Pinealectomy interferes with the circadian clock genes expression in white adipose tissue

Melatonin, the main hormone produced by the pineal gland, is secreted in a circadian manner (24‐hr period), and its oscillation influences several circadian biological rhythms, such as the regulation of clock genes expression (chronobiotic effect) and the modulation of several endocrine functions in peripheral tissues. Assuming that the circadian synchronization of clock genes can play a role in the regulation of energy metabolism and it is influenced by melatonin, our study was designed to assess possible alterations as a consequence of melatonin absence on the circadian expression of clock genes in the epididymal adipose tissue of male Wistar rats and the possible metabolic repercussions to this tissue. Our data show that pinealectomy indeed has impacts on molecular events: it abolishes the daily pattern of the expression of Clock, Per2, and Cry1 clock genes and Pparγ expression, significantly increases the amplitude of daily expression of Rev‐erbα, and affects the pattern of and impairs adipokine production, leading to a decrease in leptin levels. However, regarding some metabolic aspects of adipocyte functions, such as its ability to synthesize triacylglycerols from glucose along 24 hr, was not compromised by pinealectomy, although the daily profile of the lipogenic enzymes expression (ATP‐citrate lyase, malic enzyme, fatty acid synthase, and glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase) was abolished in pinealectomized animals.     

Evidence for the presence of a type III secretion system in diffusely adhering Escherichia coli (DAEC).

Diffusely adhering Escherichia coli (E. coli) strains (DAEC) represent a potential cause of diarrhoea in infants, and the detection of type three secretion system (TTSS) genes in DAEC would substantiate their pathogenic nature. In this work, four isolates of DAEC, recovered from stools of diarrhoeic children, were analysed by PCR, in order to detect the presence of TTSS genes. Primers targeted to the escC, escJ, escN and escV, some of the most conserved TTSS genes in enteropathogenic and enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EPEC and EHEC), were used in order to verify the occurrence of homologous genes in our DAEC isolates. By this approach, we were able to characterise DNA fragments corresponding to putative escJ and escN genes in all DAEC isolates. Furthermore, DNA fragments homologous to the escC and escV genes were also amplified from all isolates. Besides the similarity found among the DAEC esc homologues with EPEC and EHEC esc genes, the nucleotide sequence analysis of the flanking regions of the amplified DNA fragments suggests that the putative DAEC esc genes are organised in the same manner as observed in EPEC and in EHEC strains. The results described here provide strong evidence for the presence of a TTSS in the DAEC strains analysed, implicating a pathogenic nature of these isolates.     

Juvenile Parkinsonism: clinical and metabolic characteristics.

Twenty one patients with idiopathic Parkinsonism beginning before the age of 40 years were investigated. The mean duration of the disease was 19 years. There was a good and sustained response to levodopa. Only four patients reached stages IV and V (Hoehn and Yahr). Intolerance to levodopa was observed in the more advanced stages of the disease. In the series the familial incidence of Parkinsonism (2 cases) and essential tremor (3 cases) was very low. Thyroid disorder, diabetes mellitus or macrocytic anaemia was not found in any of the cases.     

Medullary paracoccidioidomycosis: report of a case

Paracoccidioidomycosis of the central nervous system presents either as meningeal or pseudotumoral lesions. Although occurring more frequently in the brain and meninges, they can occasionally involve the spinal cord. A case of paracoccidioidomycosis in the cervical spinal cord is reported in this paper. Difficulties in establishing the etiologic diagnosis, the importance of radiologic examination of the thorax, and the treatment of the patient are commented. In an extensive review of the literature on the subject, only three other cases have been found, which are also discussed.     

Evaluation of bone height and bone density after tooth extraction: an experimental study in minipigs.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to radiographically quantify bone density and bone height preservation in tooth extraction alveolus filled with xenograft. STUDY DESIGN: The maxillary and mandibular fourth deciduous molars and fourth premolars of 6 minipigs were removed. Randomly, in 3 animals the right side was used as the test side and in the other 3 animals the left side was the test side. Intraoral radiographs were performed to compare the condition at the initial time and 3 months later. Measurements of bone height and bone density were performed using KS300 (Zeiss) software. RESULTS: After 3 months, there was a statistically significant smaller bone height loss for the test group. The test group presented a statistically greater bone density immediately after tooth extraction. However, after 3 months there was no statistically significant difference between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that treatment of postextraction alveolus with xenograft can preserve bone height initially but differences in bone density compared to when no xenograft is used are not sustained.     

Vitamin K in colostrum and mature human milk over the lactation period--a cross-sectional study

Vitamin K was quantitated in the milk of four groups of 15 mothers from 1 d to 6 mo postpartum in a cross-sectional study. Concentrations were 7.52 +/- 5.90 and 6.36 +/- 5.32 nmol/L (3.39 +/- 2.66 and 2.87 +/- 2.40 micrograms/L) in colostrum and mature milk, respectively. Differences between colostrum and mature milk or among samples of mature milk collected at 1, 3, and 6 mo were not statistically significant. Because of significantly increased volumes of milk over the lactation period, approximately twice as much vitamin K was delivered in mature milk as in colostrum. Within normal ranges, concentrations of vitamin K in milk were not predicted by dietary intake of vegetables or fat. Vitamin K was correlated with fat in colostrum and was localized in the lipid core of the milk fat globule but was not associated with membranes. Vitamin K in human milk is insufficient to meet recommended intakes for infants aged less than 6 mo. Population and clinical studies are needed to assess the vitamin K status of exclusively breast-fed infants and to evaluate current recommendations.