Epicatechin induces NF-kappa B, activator rotein-1 (AP-1) and nuclear transcription factor erythroid 2p45-related factor-2 (Nrf2) via phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) and extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) signalling in HepG2 cells

The dietary flavonoid epicatechin has been reported to exhibit a wide range of biological activities. The objective of the present study was to investigate the time-dependent regulation by epicatechin on the activity of the main transcription factors (NF-kappa B, activator protein-1 (AP-1) and nuclear transcription factor erythroid 2p45-related factor (Nrf2)) related to antioxidant defence and survival and proliferation pathways in HepG2 cells. Treatment of cells with 10 mu M-epicatechin induced the NF-kappa B pathway in a time-dependent manner characterised by increased levels Of I kappa B kinase (IKK) and phosphorylated inhibitor Of kappa B subunit-a (p-I kappa B alpha) and proteolytic degradation Of I kappa B, which was consistent with an up-regulation of the NF-kappa B-binding activity. Time-dependent activation of the AP-1 pathway, in concert with enhanced c-Jun nuclear levels and induction of Nrf2 translocation and phosphorylation were also demonstrated. Additionally, epicatechin-induced NF-kappa B and Nrf2 were connected to reactive oxygen species intracellular levels and to the activation of cell survival and proliferation pathways, being phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) and extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) associated to Nrf2 modulation and ERK to NF-kappa B induction. These data suggest that the epicatechin-induced survival effect occurs by the induction of redox-sensitive transcription factors through a tight regulation of survival and proliferation pathways

A diet rich in cocoa attenuates N-nitrosodiethylamine-induced liver injury in rats

The effects of cocoa feeding against N-nitrosodiethylamine (DEN)-induced liver injury were studied in rats. Animals were divided into five groups. Groups 1 and 2 were fed with standard and cocoa-diet, respectively. Groups 3 and 4 were injected with DEN at 2 and 4 weeks, and fed with standard and cocoa-diet, respectively. Group 5 was treated with DEN, received the standard diet for 4 weeks and then it was replaced by the cocoa-diet. DEN-induced hepatic damage caused a significant increase in damage markers, as well as a decrease in the hepatic glutathione, diminished levels of p-ERK and enhanced protein carbonyl content, caspase-3 activity and values of p-AKT and p-JNK. The cocoa-rich diet prevented the reduction of hepatic glutathione concentration and catalase and GPx activities in DEN-injected rats, as well as diminished protein carbonyl content, caspase-3 activity, p-AKT and p-JNK levels, and increased GST activity. However, cocoa administration did not abrogate the DEN-induced body weight loss and the increased levels of hepatic-specific enzymes and LDH. These results suggested that cocoa-rich diet attenuates the DEN-induced liver injury. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.This work was supported by the grants 200870I198, AGL2004-302, AGL2007-64042 and CSD2007-00063 from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation. A.B. Granado-Serrano is a predoctoral fellow of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Education.Peer Reviewe

Cumplimiento de las recomendaciones de práctica de actividad física y percepción de barreras en estudiantes de bachillerato

El objetivo de este estudio fue conocer los niveles de actividad física (AF) así como la percepción de barreras para la realización de AF en estudiantes de Bachillerato, analizando dichas variables en función del género, curso académico, práctica deportiva extraescolar y tipo de jornada. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo transversal en el que participaron 248 adolescentes, 120 chicos y 128 chicas ( M = 15.32; DT = 1.81), 144 de 1º de Bachillerato y 104 de 2º de Bachillerato. Se utilizó el Cuestionario Internacional de AF en su versión corta (IPAQ-SF) y la Escala de Barreras para la práctica de AF . Los resultados señalaron que menos del 30% de los estudiantes de Bachillerato alcanza las recomendaciones de práctica de AF, siendo el grado de cumplimiento más elevado en los chicos (38.3%), en el alumnado de 1º de Bachillerato (30.6%), en el alumnado que realiza práctica deportiva extraescolar (36.7%) y entre semana (31%). Por otro lado, las barreras referentes al tiempo fueron superiores en el alumnado de 2º de Bachillerato, mientras que las barreras relativas al disfrute fueron superiores en las chicas y en el alumnado que no realizaba práctica deportiva extraescolar. Los resultados destacan la importancia de promover la práctica regular de AF en Bachillerato, especialmente en las chicas y en los adolescentes de 2º curso, a través de programas de intervención que ayuden a mejorar la gestión del tiempo de ocio y estimulen el desarrollo de los procesos motivacionales. The aim of this study was to analyze physical activity (PA) levels and perceived barriers to PA in High School students. Similarly, differences in gender, academic year, out-of-school sport and type of day were analyzed among these variables. In this cross-sectional study, 248 adolescents, 120 boys and 128 girls (M = 15.32; SD = 1.81), were involved. The sample was made up of 144 12th grade students (58.1%) and 104 13th grade students. The International PA Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF) and the Scale of Barriers to PA were used. The results showed that less than 30% of High School students comply with the PA guidelines, being higher in boys (38.3%), in the 12th High School students (30.6%), in the students who practiced extracurricular sports (36.7%) and weekdays (31%). On the other hand, barriers relating to time adolescents were higher in students of 13th High School, while barriers relate to enjoyment were higher in girls and students who did not practice extracurricular sports. The results highlight the importance of promoting PA in High School students, especially in girls and 12th High School, through intervention programs that help improve the management of their leisure time and development of motivational processes

Empowerment e adesão ao regime terapêutico em pessoas portadoras de diabetes

Enquadramento: A Diabetes Mellitus importante flagelo de saúde pública, contribui para um elevado índice de morbi-mortalidade, devido às complicações associadas que acarretam limitações e incapacidades para o desempenho das actividades de vida diária da pessoa com diabetes. Em consequência, a adesão ao regime terapêutico é um dos focos de atenção dos cuidados de saúde. Como ferramenta promotora duma melhor gestão na diabetes, os enfermeiros promovem o empowerment, processo através do qual a pessoa adquire conhecimentos e desenvolve competências e consequentemente um maior poder e controlo sobre a sua saúde. Objetivos: Identificar factores sociodemográficos e clínicos relacionados com os autocuidados em pessoas com diabetes; Determinar o efeito preditivo do empowerment na adesão ao regime terapêutico em pessoas com diabetes. Metodologia: Estudo descritivo realizado numa amostra não probabilística por conveniência de 150 pessoas com diabetes de ambos os sexos, com uma média de idades de 66,85±9,72 anos, casados/ em união de fato (72,7%), reformados (74,7%) e com baixa escolaridade (78,0%). A colheita de dados, foi suportada num Questionário Sociodemográfico e Clínico, na Escala de Empowerment da Diabetes (Anderson; Funnel; Fitzgerald & Marrero, 2000) e na Escala Atividades de autocuidado com a diabetes, traduzida e validada para português por Bastos & Lopes (2004). Resultados: As mulheres (4,44±0,77), os solteiros/viúvos/divorciados (4,22±0,84), os detentores de situação financeira confortável (5,02±0,62), os que ocupam os tempos livres com desporto/lazer/cultura (4,37±0,79) apresentam melhor adesão ao regime terapêutico. São ainda os indivíduos com diabetes tipo 1 (4,29±0,92), que tomam insulina (4,64±0,88), que realizam a vigilância/monitorização da glicemia e registo no Guia do Diabético (4,35±0,69), e com IMC mais elevado (r=0,548; p=0.000), que pontuaram com melhor adesão. Verificou-se também que quanto maior o empowerment, melhor a adesão ao regime terapêutico (r=0,377; p=0.000). Conclusão: Os resultados sugerem que os determinantes sociodemográficos e clínicos se relacionam de forma significativa com a adesão ao regime terapêutico e que o empowerment, a prediz de forma relevante, pelo que se impõe considerá-los no planeamento das intervenções de enfermagem/ saúde que lhe são dirigidas. Palavras-chave: Adesão ao regime terapêutico, Empowerment, Pessoas com Diabetes.ABSTRACT Background: Diabetes Mellitus is an important public health scourge, that contributes to a high rate of morbidity and mortality due to associated complications that cause limitations and disabilities to perform the activities of daily living in people with diabetes. Consequently, adherence to therapy is a focus of attention of health care. As a tool for better management in diabetes, nurses promote empowerment, process through which a person acquires knowledge and develops skills and consequently greater power and control over their health. Objectives: To identify sociodemographic and clinical factors related to self-care in people with diabetes; determine the predictive effect of empowerment on adherence to therapeutic regimen in persons with diabetes. Methods: This descriptive study in a non-probabilistic convenience sample of 150 people with diabetes in both sexes, with a mean age of 66.85 ± 9.72 years, married / in union indeed (72.7%), retired (74.7%) and with lower education (78.0%). Data collection was supported by a Clinical and Sociodemographic questionnaire, the Diabetes Empowerment Scale (Anderson; Funnel; Fitzgerald & Marrero, 2000) and Self-Care Activities Scale with diabetes, translated and validated into Portuguese by Bastos & Lopes (2004). Results: The women (4.44 ± 0.77), single / widowed / divorced (4.22 ± 0.84), holders of comfortable financial situation (5.02 ± 0.62) who occupy the time free with sports / leisure/ culture (4.37 ± 0.79), have better adherence to treatment regimen. Are still individuals with type 1 diabetes (4.29 ± 0.92), taking insulin (4.64 ± 0.88), which perform surveillance / monitoring of blood glucose and registration in Diabetic Guide (4.35 ± 0.69), and BMI (r = .548, p = .000), who scored with better adherence. It was also found that the greater the empowerment, better adherence to the therapeutic regimen (r = .377, p = .000). Conclusion: The results suggest that the clinical and sociodemographic determinants relate significantly with adherence to treatment regimen and empowerment, predicts significantly, so it is necessary to consider them in the planning of nursing interventions / health. Keywords: Adherence to treatment regimen, Empowerment, People with Diabetes

Magnetic structure and critical behavior of GdRhIn5_{5}: resonant x-ray diffraction and renormalization group analysis

The magnetic structure and fluctuations of tetragonal GdRhIn5 were studied by resonant x-ray diffraction at the Gd LII and LIII edges, followed by a renormalization group analysis for this and other related Gd-based compounds, namely Gd2IrIn8 and GdIn3. These compounds are spin-only analogs of the isostructural Ce-based heavy-fermion superconductors. The ground state of GdRhIn5 shows a commensurate antiferromagnetic spin structure with propagation vector tau = (0,1/2, 1/2), corresponding to a parallel spin alignment along the a-direction and antiparallel alignment along b and c. A comparison between this magnetic structure and those of other members of the Rm(Co,Rh,Ir)n In3m+2n family (R =rare earth, n = 0, 1; m = 1, 2) indicates that, in general, tau is determined by a competition between first-(J1) and second-neighbor(J2) antiferromagnetic (AFM) interactions. While a large J1 /J2 ratio favors an antiparallel alignment along the three directions (the so-called G-AFM structure), a smaller ratio favors the magnetic structure of GdRhIn5 (C-AFM). In particular, it is inferred that the heavy-fermion superconductor CeRhIn5 is in a frontier between these two ground states, which may explain its non-collinear spiral magnetic structure. The critical behavior of GdRhIn5 close to the paramagnetic transition at TN = 39 K was also studied in detail. A typical second-order transition with the ordered magnetization critical parameter beta = 0.35 was experimentally found, and theoretically investigated by means of a renormalization group analysis.Comment: 22 pages, 4 figure