Immune-pineal axis protects rat lungs exposed to polluted air

Environmental pollution in the form of particulate matter <2.5 μm (PM_2.5) is a major risk factor for diseases such as lung cancer, chronic respiratory infections, and major cardiovascular diseases. Our goal was to show that PM_2.5 eliciting a proinflammatory response activates the immune-pineal axis, reducing the pineal synthesis and increasing the extrapineal synthesis of melatonin. Herein, we report that the exposure of rats to polluted air for 6 hours reduced nocturnal plasma melatonin levels and increased lung melatonin levels. Melatonin synthesis in the lung reduced lipid peroxidation and increased PM_2.5 engulfment and cell viability by activating high-affinity melatonin receptors. Diesel exhaust particles (DEPs) promoted the synthesis of melatonin in a cultured cell line (RAW 264.7 cells) and rat alveolar macrophages via the expression of the gene encoding for AANAT through a mechanism dependent on activation of the NFκB pathway. Expression of the genes encoding AANAT, MT1, and MT2 was negatively correlated with cellular necroptosis, as disclosed by analysis of Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) microarray data from the human alveolar macrophages of nonsmoking subjects. The enrichment score for antioxidant genes obtained from lung gene expression data (GTEx) was significantly correlated with the levels of AANAT and MT1 but not the MT2 melatonin receptor. Collectively, these data provide a systemic and mechanistic rationale for coordination of the pineal and extrapineal synthesis of melatonin by a standard damage-associated stimulus, which activates the immune-pineal axis and provides a new framework for understanding the effects of air pollution on lung diseases.     

A new technique for low-volume continuous sampling of spent dialysate: a validation study

Journal of Artificial Organs - The measure of hemodialysis (HD) adequacy recommended nowadays by most guidelines, Kt/V-urea, presents significant drawbacks. Direct dialysis quantification (DDQ)...     

Oral hairy leukoplakia in a child using a corticosteroid nasal spray

We report a case of atypical oral hairy leukoplakia (OHL) in a 9-year-old immunocompetent girl treated with fluticasone propionate nasal spray for allergic rhinitis. The OHL in childhood is uncommon and should be included in a differential diagnosis of white lesions in the oral mucosa.     

Longer Times of Receipt of Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy Correspond to Improved Functional Capacity and Lower Adiposity in Women Receiving Adjuvant Therapy

Purpose

To study the use of functional capacity (FC) level and duration of aromatase inhibitor (AI) therapy with adiposity parameters in women with breast cancer.

Challenges to the improvement of Colombian medical brigades aimed at the diagnosis of congenital heart disease: A qualitative approach

Qualitative research of brigades and the family experience of congenital heart disease is of current interest and has been previously neglected. This study aimed to explore the social factors conditioning outcomes of paediatric cardiology care in the setting of Colombian medical brigades and to identify feasible strategies to improve the experience of the beneficiary populations. Participants were selected using purposeful sampling. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with members of logistic and health care teams, caregivers and custodians of beneficiary children of the Programme. The data collected provided an understanding of the health culture, social background, household and intrafamily dynamics. The outcomes of the Programme are influenced by sociocultural dynamics such as communication gaps and the socioeconomic status of the beneficiary populations. Findings may be specific to brigades, but also cross-relevant to any family experience of a new diagnosis of Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) communicating with healthcare professionals. It is important to foresee the role and further development of the Programme. Recommendations are provided suggesting innovative work by means of telemedicine and other sociocultural measures to reduce healthcare inequity and strengthen comprehensive healthcare programmes.     

Individuals with peripheral vestibulopathy and poor quality of sleep are at a higher risk for falls

IntroductionThere is a lack of scientific studies on the assessment of patients with vestibular disorders associated with sleep quality disorders and its impact on the balance and overall quality of life.Objectivesto assess the impact of the sleep quality on the balance and quality of life of individuals with peripheral vestibulopathies.Methods52 individuals with peripheral vestibulopathies underwent sleep quality assessment through the Pittsburgh sleep quality index, neurotological examination through dizziness handicap inventory and Tetrax posturography (Sunlight Medical Ltd.) in eight sensory conditions. Thirty-two healthy individuals (G3) participated as the control group.ResultsFourteen individuals with vestibulopathy had good quality of sleep (G1) and 38 showed poor quality of sleep (G2) as demonstrated by the Pittsburgh sleep quality index global scores (p = 0.001). The dizziness handicap inventory showed worse impact of the dizziness on the quality of life in G2 when compared to G1 (p  = 0.045). The G₂ showed higher risk of falling in posturography when compared to G3 (p = 0.012) and higher index of postural instability in five sensory conditions in comparison with G3. In the vestibulopathy groups, the worse the sleep quality, the higher the risk of falling (r = 0.352) and the worse the quality of life (r = 0.327).ConclusionIndividuals with peripheral vestibulopathies and poor quality of sleep demonstrate worse balance evidenced by increased postural instability, higher risk of falls and worse perceived quality of life. The quality of sleep is a predictive factor for worse perceived quality of life and for higher risk of falls in individuals with peripheral vestibulopathies.     

Chronic sleep loss disrupts blood–testis and blood–epididymis barriers,and reduces male fertility

Sleep loss increases blood–brain barrier permeability. As the blood–brain barrier and the blood–tissue barriers in the reproductive tract (blood–testis and blood–epididymis barriers) share common characteristics, we hypothesized that sleep restriction may also modify their barrier function. Previous reports showed that sleep loss decreased sperm viability and progressive fast mobility, which may be a consequence of altered blood–testis and blood–epididymis barrier. Therefore, we quantified changes in blood–testis and blood–epididymis barrier after sleep loss and related them to male fertility. Adult male Wistar rats were sleep restricted using the multiple‐platform technique in a protocol of 20 hr daily sleep deprivation plus 4 hr of sleep recovery in the home‐cage. At the 10th day, barrier permeability assays were performed with Na‐fluorescein, 10 kDa Cascade blue‐dextrans and Evans blue, and the expression of tight junction proteins, actin and androgen receptor was quantified. At the 10th day of sleep restriction and after sleep recovery days 1–7, males were placed with sexually receptive females, sexual behaviour was tested, and the percentage of pregnancies was calculated. Sleep restriction increased the barrier permeability to low‐ and high‐molecular‐weight tracers, and decreased the expression of tight junction proteins, actin and androgen receptor. Concomitantly, sleep restriction reduced the percentage of ejaculating males and the number of pregnancies. Sleep recovery for 2–3 days progressively re‐established fertility, as indicated by a higher percentage of ejaculating males and impregnated females. In conclusion, chronic sleep loss alters fertility concomitantly with the disruption of the blood–tissue barriers at the reproductive tract, the mechanism involves androgen signalling.     

Application of the buccal micronucleus cytome assay and analysis of PON1Gln192Arg and CYP2A6*9(−48T>G) polymorphisms in tobacco farmers

Tobacco is a major Brazilian cash crop. Tobacco farmers apply large amounts of pesticides to control insect growth. Workers come into contact with green tobacco leaves during the tobacco harvest and absorb nicotine through the skin. In the present study, micronucleus frequency, cell death, and the frequency of basal cells were measured in tobacco farmers using the buccal micronucleus cytome assay (BMCyt), in parallel with measurement of blood butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and nicotine levels. Polymorphisms in PONIGln192Arg and CYP2A6*9(?48T>G) were evaluated to verify the relationship between genetic susceptibility and the measured biomarkers. Peripheral blood and buccal cell samples were collected from 106 agricultural workers, at two different crop times (during pesticide application and leaf harvest), as well as 53 unexposed controls. BMCyt showed statistically significant increases in micronuclei, nuclear buds, and binucleated cells among exposed subjects in differentiated cells, and in micronuclei in basal cells. In addition, the exposed group showed higher values for condensed chromatin, karyorrhectic, pyknotic, and karyolitic cells, indicative of cell death, and an increase in the frequency of basal cells compared to the unexposed control group. A slight difference in mutagenicity using the BMCyt assay was found between the two different sampling times (pesticide application and leaf harvest), with higher micronucleus frequencies during pesticide application. Elevated cotinine levels were observed during the leaf harvest compared to the unexposed controls, while BChE level was similar among the farmers and controls. PONIGln192Arg and CYP2A6*9(?48T>G) polymorphisms were associated with DNA damage induced by pesticides and cell death. Environ. Mol. Mutagen., 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.