Discovery of hybrid Glypromate conjugates with neuroprotective activity against paraquat-induced toxicity.

Neurodegenerative disorders comprise a series of heterogeneous conditions that affect millions of people worldwide, representing a significant health burden in both developed and developing countries. Without disease-modifying treatments currently available, the development of effective neurotherapeutics is a health priority. In this work, a new series of peptide-conjugates of the Glypromate neuropeptide is reported to determine the interplay of annular constriction and neuroprotective activity.

Progesterone and brassinosteroids synergistically enhance progesterone removal and antioxidant capacity of L.

Progesterone (PROG) has been detected at various concentrations in the environment and has adverse effects on humans and wildlife. This work evaluated the impact of PROG in L. plants, its removal capacity, and how 2,4-epibrassinolide (24-EBL) affects this process.

Challenges in Fabry disease: the combination of two individually amenable variants may be nonamenable to migalastat.

Fabry disease is a rare lysosomal storage disorder caused by mutations in the gene, resulting in reduced or absent α-Gal A activity. Migalastat is an oral chaperone therapy for Fabry patients with amenable variants. We previously reported a case of a 60-year-old male patient with a classic phenotype of Fabry disease, presenting with two variants: p.

Monte Carlo evaluation of occupational exposure during uterine artery embolization.

Purpose: Uterine fibroids affect women mainly of childbearing age, an alternative for the treatment of these fibroids is uterine artery embolization (UAE), a minimally invasive procedure which uses fluoroscopy, providing radiation doses often high, due to the fact that professionals remain in the room throughout the procedure. In this work, equivalent and effective doses were evaluated for the main physician, for the assistant and for the patient during the UAE procedure.

Methods: Doses were calculated using computer simulation with the Monte Carlo Method, and virtual anthropomorphic phantoms, in a typical scenario of interventional radiology with field sizes of 20 × 20, 25 × 25 and 32 × 32 cm, tube voltages of 70, 80, 90 and 100 kV, and projections of LAO45, RAO45 and PA.

Treatment of galvanic effluent through electrocoagulation process: Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni removal and reuse of sludge generated as inorganic pigment.

Galvanic effluents are composed of a wide range of heavy metals, requiring adequate treatment to remove these contaminants and to meet the limits established by environmental agencies. Considering this aspect, the present study had as main objectives: (i) to evaluate the efficiency of the electrocoagulation (EC) in the treatment of a galvanic effluent, with the purpose of removing total Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni and (ii) reuse the sludge generated for inorganic pigment production. EC tests were carried out through factorial design 2 with triplicate central point.

Endoplasmic reticulum stress signaling in cancer and neurodegenerative disorders: Tools and strategies to understand its complexity.

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) comprises a network of tubules and vesicles that constitutes the largest organelle of the eukaryotic cell. Being the location where most proteins are synthesized and folded, it is crucial for the upkeep of cellular homeostasis. Disturbed ER homeostasis triggers the activation of a conserved molecular machinery, termed the unfolded protein response (UPR), that comprises three major signaling branches, initiated by the protein kinase RNA-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK), inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1) and the activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6).

Prevalence of overweight and obesity and associated factors in school children and adolescents in a medium-sized Brazilian city.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to describe the prevalence of overweight and obesity in school children and adolescents in a medium-sized Brazilian city.

Methods: In total, 1,125 children and adolescents between the ages of 5.6 and 18 years from public and private schools participated in the study.

Neurotoxicity of the steroidal alkaloids tomatine and tomatidine is RIP1 kinase- and caspase-independent and involves the eIF2α branch of the endoplasmic reticulum.

Steroidal alkaloids are a class of natural products that occur in several species of the Solanaceae family. In the case of the tomato plant (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), tomatine and its aglycone, tomatidine, are the most representative molecules.

Recent Patents on Proteasome Inhibitors of Natural Origin.

Background: The proteasome is the major proteolytic site on the eukaryotic cell, degrading most of its short-lived or misfolded polypeptides. The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway has been found to play a fundamental role in the development of several pathologies, from cancer to neurodegenerative diseases, or even retroviral infections. Nature remains a powerful source for the discovery of bioactive compounds.

Prevalence of and risk factors for bacterial vaginosis among women of reproductive age attending cervical screening in southeastern Brazil.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of and risk factors for bacterial vaginosis.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of women aged 14-54 years attending 18 primary healthcare units in Botucatu, Brazil, for cervical screening was undertaken between September 1, 2012, and January 31, 2013. Data on sociodemographics, sexual behavior, and medical history were obtained by interview.

High frequency of deficient consumption and low blood levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D in HIV-1-infected adults from São Paulo city, Brazil.

Micronutrient deficiency is common in patients with HIV/AIDS, usually caused by mal-absorption and/or drug interactions. 25-hydroxyvitamin D is of fundamental importance for the homeostasis of musculoskeletal health. The current study aimed to evaluate the nutritional status of HIV-infected subjects in order to make their nutritional diagnoses, including their vitamin D blood levels, and to estimate their consumption of vitamin D.

Discordance between body mass index and anthropometric measurements among HIV-1-infected patients on antiretroviral therapy and with lipoatrophy/lipohypertrophy syndrome.

Introduction: Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) has improved and extended the lives of thousands of people living with HIV/AIDS around the world. However, this treatment can lead to the development of adverse reactions such as lipoatrophy/lipohypertrophy syndrome (LLS) and its associated risks.

Objective: This study was designed to assess the prevalence of self-reported lipodystrophy and nutritional status by anthropometric measurements in patients with HIV/AIDS.

Waist circumference and menopausal status are independent predictors of endothelial low-grade inflammation.

Background: The high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) seems to be associated with the presence of atherosclerosis. The association between menopause-related changes in endogenous sex hormones and hs-CRP levels remains controversial.

Objective: To compare the levels of hs-CRP in pre- and postmenopausal women and to evaluate the association of endogenous sex hormones, waist circumference (WC) and insulin resistance with the levels of hs-CRP.

Low level laser therapy (AlGaInP) applied at 5J/cm2 reduces the proliferation of Staphylococcus aureus MRSA in infected wounds and intact skin of rats.

Background: Laser therapy is a low cost, non-invasive procedure with good healing results. Doubts exist as to whether laser therapy action on microorganisms can justify research aimed at investigating its possible effects on bacteria-infected wounds.

Objective: To assess the effect of low intensity laser on the rate of bacterial contamination in infected wounds in the skin of rats.

Tuberculosis among HIV-1-infected subjects in a tertiary out-patient service in São Paulo city, Brazil.

TB is currently considered to be the most important infectious disease among HIV-1-infected subjects in developing countries, such as Brazil. A retrospective analysis of TB cases was performed, occurring from January 1995 to December 2010 in our cohort of 599 HIV positive patients. The primary outcome was the occurrence of active TB.

[Congenital defects and exposure to pesticides in São Francisco Valley].

Purpose: to evaluate associations between parental exposure to pesticides and births with congenital defects in São Francisco Valley, as well as the demographic profile and the defects found.

Methods: in this case-control study, each case (newborns with congenital defects) had two controls (healthy newborns). The subjects were born in the city of Petrolina, in São Francisco Valley, in 2009.

Clinical signs, diagnosis, and case reports of Vaccinia virus infections.

Vaccinia virus is responsible for a zoonosis that usually affects cattle and human beings in Brazil. The initial clinical signs of the infection are focal red skin areas, fever, and general symptoms similar to those of a cold. Then, pustules and ulcerated lesions surrounded by edema and erythema follow, as well as local lymphadenopathy that can last for weeks.

[Homocysteinemia in polycystic ovary syndrome women].

Purpose: To compare serum homocysteine levels in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and non-PCOS women and correlate them with clinical, hormonal and metabolic parameters.

Methods: Transverse study with carried out on 110 women, including 56 with PCOS and 54 normal controls. Patients were submitted to anamnesis, physical examination and pelvic sonograms and to the determination of homocysteine, C-reactive protein (CRP), glucose insulin, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxin (Free T4), prolactin, and testosterone.

Electromyographic evaluation of upper limb muscles involved in armwrestling sport simulation during dynamic and static conditions.

Objective: To evaluate the electromyographic activity of the Pectoralis Major (PM), Biceps Brachii (BB), Pronator Teres (PT) and Flexor Carpi Ulnaris (FCU) muscles involved in simulated armwrestling.

Methods: Ten trained volunteers were selected to perform the armwrestling movement, during dynamic tests with 40% and 80% of maximum voluntary load (MVL) and static tests in the initial, intermediary and final positions. Electromyographic and force data were normalized for analyses.

Involvement of forebrain imidazoline and alpha(2)-adrenergic receptors in the antidipsogenic response to moxonidine.

We investigated the participation of central alpha(2)-adrenoceptors and imidazoline receptors in the inhibition of water deprivation-induced water intake in rats. The alpha(2)-adrenoceptor and imidazoline antagonist idazoxan (320 nmol), but not the alpha(2)-adrenoceptor antagonist yohimbine, abolished the antidipsogenic effect of moxonidine (alpha(2)-adrenoceptor and imidazoline agonist, 20 nmol) microinjected into the medial septal area. Yohimbine abolished the antidipsogenic effect of moxonidine intracerebroventricularly.