Evaluación de la iluminación natural y de las protecciones solares en edificios de oficinas de la ciudad de S. M. de Tucumán

El trabajo muestra los resultados del estudio de la eficiencia de las protecciones solares y del comportamiento lumínico de aventanamientos en edificios de oficinas construidos en San Miguel de Tucumán. Se realizaron simulaciones con programas computacionales en 16 edificios. Así también se llevó a cabo la evaluación de las protecciones solares en 13 edificios, con el objeto de determinar la eficiencia de los mismos y su adecuación climática para localidad en estudio. Los resultados muestran que en la mayor parte de los locales de oficinas no se cumple con los valores mínimos de iluminación natural sobre el plano de trabajo requeridos para la tarea visual y que las protecciones solares no se comportan adecuadamente, produciendo deslumbramiento y un excesivo aporte de calor al ambiente, generando condiciones de inconfort y un incremento en los costos para el acondicionamiento artificial. Es así que el 61% de los edificios relevados no cuentan con protecciones solares en las ventanas y el tratamiento de sus frentes no difiere según sea la orientación de los mismos, con una elevada proporción de superficies vidriadas. Por otra parte, el 75% de los locales no cumplen con los valores de iluminación natural mínimos de normas, en el punto medio del local y el 94% en el punto más desfavorable.The work shows the results of the study of the efficiency of the solar protection and of the light behavior of windows in office buildings of San Miguel of Tucumán. In order to determining the light behavior of the windows, they were carried out simulations with software in 16 buildings. Likewise it was carried out the evaluation of the solar protection in 13 buildings, in order to determining the efficiency of them and their climatic adaptation for the town in study. The results show that in most of the offices it is not fulfilled the minimum values of natural illumination on the working plane, required for the visual tasks, and that the solar protection don't behave appropriately, producing dazzle and an excessive contribution of heat to the interior, generating conditions of lack of comfort and an increment in the energy costs.Asociación Argentina de Energías Renovables y Medio Ambiente (ASADES

Preventive role of gallic acid on hepatic ischemia and reperfusion injury in rats

There is little information about the hepatoprotective effects of gallic acid against ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) damage. Animals were subjected to I/R. Gallic acid at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight (bw) were injected as a single dose prior to ischemia. Liver tissue homogenates were used for the measurement of malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels. At the same time alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were assayed in serum samples and compared statistically. While the ALT, AST, LDH activities and MDA levels were significantly increased, CAT and GPx activities significantly decreased in only I/R-induced control rats compared to normal control rats (P < 0.05). Treatment with gallic acid at a dose of 100 mg/kg bw significantly decreased the ALT, AST, LDH activities and MDA levels, and markedly increased activities of CAT and GPx in tissue homogenates compared to I/R-induced rats with no treatment group (P < 0.05). In oxidative stress generated by hepatic ischemia-reperfusion, gallic acid contributes partially an alteration in the delicate balance between the scavenging capacity of antioxidant defense systems and free radicals in favour of the antioxidant defense systems in the body

Common variants of genes encoding TLR4 and TLR4 pathway members TIRAP and IRAK1 are effective on MCP1, IL6, IL1 beta, and TNF alpha levels in type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance

Objective and designType 2 diabetes is a pandemic disease characterized by hyperglycemia, ineffective insulin use, and insulin resistance and affecting 1 in 11 people worldwide. Inflammation-related insulin resistance is thought to play an important role in the etiology of the disease. TLR4 is the central receptor of the natural immune system and has an important role as a trigger of the inflammatory response. The IRAK1 and TIRAP are members of the TLR4 pathway and involved in the TLR4-mediated inflammatory response. Genetic variants in the TLR4 gene or in the IRAK1 and TIRAP genes may have an important role in the development of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes by disrupting the inflammatory response. In this direction, we aimed to investigate the relationship among TLR4 and IRAK1, TIRAP gene variants, and type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance, and investigate how these variants affect inflammatory factors (TNF-alpha, IL-6, MCP-1, and IL-1 beta).Subjects and methodsIn our study, a total of seven variations on the genes of TLR4 (rs4986790, rs4986791), IRAK1 (rs1059703, rs3027898, rs7061789), and TIRAP (rs8177374, rs8177400) were genotyped by the MassARRAY((R)) Iplex GOLD SNP genotyping in 100 type 2 diabetic patients and 100 non-diabetic individual. The TLR4 rs4986790 and rs4986791 variation was confirmed by PCR-RFLP method also. The serum IL1-beta, IL6, MCP-1, and TNF-alpha levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits.Results and conclusionAs a result of our study, no correlation was found among TLR4, IRAK1, and TIRAP gene variants and the risk of type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance. However, TNF-alpha, IL-6, MCP-1, and IL-1 beta levels were also associated with diabetes and insulin resistance (p>0.05). Although the gene variants were not significant in type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance groups, IRAK1, TLR4, and TIRAP gene variants were found to be associated with TNF-alpha, IL-6, MCP-1, and IL-1 beta levels

The genetic variants of solute carrier family 11 member 2 gene and risk of developing type-2 diabetes

Type-2 diabetes (T2DM) is a metabolic disorder characterized by long-term insulin resistance, impaired insulin secretion from -cells, and loss of beta cell mass and function. Inflammation and oxidative stress play a key role in the development of diabetes and are associated with insulin resistance. Notably, recent studies have demonstrated an association between body iron stores, insulin resistance and T2DM. Free iron, a powerful pro-oxidant molecule, is involved in oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation and endothelial dysfunction via its ability to generate free radicals. Specifically, the accumulation of iron in beta cells triggers oxidative stress and DNA damage, which have been reported to be associated with -cell death and apoptosis. Solute carrier family-11 member-2 (SLC11A2) functions to transport ferrous iron and some divalent metal ions throughout the plasma membrane and across endosomal membranes. Functional polymorphisms in the SLC11A2 gene have been reported to cause excess storage of iron, resulting in iron overload. In this study, we evaluated the association between T2DM and SLC11A2 gene variants IVS4+44C/A, 1303C/A and 1254T/C by performing PCR-RFLP analysis on 100 T2DM patients and 100 healthy subjects. PCR products were digested with MnlI, MboI and SfanI restriction endonucleases and the products were then separated by 3% agarose gel electrophoresis. The genotype frequencies of the 1254T/C and 1303C/A SLC11A2 gene variants did not differ between healthy controls and T2DM patients (P>0.05). But, in recessive model (P=0.037) and homozygous CC genotype (P=0.030) for IVS4+44C/A showed significant correlation with T2DM risk. It is thought that presence of C allele of IVS4+44C/A plays pathological roles

Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor Type-1 Gene 4G/5G Polymorphism in Turkish Adult Patients with Asthma

Aim: This study has been performed on asthmatic patients in the Turkish population to determine the frequency of 4G/5G polymorphism genotypes of plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 gene, and with the aim of examining the role of this polymorphism in asthma development. Methods: Genomic DNA obtained from 165 persons (98 patients with asthma and 67 healthy controls) was used in the study. DNA was multiplied with polymerase chain reaction using 4G and 5G allele-specific primers. Polymerase chain reaction products were assessed with CCD camera by being exposed to 2% agarose gel electrophoresis. Results were evaluated with chi-square test. Results: No statistically significant difference between the groups with respect to genotype distribution was found (p>0.05) in the study. The 4G allele frequency was indicated as 48% and 5G allele was as 52% in patients, whereas this was 50-50% in the control group. Conclusion: It has been established by this study that 4G/5G polymorphism genotypes of plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 gene do not play a role in the development of asthma in the Turkish population

The rs1043994 and rs3815188 genetic variations of the NOTCH3 gene and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus

NOTCH pathways are important regulators at the beginning of the genetic mechanisms controlling the embryonic development and cell differentiation required for normal pancreatic development during the embryonic period. Disruption of the NOTCH pathway induces apoptosis in pancreatic cells or corrupted pancreatic development that can lead to diabetes. Genetic mutations affecting the NOTCH pathway have been extensively studied in certain types of cancer, including solid tumours, but its metabolic functions are not well known. The objective of our study was to explore the relationship between NOTCH3 gene variants and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus in 100 patients and 100 healthy control subjects. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was carried out to identify the genotypes in 100 patients with diabetes and 100 control individuals. DNA extracted from peripheral blood samples was amplified and the rs1043994 variant was digested with MwoI, while the rs3815188 variant was digested with AciI. The products were evaluated by 3% agarose gel electrophoresis. The obtained results suggested that the rs1043994 variant was associated with the development of type 2 diabetes due to a significant ratio with the presence of the A allele. Similarly, the presence of the CC genotype and the absence of the T allele were determined to be associated with a notable risk of developing type 2 diabetes for individuals with the rs3815188 variant. In conclusion, we found a significant association between the rs1043994 and rs3815188 variants of the NOTCH3 gene and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus

The role of NOD1/CARD4 and NOD2/CARD15 genetic variations in lung cancer risk

Background and aim NOD1/CARD4 and NOD2/CARD15 are members of the Nod-like receptor (NLR) family, and they contain a caspase recruitment domain (CARD). NLRs are located in the cytosol where they bind bacterial and viral ligands and play a key role in the innate and adaptive immune response, apoptosis, autophagy, and reactive oxygen species generation. NLR gene polymorphisms may shift the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and modulate the risk of infection, chronic inflammation, and cancer. NOD1/CARD4 and NOD2/CARD15 gene polymorphisms may also be associated with altered risks for many cancer types. The aim of our study was to evaluate the potential associations between lung cancer and NOD1/CARD4 and NOD2/CARD15 polymorphisms

Lack of Association Between Type 2 Diabetes and the 3673G/A and 9041G/A Gene Variants of Vitamin K Epoxide Reductase Complex Subunit 1 (VKORC1)

The vitamin K epoxide reductase complex subunit 1 (VKORC1) gene is expressed in many tissue types, and encodes the VKORC1 protein, which is a key enzyme in the vitamin K cycle. Although researchers have focused on the effects of vitamin K on glucose metabolism, and on its role in the development of type 2 diabetes (T2DM), no consensus has yet been reached. Therefore, here we aimed to investigate the association between VKORC1 variants and the risk of T2DM. The 3673G/A (rs9923231) and 9041G/A (rs7294) VKORC1 variants were investigated by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in 100 control individuals and 100 patients with T2DM. The genomic regions were amplified by PCR; amplicons were digested using the AciI and NciI enzymes and visualized by agarose gel electrophoresis. The genotype frequencies of the 3673G/A variants were GG (22%), GA (56%), and AA (22%) in the control group and GG (19%), GA (52%), and AA (29%) in patients with T2DM (p > 0.05). The genotype frequencies of the 9041G/A variants were GG (37%), GA (53%), and AA (10%) in the control group and GG (46%), GA (45%), and AA (9%) in patients with T2DM (p > 0.05). In conclusion, we found no significant correlation between the control group and patients with T2DM, with regard to the different genetic models of the 3673G/A and 9041G/A variants. These data suggest that these VKORC1 gene variants may not be linked to T2DM

Comparative therapeutic potentials of acarbose and a formulated herbal extract on type 2 diabetic rats

Oxidative stress plays an important role in chronic complications of diabetes. Acarbose is an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor used for the treatment of diabetes. A commercial herbal formulated extract, which consists of 13 herbal extract (F13), is also described to have a potential antidiabetic action. The aim of this study was to determine the comparative effects of acarbose and F13 on type 2 diabetic rats. Three to five weeks after induction of diabetes by single dose systemic administration of streptozotocin and nicotinamide (STZ-NA), diabetic rats were treated with acarbose and F13 for two weeks. After the treatment period, the blood glucose, hemoglobin A1c (HbA(1)c), triglyceride, cholesterol and nitric oxide synthases (NOS) levels, as well as liver and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels were determined. Renal filtration changes were determined by measuring urine creatinine, plasma creatinine and creatinine clearance. Histological analyses were also performed in liver and kidney. The rats in diabetic groups had significantly higher blood glucose levels than control groups. Induction of diabetes was confirmed by histological analyses of liver and kidney tissues. High blood glucose level in diabetic rats results in peroxidative reactions in lipids, thus MDA levels were increased in diabetic control while acarbose and F13 treatment reduced MDA production. Also, increased SOD levels were found in STZ-NA diabetic rat liver. Both acarbose and F13 treatment, however, showed similar improving effects on diabetic complication in diabetes. Our results, therefore, support the validity of this herbal extract on the management of diabetes as well as diabetes-induced liver and renal complications