Low DNA damage in peripheral lymphocytes of healthy elderly individuals with inverted CD4:CD8 ratio.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the DNA damage in peripheral lymphocytes and the frequencies of CD8+ T cells expressing CD25, CD28 and CD45ro in aged individuals with inverted CD4:CD8 ratio. Blood samples of elderly individuals (aged >65) with normal CD4:CD8 ratio (n = 8) and inverted CD4:CD8 ratio (n = 8) were collected to identify the expression of CD25+, CD28+ and CD45ro+ in CD8+ T cells. DNA damage index was evaluated by the alkaline comet assay which was performed in lymphocytes treated with different concentrations of methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) (control non-treatment, 2 × 10 M, 4 × 10 M) for 1, 2 or 24 h.

Mechanically-enhanced polysaccharide-based scaffolds for tissue engineering of soft tissues.

Collagen-based materials are probably among the most used class of biomaterials in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Although collagen is often privileged for providing a suitable substrate on which cells can be cultured or a matrix in which cells can be dispersed, its mechanical properties represent a major limitation for clinical translation and even for handling of the obtained regenerated tissue. In this work, the combination of polysaccharides chitosan (Ch) and xanthan gum (X) was investigated as an alternative for scaffolds for soft tissue engineering.

Nutrition screening in public hospital emergency rooms: Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool and Nutritional Risk Screening-2002 can be applied.

Objective: To evaluate the agreement between two nutritional screening tools (Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool [MUST] and Nutritional Risk Screening-2002 [NRS-2002]) and Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) to identify nutritional risk in patients admitted to public emergency rooms.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Methods: Patients aged ≥18 years who were admitted to an emergency room of a tertiary public hospital were evaluated.

Zinc supplementation reduces diet-induced obesity and improves insulin sensitivity in rats.

Rates of obesity have been growing at alarming rates, compromising the health of the world population. Thus, the search for interventions that address the metabolic repercussions of obesity are necessary. Here we evaluated the metabolic and antioxidant effects of zinc and branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) supplementation on obese rats.

Acute Physical Effort Increases Sympathovagal Balance Responses to Autonomic Stimulation in Metabolic Syndrome.

Background: There is little evidence of how metabolic syndrome (MS) affects sympathovagal balance responses to acute physical effort (APE) and autonomic stimulation (AS). This study aimed to evaluate the heart rate variability (HRV) responses to the combined APE and AS challenges.

Methods: Fourteen subjects (8 men; 49.

Genetic risk score based on fat mass and obesity-associated, transmembrane protein 18 and fibronectin type III domain containing 5 polymorphisms is associated with anthropometric characteristics in South Brazilian children and adolescents.

The prevalence of childhood obesity has increased worldwide. Although it is considered a polygenic inheritance disease, little is known about its susceptibility when the additive effect is considered. The aim of this study is to investigate whether the genetic risk score (GRS) based on previously associated obesity polymorphisms (SNP) rs9939609 (fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO)), rs6548238 (transmembrane protein 18 (TMEM18)) and rs16835198 (fibronectin type III domain containing 5 (FNDC5)) could serve as a predictor for anthropometric characteristics in a sample of Brazilian children and adolescents.

Cytoplasmic p21 Mediates 5-Fluorouracil Resistance by Inhibiting Pro-Apoptotic Chk2.

The oncogenic cytoplasmic p21 contributes to cancer aggressiveness and chemotherapeutic failure. However, the molecular mechanisms remain obscure. Here, we show for the first time that cytoplasmic p21 mediates 5-Fluorouracil (5FU) resistance by shuttling p-Chk2 out of the nucleus to protect the tumor cells from its pro-apoptotic functions.

Resistance training and L-arginine supplementation are determinant in genomic stability, cardiac contractility and muscle mass development in rats.

L-arginine supplementation has been related to increased maximum strength and improvement of hemodynamic parameters in several diseases. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of L-arginine supplementation and resistance training on muscle mass, hemodynamic function and DNA damage in healthy rats subjected to a low-arginine concentration diet. Twenty three Wistar rats (290-320g) were divided into 4 groups: Sedentary (SED-Arg, n = 6), Sedentary+Arg (SED+Arg, n = 6), Resistance Training (RT-Arg, n = 5), Resistance Training+Arg (RT+Arg, n = 6).

Allogeneic skin donors from a tissue bank in Southern Brazil: clinical and epidemiological profiles and microbial colonization of skin.

Background: An allogeneic human skin graft is a temporary biologic dressing used in extensive burns that can be a providential treatment for affected patients. Skin quality depends directly on its microbial decontamination after processing in a tissue bank. Our objective was to describe the skin donor profiles in relation to the analysis of the microbial colonization of the donated skin.

Rhinosinusitis symptoms, smoking and COPD: Prevalence and associations.

Objective (s): To estimate the prevalence and associations among rhinosinusitis symptoms, smoking and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Population-based.

Pre-trial cocaine biases choice toward cocaine through suppression of the nondrug option.

Being under the influence during choice between drug and nondrug options can have a dramatic effect on choice outcomes. When rats face a choice between cocaine and sweet water and are not under the influence, they prefer sweet water. In contrast, when they are under the influence of cocaine, this causes them to shift their choice to cocaine nearly exclusively.

Genetic variability and physiological traits of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains isolated from "Vale dos Vinhedos" vineyards reflect agricultural practices and history of this Brazilian wet subtropical area.

Vale dos Vinhedos appellation of origin has a very recent history as industrial wine making region. In this study we investigated the genetic and phenotypic variability of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains isolated from South-Brazilian vineyards in order to evaluate strain fermentation aptitude and copper and sulphites tolerance. Merlot grape bunches were collected from three vineyards and yeast isolation was performed after single bunch fermentation.

Mesenchymal stem cell transplantation and aerobic exercise for Parkinson's disease: therapeutic assets beyond the motor domain.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a very common neurodegenerative condition in which both motor and nonmotor deficits evolve throughout the course of the disease. Normally characterized as a movement disorder, PD has been broadly studied from a motor perspective. However, mild to moderate cognitive deficits began to appear in the early phases of the disease, even before motor disturbances actually manifest, and continue to progress relentlessly.

Subacute exposure to residual oil fly ash (ROFA) increases eHSP70 content and extracellular-to-intracellular HSP70 ratio: a relation with oxidative stress markers.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether exposure to particles induces an imbalance in 70-kDa heat shock proteins (HSP70). Since intracellularly (iHSP70) it has anti-inflammatory roles whereas extracellularly (eHSP70) it has pro-inflammatory roles, we evaluate the effect of residual oil fly ash (ROFA) exposure on eHSP70-to-iHSP70 ratio (H index), a biomarker of inflammatory status that is related to oxidative stress in plasma and lymphoid tissue. Wistar rats that received ROFA suspension for three consecutive days (750 μg) showed an increase in plasma eHSP70 levels (mainly the 72-kDa inducible form).

Body image (dis)satisfaction among low-income adult women.

Background & Aims: A better understanding of the factors that affect self-perception of body characteristics may play an important role in weight control practices. The objective of this study was to analyze body weight perception and body image satisfaction in low-income adult women in Southern Brazil.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey study in a cohort of women recruited from areas of social vulnerability in the city of Porto Alegre, RS.

Influence of PARP-1 inhibition in the cardiotoxicity of the topoisomerase 2 inhibitors doxorubicin and mitoxantrone.

Doxorubicin (DOX) and Mitoxantrone (MTX) are very effective drugs for a range of tumors despite being highly cardiotoxic. DNA topoisomerase 2 beta (Top2ß) was revealed as key mediator of DOX-induced cardiotoxicity, although ROS generation is also an important mechanism. Oxidative stress is also an important issue in MTX-induced cardiotoxicity that is manifested by mitochondrial dysfunction.

An initial study on the effect of functional electrical stimulation in erectile dysfunction: a randomized controlled trial.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) affects approximately 150 million men worldwide. Functional electrical stimulation (FES) therapy has shown a high regenerative capacity for smooth muscle cells and, therefore, is being increasingly adopted. FES can be a beneficial treatment option when the cause of ED is related to degeneration of cavernous smooth muscle.

Body Weight and Breast Cancer: Nested Case-Control Study in Southern Brazil.

Background: Current studies have shown that fast weight gain may be more important than body mass index on the incidence of breast cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between body weight and breast cancer.

Patients And Methods: This was a case-control study nested in a cohort of a breast cancer mammography screening program in Southern Brazil.

Aerobic training reduces oxidative stress in skeletal muscle of rats exposed to air pollution and supplemented with chromium picolinate.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of chromium picolinate (CrPic) supplementation associated with aerobic exercise using measures of oxidative stress in rats exposed to air pollution.

Methods: Sixty-one male Wistar rats were divided into eight groups: residual oil fly ash (ROFA) exposure and sedentary (ROFA-SED); ROFA exposure, sedentary and supplemented (ROFA-SED-CrPic); ROFA exposure and trained (ROFA-AT); ROFA exposure, supplemented and trained (ROFA-AT-CrPic); sedentary (Sal-SED); sedentary and supplemented (Sal-SED-CrPic); trained (Sal-AT); and supplemented and trained (Sal-AT-CrPic). Rats exposed to ROFA (air pollution) received 50 µg of ROFA daily via intranasal instillation.

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Children and Adolescents: Lifestyle Change - a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Introduction And Aim: This manuscript seeks to analyze the impact of lifestyle changes on body mass index (BMI), aminotransferases and steatosis in children and adolescents with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Materials And Methods: A review of PubMed, BIREME, Scopus, EMBASE, Medline and Web of Science databases 2015 was performed seeking studies addressing the impact of lifestyle interventions on children and/or adolescents with NAFLD. Inclusion were manuscripts written in Portuguese, English and Spanish, as well as age less than 18 years.

Alcohol Consumption Influences Clinical Outcome in Patients Admitted to a Referral Center for Liver Disease.

Introduction And Aim: Excessive alcohol consumption is a public health concern worldwide and has been associated with high mortality rates. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of alcohol consumption and its influence on the prognosis of hospitalized cirrhotic patients in a tertiary care hospital.

Material And Methods: We reviewed the medical records of all patients with hepatic cirrosis admitted between January 2009 and December 2014, in a referral center for liver disease in southern Brazil.

Nanoparticle vaccines against viral infections.

Despite numerous efforts, we still do not have prophylactic vaccines for many clinically relevant viruses, such as HIV, hepatitis C virus, Zika virus, and respiratory syncytial virus. Several factors have contributed to the current lack of effective vaccines, including the high rate of viral mutation, low immunogenicity of recombinant viral antigens, instability of viral antigenic proteins administered in vivo, sophisticated mechanisms of viral immune evasion, and inefficient induction of mucosal immunity by vaccine models studied to date. Some of these obstacles could be partially overcome by the use of vaccine adjuvants.

Clinical communication skills and professionalism education are required from the beginning of medical training - a point of view of family physicians.

Background: The Brazilian undergraduate medical course is six years long. As in other countries, a medical residency is not obligatory to practice as a doctor. In this context, this paper aims to clarify what and when competencies in communication and professionalism should be addressed, shedding light on the role of university, residency and post-residency programmes.