Usefulness of circulating E-selectin to early detection of the atherosclerotic process in the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil)

Abstract\ud \ud Background\ud This cross-sectional analysis evaluated whether determination of E-selectin concentrations could identify deterioration of cardiometabolic risk profile or subclinical atherosclerosis in individuals at low-to-moderate risk included in The Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health—ELSA-Brasil.\ud \ud \ud Methods\ud A sample of 984 individuals from ELSA-Brasil (35–54 years) without cardiovascular disease or diabetes was stratified according to E-selectin tertiles. Traditional risk factors, inflammatory markers and categories of coronary artery calcium (CAC) scores were evaluated across the tertiles by ANOVA or Chi-squared test. In linear regression models, associations of E-selectin levels with insulin resistance index, adjusted for age, sex and adiposity were tested.\ud \ud \ud Results\ud The mean age of the participants was 45.8 (SD 4.9) years and 55 % were women. Mean values of age, anthropometric data, biochemical variables and inflammatory status increased across E-selectin tertiles. Also, a gradual deterioration of the cardiometabolic profile was reflected by increments in frequencies (95 % CI) of BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 [53.7 % (48.5–58.8), 61.0 % (56.1–66.5) and 64.2 % (59.0–69.4), p = 0.019], hypertension [18.0 % (14.1–22.8), 19.8 % (15.4–24.6) and 24.8 % (20.4–29.9), p = 0.048], pre-diabetes [62.5 % (57.4–68.3), 63.1 % (58.4–69.6) and 73.8 % (68.8–78.3), p = 0.003] and hypertriglyceridemia [22.4 % (17.9–27.2), 27.3 % (22.5–32.8) and 33.4 % (28.3–38.5), p = 0.013]. Insulinemia and HOMA-IR were independently associated with E-selectin concentration. A greater proportion of individuals with CAC scores different from zero was found in the third tertile when compared with the first and second tertiles (16.1 versus 11 %, p = 0.04, respectively).\ud \ud \ud Conclusions\ud Direct associations of E-selectin with traditional risk factors slightly above their normal ranges, components of the metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance and presence of CAC suggest that this biomarker may indicate an initial atherogenic process.The ELSA-Brasil baseline study was supported by the Brazilian Ministry of\ud Health (Science and Technology Department) and the Brazilian Ministry of\ud Science and Technology and CNPq—National Research Council) (Grants # 01\ud 06 0010.00 RS, 01 06 0212.00 BA, 01 06 0300.00 ES, 01 06 0278.00 MG, 01 06\ud 0115.00 SP, 01 06 0071.00 RJ). The current work was supported by grant from\ud the São Paulo State Foundation for Research Support (Fundação de Amparo\ud à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo—FAPESP—Protocol 2010/00074-6), São\ud Paulo, SP, Brazil

Usefulness of circulating E-selectin to early detection of the atherosclerotic process in the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil)

Abstract\ud \ud Background\ud This cross-sectional analysis evaluated whether determination of E-selectin concentrations could identify deterioration of cardiometabolic risk profile or subclinical atherosclerosis in individuals at low-to-moderate risk included in The Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health—ELSA-Brasil.\ud \ud \ud Methods\ud A sample of 984 individuals from ELSA-Brasil (35–54 years) without cardiovascular disease or diabetes was stratified according to E-selectin tertiles. Traditional risk factors, inflammatory markers and categories of coronary artery calcium (CAC) scores were evaluated across the tertiles by ANOVA or Chi-squared test. In linear regression models, associations of E-selectin levels with insulin resistance index, adjusted for age, sex and adiposity were tested.\ud \ud \ud Results\ud The mean age of the participants was 45.8 (SD 4.9) years and 55 % were women. Mean values of age, anthropometric data, biochemical variables and inflammatory status increased across E-selectin tertiles. Also, a gradual deterioration of the cardiometabolic profile was reflected by increments in frequencies (95 % CI) of BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 [53.7 % (48.5–58.8), 61.0 % (56.1–66.5) and 64.2 % (59.0–69.4), p = 0.019], hypertension [18.0 % (14.1–22.8), 19.8 % (15.4–24.6) and 24.8 % (20.4–29.9), p = 0.048], pre-diabetes [62.5 % (57.4–68.3), 63.1 % (58.4–69.6) and 73.8 % (68.8–78.3), p = 0.003] and hypertriglyceridemia [22.4 % (17.9–27.2), 27.3 % (22.5–32.8) and 33.4 % (28.3–38.5), p = 0.013]. Insulinemia and HOMA-IR were independently associated with E-selectin concentration. A greater proportion of individuals with CAC scores different from zero was found in the third tertile when compared with the first and second tertiles (16.1 versus 11 %, p = 0.04, respectively).\ud \ud \ud Conclusions\ud Direct associations of E-selectin with traditional risk factors slightly above their normal ranges, components of the metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance and presence of CAC suggest that this biomarker may indicate an initial atherogenic process.The ELSA-Brasil baseline study was supported by the Brazilian Ministry of\ud Health (Science and Technology Department) and the Brazilian Ministry of\ud Science and Technology and CNPq—National Research Council) (Grants # 01\ud 06 0010.00 RS, 01 06 0212.00 BA, 01 06 0300.00 ES, 01 06 0278.00 MG, 01 06\ud 0115.00 SP, 01 06 0071.00 RJ). The current work was supported by grant from\ud the São Paulo State Foundation for Research Support (Fundação de Amparo\ud à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo—FAPESP—Protocol 2010/00074-6), São\ud Paulo, SP, Brazil

Espécies de Cigarrinhas (Hemiptera, Membracoidea, Cicadellidae) Registradas no Estado do Rio De Janeiro, Brasil

A preliminary list of the species of Cicadellidae from Rio de Janeiro State, southeastern Brazil, is presented. The list, which was prepared based on a careful survey of the literature and examination of insect collections, includes 340 leafhopper species. This number represents an increase of over 150 species in comparison to a list published in 1982. The numbers of species recorded for each subfamily are as follows: Agalliinae: 31, Cicadellinae: 162, Coelidiinae: 13, Deltocephalinae: 35, Gyponinae: 63, Iassinae: 8, Idiocerinae: 1, Ledrinae: 2, Neobalinae: 3, Neocoelidiinae: 3, Nioniinae: 1, Nirvaninae: 3, Phereurhininae: 2, Typhlocybinae: 9, and Xestocephalinae: 4. The available data on the distribution of each species within the State (municipalities) are given. Most of the recorded species are from the now heavily fragmented Brazilian Atlantic Forest.Uma lista preliminar das espécies de Cicadellidae do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, sudeste do Brasil, é apresentada. A lista, preparada a partir de cuidadoso estudo da literatura e exame de coleções de insetos, inclui 340 espécies de cigarrinhas. Esse número representa o aumento de mais de 150 espécies em comparação com uma lista publicada em 1982. Os números de espécies registradas de cada subfamília são os seguintes: Agalliinae: 31, Cicadellinae: 162, Coelidiinae: 13, Deltocephalinae: 35, Gyponinae: 63, Iassinae: 8, Idiocerinae: 1, Ledrinae: 2, Neobalinae: 3, Neocoelidiinae: 3, Nioniinae: 1, Nirvaninae: 3, Phereurhininae: 2, Typhlocybinae: 9, e Xestocephalinae: 4. As informações disponíveis sobre a distribuição de cada espécie no Estado (municípios) são fornecidas. A maior parte das espécies registradas é proveniente da Mata Atlântica brasileira, que hoje se encontra intensamente fragmentada

Fractional Distillation of Bio-Oil Produced by Pyrolysis of Açaí (Euterpe oleracea) Seeds

In this work, the seeds of açaí (Euterpe oleracea, Mart), a rich lignin-cellulose residue, has been submitted to pyrolysis to produce a bio-oil-like fossil fuels. The pyrolysis carried out in a reactor of 143 L, 450°C, and 1.0 atm. The morphology of Açaí seeds in nature and after pyrolysis is characterized by SEM, EDX, and XRD. The experiments show that bio-oil, gas, and coke yields were 4.38, 30.56, and 35.67% (wt.), respectively. The bio-oil characterized by AOCS, ASTM, and ABNT/NBR methods for density, kinematic viscosity, and acid value. The bio-oil density, viscosity, and acid value were 1.0468 g/cm3, 68.34 mm2/s, and 70.26 KOH/g, respectively. The chemical composition and chemical functions of bio-oil are determined by GC-MS and FT-IR. The GC-MS identified in bio-oil 21.52% (wt.) hydrocarbons and 78.48% (wt.) oxygenates (4.06% esters, 8.52% carboxylic acids, 3.53% ketones, 35.16% phenols, 20.52% cresols, 5.75% furans, and 0.91% (wt.) aldehydes), making it possible to apply fractional distillation to obtain fossil fuel-like fractions rich in hydrocarbons. The distillation of bio-oil is carried out in a laboratory-scale column, according to the boiling temperature of fossil fuels. The distillation of bio-oil yielded fossil fuel-like fractions (gasoline, kerosene, and light diesel) of 4.70, 28.21, and 22.35% (wt.), respectively

Mycobacterium leprae Recombinant Antigen Induces High Expression of Multifunction T Lymphocytes and Is Promising as a Specific Vaccine for Leprosy

Leprosy is a chronic disease caused by M. leprae infection that can cause severe neurological complications and physical disabilities. A leprosy-specific vaccine would be an important component within control programs but is still lacking. Given that multifunctional CD4 T cells [i.e., those capable of simultaneously secreting combinations of interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-2, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)] have now been implicated in the protective response to several infections, we tested the hypothesis if a recombinant M. leprae antigen-specific multifunctional T cells differed between leprosy patients and their healthy contacts. We used whole blood assays and peripheral blood mononuclear cells to characterize the antigen-specific T cell responses of 39 paucibacillary (PB) and 17 multibacillary (MB) leprosy patients and 31 healthy household contacts (HHC). Cells were incubated with either crude mycobacterial extracts (M. leprae cell sonicate–MLCS) and purified protein derivative (PPD) or recombinant ML2028 protein, the homolog of M. tuberculosis Ag85B. Multiplex assay revealed antigen-specific production of IFN-γ and IL-2 from cells of HHC and PB, confirming a Th1 bias within these individuals. Multiparameter flow cytometry then revealed that the population of multifunctional ML2028-specific T cells observed in HHC was larger than that observed in PB patients. Taken together, our data suggest that these multifunctional antigen-specific T cells provide a more effective response against M. leprae infection that prevents the development of leprosy. These data further our understanding of M. leprae infection/leprosy and are instructive for vaccine development