Human periprostatic adipose tissue promotes prostate cancer aggressiveness in vitro

Background - Obesity is associated with prostate cancer aggressiveness and mortality. The contribution of periprostatic adipose tissue, which is often infiltrated by malignant cells, to cancer progression is largely unknown. Thus, this study aimed to determine if periprostatic adipose tissue is linked with aggressive tumor biology in prostate cancer. Methods - Supernatants of whole adipose tissue (explants) or stromal vascular fraction (SVF) from paired fat samples of periprostatic (PP) and pre-peritoneal visceral (VIS) anatomic origin from different donors were prepared and analyzed for matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) 2 and 9 activity. The effects of those conditioned media (CM) on growth and migration of hormone-refractory (PC-3) and hormone-sensitive (LNCaP) prostate cancer cells were measured. Results - We show here that PP adipose tissue of overweight men has higher MMP9 activity in comparison with normal subjects. The observed increased activities of both MMP2 and MMP9 in PP whole adipose tissue explants, likely reveal the contribution of adipocytes plus stromal-vascular fraction (SVF) as opposed to SVF alone. MMP2 activity was higher for PP when compared to VIS adipose tissue. When PC-3 cells were stimulated with CM from PP adipose tissue explants, increased proliferative and migratory capacities were observed, but not in the presence of SVF. Conversely, when LNCaP cells were stimulated with PP explants CM, we found enhanced motility despite the inhibition of proliferation, whereas CM derived from SVF increased both cell proliferation and motility. Explants culture and using adipose tissue of PP origin are most effective in promoting proliferation and migration of PC-3 cells, as respectively compared with SVF culture and using adipose tissue of VIS origin. In LNCaP cells, while explants CM cause increased migration compared to SVF, the use of PP adipose tissue to generate CM result in the increase of both cellular proliferation and migration. Conclusions - Our findings suggest that the PP depot has the potential to modulate extra-prostatic tumor cells' microenvironment through increased MMPs activity and to promote prostate cancer cell survival and migration. Adipocyte-derived factors likely have a relevant proliferative and motile role

Metabolic effect of low fluoride levels in the islets of NOD mice: integrative morphological, immunohistochemical, and proteomic analyses

Fluoride (F) has been widely used to control dental caries, and studies suggest beneficial effects against diabetes when a low dose of F is added to the drinking water (10 mgF/L). Objectives: This study evaluated metabolic changes in pancreatic islets of NOD mice exposed to low doses of F and the main pathways altered by the treatment. Methodology: In total, 42 female NOD mice were randomly divided into two groups, considering the concentration of F administered in the drinking water for 14 weeks: 0 or 10 mgF/L. After the experimental period, the pancreas was collected for morphological and immunohistochemical analysis, and the islets for proteomic analysis. Results: In the morphological and immunohistochemical analysis, no significant differences were found in the percentage of cells labelled for insulin, glucagon, and acetylated histone H3, although the treated group had higher percentages than the control group. Moreover, no significant differences were found for the mean percentages of pancreatic areas occupied by islets and for the pancreatic inflammatory infiltrate between the control and treated groups. Proteomic analysis showed large increases in histones H3 and, to a lesser extent, in histone acetyltransferases, concomitant with a decrease in enzymes involved in the formation of acetyl-CoA, besides many changes in proteins involved in several metabolic pathways, especially energy metabolism. The conjunction analysis of these data showed an attempt by the organism to maintain protein synthesis in the islets, even with the dramatic changes in energy metabolism. Conclusion: Our data suggests epigenetic alterations in the islets of NOD mice exposed to F levels comparable to those found in public supply water consumed by humans

APTIDÃO CARDIORRESPIRATÓRIA E ADIPOSIDADE CORPORAL: 10 MESES DE INTERVENÇÃO COM PRÁTICA DE ATIVIDADES FÍSICAS

O acúmulo de adiposidade, seja total ou central, eleva os fatores de risco de doenças cardiovasculares. Sendo assim, o objetivo do presente estudo foi analisar a relação entre aptidão cardiorrespiratória e adiposidade antes e após 10 meses de prática regular de atividades físicas em mulheres. A amostra foi composta por 59 mulheres atendidas por um plano de saúde privado Após os 10 meses de acompanhamento, o desempenho no TC6M apresentou acréscimo de 5% (p=0,001) e CC (circunferência de cintura) diminuição de 2,2% (p=0,007). Houve relação significativa entre IMC e TC6M no pré (r= -0,31) e no pós (r= -0,45) 10 meses de intervenção, já para a CC houve relação no pós intervenção (r= -0,37). A prática de atividades físicas pode ter proporcionado aumentos no TC6M e diminuição na CC, bem como a relação entre estas variáveis aumentou com a prática de atividades físicas

Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

Study of the COVID-19 pandemic trending behavior in Israeli cities

This paper studies the trending behavior of the COVID-19 dynamics in Israeli cities. The model employed is used to describe, for each city, the accumulated number of cases, the number of cases per day, and the predicted final number of cases. The innovative analysis adopted here is based on the daily evolution of the predicted final number of infections, estimated with data available until a given date. The results discussed here are illustrative for six cities in Israel, including Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. They show that the model employed fits well with the observed data and is able to suitably describe the COVID-19 dynamics in a country strongly impacted by the disease that holds one of the most successful vaccination programs in the world.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)2020/14357-12019/18294-

COVID-19 trend analysis in mexican states and cities

This paper presents a trend analysis of the COVID-19 pandemics in Mexico. The studies were run in a subnational basis because they are more useful that way, providing important information about the pandemic to local authorities. Unlike classic approaches in the literature, the trend analysis presented here is not based on the variations in the number of infections along time, but rather on the predicted value of the final number of infections, which is updated every day employing new data. Results for four states and four cities, selected among the most populated in Mexico, are presented. The model was able to suitably fit the local data for the selected regions under evaluation. Moreover, the trend analysis enabled one to assess the accuracy of the forecasts.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)2020/14357-

Utilization of xylitol as a preventive substance in dentistry

Dental caries is an infectious-contagious disease of multifactorial origin, which requires interference in one or more of its etiologic factors for prevention. Within this context, the utilization of xylitol is highlighted, which was initially studied as a sugar substitute because of its similarity as regards the sweetening power and later was also employed in other forms for caries prevention and control. The purpose of this study is to describe, by means of a review of the specialized literature, how xylitol can be used as an anticariogenic agent, demonstrating its properties and possible mechanisms of action in the prevention and control of dental caries. Analysis of many studies on xylitol revealed that it is available in many forms: chewing gums or tablets, mouthrinses, or even associated to toothpastes. Its anticariogenic properties are related to the reduction in plaque adhesion, remineralization of incipient carious lesions, and specific reduction of S. mutans

Utilization of xylitol as a preventive substance in dentistry

caries is an infectious-contagious disease of multifactorial origin, which requires interference in one or more of its etiologic factors for prevention. Within this context, the utilization of xylitol is highlighted, which was initially studied as a sugar substitute because of its similarity as regards the sweetening power and later was also employed in other forms for caries prevention and control. The purpose of this study is to describe, by means of a review of the specialized literature, how xylitol can be used as an anticariogenic agent, demonstrating its properties and possible mechanisms of action in the prevention and control of dental caries. Analysis of many studies on xylitol revealed that it is available in many forms: chewing gums or tablets, mouthrinses, or even associated to toothpastes. Its anticariogenic properties are related to the reduction in plaque adhesion, remineralization of incipient carious lesions, and specific reduction of S. mutans