Like-Triple Diabetes as First Manifestation of MODY2 in an Overweight Teenager With Transient Multiple Antibodies. Diabetes Care 2014; 37: e66-e67

Ctr Referencia Estadual Assistencia Ao Diabet & E, Salvador, BA, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Ctr Diabet, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Ctr Diabet, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

BONE MECHANOTRANSDUCTION: A REVIEW

This review focus on the bone physiology and mechanotransduction elements and mechanisms. Bone biology and architecture is deeply related to the mechanical environment. Orthopaedic implants cause profound changes in the biomechanics and electrophysiology of the skeleton. In the context of biomedical engineering, a deep reflexion on bone physiology and electromechanics is needed. Strategic development of new biomaterials and devices that respect and promote continuity with bone structure could have a major impact on patient’s well being

Método del papel de filtro para la medida de la succión del suelo

The capillary pressure of the soil (i.e., the pressure difference between air and water components in soil voids) is a key variable in the analysis of the hydro-mechanical behavior of unsaturated soils. Therefore a simple and economical laboratory method for the measurement of the capillary pressure of the soil (also known as soil matric suction, the reference being the atmospheric pressure), even if a degree of approximation is involved, is of considerable value. The filter paper method calculates soil suction indirectly by measuring the gravimetric water content of the filter paper at equilibrium that is related to soil suction through a predetermined calibration curve. The advantages of the method are simplicity, economy and reasonable accuracy. It can be used to measure suctions from 10 to 30000 kPa. In this paper, the authors use the contact filter paper method for matric suction measurements of an unsaturated compacted silty sand (formed by the weathering of granite) which has been used as a building material for a road in the north of Portugal. The matric suctions inferred from filter paper measurements depend on the calibration between the water content of the filter paper and suction. Therefore, three calibration curves proposed at the literature (Chandler et al. 1992; ASTM D 5298; and Oliveira & Marinho 2006) for the Whatman 42 filter paper are used to interpret the measured filter paper gravimetric water contents. The results of these tests are compared to other techniques (i.e., tensiometers, and the osmotic technique) used to measure or control the negative pore water pressure in the compacted soil specimens and the results obtained are reasonably accurate.La presión capilar del suelo (es decir, la diferencia de la presión entre el aire y los componentes del agua en vacíos del suelo) es una variable llave en el análisis del comportamiento hidromecánico de suelos no saturados. Un método por lo tanto simple y económico del laboratorio para la medida de la presión capilar del suelo (también conocido como la succión matrica del suelo, la referencia que es la presión atmosférica), mesmo si un grado de aproximación está implicado, es de valor considerable. El método del papel de filtro calcula la succión indirectamente utilizando curvas de calibración. Las ventajas del método son simplicidad, economía y exactitud razonable. El método del papel de filtro se puede utilizar para medir succiones a partir del 10 al 30000 kPa. En este artículo, los autores utilizan el método del papel de filtro para la medida de la succión matric de una arena limosa compactada no saturada (formada por la meteorización del granito) que se ha utilizado como material de construcción para un camino en el norte de Portugal. Las succiones matric deducidas de medidas del papel de filtro dependen de una calibración entre el humedade del papel de filtro y la succión. Por lo tanto, tres curvas de calibración propuestas en la literatura (Chandler et al. 1992; ASTM D 5298; y Oliveira & Marinho 2006) para el papel de filtro de Whatman 42 se utilizan para interpretar lãs humedades gravimétricas medidas del papel de filtro. Los resultados de los ensayos se comparan a otras técnicas (es decir, tensiómetros, y la técnica osmótica) usadas para medir o controlar la presión negativa en lãs muestras compactadas del suelo y los resultados obtenidos sea razonablemente exacto

Molecular characterization of PDGFR-α/PDGF-A and c-KIT/SCF in gliosarcomas

Gliosarcomas are rare and poorly characterized malignant brain tumors that exhibit a biphasic tissue pattern with areas of gliomatous and sarcomatous differentiation. These tumors are histological variants of glioblastoma, displaying a similar genetic profile and dismal prognosis. Up-regulation of PDGFR subfamily of tyrosine kinase members, PDGFR-α and c-Kit, and their intracellular effectors RAS/RAF/MAPK has a crucial role in the cancer development. In addition, signal transduction mediated by activating mutations of c-Kit and PDGFR can be effectively blocked by specific tyrosine kinase inhibitors, such as Imatinib mesylate. The aim of this study was to characterize the molecular alterations of PDGFR signaling in gliosarcomas. Six cases were analyzed by immunohistochemistry for the expression of PDGFR-α, c-Kit and their ligands PDGF-A and SCF, respectively. The cases were further evaluated for the presence of activating mutations of PDGFR-α (exons 12 and 18) and c-kit (exons 9, 11, 13, and 17), as well as B-RAF (exons 11 and 15). Expression of PDGF-A was found in all cases and co-expression of PDGFR-α was observed in three cases. Four cases showed expression of SCF, and c-Kit was observed only in one case that also expressed SCF. Generally, immunoreaction predominates in the glial component. The mutational analysis of PDGFR-α showed the presence of an IVS17-50insT intronic insertion in two cases, one of them also with a 2472C > T silent mutation; this silent mutation was also found in another case. Glioma cell line analysis of IVS17-50insT insertion showed no influence on PDGFR-α gene splicing. No mutations were detected in c-kit and B-RAF oncogenes. Our results indicate that activating mutations of PDGFR-α, c-kit and B-RAF are absent in gliosarcomas. Nevertheless, the presence of a PDGFR-a/PDGFA and c-Kit/SCF autocrine/paracrine stimulation loop in a proportion of cases, supports the potential role of specific tyrosine kinase inhibitors in the treatment of gliosarcomas.Novartis Portugal

Individuals with prediabetes identified by HbA1c undergoing coronary angiography have worse cardiometabolic profile than those identified by fasting glucose

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus has well known deleterious effects on coronary artery disease (CAD). the role of milder hyperglycemic states such as prediabetes (PD) on CAD is debatable. Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) has recently been advocated as a diagnostic tool for diabetes mellitus (DM) and PD. This study aims to assess the cardiometabolic risk profile and coronary lesions of patients with PD undergoing coronary angiography identified either by fasting plasma glucose (FPG) or HbA1c levels.Methods: We studied 514 individuals without previously known glucose disturbances. Their glycemic status was assessed by FPG and HbA1c (HPLC) and classified according to ADA guidelines, using each parameter independently, as having normal glucose tolerance (N), PD, or DM. CAD was defined as stenosis greater than 50% in one major coronary vessel or branch. Framingham score was calculated.Results: Subjects with PD had a similar frequency of CAD compared do N individuals by both FPG (61 vs. 59.3%) and HbA1c (55.4 vs 61.2%) (p non-significant for linear-by-linear association). PD individuals identified by FPG had worse HOMA2B (mean [95% CI] 65.4 [60.9-69.9] vs. 76.6 [71.4-81.9]) and HOMA2-IR (1.10 [0.98-1.22] vs. 0.80 [0.72-0.89]) when compared to N controls. PD individuals identified by HbA1c had higher frequency of Framingham risk above 20% (25.4 vs 11.8%), arterial hypertension (87.8 vs 72.6%), and dyslipidemia (83.8 vs 72%) compared to N individuals. PD associated with an increased number of coronary lesions only when diagnosed by HbA1c (median [interquartile interval] 2 [0-4] PD versus 1 [0-3.75] N, p = 0.03 for trend).Conclusions: HbA1c was more effective than FPG in identifying individuals with PD associated with high cardiovascular risk profile in a sample of individuals undergoing coronary angiography.Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Endocrinol Unit, Diabet Ctr, São Paulo, BrazilUniv Estado Bahia, Dept Ciencias Vida, Colegiado Med, BR-41150000 Salvador, BA, BrazilCtr Endocrinol Estado Bahia CEDEBA, Salvador, BA, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Endocrinol Unit, Diabet Ctr, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Expression of monocarboxylate transporters 1, 2, and 4 in human tumours and their association with CD147 and CD44

Expression of monocarboxylate transporters 1, 2, and 4 in human tumours and their association with CD147 and CD44.Monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) are important cellular pH regulators in cancer cells; however, the value of MCT expression in cancer is still poorly understood. In the present study, we analysed MCT1, MCT2, and MCT4 protein expression in breast, colon, lung, and ovary neoplasms, as well as CD147 and CD44. MCT expression frequency was high and heterogeneous among the different tumours. Comparing with normal tissues, there was an increase in MCT1 and MCT4 expressions in breast carcinoma and a decrease in MCT4 plasma membrane expression in lung cancer. There were associations between CD147 and MCT1 expressions in ovarian cancer as well as between CD147 and MCT4 in both breast and lung cancers. CD44 was only associated with MCT1 plasma membrane expression in lung cancer. An important number of MCT1 positive cases are negative for both chaperones, suggesting that MCT plasma membrane expression in tumours may depend on a yet nonidentified regulatory protein.Celine Pinheiro received a Ph.D. fellowship from the Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation (SFRH/BD/27465/2006). The authors acknowledge NCI (National Cancer Institute) Tumour Repository MTA, MD, USA for the multitumour tissue microarray (TARP)

Avaliação Nutricional de um Suplemento Alimentar

A escolha da nutrição mais adequada tem sido um tema estudado com grande interesse ao longo da história da humanidade tendo em conta a manutenção da Saúde, mas igualmente com outras finalidades como o atraso do envelhecimento ou outros benefícios. O desafio colocado pela ingestão de frutos, vegetais, cereais, azeite e vinho aplicado pela intitulada Dieta Mediterrânica torna possível o entendimento de países com diversas etnias, culturas, economia e religiões, todos eles à volta do mar Mediterrâneo. Por outro lado, o contínuo aparecimento de patologias como os acidentes vasculares cerebrais, o cancro e a aterosclerose podem ser de algum modo minimizadas pela ingestão de alguns compostos bioativos presentes nos alimentos, os chamados nutracêuticos e alimentos funcionais. O objetivo deste trabalho foi fazer uma revisão dos estudos publicados sobre os efeitos do licopeno na saúde humana, uma abordagem da respetiva química, fontes, biodisponibilidade e do potencial possível papel e mecanismos desempenhado na prevenção de determinadas doenças crónicas e no cancro. O licopeno é um dos antioxidantes mais potentes conhecidos, constituindo porventura o carotenóide mais importante presente na dieta, maioritariamente fornecido através do tomate e derivados. Atendendo a que o organismo humano não consegue sintetizar este composto de novo, este tem obrigatoriamente que ser fornecido pela dieta. No entanto, a sua biodisponibilidade pode ser afetada por inúmeros fatores tais como a forma de digestão da matriz alimentar, a temperatura de confecção, pela presença de outras gorduras no alimento, dosagem e outros compostos solúveis, incluindo os outros carotenóides. Esses fatores causam a libertação de licopeno a partir da matriz de alimentos e alteram assim a sua biodisponibilidade.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Computer analysis of objects’ movement in image sequences: methods and applications

Computer analysis of objects’ movement in image sequences is a very complex problem, considering that it usually involves tasks for automatic detection, matching, tracking, motion analysis and deformation estimation. In spite of its complexity, this computational analysis has a wide range of important applications; for instance, in surveillance systems, clinical analysis of human gait, objects recognition, pose estimation and deformation analysis. Due to the extent of the purposes, several difficulties arise, such as the simultaneous tracking of manifold objects, their possible temporary occlusion or definitive disappearance from the image scene, changes of the viewpoints considered in images acquisition or of the illumination conditions, or even nonrigid deformations that objects may suffer in image sequences. In this paper, we present an overview of several methods that may be considered to analyze objects’ movement; namely, for their segmentation, tracking and matching in images, and for estimation of the deformation involved between images.This paper was partially done in the scope of project “Segmentation, Tracking and Motion Analysis of Deformable (2D/3D) Objects using Physical Principles”, with reference POSC/EEA-SRI/55386/2004, financially supported by FCT -Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia from Portugal. The fourth, fifth and seventh authors would like to thank also the support of their PhD grants from FCT with references SFRH/BD/29012/2006, SFRH/BD/28817/2006 and SFRH/BD/12834/2003, respectively

Molecular analysis of c-Kit and PDGFRA in GISTs diagnosed by EUS

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are characterized by overexpression and mutations of c-Kit. Approximately 80% of c-Kit mutations occur in exon H, being a response factor to imatinib (Gleevec) therapy. Mutations of platelet-derived growth factor receptor-a (PDGFRA) are observed in a subset of GISTs lacking c-Kit mutations. We aimed to assess whether c-Kit and PDGFRA mutation analysis of GISTs obtained by endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) could be routinely performed. Mutation analysis of c-Kit hotspot exons (9, 11, 13, and 17) and PDGFRA hotspot exons (12 and 18) was performed in aspirates of 33 GISTs and 18 non-GIST mesenchymal tumors. Of the GIST cases, 19 (58%) of 33 contained a mutation in exon 11, 1 (3%) in exon 9, and none in exons 13 and 17. No activating c-Kit mutations were identified in non-GIST cases. No PDGFRA mutation was detected. Mutation analysis is possible in these FNA cell blocks and can assist in the diagnosis and therapeutic decisions in GIST cases.Supported in part by NOVARTIS Oncologyinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Cell-to-cell transfer of Leishmania amazonensis amastigotes is mediated by immunomodulatory LAMP-rich parasitophorous extrusions

The last step of Leishmania intracellular life cycle is the egress of amastigotes from the host cell and their uptake by adjacent cells. Using multidimensional live imaging of long-term-infected macrophage cultures we observed that Leishmania amazonensis amastigotes were transferred from cell to cell when the donor host macrophage delivers warning signs of imminent apoptosis. They were extruded from the macrophage within zeiotic structures (membrane blebs, an apoptotic feature) rich in phagolysosomal membrane components. the extrusions containing amastigotes were selectively internalized by vicinal macrophages and the rescued amastigotes remain viable in recipient macrophages. Host cell apoptosis induced by micro-irradiation of infected macrophage nuclei promoted amastigotes extrusion, which were rescued by non-irradiated vicinal macrophages. Using amastigotes isolated from LAMP1/LAMP2 knockout fibroblasts, we observed that the presence of these lysosomal components on amastigotes increases interleukin 10 production. Enclosed within host cell membranes, amastigotes can be transferred from cell to cell without full exposure to the extracellular milieu, what represents an important strategy developed by the parasite to evade host immune system.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Medi, Dept Microbiol Imunol & Parasitol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Inst Trop Med, Lab Soroepidemiol & Imunobiol, São Paulo, BrazilFdn Oswaldo Cruz FIOCRUZ, INCT DT, Salvador, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Fac Med, Dept Prevent Med, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Medi, Dept Microbiol Imunol & Parasitol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Inst Trop Med, Lab Soroepidemiol & Imunobiol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Fac Med, Dept Prevent Med, São Paulo, BrazilFAPESP: 10/19335-4Web of Scienc