Conjugated linoleic acid reduces permeability and fluidity of adipose plasma membranes from obese Zucker rats

NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. July 2010; 398 (2): 199-204.Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a dietary fatty acid frequently used as a body fat reducing agent whose effects upon cell membranes and cellular function remain unknown. Obese Zucker rats were fed atherogenic diets containing saturated fats of vegetable or animal origin with or without 1% CLA, as a mixture of cis(c)9,trans(t)11 and t10,c12 isomers. Plasma membrane vesicles obtained from visceral adi- pose tissue were used to assess the effectiveness of dietary fat and CLA membrane incorporation and its outcome on fluidity and permeability to water and glycerol. A significant decrease in adipose membrane fluidity was correlated with the changes observed in permeability, which seem to be caused by the incor- poration of the t10,c12 CLA isomer into membrane phospholipids. These results indicate that CLA supple- mentation in obese Zucker rats fed saturated and cholesterol rich diets reduces the fluidity and permeability of adipose membranes, therefore not supporting CLA as a body fat reducing agent through membrane fluidification in obese fat consumers

O ACESSO AOS BENEFÍCIOS EVENTUAIS NO CRAS CRISTO REDENTOR

This study analyzes the eventual benefits of the National Social Assistance Policy, based on the reality of its provision in the municipality of João Pessoa, and uses the situation of these benefits in CRAS Cristo Redentor as an empirical object. With regard to specific objectives, we sought to examine the legal frameworks, jointly defined, referring to eventual benefits, as well as investigating the normative configuration of these eventual provisions assumed in the city of João Pessoa. The exploratory methodological path was theoretically guided by the historical-dialectical method for apprehending reality, using bibliographic and documentary research to systematically survey information. The results show that the strict criteria, the lack of transparency and excessive bureaucratization, in addition to the small budget, drastically limit the attendance to dramatic food needs, much more pertinent with the food security policy, making access to eventual benefits a painful exercise and uncertain for the user.Este estudo analisa os benefícios eventuais da Política Nacional de Assistência Social, a partir da realidade de sua prestação no município de João Pessoa, e utiliza a situação desses benefícios no CRAS Cristo Redentor como objeto empírico. Com relação aos objetivos específicos, buscou-se examinar os marcos legais, definidos colegiadamente, referentes aos benefícios eventuais, bem como averiguou-se a configuração normativa dessas provisões eventuais assumida no município de João Pessoa. O caminho metodológico de natureza exploratória se pautou teoricamente pelo método histórico-dialético para a apreensão da realidade, recorrendo-se à pesquisa bibliográfica e documental para o levantamento sistemático de informações. Os resultados denotam que os rígidos critérios, a falta de transparência e a burocratização excessiva, além do ínfimo orçamento, limitam drasticamente o atendimento a dramáticas necessidades alimentares, muito mais pertinentes com a política de segurança alimentar, tonando o acesso aos benefícios eventuais um exercício penoso e incerto para o usuário

In Memoriam

. Figueira Mestre. Isabel Sous

Risk factors for metabolic bone disease in Crohn's disease patients

Background: The aim was to evaluate the presence of metabolic bone disease (MBD) in patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) and to identify potential etiologic factors. Methods: The case–control study included 99 patients with CD and 56 controls with a similar age and gender distribution. Both groups had dual-energy x-ray absorptionmetry and a nutritional evaluation. Single nucleotide polymorphisms at the IL1, TNF-a, LTa, and IL-6 genes were analyzed in patients only. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software. Results: The prevalence of MBD was significantly higher in patients (P ¼ 0.006). CD patients with osteoporosis were older (P < 0.005), small bowel involvement and surgical resections were more frequent (P < 0.005), they more often exhibited a penetrating or stricturing phenotype (P < 0.05), duration of disease over 15 years (P < 0.005), and body mass index (BMI) under 18.5 kg/m2 (P < 0.01) were more often found. No association was found with steroid use. Patients with a Z-score < 2.0 more frequently had chronic active disease (P < 0.05). With regard to diet, low vitamin K intake was more frequent (P ¼ 0.03) and intake of total, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fat was higher in patients with Z-score < 2.0 (P < 0.05). With respect to genetics, carriage of the polymorphic allele for LTa252 A/G was associated with a higher risk of osteoporosis (P ¼ 0.02). Regression analysis showed that age over 40 years, chronic active disease, and previous colonic resections were independently associated with the risk of developing MBD. Conclusions: The prevalence of MBD was significantly higher in CD patients. Besides the usual risk factors, we observed that factors related to chronic active and long-lasting disease increased the risk of MBD

Bycatch of Asteroidea from shrimp trawl fishery in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean – Brazil

Shrimp trawling is considered a significant negative impact on the marine ecosystem, especially on the benthic community. Sea stars (Echinodermata: Asteroidea) are one of the most affected groups by unintentional catches. This study was performed at the Santana Archipelago, a Marine Protected Area in the northern region of Rio de Janeiro State, between 2008-2009. Sea stars accidentally caught by trawling were collected during open and closed season of the shrimp fisheries (Xiphopenaeus kroyeri) at depths of 5-60 m. A generalized linear zero-inflated model was applied to test for differences in capture between fishing seasons and depths. A total of 158 sea star specimens were captured. These specimens were identified as Asterina stellifera, Astropecten acutiradiatus, Astropecten brasiliensis, Astropecten cingulatus, Luidia alternata alternata, Luidia clathrata, Luidia ludwigi scotti, Luidia senegalensis. The sea stars A. brasiliensis and L. senegalensis are currently considered as vulnerable species in the Brazilian official list of threatened species. The higher capture of sea stars was shown in deepest areas, and there was no significant difference in the number of specimens between seasons. This is the first study about asteroids accidentally captured by shrimp trawling

FONTES DE CRESCIMENTO DA PECUÁRIA LEITEIRA PARANAENSE NO PERÍODO 1995-2010: uma análise por mesorregiões à luz do método shift-share

The aim of this study is to analyze the sources of growth of dairy farming in the mesoregions of the Parana State in the period 1995-2010. Specifically, it seeks to assess how variation in production occurred, whether through changes in productivity or due to changes related to the size of herd milked. The shift-share method was used to decompose the production of milk in two sources of variation or effects, called: expansion of the herd effect and productivity effect. The results indicate that the Paran&aacute; grew in milk production in the period, increasing its share in the national production, and productivity gains were the main source of variation in the observed expansion in production. Analyzing the mesoregions state, it was observed that all showed growth in milk production in the period analyzed, nevertheless has been established a clear regional heterogeneity in performance, with seven mesoregions having recorded growth below the average growth of the state, while three others had higher growth at State media: South Centre of the Parana, Southwest of the Parana and West of the Parana.O objetivo do presente estudo &eacute; analisar as fontes de crescimento da pecu&aacute;ria leiteira nas mesorregi&otilde;es geogr&aacute;ficas do estado do Paran&aacute; no per&iacute;odo 1995 a 2010. Especificamente se busca avaliar como ocorreu a varia&ccedil;&atilde;o na produ&ccedil;&atilde;o de leite neste per&iacute;odo, se atrav&eacute;s de altera&ccedil;&otilde;es na produtividade ou devido a mudan&ccedil;as relacionadas ao tamanho do rebanho ordenhado. O m&eacute;todo shift-share foi utilizado para decompor a produ&ccedil;&atilde;o de leite em duas fontes de varia&ccedil;&atilde;o ou efeitos, denominados efeito expans&atilde;o do rebanho e efeito produtividade. Os resultados permitem concluir que o Paran&aacute; apresentou crescimento na produ&ccedil;&atilde;o de leite no per&iacute;odo analisado, aumentando sua participa&ccedil;&atilde;o na produ&ccedil;&atilde;o nacional, e que os ganhos de produtividade foram a principal fonte de crescimento da expans&atilde;o observada na produ&ccedil;&atilde;o. Analisando as mesorregi&otilde;es do Estado, observou-se que todas apresentaram crescimento na produ&ccedil;&atilde;o de leite no per&iacute;odo analisado, n&atilde;o obstante tenha sido constatada uma evidente heterogeneidade regional nesse desempenho, com sete mesorregi&otilde;es tendo apresentado crescimento inferior &agrave; m&eacute;dia estadual, enquanto tr&ecirc;s registraram crescimento superior &agrave; media estadual: o Centro-Sul Paranaense, o Sudoeste Paranaense e o Oeste Paranaense

Clinical and genetic factors predicting response to therapy in patients with Crohn’s disease

Aim - To identify clinical and/or genetic predictors of response to several therapies in Crohn’s disease (CD) patients. Methods - We included 242 patients with CD (133 females) aged (mean ± standard deviation) 39 ± 12 years and a disease duration of 12 ± 8 years. The single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) studied were ABCB1 C3435T and G2677T/A, IL23R G1142A, C2370A, and G9T, CASP9 C93T, Fas G670A and LgC844T, and ATG16L1 A898G. Genotyping was performed with real-time PCR with Taqman probes. Results - Older patients responded better to 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) and to azathioprine (OR 1.07, p = 0.003 and OR 1.03, p = 0.01, respectively) while younger ones responded better to biologicals (OR 0.95, p = 0.06). Previous surgery negatively influenced response to 5-ASA compounds (OR 0.25, p = 0.05), but favoured response to azathioprine (OR 2.1, p = 0.04). In respect to genetic predictors, we observed that heterozygotes for ATGL16L1 SNP had a significantly higher chance of responding to corticosteroids (OR 2.51, p = 0.04), while homozygotes for Casp9 C93T SNP had a lower chance of responding both to corticosteroids and to azathioprine (OR 0.23, p = 0.03 and OR 0.08, p = 0.02,). TT carriers of ABCB1 C3435T SNP had a higher chance of responding to azathioprine (OR 2.38, p = 0.01), while carriers of ABCB1 G2677T/A SNP, as well as responding better to azathioprine (OR 1.89, p = 0.07), had a lower chance of responding to biologicals (OR 0.31, p = 0.07), which became significant after adjusting for gender (OR 0.75, p = 0.005). Conclusions - In the present study, we were able to identify a number of clinical and genetic predictors of response to several therapies which may become of potential utility in clinical practice. These are preliminary results that need to be replicated in future pharmacogenomic studies

A GAMIFICAÇÃO E OS DISPOSITIVOS DIGITAIS NO ENSINO SECUNDÁRIO EM BRAGA, PORTUGAL

Actually, students who experience digital cultures are used to cyberspace, the immediacy of social networks, the playfulness of digital games and the search for information on the Internet. However, students lack motivation and engagement in the classroom, especially due to the absence of pedagogical practices in digital contexts. In this sense, the article aims to present clues on how gamification and digital devices provide the immersion of digital cultures in the classroom. Qualitative, the study analyzed interviews with students who experienced the use of gamification and digital devices in Portuguese classes of a public secondary school in Portugal. The subjects 'reports showed that the devices used favored the interaction and communication between teacher-student-student, provided the students' involvement in the activities and contributed to innovation, creativity and teamwork.En los tiempos contemporáneos, los estudiantes que experimentan culturas digitales están acostumbradas al ciberespacio, la inmediatez de las redes sociales, la diversión de los juegos digitales y la búsqueda de información en Internet. Sin embargo, los estudiantes carecen de motivación y compromiso en el aula, especialmente debido a la ausencia de prácticas pedagógicas en contextos digitales. En este sentido, el artículo tiene como objetivo presentar pistas sobre cómo la gamificación y los dispositivos digitales proporcionan la inmersión de las culturas digitales en el aula. Cualitativamente, el estudio analizó entrevistas con estudiantes que experimentaron el uso de gamificación y dispositivos digitales en clases de portugués de una escuela secundaria pública en Portugal. Los informes de los sujetos mostraron que los dispositivos utilizados favorecieron la interacción y la comunicación entre profesor-alumno-alumno, proporcionaron la participación de los alumnos en las actividades y contribuyeron a la innovación, la creatividad y el trabajo en equipo.Na contemporaneidade os alunos que vivenciam as culturas digitais estão acostumados ao ciberespaço, a instantaneidade das redes sociais, a ludicidade dos jogos digitais e a busca por informação na Internet. No entanto, na sala de aula percebe-se a falta de motivação e de engajamento dos alunos, especialmente pela ausência de práticas pedagógicas em contextos digitais. Neste sentido, o artigo tem como propósito apresentar pistas de como a gamificação e os dispositivos digitais proporcionam a imersão das culturas digitais na sala de aula. De natureza qualitativa, o estudo analisou entrevistas realizadas com alunos que vivenciaram o uso da gamificação e dos dispositivos digitais nas aulas de Português de uma escola pública de ensino secundário em Portugal. Os relatos dos sujeitos demonstraram que os dispositivos utilizados favoreceram a interação e a comunicação entre professor- aluno-aluno, proporcionaram o envolvimento dos alunos nas atividades e contribuíram para a inovação, a criatividade e o trabalho em equipe

Comparability study between downstream methodologies using physicochemical characteristics of hyperimmune serum for human use

This study compared two downstream methodologies of antivenom production and statistically evaluated the results of quality control between batches of Antiloxoscelic Serum (approved or not) of these methods. The methodologies present significant downstream differences related to the quality control results. The document analysis and statistical evaluation of the results were obtained using a control chart. All batches showed physical-chemical results within the specification limits, but not all downstream B results were within the process control limits. In all quantitative results analyzed (total protein, non-protein nitrogen, phenol, total solids, pH, chloride), it was possible to verify that the downstream B samples did not meet the process control criteria established by the control chart. The conclusion is that method B is outside the control of the stipulated production process

Coupling between magnetic field and curvature in Heisenberg spins on surfaces with rotational symmetry

We study the nonlinear $\sigma$-model in an external magnetic field applied on curved surfaces with rotational symmetry. The Euler-Lagrange equations derived from the Hamiltonian yield the double sine-Gordon equation (DSG) provided the magnetic field is tuned with the curvature of the surface. A $2\pi$ skyrmion appears like a solution for this model and surface deformations are predicted at the sector where the spins point in the opposite direction to the magnetic field. We also study some specific examples by applying the model on three rotationally symmetric surfaces: the cylinder, the catenoid and the hyperboloid. The coupling between a magnetic field and the curvature of the substract is an interesting result and we believe that this issue may be relevant to be applied in condensed matter systems, e.g., superconductors, nematic liquid crystals, graphene and topological insulators.Comment: To be published in Physics Letters