SIRT1 rs7896005 polymorphism affects major vascular outcomes, not all-cause mortality, in Caucasians with type 2 diabetes: A 13-year observational study

Aims SIRT1 exerts effects on ageing and lifespan, as well cardiovascular (CV) disease risk. SIRT1 gene is very polymorph with a few tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) so far identified. Some SNPs, including rs7896005, were associated with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). We aimed to ascertain whether this SNP may be associated with CV disease at baseline as well with these same outcomes and all-cause mortality over a 13-year follow-up. Materials and Methods Genotypes of SIRT1 gene were determined using TaqMan SNP assay. Results Out of 905 T2DM, 9.1% had the AA genotype, 43.2% the AG, and 47.7% the GG. Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium was met (minor allele frequency 0.306; p = 0.8899). At baseline, there was no difference across genotypes for sex, age, diabetes duration, CV risk factors, treatments, and microangiopathy. Major CV outcomes, myocardial infarction (MI), any coronary heart disease (CHD), and peripheral artery disease (PAD) were more frequent in GG than in AA/AG (p from 0.013 to 0.027), with no association with cerebrovascular events. By fully adjusted regression, GG remained independently related to major CV outcomes, MI, CHD, and PAD. Over follow-up, we recorded 258 major CV events (28.5%; AA/AG 25.2%, GG 32.2%; p = 0.014) with an adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of GG versus AA/AG of 1.296 (95% CI 1.007-1.668, p = 0.044); 169 coronary events (18.7%; AA/AG 15.4%, GG 22.2%; p = 0.006) with HR 1.522 (1.113-2.080, p = 0.008); 79 (8.7%) hospitalisation for heart failure (AA/AG 7.0%, GG 10.6%; p = 0.045) and HR 1.457 (0.919-2.309, p = 0.109); 36 PAD (4.0%; AA/AG 2.3%, GG 5.8%; p = 0.007) with HR 2.225 (1.057-4.684, p = 0.035). No association was found with cerebrovascular events, end stage renal disease, and all-cause mortality. Conclusions The rs7896005 SNP of SIRT1 might play a role in cardiovascular disease, mainly CHD risk in T2DM. Results call for larger association studies as well as studies to ascertain mechanisms by which this variant confers increased risk

Salud mental en las prácticas en salud: la experiencia del PROLIG

This paper presents the experience of the Psychosocial Service of Integrated Attention in Health (SAPIS) in a consultation-liaison psychiatry program (called PROLIG). The SAPIS was implemented in June 2002 at the São Paulo Hospital (HSP) to promote a broad attention to general and specific hospital psychosocial needs and also to reorganize the inclusion of mental health professionals in ambulatories and wards. This paper aims at describing the role of psychologists as mental health liaison professionals attending specific demands at these units of HSP. Their task involves providing psychological assistance to the patient and his family, as well as being a mental health specialist to the multi-professional team. Nevertheless, some difficulties have been found to implement and maintain these proposals. Concluding, psychologists as mental health liaison professionals promote changes in the health care offered by this institution; however, a deeper reflection and engagement of this institution as well as an implementation of health care policies are demanded to enable structural changes for the construction of an integral and integrated effective practice.El presente trabajo presenta el relato de experiencias del Servicio de Atención Psicosocial Integrado en Salud (SAPIS) en los Programas de Conexión (PROLIG). El SAPIS fue implantado en junio de 2002, en el Hospital São Paulo (HSP), con el objetivo de promover una atención más amplia a las necesidades generales y específicas del hospital en lo que se refiere a los aspectos psicosociales así como de reorganizar la inclusión de profesionales de salud mental en las enfermerías y ambulatorios. Este estudio tiene como objetivo describir la actuación del psicólogo como profesional de conexión en salud mental en el servicio a las demandas específicas de unidades del HSP. La tarea del profesional de conexión en salud mental implica la asistencia psicológica al paciente y su familiar así como el desempeño del papel de especialista en salud mental junto al equipo multiprofesional. Hemos encontrado en nuestra práctica, sin embargo, algunas dificultades para la implementación y el mantenimiento de algunas propuestas. Concluimos que la actuación del psicólogo como profesional de conexión de salud mental ha promovido cambios en los cuidados en salud en esa institución, sin embargo aún exige una profunda ponderación y mayor implicación de la institución y de políticas de salud que hagan viables los cambios estructurales para la construcción de una efectiva práctica integral e integrada en esa área.O presente trabalho apresenta o relato de experiências do Serviço de Atenção Psicossocial Integrada em Saúde (SAPIS) nos Programas de Ligação (PROLIG). O SAPIS foi implantado em junho de 2002, no Hospital São Paulo (HSP), com o objetivo de promover uma atenção mais ampla às necessidades gerais e específicas do hospital no que diz respeito aos aspectos psicossociais bem como de reorganizar a inclusão de profissionais de saúde mental nas enfermarias e ambulatórios. Esse estudo tem como objetivo descrever a atuação do psicólogo como profissional de ligação em saúde mental no atendimento às demandas específicas de unidades do HSP. A tarefa do profissional de ligação em saúde mental envolve a assistência psicológica ao paciente e seu familiar assim como o desempenho do papel de especialista em saúde mental junto à equipe multiprofissional. Temos encontrado em nossa prática, no entanto, algumas dificuldades para a implementação e a manutenção de algumas propostas. Concluímos que a atuação do psicólogo como profissional de ligação de saúde mental tem promovido mudanças nos cuidados em saúde nessa instituição, porém ainda exige uma profunda reflexão e maior envolvimento da instituição e de políticas de saúde que viabilizem mudanças estruturais para a construção de uma efetiva prática integral e integrada nessa área.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)UNIFESPSciEL

Liposomal Formulations to Improve Antioxidant Power of Myrtle Berry Extract for Potential Skin Application

Many substances in plant extracts are known for their biological activities. These substances act in different ways, exerting overall protective effects against many diseases, especially skin disorders. However, plant extracts’ health benefits are often limited by low bioavailability. To overcome these limitations, drug delivery systems can be employed. In this study, we evaluated the antioxidant power of an ethanolic extract from Myrtus communis L. (myrtle) berries through colorimetric tests (DPPH and FRAP). The antioxidant activity was also verified by using fibroblast cell culture through cellular Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) levels measurements. Moreover, the myrtle extract was formulated in phospholipid vesicles to improve its bioavailability and applicability. Myrtle liposomes were characterized by size, surface charge, storage stability, and entrapment efficiency; visualized by using cryo-TEM images; and assayed for cytocompatibility and anti-ROS activity. Our results suggest that myrtle liposomes were cytocompatible and improved the extract’s antioxidant power in fibroblasts, suggesting a potential skin application for these formulations and confirming that nanotechnologies could be a valid tool to enhance plant extracts’ potentialities

Real versus complex beta-deformation of the N=4 planar super Yang-Mills theory

This is a sequel of our paper hep-th/0606125 in which we have studied the {\cal N}=1 SU(N) SYM theory obtained as a marginal deformation of the {\cal N}=4 theory, with a complex deformation parameter \beta and in the planar limit. There we have addressed the issue of conformal invariance imposing the theory to be finite and we have found that finiteness requires reality of the deformation parameter \beta. In this paper we relax the finiteness request and look for a theory that in the planar limit has vanishing beta functions. We perform explicit calculations up to five loop order: we find that the conditions of beta function vanishing can be achieved with a complex deformation parameter, but the theory is not finite and the result depends on the arbitrary choice of the subtraction procedure. Therefore, while the finiteness condition leads to a scheme independent result, so that the conformal invariant theory with a real deformation is physically well defined, the condition of vanishing beta function leads to a result which is scheme dependent and therefore of unclear significance. In order to show that these findings are not an artefact of dimensional regularization, we confirm our results within the differential renormalization approach.Comment: 18 pages, 7 figures; v2: one reference added; v3: JHEP published versio

Brazilian consensus on guidelines for diagnosis and treatment for restless legs syndrome

The Consensus on restless legs syndrome is an effort of neurologists from several Brazilian states, which tirelessly reviewed the literature of recent years in search of evidence, both in regard to diagnosis and treatment, according to the Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine.Serv Neurol & Neurocirurgia, Passo Fundo, RS, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Fac Med Ribeirao Preto, BR-14049 Ribeirao Preto, SP, BrazilClin Carlos Bacelar, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Psicobiol, São Paulo, BrazilHosp Moinhos Vento, BR-90560030 Porto Alegre, RS, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Neurol, São Paulo, BrazilHosp Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Alagoas, Fac Med, Maceio, AL, BrazilUniv Fed Pernambuco, Recife, PE, BrazilClin Rio Sono, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Fac Med, Hosp Clin, São Paulo, BrazilPontificia Univ Catolica Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, BrazilUniv Brasilia, Fac Med, Brasilia, DF, BrazilHosp Clin Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, BrazilProSSono Ctr Med Sono, Ribeirao Preto, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Psicobiol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Neurol, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Acute Delta Hepatitis in Italy spanning three decades (1991–2019): Evidence for the effectiveness of the hepatitis B vaccination campaign

Updated incidence data of acute Delta virus hepatitis (HDV) are lacking worldwide. Our aim was to evaluate incidence of and risk factors for acute HDV in Italy after the introduction of the compulsory vaccination against hepatitis B virus (HBV) in 1991. Data were obtained from the National Surveillance System of acute viral hepatitis (SEIEVA). Independent predictors of HDV were assessed by logistic-regression analysis. The incidence of acute HDV per 1-million population declined from 3.2 cases in 1987 to 0.04 in 2019, parallel to that of acute HBV per 100,000 from 10.0 to 0.39 cases during the same period. The median age of cases increased from 27 years in the decade 1991-1999 to 44 years in the decade 2010-2019 (p < .001). Over the same period, the male/female ratio decreased from 3.8 to 2.1, the proportion of coinfections increased from 55% to 75% (p = .003) and that of HBsAg positive acute hepatitis tested for by IgM anti-HDV linearly decreased from 50.1% to 34.1% (p < .001). People born abroad accounted for 24.6% of cases in 2004-2010 and 32.1% in 2011-2019. In the period 2010-2019, risky sexual behaviour (O.R. 4.2; 95%CI: 1.4-12.8) was the sole independent predictor of acute HDV; conversely intravenous drug use was no longer associated (O.R. 1.25; 95%CI: 0.15-10.22) with this. In conclusion, HBV vaccination was an effective measure to control acute HDV. Intravenous drug use is no longer an efficient mode of HDV spread. Testing for IgM-anti HDV is a grey area requiring alert. Acute HDV in foreigners should be monitored in the years to come

Integrated genomic characterization of oesophageal carcinoma

Oesophageal cancers are prominent worldwide; however, there are few targeted therapies and survival rates for these cancers remain dismal. Here we performed a comprehensive molecular analysis of 164 carcinomas of the oesophagus derived from Western and Eastern populations. Beyond known histopathological and epidemiologic distinctions, molecular features differentiated oesophageal squamous cell carcinomas from oesophageal adenocarcinomas. Oesophageal squamous cell carcinomas resembled squamous carcinomas of other organs more than they did oesophageal adenocarcinomas. Our analyses identified three molecular subclasses of oesophageal squamous cell carcinomas, but none showed evidence for an aetiological role of human papillomavirus. Squamous cell carcinomas showed frequent genomic amplifications of CCND1 and SOX2 and/or TP63, whereas ERBB2, VEGFA and GATA4 and GATA6 were more commonly amplified in adenocarcinomas. Oesophageal adenocarcinomas strongly resembled the chromosomally unstable variant of gastric adenocarcinoma, suggesting that these cancers could be considered a single disease entity. However, some molecular features, including DNA hypermethylation, occurred disproportionally in oesophageal adenocarcinomas. These data provide a framework to facilitate more rational categorization of these tumours and a foundation for new therapies

Common variability in oestrogen-related genes and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma risk in women

The incidence of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is different among males and females. This disparity cannot be fully explained by the difference in terms of exposure to known risk factors; therefore, the lower incidence in women could be attributed to sex-specific hormones. A two-phase association study was conducted in 12,387 female subjects (5436 PDAC cases and 6951 controls) to assess the effect on risk of developing PDAC of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 208 genes involved in oestrogen and pregnenolone biosynthesis and oestrogen-mediated signalling. In the discovery phase 14 polymorphisms showed a statistically significant association (P < 0.05). In the replication none of the findings were validated. In addition, a gene-based analysis was performed on the 208 selected genes. Four genes (NR5A2, MED1, NCOA2 and RUNX1) were associated with PDAC risk, but only NR5A2 showed an association (P = 4.08 × 10−5) below the Bonferroni-corrected threshold of statistical significance. In conclusion, despite differences in incidence between males and females, our study did not identify an effect of common polymorphisms in the oestrogen and pregnenolone pathways in relation to PDAC susceptibility. However, we validated the previously reported association between NR5A2 gene variants and PDAC risk