Effects of Calendula officinalis extract on liver histopathology, lipid profile, and oxidative stress in rats submitted to a diet rich in cholesterol and carbohydrates

ABSTRACT Purpose: To evaluate the modulatory properties of Calendula officinalis L. (Asteraceae) (C. officinalis) extract on cafeteria diet-fed rats. Methods: A cafeteria diet was administered ad libitum for 45 days to induce dyslipidemia. Then, the rats were treated with the formulations containing C. officinalis in the doses of 50, 100, and 150 mg/kg or only with the vehicle formulation; the control group received a commercial ration. Results: The cafeteria diet decreased glutathione S-transferase activity and high-density lipoprotein plasmatic levels and damaged the hepatic architecture. The C. officinalis extract was able to reduce lipid infiltration in liver tissue and to modulate oxidative stress and lipid profile markers. Conclusions: The correlations between the variables suggest a pathological connection between oxidative stress markers and serum lipid profile.

Optimal Cutoff of the TG/HDL-c ratio for Cardiovascular Risk in Hypertensive and Diabetic Patients Monitored by Primary Health Care in a city in Minas Gerais

Abstract Background The analysis of the atherogenic potential of the lipid profile for biomarkers, such as the TG/HDL-c ratio, predicts cardiovascular risk better than isolated lipids. Objective To identify the TG/HDL-c cutoff points for multiple risks (hypertension, Diabetes Mellitus, obesity) and to evaluate the association between sociodemographic, clinical, laboratory, anthropometric, and life habit variables and the TG/HDL-c ratio in hypertensive and/or diabetic individuals in the context of Primary Health Care. Methods This was a cross-sectional study with 833 hypertensive and/or diabetic patients, conducted between August 2017 and April 2018. The cutoff point of the TG/HDL-c were obtained by the ROC curve. Cardiovascular risk was discriminated by TG/HDL-c, categorized by the cutoff and evaluated in relation to multiple risks. The magnitude of the association between TG/HDL-c and independent variables was estimated by logistic regression. The significance level of p<0.05 was adopted for all tests. Results The cutoff values of TG/HDL-c (3.26 for men and 2.72 for women) were more sensitive and less specific than those in the literature. Women (OR=1.90 and 95% CI 1.13-3.20) and men (OR=4.58 and 95% CI 1.78-11.76) with multiple risks, and white men, alcohol users, with a history of stroke, had a higher chance of altered GT/HDL-c. Increases in glycosylated hemoglobin, glycemia, and phosphorus in women, and cholesterol, glycemia, and microalbuminuria in men increased the chances of altered TG/HDL-c. Being a former smoker and black reduced the chance of altered TG/HDL-c in women. Conclusions TG/HDL-c proved to be a good indicator for habitual use in Primary Care.

Conhecimento geral, atitude psicológica e sua associação com a concentração de HbA1C em pacientes portadores de Diabetes Mellitus tipo 2 / General knowledge, psychological attitude and its association with the concentration of HbA1C in patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Objetivo: Diabetes mellitus (DM) é uma doença relacionada a várias complicações e alta morbimortalidade, com comprometimento significativo da qualidade de vida do paciente, afetando sua saúde física e mental, bem como sua motivação ao autocuidado. Este estudo objetivou avaliar o conhecimento geral e a atitude psicológica para o DM, correlacionando a concentração de hemoglobina glicada (HbA1C) com escores do DKN-A e ATT-19 de pacientes portadores de DM tipo 2 (DM2). Métodos: Estudo observacional transversal com amostra de 65 participantes, 24,6% homens e 75,4% mulheres, com idade média de 57±12, avaliados entre novembro/2016 e fevereiro/2017. A avaliação do conhecimento geral e da atitude psicológica para o DM foi realizada pela aplicação do Diabetes Knowledge Questionnaire (DKN-A) e do Diabetes Attitude Questionnaire (ATT-19). O SPSS 20.0 foi utilizado para as análises estatísticas. Resultados: Para os escores de conhecimento (r=0,005; p=0,966) e de atitude (r=0,034; p=0,790) não houve correlação significante com a HbA1C, sendo que (94%) dos pacientes não atingiram o ponto de corte do ATT-19. Considerando o grupo com pontuação >8 para o escore de conhecimento, foi observada diferença negativa e significativa entre este escore e o de atitude (r=-0,444; p=0,0018). Conclusão: O conhecimento em relação à doença não traduziu em melhor controle da glicemia na população estudada, sugerindo que o controle eficiente da HbA1C não depende exclusivamente do conhecimento sobre a doença, mas sim de diversos outros fatores, que também precisam ser considerados na conduta do DM2.

Objective: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a disease related to several complications and high morbidity and mortality, with significant impairment of the patient's quality of life, affecting his physical and mental health, as well as his motivation to self-care. The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge and attitude about type 2 DM (DM2) in its patients, correlating Diabetes Knowledge Questionnaire (DKN-A) and Diabetes Attitudes Questionnaire (ATT-19) scores with the concentration of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c). Methods: Cross-sectional observational study with a sample of 65 participants, 24.6% male and 75.4% female, with a mean age of 57 ± 12, with low schooling, between November / 2016 and February / 2017. The evaluation of the knowledge and attitude about DM was carried out by the application of the DKN-A and ATT-19. SPSS 20.0 was used for statistical analysis. Results: There were no statistically significant correlations with HbA1c (r = 0.005, p = 0.966) and attitude (r = 0.034, p = 0.790), and 61 patients (94%) did not reach the cutoff point of ATT-19. Considering the group with scores higher than 8 points for the knowledge score, a negative and significant correlation was observed between this score and the attitude score (r = -0.444; p = 0.0018). Conclusion: Knowledge and attitude towards the disease did not translate into better glycemic control in the study population. The efficient control of HbA1c is multifactorial, involving genetic, comorbid, behavioral, drugs, health services, among others, that should be considered in the conduct.

Análise da patogênese da doença de Alzheimer: revisão narrativa da literatura / Analysis of Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis: narrative literature review

Introdução: A patogênese de doenças neurodegenerativas, como a doença de Alzheimer (DA), têm sido cada vez mais objeto de estudo em inúmeras pesquisas científicas. Objetivo: A presente revisão narrativa teve por objetivo descrever a contribuição de fatores como o estresse oxidativo e o processo de netose para a patogênese de doenças neurodegenerativas, como a DA. Material e Métodos: Realizou-se revisão de literatura de forma não sistemática nos bancos de dados das plataformas PubMed e Scielo com os seguintes descritores: Alzheimer + oxidative stress, Alzheimer + netosis e Alzheimer + inflammation, em periódicos nacionais e internacionais de 2000 a 2018. Ao final da seleção foram utilizados 26 artigos nesta revisão. Resultados: Diversos estudos demostraram importantes componentes ligados à neuroinflamação como peças-chave para o entendimento do acometimento neurológico causado pela DA, tais como, o estresse oxidativo, respostas inflamatórias por parte de neutrófilos e da micróglia, alterações vasculares e da barreira hematoencefálica. Conclusão: Em função de tais descobertas, faz-se necessário a continuidade e o avanço no entendimento da fisiopatologia da DA bem como da busca por eficazes abordagens terapêuticas para esta doença.

Introduction: The pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), has been increasingly studied in numerous scientific studies. Objective: The purpose of this review was to describe the contribution of factors such as oxidative stress and the netosis process for the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases such as AD. Material and Methods: A non-systematic bibliographic review was carried out in the databases PubMed and Scielo with the following descriptors: Alzheimer + oxidative stress, Alzheimer + netosis and Alzheimer + inflammation, in national and international scientific journals from 2000 to 2018. At the end of the selection 26 articles were used in this review. Results: Several studies have demonstrated important components linked to neuroinflammation as key components for the understanding of neurological involvement caused by AD, such as oxidative stress, neutrophil and microglial inflammatory responses, vascular and blood-brain barrier changes. Conclusion: Due to these findings, it is necessary to continue and advance the understanding of the pathophysiology of AD as well as the search for effective therapeutic approaches for this disease.

Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and its relationship with factors associated with recurrent wheezing / Prevalência de deficiência de vitamina D e sua relação com fatores associados à sibilância recorrente

ABSTRACT Objective: To determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency in children 0-18 years of age with recurrent wheezing and/or asthma residing in the microregion of Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil, and treated at a referral center, and to determine its association with major risk factors for wheezing. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed using a semi-structured questionnaire, which was administered by trained interviewers to the legal guardians of the study participants. Data were obtained regarding general characteristics of recurrent wheezing; general sociodemographic, environmental, and biologic factors; and atopy-related factors. The magnitude of the statistical association was assessed by calculating ORs and their corresponding 95% CIs by using multiple logistic regression. Results: We included 124 children in the study. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency in the sample was 57.3%. Vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency was found to be associated with wheezing in the first year of life, personal history of atopic dermatitis, environmental pollution, and vitamin D supplementation until 2 years of age. Conclusions: The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency was high in our sample. Vitamin D concentrations were directly associated with vitamin D supplementation until 2 years of age and were inversely associated with wheezing events in the first year of life, personal history of atopic dermatitis, and environmental pollution.

RESUMO Objetivo: Determinar a prevalência da deficiência/insuficiência de vitamina D em indivíduos com sibilância recorrente e/ou asma com idade de 0-18 anos e residentes na microrregião de Viçosa (MG) atendidos em um centro de referência e determinar sua associação com os principais fatores de risco para sibilância. Métodos: Estudo transversal utilizando um questionário semiestruturado por entrevistadores treinados, aplicado aos responsáveis pelos participantes do estudo. Foram obtidas informações sobre características gerais da sibilância recorrente, fatores sociodemográficos, ambientais e biológicos gerais e aqueles relacionados à atopia. A magnitude da associação estatística foi avaliada por meio do cálculo da OR e IC95% obtidos por regressão logística múltipla. Resultados: Foram incluídos 124 indivíduos no estudo. A prevalência da deficiência/insuficiência de vitamina D na amostra foi de 57,3%. Observaram-se associações da deficiência/insuficiência de vitamina D com sibilância no primeiro ano de vida, antecedentes pessoais de dermatite atópica, poluição ambiental e suplementação de vitamina D até os 2 anos de idade. Conclusões: A prevalência de deficiência/insuficiência de vitamina D foi alta em nossa amostra. As concentrações de vitamina D foram associadas diretamente com a suplementação de vitamina D até os 2 anos de idade e inversamente com eventos de sibilância no primeiro ano de vida, antecedentes pessoais de dermatite atópica e poluição ambiental.

Prevalência de conjuntivite adenoviral em clínica oftalmológica no município de Viçosa (MG) / Prevalence of adenoviral conjunctivitis at the ophthalmologic clinic on municipality of Viçosa/MG

Objetivo: Avaliar a prevalência de Adenovírus como agente etiológico da conjuntivite, em clínica médica oftalmológica especializada, em Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brasil. Métodos: Amostras da secreção conjuntival de 91 pacientes clinicamente diagnosticados com conjuntivite foram submetidos à reação em cadeia da polimerase (PCR), utilizando primers degenerados para a região codificadora do gene da proteína estrutural II. Posteriormente as amostras positivas foram submetidas a sequenciamento e genotipagem. Resultados: A análise dos resultados de PCR revelou prevalência de 36,3% de Adenovírus. Não havendo distinção entre os sexos e com maior prevalência na faixa etária de 26 a 65 anos com 60,60% dos casos positivos. O sequenciamento dos casos positivos por Adenovírus revelaram a presença dos sorotipos 3, 4, 7, 8 e 34 circulante na região. Conclusão: No município de Viçosa, dois em cada cinco casos de conjuntivite são de etiologia adenoviral.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of Adenovirus as a etiologic agent of conjunctivitis on a ophthalmic clinic in Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Methods: Samples of conjunctival secretion from 91 patients clinically diagnosed with conjunctivitis were subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using degenerate primers targeted to the gene encoding the structural protein II. Positive samples were subsequently subjected to sequencing and genotyping. Results: PCR results showed 36.3% prevalence of Adenovirus. No differences between the sexes and was found to be higher in the age group 26-65 years with 60.60% of the positive cases. Sequencing of positive cases showed the presence of Adenovirus serotypes 3, 4, 7, 8, and 34 circulating in the region. Conclusion: In Viçosa two in five cases of conjunctivitis has Adenovirus as etiologic agent.