Big Endothelin-1 and Nitric Oxide in Hypertensive Elderly Patients with and without Obstructive Sleep Apnea-Hypopnea Syndrome

Background

The role of oxidative stress in hypertensive elderly patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is unknown.

Objective

The purpose was to evaluate the levels of big endothelin-1 (Big ET-1) and nitric oxide (NO) in elderly hypertensive patients with and without moderate to severe OSAHS.

Methods

Volunteers were hospitalized for 24 h. We obtained the following data: body mass index (BMI); 24-ambulatory blood pressure monitoring; and current medication. Arterial blood was collected at 7pm and 7am for determining plasma NO and Big ET-1 levels. Pulse oximetry was performed during sleep. Pearson''s or Spearman''s correlation and univariate analysis of variance were used for statistical analysis.

Results

We studied 25 subjects with OSAHS (group 1) and 12 without OSAHS (group 2) aged 67.0 ± 6.5 years and 67.8 ± 6.8 years, respectively. No significant differences were observed between the groups in BMI; number of hours of sleep; 24-h systolic and diastolic BPs; awake BP, sleep BP and medications to control BP between groups. No differences were detected in plasma Big ET-1 and NO levels at 19:00 h, but plasma Big ET-1 levels at 7:00 h were higher in group 1 (p = 0.03). In group 1, a negative correlation was also observed between the mean arterial oxyhemoglobin saturation level, 24-h systolic BP (p = 0.03, r = −0.44), and Big ET-1 (p = 0.04, r = −0.41).

Conclusions

On comparing elderly hypertensive patients with and without OSAHS having similar BP and BMI, we observed higher Big ET-1 levels After sleep in the OSAHS group. NO levels did not differ between the hypertensive patients with or without OSAHS.     

Genetic analysis of LRRK2 functional domains in Brazilian patients with Parkinson’s disease

Background and purpose: Mutations in the leucine‐rich repeat kinase 2 gene (LRRK2) have been associated with Parkinson’s disease (PD), and the majority of the pathogenic variants are located in the ROC and MAPKKK domains. Methods: Exons 29–31 and 38–44 (ROC and MAPKKK domains) were sequenced in 204 patients with PD, mostly Brazilian. Results: We identified four polymorphisms, a novel silent variant p.R1398R and four substitutions: p.T1410M, p.G2019S, p.Y2189C and the novel variant p.C2139S. Conclusions: The most prevalent mutation was the p.G2019S (2.4%). We consider that the p.T1410M and the p.Y2189C variants are probably polymorphisms and that the p.C2139S mutation is potentially pathogenic.     

Mechanisms of action of melanin-concentrating hormone in the teleost fish erythrophoroma cell line (GEM-81)

Melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) evokes an increase of GEM-81 cell proliferation. This action of 10(-6)M MCH was inhibited in the presence of the following blockers: U-73122 (phospholipase C), Ro-31-8220 (PKC) or KN-93 (Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent kinase). The more selective PKC inhibitors, HBDDE and Go-6983, which block, respectively, PKC alpha/gamma isoform and beta1 isoform, were used. HBDDE was ineffective whereas Go-6983 reversed the proliferative response promoted by MCH. Flow cytometry assays demonstrated that MCH induces a slow and long-lasting rise in intracellular calcium, which can be blocked by U-73122. Our results also show a cAMP increase evoked by MCH. Our data support the assumption that MCH exerts its effect on GEM-81 erythrophoroma cells through activation of phosholipase C, beta1 PKC, and Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent PKC, and eliciting a slow, long-lasting rise in calcium, which may trigger the proliferative signal.     

Chronic effect of parathyroid hormone on NHE3 expression in rat renal proximal tubules

BACKGROUND: The most abundant Na+/H+ exchanger in the apical membrane of proximal tubules is the type 3 isoform (NHE3), and its activity is acutely inhibited by parathyroid hormone (PTH). In the present study, we investigate whether changes in protein abundance as well as in mRNA levels play a significant role in the long-term modulation of NHE3 by PTH. METHODS: Three groups of animals were compared: (1) HP: animals submitted to hyperparathyroidism by subcutaneous implantation of PTH pellets, providing threefold basal levels of this hormone (2.1 U. h-1); (2) control: sham-operated rats in which placebo pellets were implanted; (3) PTX: animals submitted to hypoparathyroidism by thyroparathyroidectomy followed by subcutaneous implantation of thyroxin pellets, which provided basal levels of thyroid hormone. After eight days, we measured bicarbonate reabsorption in renal proximal tubules by in vivo microperfusion. NHE3 activity was also measured in brush border membrane (BBM) vesicles by proton dependent uptake of 22Na. NHE3 expression was evaluated by Northern blot, Western blot and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Bicarbonate reabsorption in renal proximal tubules was significantly decreased in HP rats. Na+/H+ exchange activity in isolated BBM vesicles was 6400 +/- 840, 9225 +/- 505, and 12205 +/- 690 cpm. mg-1. 15 s-1 in HP, sham, and PTX groups, respectively. BBM NHE3 protein abundance decreased 39.3 +/- 8.2% in HP rats and increased 54.6 +/- 7.8% in PTX rats. Immunohistochemistry showed that expression of NHE3 protein in apical BBM was decreased in HP rats and was increased in PTX rats. Northern blot analysis of total kidney RNA showed that the abundance of NHE3 mRNA was 20.3 +/- 1.3% decreased in HP rats and 27. 7 +/- 2.1% increased in PTX. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that the chronic inhibitory effect of PTH on the renal proximal tubule NHE3 is associated with changes in the expression of NHE3 mRNA levels and protein abundance.     

New Analysis Method Application in Metallographic Images through the Construction of Mosaics Via Speeded Up Robust Features and Scale Invariant Feature Transform

In many applications in metallography and analysis, many regions need to be considered and not only the current region. In cases where there are analyses with multiple images, the specialist should also evaluate neighboring areas. For example, in metallurgy, welding technology is derived from conventional testing and metallographic analysis. In welding, these tests allow us to know the features of the metal, especially in the Heat-Affected Zone (HAZ); the region most likely for natural metallurgical problems to occur in welding. The expanse of the Heat-Affected Zone exceeds the size of the area observed through a microscope and typically requires multiple images to be mounted on a larger picture surface to allow for the study of the entire heat affected zone. This image stitching process is performed manually and is subject to all the inherent flaws of the human being due to results of fatigue and distraction. The analyzing of grain growth is also necessary in the examination of multiple regions, although not necessarily neighboring regions, but this analysis would be a useful tool to aid a specialist. In areas such as microscopic metallography, which study metallurgical products with the aid of a microscope, the assembly of mosaics is done manually, which consumes a lot of time and is also subject to failures due to human limitations. The mosaic technique is used in the construct of environment or scenes with corresponding characteristics between themselves. Through several small images, and with corresponding characteristics between themselves, a new model is generated in a larger size. This article proposes the use of Digital Image Processing for the automatization of the construction of these mosaics in metallographic images. The use of this proposed method is meant to significantly reduce the time required to build the mosaic and reduce the possibility of failures in assembling the final image; therefore increasing efficiency in obtaining results and expediting the decision making process. Two different methods are proposed: One using the transformed Scale Invariant Feature Transform (SIFT), and the second using features extractor Speeded Up Robust Features (SURF). Although slower, the SIFT method is more stable and has a better performance than the SURF method and can be applied to real applications. The best results were obtained using SIFT with Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio = 61.38, Mean squared error = 0.048 and mean-structural-similarity = 0.999, and processing time of 4.91 seconds for mosaic building. The methodology proposed shows be more promissory in aiding specialists during analysis of metallographic images.     

Tumor control,eye preservation,and visual outcomes of ruthenium plaque brachytherapy for choroidal melanoma

PurposeTo evaluate outcomes in patients with posterior choroidal melanoma treated with ruthenium (¹⁰⁶Ru) brachytherapy.Methods and MaterialsA retrospective single institutional analysis of 83 of 94 consecutive patients who underwent ¹⁰⁶Ru brachytherapy was performed. Disease was mainly staged as small- and medium-sized nonmetastatic melanoma. The main parameters evaluated were tumor control (local control [LC] and progression-free survival [PFS]) and ocular preservation (enucleation-free survival [EFS]). Besides, functional evaluation was performed and complications were described.ResultsThe median follow-up was 39 (6–83) months. The median values of height and maximal basal diameter were 4.3 and 9.3 mm, respectively. Median apical and basal doses were 100 and 307 Gy, respectively. The actuarial 2-year LC, PFS, and EFS were 96.2%, 96.2%, and 95.5%, respectively. Actuarial 5-year LC, PFS, and EFS were 93.6%, 93.6%, and 84.1%, respectively. Preinsertion visual acuity (VA) maintenance was 34% (equal or better than before treatment). Approximately 56% of patients stayed with a minimum functional VA of 0.1 or more, from whom more than half stayed with 0.5 or more. Cataract was seen in 16% of treated eyes, and glaucoma was the rarest complication, with an incidence of 3%.ConclusionsSmall- and medium-sized choroidal melanomas can be adequately treated with ¹⁰⁶Ru brachytherapy, with high rates of tumor control and ocular preservation. Moreover, acceptable incidence of complications such as glaucoma and cataract are seen, and a reasonable part of patients stay with a minimum functional VA.     

Association between maternal vitamin E status and alpha‐tocopherol levels in the newborn and colostrum

Vitamin E is important because of its antioxidant activity in situations of oxidative stress, especially postnatally. Hence, the objective was to verify whether maternal alpha‐tocopherol level is associated with the alpha‐tocopherol levels of the newborn and colostrum. This is a cross‐sectional study of 58 women and their term newborns from a public hospital. Blood and colostrum were collected to measure alpha‐tocopherol levels by high‐performance liquid chromatography. Mothers with serum alpha‐tocopherol levels <16.2 mmol L^?1 and newborns <11.6 mmol L^?1 were indicative of deficiency or low levels. Mothers were divided into two groups: <16.2 mmol L^?1 and those with levels ≥16.2 mmol L^?1. The mean (95% confidence interval) serum alpha‐tocopherol levels of mothers, umbilical cords and colostrum were 28 (24–32), 6 (5–8) and 39 mmol L^?1 (32–45), respectively (P < 0.001); 19% of the women and 90% of the newborns had low alpha‐tocopherol levels. Maternal alpha‐tocopherol level was associated with that of the umbilical cord. Newborns from mothers at risk of deficiency had low alpha‐tocopherol levels (P < 0.001). Colostrum levels of vitamin E were not influenced by maternal serum. Maternal deficiency influenced the vitamin E level of the umbilical cord but does not in the colostrum, evidencing distinct transfer mechanisms via the mammary gland.