Benfotiamine protects against hypothalamic dysfunction in a STZ-induced model of neurodegeneration in rats.

The neurodegeneration of Alzheimer's disease (AD) affects not only brain structures associate with cognition early in the progression of the disease, but other areas such as the hypothalamus, a region involved in the control of metabolism and appetite. In this context, we evaluated the effects of benfotiamine (BFT), a vitamin B1 analog that is being proposed as a therapeutical approach for AD-related cognitive alterations, which were induced by intracerebroventricular injection of streptozotocin (STZ). In addition to the already described effect of STZ on cognition, we show that this drug also causes metabolic changes which are linked to changes in hypothalamic insulin signaling and orexigenic and anorexigenic circuitries, as well as a decreased cellular integrated stress response.

Hepatotoxicity associated with the use of teriflunomide in a patient with multiple sclerosis: A case report.

Rationale: Teriflunomide is an inhibitor of pyrimidine synthesis available as a first-line treatment for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Drug-induced liver damage is a relevant problem in clinical practice, representing a frequent cause of treatment discontinuation. This case report describes the occurrence of liver injury, with a 33.

miRNA profile and disease severity in patients with sickle cell anemia.

Identification of biomarkers associated with severity in sickle cell anemia is desirable. Circulating serum microRNAs (miRNA) are targets studied as diagnostic or prognostic markers, but few studies have been conducted in sickle cell anemia. The purpose of this study is to identify specific signatures of miRNAs in plasma samples from sickle cell anemia patients according to severity indexes.

Serum folate and cytokines in heterozygous β-thalassemia.

Introduction: Folate deficiency is commonly reported in β-thalassemia. Individuals heterozygous for β-thalassemia may have higher folate requirements than normal individuals.

Objectives: To document the concentration of serum total folate and its forms in β-thalassemia heterozygote users (β-TmU) and nonusers (β-TmN) of 5 mg folic acid/d; to determine whether folic acid (FA) consumption from fortified foods allows beta-Tm patients, who do not take FA supplements, to meet their dietary folate requirements; and to investigate the association between higher serum unmetabolized folic acid (UMFA) and inflammatory cytokine concentrations.

Daily supplementation with 5 mg of folic acid in Brazilian patients with hereditary spherocytosis.

Patients with hereditary spherocytosis (HS) have increased rates of erythropoiesis and higher folate requirements. In a case-control study of patients with HS, we evaluated the associations between the use of 5 mg folic acid (FA) daily and serum concentrations of folate, unmetabolized folic acid (UMFA), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-10, interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α); and mRNA expression of (), (), , and genes. Total serum folate and folate forms were measured in 27 patients with HS (21 users [HS-U] and 6 non-users [HS-NU] of supplemental FA) and 54 healthy controls not consuming 5 mg/day supplemental FA.

CALR mutations screening in wild type JAK2(V617F) and MPL(W515K/L) Brazilian myeloproliferative neoplasm patients.

Some myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) patients harbor JAK2(V617F) mutation, and CALR mutations were recently discovered in wild type (WT) JAK2(V617F). We evaluated the frequency and type of CALR mutations, and clinical and hematological characteristics in WT JAK2(V617F) and MPL(W515K/L) MPN patients. Sixty-five patients were included: 21 with primary myelofibrosis (PMF), 21 with myelofibrosis post-essential thrombocythemia (MPET) and 23 with essential thrombocythemia (ET).

Relationship between SLCO1B3 and ABCA3 polymorphisms and imatinib response in chronic myeloid leukemia patients.

Background: Genetic variations in membrane transporters may contribute to imatinib mesylate (IM) resistance in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Objective To investigate the relationship between SLCO1B3, SLCO1A2, and ABCA3 polymorphisms and IM response in CML patients.

Methods: Patients in chronic phase CML (N = 118) were studied.

Concentrations of blood folate in Brazilian studies prior to and after fortification of wheat and cornmeal (maize flour) with folic acid: a review.

Background: In July 2004, the Brazilian Ministry of Health through the National Health Surveillance Agency made the fortification of wheat flour and cornmeal (maize flour) with iron and folic acid mandatory, with the intention of reducing the rate of diseases such as neural tube defects.

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of the folic acid fortified wheat flour and cornmeal on serum and red blood cell folate levels and on the reduction of neural tube defects in different Brazilian studies.

Methods: In order to compare folate concentrations in the Brazilian population prior to and following the implementation of mandatory fortification of wheat and cornmeal, studies that involved blood draws between January 1997 and May 2004 (pre-fortification period), and from June 2004 to the present (post-fortification period) were chosen.

Effect of vitamin B deprivation during pregnancy and lactation on homocysteine metabolism and related metabolites in brain and plasma of mice offspring.

Epidemiological and experimental studies indicate that the altered fetal and neonatal environment influences physiological functions and may increase the risk of developing chronic diseases in adulthood. Because homocysteine (Hcy) metabolic imbalance is considered a risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases, we investigated whether maternal Vitamin B deficiency during early development alters the offspring's methionine-homocysteine metabolism in their brain. To this end, the dams were submitted to experimental diet one month before and during pregnancy or pregnancy/lactation.

ABCB1 haplotypes are associated with P-gp activity and affect a major molecular response in chronic myeloid leukemia patients treated with a standard dose of imatinib.

Despite the high efficacy of imatinib mesylate (IM) treatment for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients, some individuals develop resistance due to impaired bioavailability. It has been previously demonstrated that the haplotypes for ATP-binding cassette subfamily B member 1 ()with c.1236C>T, c.

Transcriptomic responses provide a new mechanistic basis for the chemopreventive effects of folic acid and tributyrin in rat liver carcinogenesis.

The steady increase in the incidence and mortality of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) signifies a crucial need to understand better its pathogenesis to improve clinical management and prevention of the disease. The aim of this study was to investigate molecular mechanisms for the chemopreventive effects of folic acid and tributyrin alone or in combination on rat hepatocarcinogenesis. Male Wistar rats were subjected to a classic "resistant hepatocyte" model of liver carcinogenesis and treated with folic acid and tributyrin alone or in combination for 5 weeks during promotion stage.

Genotyping of the hemochromatosis HFE p.H63D and p.C282Y mutations by high-resolution melting with the Rotor-Gene 6000® instrument.

Background: The genotyping of HFE p.C282Y and p.H63D mutations is one of the most requested molecular analyses in the laboratorial routine.

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) c677t gene variant modulates the homocysteine folate correlation in a mild folate-deficient population.

Background: A large body of evidence links plasma concentrations of homocysteine and cardiovascular disease. Several genetic and environmental variables may modulate such relationship. We investigated the influence of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene variants C677T, A1298C, and T1317C on homocysteine, folate, and cobalamin concentrations in a sample of individuals from a mild folate deficiency population to better clarify the complex interactions existing among these variables.

In vitro hemolytic activity of Lonomia obliqua caterpillar bristle extract on human and Wistar rat erythrocytes.

Human accidental envenomation caused by skin contact with the bristles of Lonomia obliqua caterpillar causes coagulation and fibrinolysis disorders. Alterations of hematologic parameters are observed only in severe cases of envenomation, but with no clinical evidence of intravascular hemolysis. However, since we have observed intravascular hemolysis in preliminary studies using Wistar rats as an experimental model for investigating L.