptaron la modalidad de presentación de ponencias, entre otras actividades. En el ámbito de VIII Encuentro, desarrollado en la sede Ciudad Universitaria de Córdoba, se desplegaron numerosas posiciones sobre la enseñanza, la investigación y la formación en historia, teoría y crítica del diseño, la arquitectura y la ciudad; sumándose el aporte realizado a través de sus respectivas conferencias de Ana Clarisa Agüero, Bibiana Cicutti, Fernando Aliata y Alberto Petrina. El conjunto de ponencias que se publican en este Repositorio de la UNC son el resultado de dos intensas jornadas de exposiciones, cuyos contenidos han posibilitado actualizar viejos dilemas y promover nuevos debates. El evento recibió el apoyo de las autoridades de la FAUD-UNC, en especial de la Secretaría de Investigación y de la Biblioteca de nuestra casa, como así también de la Facultad de Arquitectura de la UCC; va para todos ellos un especial agradecimiento

Caenorhabditis elegans as an alternative in vivo model to determine oral uptake, nanotoxicity, and efficacy of melatonin-loaded lipid-core nanocapsules on paraquat damage

Caenorhabditis elegans is an alternative in vivo model that is being successfully used to assess the pharmacological and toxic effects of drugs. The exponential growth of nanotechnology requires the use of alternative in vivo models to assess the toxic effects of theses nanomaterials. The use of polymeric nanocapsules has shown promising results for drug delivery. Moreover, these formulations have not been used in cases of intoxication, such as in treatment of paraquat (PQ) poisoning. Thus, the use of drugs with properties improved by nanotechnology is a promising approach to overcome the toxic effects of PQ. This research aimed to evaluate the absorption of rhodamine B-labeled melatonin (Mel)-loaded lipid-core nanocapsules (LNC) by C. elegans, the application of this model in nanotoxicology, and the protection of Mel-LNC against PQ damage. The formulations were prepared by self-assembly and characterized by particle sizing, zeta potential, drug content, and encapsulation efficiency. The results demonstrated that the formulations had narrow size distributions. Rhodamine B-labeled Mel-LNC were orally absorbed and distributed in the worms. The toxicity assessment of LNC showed a lethal dose 50% near the highest dose tested, indicating low toxicity of the nanocapsules. Moreover, pretreatment with Mel-LNC significantly increased the survival rate, reduced the reactive oxygen species, and maintained the development in C. elegans exposed to PQ compared to those worms that were either untreated or pretreated with free Mel. These results demonstrated for the first time the uptake and distribution of Mel-LNC by a nematode, and indicate that while LNC is not toxic, Mel-LNC prevents the effects of PQ poisoning. Thus, C. elegans may be an interesting alternative model to test the nanocapsules toxicity and efficacy

Aqueous Bark Extract of Ceiba speciosa (A. St.-Hill) Ravenna Protects against Glucose Toxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans

Plants are widely used in folk medicine because of their pharmacological properties. Ceiba speciosa, popularly known as paineira-rosa or tree-of-wool, is a species found in the Northwest of Rio Grande do Sul, being native of the upper Uruguay River, Brazil. The tea obtained from the stem bark is employed in folk medicine to reduce cholesterol, triacylglycerides, and glucose levels. However, there are no studies in the literature proving its efficacy or the safety of its use. For this study, we used Caenorhabditis elegans as an animal model considering its advantages for risk assessment and pharmacological screenings. For the toxicological tests, C. elegans N2 (wild type) was treated with the aqueous extract of the stem bark of C. speciosa (ECE) at the first larval stage (L1) at concentrations of 5, 25, 50, and 250 μg/mL. To evaluate biological activities, we challenged the extract for oxidative stress resistance in the presence of paraquat (0.5 mM), H2O2 (1 mM), and against glucose-induced toxicity. Our results demonstrated that ECE did not alter survival rate, pharyngeal pumping, and reproduction of the nematodes. The extract was not able to protect the nematodes against the toxicity induced by prooxidants. Notably, ECE protected against glucotoxicity by increasing worms’ life span and by reducing glucose levels. On the other hand, ECE treatment did not reduce lipid accumulation induced by exogenous glucose feeding, as observed in worms which lipid droplets were tagged with GFP. Based on our results, we believe that the extract is indeed promising for further studies focusing on carbohydrates metabolism; however, it needs to be carefully evaluated since the extract does not seem to modulate lipid accumulation

The spatial structure of land price of polycentric city - A case study in Taipei

　　本研究可分為兩部份，第一部份以CBD為中心，向外擴展之地價空間結構變化情形之測試，主要是方法上的應用。運用較富彈性且能符合多核心都市測試需要之三次雲形函數來測試台北市之地價空間結構。研究發現都市發展方向會影響地價空間結構之變化，而傳統單核心模型之單一核心之假設及無考慮方向性，並不能充份描述現代大都市之真實空間結構。　　第二部份則為了解各核心對地價影響情形，及在空間上互動關係進行多核心模型之測試。研究發現地價為都市空間中多核心互動的結果。而相同屬性、規模的核心間有排斥效果，不同屬性、規模的核心間則有吸引效果。藉由多核心之分散健全發展，與交通建設之密切配合，將可使都市之地價及都市空間結構更加健全發展。　　This research is divided to two parts. First part is to test the structural variance of the land price which extends by CBD. The method, the cubic spline function, is flexible and it can match the need of the polycentric city. From the test, we find the different directions which will affect the spatial structural variance of the land price. But the factor of the direction isn't included in the hypothesis of the traditional monocentric model, and it can't be described the true spatial structure of modern city sufficiently.　　Another is the test that to understand the land price variance situation by the different centers and the interactions of them.By this test, it shows that land price is the result of the polycentric interactions of urban spatial structure. We also find there is a repelling effect between the same character and scale centers; vise versa