Consumption of sugar-sweetened soft drinks and risk of metabolic syndrome and its components: results of the ELSA-Brasil study (2008-2010 and 2012-2014).

AIM: To estimate the association between consumption of sugar-sweetened soft drinks and unsweetened fruit juice with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components in participants of the Brazilian Longitudinal Adult Health Study (ELSA-Brasil) after 4 years of follow-up. METHODS: We used data from ELSA-Brasil cohort (N = 15,105). The sample consisted of 6,124 civil servants free of the MetS at baseline (35 to 74 years, both sexes). The consumption of sugar-sweetened soft drinks and unsweetened fruit juice was estimated by a food frequency questionnaire previously validated. The outcome was MetS and its components (Joint Interim Statement criteria). To test the association between beverage consumption at baseline (2008-2010) and MetS and its components at follow-up (2012-2014), we used Poisson regression models with robust variance adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS: After 4-year follow-up, the higher consumption of sugar-sweetened soft drinks (≥ 1 serving/day = 250 mL/day) increased the relative risk of MetS (RR = 1.22; 95% CI 1.04-1.45), high fasting glucose (RR = 1.23; 95% CI 1.01-1.48), and high blood pressure (RR = 1.23; 95% CI 1.00-1.54). Moderate consumption of this beverage (0.4 to < 1 serving/day) increased the relative risk of high waist circumference (WC) (RR = 1.21; 95% CI 1.02-1.42). After adjustment for confounding variables, the consumption of unsweetened fruit juice was not associated with the MetS and its components. CONCLUSION: Higher sugar-sweetened soft drinks consumption was associated with a higher risk relative of MetS, high fasting glucose, and high blood pressure, while moderate consumption of this beverage increased the relative risk of high WC in Brazilian adults.

High-refined carbohydrate diet promotes detrimental effects on alveolar bone and femur microarchitecture.

The impact of high-refined carbohydrate (HC) diet on fat accumulation, adipokines secretion and systemic inflammation is well described. However, it remains unclear whether these processes affect bone remodeling. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of HC diet in the alveolar bone and femur parameters. METHODS: BalbC mice were fed with conventional chow or HC diet for 12 weeks. After experimental time maxillae, femur, blood and white adipose tissue samples were collected. RESULTS: The animals feed with HC diet exhibited considerable increase of adiposity index and adipose tissue levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10, IL-1ß, TGF-ß and leptin. Microtomography analysis of maxillary bone revealed horizontal alveolar bone loss and disruption of trabecular bone in mice feed with HC diet. These deleterious effects were correlated with a disturbance in bone cells and an augmented expression of Rankl/Opg ratio. Consistently, similar effects were observed in femurs, which also exhibited a reduction in bone maximum load and stiffness. CONCLUSION: Our data indicates that HC diet consumption disrupts bone remodeling process, favoring bone loss. Underlying mechanisms relies on fat tissue accumulation and also in systemic and local inflammation.

Efeito de solo previamente cultivado com plantas aromáticas na germinação e no desenvolvimento inicial de alface / Outcomes of soil previously treated with aromatic plants in the germination and early growth of lettuce

RESUMOO objetivo desse trabalho foi verificar o efeito do solo pré-cultivado com plantas aromáticas na germinação e no desenvolvimento inicial de plântulas de alface cv. Simpson. A pesquisa foi realizada na Embrapa Hortaliças, Brasília, em bandejas mantidas em casa de vegetação. O experimento foi conduzido em delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado, com três repetições e onze tratamentos: solo pré-cultivado com hortelã-comum (Mentha x villosa), hortelã-brava (Mentha arvensis), hortelã-pimenta (Mentha piperita), Mentha spp., capim-citronela (Cymbopogon winterianus), capim-limão (Cymbopogon citratus), manjericão de folha larga (Ocimum basilicum), manjericão de folha roxa (Ocimum gratissimun), tomilho (Thymus vulgaris), sálvia (Salvia officinalis) e solo da mesma área sem cultivo prévio de planta aromática (controle). Aos 30 dias após o semeio, foram avaliadas: índice de velocidade de emergência (IVE), taxa de sobrevivência (TS), número de folhas (NF), comprimento da raiz principal (CRP) e da parte aérea (CPA), massa fresca da raiz (MFR) e da parte aérea (MFPA) e massa seca da raiz (MSR) e da parte aérea (MSPA). Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância e teste de Tukey a 5% de probabilidade. Houve diferença significativa em relação ao IVE, sendo que o tratamento com C. citratus afetou negativamente a emergência das plântulas. O tratamento com M. arvensis apresentou uma TS de apenas 16% das plantas aos 30 dias após a semeadura. O NF foi menor no tratamento com M. arvensis, diferentemente de todos os demais, exceto S. officinalis. A MRF e MFF foram estimuladas pelo tratamento com T. vulgaris sendo superior a todos os outros tratamentos. Os resultados obtidos permitem concluir que houve efeito negativo de M. arvensis e positivo de T. vulgaris no desenvolvimento inicial de plântulas de alface.

ABSTRACTThis study aimed to verify the outcomesof the soil previously treated with aromatic plants in the germination and early seedling growth of lettuce var. Simpson under greenhouse conditions. The trial was developed at Embrapa Vegetables, in Brasília, Brazil in a completely randomized design with three replications and composed by eleven treatments as follow: soil cultivated with apple-mint (Mentha x villosa), wild mint (Mentha arvensis), peppermint (Mentha piperita), Mentha spp., citronella (Cymbopogon winterianus), lemon grass (Cymbopogoncitratus), basil (Ocimum basilicum), african basil (Ocimum gratissimun), thyme (Thymus vulgaris), sage (Salvia officinalis) and soil from the same area without prior cultivation of aromatic plant (control). The emergence velocity index (IVE), the survival rate (SR), the number of leaves (NL), the length of the main root (CRP) and the shoot (CPA), the fresh mass of the root (MFR) and the shoot (MFPA) and the dry mass of the root (MSR) and the shoot (MSPA), were evaluated 30 days after the sowing. The data were submitted to analysis of variance and Tukey's test at 5% probability. There was a significant difference regarding the IVE, in which the treatment with C.citratus negatively affected seedlingappearance. The treatment with M. arvensis showeda TS of only 16%at 30 days after the sowing. The NF was lower in the treatment with M. arvensis, differently from all the others, excepting the cultivation withS. officinalis. The MFR and the MFPA were stimulated by the treatment with T. vulgaris, which was higher than all the other cultivations. The obtained results showed that M. arvensis had a negative influence,while T.vulgaris presented a positive outcome in the early development of lettuce seedlings.

Rhabdomyolysis as a clinical manifestation of association with ciprofibrate, sirolimus, cyclosporine, and pegylated interferon-α in liver-transplanted patients: a case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Rhabdomyolysis is a syndrome characterized by impaired metabolic integrity of myocytes, causing the release of intracellular constituents into the circulation, and can be a serious side effect of drug intake. CASE REPORT: This report describes a unique case of rabdomyolysis secondary in which ciprofibrate, sirolimus, cyclosporine, and pegylated interferon-α in a liver transplant patient was used. A 47-year-old male liver transplant recipient in 2009, who had hepatitis C and incidental hepatocellular carcinoma, underwent immunosuppressive therapy (cyclosporine and sirolimus). The patient is currently in treatment for viral recurrence with pegylated interferon-α and ribavirin; he had a history of hypertriglyceridemia treated with ciprofibrate. He had development of severe and generalized myalgia and fever after the eighth application of pegylated interferon-α and increasing doses of cyclosporine. Laboratorial tests showed acute renal failure and significant increase in creatine kinase. Rhabdomyolysis secondary to interaction of fibrate-cyclosporine-pegylated interferon-α was postulated. CONCLUSIONS: Medical professionals should be aware of possible drug interactions and should monitor patients receiving these drugs.

Liver failure and the need for transplantation in 6 patients with hepatoportal sclerosis.

Hepatoportal sclerosis (HPS), first reported by Mikkelsen et al in 1965, is a pathologic condition that does not cause cirrhotic portal hypertension. The primary hepatic lesion in HPS is found in portal vein branches with preserved synthetic function. Rarely do patients with HPS need liver transplantation. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical and pathologic features of 6 HPS cases who underwent liver transplantation (OLT). From 2000 to 2008, 6 OLT candidates were diagnosed with HPS: 3 displayed bleeding varices and 4 ascites. Child-Pugh evaluation was class B (n = 4) or C (n = 2). The Model for End-stage Liver Disease scores were 18 (n = 2), 20 (n = 3), and 22 (n = 1). Cirrhosis resulted from presumed diagnoses of alcohol n = (1), autoimmune n = (2) or cryptogenic cirrhosis n = (3). On histologic examination, there was marked phlebosclerosis in all cases, including nonocclusive portal vein thrombosis (n = 3), intense portal fibrosis (n = 1), moderate portal fibrosis (n = 5), and uniform moderate sinusoidal dilatation without megasinusoid formation, but with ductal biliary proliferation and ductal biliary fibrosis in all cases. Cholestasis was observed in 1 and incomplete septal cirrhosis in 4 cases. None of the subjects showed histological features of the presumed underlying liver disease. The overall survival of this group was no different from that of other OLT patients. HPS causing hepatic failure may require liver transplantation. Fhlebosclerosis andportal fibrosis may contribute to the loss of hepatic synthesis leading to the need for hepatic transplant. Significant portal fibrosis and phlebosclerosis can contribute to hepatic parenchymal and posterior synthetic loss.

Acute hypoxia induces apoptosis of pancreatic ß-cell by activation of the unfolded protein response and upregulation of CHOP.

The success of pancreatic ß-cells transplantation to treat type 1 diabetes has been hindered by massive ß-cell dysfunction and loss of ß-cells that follows the procedure. Hypoxia-mediated cell death has been considered one of the main difficulties that must be overcome for transplantation to be regarded as a reliable therapy. Here we have investigated the mechanisms underlying ß-cell death in response to hypoxia (1% O(2)). Our studies show that mouse insulinoma cell line 6 (Min6) cells undergo apoptosis with caspase-3 activation occurring as early as 2 h following exposure to hypoxia. Hypoxia induces endoplasmic reticulum stress in Min6 cells leading to activation of the three branches of the unfolded protein response pathway. In response to hypoxia the pro-apoptotic transcription factor C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) is upregulated. The important role of CHOP in the apoptotic process was highlighted by the rescue of Min6 cells from hypoxia-mediated apoptosis observed in CHOP-knockdown cells. Culturing isolated pancreatic mouse islets at normoxia showed intracellular hypoxia with accumulation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α and upregulation of CHOP, the latter one occurring as early as 4 h after isolation. Finally, we observed that pancreatic islets of type 2 db/db diabetic mice were more hypoxic than their counterpart in normoglycemic animals. This finding indicates that hypoxia-mediated apoptosis may occur in type 2 diabetes.

Genetic characterization of papaya plants (Carica papaya L.) derived from the first backcross generation.

The limited number of papaya varieties available reflects the narrow genetic base of this species. The use of backcrossing as a breeding strategy can promote increases in variability, besides allowing targeted improvements. Procedures that combine the use of molecular markers and backcrossing permit a reduction of the time required for introgression of genes of interest and appropriate recovery of the recurrent genome. We used microsatellite markers to characterize the effect of first-generation backcrosses of three papaya progeny, by monitoring the level of homozygosity and the parental genomic ratio. The homozygosity level in the population ranged from 74 to 94%, with a mean of 85% for the three progenies (52-08, 52-29 and 52-34). The high level of inbreeding found among these genotypes increases the expectation of finding more than 95% fixed loci in the next generation of self-fertilization of superior genotypes. The mean proportion of the recurrent parent genome found in first-generation backcross progeny was 50.1%; 52-34 had a larger genomic region in common with the recurrent genitor and the lowest level of homozygosity. The progeny 52-08 was genetically closest to the donor genitor, and it also had the highest level of homozygosity. We found that linking conventional procedures and molecular markers contributed to an increase in the efficiency of the breeding program.