Behavioral characterization of a model of differential susceptibility to obesity induced by standard and personalized cafeteria diet feeding.

Despite the increase in obesity prevalence over the last decades, humans show large inter-individual variability for susceptibility to diet-induced obesity. Understanding the biological basis of this susceptibility could identify new therapeutic alternatives against obesity. We characterized behavioral changes associated with propensity to obesity induced by cafeteria (CAF) diet consumption in mice. We show that Balb/c mice fed a CAF diet display a large inter-individual variability in susceptibility to diet-induced obesity, such that based on changes in adiposity we can classify mice as obesity prone (OP) or obesity resistant (OR). Both OP and OR were hyperphagic relative to control-fed mice but caloric intake was similar between OP and OR mice. In contrast, OR had a larger increase in locomotor activity following CAF diet compared to OP mice. Obesity resistant and prone mice showed similar intake of sweet snacks, but OR ate more savory snacks than OP mice. Two bottle sucrose preference tests showed that OP decreased their sucrose preference compared to OR mice after CAF diet feeding. Finally, to test the robustness of the OR phenotype in response to further increases in caloric intake, we fed OR mice with a personalized CAF (CAF-P) diet based on individual snack preferences. When fed a CAF-P diet, OR increased their calorie intake compared to OP mice fed the standard CAF diet, but did not reach adiposity levels observed in OP mice. Together, our data show the contribution of hedonic intake, individual snack preference and physical activity to individual susceptibility to obesity in Balb/c mice fed a standard and personalized cafeteria-style diet.

Social support provided to caregivers of children with cerebral palsy.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the perception of caregivers of children with cerebral palsy (CP) concerning social support received and to verify how the characteristics of the children (i.e. type of CP and severity of motor impairment) and those of their caregivers (i.e. age, level of education, occupation, income and number of children) are significantly related to this perception. METHOD: A total of 50 children with CP aged between 3 and 12 years and their respective caregivers participated in this study. Children were grouped in terms of type of CP and according to the severity of motor impairment through the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS). The Social Support Questionnaire (SSQ) was used to evaluate the perception of caregivers concerning the social support they receive (number of people offering support - SSQ-N index, and level of satisfaction concerning such support - SSQ-S index). RESULTS: The caregivers reported receiving support from a mean of 1.67 people. Core and extended family members (i.e. husband, mother, siblings) and friends are the most common providers of support. In regard to level of satisfaction, caregivers considered the support they received to be positive, obtaining a mean of 5.52 out of a total of six points. Children's and caregivers' characteristics were not significantly related to the SSQ-N and SSQ-S indexes. CONCLUSION: Family members are the caregivers' primary source of social support and caregivers reported being satisfied with the support they received.

The peroxisomal protein import machinery--a case report of transient ubiquitination with a new flavor.

The peroxisomal protein import machinery displays remarkable properties. Be it its capacity to accept already folded proteins as substrates, its complex architecture or its energetics, almost every aspect of this machinery seems unique. The list of unusual properties is still growing as shown by the recent finding that one of its central components, Pex5p, is transiently monoubiquitinated at a cysteine residue. However, the data gathered in recent years also suggest that the peroxisomal import machinery is not that exclusive and similarities with p97/Cdc48-mediated processes and with multisubunit RING-E3 ligases are starting to emerge. Here, we discuss these data trying to distill the principles by which this complex machinery operates.

Patterns of the aquatic macrophyte cover in Cachoeira Dourada Reservoir (GO-MG).

The relationship between the aquatic macrophyte cover in upper segments of tributaries and this cover in these tributaries but near the reservoir's main body was tested. Sixteen taxa belonging to 12 families of aquatic macrophytes were recorded in Cachoeira Dourada Reservoir. The most frequent species were Eichhornia azurea (frequency of occurrence=92%; n=37 sites) and E. crassipes (44%). Upper segments of the tributaries were the main areas colonized by these aquatic macrophytes. The positive relationship between the aquatic macrophyte cover between the upper and lower segments of tributaries indicates the importance of dispersion in the colonization of the arms and the reservoir's main body.

Patterns of the aquatic macrophyte cover in Cachoeira Dourada Reservoir (GO-MG)

Neste trabalho, foi realizado um levantamento da riqueza e da composição de espécies de macrófitas aquáticas no reservatório de Cachoeira Dourada (GO-MG). Os dados obtidos foram utilizados para testar se há relação positiva e significativa entre a cobertura de macrófitas aquáticas nos segmentos superiores dos tributários (próximo às nascentes) e a cobertura de macrófitas aquáticas nos mesmos tributários, próxima ao corpo central. Foram identificados 16 taxa, pertencentes a 12 famílias. Eichhornia azurea, a espécie mais freqüente no reservatório, ocorreu em 92% dos locais visitados, enquanto E. crassipes ocorreu em 44% dos locais. Os trechos superiores dos tributários foram as principais regiões colonizadas por macrófitas aquáticas. A relação positiva entre a cobertura de macrófitas aquáticas nos segmentos superiores e inferiores dos tributários indica a importância da dispersão para a colonização dos braços e corpo central do reservatório.

[Occult intrasacral meningocele: case report]. / Meningocele intra-sacral oculta: relato de caso.

Intrasacral meningoceles are rare conditions that can cause symptoms of nerve root compression. We report a case of a 18-year-old female, who presented with urinary incontinence. The neurological and urological evaluation revealed lack of detrusor muscle reflex. This finding supported the hypothesis of spinal disraphism. Magnetic resonance image revealed an intrasacral meningocele. The patient was submitted to surgical excision of the lesion without postoperative complications. In the present paper, the pathogenesis, clinical picture, neuroradiological findings and surgical treatment are discussed.

Lupinus albus L. pathogenesis-related proteins that show similarity to PR-10 proteins.

We describe a group of three acidic proteins, pathogenesis-related (PR)-p16.5a, PR-p16.5b, and PR-p16.5c, that accumulate in the leaves of Lupinus albus L. cv Rio Maior plants when infected with the fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporioides Penz. These proteins co-migrate in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels as a single band of 16.5 kD, behaving as charge isomers, and are related to several members of the defense-related PR-10 protein family. Localization of the proteins was investigated by techniques of tissue printing and immunogold electron microscopy; they are predominantly associated with the vascular system and are localized extracellularly. The accumulation of PR-p16.5a, PR-p16.5b, and PR-p16.5c also seems to be induced by cucumber mosaic virus and by two forms of abiotic stress, salicylic acid and ultraviolet, suggesting a general defense role for these proteins.

Comparaçäo de técnicas para preparo de conjugados anti-Clostridium septicum e anti-Clostridium chauvoei / Comparison of techniques for preparation of conjugates anti-Clostridium septicum and C. chauvoei

Foram produzidos conjugados de C. septicum e C. chauvoei para a técnica de imunofluorescência direta. Conjugados preparados a partir de soros imunes fracionados com ácido caprílico/sulfato de amônio obtiveram títulos superiores aos preparados por precipitaçäo com sulfato de amônio. Ambos os conjugados apresentaram resultados satisfatórios podendo ser utilizados para fins de diagnóstico

Etiologia e sensibilidade bacteriana da mastite bovina subclínica / Etiology and sensitivity tests of bovine subclinical mastitis

No período de 1986-1988, foram examinadas 702 amostras de leite bovino com mastite subclínica, pelo Serviço de Diagnóstico Microbiológico do Hospital Veterinário da Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnica - UNESP - Campus de Botucatu. Isolaram-se 802 microrganismos em cultura pura e em associaçäo, como se segue: Staphylococcus aureus 35,53 por cento, Staphylococcus epidermidis 23,19 por cento, Corynebacterium bovis 9,23 por cento, Corynebacterium pyogenes 4,49 por cento, Streptococcus uberis 4,36 por cento, Streptococcus dysgalactiae 3,37 por cento, Candida albicans 3,37 por cento, Streptococcus agalactiae 3,24 por cento, Escherichia coli 2,87 por cento, Pseudomonas aeruginosa 2,37 por cento, Klebsiella sp 2,12 por cento, Alcaligenes faecalis 2,0 por cento, Proteus mirabilis 1,37 por cento, Pasteurella multocida 1,25 por cento, Micrococcus sp 0,37 por cento, Salmonella sp 0,25 por cento, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus 0,25 por cento, Nocardia asteroides 0,25 por cento e Enterobater aglomerans 0,12 por cento. Pelo estudo de sensibilidade bacteriana frente a diferentes drogas antimicrobinas verificou-se que para os estafilococos, que foram os microrganismos isolados com maior frequência (58,72 por cento), a cefaloridina foi a droga de melhor açäo, com 79,4 por cento de amostras sensíveis, vindo a seguir o cloranfenicol com 76,7 por cento e a gentamicina com 72,5 por cento de sensibilidade. Com relaçäo aos outros microrganismos isolados, verificou-se que em sua maioria foram sensíveis ao cloranfenicol, gentamicina, cefaloridina, tetraciclina e nitrofurano