Determination of βS haplotypes in patients with sickle-cell anemia in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

βS haplotypes were studied in 47 non-related patients with sickle-cell anemia from the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. Molecular analysis was conducted by PCR/RFLP using restriction endonucleases XmnI, HindIII, HincII and HinfI to analyze six polymorphic sites from the beta cluster. Twenty-seven patients (57.5%) were identified with genotype CAR/CAR, 9 (19.1%) CAR/BEN, 6 (12.8%) CAR/CAM, 1 (2.1%) BEN/BEN, 2 (4.3%) CAR/Atp, 1 (2.1%) BEN/Atp and 1 (2.1%) with genotype Atp/Atp. The greater frequency of Cameroon haplotypes compared to other Brazilian states suggests the existence of a peculiarity of African origin in the state of Rio Grande do Norte

β-globin haplotypes in normal and hemoglobinopathic individuals from Reconcavo Baiano, State of Bahia, Brazil

Five restriction site polymorphisms in the β-globin gene cluster (HincII-5‘ ε, HindIII-G γ, HindIII-A γ, HincII- ψβ1 and HincII-3‘ ψβ1) were analyzed in three populations (n = 114) from Reconcavo Baiano, State of Bahia, Brazil. The groups included two urban populations from the towns of Cachoeira and Maragojipe and one rural Afro-descendant population, known as the “quilombo community”, from Cachoeira municipality. The number of haplotypes found in the populations ranged from 10 to 13, which indicated higher diversity than in the parental populations. The haplotypes 2 (+ - - - -), 3 (- - - - +), 4 (- + - - +) and 6 (- + + - +) on the βA chromosomes were the most common, and two haplotypes, 9 (- + + + +) and 14 (+ + - - +), were found exclusively in the Maragojipe population. The other haplotypes (1, 5, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 16) had lower frequencies. Restriction site analysis and the derived haplotypes indicated homogeneity among the populations. Thirty-two individuals with hemoglobinopathies (17 sickle cell disease, 12 HbSC disease and 3 HbCC disease) were also analyzed. The haplotype frequencies of these patients differed significantly from those of the general population. In the sickle cell disease subgroup, the predominant haplotypes were BEN (Benin) and CAR (Central African Republic), with frequencies of 52.9% and 32.4%, respectively. The high frequency of the BEN haplotype agreed with the historical origin of the afro-descendant population in the state of Bahia. However, this frequency differed from that of Salvador, the state capital, where the CAR and BEN haplotypes have similar frequencies, probably as a consequence of domestic slave trade and subsequent internal migrations to other regions of Brazil

Conjugated linoleic acid supplementation modified the body composition and serum leptin levels in weaning rats

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Dietary supplementation with conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) may reduce body fat mass and increase lean body mass in various species. The objective of this study was to study the effects of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) supplementation on body composition, serum leptin and triacylglycerol levels in Wistar rats. Rats received linoleic acid (group Q or conjugated linoleic acid (group AE, supplemented with AdvantEdge (R) CLA, and group CO, supplemented with CLA One (R)) in the concentrations of 2% of daily feed consumption. Serum leptin and triacylglycerol levels of rats were measured by means of commercial kits. After 42 days of supplementation, rats in the control group exhibited body fat contents of 53.94 +/- 6.80 g, and those in groups AE and CO had 45.43 +/- 4.86 g and 43.75 +/- 1.93 g, respectively, corresponding to a mean body fat reduction of 18%. Water. whole body protein and ash contents of rats supplemented with CLA were statistically higher relative to control group content (corresponding to a mean increasing of 7.65%; 6.5% and 12.35%, respectively). Experimental groups AE and CO, which received CLA supplementation, had statistically lower serum leptin levels (3.45 +/- 0.46 ng/mL and 3.08 +/- 0.19 ng/mL, respectively) relative to the control group (4.21 +/- 0.22 ng/mL) which received linoleic acid. Triacylglycerol levels did not change after CLA supplementation (p > 0.05). Supplementation with conjugated linoleic acid in the concentration of 2% of mean daily feed consumption was able to change body composition of rats after 42 days of experimentation.582156163Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)FAPESP [03/07648-4]CNPq [133874/2003-6

Supplementation with commercial mixtures of conjugated linoleic acid in association with vitamin E and the process of lipid autoxidation in rats

CLA has been studied for its beneficial effects on health. However, the possibility of adverse effects, such as increased oxidative stress, must also be considered. The present work aims to assess the effect of CLA supplementation on the process of lipid autoxidation, both in the presence and in absence of an antioxidant. The investigation consisted in a biological assay with 60 rats divided into six groups: C (control), CE (control + vitamin E), AE (AdvantEdge (R) CLA), AEE (AdvantEdge (R) CLA + Vitamin E), CO (CLA One (R)) and COE (CLA One (R)+ vitamin E). The CLA amount was 2% of feed consumption. Animals were supplemented for 42 days. As indicators of lipid autoxidation, peroxide (IP), malondialdehyde (MDA), 8-iso-PGF2(alpha) isoprostane and catalase were determined. Hepatic IP results indicated that CLA increased oxidation: values for CLA-supplemented groups, particularly group CO (84.38 +/- 10.97 mequiv/kg), were higher than those of the control group (54.75 +/- 9.70 mequiv/kg). In contrast, serum MDA results showed that CLA reduces oxidation both for group AE (1.8 +/- 0.67 mg of MDA/l) and for group CO (2.43 +/- 0.61 mg of MDA/l) as compared to the control group (3.85 +/- 0.24 mg of MDA/l). Serum catalase indicated a reduction of oxidation: groups AE and CO displayed 4734.23 +/- 1078.93 kU/l and 5916.06 +/- 2490.71 kU/l, respectively. These values are significantly lower than those of the control group. An increase in 8-iso-PGF2(alpha) in urine was observed, particularly in group AE (95.13 +/- 20.26 pg/ml) as compared to the control group (69.46 +/- 16.65 pg/ml). It was concluded that the influence of CLA on lipid autoxidation is dependent on supplement type, supplement dosage and chosen indicator, including its tissue and determination methodology.42984585