Summary
Caloric restriction is the most effective non‐genetic intervention to enhance lifespan known to date. A major research interest has been the development of therapeutic strategies capable of ...promoting the beneficial results of this dietary regimen. In this sense, we propose that compounds that decrease the efficiency of energy conversion, such as mitochondrial uncouplers, can be caloric restriction mimetics. Treatment of mice with low doses of the protonophore 2,4‐dinitrophenol promotes enhanced tissue respiratory rates, improved serological glucose, triglyceride and insulin levels, decrease of reactive oxygen species levels and tissue DNA and protein oxidation, as well as reduced body weight. Importantly, 2,4‐dinitrophenol‐treated animals also presented enhanced longevity. Our results demonstrate that mild mitochondrial uncoupling is a highly effective in vivo antioxidant strategy, and describe the first therapeutic intervention capable of effectively reproducing the physiological, metabolic and lifespan effects of caloric restriction in healthy mammals.
This study analyzed the antifungal activity of phytoconstituents from linalool on Candida spp. strains, in vitro, isolated from patients with clinical diagnoses of oral candidiasis associated with ...the use of a dental prosthesis. Biological samples were collected from 12 patients using complete dentures or removable partial dentures and who presented mucous with diffuse erythematous or stippled features, indicating a clinical diagnosis of candidiasis. To identify fungal colonies of the genus Candida, samples were plated onto CHROMagar Candida®. The antifungal activity of linalool, a monoterpene unsaturated constituent of basil oil, was performed using the broth microdilution technique. Then, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), the two subsequent stronger concentrations and the positive controls were subcultured on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar plates to determine the minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC). The experiments were performed in triplicate and nystatin was used as a positive control in all tests. Diagnoses of oral candidiasis were verified in eight patients (66.6%) and the most prevalent fungal species was Candida albicans (37.5%), followed by Candida krusei (25.0%); and Candida tropicalis (4.2%). The best antifungal activity of linalool was observed on Candida tropicalis (MIC = 500 mg/mL), followed by Candida albicans (MIC = 1.000 mg/mL), and Candida krusei (MIC = 2.000 mg/mL).Under the study conditions and based on the results obtained, it can be concluded that the Candida strains tested were susceptible to linalool.
We previously identified the protein Tet38 as a chromosomally encoded efflux pump of Staphylococcus aureus that confers resistance to tetracycline and certain unsaturated fatty acids. Tet38 also ...contributes to mouse skin colonization. In this study, we discovered a novel regulator of tet38, named tetracycline regulator 21 (TetR21), that bound specifically to the tet38 promoter and repressed pump expression. A ΔtetR21 mutant showed a 5-fold increase in tet38 transcripts and an 8-fold increase in resistance to tetracycline and fatty acids. The global regulator MgrA bound to the tetR21 promoter and indirectly repressed the expression of tet38. To further assess the full role of Tet38 in S. aureus adaptability, we tested its effect on host cell invasion using A549 (lung) and HMEC-1 (heart) cell lines. We used S. aureus RN6390, its Δtet38, ΔtetR21, and ΔmgrA mutants, and a Δtet38 ΔtetR21 double mutant. After 2 h of contact, the Δtet38 mutant was internalized in 6-fold-lower numbers than RN6390 in A549 and HMEC-1 cells, and the ΔtetR21 mutant was internalized in 2-fold-higher numbers than RN6390. A slight increase of 1.5-fold in internalization was found for the ΔmgrA mutant. The growth patterns of RN6390 and the ΔmgrA and ΔtetR21 mutants within A549 cells were similar, while no growth was observed for the Δtet38 mutant. These data indicate that the Tet38 efflux pump is regulated by TetR21 and contributes to the ability of S. aureus to internalize and replicate within epithelial cells.
Diarrheal diseases are an important cause of morbidity and mortality among children in developing countries. We aimed to study the etiology and severity of diarrhea in children living in the ...low-income semiarid region of Brazil.
This is a cross-sectional, age-matched case-control study of diarrhea in children aged 2-36 months from six cities in Brazil's semiarid region. Clinical, epidemiological, and anthropometric data were matched with fecal samples collected for the identification of enteropathogens.
We enrolled 1,200 children, 596 cases and 604 controls. By univariate analysis, eight enteropathogens were associated with diarrhea: Norovirus GII (OR 5.08, 95% CI 2.10, 12.30), Adenovirus (OR 3.79, 95% CI 1.41, 10.23), typical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (tEPEC), (OR 3.28, 95% CI 1.39, 7.73), enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC LT and ST producing toxins), (OR 2.58, 95% CI 0.99, 6.69), rotavirus (OR 1.91, 95% CI 1.20, 3.02), shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC; OR 1.77, 95% CI 1.16, 2.69), enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC), (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.16, 1.83) and Giardia spp. (OR 1.39, 95% CI 1.05, 1.84). By logistic regression of all enteropathogens, the best predictors of diarrhea were norovirus, adenovirus, rotavirus, STEC, Giardia spp. and EAEC. A high diarrhea severity score was associated with EAEC.
Six enteropathogens: Norovirus, Adenovirus, Rotavirus, STEC, Giardia spp., and EAEC were associated with diarrhea in children from Brazil's semiarid region. EAEC was associated with increased diarrhea severity.
Electric vehicle (EV) charging may impose a substantial power demand on existing low voltage (LV) and medium voltage (MV) networks, which are usually not prepared for high power demands in short time ...intervals. The influx of E-mobility may require an increase in grid reinforcements, but these can be reduced and optimized by a combination of new technologies, tools, and strategies, such as the deployment of solar PV generation integrated with aggregated energy storage systems. One of the challenges in the implementation of charging infrastructures in public stations is coupling the projected sizes of energy demand and power requirements in each location for each charger. This paper describes a method to estimate projected values for energy consumption and power demand in EV fast charging stations (CS). The proposed ideas were applied in a concept facility located in Campinas, Brazil, in a structure equipped with two 50 kW DC Fast Chargers, local 12.5 kW/13.2 kWp PV generation (to reduce energy impacts to the grid), and a 100 kW/200 kWh storage system, using electrochemical batteries (to minimize peak power requirements).
Singlet molecular oxygen is a reactive species involved in biological oxidative processes. The major cellular targets of singlet molecular oxygen are unsaturated fatty acids in the membrane, as well ...as nucleic acids and proteins. The aim of this study was to investigate whether lipids and commercial hydroperoxides generate singlet molecular oxygen, in presence of nitronium and activated nitronium ion. For this purpose, monomol light emitted in the near‐infrared region (λ = 1270 nm) was used to monitor singlet molecular oxygen decay in different solvents, with different hydroperoxides and in the presence of azide. Direct measurements of the singlet molecular oxygen spectrum at 1270 nm recorded during the reaction between lipids and commercial hydroperoxides and nitronium ions unequivocally demonstrated the formation of this excited species.
O2 (1Δg) is generated when lipid hydroperoxides (OAOOH, LAOOH and ChOOH) react with NO2+
Introduction
Huntington’s disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder, that typically manifests in adulthood, clinically characterized by progressive motor, cognitive and ...psychiatric/behavioural symptoms. Psychiatric symptoms are common in HD. The presentation of these symptoms is highly variable, and their course does not correlate with motor or cognitive disease progression. Psychiatric symptoms often precede motor onset by many years.
Objectives
The authors intend to review the literature the most frequent psychiatric disorders in patients with HD.
Methods
Non-systematic review of the literature.
Results
Psychiatric symptoms have been a core feature of HD. Pre-symptomatic HD patients exhibit a greater prevalence of psychiatric symptoms, particularly affective disorders. This symptoms are presenting symptoms of HD in up to half of all people. In symptomatic HD patients, it is estimated that up to 73–98% of patients will have a major psychiatric disorder or psychiatric symptoms. Psychiatric manifestations in HD include depression, irritability, apathy, anxiety, mania, perseverations, obsessions and psychosis. Cognitive changes include progressive deficits in attention, learning, executive and sensory functions, resulting in dementia. Depression, diagnosed in half of patients with HD, is the most common and earliest symptoms prior to the motor onset. There are likely multiple causes of the psychiatric symptoms, with underlying factors including a combination of neurobiological, cognitive, psychological, social and environmental factors.
Conclusions
Patients with HD have high psychiatric comorbidity, that causes significant functional impairment and affect quality of life. Thus, they require a multidisciplinary approach in the recognition and treatment of psychiatric symptoms.
Introduction
Delusional infestation (DI), also known as delusional parasitosis or Ekbom syndrome, is a rare disorder, characterised by fixed belief that the skin, body or immediate environment is ...infested by small pathogens, despite the lack of any medical evidence for it.
Objectives
To describe and discuss two clinical cases of DI, in order to show two different ways of presenting in this entity.
Methods
Two case report and non-systematic review.
Results
We present the case of a 76-year-old woman, without psychiatric history, with an DI with 5 years of evolution, referred to a psychiatric consultation by a dermatologist. The second case, is a 41-year-old woman with a history of multiple substance use disorder, with an DI with a month of evolution, who resorted to the emergency department. DI is not a single diagnostic entity. The classic form, as represented in the first case,is a primary form, which develops without any known cause or underlying disease, corresponding to a persistent delusional disorder. However, about 60% of patients have secondary forms of DI, in the context of substance misuse, some medications or in the course of physical or psychiatric diseases (e.g. stroke, delirium, dementia, depression, schizophrenia).
Conclusions
DI can occur as a primary delusional disorder or secondary to several other medical conditions. An in-depth clinical history is essential in order to make the correct diagnosis. A multidisciplinary approach is also important, to exclude any possible organic etiology, not forgetting that many patients may turn to other medical specialities first.
Disclosure
No significant relationships.
Introduction
There is a current trend towards an increase in the number of elderly prisoners due to the increase in life expectancy and the change in the attitude of society and the judicial system. ...The cut-off for “older offender” is defined from the age of 50, due to the lifestyle previous to prision and premature ageing.
Objectives
The authors intend to understand the challenges of aging in prison and forensic services, highlighting the psychiatric comorbidities of inmates and how these services can adapt to the needs of this population.
Methods
Non-systematic review of the literature.
Results
Studies of elderly in prisons and elderly forensic psychiatric patients are limited. Prisoners have increased physical and psychiatric morbidity and early mortality as they are more exposed to risk factors and more likely to have at least one health problem compared to older adults in the community. Compared to older people in the community, older prisoners are at higher risk for most psychiatric disorders including depression, psychosis, bipolar disorder, cognitive impairment, personality disorder and anxiety. Suicide rates are also higher among elderly prisoners. The inadequacy of the prison system to respond to the unique needs of elderly prisoners has a detrimental impact on their overall experience of incarceration. The development of specific services for elderly prisoners or the adaptation of mixed units for the elderly population is proposed.
Conclusions
The elderly population in prisons is growing and has higher risk of psychiatric pathology compared to community elders. Prison services with difficulties in identifying and meeting these needs.
Disclosure
No significant relationships.
Medeiros, LHL, Sandbakk, SB, Bertazone, TMA, and Bueno Júnior, CR. Comparison of periodization models of concurrent training in recreationally active postmenopausal women. J Strength Cond Res 36(4): ...977-983, 2022-Although concurrent training is the most effective way to improve both neuromuscular and cardiorespiratory functions in older populations, there are no studies in the literature comparing different periodization models on cardiorespiratory and muscle strength adaptations. Thus, the main objective of this study was to investigate the effects of different periodization models of concurrent aerobic and strength training using equalized training volume programs on muscle strength and cardiorespiratory fitness in recreationally active postmenopausal women. After 3 weeks of adaptation, 58 women aged 50-75 years were randomly assigned to (a) nonperiodization (NP), (b) daily nonlinear periodization (NLP), or (c) flexible daily NLP (FNLP). At baseline and after 12 weeks, aerobic fitness (peak oxygen uptake V̇o2peak and the 6-minute walk test) and maximal muscle strength (1 repetition maximum of bench press and leg press) were measured. It was shown that maximal strength increased in the bench press (effect size ES 1.18 in NLP and 1.22 in FNLP) and leg press (ES 0.92 in NLP and 0.89 in FNLP) in the periodized groups-in the NP group, these values were 0.49 and 0.46, respectively. In the 6-minute walk test, aerobic fitness statistically improved in all groups-with an ES of 1.02 in the NP, 1.33 in the NLP, and 0.54 in the FNLP. This study showed that only periodization models (NLP and FNLP) induced a moderate ES in maximal strength, and all groups (NP, NLP, and FNLP) demonstrated improved aerobic fitness evaluated by V̇o2peak and the 6-minute walk test in recreationally active postmenopausal women.