Structural changes in intestinal enteroendocrine cells after ileal interposition in normal rats

INTRODUCTION: No therapeutic approach has significantly impacted the progression of diabetes. As early improvement of glicaemic control is observed after bariatric surgeries, there is currently a search for surgical procedures that can promote euglycemia also in non-obese patients. Glicaemic control can be achieved by increasing the blood concentration of GLP-1, a hormone produced by L cells that are more densely concentrated in the terminal ileum. The interposition of ileal segment to a more anterior region (proximal jejunum) can promote a greater stimulation of the L cells by poorly digested food, increasing the production of GLP-1 and reflecting on glicaemic control.
AIMS: To investigate long-term histological modifications of intestinal mucosa of rats submitted to interposition of ileum segment to a proximal region (jejunum).
METHODS: Forty 8-week old male Wistar-EPM1 rats (Rattus norvegicus albinus) were randomly distributed into 3 groups: the Interposition Group (IG) was subjected to ileal interposition, the Sham Group (SG) was subjected to sham operations, and the Control Group (CG) was not subjected to surgery. All animals were followed until the 60th postoperative day (8 postoperative week) when they were euthanized. Segments of jejunum and ileum from all groups were collected and analyzed by optical microscopy and immunohistochemistry.
RESULTS: No structural nor histological changes in intestinal L cells in the interposed intestinal segment and other intestinal segments were noted after ileal interposition surgery. 
CONCLUSION: As L cells endocrine characteristics were likely maintained, the use of metabolic surgical techniques for the treatment of metabolic diseases, especially diabetes, seems to be justified

Organic consequences of ileal transposition in rats with diet-induced obesity

INTRODUCTION: The clinical management of metabolic syndrome - especially diabetes mellitus type 2 - is notoriously complex due to the progressive nature of this disease. At present, there is a need for a surgical procedure that is effective for the treatment of diabetes mellitus type 2, even in non-obese individuals. The isolated ileal transposition theory could lead to an effective alternative therapy. This intervention has not yet been performed in humans, and there are no reports of its use in an experimental model of diet-induced metabolic syndrome.
 OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to evaluate the physiological effects of ileal transposition in rats with diet-induced metabolic syndrome. The effects of this procedure on glucose and lipid metabolism will be assessed. 
METHODS: Forty 12-week-old male rats (albino Rattus norvegicus, Wistar, 2BAW, heterogeneous) will be divided into four groups of 10 animals each: the ileal transposition group (TG) comprising animals on a hypercaloric-hyperlipidic diet; the sham group (SG) containing animals that receive the same diet and undergo the sham surgery; control group 1 (CG1), which will receive a hypercaloric-hyperlipidic diet and will not undergo surgery; and control group 2 (CG2), which will consume standard feed and will not undergo surgery. The surgeries will be performed in 20-week-old animals. Blood samples for laboratory testing will be collected from 12-week-old animals on the day of surgery and after eight postoperative weeks, following determination of the weights of the animals and the administration of anesthesia. The levels of serum glucose, insulin, triglycerides, total cholesterol and fractions, glucagon-like peptide-1, C-peptide and glycated hemoglobin will be assessed in all of the animals. The insulin tolerance test will be performed using PRISMA software, and insulin resistance will be calculated by the HOMA-IR indirect test. On specific days, two 20-week-old rats will be separated and randomly distributed in TG and SG. These animals will be followed until the eighth postoperative week. Subsequently, they will be euthanized, and the retroperitoneal and periepididymal fat deposits will be collected and weighed using a precision scale. In addition, the pancreas, liver and intestinal segments will be sent for pathological and immunohistochemical studies.
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Iron Accumulation with Age, Oxidative Stress and Functional Decline

Identification of biological mediators in sarcopenia is pertinent to the development of targeted interventions to alleviate this condition. Iron is recognized as a potent pro-oxidant and a catalyst for the formation of reactive oxygen species in biological systems. It is well accepted that iron accumulates with senescence in several organs, but little is known about iron accumulation in muscle and how it may affect muscle function. In addition, it is unclear if interventions which reduced age-related loss of muscle quality, such as calorie restriction, impact iron accumulation. We investigated non-heme iron concentration, oxidative stress to nucleic acids in gastrocnemius muscle and key indices of sarcopenia (muscle mass and grip strength) in male Fischer 344 X Brown Norway rats fed ad libitum (AL) or a calorie restricted diet (60% of ad libitum food intake starting at 4 months of age) at 8, 18, 29 and 37 months of age. Total non-heme iron levels in the gastrocnemius muscle of AL rats increased progressively with age. Between 29 and 37 months of age, the non-heme iron concentration increased by approximately 200% in AL-fed rats. Most importantly, the levels of oxidized RNA in gastrocnemius muscle of AL rats were significantly increased as well. The striking age-associated increase in non-heme iron and oxidized RNA levels and decrease in sarcopenia indices were all attenuated in the calorie restriction (CR) rats. These findings strongly suggest that the age-related iron accumulation in muscle contributes to increased oxidative damage and sarcopenia, and that CR effectively attenuates these negative effects

Comparação entre usuários de crack e de outras drogas em serviço ambulatorial especializado de hospital universitário Comparación entre usuarios de crack y de otras drogas en un servicio ambulatorio de un hospital universitario Comparison between crack and other drugs abusers in a specialized outpatient facility of a university hospital

O crescimento do consumo de crack e o perfil dos usuários no Brasil estão bem documentados, mas faltam estudos na cidade do Rio de Janeiro. Conhecer o perfil sociodemográfico e padrão do uso de drogas desses usuários é fundamental para direcionar recursos, efetivamente. Foram estudados pacientes acolhidos no Programa de Estudos e Assistência ao Uso Indevido de Drogas (Projad) do Instituto de Psiquiatria da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, entre março de 2007 e setembro de 2008, e analisadas as diferenças entre pacientes com e sem relato de uso de crack na vida. Usuários de crack são significativamente mais jovens e solteiros. Apesar do predomínio de baixa escolaridade e desemprego, esses resultados não foram significativos. Houve crescimento de usuários de crack que procuraram tratamento. Este é o primeiro estudo científico apontando a expansão do consumo de crack no Rio de Janeiro e pode subsidiar a implementação de políticas públicas.<br>A pesar de existir investigaciones sobre el crecimiento del consumo de crack y el perfil de sus usuarios en Brasil, no hay estudios específicos en la ciudad de Rio de Janeiro. Ese estudio es importante para dirigir los recursos efectivamente. Los pacientes del Programa de Estudios y Asistencia de la Drogadicción (PROJAD) del Instituto de Psiquiatría de la Universidad Federal de Rio de Janeiro entre marzo de 2007 y septiembre de 2008 fueron estudiados y las diferencias entre pacientes con y sin uso de crack fueran analizadas. Los usuarios de crack son significativamente más jóvenes y solteros. A pesar del predominio del bajo nivel de educación y desempleo, esos resultados no son significativos. Se constata un crecimiento de usuarios de crack que procuran tratamiento. Este es el primer estudio científico que presenta el crecimiento del consumo de crack en Rio de Janeiro y puede servir como subsidio en la implementación de políticas públicas.<br>The increase in crack abuse and the profile of these abusers are well documented in Brazil, but studies in Rio de Janeiro are lacking. Optimization of resource allocation for prevention and treatment requires a better characterization of abusers with respect to socio-demographic characteristics and drugs use pattern. Patients admitted to the Drug Abuse Research and Care Program (PROJAD) at the Psychiatric Institute of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro between March 2007 and September 2008 were studied. Crack abusers were found to be significantly younger than other drug abusers and more frequently unmarried. Lower education level and unemployment were a trend in this group, although not statistically significant. The increase in the number of patients seeking treatment for crack abuse was documented. This is the first scientific study reporting on the expansion of crack abuse in Rio de Janeiro, which may provide information to put in practice public policies

Profile of cocaine and crack users in Brazil Perfil dos usuários de cocaína e crack no Brasil

This article aims to systematize the profile of cocaine and crack users in Brazil. The study adopted a literature review of the MEDLINE, LILACS, Cochrane Library databases and CAPES thesis/dissertation database. Data were grouped in thematic categories: national household surveys, surveys of specific population groups, profile of patients that seek treatment, and mortality and morbidity. Within each category the principal findings from the Brazilian literature were described and then discussed. The article concludes that the information on cocaine and crack consumption in Brazil is still incipient, but that the scientific community can already draw on a relevant theoretical corpus that can be used to update current public policies on this issue.<br>Este artigo tem como objetivo sintetizar o perfil dos usuários de cocaína e crack no Brasil. Foi construído por meio de revisão da literatura com base em dados (MEDLINE, LILACS e Biblioteca Cochrane) e no banco de teses da CAPES. Os dados foram agrupados em categorias temáticas, quais sejam: levantamentos domiciliares nacionais, populações específicas, perfil dos pacientes que procuram tratamento, mortalidade e morbidade. Dentro de cada categoria os principais achados da literatura nacional foram descritos e posteriormente discutidos. O artigo conclui que informações relacionadas ao consumo de cocaína e crack no Brasil ainda são incipientes, mas já temos à disposição da comunidade científica um conjunto teórico relevante que pode ser utilizado visando à atualização das atuais políticas públicas referentes a este tema