Silicon exercises influence on nitrogen compounds in pepper subjected to water deficit

peer reviewe

Short-term inhibition of SREBP-1c expression reverses diet-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in mice

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Objective. The present study investigates the level of Sterol-regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBP-1c) and related proteins in obese mice (DIO) treated with SREBP-1c antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) to observe a reversal of steatosis. Materials and methods. Swiss mice were fed on chow containing 61 kJ% saturated fat for 8 weeks to develop obesity. After this period, one group of animals was used to assess the molecular effects of SREBP-1c antisense oligonucleotide treatment by immunoblot analysis in a dose-response curve (0; 1.0; 2.0; 3.0; 4.0 nmol/day). After the dose (3.0 nmol/day) was determined, another group was treated for 14 days. After a period of 24 h following the last injection mice were killed and plasma and hepatic tissue were obtained to evaluate plasma triglycerides and total liver fat. Western blot was performed to evaluate SREBP-1c, FAS, SCD-1, PPAR gamma and CPT1 expression and AMPK[Thr172] and ACC[Ser79] phosphorylation. Livers were stained using the hematoxylin and eosin method for histological analysis. Results. Body weight, epididymal fat and glucose levels were not affected by one daily dose of ASO. However, total plasma triglycerides and total liver fat were significantly reduced. Also, this treatment inhibited SREBP-1c and reduced protein levels of a series of proteins involved in lipogenesis, including ACC, FAS and SCD-1. Moreover, mice treated with ASO presented a significant reduction in macroscopic and microscopic features of hepatic steatosis. Conclusion. Our results demonstrate that the inhibition of SREBP-1c decreased the expression of lipogenic enzymes, reducing the accumulation of triglycerides and, finally, reversing hepatic steatosis in mice.461113811388Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Santa Catarina (FAPESC) e Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense (UNESC)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Inhibition of hypothalamic Foxo1 expression reduced food intake in diet-induced obesity rats

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Insulin signalling in the hypothalamus plays a role in maintaining body weight. The forkhead transcription factor Foxo1 is an important mediator of insulin signalling in the hypothalamus. Foxo1 stimulates the transcription of the orexigenic neuropeptide Y and Agouti-related protein through the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/Akt signalling pathway, but the role of hypothalamic Foxo1 in insulin resistance and obesity remains unclear. Here, we identify that a high-fat diet impaired insulin-induced hypothalamic Foxo1 phosphorylation and degradation, increasing the nuclear Foxo1 activity and hyperphagic response in rats. Thus, we investigated the effects of the intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) microinfusion of Foxo1-antisense oligonucleotide (Foxo1-ASO) and evaluated the food consumption and weight gain in normal and diet-induced obese (DIO) rats. Three days of Foxo1-ASO microinfusion reduced the hypothalamic Foxo1 expression by about 85%. i.c.v. infusion of Foxo1-ASO reduced the cumulative food intake (21%), body weight change (28%), epididymal fat pad weight (22%) and fasting serum insulin levels (19%) and increased the insulin sensitivity (34%) in DIO but not in control animals. Collectively, these data showed that the Foxo1-ASO treatment blocked the orexigenic effects of Foxo1 and prevented the hyperphagic response in obese rats. Thus, pharmacological manipulation of Foxo1 may be used to prevent or treat obesity.5871023412351Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Automedicação em idosos na cidade de Salgueiro-PE Self-medication in the elderly of the city of Salgueiro, State of Pernambuco

OBJETIVOS: identificar os determinantes associados ao perfil da automedicação na população de idosos de 60 anos e mais, no município de Salgueiro/Pernambuco/Brasil. MÉTODO: Estudo de corte transversal realizado na zona urbana no município de Salgueiro - PE. Entre 01/05 a 10/06/2004, foram aplicados questionários em uma amostra de 355 indivíduos da população de 60 anos e mais. Os dados foram processados e analisados no EPIINFO 6.04 após digitação em dupla entrada e validação. RESULTADOS: 44,9% dos entrevistados encontravam-se na faixa etária de 60-70 anos, 247 (69,8%) eram do sexo feminino, 188 (53,1%) eram analfabetos e 145 (40,7%) tinham o primeiro grau incompleto, sendo 276 (77,7%) aposentados. Entre os que faziam uso de medicamentos sem receita médica houve predomínio de analgésicos (30%) e antipiréticos (29%). Entre os motivos mais freqüentes apresentados, e que levavam os indivíduos a tomar remédios por conta própria, a dor tem o maior índice (38,3%), seguida de febre (24,4%), diarréia (8,0%), pressão alta (8,0%) e tosse (5,2%). Houve associação entre a ausência de atividade física e automedicação (x² =14,44, p=0,001). CONCLUSÃO: existe grande prevalência da automedicação neste grupo, sendo os analgésicos e os antipiréticos os mais utilizados; a dor é o sintoma que mais leva à automedicação; os idosos sedentários se automedicam mais que os praticantes de atividade física.<br>OBJECTIVES: to identify the determinants associated with the practice of self-medication in the 60-year-old or older population in the city of Salgueiro/Pernambuco/Brazil. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in the urban zone in the city of Salgueiro - PE; questionnaires were handed out between May/01/2004 and June/06/2004 in a sample population of 355 persons aged 60 years or more. Data were processed and analyzed using EPIINFO 6.04 software after a double entry and validated. RESULTS: The sample was comprised of 44.9% (159/355) 60-70-year olds, 69.8% (247/355) of which were female, 53.1% (188/355) illiterate, 40.7% (145/355) without having finished high school, and 77.7% (276/355) retired. In the group that used medicines without medical prescription, the drugs used most often were analgesics (30%) and antipyretics (29%). Of the reasons presented to justify the use of self-prescribed medicines, pain was the most frequent one (38.3%), followed by fever (24.4%), diarrhea (8.0%), hypertension (8.0%) and cough (5.2%). There was association between the lack of exercise and self-medication (x² =14.44 p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: there is a high prevalence of self-medication in this group; analgesics and antipyretics are the drugs used most often; pain is the symptom that most leads to self-medication; and sedentary individuals use more self-medication than those who exercise