Constraining Gamma-ray Lines from Dark Matter Annihilation using Fermi-LAT and H.E.S.S. data

Using 14 years of Fermi-LAT data and 10 years of H.E.S.S. observations in the direction of the galactic center, we derive limits on gamma-ray lines originated from dark matter annihilations for fermionic and scalar fields. We describe the dark matter annihilation into $\gamma \gamma$ or $\gamma Z$ final states in terms of effective operators and place limits on the energy scale as a function of the dark matter mass taking into account the energy resolution of the instruments. For the Fermi-LAT data, we considered an NFW and a contracted NFW dark matter density profile, the latter being preferred by the Fermi GeV excess. For the H.E.S.S. observation, we used an NFW and Einasto profile. Fermi-LAT yields the most stringent constraints for dark matter masses below 300 GeV, whereas H.E.S.S. has the strongest ones for dark matter masses above 1 TeV. The telescopes share similar sensitivities for dark matter masses between 300 GeV and 1 TeV. We conclude that Fermi-LAT (H.E.S.S.) can probe energy scales up to $10(20)$~TeV for scalar and fermionic dark matter particles.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figure

The Ability of Cardiac Autonomic Modulations Stress Index to Independently Predict VO2max in Cardiometabolically Healthy Individuals

Cardiac autonomic modulation (CAM) is crucial for heart health, mediated by the sympathetic and autonomic systems (SAS). The link between CAM and aerobic exercise underscores the importance of aerobic fitness assessments in optimizing training to enhance performance. Heart rate variability (HRV) assesses CAM in various healthy populations, with the Stress Index (SI) identified as key in determining the SAS regulation involvement in performance and recovery outcomes. The SI may provide a quick and non-invasive metric to assess aerobic performance. PURPOSE: To determine if the SI can accurately predict aerobic performance via VO2max in healthy individuals free of metabolic diseases. METHODS: fifty cardiometabolically healthy individuals (n = 30 males, n = 20 females; Age 37.8 + 12.7 years, %BF 24.9 + 4.0) completed a single maximal treadmill exercise protocol to determine VO2max. HRV was measured for 5 minutes in the supine position prior to performing the exercise protocol using an elastic belt and Bluetooth monitor (Polar H7). CardioMood software was used to process HRV indices; SI, high frequency (HF), low frequency (LF), and total power (TP) were assessed for the frequency domain, and standard deviation of all NN intervals (SDNN) and the square root of the mean of the squares of successive R-R interval differences (RMSSD) for the time domain. The data was analyzed using a multiple correlation and linear regression between HRV indices and VO2max to determine the relationship between the two. All analyses were performed using SAS (v. 28.0.1.1). RESULTS: HRV indices SI was not significantly correlated to VO2max (r = -0.118, p = 0.414). Additionally, SI and all other HRV indices were not able to independently or combined predict VO2max (R2 = 0.014, p = 0.414). CONCLUSION: The utilization of HRV to assess CAM has proven beneficial in multiple clinical and athletic settings. However, the utilization of the SI to predict aerobic performance via VO2max does not appear to be significant. Thus, there are potential limitations to HRV to non-invasively assess aerobic performance

Physicochemical characterization, microbiological quality and safety, and pharmacological potential of Hancornia speciosa Gomes

Hancornia speciosa Gomes is a fruit tree, commonly known as the mangaba tree, which is widespread throughout Brazil. The leaves of this plant are used in traditional medicine for medicinal purposes. Thus, the objective of this study was to perform a physicochemical characterization, identify the lipophilic antioxidants and fatty acids, and determine the microbiological quality and safety of H. speciosa leaves. In addition, the antioxidant, antimutagenic, and inhibitory activities of the ethanolic extract of H. speciosa leaves (EEHS) against enzymes related to neurodegenerative diseases, inflammation, obesity, and diabetes were investigated. Furthermore, this study aimed at assessing the in vivo effects of the EEHS on the glycemia of normoglycemic and diabetic Wistar rats. Physicochemical characterization was performed by colorimetry and gas-liquid chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID). The total number of colonies of aerobic mesophiles, molds, and yeasts was determined. The total coliforms and Escherichia coli were counted using the SimPlates kit, and sulphite-reducing Clostridium spores were quantified using the sulphite-polymyxin-sulfadiazine agar method. Salmonella spp. were detected using the 1-2 Test. The antioxidant activity of the EEHS was measured by its inhibition of 2,2′-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride- (AAPH-) induced oxidative hemolysis of human erythrocytes. The antimutagenic activity was determined using the Ames test. The acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, tyrosinase, hyaluronidase, lipase, α-amylase, and α-glycosidase enzyme-inhibiting activities were assessed and compared with commercial controls. The in vivo effects of the EEHS were assessed using the oral glucose tolerance test in normoglycemic Wistar rats and measuring the blood glucose levels in diabetic rats. The results demonstrated physical-chemical parameters of microbiological quality and safety in the leaves of H. speciosa, as well as antioxidant and antimutagenic activities and inhibition of enzymes related to neurodegenerative diseases, inflammation, obesity, and diabetes. In in vivo assays, it was shown that the normoglycemic rats challenged with glucose overload show significantly decreased blood glucose levels when treated with the EEHS. Taken together, the results ensure the microbiological quality and safety as well as showing the contents of carotenoids and polyunsaturated fatty acids of H. speciosa leaves. Additionally, the antioxidant, antimutagenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-Alzheimer’s disease, anti-Parkinson’s disease, antiobesity, and antihyperglycemic activities of the EEHS were demonstrated.This work was supported by grants from Fundação de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento do Ensino, Ciência e Tecnologia do Estado de Mato Grosso do Sul (FUNDECT), Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados (UFGD), and PRODER (24.073–A, Portugal).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A retrospective analysis of clinicopathological and prognostic characteristics of ovarian tumors in the State of Espírito Santo, Brazil

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Ovarian cancer is sixth most common cancer among women and the leading cause of death in women with gynecological malignancies. Despite the great impact ovarian cancer has on women's health and its great impact in public economy, Brazil still lacks valuable information concerning epidemiological aspects of this disease</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We've compiled clinical data of all ovarian tumors registered at the two public hospitals of reference (1997 - 2007), such as: patients' age at diagnosis, tumor histological type, tumor stage, chemotherapy regimens, chemotherapy responsiveness, disease-free survival, and overall survival.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Women's mean age at diagnosis was 54.67 ± 13.84 for ovarian cancer, 46.15 ± 11.15 for borderline tumors, and 42.01 ± 15.06 for adenomas. Among epithelial ovarian cancer cases, 30.1% were of serous, 13.7% were of mucinous, and 13.7% were of endometrioid type; exceptionally serous carcinoma was diagnosed in women younger than 30 years old. Endometrioid cancer had lower disease-free survival than others (p < 0.05). Cases were predominantly diagnosed as poor prognosis disease (FIGO III and IV, 56.2%). Regarding responsiveness to platinum-based therapy, 17.1% of patients were resistant, whereas 24.6%, susceptible. From these, we found equally responsiveness to platinum alone or its association with paclitaxel or cyclophosphamide.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>Our data agreed with other studies regarding mean patients' age at diagnosis, histological type frequency, FIGO stages distribution, and chemotherapy regimens. However, the histological type distribution, with equal contribution of mucinous and endometrioid types seems to be a unique characteristic of the studied highly miscegenated population.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We have enlighten the profile of the studied ovarian cancer population, which might enable the development of more efficient political strategies to control this malignancy that is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women.</p

Hypothalamic Inhibition Of Acetyl-coa Carboxylase Stimulates Hepatic Counter-regulatory Response Independent Of Ampk Activation In Rats.

Hypothalamic AMPK acts as a cell energy sensor and can modulate food intake, glucose homeostasis, and fatty acid biosynthesis. Intrahypothalamic fatty acid injection is known to suppress liver glucose production, mainly by activation of hypothalamic ATP-sensitive potassium (K(ATP)) channels. Since all models employed seem to involve malonyl-CoA biosynthesis, we hypothesized that acetyl-CoA carboxylase can modulate the counter-regulatory response independent of nutrient availability. In this study employing immunoblot, real-time PCR, ELISA, and biochemical measurements, we showed that reduction of the hypothalamic expression of acetyl-CoA carboxylase by antisense oligonucleotide after intraventricular injection increased food intake and NPY mRNA, and diminished the expression of CART, CRH, and TRH mRNA. Additionally, as in fasted rats, in antisense oligonucleotide-treated rats, serum glucagon and ketone bodies increased, while the levels of serum insulin and hepatic glycogen diminished. The reduction of hypothalamic acetyl-CoA carboxylase also increased PEPCK expression, AMPK phosphorylation, and glucose production in the liver. Interestingly, these effects were observed without modification of hypothalamic AMPK phosphorylation. Hypothalamic ACC inhibition can activate hepatic counter-regulatory response independent of hypothalamic AMPK activation.8e6266

The Effect of Fish Oil Supplementation on Resistance Training-induced Adaptations

Background: Resistance exercise training (RET) is a common and well-established method to induce hypertrophy and improvement in strength. Interestingly, fish oil supplementation (FOS) may aug-ment RET-induced adaptations. However, few studies have been conducted on young, healthy adults. Methods: A randomized, placebo-controlled design was used to determine the effect of FOS, a concentrated source of eicosapen-taenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), compared to placebo (PL) on RET-induced adaptations following a 10-week RET program (3 days·week−1). Body composition was measured by dual- energy x-ray absorptiometry (LBM, fat mass [FM], percent body fat [%BF]) and strength was measured by 1-repetition maximum bar-bell back squat (1RMSQT) and bench press (1RMBP) at PRE (week 0) and POST (10 weeks). Supplement compliance was assessed via self-report and bottle collection every two weeks and via fatty acid dried blood spot collection at PRE and POST. An a priori α- level of 0.05 was used to determine statistical significance and Cohen’s d was used to quantify effect sizes (ES). Results: Twenty-one of 28 male and female participants (FOS, n = 10 [4 withdrawals]; PL, n = 11 [3 withdrawals]) completed the 10- week progressive RET program and PRE/POST measurements. After 10-weeks, blood EPA+DHA substantially increased in the FOS group (+109.7%, p\u3c .001) and did not change in the PL group (+1.3%, p = .938). Similar between-group changes in LBM (FOS: +3.4%, PL: +2.4%, p = .457), FM (FOS: −5.2%, PL: 0.0%, p = .092), and %BF (FOS: −5.9%, PL: −2.5%, p = .136) were observed, although, the between- group ES was considered large for FM (d = 0.84). Absolute and relative (kg·kg [body mass]−1) 1RMBP was significantly higher in the FOS group compared to PL (FOS: +17.7% vs. PL: +9.7%, p = .047; FOS: +17.6% vs. PL: +7.3%, p = .011; respectively), whereas absolute 1RMSQT was similar between conditions (FOS: +28.8% vs. PL: +20.5%, p = .191). Relative 1RMSQT was higher in the FOS group (FOS: +29.3% vs. PL: +17.9%, p = .045). Conclusions: When combined with RET, FOS improves absolute and relative 1RM upper-body and relative 1RM lower-body strength to a greater extent than that observed in the PL group of young, recreationally trained adults

Antiprotozoal activity of the cyclopalladated complexes against leishmania amazonensis and trypanosoma cruzi

The present study describes the antiprotozoal activities of four cyclopalladated compounds, [Pd(dmba)(μ-Cl)]2, [Pd(dmba)(NCO)(isn)], [Pd(dmba)(N3)(isn)] and [Pd(dmba)(μ-NCO)]2, (dmba: N,N'-dimethylbenzylamine and isn: isonicotinamide), against the diseases leishmaniasis (Leishmania amazonensis and Leishmania infantum), Chagas disease (Trypanosoma cruzi) and human African trypanosomiasis (Trypanosoma brucei). [Pd(dmba)(μ-NCO)]2 exhibited good leishmanicidal and trypanocidal activities against L. amazonensis and T. cruzi intracellular amastigote forms, with a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of less than 9 µM and selectivity indexes of 14.47 and 28.42, respectively. Stability essays were conducted in phosphate buffer saline (PBS) pH 7.0 and showed that [Pd(dmba)(μ-NCO)]2 is the most stable molecule. These findings indicate that this compound presented higher selectivity for these parasites than the other tested compounds. The data presented here suggest that this compound should be considered in the development of new and more potent drugs for the treatment of leishmaniasis and Chagas disease27610321039COORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPESFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESPSem informação201308248-

GWAS in Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer in women, and the second cause of cancer-related deaths among women worldwide. It is expected that more than 240,000 new cases and 40,450 deaths related to the disease will occur in 2016. It is well known that inherited genetic variants are drivers for breast cancer development. There are many mechanisms through which germline genetic variation affects prognosis, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, which account for approximately 20% of the increased hereditary risks. Therefore, it is evident that the genetic pathways that underlie cancer development are complex in which networks of multiple alleles confer disease susceptibility and risks. Global analyses through genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have revealed several loci across the genome are associated with the breast cancer. This chapter compiles all breast GWAS released since 2007, year of the first article published in this area, and discuss the future directions of this field. Currently, hundreds of genetic markers are linked to breast cancer, and understanding the underlying mechanisms of these variants might lead to the discover of biomarkers and targets for therapy in patients

Influence of cognitive mental state on postural balance of older people / Influência do Estado Mental Cognitivo no Equilíbrio Postural de Idosos

Cognitive status have an important role in the independence and functionality of the older people, so it is important to identify their influence in the context of postural balance. The aim of this study was to analyze whether the mental state influences the postural balance performance of the older people. Two hundred and seven physically independent older people of both sexes, mean age 67 ± 4 years were divided into three groups according to results obtained by the mini mental state examination. (group 1, Preserved cognitive functions - PCF, n = 57; group 2, Non suggestive cognitive deficit - NSCD, n = 72; group 3, Suggestive cognitive deficit - SCD, n = 78). The postural balance was evaluated in two conditions (two- and one-legged stand) by means of a force platform. Three trials were performed in each condition and the mean number of trials was used to analyze the oscillation of the center pressure (COP). The results showed significant differences between all groups in the mini mental questionnaire (PCF> NSCD> SCD, P = 0.05) was found between the groups for all COP parameters in the two balance conditions evaluated. The findings of the present study suggest that the differences found in cognitive status do not significantly influence in the postural balance of physically independent elderly. O estado cognitivo tem um papel importante na independência e na funcionalidade do idoso, assim é importante identificar sua influência no contexto do equilíbrio postural. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar se o estado mental influência no desempenho de equilíbrio postural de idosos. Duzentos e sete idosos, fisicamente independentes de ambos os sexos, com idade média 67 anos foram divididos em três grupos de acordo com resultados obtidos pelo questionário do mini exame de estado mental (grupo 1, Funções cognitivas preservadas – FCP, n=57; grupo 2, Déficit cognitivo não sugestivo – DCNS, n=72; grupo 3, Sugestivo de déficit cognitivo – SDC, n=78). O equilíbrio postural foi avaliado em duas condições (bipodal e unipodal) por meio de uma plataforma de força. Três tentativas foram realizadas em cada condição e a média das tentativas foi utilizada para analisar a oscilação dos parâmetros do centro pressão (COP). Os resultados encontrados mostraram diferenças significativas entre todos grupos no questionário de mini mental (FCP > DCNS > SDC, P= 0,05) foi encontrada entre os grupos para todos os parâmetros do COP nas duas condições de equilíbrio avaliadas. Os achados do presente estudo sugerem que, a diferença encontrada no estado cognitivo não influenciou significativamente no equilíbrio postural de idosos fisicamente independentes

Detecção da hanseniase e a humanização do cuidado: ações do enfermeiro do programa de saúde da familia

The Municipality of São Gonçalo in the Metropolitan Region of Rio de Janeiro - Brazil is considered an endemic area for leprosy according to the Ministry of Health. From this observation, we sought to identify with this work which  actions are performed by nurses from Family Health Program (PSF) to detect leprosy and what care they  provide to people affected by the disease, with the focus on humanization. Thus, we performed descriptive, qualitative and field units in the health of the family of that city, with thirty-one nurses through interviews with open questions. Two categories emerged: the detection actions made by the  nurse, the care given to people affected and the humanization of care needed. It was concluded that the actions taken by the nurses do not follow a single standard and that some lack the necessary training to function with  users of PSF affected by leprosy.El municipio de São Gonçalo, en la Región Metropolitana de Río de Janeiro - Brasil es considerado una zona endémica de la lepra de acuerdo con el Ministerio de Salud. De esta observación, hemos tratado de identificar con este trabajo cuáles son las acciones realizadas por las enfermeras en El Programa de Salud Familiar (PSF) para detectar la lepra y qué tipo de atención prestan a las personas afectadas por la enfermedad, centrándose en la humanización. Así, se realizó investigación descriptiva, cualitativa y de campo en las unidades de salud de la familia de esa ciudad, con treinta y un enfermeros a través de entrevistas con preguntas abiertas. Emergiendo dos categorías: las acciones de detección de la enfermera del PSF, la atención prestada a las personas afectadas y la necesaria humanización de esos cuidados. Se concluyó que las medidas adoptadas por las enfermeras no siguen un estándar único y que algunas no tienen la capacitación necesaria para desenvolverse con los usuarios del PSF afectadas por la lepra.O Município de São Gonçalo na Região Metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro - Brasil é considerado zona endêmica para a Hanseníase segundo dados do Ministério da Saúde. A partir dessa constatação, buscou-se com o presente trabalho identificar quais as ações realizadas pelo enfermeiro do Programa de Saúde da Família (PSF) para detectar a hanseníase e qual o cuidado por ele oferecido às pessoas atingidas pela doença, tendo como foco a humanização. Assim, foi realizada pesquisa descritiva, qualitativa e de campo nas unidades de saúde da família do referido município, com trinta e um enfermeiros através de entrevista com perguntas abertas. Emergindo duas categorias: as ações do enfermeiro do PSF na detecção; os cuidados ministrados às pessoas atingidas e a necessária humanização desses cuidados. Concluiu-se, que as ações realizadas pelos enfermeiros não obedecem a um padrão único e que alguns não possuem a necessária capacitação para atuar com os usuários do PSF atingidos pela hanseníase