Insulin modulates cytokine release and selectin expression in the early phase of allergic airway inflammation in diabetic rats

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Clinical and experimental data suggest that the inflammatory response is impaired in diabetics and can be modulated by insulin. The present study was undertaken to investigate the role of insulin on the early phase of allergic airway inflammation.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Diabetic male Wistar rats (alloxan, 42 mg/Kg, i.v., 10 days) and controls were sensitized by s.c. injection of ovalbumin (OA) in aluminium hydroxide 14 days before OA (1 mg/0.4 mL) or saline intratracheal challenge. The following analyses were performed 6 hours thereafter: a) quantification of interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant (CINC)-1 in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, b) expression of E- and P- selectins on lung vessels by immunohistochemistry, and c) inflammatory cell infiltration into the airways and lung parenchyma. NPH insulin (4 IU, s.c.) was given i.v. 2 hours before antigen challenge.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Diabetic rats exhibited significant reduction in the BALF concentrations of IL-1β (30%) and TNF-α (45%), and in the lung expression of P-selectin (30%) compared to non-diabetic animals. This was accompanied by reduced number of neutrophils into the airways and around bronchi and blood vessels. There were no differences in the CINC-1 levels in BALF, and E-selectin expression. Treatment of diabetic rats with NPH insulin, 2 hours before antigen challenge, restored the reduced levels of IL-1β, TNF-α and P-selectin, and neutrophil migration.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Data presented suggest that insulin modulates the production/release of TNF-α and IL-1β, the expression of P- and E-selectin, and the associated neutrophil migration into the lungs during the early phase of the allergic inflammatory reaction.</p

Avaliação psicométrica do Questionário de Mudança Corporal para adolescentes

Resumo O estudo objetivou analisar a validade de construto, consistência interna e reprodutibilidade do Questionário de Mudança Corporal (QMC). Foram avaliados 439 meninas e meninos (13 a 22 anos). A validade de construto foi avaliada por meio da análise fatorial exploratória e correlações entre os escores do QMC, Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ) e Escala de Silhuetas (ES). A confiabilidade foi acessada usando-se a consistência interna, e a reprodutibilidade pelo teste-reteste e pela correlação intraclasse. A escala apresentou estrutura fatorial composta por seis fatores, os quais representaram quase em sua totalidade as subescalas do instrumento. As correlações para a amostra total entre o QMC e as outras escalas variaram de 0,37 a 0,46. A consistência interna apresentou valores entre 0,78 e 0,96 para cada um dos fatores, e a correlação intraclasse foi condizente com uma boa reprodutibilidade. Os escores do teste-reteste não apresentaram diferenças significantes para a amostra total e entre os sexos. Conclui-se que o QMC apresenta boas qualidades psicométricas para os adolescentes brasileiros

Heavy reliance on plants for Romanian cave bears evidenced by amino acid nitrogen isotope analysis

Heavy reliance on plants is rare in Carnivora and mostly limited to relatively small species in subtropical settings. The feeding behaviors of extinct cave bears living during Pleistocene cold periods at middle latitudes have been intensely studied using various approaches including isotopic analyses of fossil collagen. In contrast to cave bears from all other regions in Europe, some individuals from Romania show exceptionally high δ15N values that might be indicative of meat consumption. Herbivory on plants with high δ15N values cannot be ruled out based on this method, however. Here we apply an approach using the δ15N values of individual amino acids from collagen that offsets the baseline δ15N variation among environments. The analysis yielded strong signals of reliance on plants for Romanian cave bears based on the δ15N values of glutamate and phenylalanine. These results could suggest that the high variability in bulk collagen δ15N values observed among cave bears in Romania reflects niche partitioning but in a general trophic context of herbivory

Transtornos mentais comuns entre estudantes de medicina da Universidade Federal de Sergipe: estudo transversal

Objetivo: Estimar a prevalência de transtorno mental comum e fatores associados entre estudantes de Medicina da Universidade Federal de Sergipe. Método: Estudo transversal com 473 dos 512 matriculados em 2006, aplicando o Self Reporting Questionnaire-20 e um questionário estruturado sobre características sociodemográficas, processo ensino-aprendizagem e vivências psicoemocionais. Os calouros foram excluídos após comparação inicial com os alunos do 2° ao 12° períodos. Análise estatística por regressão logística múltipla, após estatística descritiva e cálculo das ORs simples e ajustadas. Resultados: A prevalência de transtorno mental comum geral foi de 40% (n = 473), mas com a retirada dos calouros, aumentou para 42,5% (n = 433) entre os alunos do 2° ao 12° semestre, sendo maior entre aqueles que não acreditavam ter adquirido habilidades para se tornarem bons médicos (OR = 2,82), que se sentiam pouco confortáveis com as atividades do curso (OR = 3,75), que se consideravam emocionalmente tensos (OR = 2,14), nos que não se consideravam felizes (OR = 2,85), nos que achavam que o curso era menos do que esperavam (OR = 1,64) e nos que tiveram diagnóstico prévio de transtorno mental feito por psiquiatra (OR = 3,78). Conclusão: Os resultados sugerem a necessidade de mudanças no processo ensino-aprendizagem, bem como estruturação de programas para cuidar da saúde mental dos estudantes. _________________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT: Objective: Estimate the prevalence of common mental disorder and its associated factors among medical students of the Universidade Federal de Sergipe. Method: A cross-sectional study was carried out, applying Self Reporting Questionnaire-20 to 473 students from the 512 medical students enrolled in 2006 and compared with compared with a structured questionnaire by the authors containing information on the socio-demographic characteristics, the teaching–learning process and the psycho-emotional experiences of the students. Freshmen were excluded after initial comparison with the students already exposed to the medical course. Statistical analysis by multiple logistic regression after calculating simple and adjusted odds ratio (OR). Results: The general prevalence of common mental disorder was 40% (n = 473); after exclusion of the freshmen it increased to 42.5% among students from the 2nd to the 12th semester.It was higher among those who did not have faith in their acquisition of the skills needed to become a good doctor (OR = 2.82), who felt less comfortable about course activities (OR = 3.75), who considered themselves emotionally stressed (OR = 2.14), among those who did not consider themselves happy (OR = 2.85), who believed that the course did not match their expectations (OR = 1.64) and those who had a prior diagnosis of mental disorder by a psychiatrist (OR = 3.78). Conclusion: The results suggest the necessity of changes to the teaching-learning process and the establishment of a preventive mental health program for medical students