Downhill Running-based Overtraining Protocol Improves Hepatic Insulin Signaling Pathway Without Concomitant Decrease Of Inflammatory Proteins

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)The purpose of this study was to verify the effects of overtraining (OT) on insulin, inflammatory and gluconeogenesis signaling pathways in the livers of mice. Rodents were divided into control (CT), overtrained by downhill running (OTR/down), overtrained by uphill running (OTR/up) and overtrained by running without inclination (OTR). Rotarod, incremental load, exhaustive and grip force tests were used to evaluate performance. Thirty-six hours after a grip force test, the livers were extracted for subsequent protein analyses. The phosphorylation of insulin receptor beta (pIRbeta), glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (pGSK3beta) and forkhead box O1 (pFoxo1) increased in OTR/down versus CT. pGSK3beta was higher in OTR/up versus CT, and pFoxo1 was higher in OTR/up and OTR versus CT. Phosphorylation of protein kinase B (pAkt) and insulin receptor substrate 1 (pIRS-1) were higher in OTR/up versus CT and OTR/down. The phosphorylation of I kappa B kinase alpha and beta (pIK-Kalpha/beta) was higher in all OT protocols versus CT, and the phosphorylation of stress-activated protein kinases/Jun amino-terminal kinases (pSAPK-JNK) was higher in OTR/ down versus CT. Protein levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator 1alpha (PGC-1alpha) and hepatocyte nuclear factor 4alpha (HNF-4alpha) were higher in OTR versus CT. In summary, OTR/down improved the major proteins of insulin signaling pathway but up-regulated TRB3, an Akt inhibitor, and its association with Akt.1010Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)FAPESP [2013/20591-3, 2014/25459-9, 2013/22737-5, 2013/19985-7

The Composite Aortic Wall Graft Technique: An Option for a Short Coronary Artery Bypass Graft

for a short coronary artery bypass graft. Clinics. 2009;64(8):815-8. SUMMARY: During coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, the saphenous vein is sutured through its proximal segment to the aorta. Intimal hyperplasia is one of the possible causes of graft occlusion. Notably, blood turbulence can induce wall shear stress that may also play an important role in this process. OBJECTIVE: We propose a new technique for performing proximal anastomosis to avoid CABG failure. METHOD: An 80 kg pig was subjected to open heart surgery. Four stitches were placed in the anterior ascending aorta, which formed a 2 cm by 4 cm patch. This patch was isolated through the application of a tangential clamp that was oriented parallel to the axis of the aorta. After releasing the patch, which was held to the aorta through its cranial end pedicle, the rims were sutured to each other creating a conduit with a length of 4 cm and an internal diameter of 4 mm. The rest of the aortotomy was closed by placing a direct suture between its rims. RESULT: This novel technique created an “in situ ” aortic wall graft that was 4 cm long and characterized as being of uniform 4 mm caliber

Mind the microgap in iridescent cellulose nanocrystal films

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Almanaque da saúde: uma experiência de popularização do conhecimento científico por estudantes de medicina

Os almanaques, com sua longa história de oferecer uma riqueza de informações úteis, desempenharam um papel significativo na cultura brasileira ao longo dos anos. Partindo da tradição deixada a partir dos almanaques e mediante a necessidade de ações de orientação à população, professores, junto aos alunos de medicina de uma instituição de ensino superior, reuniram-se para continuar a honrada prática de elaborar um almanaque com foco na promoção da saúde e prevenção de doenças. Descrever o processo de planejamento e desenvolvimento do Almanaque da Saúde, com foco na atenção primária à saúde; relatar a experiência de desenvolvimento de habilidades e competências pelos estudantes de medicina no processo de elaboração do Almanaque da Saúde. Estudo descritivo narrativo do processo de construção do Almanaque da Saúde realizado por estudantes de medicina e seus professores da Faculdade Ceres, FACERES. Para produção do Almanaque da Saúde, um material científico lúdico e divertido para a população, o Departamento de Pesquisa da faculdade divulgou um edital para selecionar os alunos de acordo com critérios pré-estabelecidos. Os alunos selecionados (n=24) foram divididos em pares para escrita dos 12 capítulos que compõem o Almanaque, correspondendo aos dozes meses do ano. Sob orientação dos professores responsáveis, os alunos ficaram responsáveis pela pesquisa científica das informações relacionadas ao tema da edição: plantas medicinais; na sequência construíram os diversos gêneros textuais que tipificam um almanaque e organizaram a diagramação do material. O desenvolvimento de todo o material foi feito em um documento compartilhado em nuvem com todos os autores. Todo o processo envolvido na elaboração do Almanaque da Saúde trouxe reflexões pelos alunos no contexto da Atenção Primária da Saúde (APS) para fortalecimento dos sistemas de saúde, por conferir integralmente a visão de promoção de saúde, uma vez que leva informações científicas confiáveis para os domicílios e locais de trabalho da comunidade. Para a formação do estudante de medicina, proporcionou desenvolvimento de habilidades de trabalho em equipe, envolvimento, diálogo e comunicação, autonomia, reflexão crítica, postura ética e profissional, pois ações na APS tornam-se campos de prática e proporcionam a articulação entre prática e teoria

Design development post contract signing in New Zealand:Client's or contractor's cost?

By offering fixed-price contracts for designs supplied by clients, contractors legally warrant that they can build what has been designed and do so within their fixed price. Yet detailed drawings are often issued during construction in response to contractors' requests for information on the basis that they cannot otherwise build what has been designed. Claim-entitlement decisions are often made by construction professionals (architects, engineers and quantity surveyors) without legal training in contractual interpretation, potentially varying who pays for design development after contract signing, contractors or clients. Prior studies have addressed buildability obligations relating to ground conditions and foundations. This study applies key principles of contract law to consider who should pay for instructed drawing details post contract signing under the New Zealand standard NZS 3910:2013, 'Conditions of contract for building and civil engineering construction', in terms of (a) when a variation claim may be accepted; (b) the effect of contractor involvement on design development; and (c) the effect if claimed from a building subcontractor to a consultant manager (no head contractor). A claim-entitlement flow chart and a table comparing the head contractor's and consultant construction manager's obligations provide practical guides for contract administrators. Identifying terms prone to interpretation informs contract drafters towards reducing ambiguity for contract users and therefore the potential for dispute

Plant-Based Diets Are Associated With Lower Adiposity Levels Among Hispanic/Latino Adults in the Adventist Multi-Ethnic Nutrition (AMEN) Study

Background: The Hispanic/Latino population in the US is experiencing high rates of obesity and cardio-metabolic disease that may be attributable to a nutrition transition away from traditional diets emphasizing whole plant foods. In the US, plant-based diets have been shown to be effective in preventing and controlling obesity and cardio-metabolic disease in large samples of primarily non-Hispanic subjects. Studying this association in US Hispanic/Latinos could inform culturally tailored interventions.Objective: To examine whether the plant-based diet pattern that is frequently followed by Hispanic/Latino Seventh-day Adventists is associated with lower levels of adiposity and adiposity-related biomarkers.Methods: The Adventist Multiethnic Nutrition Study (AMEN) enrolled 74 Seventh-day Adventists from five Hispanic/Latino churches within a 20 mile radius of Loma Linda, CA into a cross-sectional study of diet (24 h recalls, surveys) and health (anthropometrics and biomarkers).Results: Vegetarian diet patterns (Vegan, Lacto-ovo vegetarian, Pesco-vegetarian) were associated with significantly lower BMI (24.5 kg/m2 vs. 27.9 kg/m2, p = 0.006), waist circumference (34.8 in vs. 37.5 in, p = 0.01), and fat mass (18.3 kg vs. 23.9 kg, p = 0.007), as compared to non-vegetarians. Adiposity was positively associated with pro-inflammatory cytokines (Interleukin-6) in this sample, but adjusting for this effect did not alter the associations with vegetarian diet.Conclusions: Plant-based eating as practiced by US-based Hispanic/Latino Seventh-day Adventists is associated with BMI in the recommended range. Further work is needed to characterize this type of diet for use in obesity-related interventions among Hispanic/Latinos in the US

O que influencia o desejo de ter um filho nos jovens adultos

Enquadramento: O Índice Sintético de Fecundidade (ISF) português é dos mais baixos da Europa. No entanto, o desejo de cada individuo jovem ter um filho, sem qualquer restrição é superior ao valor de referência para a substituição de gerações. Objectivos: Compreender a relação entre as variáveis sociodemográficas, as variáveis de contexto sexual e reprodutivo e as variáveis psicológicas com o desejo de ter um filho. Métodos: Estudo quantitativo, descritivo-correlacional. A amostra é não probabilistica por conveniência com uma média de idade de 20,79 anos (dp=2,785). O protocolo de investigação foi um questionário que caracteriza o perfil sociodemográfico, sexual e reprodutivo da amostra. Foi incluído o “QVPM” (Matos& Costa, 2001), “QVA” (Matos& Costa, 2001), “Questionário de desejo de ter um filho” (Leal, 1999) e escala de Auto estima de (Rosenberg, 1965, adaptado 1999). Resultados: É no sexo feminino e no grupo etário ≤ 19 anos que o desejo de ter um filho é maior. O desejo de ter um filho diminui com a idade. Ter namorado(a), pertencer a uma família alargada, não ter irmãos e ser proveniente de uma zona rural estão relacionados com maior desejo de ter um filho, no entanto sem diferenças estatísticas significativas. Os estudantes do primeiro ano apresentam maior desejo de ter um filho no futuro e este diminui conforme a progressão no ensino (ano de curso) e aproximação do mercado de trabalho. Os que apresentam maior desejo de ser pais com base em sentimentos relativos à parentalidade frequentam menos a consulta de planeamento familiar. Observaram-se diferenças estatísticas significativas entre o número de filhos desejado no futuro e o desejo de ter um filho. O nível de conhecimento sobre fertilidade não influencia o desejo de ter um filho. Quanto maior a ansiedade de separação da mãe (vinculação à mãe), a dependência da vinculação amorosa, a ansiedade de separação do pai (vinculação ao pai) e a auto estima, maior é o desejo de ter um filho. Conclusões: O desejo de ter um filho é um construto ao longo da vida, pelo que os enfermeiros acompanhando o ciclo vital do individuo contribuem para a promoção e capacitação da parentalidade nomeadamente através da: avaliação e promoção do vinculo parental e promoção da saúde sexual e reprodutiva. Palavras chave: Jovem adulto, parentalidade, vinculação amorosa, auto estima.Abstract: Framework: The Portuguese Synthetic Fertility Index (ISF) is among the lowest in Europe. However, the desire of each young individual to have a child without any restriction is higher than the reference value for the replacement of generations. Objective: Understand the relationship between sociodemographic variables, sexual and reproductive health variables, and psychological variables with the desire to have a child. Methods: Quantitative, descriptive-correlational study. A non-probabilistic for convenience sampling with an average age of 20.79 years (sd = 2.785). The research protocol was a questionnaire that characterizes the sociodemographic, sexual and reproductive profile of the sample and includes the “QVPM” (Matos& Costa, 2001), “QVA” (Matos& Costa, 2001), “Questionário de desejo de ter um filho” (Leal, 1999) and Rosenberg Self – esteem scale (Rosenberg, 1965, adap.1999). Results: It is in the female sex and in the age group ≤ 19 years that the desire to have a child is higher. The desire to have a child decreases with age. Having a boyfriend, belonging to an extended family, not having siblings and being from the countryside are related to higher desire to have a child, however without significant statistical differences. In the first year students the desire to have a child is higher and this decreases with the progression in school’s year and the approaching of labor market. Those who are more likely to be parents based on feelings about parenting are less likely to attend family planning visits. Significant statistical differences were observed between the number of children desired in the future and the desire to have a child. The level of knowledge about fertility does not influence the desire to have a child. The greater the separation anxiety of the mother (attachment to the mother), the dependence of the love bond, the separation anxiety of the father (attachment to the father) and the self esteem, the greater is the desire to have a child. Conclusions: The desire to have a child is a lifelong construct, so the nurses by accompanying the individual's life cycle contribute to the promotion and training of parenting, namely through: evaluation and promotion of parental attachment and promotion of sexual and reproductive health. Descriptors: Young adult, parenting, attachment, self esteem

Unsaturated Fatty Acids Revert Diet-Induced Hypothalamic Inflammation in Obesity

Background: In experimental models, hypothalamic inflammation is an early and determining factor in the installation and progression of obesity. Pharmacological and gene-based approaches have proven efficient in restraining inflammation and correcting the obese phenotypes. However, the role of nutrients in the modulation of hypothalamic inflammation is unknown. Methodology/Principal Findings: Here we show that, in a mouse model of diet-induced obesity, partial substitution of the fatty acid component of the diet by flax seed oil (rich in C18:3) or olive oil (rich in C18:1) corrects hypothalamic inflammation, hypothalamic and whole body insulin resistance, and body adiposity. In addition, upon icv injection in obese rats, both v3 and v9 pure fatty acids reduce spontaneous food intake and body mass gain. These effects are accompanied by the reversal of functional and molecular hypothalamic resistance to leptin/insulin and increased POMC and CART expressions. In addition, both, v3 and v9 fatty acids inhibit the AMPK/ACC pathway and increase CPT1 and SCD1 expression in the hypothalamus. Finally, acute hypothalamic injection of v3 and v9 fatty acids activate signal transduction through the recently identified GPR120 unsaturated fatty acid receptor. Conclusions/Significance: Unsaturated fatty acids can act either as nutrients or directly in the hypothalamus, reverting dietinduced inflammation and reducing body adiposity. These data show that, in addition to pharmacological and geneti