Clustering of body composition,blood pressure and physical activity in Portuguese families

Aim: The purposes of this study were: (i) to identify familial resemblances in body fat, blood pressure (BP) and total physical activity (TPA); (ii) to estimate the magnitude of their genetic and environmental influences; and (iii) to investigate shared familial aggregation among these phenotypes.

Subjects and methods: The sample comprised 260 nuclear families from Portugal. Body fat was assessed by bioelectrical impedance. BP was measured by an oscillometric device. TPA was estimated by the Baecke questionnaire. Familial correlation analyses were performed using Generalized Estimating Equations. Quantitative genetic modelling was used to estimate maximal heritability, genetic and environmental correlations.

Results: Familial intra-trait correlations ranged from 0.15–0.38. Genetic and common environmental factors explained from 30%--44% of fat mass depots and BP and 24% of TPA. Genetic correlations were significant between BP and the fat mass traits (p?p?Conclusions: The results suggest familial resemblance in the variation of body fat, BP and TPA, showing partial pleiotropic effects in the variation in body fat phenotypes and BP. TPA only shares common environmental influences with BP and body fat traits.     

Genetic diversity of hepatitis C virus quasispecies in chronic renal failure patients in Midwest Brazil

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) quasispecies constitute a dynamic population in a continuous process of variation and selection. To investigate effect of the immune system on the genetic variability of HCV, we compared the hypervariable region 1 (HVR1) of immunosuppressed patients with chronic renal failure (CRF group) to immunocompetent patients with HCV chronic infection (control group). The HVR1 from ten samples of each group was amplified, cloned and sequenced. The HCV quasispecies from the control group had a higher frequency of variable sites in HVR1 (83.9 % vs 59.3 %, p < 0.05), as well as a greater diversity within (intra-patient) and between samples, compared to the CRF group. The clustering of the majority of the quasispecies of the CRF group in the phylogenetic tree also showed the limited diversity of the quasispecies in immunosuppressed patients. Moreover, a higher variability of amino acids at positions 384, 386, 391, 394, 397, 398, 400, 405 and 410 was observed in the control group than in the CRF group, which showed a greater variability only at position 388 (p < 0.05). These data corroborates the hypothesis that the major selective pressure factor is the immune system, which promotes a high degree of diversity in the viral progeny and contributes to a constant evolution of HCV.     

Oxidative Stress and Inflammation Are Differentially Affected by Atorvastatin,Pravastatin, Rosuvastatin,and Simvastatin on Lungs from Mice Exposed to Cigarette Smoke

Our aim was to investigate the effects of four different statins on acute lung inflammation induced by cigarette smoke (CS). C57BL/6 male mice were divided into a control group (sham-smoked) and mice exposed to CS from 12 cigarettes/day for 5 days. Mice exposed to CS were grouped and treated with vehicle (i.p.), atorvastatin (10 mg/kg), pravastatin (10 mg/kg), rosuvastatin (5 mg/kg), or simvastatin (20 mg/kg). Treatment with statins differentially improved the pulmonary response when compared to the CS group. Atorvastatin and pravastatin demonstrated slightly effects on inflammation and oxidative stress. Rosuvastatin demonstrated the best anti-inflammatory effect, whereas simvastatin demonstrated the best antioxidant response.     

Risk for losing physical independence in older adults: The role of sedentary time,light, and moderate to vigorous physical activity

This study examined the association of a range of physical activity intensities and sedentary behavior with the risk of losing physical independence later in life in community-dwelling older adults. A total of 131 males and 240 females, aged 65–103 years, were enrolled. Physical activity (PA) and sedentary time were assessed with accelerometers and the risk for losing physical independence in later years was assessed with the self-reported composite physical function (CPF) scale adjusted for age. Participants were divided in two groups – high risk group (HRG) and low risk group (LRG), according current CPF. According to the multiple logistic regression analyses, sedentary time was not a significant predictor. The odds of a male participant being in the LRG were 12.19 times higher than those of a female (95% CI 5.06–29.39). Both, light PA (OR = 1.01; 95% CI 1.01–1.02) and MVPA (OR = 1.432; 95% CI 1.21–1.69) had a significant main effect on the risk of losing physical independence. Age and gender interacted with moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) to predict the risk of losing physical independence. Thus, as age increases, participants that are more physically active became less likely (OR = 0.997; 95% CI 0.995–0.999) to be in the HRG than younger participants. Similarly, the odds of a physically active women being physical independent in later life are higher (OR = 0.94; 95% CI 0.91–0.96) than those of a physically active men. These new findings suggest that light PA, and MVPA are significantly associated with the risk of losing physical independence later in life, and age and gender combined with MVPA have an interaction effect on physical independence of older adults.     

A putative role for homocysteine in the pathophysiology of acute bacterial meningitis in children

Background

Acute bacterial meningitis frequently causes cortical and hippocampal neuron loss leading to permanent neurological sequelae. Neuron death in acute bacterial meningitis involves the excessive activation of NMDA receptors and p53-mediated apoptosis, and the latter is triggered by the depletion of NAD?+?and ATP cellular stores by the DNA repair enzyme poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. This enzyme is activated during acute bacterial meningitis in response to DNA damage induced, on its turn, by reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. An excess of homocysteine can also induce this cascade of events in hippocampal neurons.The present work aimed at investigating the possible involvement of homocysteine in the pathophysiology of meningitis by comparing its concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from children with viral or acute bacterial meningitis, and control individuals.

Methods

Homocysteine and cysteine concentrations were assessed by high-performance liquid chromatography in CSF samples from nine patients with acute bacterial meningitis, 13 patients with viral meningitis and 18 controls (median age: 4 years-old; range: <1 to 13) collected by lumbar puncture at admission at the Children's Hospital Joao Paulo II - FHEMIG, from January 2010 to November 2011.

Results

We found that homocysteine accumulates up to neurotoxic levels within the central nervous system of patients with acute bacterial meningitis, but not in those with viral meningitis or control individuals. No correlation was found between homocysteine and cysteine concentrations and the cerebrospinal fluid standard cytochemical parameters.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that HCY is produced intrathecally in response to acute bacterial meningitis and accumulates within the central nervous system reaching potentially neurotoxic levels. This is the first work to propose a role for HCY in the pathophysiology of brain damage associated with acute bacterial meningitis.

     

Adipogenic Effects of a Combination of the Endocrine-Disrupting Compounds Bisphenol A,Diethylhexylphthalate, and Tributyltin

ObjectiveThe food contaminants bisphenol A (BPA), diethylhexylphthalate (DEHP), and tributyltin (TBT) are potent endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDC) known to interfere with adipogenesis. EDC usually act in mixtures and not as single compounds. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a simultaneous exposure of BPA, DEHP, and TBT on mesenchymal stem cell differentiation into adipocytes.MethodsMultipotent murine mesenchymal stem cells (C3H10T1/2) were exposed to EDC mixtures in high concentrations, i.e. MIX-high (10 µmol/l BPA, 100 µmol/l DEHP, 100 nmol/l TBT), and in environmentally relevant concentrations, i.e. MIX-low (10 nmol/l BPA, 100 nmol/l DEHP, 1 nmol/l TBT). The exposure was performed either for the entire culture time (0-12 days) or at distinct stages of adipogenic differentiation. At day 12 of cell culture, the amount of adipocytes, triglyceride content (TG), and adipogenic marker gene expression were analyzed.ResultsMIX-high increased the development of adipocytes and the expression of adipogenic marker genes independently of the exposure window. The total TG amount was not increased. The low-concentrated EDC mixture had no obvious impact on adipogenesis.ConclusionIn EDC mixtures, the adipogenic effect of TBT and DEHP predominates single effects of BPA. Mixture effects of EDC are not deducible from single compound experiments.Key Words: Endocrine-disrupting compounds, EDC, Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ, PPARγ, Adipogenesis, Mesenchymal stem cells, MSC     

Photos vs silhouettes for evaluation of profile esthetics between white and black evaluators

Objective:To determine whether photos or silhouettes are adequate methods for evaluating the esthetic profiles of black subjects and whether black and white evaluators have different preferences for esthetic profiles.Materials and Methods:One photographic record of the profile of a black female patient with accentuated dental bimaxillary dentoalveolar protrusion was randomly selected. The image of the patient''s profile was altered to produce a series of seven photos and seven silhouettes (a total of 14 images) with different lip positions but uniform distances in relation to the esthetic plane created by Ricketts (line E). Fifty black and 50 white lay evaluators were invited to enumerate the photos and silhouettes, produced according to the lip position, in the order in which they considered most esthetically pleasing.Results:The number of preferences found to be within the esthetic norm was slightly higher among the photographs than among the silhouettes; the esthetic profile with a deviation of −2 mm from line E was elected as the most attractive, and the esthetic pattern with a deviation of +6 mm from the normal line E was considered the least attractive. There were no statistically significant differences between the preferences related to the variables race, sex, and educational background.Conclusions:The esthetic attractiveness of the facial profiles of black subjects in photos and silhouettes was evaluated in a similar manner among black and white evaluators. Among both black and white evaluators, the greatest preference was for the slightly concave profile, which was within the limit considered standard.