To evaluate the ability of frequency domain optical coherence tomography (fd-OCT) to estimate retinal neural loss in eyes with Alzheimer's disease (AD). We also verified the existence of a ...correlation between AD-related cognitive impairment and macular and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness measurements.
fd-OCT scans were obtained from 45 eyes of 24 patients with AD and 48 control eyes. Peripapillary RNFL, macular full-thickness and segmented inner macular thickness parameters were calculated. The inner macular parameters included macular retinal nerve fiber layer (mRNFL) thickness, ganglion cell layer (GCL) plus inner plexiform layer thickness (GCL+), and RNFL plus GCL+ thickness (GCL++). The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was used to assess cognition in all subjects. The two groups were compared and the relationship between MMSE scores and fd-OCT measurements was verified.
Average, superior and inferior quadrant RNFL thickness parameters and all but one of the nine full-thickness macular measurements were significantly reduced in AD patients compared to controls. The segmented layers, GCL+ and GCL++ were significantly reduced in AD eyes. A significant correlation was found between most fd-OCT parameters (especially macular thickness measurements) and MMSE scores.
Most fd-OCT peripapillary RNFL and macular full-thickness and segmented inner retinal layers parameters were reduced in AD eyes compared to controls. Moreover, neuronal loss, especially as reflected in macular parameters, correlated well with cognitive impairment in AD. Our results suggest that fd-OCT could be a potentially useful diagnostic tool in the evaluation and follow-up of AD patients.
Cancer of the head and neck is a group of upper aerodigestive tract neoplasms in which aggressive treatments may cause harmful side effects to the patient. In the last decade, investigations on ...natural compounds have been particularly successful in the field of anticancer drug research. Our aim is to evaluate the antitumor effect of
Aubl. extracts on a panel of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell lines. Analysis of secondary metabolites classes in fractions of
was performed using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR). Mutagenicity effect was evaluated by Ames mutagenicity assay. The cytotoxic effect, and migration and invasion inhibition were measured. Additionally, the expression level of apoptosis-related molecules (PARP, Caspases 3, and Fas) and MMP-2 was detected using Western blot. Heterogeneous cytotoxicity response was observed for all fractions, which showed migration inhibition, reduced matrix degradation, and decreased cell invasion ability. Expression levels of MMP-2 decreased in all fractions, and particularly in the hexane fraction. Furthermore, overexpression of FAS and caspase-3, and increase of cleaved PARP indicates possible apoptosis extrinsic pathway activation. Antiproliferative activity of
extract in HNSCC cells lines suggests the possibility of developing an anticancer agent or an additive with synergic activities associated with conventional anticancer therapy.
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•Gallic acid and treadmill training reduces liver fat in supplemented mice.•Gallic acid associated with aerobic training in animals improves insulin sensitivity.•Molecular docking ...analyses of the Wdr 24 complex and GATOR2 with a binding energy of −5.5 kcal/mol.
Obesity and overweight are multifactorial diseases affecting more than one-third of the world’s population. Physical inactivity contributes to a positive energy balance and the onset of obesity. Exercise combined with a balanced diet is an effective non-pharmacological strategy to improve obesity-related disorders. Gallic acid (GA), is a natural endogenous polyphenol found in a variety of fruits, vegetables, and wines, with beneficial effects on energetic homeostasis. The present study aims to investigate the effects of exercise training on obese mice supplemented with GA. Animal experimentation was performed with male Swiss mice divided into five groups: ST (standard control), HFD (obese control), HFD + GA (GA supplement), HFD + Trained (training), and HFD + GA + Trained (GA and training). The groups are treated for eight weeks with 200 mg/kg/body weight of the feed compound and, if applicable, physical training. The main findings of the present study show that GA supplementation improves liver fat, body weight, adiposity, and plasma insulin levels. In addition, animals treated with the GA and a physical training program demonstrate reduced levels of anxiety. Gene expression analyses show that Sesn2 is activated via PGC-1α independent of the GATOR2 protein, which is activated by GA in the context of physical activity. These data are corroborated by molecular docking analysis, demonstrating the interaction of GA with GATOR2. The present study contributes to understanding the metabolic effects of GA and physical training and demonstrates a new hepatic mechanism of action via Sestrin 2 and PGC-1α.
Bone metabolism is influenced by different factors and muscle activity acts as a stimulator of bone plasticity. Conditions such as nerve injuries can compromise bone physiology due to muscle ...inactivity. Preview studies have shown that nerve damage reduces P substance and calcitonin gene-related peptides, also known as neuropeptides that may have a key role on bone healing. Therefore, this study evaluated the osseointegration of hydroxyapatite implants in tibial defects of rats submitted to unilateral sciatic nerve section. Twelve Wistar rats were divided into two groups (G1 and G2). In G1, the sciatic nerve was left intact and in G2 the left sciatic nerve was completely sectioned. An experimental tibial bone defect was then created in both groups and filled with hydroxyapatite granules. The animals were sacrificed 2 months after implantation and samples were submitted to macroscopic inspection and histological analysis. Good radiopacity of the hydroxyapatite granules and radiographic definition of the bone defect were noted. Histologic analysis revealed formation of new bone adjacent to the hydroxyapatite granules in G1 and, to a lesser extent, in G2 in which the proliferation of connective tissue predominated at the implant site. The formation of new bone stimulated by hydroxyapatite in bone defects can be expected even in animals with limb paralysis due to nerve injury; however, bone formation occurs at a slower speed in these animals and the volume of newly formed bone is lower.
Soil salinization is an environmental factor that frequently occurs in semi-arid regions around the world and seed priming technique is one of the alternatives to obtain the greatest establishment of ...seedlings in the field, through the induction of tolerance to environmental stresses. This research aimed to evaluate the effect of seed priming with NaCl on the induction of salinity tolerance in Myracrodruon urundeuva Allemão in vitro. The research was carried out at the Center for Strategic Technologies of the Northeast, in Recife / PE-Brazil M. urundeuva seeds were disinfected and submitted to two treatments: water (control) or NaCl (2mM), and inoculated in WPM medium at three saline concentrations (0.0; 25.0 and 50.0 mM NaCl) for 45 days. Plant height, number of leaves, fresh biomass (total, shoot, and root), shoot/root ratio, sodium and potassium and Na/K ratio, antioxidant enzyme activity, and peroxide content were evaluated malondialdehyde hydrogen. The data were subjected to variance analysis and the results were compared using the Student-Newman-Keuls test at 5% probability, using the R software. Seed priming with NaCl promoted a beneficial effect on the height of seedlings exposed to salinity. On the other hand, height was inversely proportional to saline concentrations, regardless of seed priming. The shoot/root ratio was also lower in seedlings cultivated under 25 and 50 mM NaCl. Despite being favorable for most growth variables, seed priming with NaCl induced an increase in lipid peroxidation in seedlings that were not exposed to salinity, which is linked to a decrease in the activity of antioxidant enzymes. The antagonistic response to NaCl stimulation between growth parameters and plant defense observed in the present research raises the need for further complementary studies that make it possible to delineate the metabolic alterations of M. urundeuva against a chemical stimulus to induce tolerance to a given stress.
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is an inherited neuromuscular degenerative disease that leaves muscle fibers more susceptible to mechanical stress due to muscle contraction, leading to progressive ...muscle weakness resulting in decreased lung ventilation and an ineffective cough, favoring the onset of complications such as respiratory failure, the main cause of mortality. Management of patients with DMD aims to maintain respiratory function and involves all aspects of care, including at home.
This study aims to investigate the effects of an optimal home-based respiratory care protocol in individuals with DMD.
This is a randomized, blinded controlled trial involving patients with DMD, aged 7 years. Patients will be randomly allocated into the conventional respiratory care (CRC) and optimized respiratory care home-based (ORC) groups. Primary outcomes will be peak cough flow and number of exacerbations. Secondary outcomes will include chest wall volumes, maximal respiratory pressures, nasal inspiratory and expiratory pressure and forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in the 1st second (FEV1) and, FEV1 /FVC. The CRC group will receive education on respiratory care during quarterly hospital visits will consist of guidelines on positioning in bed and during fluid and food ingestion. The caregiver will be trained on aspirating the oral cavity secretions and assisting patients in coughing through air stacking by manual ventilation with a bag and an oronasal mask when needed. The ORC group will receive education on respiratory care during quarterly hospital visits and weekly home visits by a physiotherapist. During the visit, the physiotherapist will provide settings to use and improve non-invasive ventilation, aspiration of upper airways and assisted coughing through air stacking. Both groups will receive weekly telephone calls to monitor patients and provide assistance to minimize complications and exacerbations. All caregivers will be trained to monitor vital signs and peripheral oxygen saturation. A 6-month intervention is planned, the outcomes will be assessed every 3 months, and 3- and 6-month follow-up after the final evaluation.
The primary and secondary results will be described as average or median for continuous variables and absolute and relative frequencies for qualitative variables. Treatment effects or differences between the outcomes (baseline, 3 months, and 6 months) of the study groups will be analyzed using an analysis of variance. The level of significance will be set as p≤0.05.
individuals with DMD have respiratory complications that gradually worsen and may culminate in death. These patients should receive regular daily respiratory care and assistance from caregivers and family members, as well as professional follow-up to reduce exacerbations. The challenges associated with public health care for patients, as well as the lack of knowledge among health professionals and the community, favor the worsening of DMD and, consequently, the increase in hospitalizations and public spending.
We hope that the study can demonstrate the importance of home physiotherapy with specialized assistance, which will provide comfort and safety to patients and their families. We believe that a well-implemented therapeutic program will reduce morbidity and mortality rates in patients with DMD.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential cytotoxicity of Adper Single Bond 2 (SB) simplified etch-and-rinse adhesive system in alveolar macrophage cultures, as a function of the ...post-polymerization time and duration of immersion in the culture medium for preparation of extracts, by observing the levels of nitric oxide (NO) release and cell survival rate (MTT assay). Wistar rat alveolar macrophages were exposed to 200 μL of extracts obtained from 24- or 72-h immersion of adhesive samples in culture medium (RPMI), immediately or 24 h after polymerization. Fresh RPMI and E. coli lipopolysaccharides were used as negative and positive controls, respectively. The cells were placed in a humidified incubator for 24 h. The results were analyzed by the Student's-t test (α=5%). The amount of NO produced and viable cells were significantly different (p<0.05) between the experimental and the control groups, showing that, irrespective of the post-polymerization time and duration of immersion in the culture medium, the adhesive system caused intense cytotoxicity to the macrophages. The cytotoxic effects were not statistically different (p<0.05) among the experimental groups. In conclusion, chemical components released from SB in aqueous environment were highly toxic to cell culture and thus an inflammatory pulpal response should be considered during the clinical application of dental adhesives.
O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o potencial de citotoxicidade do sistema adesivo Adper Single Bond 2 (SB), em função dos tempos pós-polimerização e imersão no meio de cultura para preparação dos extratos, observando-se os níveis de liberação de óxido nítrico (NO) e taxa de sobrevivência celular (MTT assay). Macrófagos alveolares de ratos Wistar foram expostos a 200 μL de extratos obtidos a partir da imersão de amostras do adesivo em meio de cultura (RPMI), imediatamente ou 24 h após sua polimerização, onde permaneceram durante 24 ou 72 h. RPMI puro e lipopolissacarídeos de E. coli foram utilizados como controles negativo e positivo, respectivamente. As células foram levadas à incubadora umidificada por 24 h. Os resultados foram submetidos ao teste "t" de Student (α=5%). As quantidades de NO produzido e células sobreviventes foram significativamente diferentes entre os grupos experimentais e grupos controle, mostrando que, independente do tempo pós-polimerização e tempo de elaboração dos extratos, o sistema adesivo causou uma intensa citotoxicidade sobre os macrófagos. Os efeitos citotóxicos não foram estatisticamente diferentes entre os grupos experimentais. Componentes químicos do SB liberados em meio aquoso podem ser altamente citotóxicos para as células em cultura e, portanto, uma resposta inflamatória pulpar deve ser considerada durante a aplicação clínica de adesivos dentinários.
RESUMO Objetivo Comparar o uso da seringa e da técnica sonda-dedo para a oferta de dieta a prematuros, considerando-se volume de dieta oferecido e volume derramado, variação da saturação de oxigênio ...periférico e frequência cardíaca. Métodos Estudo quasi-experimental, com 30 prematuros, 13 do gênero feminino e 17 do masculino. As médias das idades gestacionais ao nascimento e no momento da avaliação (idade corrigida) foram de 33 4/7±4/7 e 36±4/7, respectivamente. Os pesos médios ao nascimento e na avaliação foram de 1.800±140 e 1.972±88 gramas. Foi avaliado um momento de alimentação com a seringa e outro com a sonda-dedo para a mesma criança, sendo caso e controle de si mesma. Utilizou-se oxímetro de pulso portátil para verificar a variação da saturação de oxigênio e a frequência cardíaca. Uma gaze foi colocada sob o queixo do bebê como anteparo da dieta derramada. Foram utilizados os testes ANOVA, t de Student pareado, Comparação Múltipla de Tukey e Correlação de Pearson, com nível de significância de 5%. Resultados Houve diferença para o volume oferecido e para o volume de leite derramado com os dois valores, sendo maiores quando a seringa foi utilizada. A frequência cardíaca foi diferente: antes/durante e antes/depois para ambas as formas de oferta, mas com valores considerados normais, assim como a saturação de oxigênio, que apontou aumento entre os momentos antes e depois da oferta para a seringa. Conclusão A técnica sonda-dedo proporciona menor derramamento da dieta, sendo as variações da saturação de oxigênio e frequência cardíaca consideradas normais para o neonato.
Abstract Objective To review the evidence about universal iron supplementation in pregnancy to prevent maternal anemia. Methods Bibliographic research of randomized and controlled clinical trials, ...meta-analyses, systematic reviews, and clinical guidelines, published between August 2009 and August 2019, using the MeSH terms: iron; therapeutic use; pregnancy; anemia, prevention and control. Results We included six clinical guidelines, three meta-analyses and one randomized controlled clinical trial. Discussion Most articles point to the improvement of hematological parameters and reduction of maternal anemia risk, with supplementary iron. However, they do not correlate this improvement in pregnant women without previous anemia with the eventual improvement of clinical parameters. Conclusion Universal iron supplementation in pregnancy is controversial, so we attribute a SORT C recommendation strength.
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