Is hypertension associated with a greater increase in creatine kinase activity following cycling exercise? A case study

We describe discrepant behavior of serum creatine kinase (CK) activity during and after cycling in a hypertensive athlete when compared to the healthy athletes from the same team of endurance cyclists. Heart Rate (HR), Blood Pressure (BP), Perceived Exertion (PE) and serum CK activity were evaluated before, during and after 150 km indoor cycling. The results showed that there were no differences between the hypertensive athlete and the healthy athletes in time trial (186.3 min vs. 179.1 ± 14.9 min), HR (159.3 ± 11.4 bpm vs. 169.5 ± 7.8 bpm respectively) and PE (6.3 ± 1.5 vs. 6.3 ± 1.3). Systolic BP was higher in hypertensive athlete before, during and after the exercise. Serum CK activity was higher (+47%) at baseline and exhibited a higher increase (> +200%) after exercise. Our finding shed light on a hypothesis regarding the interindividual variability of serum CK activity and its possible interaction with hypertension

The MOVECLIM – AZORES project: Bryophytes from Pico Island along an elevation gradient

Background In September 2012, a comprehensive survey of Pico Island was conducted along an elevational transect, starting at Manhenha (10 m a.s.l.) and culminating at the Pico Mountain caldera (2200 m a.s.l.). The primary objective was to systematically inventory the bryophytes inhabiting the best-preserved areas of native vegetation environments. Twelve sites were selected, each spaced at 200 m elevation intervals. Within each site, two 10 m x 10 m plots were established in close proximity (10-15 m apart). Within these plots, three 2 m x 2 m quadrats were randomly selected and sampled for bryophytes using microplots measuring 10 cm x 5 cm, which were then collected into paper bags. Six substrates were surveyed in each quadrat: rock, soil, humus, organic matter, tree bark and leaves/fronds. Three replicates were obtained from all substrates available and colonised by bryophytes, resulting in a maximum of 18 microplots per quadrat, 54 microplots per plot, 108 microplots per site, and a total of 1296 microplots across the 12 sites on Pico Island. New information Two-thirds of the maximum expected number of microplots (n = 878; 67.75%) were successfully collected, yielding a total of 4896 specimens. The vast majority (n = 4869) were identified at the species/subspecies level. The study identified a total of 70 moss and 71 liverwort species or subspecies. Elevation levels between 600-1000 m a.s.l., particularly in the native forest plots, exhibited both a higher number of microplots and greater species richness. This research significantly enhanced our understanding of Azorean bryophyte diversity and distribution, contributing valuable insights at both local and regional scales. Notably, two new taxa for the Azores were documented during the MOVECLIM study, namely the pleurocarpous mosses Antitrichia curtipendula and Isothecium interludens.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The MOVECLIM – AZORES project: Bryophytes from Pico Island (2012)

ABSTRACT: In September 2012, Pico Island was surveyed along an elevational transept starting on Manhenha, at 10 m a.s.l., and ending on the Pico Mountain caldera, at 2200 m a.s.l. to obtain a systematic inventory of the bryophytes living in natural environments. A total of twelve sites were examined, separated by 200 m elevation steps. At each site, two 10 m x 10 m plots were established within 10-15 m from each other, and within each plot, three 2 m x 2 m quadrats were randomly selected and thoroughly sampled for bryophytes using microplots of 10 cm x 5 cm, collected to paper bags. Six substrates were explored within each quadrat: rock, soil, humus, organic matter, tree bark and leaves/fronds; three replicates were made for each substrate, whenever available and colonized by bryophytes, totalling a maximum of 18 microplots per quadrat, 54 microplots per plot, 108 microplots per site and 1296 microplots on the 12 sites of Pico Island. It was possible to collect two thirds of the maximum expected number of microplots (N=878; 67,75%), resulting in 4896 specimens, the great majority of which (n=4869) were identified to the species/subspecies level. Overall, it was possible to identify 70 moss’ and 71 liverwort’ species and subspecies. The elevation levels both with a greater number of microplots and higher richness of species were those between 600-1000 m a.s.l., coinciding with the native forest plots. The study contributed to improve the knowledge of Azorean bryophyte diversity and distribution at both local and regional scales, including the recording of new taxa for Pico Island and the Azores.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Cavity filling mutations at the thyroxine-binding site dramatically increase transthyretin stability and prevent its aggregationres

Altres ajuts: SUDOE INTERREG IV B (SOE4/P1/E831 to S.V.) and FEDER funds through the Operational Competitiveness Programme - COMPETE [grant number FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-022718 (PEST-c/SAU/LA0002/2011) FCT-FEDER forunit 4293 in partnership with PT2020].More than a hundred different Transthyretin (TTR) mutations are associated with fatal systemic amyloidoses. They destabilize the protein tetrameric structure and promote the extracellular deposition of TTR as pathological amyloid fibrils. So far, only mutations R104H and T119M have been shown to stabilize significantly TTR, acting as disease suppressors. We describe a novel A108V non-pathogenic mutation found in a Portuguese subject. This variant is more stable than wild type TTR both in vitro and in human plasma, a feature that prevents its aggregation. The crystal structure of A108V reveals that this stabilization comes from novel intra and inter subunit contacts involving the thyroxine (T 4) binding site. Exploiting this observation, we engineered a A108I mutation that fills the T 4 binding cavity, as evidenced in the crystal structure. This synthetic protein becomes one of the most stable TTR variants described so far, with potential application in gene and protein replacement therapies

Susceptibility of Candida albicans and Candida glabrata biofilms to silver nanoparticles in intermediate and mature development phases

Purpose: Silver nanoparticles (SN) have been studied as antibiofilm agents, to prevent Candida-associated denture stomatitis. Consequently, the aim of this study was to investigate the influence of the intermediate and maturation stages of Candida albicans and Candida glabrata biofilms development in the susceptibility to SN. Methods: SN (5 nm) suspensions were synthesized via reduction of silver nitrate by a solution of sodium citrate. These suspensions were used to treat, during 5 h, Candida biofilms grown on acrylic surfaces for 24- (intermediate stage) and 48-h (maturation stage), and their efficacy was determined by total biomass (using crystal violet staining) and colony forming units (CFU) quantification. Results: SN promoted significant reductions (p 0.05), when the different stages of biofilm development (24 or 48 h) were exposed to SN. Comparing the number of CFUs between 24- and 48-h biofilms treated with SN, a significant difference (p < 0.05) was found only for the strain C. albicans 324LA/94. Conclusions: It was concluded that, in general, the intermediate and maturation stages of biofilm development do not interfere in the susceptibility of C. albicans and C. glabrata biofilms to SN regarding. These findings are essential for the deployment of new therapies aimed at preventing denture stomatitis.This study was supported by the Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP), Brazil, process 2009/15146-5. The authors are indebted to LIEC-CMDMC and INCTMN/FAPESP-CNPq in the name of Andressa Kubo for preparing and characterizing the colloidal suspensions of silver nanoparticles. We also thank Dr. David Williams (Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK) for providing the strain 324LA/94, and George Duchow for the English review

Rationale, study design, and analysis plan of the Alveolar Recruitment for ARDS Trial (ART): Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is associated with high in-hospital mortality. Alveolar recruitment followed by ventilation at optimal titrated PEEP may reduce ventilator-induced lung injury and improve oxygenation in patients with ARDS, but the effects on mortality and other clinical outcomes remain unknown. This article reports the rationale, study design, and analysis plan of the Alveolar Recruitment for ARDS Trial (ART). Methods/Design: ART is a pragmatic, multicenter, randomized (concealed), controlled trial, which aims to determine if maximum stepwise alveolar recruitment associated with PEEP titration is able to increase 28-day survival in patients with ARDS compared to conventional treatment (ARDSNet strategy). We will enroll adult patients with ARDS of less than 72 h duration. The intervention group will receive an alveolar recruitment maneuver, with stepwise increases of PEEP achieving 45 cmH(2)O and peak pressure of 60 cmH2O, followed by ventilation with optimal PEEP titrated according to the static compliance of the respiratory system. In the control group, mechanical ventilation will follow a conventional protocol (ARDSNet). In both groups, we will use controlled volume mode with low tidal volumes (4 to 6 mL/kg of predicted body weight) and targeting plateau pressure &lt;= 30 cmH2O. The primary outcome is 28-day survival, and the secondary outcomes are: length of ICU stay; length of hospital stay; pneumothorax requiring chest tube during first 7 days; barotrauma during first 7 days; mechanical ventilation-free days from days 1 to 28; ICU, in-hospital, and 6-month survival. ART is an event-guided trial planned to last until 520 events (deaths within 28 days) are observed. These events allow detection of a hazard ratio of 0.75, with 90% power and two-tailed type I error of 5%. All analysis will follow the intention-to-treat principle. Discussion: If the ART strategy with maximum recruitment and PEEP titration improves 28-day survival, this will represent a notable advance to the care of ARDS patients. Conversely, if the ART strategy is similar or inferior to the current evidence-based strategy (ARDSNet), this should also change current practice as many institutions routinely employ recruitment maneuvers and set PEEP levels according to some titration method.Hospital do Coracao (HCor) as part of the Program 'Hospitais de Excelencia a Servico do SUS (PROADI-SUS)'Brazilian Ministry of Healt

Some heuristic algorithms for total tardiness minimization in a flowshop with blocking

The flowshop scheduling problem with blocking in-process is addressed in this paper. In this environment, there are no buffers between successive machines: therefore intermediate queues of jobs waiting in the system for their next operations are not allowed. Heuristic approaches are proposed to minimize the total tardiness criterion. A constructive heuristic that explores specific characteristics of the problem is presented. Moreover, a GRASP-based heuristic is proposed and Coupled with a path relinking strategy to search for better outcomes. Computational tests are presented and the comparisons made with an adaptation of the NEH algorithm and with a branch-and-bound algorithm indicate that the new approaches are promising. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq)Fundacao de Amporo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP

GOLDEN HOUR AND THE SUCESS IN BREASTFEEDING: NARRATIVE REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Introdução: A golden hour é caracterizada como a primeira hora de vida pós- natal em recém-nascidos que visa minimizar as complicações neonatais e melhorar resultados de saúde do bebé. Para a Organização das NaçõesUnidas todas as crianças devem ter acesso a uma alimentação de qualidade, iniciando-se no aleitamento materno. Objetivo: Identificar a evidência científica do sucesso do aleitamento materno a longo prazo quando realizado na golden hour. Metodologia: Revisão narrativa da literatura nas plataforma EndNote, com seleção da base de dados PubMed e EBSCOhost com seleção de todas as bases de dados. Resultados e discussão: Verificou-se relação entre o tipo de parto e a realização da golden hour. Averiguou- se que a golden hour interfere com o sucesso da amamentação a longo prazo, no entanto não corresponde ao principal fator. Constatou- se a importância do profissional de saúde enquanto impulsionador da prática baseada na evidência e a sua relevância como parte ativa e integrante de uma transição favorável da díade. Considerações finais : É pertinente a realização de novos estudos que realcem a importância do profissional de saúde na golden hour e desta forma tornar rotina este momento nos hospitais e maternidades

Prevalence of Gardnerella vaginalis and Atopobium vaginae in Portuguese women and association with risk factors for bacterial vaginosis

Among Portuguese women, there was a high correlation between biofilm-forming Gardnerella vaginalis and Atopobium vaginae colonization associated to BV