A mixture of pesticides at environmental concentrations induces oxidative stress and cholinergic effects in the neotropical fish Rhamdia quelen

The insecticides imidacloprid (IMI), a neonicotinoid, and propoxur (PRO), an N-methylcarbamate compound, are pesticides widely used throughout the world. Although they are not used together to combat pests, both are often found in freshwater near agricultural areas. Thereby, the goal of this study was to evaluate the additive effects of IMI and PRO mixtures at environmental concentrations in relation to isolated compounds on Rhamdia quelen, a neotropical fish. The fish was exposed to IMI (0.11 µg/L), PRO (0.039 µg/L), or Mix (0.11 µg/L IMI plus 0.039 µg/L PRO) during 96 h. Glutathione S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities were determined. To verify oxidative damage thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), protein carbonyl (PC), reactive oxygen species contents (ROS), antioxidant capacity against peroxides (ACAP) were determined in gills, liver, brain and muscle. The results shows that a mixture of these pesticides at environmental concentrations inhibited acetylcholinesterase activity in the brain and induced oxidative damage in all analyzed tissues. These results reinforce the hypothesis that mixture of contaminants present in environment could induce additive or synergistic effects on fish species.

     

Relationships between blood pressure,anthropometric characteristics and blood lipids in high- and low-altitude populations from Central Asia

We studied the relationships between blood pressure, anthropometric characteristics and blood lipids in 72 low altitude (LA) Uighurs (600m), 91 LA-Kirghizs (900 m), 117 medium altitude (MA) Kazakhs (2100m) and 94 high altitude (HA) Kirghizs (3200 m). All subjects were male and had a similar age (p = ns, ANOVA; range for all 374 subjects: 18-66 yr). Body weight (Wt), body mass index (BMI) and the sum of four skinfolds (4SF) were significantly lower in HA-Kirghizs than the remaining groups (p < 0:0005, p < 0:0005 and p < 0:05 respectively, ANOVA). However, no difference was found in body fat distribution as detected by waist: hip circumference (WHR) and triceps : subscapular skinfold ratios (TSR; p = ns, ANOVA). Stage 1 hypertension was detected in 18% of LA-Uighurs, 2% of LA-Kirghizs, 4% of MA-Kazakhs and 1% of HA-Kirghizs; stage 2 hypertension was detected in 2% of LA-Uighurs and none of the remaining groups; no subject had stage 3 hypertension (The Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure 1997). Blood cholesterol (CH) and triglycerides (TG) did not differ between groups (p = ns, ANOVA). The relationships between systolic (SBP) or diastolic (DBP) blood pressure and age, Wt, BMI, 4SF, WHR, TSR, CH and TG were independent from altitude (p = ns, ANCOVA). In the pooled sample (n = 374), age explained 1 and 3% of SBP (p < 0:05) and DBP (p < 0:005) variance respectively, Wt was the best predictor of SBP and DBP explaining 11 and 10% of their variance respectively (p < 0:0001) and CH explained 5% of DBP variance (p < 0:0001). In conclusion, hypertension is more frequent in LA- than MA- and HA-subjects from Central Asia. However, anthropometric characteristics and blood lipids do similarly contribute to explain blood pressure in these subjects.

An Bewohnern des Tieflandes (LA), mittlerer Hohen (MA) und an Hochlandbevolkerungen (HA) wurde der Zusammenhang zwischen dem Blutdruck, anthropometrischen Charakteristika und Blutlipiden untersucht. Im einzelnen handelt es sich bei den untersuchten Bevolkerungen um 72 LA-Uiguren (600m), 91 LA-Kirgis (900 m), 117 MA-Kasaks (2100 m) und 94 HA-Kirgis (3200 m). Es handelt sich ausschliesslich um mannliche Probanden ahnlichen Alters (p = ns, ANOVA; Variationsbreite fur alle 374 Probanden: 18-66 Jahre). Das Korpergewicht (Wt), der Body Mass Index (BMI) und die Summe von vier Hautfaltendicken (4SF) war bei den HA-Kirgis signifikant niedriger als in den ubrigen Gruppen (p < 0:0005; p < 0:0005 bzw. p < 0:05, ANOVA). In der Verteilung des Korperfetts, die uber das Verhaltnis von Taillen- zu Huftumfang (WHR) sowie das Verhaltnis von Trizeps-Hautfaltendicke zur Dicke der subskapularen Hautfalte (TSR; p = ns, ANOVA) erfasst wurde, liessen sich jedoch keine Unterschiede beobachten. Ein Bluthochdruck im Stadium 1 liess sich bei 18% der LA-Uiguren, 2% der LA.Kirgis 4% der MA-Kasaks und 1% der HA-Kirgis beobachten; ein Bluthochdruck des Stadiums 2 wurde lediglich bei 2% der LA-Uiguren beobachtet, wahrend er in den ubrigen Bevolkerungen nicht vorkam; ein Bluthochdruck des Stadiums 3 wurde in keiner Bevolkerung beobachtet (The Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of Hypertension 1997). In den Blutkonzentrationen von Cholesterin (CH) und Triglyzeriden (TG) wurden keine Unterschiede zwischen den Gruppen beobachtet (p = ns, ANOVA). Der Zusammenhang zwischen dem systolischen (SBP) bzw. dem diastolischen Blutdruck (DBP) und dem Alter, Wt, BMI, 4SF, WHR, TSR, CH und TG war von der Hohenlage des Wohnortes unabhangig (p = ns; ANCOVA). In der gepoolten Stichprobe (n = 374), erklarte das Alter 1 bzw. 3% der Varianz des SBP (p < 0:05) bzw. des DBP (p < 0:005). Das Gewicht erwies sich als bester Pradiktor des SBP und DBP, es erklarte 11 bzw. 10% der Varianz (p < 0:0001). CH erklarte 5% der Varianz des DBP (p < 0:0001). Zusammenfassend lasst sich festhalten, dass Bluthochdruck in Zentralasien bei LA-Bevolkerungen haufiger vorkommt als in MA- und HA-Bevolkerungen. Anthropometrische Charakteristika und Blutfette tragen jedoch in ahnlicher Weise zur Erklarung des Blutdruckes bei allen Probanden bei.

On a etudie les associations entre la pression arterielle, les caracteristiques anthropometriques et les lipides sanguins chez 72 Ouigour d'altitude basse (AB) (600 m), 91 AB-Khirghiz (900 m), 117 Kazakhs d'altitude moyenne (AM) (2100m) et 94 Kirghiz d'altitude haute (AH) (3200 m). Tous les sujets etaient des hommes adultes de moyenne d'age similaire (p = ns, ANOVA; etendue de variation pour l'ensemble des 374 sujets: 18-66 ans). Le poids corporel (Pds), l'indice de masse corporelle (IMC) et la somme des quatre plis cutanes (S4PC) etaient significativement plus bas chez les AH-Kirghiz que dans les autres groupes (respectivement p < 0:0005, p < 0:0005 et p < 0:05 ANOVA). Cependant, on n'a pas trouve de difference dans la distribution de la graisse corporelle telle que determinee par les rapports des circonferences taille/hanches (RTH) et par le rapport des plis cutanes triceps/sous-scapulaire (RTS; p = ns, ANOVA). L'hypertension de niveau 1 est presente chez 18% des AB-Ouigour, 2% des AB-Kirghiz, 4% des AMKazakh et 1% des AH-Kirghiz. Le niveau 2 d'hypertension a ete detecte chez 2% des AB-Ouigour seulement. Aucun des sujets n'avait atteint le niveau 3 d'hypertension (Comite de Prevention, Detection, Evaluation et Traitement de la Haute Pression Arterielle, 1997). Le cholesterol sanguin (CS) et les triglycerides (TG) ne differaient pas entre groupes (p = ns, ANOVA). Les associations entre pressions arterielle systolique (PAS), diastolique (PAD) et l'age, le Pds, l'IMC, la S4PC, le RTH, le RTS, le CS et les TG sont independantes de l'altitude (p = ns, ANCOVA). L'age expliquait respectivement 1 et 3% des variances de la PAS (p < 0:05) et de la PSD (p < 0:005), le Pds etant le meilleur predicteur de la PAS et de la PAD, expliquant respectivement 11% et 10% de leur variance (p, < 0:0001), le CS expliquant 5% de la variance en PAD (p < 0:0001). En conclusion, l'hypertension est plus frequente chez les sujets d'AB- que d'AM- et d'AH- en Asie Centrale. Les caracteristiques anthropometriques et les lipides sanguins contribuent demaniere semblable a expliquer la pression arterielle chez les sujets examines.     

Análisis del polimorfismo rs20541 (R130Q) del gen de la IL-13 en pacientes con enfermedades inflamatorias crónicas asociadas al envejecimiento

ObjectiveTo investigate whether there is association between the rs20541 (R130Q) polymorphism in the IL-13 gene with disease susceptibility and clinical subsets in patients with elderly-associated inflammatory chronic diseases.Material and methods78 patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA), 174 with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), 90 elderly-onset rheumatoid arthritis (EORA), and 465 healthy controls from the same geographic area were studied. The rs20541 (R130Q) polymorphism in the IL-13 gene was evaluated by PCR-RFLP. Circulating levels of IL-13 were measured by ELISA.ResultsA higher frequency of the AA genotype [2.349 (0.994-5.554)], as well as the allele A [1.589 (1.085-2.328] and the A carriers [1.656 (1.021-2.686)] (p < 0.05) was observed in the GCA patients. No significant differences were observed in the PMR and EORA patients as compared with the healthy controls. Neither difference was observed among the different disease groups studied. In GCA patients, differences in the genotype were associated with a worse prognosis. In PMR patients, the AA genotype was associated with higher levels of serum IL-13 than the GA one. However, such an association was not detected for controls and the other disease groups.ConclusionsGCA is more frequent in carriers of the rs20541 (R130Q) polymorphism in the IL-13 gene. The utility of this polymorphism to predict the GCA prognosis must be confirmed in studies with a higher number of patients.     

Influence of surface properties of resin‐based composites on in vitro Streptococcus mutans biofilm development

The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the influence of physicochemical surface properties of resin‐based composites on Streptococcus mutans biofilm formation. Specimens were prepared from each of four resin‐based composites by polymerization against Mylar strips. Half of the number of specimens received no further surface treatment, whereas the other half were subjected to a polishing treatment. Surface roughness (SR) and topography were assessed using profilometry and atomic force microscopy. Surface free‐energy (SFE) was determined, and the chemical surface composition was analysed by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). S. mutans biofilms were formed on the surface of the resin‐based composite specimens for either 48 or 96 h using an artificial mouth system (AMS). Polishing caused a significant decrease in SFE, and XPS analysis indicated an increase of surface silicon and a decrease of surface carbon. Only for Grandio was a significant increase in SR identified after polishing, which was probably related to the higher concentration of filler particles on its surface. Significantly less S. mutans biofilm formation was observed on polished resin‐based composites than on unpolished resin‐based composites. These results indicate that the proportions of resin matrix and filler particles on the surface of resin‐based composites strongly influence S. mutans biofilm formation in vitro, suggesting that minimization of resin matrix exposure might be useful to reduce biofilm formation on the surface of resin‐based composites.     

Computer-aided system for morphometric mandibular index computation (Using dental panoramic radiographs)

Objective: We propose and validate a computer—aided system to measure three different mandibular indexes: cortical width, panoramic mandibular index and, mandibular alveolar bone resorption index. Study Design: Repeatability and reproducibility of the measurements are analyzed and compared to the manual estimation of the same indexes. Results: The proposed computerized system exhibits superior repeatability and reproducibility rates compared to standard manual methods. Moreover, the time required to perform the measurements using the proposed method is negligible compared to perform the measurements manually. Conclusions: We have proposed a very user friendly computerized method to measure three different morphometric mandibular indexes. From the results we can conclude that the system provides a practical manner to perform these measurements. It does not require an expert examiner and does not take more than 16 seconds per analysis. Thus, it may be suitable to diagnose osteoporosis using dental panoramic radiographs. Key words:Osteoporosis, panoramic mandibular index, cortical width, mandibular alveolar bone resorption index.