Ventricular remodeling in growing rats with experimental diabetes: The impact of swimming training

Diabetic cardiomyopathy is associated with cardiac muscle remodeling, resulting in myocardial dysfunction, whereas exercise training (ET) is a useful nonpharmacological strategy for the therapy of cardiac diseases. This study tested the effects of low-intensity swimming-training on the structural remodeling of the left ventricle (LV) in growing rats with unmanaged experimental diabetes. Thirty-day-old male Wistar rats were divided into four groups (n = 5/group): sedentary-control (SC), exercised-control (EC), sedentary-diabetic (SD), and exercised-diabetic (ED). Swimming-training rats exercised 5 days/week, 90 min/day, with a load of 5% BW during 8 weeks. Sections of LV were stained with Periodic acid-Schiff, Sirius Red, and Gomori's reticulin. Seven days and 8 weeks after streptozotocin (STZ) induction (60 mg kg⁻¹ BW), blood glucose (BG) in the diabetic groups (SD = 581.40 ± 40.48; ED = 558.00 ± 48.89) was greater (p < 0.05) than in their controls (SC = 88.80 ± 21.70; EC = 85.60 ± 11.55). Swimming-training reduced BG by 23 mg/dL in the diabetics (p > 0.05). The LV of diabetic rats had increased interstitial collagen and reticular fibers on the extracellular matrix and presented glycogen accumulation. More importantly, all these adverse tissue changes induced by STZ were attenuated by ET. Together, these findings support the idea of a beneficial role of exercise in the LV remodeling in rats with unmanaged type-1 diabetes mellitus.     

Effects of Canavalia lectins on Acute Inflammation in Sensitized and Non-sensitized Rats

The anti-inflammatory activity of Canavalia seed lectins (Canavalia gladiata [CGL], Canavalia maritima [ConM] and Canavalia brasiliensis [ConBr]) was evaluated by intravenous administration in rats. In non-sensitized rats, cellular edema elicited by carrageenan was reduced (45–51 %) by ConM and (44–59 %) by CGL. Osmotic edema elicited by dextran was reduced by ConM and CGL in 27 % and 29 %. ConM and CGL reduced the edema elicited by l-arginine in 53 % and that of prostaglandin E₂ in 48 % and 36 %. Leukocyte migration elicited by carrageenan was reduced in 49 % by ConM and in 55 % by CGL (attenuated in 4× by glucose) and peritoneal TNF-α content in 82 %. In rats sensitized, ConM inhibited the paw edema and leukocyte migration elicited by ovalbumin in 34 % and 70 %. ConM and CGL are anti-inflammatory, mainly in cellular events mediated by prostaglandin E₂, nitric oxide and TNF-α in non-sensitized rats. However, only ConM is anti-inflammatory in sensitized rats. CGL effect involves the lectin domain.     

Factors associated with menopausal symptom severity in middle-aged Brazilian women from the Brazilian Western Amazon

Objective

To determine the frequency and severity of menopausal symptoms and associated factors in middle-aged Brazilian women.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was carried out involving 1415 women aged 35–65 years attended at the Outpatient unit of the Clinicas Hospital of Rio Branco, Acre state, Brazil. The Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) was used to assess the severity of menopause symptoms. The Stata 10 statistical package was used for all data analysis whereas Pearson's x² nonparametric association test was used for bivariate analysis, adopting a level of statistical significance of 5%. On the multivariate analysis, independent variables positively associated with the dependent model were retained in the final model (p < 0.005).

Results

Overall, 54.1% of participants were premenopausal, 10.1% perimenopausal, and 35.8% postmenopausal. Irritability was the most frequent symptom (78.3%), followed by joint and muscular discomfort (74.8%), and anxiety (72.7%). Mean total MRS score was 15.6 + 8.8 (median 15). After adjusting for confounding factors, the logistic regression analysis found low educational level (OR:1.53; [95% CI:1.21–1.95]; p < 0.001); self-perceived poor/very poor health (OR:4.48; [95% CI: 3.53–5.69]; p < 0.001), and menopausal transition phase (OR:1.73; [95% CI:1.18–2.53]; p = 0.005) to be statistically significantly associated with more severe menopausal symptoms.

Conclusion

Among Brazilian women, atypical symptoms of the menopause were the most frequently reported. Severe menopausal symptoms were more likely in women with low educational level, self-perceived poor health and at the menopausal transition phase.     

Cross-cultural validation of the Patient–Practitioner Orientation Scale (PPOS)

Objectives

Translate, adapt and validate the Patient–Practitioner Orientation Scale (PPOS) for use in Brazil.

Methods

The PPOS was translated to Portuguese using a modified Delphi technique. The final version was applied to 360 participants. Reliability (test–retest and internal consistency) and construct validity (explanatory and confirmatory factor analysis) were assessed.

Results

Only two items did not reach pre-established criteria agreement in Delphi technique. In pre-testing, seven items were modified. Internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.605) and test–retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.670) were adequate. In explanatory factor analysis, one item did not achieve a loading factor, one item was considered factorially complex and two items were inconsistent with a priori factors. Confirmatory factor analysis provided an acceptable adjustment for the observed variables (χ²/df = 2.33; GFI = 0.91; AGFI = 0.89; CFI = 0.84; NFI = 0.75; NNFI = 0.81; RMSEA = 0.062 (p = 0.016) and SRMR = 0.065).

Conclusions

The Brazilian version PPOS (B-PPOS) showed acceptable validity and adequate reliability.

Practice implications

The use of the B-PPOS in national and cross-cultural studies may contribute to the evaluation and monitoring of the attitudes of doctors, medical students and patients toward their professional relationships in research and practice.     

Motor unit number index (MUNIX) in children and adults with 5q-spinal muscular atrophy: Variability and clinical correlations

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a motor neuron disease associated with progressive muscle weakness and motor disability. The motor unit number index (MUNIX) is a biomarker used to assess loss of motor units in later-onset SMA patients. Twenty SMA patients (SMA types 3 and 4), aged between 7 and 41 years, were clinically evaluated through the Hammersmith Motor Functional Scale Expanded and the Spinal Muscular Atrophy-Functional Rating Scale. The patients underwent compound motor action potential (CMAP) and MUNIX studies of the right abductor pollicis brevis, abductor digiti minimi and tibialis anterior (TA) muscles. Age-matched healthy controls (n = 20) were enrolled to obtain normative CMAP and MUNIX values from the same muscles. Compared to healthy controls, SMA patients showed significant reductions in MUNIX values among all muscles studied, whereas CMAP showed reductions only in the weaker muscles (abductor digiti minimi and TA). MUNIX variability was significantly higher in the SMA group than in the control group. MUNIX variability in TA correlated with CMAP variability. Motor functional scores correlated with TA MUNIX. The MUNIX study is feasible in later-onset SMA patients, and TA MUNIX values correlate with disease severity in patients with mild motor impairment.     

Clinical, tomographic aspects and relevance of torus palatinus: case report of two sisters

Despite the nomenclature suggested to be a tumor, torus palatinus (TP) is an overgrowth of the bone in the palatal region and represents an anatomic variation. Its prevalence varies among the population studied and its etiology is still unclear; however, it seems to be a multifactorial disorder with genetics and environmental involvement. Surgical removal of the TP is indicated in the following circumstances: (1) deglutition and speech impairment, (2) cancer phobia, (3) traumatized mucosa over the torus, and (4) prosthetic reasons. The aim of this case report is describe cases that occurred in two sisters, emphasizing the genetic etiology of this anatomic variation. In addition, intra-oral exam and computed tomography scan (axial, coronal and sagittal view) provided a detailed assessment of the TP and elimination of other possible diagnoses, furthermore allowed a better analyzes of the anatomic relation with adjacentes structures. No surgical removal was indicated for both cases.     

Homogeneity of Trypanosoma cruzi I, II, and III populations and the overlap of wild and domestic transmission cycles by Triatoma brasiliensis in northeastern Brazil

The genetic variability of 24 Trypanosoma cruzi isolates from humans (11) and triatomines (13) in northeastern Brazil was analyzed by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and compared with taxonomic groups, host, and geographical origin of the parasite. TcI (12.5 %), TcII (45.8 %), and TcIII (41.6 %) showed a similarity coefficient (SC) of 0.74 using the mean of three primers and 0.80, 0.75, and 0.66 for λgt11-F, M13-40F, and L15996 primers, respectively. The samples were clustered according to their phylogenetic origin in two polymorphic and divergent branches: one associated with TcI and the other with two subbranches corresponding to TcII and TcIII. TcI was only identified in humans and correlated with the Id homogenous group (0.80 SC). TcII from humans and Triatoma brasiliensis showed 0.86 SC and was clustered according monoclonal or polyclonal populations with similar RAPD profiles detected among the vector and/or humans in different municipalities. TcIII was isolated exclusively in sylvatic cycles from T. brasiliensis and Panstrongylus lutzi and showed low variability (0.84 SC) and high homology mainly among isolated populations at the same locality. The homology of T. cruzi among different hosts and locations suggests the distribution of principal clones circulating and reveals an overlapping between the sylvatic and domestic cycles in this area, where T. brasiliensis infected with TcII acts as link in both environments. This species is important to maintain TcII and TcIII in wild cycles and deserves particular attention due an emergent risk of these populations being introduced into the domestic cycle; moreover, its clinical and epidemiological implications remain unknown.     

Risk factors for neurological complications in children with Flavivirus infection

Journal of NeuroVirology - This study aims to characterize the acute neurological manifestations caused by DENV, ZIKV, and YFV during hospitalization; identify the risk factors associated with...     

Neurological disease caused by Oropouche virus in northern Brazil: should it be included in the scope of clinical neurological diseases?

Journal of NeuroVirology - We describe two neurological cases of Oropouche virus infection in northern Brazil, where the virus is endemic but neglected as a pathogen. This study reiterates the...     

Further insecticidal activities of essential oils from Lippia sidoides and Croton species against Aedes aegypti L.

This study assessed new insecticidal activities of essential oils from Lippia sidoides and Croton species (Croton zehntneri, Croton nepetaefolius, Croton argyrophylloides, and Croton sonderianus) against Aedes aegypti mosquito. In addition, the acute toxicity upon mice was determined. All essential oils showed inhibition of egg hatching, with IC₅₀ values ranging from 66.4 to 143.2 μg?mL^?1, larvicidal activity with LC₅₀ ranging from 25.5 to 94.6 μg?mL^?1, and pupicidal action with PC₅₀ ranging from 276.8 to over 500 μg?mL^?1. Only L. sidoides, C. zehntneri, and C. argyrophylloides essential oils were able to inhibit the oviposition of female gravid mosquitoes with OD₅₀ values of 35.3, 45.3, and 45.8 μg?mL^?1, respectively. Oral acute toxicity in mice showed that C. sonderianus and C. argyrophylloides oils are nontoxic (LD₅₀?>?6,000 mg.kg^?1) while C. nepetaefolius, C. zehntneri, and L. sidoides oils are moderately toxic (LD₅₀ 3,840; 3,464, and 2,624 mg.kg^?1, respectively). The results indicate that these oils are promising sources of bioactive compounds, showing low or no toxicity to mammals.