Atherosclerosis in aged mice over-expressing the reverse cholesterol transport genes

We determined whether over-expression of one of the three genes involved in reverse cholesterol transport, apolipoprotein (apo) AI, lecithin-cholesterol acyl transferase (LCAT) and cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP), or of their combinations influenced the development of diet-induced atherosclerosis. Eight genotypic groups of mice were studied (AI, LCAT, CETP, LCAT/AI, CETP/AI, LCAT/CETP, LCAT/AI/CETP, and non-transgenic) after four months on an atherogenic diet. The extent of atherosclerosis was assessed by morphometric analysis of lipid-stained areas in the aortic roots. The relative influence (R²) of genotype, sex, total cholesterol, and its main sub-fraction levels on atherosclerotic lesion size was determined by multiple linear regression analysis. Whereas apo AI (R² = 0.22, P < 0.001) and CETP (R² = 0.13, P < 0.01) expression reduced lesion size, the LCAT (R² = 0.16, P < 0.005) and LCAT/AI (R² = 0.13, P < 0.003) genotypes had the opposite effect. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the risk of developing atherosclerotic lesions greater than the 50th percentile was 4.3-fold lower for the apo AI transgenic mice than for non-transgenic mice, and was 3.0-fold lower for male than for female mice. These results show that apo AI overexpression decreased the risk of developing large atherosclerotic lesions but was not sufficient to reduce the atherogenic effect of LCAT when both transgenes were co-expressed. On the other hand, CETP expression was sufficient to eliminate the deleterious effect of LCAT and LCAT/AI overexpression. Therefore, increasing each step of the reverse cholesterol transport per se does not necessarily imply protection against atherosclerosis while CETP expression can change specific athero genic scenarios.39139

Systematics of species of the genus Akodon (Rodentia: Sigmodontinae) in southeastern Brazil and implications for the biogeography of the Campos de Altitude

http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/111041/1/MP197.pd

Antioxidant activity of indigenous yeasts isolated during the fermentation of table olives from Northeast of Portugal

Yeasts have an important role in fermented foods, including table olives. These microorganisms can be a new source of natural antioxidants. Free-radical-scavenging antioxidants have potential as protective agents against various degenerative diseases caused by oxidative damage. In the present study, antioxidant activity of indigenous yeasts isolated during the natural fermentation of table olives (Negrinha Freixo cv.) was evaluated. These strains were previously identified by rDNA sequences of the ITS region. The antioxidant activity was performed by the percentage of reduction of the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical. The studied strains are included in the genera Saccharomyces, Candida, Pichia, Debaryomyces, Rhodotorula and Galactomyces. Saccharomyces boulardii was included as probiotic reference strain. All strains showed distinct antioxidant activity. The ability to scavenge DPPH radical indicated that S. cerevisiae isolated from table olives may be a promising candidate strain for use as probiotics with antioxidant activity.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Fluoride Intake By Children From Water And Dentifrice

Objective. To determine the total fluoride dose to which children were exposed during the critical age of developing dental fluorosis, in an optimally fluoridated region, having diet (liquids and solids) and dentifrice as fluoride sources. Methods. For the pilot study, 39 children (aged 20 to 30 months) were selected from a day care center in Piracicaba, Brazil. They drank and ate food prepared with fluoridated water. To determine the total dose of fluoride exposure, duplicate-plate samples and products from tooth brushing were collected for two consecutive days, in four periods of the year. Fluoride was determined using an ion specific electrode. A 5% level of significance variance analysis (Anova) was carried out. Results. Children were exposed to a total fluoride dose of 0.090 mg/day/kg of body weight, of which 45% came from the diet and 55% from dentifrice. Conclusions. Assuming 0.07 mg/kg as a threshold value of fluoride systemic exposure, children were exposed to a risk dose for dental fluorosis. Thus, measures to reduce fluoride intake at the studied age range would be recommended. Reducing the amount of dentifrice used for tooth brushing seems to be the best measure, given the risk/benefits of fluoride use from the public health perspective.356576581Burt, B.A., The changing patterns of systemic fluoride intake (1992) J. Dent. Res., 71 (SPEC. ISSUE), pp. 1228-1237Cury, J.A., Representatividade dos dentifrícios fluoretados no mercado brasileiro e sua confiabilidade como método preventivo (1989), São Paulo: Associação Brasileira de Odontologia PreventivaCury, J.A., Cárie e creme dental (1998) J. ABOPREV, 9, p. 2. , (espec)Cury, J.A., Determination of appropriate exposure of fluoride in non-EME countries in the future (2000) J. Dent. Res., 79 (4), p. 901Cury, J.A., Uso do flúor e o controle da cárie como doença (2001), pp. 34-68. , Baratieri LNMonteiro S, Andrada MAC, Vieira LCC, Ritter AV, Cardoso AC. Odontologia Restauradora - Fundamentos e Possibilidades. São Paulo: SantosDuarte, F.F., Pisaneschi, E., Cury, J.A., Avaliação do flúor dos dentifrícios mais consumidos no Brasil e comercializados nas cinco regiões do país (1999) Rev. ABOPREV, 2 (2), pp. 3-10Fejerskov, O., Baelum, V., Richards, A., Dose-response and dental fluorosis (chapter 9) (1996) Fluoride in Dentistry, , Fejerskov O, Ekstrand J, Burt BA. 2nd ed. Copenhagen: Munksgaard Chapter 9Ferreira, H.C.G., Gomes, A.M.M., Silva, K.R.C.S., Rodrigues, C.R.M.D., Gomes, A.A., Avaliação do teor de flúor na água de abastecimento público do município de Vitória, ES (1999) Rev. APCD, 53 (6), pp. 455-459Guha-Chowdhury, N., Drummond, B.K., Smillie, A.C., Total fluoride intake in children aged 3 to 4 years: A longitudinal study (1996) J. Dent. Res., 75, pp. 1451-1457Holloway, P.J., Ellwood, R.P., The prevalence, causes and cosmetic importance of dental fluorosis in the United Kingdom: A review (1997) Community Dent. Health, 14, pp. 148-155Tratamento e fluoretação da água dos municípios brasileiros (2000), http://www.saude.gov.br/programas/bucal/fluoreta%.htm, Ministério da Saúde. [on line]. Disponível em URL: [dez 18]Narvai, P.C., Frazão, P., Castellanos, R.A., Declínio na experiência de cárie em dentes permanentes de escolares brasileiros no final do século XX (1999) Odontol. Socied., 1, pp. 25-29Paiva, S.M., Cury, J.A., Contribution of diet and fluoridated dentifrice to the risk of dental fluorosis (1999) J. Dent. Res., 78, p. 367. , [IADR abstract n. 2089]Pendrys, D.G., Katz, R.V., Morse, D.E., Risk factors for enamel fluorosis in a fluoridated population (1996) Am. J. Epidemiol., 143, pp. 808-815Reis, S.R.A., Mendonça, L.L., Cabral, M.B.B.S., Marchionni, A.M.T., Andrade, M.G.S., Souza, F.M., Fluorose dental, estado nutricional e cárie dental em escolares de diferentes estratos socioeconômicos de Salvador, Bahia - Parte I (1999) RPG Rev. Pós. Grad., 6, pp. 387-394Rojas-Sanchez, F., Kelly, S.A., Drake, K.M., Eckert, G.J., Stookey, G.K., Dunipace, A.J., Fluoride intake from foods, beverages and dentifrice by young children in communities with negligible and optimally fluoridated water: A pilot study (1999) Community Dent. Oral. Epidemiol., 27, pp. 288-297(2001), http://www.saude.sp.gov.br/html/fr_sbucal.htm, Secretaria de Estado da Saúde. Resolução SS-95, de 27/06/200. Recomendações sobre o uso de produtos fluorados no âmbito do SUS/SP em função do risco de cárie dentária. [on line] [ ago21]Taves, D.R., Separation of fluoride by rapid diffusion using hexamethyldisiloxane (1968) Talanta, 15, pp. 969-974Villena, R.S., Cury, J.A., Flúor: Uso racional na 1a infância (1998) Odontologia na 1a Infância, pp. 291-314. , Nahas S. São Paulo: Santo

Interface state contribution to the photovoltaic effect in organic phototransistors:Photocapacitance measurements and optical sensing

Made available in DSpace on 2018-12-11T16:50:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2018-01-01Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Eletrônica OrgânicaWe report the results of an investigation into the contribution that trapping in interface states makes to the photovoltaic effect observed in organic phototransistors. To isolate this effect from other processes that occur in the transistor structure when under illumination, we focus attention on the photo-response of metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) capacitors - the core structure of transistors. The capacitors comprised poly(3-hexylthiophene), (P3HT), as the active semiconductor in combination with one of three insulators, namely, poly(amide-imide), (PAI), SU-8 photoresist and polysilsesquioxane (PSQ). Following initial characterization in the dark, the capacitor response was measured both during and after irradiation with light in the wavelength range 400–700 nm. Three different approaches were employed to study the photo-response, each providing a different insight into the processes occurring. Capacitance-voltage sweeps before, during and after illumination provided direct evidence supporting the view that the photovoltaic effect occurred as a result of electron trapping in interface states of density up to ∼2 × 1012 cm−2 in the P3HT/PAI combination but lower for SU-8 and PSQ. The dynamic photo-response, in which device capacitance was held constant by changing the applied bias, showed a fast component related to optically induced photoconduction in the semiconductor and a slower component reflecting the dynamics of interface electron trapping. Finally, photo-induced capacitance changes occurring with constant applied voltage were used to demonstrate a simple 3 × 3 imaging array.School of Electronic Engineering Bangor University, Dean StreetBrazilian Nanotechnology National Laboratory (LNNano) Brazilian Centre of Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM)Department of Physics São Paulo State University (UNESP), PO Box 266Institute of Physics of São Carlos University of São Paulo (USP), PO Box 369Catarinense Federal Institute of Education Science and Technology, PO Box 21Department of Physics São Paulo State University (UNESP), PO Box 26

Development of a computer-aided design software for the quantitative evaluation of aesthetic damage

Concerns associated with the assessment of aesthetic damage or injury raise critical difficulties, such as the scarcity of methodology and standardization that may result in fundamental precepts to establish impartial forms of compensation and aiming the total reparation of bodily injury. The complexity of the aesthetic damage evaluation is associated with the confluence of legal and technical perspectives and expert subjectivity while conducting examination and writing a report. Experts face additional difficulties associated with the objectivity while assessing aesthetic damage, independently on its location or expert skills, due to complex details observed in these lesions. Another situation in the clinical area, doctors (mainly plastic surgeons) and dentists could show the improvement or not, of the aesthetic condition to the patients. In health related areas, the use of information technology has contributed to increase the number of appropriate diagnoses, besides promoting quality, efficiency and satisfaction to health care providers. In order to make this assessment more objective, a technological tool was developed to aid experts in the evaluation of aesthetic damage and report elaboration. The objective was to develop computer-aided design software for aesthetic damage quantification/evaluation that is accessible via internet to be applied as a complementary report on body aesthetic damage. The software uses as a parameter the AIPE method, translated transculturally from Spanish to Portuguese and English. The present study allowed the construction of open access auxiliary software for the evaluation of corporal aesthetic damage. Its use is facilitated by intuitive and interactive filling, and the text may be customized by the user. It transforms the report into PDF and saves all evaluations already done in its own file. Information is encrypted for added security and confidentiality

Probiotic potential of indigenous yeasts isolated during the fermentation of table olives from Northeast of Portugal

The aim of this study was to evaluate the probiotic potential of 16 yeast strains previously isolated during the natural fermentation of table olives Negrinha de Freixo cultivar, in relation to enzymatic activities; ability to grow at 37 °C; antimicrobial activity; autoaggregation capacity; antioxidant activity and survival in gastrointestinal tract conditions. The highest antioxidant activity was observed for Saccharomyces cerevisiae, similar to the reference strain S. boulardii. Candida norvegica 7A and Galactomyces reessii 34A showed antifungal ability to the pathogenic microorganism Cryptococcus neoformans. Regarding the autoaggregation capacity, S. cerevisiae 15A, C. tropicalis 1A and C. norvegica 7A showed > 80% after 24 h. Pichia guilliermondii 25A and C. norvegica 7A were the most resistant to the simulated digestive conditions, similar to the reference strain (S. boulardii). Thus, these results suggest that some yeast strains involved in the fermentation of table olives have probiotic potential. Industrial relevance In this study, we highlight the probiotic potential of yeast microbiota usually found in green table olives. These yeast strains could be used as culture starters for the development of new functional products.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Systemic release of volatiles by Brassica oleracea var. acephala induced by Pieris brassicae predation.

Pieris brassicae is a specialist on crucifers and its interactions with some of its host plants have been increasingly studied given their importance in pest management, chemical ecology and entomology. Plants are known to respond to insect attack by releasing volatiles that can either warn neighbour plants to the presence of a predator or attract insect parasitoids, thus reducing the attack efficiency. The influence of P. brassicae feeding on Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala (kale) was investigated, namely, its effect in the volatiles released by the plant through time. Substantial differences, mainly quantitative, were found between the volatiles composition of B. oleracea var. acephala before the attack and after insect feeding. More than 40 compounds were found, between terpenes (monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes) and lipoxygenase pathway byproducts (alcohols and aldehydes), ketones, norisoprenoids, among others. After insect attack, monoterpenes like limonene, eucalyptol, camphor and caryophyllene increased noticeably. These compounds have been regarded as markers in local tissue responses and in this study an increase in their concentration was detected at 1 and 4 hours after feeding, with subsequent reduction after 8 hours. Menthol, menthone, phenol and sabinene were found only in the time following the attack. A considerable increase in hexenyl acetate, a well known semiochemical, was also found, with this compound being the major peak in all experiments, rising with time. These findings provide further knowledge of the ecological interactions between these two species and, given the chemical diversity of these matrices, they may constitute a good source of health promoting compounds.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia for financial support (PTDC/AGRAAM/ 64150/2006). F. Fernandes (SFRH/BD/37963/2007

Determination of low molecular weight volatiles in Ficus carica using HS-SPME and GC/FID

Ficus carica L. is one of the earliest cultivated fruit trees, having an important consumption in Mediterranean countries. In this work, the volatile compound profiles of two characteristic Portuguese white varieties (‘‘Pingo de Mel” and ‘‘Branca Tradicional”) was determined by HS-SPME and GC/FID. Leaves, pulps and peels, submitted to freezing and lyophilisation treatments, were analysed. The two varieties presented a similar profile composed of eight volatile compounds: acetaldehyde, ethyl acetate, methanol, ethanol, hexanal, limonene, (E)-2-hexenal and octanal. The total volatile content was different among the vegetal materials, following the order leaves > peels > pulps. Methanol and ethanol are the major compounds in all samples. The developed procedure revealed to be rapid, sensitive, reproducible and accurate. The detection limit values were low, and the method precise. The recovery values for acetaldehyde, ethyl acetate, methanol and ethanol were generally high, suggesting that it will be most suitable for compounds with low molecular weight. Due to its rapidity and low cost, this technique can be useful in the quality control of fig fruit and leaves