Glucocorticoid Receptor Gene () Polymorphisms and Metabolic Syndrome: Insights from the Mennonite Population.

The regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is associated with polymorphisms and the methylation degree of the glucocorticoid receptor gene () and is potentially involved in the development of metabolic syndrome (MetS). In order to evaluate the association between MetS with the polymorphisms, methylation, and gene expression of the in the genetically isolated Brazilian Mennonite population, we genotyped 20 polymorphisms in 74 affected (MetS) and 138 unaffected individuals without affected first-degree relatives (Co), using exome sequencing, as well as five variants from non-exonic regions, in 70 MetS and 166 Co, using mass spectrometry. The methylation levels of 11 1F CpG sites were quantified using pyrosequencing (66 MetS and 141 Co), and the expression was evaluated via RT-qPCR (14 MetS and 25 Co).

Antimicrobial Activity and Molecular Docking Studies of the Biotransformation of Diterpene Acanthoic Acid Using the Fungus sp.

Biotransformations are reactions mediated by microorganisms, such as fungi. These bioreactions have high chemo- and stereoselectivity on organic substrates and can be applied in the search for new bioactive compounds. In this study, acanthoic acid (AA) was biotransformed using the fungus sp.

Cytotoxic and molecular evaluation of spilanthol obtained from (L.) R. K. Jansen (jambu) in human gastric cancer cells.

(L.) is a plant popularly known as jambu in the Brazilian Amazon. This species has several biological properties, such as anaesthetic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, among others.

The Second Highest Prevalence of Celiac Disease Worldwide: Genetic and Metabolic Insights in Southern Brazilian Mennonites.

Celiac disease (CD), despite its high morbidity, is an often-underdiagnosed autoimmune enteropathy. Using a modified version of the Brazilian questionnaire of the 2013 National Health Survey, we interviewed 604 Mennonites of Frisian/Flemish origin that have been isolated for 25 generations. A subgroup of 576 participants were screened for IgA autoantibodies in serum, and 391 participants were screened for HLA-DQ2.

Extracellular vesicle microRNAs in celiac disease patients under a gluten-free diet, and in lactose intolerant individuals.

Background: Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune disorder triggered by an abnormal immunological response to gluten ingestion and is associated with deregulated expression of cellular microRNAs (miRNAs) of the gut mucosa. It is frequently misdiagnosed as lactose intolerance (LI) due to symptom resemblance. Microvilli loss may be counteracted by a rigorous gluten-free diet (GFD).

In Silico Study, Physicochemical, and In Vitro Lipase Inhibitory Activity of ,-Amyrenone Inclusion Complexes with Cyclodextrins.

,-amyrenone (ABAME) is a triterpene derivative with many biological activities; however, its potential pharmacological use is hindered by its low solubility in water. In this context, the present work aimed to develop inclusion complexes (ICs) of ABAME with - and -cyclodextrins (CD), which were systematically characterized through molecular modeling studies as well as FTIR, XRD, DSC, TGA, and SEM analyses. In vitro analyses of lipase activity were performed to evaluate possible anti-obesity properties.

Depression and Health Self-perception: Associations Within the Isolated Mennonite Population in South Brazil.

The Mennonite population suffered several bottlenecks due to religious/political persecution, increasing the frequency of diseases with a strong genetic component. We evaluated health self-perception in 430 Mennonites from South Brazilian settlements (two rural, one urban), along with life habits, xenobiotic exposure, and chronic ilnesses, using a modified version of the 2013 Brazilian National Health Survey and eight psychometric tests (applied in 2016-2018). Mennonites from rural settlements considered their health worse (P < 0.

Lack of Association between LCT_rs140433552*CA>del Indel Polymorphism and Lactose Intolerance in a Southern Brazilian Population.

Background/aims: Polymorphisms in the enhancer of the lactase gene (LCT) are strongly associated with lactase persistence, but not always predictive of the phenotype. We investigated a possible association between the regulatory rs140433552*CA>del variant of LCT and lactose intolerance (LI).

Methods: We genotyped 122 individuals for rs140433552 and rs4988235 (-13910*C>T).

First Report of CR1 Polymorphisms and Soluble CR1 Levels Associated with Late Onset Alzheimer's Disease (LOAD) in Latin America.

The CR1 gene has been widely studied in Alzheimer's disease (AD), since its first association with the disease in 2009. Even after 11 years of this discovery, the role of this gene in AD has not yet been fully elucidated and the association of its variants was not validated in Latin American populations. We genotyped five CR1 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs rs6656401, rs3849266, rs2274567, rs4844610, and rs12034383) in up to 162 AD patients and 137 controls through PCR-SSP and iPLEX MassARRAY Platform (Sequenom), and measured soluble CR1 (sCR1) levels in plasma of 40 AD patients and 39 controls with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Inclusion Complexes of β and HPβ-Cyclodextrin with α, β Amyrin and In Vitro Anti-Inflammatory Activity.

α, β amyrin (ABAM) is a natural mixture of pentacyclic triterpenes that has a wide range of biological activities. ABAM is isolated from the species of the Burseraceae family, in which the species is commonly found in the Amazon region of Brazil. The aim of this work was to develop inclusion complexes (ICs) of ABAM and β-cyclodextrin (βCD) and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD) by physical mixing (PM) and kneading (KN) methods.

Long non-coding RNAs in cancer: Another layer of complexity.

We review the most well characterized long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) with important roles in hallmarks of cancer, additionally including lncRNAs with a higher potential for clinical application. LncRNAs are transcripts larger than 200 nucleotides in length that do not appear to have protein-coding potential, although some of those may produce small functional peptides. These transcripts have attracted significant attention from researchers as a result of their role in genetic regulation, including epigenetic, transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation, being involved in numerous biological processes, as well as being associated with multifactorial diseases, including tumorigenesis.

Complement receptor 1 (CR1, CD35) association with susceptibility to leprosy.

Background: Pathophysiological mechanisms are still incompletely understood for leprosy, an urgent public health issue in Brazil. Complement receptor 1 (CR1) binds complement fragments C3b/C4b deposited on mycobacteria, mediating its entrance in macrophages. We investigated CR1 polymorphisms, gene expression and soluble CR1 levels in a case-control study with Brazilian leprosy patients, aiming to understand the role of this receptor in differential susceptibility to the disease.

Long Non-Coding RNAs in Multifactorial Diseases: Another Layer of Complexity.

Multifactorial diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular conditions and neurological, immunological and metabolic disorders are a group of diseases caused by the combination of genetic and environmental factors. High-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) technologies have revealed that less than 2% of the genome corresponds to protein-coding genes, although most of the human genome is transcribed. The other transcripts include a large variety of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), and the continuous generation of RNA-seq data shows that ncRNAs are strongly deregulated and may be important players in pathological processes.

Family focus and community orientation in tuberculosis control.

This study aimed to describe tuberculosis control actions in the context of Family Health Teams, regarding the dimensions family focus and community orientation. A cross-sectional evaluative research was carried out in 2008, with 84 healthcare workers. The Primary Care Assessment Tool was used, validated and adapted to assess tuberculosis care in Brazil.

Effect of low-elastic modulus liner and base as stress-absorbing layer in composite resin restorations.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of liner and base materials to reduce the stress resulting from polymerization shrinkage. The null hypothesis tested was that the presence of low-viscosity liner and base materials under the composite resin restoration reduces the polymerization shrinkage stress.

Methods: A quasi-three-dimensional photoelastic model of a second premolar with a class I preparation was restored using four experimental groups (n=7): RC, resin composite (Filtek Z250); FLRC, flowable liner (Filtek Flow)+resin composite restoration; VLRC, resin-modified glass-ionomer liner+resin composite restoration; and VBRC, resin-modified glass-ionomer base+resin composite restoration.