A review on cardiovascular risk in rheumatoid arthritis

A systemic inflammatory disease known as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is distinguished by excessive cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and death. Traditional CV risk factors may partially contribute to CV disease in RA. Shared inflammatory mediators, post-translational modifications of peptides/proteins and subsequent immune responses, changes in the composition and function of lipoproteins, increased oxidative stress, and endothelial dysfunction are some of the mechanisms that link RA and CVD. The detailed pathogenetic pathway by which this association between RA and CVD might be explained is still not entirely known. It is crucial for controlling cardiovascular risk in people with RA. Optimizing care of traditional risk factors in addition to those inherent to RA is necessary to lessen the burden caused by CVD. The potential effect of planned Cardiac risk management in these individuals is highlighted by findings for under diagnosis and inadequate treatment of conventional CVD risk factors in RA. Present cardiovascular standards suggest RA patients to be examined for and treated for CVD risk factors without appropriate treatment goals. Utilizing potent anti-rheumatic medications that can reduce disease activity and treating the conventional CV risk factors should both be part of the therapy of CV risk in RA. There is currently insufficient scientific data to develop therapy targets for RA-related CVD risk factors. Thus, more study is required on the traditional CVD risk factor screening and management in RA patients.

Review on stroke induced depression

One of the frequent and dangerous aftereffects of stroke is post-stroke depression (PSD). About one in three stroke survivors had depression following their stroke. It had a significant impact on functional recovery, which resulted in a low standard of living. Even worse, there is a clear correlation between it and a high death rate. Our goal in doing this evaluation was to come up with a thorough and cohesive knowledge of PSD based on both recently released research and well-known works. We discovered that the incidence of PSD varies from 11 to 41% within a two-year period, based on a significant number of researches. The severity of the stroke, the location of the lesion, past history of depression, and other factors all has a role in the development of PSD. The DSM criteria are currently the primary basis for diagnosing PSD, and they are often coupled with different depression scales. However, there isn't a single, cohesive process that explains PSD which now include aberrant neurotrophic response, elevated inflammatory markers, lowered monoamine levels, glutamate-mediated excitotoxicity, and dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Pharmacotherapy and psychosocial therapies are currently used in the treatment of PSD. Even though researchers have made significant progress, many problems still need to be solved. In particular, the PSD's mechanism is not entirely understood.

Fauna parasitária e relação parasito-hospedeiro de tambaquis criados na região do Baixo São Francisco, nordeste do Brasil / Parasitic fauna and parasite-host relationship of tambaqui reared in São Francisco river basin, Brazilian northeast

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a fauna parasitária de tambaquis na região do Baixo São Francisco-AL/SE-Brasil e correlacionar os índices de prevalência e intensidade média com fatores bióticos e abióticos. Foram coletados 252 espécimes para análise parasitológica de 10 pisciculturas. Os parasitos foram contabilizados, identificados, e determinaram-se os índices de prevalência e intensidade média, que foram correlacionados com fatores bióticos e abióticos. Dos peixes coletados, 65,5% estavam parasitados por pelo menos um táxon. Foram encontrados 10 táxons: Monogeneas, Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, tricodinídeos, Piscinoodinium pillulare, Ichthyobodo sp., Dolops carvalhoi, Lernaea cyprinacea, Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) inopinatus, Henneguya sp. e Myxobolus sp. As maiores prevalências foram encontradas para Monogeneas (49,2%) e Myxobolus sp. (31,5%). Correlações negativas entre prevalência e fatores bióticos (peso e comprimento) foram observadas para Monogeneas (r2= -0,49; r2= -0,43), Myxobolus sp. (r²= -0,46; r²= -0,39) e Henneguya sp. (r²= -0,41; r²= -0,39). O fator abiótico temperatura apresentou correlação negativa com as prevalências de Lernaea cyprinacea (r= -0,39) e tricodinídeos (r= -0,33), enquanto a condutividade elétrica apresentou correlação positiva (r= 0,40) com a prevalência de tricodinídeos. Conclui-se que a fauna parasitária dos tambaquis cultivados na região do Baixo São Francisco é diversificada e com a carga parasitária dependente da qualidade de água e do estágio de desenvolvimento dos peixes.(AU)

This study investigated the parasitic fauna of tambaquis reared in lower Sao Francisco region-Al/SE-Brazil correlating parasitic indices to abiotic and biotic factors. A total of 252 specimens of tambaqui were collected in ten fish farms for parasitological analysis. The parasites were counted, identified and the parasitological indices were determined and correlated to biotic and abiotic factors. Of all collected fish, 65,5 % were parasitized by at least one taxon. Ten taxa were found: Monogeneans, Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, trichodinids Piscinoodinium pillulare, Ichthyobodo sp, Dolops carvalhoi, Lernaea cyprinacea, Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) inopinatus, Henneguya sp. and Myxobolus sp. The higher prevalences were found to monogeneans (49.2%) and Myxobolus sp. (31.5%). Negative correlation of prevalence and biotic factor (weight and length) were observed to monogeneans (r 2 = -0.49, r 2 = -0.43), Myxobolus sp (r²= -0.46; r²= -0.39) and Henneguya sp (r²= -0.41; r²= -0.39). Abiotic factor of temperature presented a negative correlation to prevalence of Lernaea cyprinacea and trichodinids (r= -0.39 e r= -0.33, respectively) and the electric conductivity presented positive correlation to trichodinids (r= 0.40). It was concluded that parasitic fauna of tambaquis cultured in Lower São Francisco region is diversified and the parasitic load dependent on water parameters and fish growth.(AU)

Where do we aspire to publish? A position paper on scientific communication in biochemistry and molecular biology

The scientific publication landscape is changing quickly, with an enormous increase in options and models. Articles can be published in a complex variety of journals that differ in their presentation format (online-only or in-print), editorial organizations that maintain them (commercial and/or society-based), editorial handling (academic or professional editors), editorial board composition (academic or professional), payment options to cover editorial costs (open access or pay-to-read), indexation, visibility, branding, and other aspects. Additionally, online submissions of non-revised versions of manuscripts prior to seeking publication in a peer-reviewed journal (a practice known as pre-printing) are a growing trend in biological sciences. In this changing landscape, researchers in biochemistry and molecular biology must re-think their priorities in terms of scientific output dissemination. The evaluation processes and institutional funding for scientific publications should also be revised accordingly. This article presents the results of discussions within the Department of Biochemistry, University of São Paulo, on this subject.

Correlation of serum leptin and insulin levels of pregnant protein-restricted rats with predictive obesity variables

During pregnancy and protein restriction, changes in serum insulin and leptin levels, food intake and several metabolic parameters normally result in enhanced adiposity. We evaluated serum leptin and insulin levels and their correlations with some predictive obesity variables in Wistar rats (90 days), up to the 14th day of pregnancy: control non-pregnant (N = 5) and pregnant (N = 7) groups (control diet: 17 percent protein), and low-protein non-pregnant (N = 5) and pregnant (N = 6) groups (low-protein diet: 6 percent). Independent of the protein content of the diet, pregnancy increased total (F1,19 = 22.28, P < 0.001) and relative (F1,19 = 5.57, P < 0.03) food intake, the variation of weight (F1,19 = 49.79, P < 0.000) and final body weight (F1,19 = 19.52, P < 0.001), but glycemia (F1,19 = 9.02, P = 0.01) and the relative weight of gonadal adipose tissue (F1,19 = 17.11, P < 0.001) were decreased. Pregnancy (F1,19 = 18.13, P < 0.001) and low-protein diet (F1,19 = 20.35, P < 0.001) increased the absolute weight of brown adipose tissue. However, the relative weight of this tissue was increased only by protein restriction (F1,19 = 15.20, P < 0.001) and the relative lipid in carcass was decreased in low-protein groups (F1,19 = 4.34, P = 0.05). Serum insulin and leptin levels were similar among groups and did not correlate with food intake. However, there was a positive relationship between serum insulin levels and carcass fat depots in low-protein groups (r = 0.37, P < 0.05), while in pregnancy serum leptin correlated with weight of gonadal (r = 0.39, P < 0.02) and retroperitoneal (r = 0.41, P < 0.01) adipose tissues. Unexpectedly, protein restriction during 14 days of pregnancy did not alter the serum profile of adiposity signals and their effects on food intake and adiposity, probably due to the short term of exposure to low-protein diet.

Lycopene and ß-carotene protect in vivo iron-induced oxidative stress damage in rat prostate

It has been suggested that iron overload may be carcinogenic. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of plasma and prostate carotenoid concentration on oxidative DNA damage in 12-week-old Wistar rats treated with intraperitoneal (ip) ferric nitrilotriacetate (Fe-NTA) (10 mg Fe/kg). Plasma ß-carotene and lycopene concentrations were measured as a function of time after ip injection of carotenoids (10 mg kg-1 day-1 ß-carotene or lycopene) in rats. The highest total plasma concentration was reached 3 and 6 h after ip injection of lycopene or ß-carotene, respectively. After 5 days of carotenoid treatment, lycopene and ß-carotene were present in the 0.10-0.51 nmol/g wet tissue range in the prostate. Using a sensitive method to detected 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodGuo) by HPLC/EC, the level of 8-oxodGuo in rat prostate DNA was significantly higher (6.3 ± 0.6 residues/10(6) dGuo) 3 h after Fe-NTA injection compared with control rats (1.7 ± 0.3 residues/10(6) dGuo). Rats supplemented with lycopene or ß-carotene for 5 days prior to Fe-NTA treatment showed a reduction of about 70 percent in 8-oxodGuo levels to almost control levels. Compared with control rats, the prostate of Fe-NTA-treated animals showed a 78 percent increase in malondialdehyde accumulation. Lycopene or ß-carotene pre-treatment almost completely prevented lipid damage. Epidemiological studies have suggested a lower risk of prostate cancer in men reporting a higher consumption of tomato products. However, before associating this effect with tomato sauce constituents, more information is required. The results described here may contribute to the understanding of the protective effects of carotenoids against iron-induced oxidative stress.

Interferencia in vitro da pentamidina nos testes laboratoriais da coagulaçao sanguinea / In vitro pentamidine interference in blood coagulation laboratory tests

Os autores determinaram a capacidade da pentamicina e derivados bis-benzamidinicos em inibir a açao da trombina, estudando os reflexos da mistura destas substancias, com plasmas normais, nos testes laboratoriais de avaliaçao da coagulaçao sanguinea.

Study on thermostabilizers for trivalent oral poliomyelitis vaccine

Different formulations of trivalent oral poliomyelitis vaccine were tested, in order to obtain better thermostability, reduce corrosion of machinery and improve production costs. Magnesium chloride, sucrose, arginine and 199-Hank's medium were used in the formulations. The most appropriate formulation was a mixture of MgCl2 and arginine, which was highly thermostable, and had low production costs. The low corrosive formulation was rejected, due to low thermostability on storage

A plausible identification of secondary binding site in trypsin and trypsinogen

1. The determination of the binding of 4,4'diazoamino-bis-benzamidine (DABB) to alfa-trypsin by equilibrium measurements in columns indicated a stoichiometry of 2 mol ligan/mol enzyme. One molecule binds to the secondy binding site, sith Ki2=mMat pH8,0, 25-C. 2. Bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) prevented binding of DABB to both sites, indicating that they are topographically close and within the interface of the trypsin-BPTI complex. 3. On the basis of data from the interface of the trypsin-BPTI complex, we concluded that the secondary binding site of trypsin is plausibly identified as the same site in trypsin that binds the Arg-17 reside of BPTI, i.e., Tyr-39 and Tyr-151 in bovine trypsin. This site would then correspond to subsite S'2 on the enzyme surface

Pulmonary alveolar macrophages in calf: an electron microscopic study

Alveolar phagocytes were found as free cells in the alveolar spaces of calf's lung. These cells appeared large with spherical or irregular nucleus. Their cell surface was rough due to the presence of many cytoplasmic extension and pseudopodia. In cytoplasmic structure, the cells were somewhat similar to the other macrophages. Their cytoplasm showed a variety of inclusions and a large number of phagolysosomes. The alveolar macrophages are suggested to be responsible for the removal of the small foreign particles and the degraded surfactant from the lumen of the air-alveoli

Ultrastructure of the type-II pneumonocyte in lambs lung with special reference to the morphology of its inclusion bodies

The type-II pneumonocytes appeared as large rounded cells occupying the niches and the corners of the alveolar walls. They showed microvilli on their free surface and adjoining the type-1 cells through tight junctional areas. Their cytoplasm was rich with organoids. The most peculiar feature of this cell was the osmiophilic inclusion bodies which were thought to contain surfactant material or its precursor. Some of these inclusions appeared vacuolated or possessed homogeneous density. Others showed lighter osmiophilic material accumulated around a heavily osmiophilic core or they appeared lamellated. It seems possible that this morphological difference may well be related to the difference in the chemical constituents of these inclusion bodies

Indicadores das condiçöes nutricionais na regiäo do Polonoroeste: VII. Estudo da prevalência de desnutriçäo e diarréias, 1985 / Indicators of nutritional status in the Polonoroeste area: VII. Prevalence of malnutrition and diarrheas, 1985

Os autores realizaram um estudo do estado nutricional por antropometria num grupo de 405 crianças de 3 a 72 meses de idade, residentes na área urbana da cidade de Cáceres - Regiäo do Polonoroeste no Estado do Mato Grosso. Mediante a aplicaçäo de um questionário ao responsável pela criança, pesquisou-se a ocorrência de diarréias na mesma populaçäo. O objetivo do estudo foi verificar a prevalência de desnutriçäo e a freqüência de diarréias nessas crianças. Utilizaram-se as classificaçöes propostas por GOMEZ e WATERLOW para verificar a prevalência e a natureza da desnutriçäo. Foi verificado que a desnutriçäo ocorreu em 33% das crianças segundo a classificaçäo de GOMEZ. Segundo os critérios de WATERLOW a forma de desnutriçäo de maior proporçäo encontrada foi a pregressa, com percentual de 36%. Entre as crianças desnutridas a freqüência de diarréias foi de 47% sendo a relaçäo entre diarréia e desnutriçäo estatisticamente significante

Histogenesis of the thyroid gland of the one-humped camel [Camelus Dromedarius]

The results presented in this investigation elucidate the histological structure of the camel [Camelus dromedarius] thyroid gl and during ontogenetic stages using 68 embryos and fetuses at different ages ranging from 1.8 to 120 cm CVR length