Influence of the magnetic field on microorganisms in the oral cavity

Since the beginning of their lives, all living organisms are exposed to the influence of geomagnetic fields. Objectives : With respect to the positive effects that magnetic fields have on human tissues, especially the bactericidal effect, this investigation aimed to assess their influence on the reduction of oral microorganisms. Material and Methods : In order to obtain adequate specimens of dental plaque deposit, microbes such as Streptococcus parasanguinis, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Rhodococcus equi and Candida albicans were isolated from the human mouth. To establish the intensity of microbial growth on the basis of the modified optical density (OD) of agar turbidimetry assay, microbial count and spectrophotometry were applied. The study was carried out with two microbial concentrations (1 and 10 CFU/ml) after periods of incubation of 24 and 48 h and using micromagnets. Results : A positive effect of the magnetic field, resulting in the reduction of dental plaque microbes in vitro, was found. In the first 24 hours of exposure to the magnetic field, the number of all isolated microbes was significantly reduced. The most potent influence of magnets and the most intensified reduction after 24 hours were evident in Candida albicans colonies. The decrease in the influence of magnets on microbes in vitro was also detected. Conclusions : Magnets reduce the number of microbes and might be recommended as a supplement in therapy for reduced periodontal tissues. This is important because periodontal tissues that are in good conditions provide prolonged support to the oral tissues under partial and supradental denture. .

Pontos de venda de alimentos e associação com sobrepeso/obesidade em escolares de Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brasil / Retail food outlets and the association with overweight/obesity in schoolchildren from Florianópolis, Santa Catarina State, Brazil / Puntos de venta de alimentos y asociación con sobrepeso/obesidad en escolares de Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brasil

O estudo descreve os pontos de venda de alimentos e sua associação com sobrepeso/obesidade em escolares de Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brasil. Desenho transversal com amostra probabilística de 2.506 escolares de escolas públicas (n = 19) e privadas (n = 11). O sobrepeso/obesidade foi classificado pela referência da Organização Mundial da Saúde de 2007. Foram realizadas análises brutas e ajustadas por meio de regressão de Poisson. A prevalência de sobrepeso/obesidade foi de 34,2%. Na rede pública, foram verificados 19,6% de sobrepeso e 13,5% de obesidade. Na rede privada, observaram-se 22,4% de sobrepeso e 11,1% de obesidade. Na rede pública, foi encontrada associação entre sobrepeso/obesidade e utilização da padaria (p = 0,004). Na rede privada, observou-se que os escolares de famílias que utilizaram o supermercado apresentaram 26% menos de sobrepeso/obesidade do que os escolares que não utilizam esses pontos de venda de alimentos (p = 0,003). Os dados encontrados evidenciam a existência de associação entre a utilização de alguns tipos de pontos de venda de alimentos (supermercado e padaria) e a prevalência de sobrepeso/obesidade na população escolar.

The study analyzes retail food outlets and their association with overweight/obesity in schoolchildren from Florianópolis, Santa Catarina State, Brazil. The study used a cross-sectional design with a random sample of 2,506 schoolchildren from public (n = 19) and private schools (n = 11). Overweight and obesity were classified according to World Health Organization guidelines for 2007, and crude and adjusted analyses were performed using Poisson regression. Prevalence of overweight/obesity was 34.2%. In public schools, 19.6% of the children were overweight and 13.5% were obese, as compared to 22.4% and 11.1% in private schools. An association was found in the public school system between overweight/obesity and the use of bakeries for food purchases (p = 0.004). In the private school system, children of families that bought groceries at the supermarket showed 26% less overweight/obesity compared to those who did not (p = 0.003). The data show an association between some types of food outlets (supermarkets and bakeries) and prevalence of overweight/obesity in the school-age population.

El estudio describe los puntos de venta de alimentos y su asociación con el sobrepeso/obesidad en escolares de Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brasil. Se trata de un estudio transversal con una muestra aleatoria de 2.506 escolares de las escuelas públicas (n = 19) y privadas (n = 11). El sobrepeso/obesidad se clasifica, en función de la OMS en 2007, con análisis ajustados y crudos que se realizaron mediante la regresión de Poisson. La prevalencia de sobrepeso/obesidad fue de un 34,2%. En el sistema público el resultado fue de un 19,6% sobrepeso y un 13,5% obesidad. En el privado se observó un 22,4% de sobrepeso y 11,1% obesidad. En el primero se encontró una correlación entre el sobrepeso/obesidad y el consumo de bollería (p = 0,004). En las escuelas privadas se observó que los escolares de familias que habían utilizado el supermercado tenían un 26% menos de sobrepeso/ obesidad que los niños en edad escolar que no utilizaron este punto de venta de alimentos (p = 0,003). En el momento del estudio existe una asociación entre el uso de algunos tipos de punto de venta de alimentos (supermercado y panadería) y la prevalencia de sobrepeso/obesidad en escolares.

CTCF as a multifunctional protein in genome regulation and gene expression

CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) is a highly conserved zinc finger protein and is best known as a transcription factor. It can function as a transcriptional activator, a repressor or an insulator protein, blocking the communication between enhancers and promoters. CTCF can also recruit other transcription factors while bound to chromatin domain boundaries. The three-dimensional organization of the eukaryotic genome dictates its function, and CTCF serves as one of the core architectural proteins that help establish this organization. The mapping of CTCF-binding sites in diverse species has revealed that the genome is covered with CTCF-binding sites. Here we briefly describe the diverse roles of CTCF that contribute to genome organization and gene expression.

Toward understanding the role of the neuron-specific BAF chromatin remodeling complex in memory formation

The long-term storage of memory requires the finely tuned coordination of intracellular signaling with the transcriptional, translational and epigenetic regulations of gene expression. Among the epigenetic mechanisms, however, we know relatively little about the involvement of chromatin remodeling-dependent control of gene expression in cognitive brain functions, compared with our knowledge of other such mechanisms (for example, histone modifications and DNA methylation). A few recent studies have implicated the Brm/Brg-associated factor (BAF) chromatin-remodeling complex, a mammalian homolog of the yeast Swi/Snf complex, in neuronal structural/functional plasticity and memory formation. The BAF complex was previously known to have a critical role in neurodevelopment, but these recent findings indicate that it also contributes to both cognitive functions in the adult brain and human mental disorders characterized by intellectual disability. In this review, we provide a brief overview of the BAF complexes, introduce recent research findings that link their functions to memory formation, and speculate on the yet-unknown molecular mechanisms that may be relevant to these processes.

The role of micro RNAs let7c, 100 and 218 expression and their target RAS, C-MYC, BUB1, RB, SMARCA5, LAMB3 and Ki-67 in prostate cancer

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to verify the expression of proteins that are controlled by miR-let7c, 100 and 218 using immunohistochemistry in tissue microarray representative of localized and metastasized the lymph nodes and bone prostate cancer. METHODS: To verify the expression of proteins that are controlled by miR-let7c (C-MYC, BUB1, RAS) 100 (SMARCA5, RB) and 218 (LAMB3) and cell proliferation (Ki-67) we used immunohistochemistry and computerized image system ImageJ MacBiophotonics in three tissue microarrays representative of localized prostate cancer and lymph node and bone metastases. miRNA expression was evaluated by qRT-PCR using 60 paraffin blocks to construct the tissue microarray representative of localized disease. RESULTS: RAS expression was increased in localized prostate cancer and bone metastases compared to the lymph nodes (p=0.017). RB showed an increase in expression from localized prostate cancer to lymph node and bone metastasis (p=0.036). LAMB3 was highly expressed in localized and lymph node metastases (p<0.001). Cell proliferation evaluated by Ki-67 showed an increase from localized prostate cancer to metastases (p<0.001). We did not found any relationship between C-MYC (p=0.253), BUB1 (p=0.649) and SMARCA5 (p=0.315) protein expression with prognosis or tumor behavior. CONCLUSION: We found that the expression of RAS, RB, LAMB3 and Ki-67 changed in the different stages of prostate cancer. Furthermore, we confirmed the overexpression of the miRNAs let7c, 100 and 218 in localized prostate cancer but failed to show the control of protein expression by the putative controller miRNAs using immunohistochemistry. .