Fatores de risco cardiovascular e distribuição de gordura corporal em brasileiros com 80 anos ou mais

Modelo do estudo: Estudo transversal. Objetivo: Analisar a presença de fatores de risco cardiovascular (FRC) de acordo com o padrão de distribuição de gordura corporal em brasileiros com 80 anos ou mais. Materiais e Método: A amostra foi composta de 113 idosos, com média de idade de 83,4 anos, de ambos os sexos. O percentual de gordura corporal total e abdominal, hipertensão e perfil lipídico foram usados para caracterização dos FRC. O teste qui-quadrado foi utilizado para avaliação das proporções de FRC e o teste Mann-Whitney foi utilizado para comparar os resultados de adiposidade. Resultados: Idosos eutróficos apresentaram baixo triglicerídeos (p=0,017) e colesterol total (p=0,001) além de menores prevalências de hipertensão (p=0,003) e hipertrigliceridemia (p=0,007). Idosos com maior adiposidade abdominal apresentaram maior colesterol total (p=0,026) e prevalência de hipertrigliceridemia (p=0,011) e hipercolesterolemia (p=0,026) quando comparados com os de menor adiposidade abdominal. Aqueles com excesso de gordura (total, ou abdominal ou ambos), com exceção da glicemia (p=0,877), apresentaram alta prevalência de FRC. Aqueles com ambos os excessos de gordura apresentam diferenças, com maior nível de prevalência quando comparados aqueles com apenas um ou nenhum dos excessos. Conclusão: A obesidade, sendo abdominal ou total, é associada, da mesma maneira, com FRC em sujeitos com 80 anos ou maisStudy design: Cross-sectional study. Objective: To analyze the presence of cardiovascular risk factors (CRFs) according to the pattern of body fat distribution, in Brazilians aged 80 years or over. Methods: The sample consisted of 113 subjects, of 83.4 years, of both sexes. The percentages of total and abdominal body fat, hypertension and lipid profile were used for characterization of CRFs. The chisquare test was used to assess proportions of CRFs and the Mann-Whitney test was used to compare the results of adiposity. Results: Eutrophic subjects presented lower triglycerides (p=0.017), total cholesterol (p=0.001) and prevalence of both hypertension (p=0.003) and hypertriglyceridemia (p=0.007). Subjects with higher abdominal adiposity presented higher total cholesterol (p=0.026) and prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia (p=0.011) and hypercholesterolemia (p=0.026) than those with no excess abdominal adiposity. Those with excess fat (total, abdominal or both), with the exception of glucose (p=0.877), presented a high prevalence of CRFs. Those with both types of excess fat presented differences, with a higher prevalence level when compared to those with only one or neither of the excesses. Conclusion: Obesity, whether abdominal or total, is similarly associated with CRFs in subjects aged 80 years and ove

Protein-olive oil-in-water nanoemulsions as encapsulation materials for curcumin acting as anticancer agent towards MDA-MB-231 cells

The sustainable cellular delivery of the pleiotropic drug curcumin encounters drawbacks related to its fast autoxidation at the physiological pH, cytotoxicity of delivery vehicles and poor cellular uptake. A biomaterial compatible with curcumin and with the appropriate structure to allow the correct curcumin encapsulation considering its poor solubility in water, while maintaining its stability for a safe release was developed. In this work, the biomaterial developed started by the preparation of an oil-in-water nanoemulsion using with a cytocompatible copolymer (Pluronic F 127) coated with a positively charged protein (gelatin), designed as G-Cur-NE, to mitigate the cytotoxicity issue of curcumin. These G-Cur-NE showed excellent capacity to stabilize curcumin, to increase its bio-accessibility, while allowing to arrest its autoxidation during its successful application as an anticancer agent proved by the disintegration of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells as a proof of concept

Milk microbiome and bacterial load following dry cow therapy without antibiotics in dairy cows with healthy mammary gland

Made available in DSpace on 2018-11-26T17:40:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2017-08-14Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary MedicineUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Preventive infusion of antibiotics in the mammary gland of cows consumes 11 tons/year of medically relevant antimicrobials, yet, this practice might not be critical to prevent new infections in the healthy mammary gland of cows. Here, we used next-generation sequencing and quantitative real-time PCR to determine the impact of dry cow therapy without antibiotics on milk microbiome and bacterial load, respectively. Cows diagnosed as negative for mastitis at dry off were randomly allocated to receive antibiotic (intramammary ceftiofur hydrochloride) and teat sealant or just teat sealant. Firmicutes was the most abundant phylum, and Corynebacterium, Acinetobacter, and Staphylococcus, often involved in mastitis cases, were the most abundant genera across treatments and time. However, there were no effects of antimicrobial on milk microbiome and bacterial load. Bacterial load was greater at seven days postpartum than at dry off. Dry cow therapy based on teat sealant without antibiotics can be used with no detrimental impacts on milk microbiome and bacterial load in cows with a healthy mammary gland.Univ Illinois, Dept Vet Clin Med, Champaign, IL 61820 USASao Paulo State Univ, Dept Microbiol & Immunol, Inst Biosci, Botucatu, SP, BrazilCornell Univ, Dept Populat Med & Diagnost Sci, Ithaca, NY USAUniv Liverpool, Dept Epidemiol & Populat Hlth, Inst Infect & Global Hlth, Leahurst, Neston, EnglandSao Paulo State Univ, Dept Microbiol & Immunol, Inst Biosci, Botucatu, SP, BrazilFAPESP: 2015/15208

Factors associated with inflamm-aging in institutionalized older people

The increase in inflammatory cytokines associated with a reduction in the bioavailability of zinc has been used as a marker for inflammation. Despite the high inflammatory state found in institutionalized older individuals, few studies have proposed verifying the factors associated with this condition in this population. To verify the factors associated with inflamm-aging in institutionalized older people. A total of 178 older people (≥ 60 years old) living in nursing homes in Natal/RN were included in the study. Cluster analysis was used to identify three groups according to their inflammatory state. Analysis anthropometric, biochemical, sociodemographic, and health-related variables was carried out. In sequence, an ordinal logistic regression was performed for a confidence level of 95% in those variables with p < 0.20 in the bivariate analysis. IL-6, TNF-α, zinc, low-density lipids (LDL), high-density lipids (HDL), and triglycerides were associated with inflamm-aging. The increase of 1 unit of measurement of LDL, HDL, and triglycerides increased the chance of inflammation-aging by 1.5%, 4.1%, and 0.9%, respectively, while the oldest old (≥ 80 years old) had an 84.9% chance of presenting inflamm-aging in relation to non-long-lived older people (< 80 years). The association between biochemical markers and inflamm-aging demonstrates a relationship between endothelial injury and the inflammatory state. In addition, the presence of a greater amount of fat in the blood may present a higher relative risk of death

Pacientes hipertensos muestran una mayor respuesta de la frecuencia cardíaca durante el ejercicio progre-sivo en relación con pares adultos normotensos: Proyecto Vascu-Health

Existe información limitada respecto a la respuesta de la frecuencia cardiaca (FC) a partir de fórmulas predictivas y prueba de ejercicio real entre adultos con hipertensión arterial (HTA) y normotensos, así como sobre las similitudes o diferencias vasculares entre muestras de diferente control de la presión arterial. El objetivo de este estudio fue describir y comparar la frecuencia cardiaca durante el ejercicio entre adultos con HTN y normotensos, así como describir parámetros de función endotelial y vasculares. Se realizó un estudio clínico descriptivo con 64 adultos (hombres y mujeres) que fueron divididos en tres grupos: hipertensión arterial (HTN n=26), presión arterial elevada (Ele n=16), o normotensos control (CG n=22). Los participantes se sometieron a una prueba de ejercicio, en la que se midió la FC (variable principal) y parámetros vasculares secundarios (clasificación percentil de la velocidad de la onda del pulso (%ILEPWVba), grosor máximo de la íntima-media carotídea (cIMTmax) y edad arterial entre otras. En la etapa 2 del test (50-100 vatios), el grupo HTN mostró una FC significativamente mayor vs. el grupo GC (+14 latidos/min), y vs. el grupo Ele (+15 latidos/min), ambos p<0,05; y en la etapa 5 (125-250 vatios) vs. el grupo GC (+22 latidos/min; p<0,05). El grupo HTN mostró una clasificación mayor de rigidez arterial %ILEPWVba, y de edad arterial que el grupo NT. En conclusión, los sujetos con HTA presentan una mayor respuesta de la FC durante el ejercicio que los normotensos. Sin embargo, todos los grupos mostraron una mayor HRpredicted en relación con la HRpeak real. Estos resultados se muestran con una clasificación en percentiles superiores de rigidez arterial y una mayor estimación de la edad arterial con relación a adultos normotensos.There is limited information regarding heart rate (HR) response from predictive formulae and actual exercise tests between arterial hypertension (HTN) and normotensive adults, as well as about vascular similarities or differences between samples of different blood pressure control. This study aimed 1) to describe and compare the HR during exercise between HTN and normotensive adults and 2) to describe the endothelial function and related vascular parameters in both groups. A descriptive clinical study was conducted with 64 adults (men and women) who were divided into three groups: arterial hypertension (HTN n=26), elevated blood pressure (Ele n=16), or normotensive control (CG n=22). The participants underwent a incremental cycling exercise test of 5 stages, where HR (primary outcome) was measured, and secondary vascular outcomes (percentile classification of the pulse wave velocity (%ILEPWVba), maximum carotid intima-media thickness (cIMTmax), and arterial age among others were measured. In stage 2 of the test (50-100 watts), the HTN group showed significantly higher HR vs. CG (+14 beats/min; p<0.05) and vs. Ele group (+15 beats/min; p<0.05), and in stage 5 (125-250 watts), HTN group showed vs. CG (+22 beats/min; p<0.05). HTN group showed a higher arterial stiffness by %ILEPWVba classification and arterial age estimation than the CG group. In conclusion, HTN patients reported a higher HR response only in two out of five stages of the Astrand cycling exercise test than normotensive peers. Moreover, all groups showed a higher HRpredicted than real HRpeak obtained from the exercise test. These results are displayed with more altered vascular parameters in the HTN group.This research was funded by Direccion General de In-vestigación, Vicerrectoria de Investigación y Doctorado, Concurso de Ciencias Biomédicas y Clínicas, Universidad Andres Bello 2022 Código N° DI-01-CBC/22”. Also, the main author (C.A.) was funded by the Exercise and Reha-bilitation Sciences Institute, School of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, 7591538, Chile

Associação entre fatores de risco cardiovascular e capacidade funcional de idosos longevos

Modelo do estudo: Estudo transversal. Objetivo: Analisar a associação entre a presença de fatores de risco cardiovascular (FRC) e a capacidade funcional de idosos longevos. Materiais e Método: A amostra foi composta por 91 idosos com idade entre 80 e 90 anos (83,0±2,3 anos), sendo 60 mulheres (82,9±2,1 anos) e 31 homens (83,2±2,6 anos) residentes na cidade de Presidente Prudente/SP. Os FRC analisados foram: Hipertensão Arterial (HA) e excesso de gordura corporal (total e tronco). A presença de Hipertensão foi verificada por meio do questionário auto-referido baseado no Standard Health Questionnaire(SHQ). A avaliação da gordura corporal foi feita pela absorpiometria de dupla energia de raios-X (DEXA) e a capacidade funcional foi avaliada por meio dos testes funcionais (equilíbrio estático, velocidade usual de caminhada e força de membros inferiores). Para tratamento estatístico realizou-se o teste qui-quadrado, o software utilizado foi SPSS (13.0) e o nível de significância estabelecido foi de 5%. Resultados: Os idosos com a presença de HA e excesso de %GC apresentaram menor desempenho no teste de membros inferiores (83,3% menor e 16,7% maior), p=0,011 comparados aqueles com apenas um FCR. As idosas com a presença de HA e excesso de %GTron também apresentaram menor desempenho no mesmo teste (80,6% menor e 19,4% maior), p=0,018 e no teste de velocidade de caminhada (80,6% menor e 19,4% maior), p=0,034. Conclusão: A HA e o excesso de gordura corporal (total e tronco) agregados são FRC, que estão associados à redução da capacidade funcional de idosos longevos.Study design: cross-sectional study. Objective: To assess the association between the presence of cardiovascular risk factor (CRP) and functional capacity of the oldest old. Methods: The sample 9onsisted of 91 elderly aged 80 and 90 years (83.0 ± 2.5 years) with 60 women (82.2 ± 2.1 years) and 31 men (83.2± 2,6 years) residing in the city of Presidente Prudente - SP. The FRC were analyzed: arterial hypertension(AH) and excess body fat (total and trunk). The presence of hypertension was verified by means of selfreported questionnaire based on the Standard Health Questionnaire (SHQ). Assessment of body was made by absorpiometria dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and functional capacity was assessed by the functional tests (static balance, normal walking speed and force of the lower limbs). For statistical analysis we carried out the chi-square test, the software used was SPSS (13.0) and the significance level was set at 5%. Results. In males, with hypertension and the presence of excess %BF had lower performance in the lower limbs (83.3% lower and 16.7% higher), p = 0.011 compared to those with only a VCF.The elderly women with hypertension and the presence of excess GTron% also had lower performance on the same test (80.6% lower and 19.4% higher), p = 0.018 and the test of walking speed (80.6% lower and 19.4% higher), p = 0.034. Conclusion: Arterial hypertension and excess body fat (total and trunk)aggregated are FRC, which are associated with reduced functional capacity of the oldest old

Organocatalytic sulfoxidation

Treatment of a sulfide with a catalytic amount of a 1,3 diketone in the presence of silica sulfuric acid as a co-catalyst and hydrogen peroxide (50% aq) as the stoichiometric oxidant leads to the corresponding sulfoxide product. The reaction is effective for diaryl, aryl-alkyl and dialkyl sulfides and is tolerant of oxidisable and acid sensitive functional groups. Investigations have shown that the tris-peroxide 2, formed on reaction of pentane-2,4-dione with hydrogen peroxide under acidic reaction conditions, can oxidise two equivalents of sulfide using the exocyclic peroxide groups whereas the endocyclic peroxide remains intact. Calculations provide a mechanism consistent with experimental observations and suggest the reaction proceeds via an initial acid catalysed ring opening of a protonated tris-peroxide prior to oxygen transfer to a sulfur nucleophile

Low resolution structures of the retinoid X receptor DNA-binding and ligand-binding domains revealed by synchrotron x-ray solution scattering

Nuclear receptors are ligand-inducible transcription factors that share structurally related DNA-binding (DBD) and ligand-binding (LBD) domains. Biochemical and structural studies have revealed the modular nature of DBD and LBD. Nevertheless, the domains function in concert in vivo. While high-resolution crystal structures of nuclear receptor DBDs and LBDs are available, there are no x-ray structural studies of nuclear receptor proteins containing multiple domains. We report the solution structures of the human retinoid X receptor DBD-LBD (hRXR AB) region. We obtained ab initio shapes of hRXR AB dimer and tetramer to 3.3 and 1.7 nm resolutions, respectively, and established the position and orientation of the DBD and LBD by fitting atomic coordinates of hRXR DBD and LBD. The dimer is U-shaped with DBDs spaced at 2 nm in a head to head orientation forming an angle of about 10° with respect to each other and with an extensive interface area provided by the LBD. The tetramer is a more elongated X-shaped molecule formed by two dimers in head to head arrangement in which the DBDs are extended from the structure and spaced at about 6 nm. The close proximity of DBDs in dimers may facilitate homodimer formation on DNA; however, for the homodimer to bind to a DNA element containing two directly repeated halfsites, one of the DBDs would need to rotate with respect to the other element. By contrast, the separation of DBDs in the tetramers may account for their decreased ability to recognize DNA

Leucine supplementation improves skeletal muscle regeneration after cryolesion in rats

This study was undertaken in order to provide further insight into the role of leucine supplementation in the skeletal muscle regeneration process, focusing on myofiber size and strength recovery. Young (2-month-old) rats were subjected or not to leucine supplementation (1.35 g/kg per day) started 3 days prior to cryolesion. Then, soleus muscles were cryolesioned and continued receiving leucine supplementation until 1, 3 and 10 days later. Soleus muscles from leucine-supplemented animals displayed an increase in myofiber size and a reduction in collagen type III expression on post-cryolesion day 10. Leucine was also effective in reducing FOXO3a activation and ubiquitinated protein accumulation in muscles at post-cryolesion days 3 and 10. In addition, leucine supplementation minimized the cryolesion-induced decrease in tetanic strength and increase in fatigue in regenerating muscles at post-cryolesion day 10. These beneficial effects of leucine were not accompanied by activation of any elements of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt/mechanistic target of rapamycin signalling pathway in the regenerating muscles. Our results show that leucine improves myofiber size gain and strength recovery in regenerating soleus muscles through attenuation of protein ubiquitination. In addition, leucine might have therapeutic effects for muscle recovery following injury and in some muscle diseases.FAPESP, 2010/52520-0FAPESP, 2012/15276-

Multiple agency perspective, family control, and private information abuse in an emerging economy

Using a comprehensive sample of listed companies in Hong Kong this paper investigates how family control affects private information abuses and firm performance in emerging economies. We combine research on stock market microstructure with more recent studies of multiple agency perspectives and argue that family ownership and control over the board increases the risk of private information abuse. This, in turn, has a negative impact on stock market performance. Family control is associated with an incentive to distort information disclosure to minority shareholders and obtain private benefits of control. However, the multiple agency roles of controlling families may have different governance properties in terms of investors’ perceptions of private information abuse. These findings contribute to our understanding of the conflicting evidence on the governance role of family control within a multiple agency perspectiv