The macrophage at the intersection of immunity and metabolism in obesity

Obesity is a worldwide pandemic representing one of the major challenges that societies face around the globe. Identifying the mechanisms involved in its development and propagation will help the development of preventative and therapeutic strategies that may help control its rising rates

Identification of a novel agonist-like autoantibody in preeclamptic patients.

BACKGROUND Recent studies have shown that preeclampsia (PE) is associated with the presence of autoantibodies (AABs) that activate the angiotensin II AT1 receptor, which could contribute to many of the symptoms of PE. METHODS To investigate the frequency and the targets of AABs in preeclamptic women (31 cases) and healthy pregnant normotensive women (29 cases) in Brazil, antibodies from serum samples were detected by a bioassay using spontaneously beating neonatal rat cardiomyocytes in culture. In the cardiomyocytes, the agonistic AABs induce a positive or negative chronotropic response, mimicking the corresponding receptor agonists. The specificity of the AAB response was identified by specific receptor antagonists. RESULTS Thirty preeclamptic patients (97%) presented AABs against the angiotensin II AT1 receptor. The agonistic effect of the AAB was blocked by irbesartan and neutralized by a peptide corresponding to the second extracellular loop of this receptor. Strikingly, we discovered that all sera from the severe preeclamptic patients (16 cases) contained a novel agonist- like AAB directed against the endothelin-1 ETA receptor in addition to the AABs against the angiotensin II AT1 receptor. This AAB was selectively blocked by the antagonist BQ-123, antagonized by the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor Calphostin C and neutralized by peptides corresponding to the second extracellular loop of the endothelin-1 ETA receptor subtype. CONCLUSIONS We described, for the first time, the presence of endothelin-1 ETA receptor AABs in PE. Our results suggest that the presence of both agonistic AABs may be involved in the pathogenesis of severe PE

Protocolo de preparo da criança pré-escolar para punção venosa, com utilização do brinquedo terapêutico Protocolo de preparación de niños en edad preescolar para la punción venosa con utilización del juguete terapeutico Protocol for the preparation of preschool children to venous puncture using therapeutic play

Este trabalho, do tipo exploratório descritivo, consiste na elaboração de um protocolo utilizando brinquedo terapêutico para preparar crianças pré-escolares que seriam submetidas à punção venosa, assim como testá-lo em algumas crianças para verificar sua aplicabilidade e eficiência. As crianças submetidas à sessão do brinquedo, tornaram-se mais cooperativas durante a punção venosa; compreenderam a necessidade e a técnica dos procedimentos; exteriorizaram sentimentos; elaboraram situações familiares e hospitalares, passando a relacionar-se melhor com as outras crianças e com a equipe de enfermagem. Consideramos que este protocolo é factível e útil; sugerimos que integre o plano de assistência de enfermagem a crianças hospitalizadas.<br>Este trabajo de tipo exploratorio descriptivo consiste en la elaboración de un protocolo utilizando el juguete terapéutico para preparar niños preescolares para la punción venosa y su aplicación en algunos niños, con el sentido de verificar su aplicabilidad. Los niños que fueron sometidos a la sesión del juguete, se tornaron más cooperativos durante la punción venosa; comprendieron la necesidad y la técnica de los procedimientos; exteriorizaron sentimientos; elaboraron situaciones familiares y hospitalarias y empezaron a relacionarse mejor con los otros niños y con el equipo de enfermería. Consideramos que éste protocolo es factible y util; sugerimos que el mismo pase a integrar el plan de atención de enfermería a los niños hospitalizados.<br>This exploratory - descriptive study aims at elaborating a protocol, using therapeutic play, for the preparation of preschool children to venous puncture and also at testing its efficiency and applicability. The children that attended the play session were more cooperative when they were punctured. They understood the need and technical aspects of this clinical procedure; manifested their feelings, elaborated familiar and hospital situations that resulted in a better relationship with the other children and the nursing team. Authors concluded that this protocol is feasible and useful and suggested that it should be incorporated in the nursing care plan to hospitalized children