Maternal obesity in mice exacerbates the allergic inflammatory response in the airways of male offspring

It was previously demonstrated that non-allergen-sensitized rodents born to mothers exposed to a high-fat diet (HFD) spontaneously develop lower respiratory compliance and higher respiratory resistance. In the present study, we sought to determine if mice born to mothers consuming HFD would exhibit changes in inflammatory response and lung remodeling when subjected to ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization/challenge in adult life. Mice born to dams consuming either HFD or standard chow had increased bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) levels of IL-1 beta, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-13, TNF-alpha and TGF-beta 1 after challenge with OVA. IL-4, IL-13, TNF-alpha and TGF-beta 1 levels were further increased in the offspring of HFD-fed mothers. Mice born to obese dams also had exacerbated values of leukocyte infiltration in lung parenchyma, eosinophil and neutrophil counts in BAL, mucus overproduction and collagen deposition. The programming induced by maternal obesity was accompanied by increased expression of miR-155 in peripheral-blood mononuclear cells and reduced miR-133b in trachea and lung tissue in adult life. Altogether, the present data support the unprecedented notion that the progeny of obese mice display exacerbated responses to sensitization/challenge with OVA, leading to the intensification of the morphological changes of lung remodeling. Such changes are likely to result from long-lasting changes in miR-155 and miR-133b expression1112CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQCOORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPESFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESPsem informaçãosem informação2017/20742-2; 2016/22722-6; 2015/18997-7; 2013/07607-8; 2017/15175-

Exercise training improves relaxation response and SOD-1 expression in aortic and mesenteric rings from high caloric diet-fed rats

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Obesity has been associated with a variety of disease such as type II diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension and atherosclerosis. Evidences have shown that exercise training promotes beneficial effects on these disorders, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. The aim of this study was to investigate whether physical preconditioning prevents the deleterious effect of high caloric diet in vascular reactivity of rat aortic and mesenteric rings.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Male Wistar rats were divided into sedentary (SD); trained (TR); sedentary diet (SDD) and trained diet (TRD) groups. Run training (RT) was performed in sessions of 60 min, 5 days/week for 12 weeks (70–80% VO_2max). Triglycerides, glucose, insulin and nitrite/nitrate concentrations (NO_x^-) were measured. Concentration-response curves to acetylcholine (ACh) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) were obtained. Expression of Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD-1) was assessed by Western blotting.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>High caloric diet increased triglycerides concentration (SDD: 216 ± 25 mg/dl) and exercise training restored to the baseline value (TRD: 89 ± 9 mg/dl). Physical preconditioning significantly reduced insulin levels in both groups (TR: 0.54 ± 0.1 and TRD: 1.24 ± 0.3 ng/ml) as compared to sedentary animals (SD: 0.87 ± 0.1 and SDD: 2.57 ± 0.3 ng/ml). On the other hand, glucose concentration was slightly increased by high caloric diet, and RT did not modify this parameter (SD: 126 ± 6; TR: 140 ± 8; SDD: 156 ± 8 and TRD 153 ± 9 mg/dl). Neither high caloric diet nor RT modified NO_x^-levels (SD: 27 ± 4; TR: 28 ± 6; SDD: 27 ± 3 and TRD: 30 ± 2 μM). Functional assays showed that high caloric diet impaired the relaxing response to ACh in mesenteric (about 13%), but not in aortic rings. RT improved the relaxing responses to ACh either in aortic (28%, for TR and 16%, to TRD groups) or mesenteric rings (10%, for TR and 17%, to TRD groups) that was accompanied by up-regulation of SOD-1 expression and reduction in triglycerides levels.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The improvement in endothelial function by physical preconditioning in mesenteric and aortic arteries from high caloric fed-rats was directly related to an increase in NO bioavailability to the smooth muscle mostly due to SOD-1 up regulation.</p

Bay 41-2272 activates host defence against local and disseminated candida albicans infections

In our previous study, we have found that 5-cyclopropyl-2-[1-(2-fluoro-benzyl)-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-3-yl]-pyrimidin-4-ylamine (BAY 41-2272), a guanylate cyclase agonist, activates human monocytes and the THP-1 cell line to produce the superoxide anion, increasing in vitro microbicidal activity, suggesting that this drug can be used to modulate immune functioning in primary immunodeficiency patients. In the present work, we investigated the potential of the in vivo administration of BAY 41-2272 for the treatment of Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus infections introduced via intraperitoneal and subcutaneous inoculation. We found that intraperitoneal treatment with BAY 41-2272 markedly increased macrophage-dependent cell influx to the peritoneum in addition to macrophage functions, such as spreading, zymosan particle phagocytosis and nitric oxide and phorbol myristate acetate-stimulated hydrogen peroxide production. Treatment with BAY 41-2272 was highly effective in reducing the death rate due to intraperitoneal inoculation of C. albicans, but not S. aureus. However, we found that in vitro stimulation of peritoneal macrophages with BAY 41-2272 markedly increased microbicidal activities against both pathogens. Our results show that the prevention of death by the treatment of C. albicans-infected mice with BAY 41-2272 might occur primarily by the modulation of the host immune response through macrophage activation.In our previous study, we have found that 5-cyclopropyl-2-[1-(2-fluoro-benzyl)-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-3-yl]-pyrimidin-4-ylamine (BAY 41-2272), a guanylate cyclase agonist, activates human monocytes and the THP-1 cell line to produce the superoxide anion, increasing in vitro microbicidal activity, suggesting that this drug can be used to modulate immune functioning in primary immunodeficiency patients. In the present work, we investigated the potential of the in vivo administration of BAY 41-2272 for the treatment of Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus infections introduced via intraperitoneal and subcutaneous inoculation. We found that intraperitoneal treatment with BAY 41-2272 markedly increased macrophage-dependent cell influx to the peritoneum in addition to macrophage functions, such as spreading, zymosan particle phagocytosis and nitric oxide and phorbol myristate acetate-stimulated hydrogen peroxide production. Treatment with BAY 41-2272 was highly effective in reducing the death rate due to intraperitoneal inoculation of C. albicans, but not S. aureus. However, we found that in vitro stimulation of peritoneal macrophages with BAY 41-2272 markedly increased microbicidal activities against both pathogens. Our results show that the prevention of death by the treatment of C. albicans-infected mice with BAY 41-2272 might occur primarily by the modulation of the host immune response through macrophage activation1101758

The ontology of resistance: Power, tactics and making do in the Vila Rubim market

The paper re-examines the relation between power and resistance by investigating the reconstruction of the Vila Rubim market, one of the established markets in the city of Vitória in Brazil. After a fire that destroyed large parts of the market—probably the most significant event in its history—the market had to be fully rebuilt and the broader local area had to be redeveloped. Empirical materials were collected through ethnographic fieldwork, interviews and visual and archival research. The destruction and reconstruction of the Vila Rubim market unleashed a fierce struggle between the city council and the market's traders. We argue that the traders' resistance to urban management held the primacy in shaping the outcome of this conflict by initiating a multiplicity of space making practices. We reframe resistance as ontological, that is as the practice of creating a material position, of making a world that allows an alternative form of life to emerge beyond given power relations. Rather than in acts of protest, the stallholders of the Vila Rubim market engaged in mundane tactics which created alternative ontologies of existence in urban space

Scorpion venom increases acetylcholine release by prolonging the duration of somatic nerve action potentials

Scorpionism is frequently accompanied by a massive release of catecholamines and acetylcholine from peripheral nerves caused by neurotoxic peptides present in these venoms, which have high specificity and affinity for ion channels. Tityus bahiensis is the second most medically important scorpion species in Brazil but, despite this, its venom remains scarcely studied, especially with regard to its pharmacology on the peripheral (somatic and autonomic) nervous system. Here, we evaluated the activity of T. bahiensis venom on somatic neurotransmission using myographic (chick and mouse neuromuscular preparations), electrophysiological (MEPP, EPP, resting membrane potentials, perineural waveforms, compound action potentials) and calcium imaging (on DRG neurons and muscle fibres) techniques. Our results show that the major toxic effects of T. bahiensis venom on neuromuscular function are presynaptically driven by the increase in evoked and spontaneous neurotransmitter release. Low venom concentrations prolong the axonal action potential, leading to a longer depolarization of the nerve terminals that enhances neurotransmitter release and facilitates nerve-evoked muscle contraction. The venom also stimulates the spontaneous release of neurotransmitters, probably through partial neuronal depolarization that allows calcium influx. Higher venom concentrations block the generation of action potentials and resulting muscle twitches. These effects of the venom were reversed by low concentrations of TTX, indicating voltage-gated sodium channels as the primary target of the venom toxins. These results suggest that the major neuromuscular toxicity of T. bahiensis venom is probably mediated mainly by α- and β-toxins interacting with presynaptic TTX-sensitive ion channels on both axons and nerve terminals

Conhecimento do professor de Matemática e educação financeira: um panorama das pesquisas realizadas no período 2010-2020

Este estudo teve por objetivo compreender a pesquisa brasileira, centrada nos conhecimentos de professores de Matemática e suas conexões com a educação financeira. Para tanto, fez-se uma pesquisa, do tipo Estado do Conhecimento, dos trabalhos publicados no Brasil, no período de 2010 a 2020, que dizem respeito aos conhecimentos do professor de Matemática. As buscas foram efetuadas em periódicos de Qualis A1 e A2, no Catálogo de Teses e Dissertações da Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) e na Biblioteca Digital Brasileira de Teses e Dissertações (BDTD). Os resultados revelam a escassez de pesquisas referentes à articulação dos conhecimentos dos professores de Matemática com a educação financeira. Apenas dois trabalhos que apresentam ambas temáticas conhecimento do professor de Matemática e educação financeira foram selecionados, sendo que um deles propõe investigar a mobilização dos conhecimentos pedagógicos e matemáticos de um grupo de professores do 5° ano dos anos iniciais do ensino fundamental sobre educação financeira. O outro trabalho considera que ações formativas interferem positivamente no estímulo do desenvolvimento dos conhecimentos e auxiliam os professores nas suas decisões ao abordarem o tema educação financeira em suas aulas

CULTURA E ORGANIZAÇÕES: PARA ALÉM DA LACUNA EPISTEMOLÓGICA / CULTURE AND ORGANIZATIONS: BEYOND THE EPISTEMOLOGICAL GAP

As duas correntes epistemológicas principais do estudo sobre cultura, no que tange às organizações (positivismo e interpretativismo), ilustram grande dificuldade para ultrapassagem de suas dimensões principais de exame. Sustenta-se que essa dificuldade decorre, em certa medida, da não realização de trabalhos multiparadigmáticos, mesmo diante da tentativa de conexão das correntes de análises da integração, da fragmentação e da diferenciação. Assim, esse ensaio teórico problematiza a manutenção dessas barreiras entre correntes epistêmicas e níveis organizacionais. Tem como objetivo propor formas de conexão entre as linhas de pesquisa sobre cultura e organizações, a partir do local intermediário que o filósofo Michel Foucault utilizou para desenvolver sua analítica. Como resultado, foram realizadas três proposições. A partir do período arqueológico do autor, uma alternativa foi apresentada: a busca pelos modos de ser da ordem que fundamenta a cultura. Da genealogia emergem as estratégias e as tecnologias de poder, visíveis no espaço entre saberes, relações com setores, grupos organizacionais, sujeitos. Por fim, a proposição coerente com o elemento ético\estético enfatiza a busca por formas de práticas que o sujeito realiza sobre si, para se relacionar com as tecnologias de poder. Palavras chaves: Cultura organizacional. Análise multiparadigmática. Michel Foucault. Abstract The two main epistemological streams of the study of culture, in relation to organizations (positivism and interpretativism), show great difficulty in going beyond their main dimensions. We argue that this difficulty is caused, to some extent, by the lack of multiparadigmatic papers, even before the attempt to connect the streams of integration, fragmentation and differentiation. This theoretical essay discusses the barriers between epistemic streams and across organizational levels. It proposes forms of connection between the lines of research on culture and organizations, from the intermediate location that the philosopher Michel Foucault used in developing his analytical path. Based on the archaeological period of the author, an alternative was presented: the search for ways of being of the order that forms the basis of culture. Out of genealogy, emerge the strategies and technologies of power, visible in the space between areas of knowledge, relations with sectors, organizational groups, and subjects. Finally, the proposal consistent with the ethical/aesthetic element emphasizes the search for forms of practices that the subject performs on the self, to relate to the technologies of power. Keywords: Organizational culture. Multiparadigmatic analysis. Michel Foucault