Exercise Training Can Prevent Cardiac Hypertrophy Induced by Sympathetic Hyperactivity with Modulation of Kallikrein-Kinin Pathway and Angiogenesis

Sympathetic hyperactivity induces adverse effects in myocardial. Recent studies have shown that exercise training induces cardioprotection against sympathetic overload; however, relevant mechanisms of this issue remain unclear. We analyzed whether exercise can prevent pathological hypertrophy induced by sympathetic hyperactivity with modulation of the kallikrein-kinin and angiogenesis pathways. Male Wistar rats were assigned to non-trained group that received vehicle; non-trained isoproterenol treated group (Iso, 0.3 mg kg(-1) day(-1)); and trained group (Iso+Exe) which was subjected to sympathetic hyperactivity with isoproterenol. the Iso rats showed hypertrophy and myocardial dysfunction with reduced force development and relaxation of muscle. the isoproterenol induced severe fibrosis, apoptosis and reduced myocardial capillary. Interestingly, exercise blunted hypertrophy, myocardial dysfunction, fibrosis, apoptosis and capillary decreases. the sympathetic hyperactivity was associated with high abundance of ANF mRNA and beta-MHC mRNA, which was significantly attenuated by exercise. the tissue kallikrein was augmented in the Iso+Exe group, and kinin B-1 receptor mRNA was increased in the Iso group. Moreover, exercise induced an increase of kinin B-2 receptor mRNA in myocardial. the myocardial content of eNOS, VEGF, VEGF receptor 2, pAkt and Bcl-2 were increased in the Iso+Exe group. Likewise, increased expression of pro-apoptotic Bad in the Iso rats was prevented by prior exercise. Our results represent the first demonstration that exercise can modulate kallikrein-kinin and angiogenesis pathways in the myocardial on sympathetic hyperactivity. These findings suggest that kallikrein-kinin and angiogenesis may have a key role in protecting the heart.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)National Council for Scientific and TechnologicalUniv Nove Julho Uninove, Programa Posgrad Ciencias Reabilitacao, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo Unifesp, São Paulo, BrazilUniv São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilUniv Nove Julho Uninove, Programa Posgrad Med, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo Unifesp, São Paulo, BrazilFAPESP: 2009/54225-8National Council for Scientific and Technological: 477458/2009-2National Council for Scientific and Technological: 479395/2012-8Web of Scienc

Transfer print integration of waveguide-coupled germanium photodiodes onto passive silicon photonicICs

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Teachers' digital competences in higher education in Portugal and Spain

The potential of DTIC has brought new and emerging challenges to teachers, making it essential to acquire digital competences, especially in virtual learning environments and online technologies. In this sense, based on the DigCompEdu CheckIn self-assessment questionnaire, validated for the Portuguese population by earlier studies, this research aims to identify the most fragile and robust areas of digital competences of Portuguese and Spanish university teachers. The quantitative methodological approach emphasizes teachers' perception of their digital competences in three dimensions: teachers' professional competences, teachers' pedagogical competences and students' competences and involved 347 teachers from Portugal and Spain. The results show that teachers of the two institutions have an overall moderate level of digital proficiency-level B1 and B2-and that the differences encountered between Portuguese and Spanish teachers (for example, Portuguese teachers have level A2 in area 4-assessment-, while Spanish teachers are already at level B2) highlight the need to invest in specific training that may address specific frailties, and therefore allow for the promotion of their digital competences. Results relating to teaching experience and age show that there is no direct relation between either factor or being digitally competent. Regarding gender, results reveal that men had slightly better results than women. Overall, what the results show is the need for teachers to increase the level of digital competence through specific training, prepared according to the specificities of each institution, and the importance of developing public policies that prepare teachers for a more digital education

Unveiling the Dynamics of the Universe

We explore the dynamics and evolution of the Universe at early and late times, focusing on both dark energy and extended gravity models and their astrophysical and cosmological consequences. Modified theories of gravity not only provide an alternative explanation for the recent expansion history of the universe, but they also offer a paradigm fundamentally distinct from the simplest dark energy models of cosmic acceleration. In this review, we perform a detailed theoretical and phenomenological analysis of different modified gravity models and investigate their consistency. We also consider the cosmological implications of well motivated physical models of the early universe with a particular emphasis on inflation and topological defects. Astrophysical and cosmological tests over a wide range of scales, from the solar system to the observable horizon, severely restrict the allowed models of the Universe. Here, we review several observational probes -- including gravitational lensing, galaxy clusters, cosmic microwave background temperature and polarization, supernova and baryon acoustic oscillations measurements -- and their relevance in constraining our cosmological description of the Universe.Comment: 94 pages, 14 figures. Review paper accepted for publication in a Special Issue of Symmetry. "Symmetry: Feature Papers 2016". V2: Matches published version, now 79 pages (new format

Amelioration of Cardiac Function and Activation of Anti-Inflammatory Vasoactive Peptides Expression in the Rat Myocardium by Low Level Laser Therapy

Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has been used as an anti-inflammatory treatment in several disease conditions, even when inflammation is a secondary consequence, such as in myocardial infarction (MI). However, the mechanism by which LLLT is able to protect the remaining myocardium remains unclear. the present study tested the hypothesis that LLLT reduces inflammation after acute MI in female rats and ameliorates cardiac function. the potential participation of the Renin-Angiotensin System (RAS) and Kallikrein-Kinin System (KKS) vasoactive peptides was also evaluated. LLLT treatment effectively reduced MI size, attenuated the systolic dysfunction after MI, and decreased the myocardial mRNA expression of interleukin-1 beta and interleukin-6 in comparison to the non-irradiated rat tissue. in addition, LLLT treatment increased protein and mRNA levels of the Mas receptor, the mRNA expression of kinin B2 receptors and the circulating levels of plasma kallikrein compared to non-treated post-MI rats. On the other hand, the kinin B1 receptor mRNA expression decreased after LLLT. No significant changes were found in the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the myocardial remote area between laser-irradiated and non-irradiated post-MI rats. Capillaries density also remained similar between these two experimental groups. the mRNA expression of the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was increased three days after MI, however, this effect was blunted by LLLT. Moreover, endothelial NOS mRNA content increased after LLLT. Plasma nitric oxide metabolites (NOx) concentration was increased three days after MI in non-treated rats and increased even further by LLLT treatment. Our data suggest that LLLT diminishes the acute inflammation in the myocardium, reduces infarct size and attenuates left ventricle dysfunction post-MI and increases vasoactive peptides expression and nitric oxide (NO) generation.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Univ Nove Julho, UNINOVE, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, UNIFESP, São Paulo, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Heart Inst InCor, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, UNIFESP, São Paulo, BrazilCNPq: 477458/2009-2CNPq: 309715/2011-3CNPq: 479395/2012-8: 2009/54225-8Web of Scienc

Integration of III-V light sources on a silicon photonics circuits by transfer printing

We report on the integration by transfer printing of III-V Fabry-Perot cavities on a silicon photonic circuit. We pre-process the III-V coupons on their native substrate, transfer print onto the target SOI, and post-process the printed coupons. We report light coupling into the photonic circuit

Hanseniase neural primaria: revisao sistematica

The authors proposed a systematic review on the current concepts of primary neural leprosy by consulting the following online databases: MEDLINE, Lilacs/SciELO, and Embase. Selected studies were classified based on the degree of recommendation and levels of scientific evidence according to the “Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine”. The following aspects were reviewed: cutaneous clinical and laboratorial investigations, i.e. skin clinical exam, smears, and biopsy, and Mitsuda's reaction; neurological investigation (anamnesis, electromyography and nerve biopsy); serological investigation and molecular testing, i.e. serological testing for the detection of the phenolic glycolipid 1 (PGL-I) and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR); and treatment (classification criteria for the definition of specific treatment, steroid treatment, and cure criteria).Os autores propuseram-se a realizar uma revisão sistemática em conceitos atuais sobre a hanseníase neural primária, consultando as seguintes bases bibliográficas on-line: MEDLINE, Lilacs/SciELO e Embase. Os estudos selecionados foram classificados conforme o grau de recomendação e o nível de evidência científica de acordo com o “Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine”. Os seguintes temas foram revisados: investigações clínica e laboratorial cutâneas, ou seja, exame, esfregaço e biópsia de pele e reação de Mitsuda; investigação neurológica (anamnese, eletroneuromiografia e biópsia de nervo); investigação sorológica e testes moleculares, ou seja, testes sorológicos para detecção de um glicolipídio fenólico e reação de cadeia de polimerase (PCR) e tratamento (critérios de classificação para definição de tratamento específico, tratamento com esteroides e critérios de cura).Secretaria de Estado de Saude Instituto Lauro de Souza LimaUniversidade de São Paulo (USP) School of Medicine of Ribeirao Preto Department of NeurosciencesUSP Department of Neurology and NeurosurgeryFundacao Oswaldo CruzUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Department of DermatologySecretaria de Estado de Saude Instituto de SaudeConselho Federal de Medicina Associacao Medica Brasileira Projeto DiretrizesUNIFESP, Department of DermatologySciEL