Human mitochondrial carnitine acylcarnitine carrier: Molecular target of dietary bioactive polyphenols from sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.).

The effect of polyphenols, recognized as the principal antioxidant and beneficial molecules introduced with the diet, extracted from sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) on the recombinant human mitochondrial carnitine/acylcarnitine transporter (CACT) has been studied in proteoliposomes. CACT transport activity, which was strongly impaired after oxidation by atmospheric O or HO due to the formation of a disulfide bridge between cysteines 136 and 155, was restored by externally added polyphenols.

[An overview of hepatitis B in Brazil and in the state of Santa Catarina].

Objective: To provide an overview of hepatitis B infection in Brazil overall, in the South of Brazil, and in the state of Santa Catarina (in southeastern Brazil) for the period of 1996 through 2002, taking into consideration such epidemiological aspects as age and sex.

Source Of Data: Data were obtained through a literature review and by consulting with Brazil's National Health Foundation and with Santa Catarina's Department of Epidemiological Surveillance.

Results: In Brazil, from 1996 through 2000, hepatitis B was the second most prevalent type of viral hepatitis (25%), with hepatitis A leading in terms of the proportion of cases (43%).