STOP: A gamified approach to support obese patients in changing their health habits

Obesity is a challenge for the whole world and it is necessary to find new ways to reduce it and to help people in this situation by facilitating the acquisition of healthy habits to replace unhealthy ones. STOP is a project aimed at facing the challenge of obesity through a digital methodology and through a synergy between experts from the industry and academia. By tracing patients' habits, integrating these data with other data already present in databases and providing personalized paths and feedback the «STop Obesity Platform» can be a valuable help for both patients and Healthcare Professionals. All this is inserted in a gamification frame by the creation of an app that establishes an analogy to the wellknown Dorian Gray mirror with the aim of encouraging the performance of the user or the acquisition of healthy behavior through a stimulating and engaging experience. This paper shows the main objectives of the project, defines the general structure of the app and provides some examples of prototype application

Secukinumab for Psoriasis in Obese Patients: Minireview and Clinical Experience

Psoriasis (PsO) has been associated with obesity, and its severity increases in obese subjects. The link between psoriatic condition and obesity is based on shared pathophysiological pathways where local and systemic inflammation promote each other; PsO is an inflammatory, immune-mediated disease, and the adipose tissue is the source of proinflammatory adipokines. Moreover, psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an important comorbidity of PsO that reduces quality of life and makes difficult the patient's management. Treatment of obese subjects with moderate to severe PsO, even more if PsA is present, is challenging because of reduced efficacy of several systemic drugs and increased risk of adverse events. Secukinumab, a monoclonal antibody that selectively binds to and neutralizes interleukin 17A, shows efficacy on PsO in all body weight groups, even in the highest, whose response has a slight downward trend. Clinical features of two obese subjects, affected by PsO and PsA, successfully treated with secukinumab, are described

Toetsontwikkeling op virussen in Zantedeschia

Zantedeschia (=Calla) heeft zich ontwikkeld tot een belangrijk siergewas. Voor de productie van snijbloemen en potplanten is een goede kwaliteit vereist. Virus kan een sterk negatieve invloed hebben op de kwaliteit door o.a. groeimisvorming en kleurbreking op blad en bloem. Een kleine tien jaar geleden is de BKD op verzoek van het vak gestart met een keuring op o.a. zichtbaar virus. Sinds het groeiseizoen van 2003 zijn de virusproblemen ondanks de keuring alleen maar groter geworden. Het beperken van virusverspreiding in Zantedeschia is daarom recent in detail bestudeerd (PT-project 12048). Daarnaast is een goed toetsenpakket belangrijk om virusvrij uitgangsmateriaal te kunnen realiseren. Zonder robuuste toetsen op virussen in Zantedeschia is dit haast onmogelijk te verwezenlijken. Er zijn veel verschillende virussen gevonden in Zanedeschia en dit aantal is de afgelopen jaren verder gestegen. Een aantal virussen in Zanedeschia kan prima via serologische methoden als ELISA worden aangetoond; andere virussen alleen door middel van PCR. Voor sommige virussen in Zantedeschia waren bij de Bloembollenkeuringsdienst (BKD) en Praktijkonderzoek Plant en Omgeving (PPO-BBF) geen goede detectiemethoden aanwezig, of was bekend dat ze slecht met de bestaande toetsmethoden te detecteren zijn. Dit was een onbevredigende situatie, met name voor bedrijven die schoon uitgangsmateriaal willen uitleveren. Daarom heeft dit project als belangrijkste doel de kennis over virussen in Zantedeschia te vergroten en het pakket aan toetsmogelijkheden compleet te maken. De ELISA- en PCR-toetsen zijn binnen dit project gevalideerd met praktijkmateriaal en het protocol voor het toetsen op uitgangsmateriaal is geëvalueerd

Patterns of cell proliferation and apoptosis by topographic region in normal Bos taurus vs. Bos indicus crossbreeds bovine placentae during pregnancy

Abstract Background Placental and fetal growth requires high rates of cellular turnover and differentiation, which contributes to conceptus development. The trophoblast has unique properties and a wide range of metabolic, endocrine and angiogenic functions, but the proliferative profile of the bovine placenta characterized by flow cytometry analysis and its role in fetal development are currently uncharacterized. Complete understanding of placental apoptotic and proliferative rates may be relevant to development, especially if related to the pathogenesis of pregnancy losses and placental abnormalities. Methods In this study, the proliferation activity and apoptosis in different regions of normal bovine placenta (central and boundary regions of placentomes, placentomal fusion, microplacentomes, and interplacentomal regions), from distinct gestation periods (Days 70 to 290 of pregnancy), were analyzed by flow cytometry. Results Our results indicated that microplacentomes presented a lower number of apoptotic cells throughout pregnancy, with a higher proliferative activity by the end of gestation, suggesting that such structures do not contribute significantly to normal of placental functions and conceptus development during pregnancy. The placentome edges revealed a higher number of apoptotic cells from Day 170 on, which suggests that placentome detachment may well initiate in this region. Conclusion Variations involving proliferation and apoptotic rates may influence placental maturation and detachment, compromising placental functions and leading to fetal stress, abnormalities in development and abortion, as frequently seen in bovine pregnancies from in vitro fertilization and cloning procedures. Our findings describing the pattern of cell proliferation and apoptosis in normal bovine pregnancies may be useful for unraveling some of the developmental deviations seen in nature and after in vitro embryo manipulations

SEGMENTOS ANÁTOMO-CIRÚRGICOS ARTERIAIS DA GLÂNDULA MAMÁRIA EM CÃES (Canis familiaris, Linnaeus, 1758)

Trinta complexos mamários (60 antímeros) de cadelas adultas, sem raça definida, foram estudados após injeções com substância látex e através de radiografias. Os segmentos anátomo-cirúrgicos arteriais foram identificados e nomeados de acordo com a localização das glândulas mamárias irrigadas, como se segue: as Aa. 4ª e 5ª perfurantes penetram na mama 1 em 85% dos casos - segmento torácico; 6ª e 7ª perfurantes penetram na mama 2 em 48,33% - segmento toraco-abdominal; A. epigástrica cranial superficial tem divisão intraparenquimal em: 1. rr. retrógrados à mama 2 em 51,66% - segmento toraco-abdominal cranial; 2. rr. terminais à mama 3 em 73,32% - segmento toraco-abdominal caudal. A A. epigástrica caudal superficial divide-se em 2 sub-segmentos: 1. seus rr. primários e rr. labiais ventrais à mama 5 e 4 em 96,66% - segmento inguino-abdominal caudal; 2. rr. terminais à mama 3 em 51,66% - segmento inguino-abdominal cranial. Foram evidenciadas anastomoses em 78,33%, todavia estas podem não ser significativas nas mastectomias. Arterial anatomosurgical segments of the mammary glands in dogs (Canis familiaris, Linnaeus, 1758) Abstract Thirty mammary complexes (sixty antimers) from cross bred multiparous bitches, were injected with latex and then studied by means of radiology and dissection. The different anatomo-surgical arterial segments thus obtained were identified and designated according to the anatomical zone of irrigation of each mammary gland as follows: 1. Thoracic segment, by means of the fourth and fifth perforant arteries, penetrates the first mammary gland in 85% of the cases; 2. Thoracoabdominal segment, by means of the sixth and seventh perforant arteries, penetrates the second mammary gland in 48.33 % of the cases. This segment can also be divided as follows: 2.1. Retrograde branches of the cranial superficial epigastric artery that penetrates the second mammary gland in about 51.66% of the cases, as the toracoabdominal cranial segment; 2.2. Terminal branches of the last artery penetrate the third mammary gland in 73.32% of the cases, as the toracoabdominal caudal segment. 3. Inguinoabdominal segment may also possess two sub-- segments: 3.1. Caudal superficial epigastric artery with primary branches penetrating the fourth mamma and the ventral labial branches, penetrating the fifth mamma in 96.66% of the cases, as inguinoabdomninal caudal segment. 3.2. Terminal branches of the caudal superficial epigastric artery penetrates the third mamma in 51.66% of the cases as inguinoabdominal cranial segment. The anastomosis observed in 78.33% of the cases may not have significance in mastectomy

Expressão da progranulina durante os primeiros estágios de desenvolvimento hepático em ratos Fischer 344

Transplants are the only effective therapy for the treatment of advanced liver diseases such as cirrhosis. Given the limited number of organ donors, regenerative medicine has sought for sources of cells and tissues for replacement therapy. Embryonic stem cells are a promising source of material for transplantation because of their exclusive property of being expanded indefinitely in culture, thus, they are a source of replacement tissue. Moreover, they are capable of differentiating into practically all cell types, and may be utilized in replacement therapy in various diseases. The liver bud has bipotent stem cells that have not yet differentiated into hepatocytes or biliary duct cells; however, they have great potential of proliferation and differentiation. Thus, the challenge is to identify methods that promote their differentiation in specific and functional strains. This study aimed to evaluate the role of the progranulin growth factor PGRN during the liver development of rats F344, since this growth factor could be utilized in protocols of differentiation of stem cells of the liver bud in functional hepatocytes. The results showed that PGRN is present during different periods of hepatogenesis in F344 rats, and that this growth factor should be involved in the process of differentiation of hepatoblasts into hepatocytes after activation by HNF4α , however, PGRN seems not to exert a cellular proliferation function during the hepatogenesis. Thus, PGRN can be used in future protocols of liver cell differentiation directed toward cellular therapy in Regenerative Medicine.Os transplantes são a única terapia eficaz para o tratamento de doenças hepáticas avançadas, como a cirrose. Dado o número limitado de doadores de órgãos, a medicina regenerativa tem procurado fontes de células para a terapia de substituição. As células embrionárias são uma fonte promissora de material para o transplante devido à sua propriedade exclusiva de ser expandida indefinidamente em cultura, assim, elas são uma fonte de tecido de substituição. Além disso, são capazes de se diferenciar em praticamente todos os tipos celulares, e podem ser utilizadas na terapia de substituição em várias doenças. O broto hepático tem células-tronco (CT) bipotenciais que ainda não se diferenciam em hepatócitos ou células do ducto biliar, contudo, elas têm um grande potencial de proliferação e de diferenciação. Desse modo, o desafio é identificar métodos que promovam sua diferenciação em linhagens específicas e funcionais. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o papel do fator de crescimento progranulina (PGRN) durante o desenvolvimento hepático em ratos F344, uma vez que a PGRN poderia ser utilizada em protocolos de diferenciação de CT do broto hepático em hepatócitos funcionais. Os resultados mostraram que PGRN está presente durante diferentes períodos da hepatogênese em ratos F344, e que a mesma deve estar envolvida no processo de diferenciação de hepatoblastos em hepatócitos após ativação por HNF4α, no entanto, a PGRN parece não desempenhar uma função de proliferação celular durante a hepatogênese. Assim, a PGRN pode ser usada em futuros protocolos de diferenciação de células hepáticas voltadas para a terapia celular na medicina regenerativa

ANALYSIS OF VEGF GENE EXPRESSION IN PLACENTAS OF CLONED BOVINES, PRODUCED IN VITRO AND IN VIVO, BY SEMIQUANTITATIVE RT-PCR)

O sucesso da produção de embriões por fecundação in vitro ou transferência nuclear depende de uma variedade de fatores, dos quais a formação de uma incompleta vascularização placentária representa uma das principais causas de perda gestacional precoce. Neste trabalho, avaliou-se a expressão relativa de Fator de Crescimento Endotélio-vascular (VEGF), um potente agente vasculogênico, em placentas de bovinos clonados por transferência nuclear (NT), produzidos por fecundação in vitro (FIV), ou por monta natural (MN). Verificou-se um decréscimo altamente significativo de expressão de VEGF nas placentas dos animais produzidos in vitro, quando comparados aos animais MN (1,32a; 0,21b; 0,31b, respectivamente para MN, FIV e NT, p<0,05; teste de Duncan), sugerindo haver falha na reprogramação gênica, gerada tanto no sistema de cultivo, quanto na manipulação física de gametas e embriões, alterando o padrão de vascularização placentária e, portanto, ocasionando perdas gestacionais.metas 200