Prevention of Oxidative Stress and Diseases by Antioxidant Supplementation.

Excessive and uncontrolled oxidative stress can damage biomacromolecules, such as lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, and DNA, by free radical and oxidant overproduction. In this review, we critically discuss the main properties of free radicals, their implications in oxidative stress, and specific pathological conditions. In clinical medicine, oxidative stress can play a role in several chronic noncommunicable diseases, such as diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular, inflammatory, neurodegenerative diseases, and tumours. Antioxidant supplements can theoretically prevent or stop the progression of diseases, but a careful literature analysis finds that more evidence is needed to dissect the ultimate beneficial effect of antioxidants versus reactive oxygen species in several diseases.

Reações comportamentais de crianças pré-escolares preparadas para a vacinação com a utilização do brinquedo terapêutico / Reacciones de comportamiente de niños preescolares durante la vacunación conel uso del juguete terapéutico / Behavioral reactios of preschool children during vaccination with the use of te therapeutic toy

Objetivo: identificar as reações comportamentais de crianças pré-escolares durante a vacinação com a utilização do brinquedo terapêutico instrucional. Método: estudo descritivo, transversal e quantitativo. Participaram 12 crianças de 3 a 6 anos, que foram vacinadas em uma clínica de imunização privada em Santa Catarina. Os dados foram coletados em três etapas: no preparo da criança para a vacinação, utilizando o brinquedo terapêutico instrucional durante a vacinação e após a vacinação. Resultados: das reações comportamentais na criança 9 obtiveram associações significativas com o teste Exato de Fischer: aproxima-se com facilidade do pesquisador (0,045); demonstra-se com medo dos brinquedos (0,018); brinca interativamente expressando suas emoções (0,045); assume e demonstra liderança (0,045); mostra-se seguro (0,045); demonstra alegria (0,045); atitudes verbalizadas (0,045); agarra-se ao cuidador (0,045); finge não ouvir o que o pesquisador está dizendo (0,018). Conclusão: as reações comportamentais positivas foram identificadas em crianças preparadas com o brinquedo terapêutico instrucional para a vacinação.

Objective: To identify how behavioral reactions of preschool children during vaccination with the use of instructional toys. Method: Descriptive, cross-sectional and quantitative study. Participated 12 children aged 3 to 6 years, who were vaccinated in a private immunization clinic in Santa Catarina. The data were collected in three stages: in preparing the child for vaccination using the instructional therapeutic toy; during the child's vaccination; after vaccination. Results: From the behavioral reactions in child 9, significant associations were obtained with the Fischer's Exact test: he approaches the researcher easily (0.045), Shows himself to be afraid of toys (0.018), Plays interactively expressing his emotions (0.045), Assumes and demonstrates leadership (0.045), Appears to be safe (0.045), Shows joy (0.045), Verbalized attitudes (0.045), Clings to the caregiver (0.045), Pretends not to hear what the researcher is saying (0.018). Conclusion: positive behavioral reactions were identified in children prepared with the instructional therapeutic toy for vaccination.

Objetivo: Identificar las reacciones conductuales de los niños en edad preescolar durante la vacunación utilizando el juguete terapéutico instructivo. Método: Estudio descriptivo, transversal y cuantitativo. Participaron 12 niños de 3 a 6 años, que fueron vacunados en una clínica de inmunización privada en Santa Catarina. Los datos se recopilaron en tres etapas: preparación del niño para la vacunación utilizando el juguete terapéutico instructivo; durante la vacunación del niño; después de la vacunación del niño. Resultados: De las reacciones conductuales del niño 9 se obtuvieron asociaciones significativas con la prueba Exacta de Fischer: Se acerca al investigador con facilidad (0,045), Muestra miedo a los juguetes (0,018), Juega expresando sus emociones de forma interactiva (0,045), Asume y demuestra liderazgo (0,045), Parece estar seguro (0,045), Muestra alegría (0,045), Actitudes verbalizadas (0,045), Se aferra al cuidador (0,045), Finge no escuchar lo que dice el investigador (0,018). Conclusión: se identificaron reacciones comportamentales positivas en niños preparados con el juguete terapéutico instructivo para la vacunación.

Oxidative stress, aging, antioxidant supplementation and their impact on human health: An overview.

Aging is characterized by a progressive loss of tissue and organ function due to genetic and environmental factors, nutrition, and lifestyle. Oxidative stress is one the most important mechanisms of cellular senescence and increased frailty, resulting in several age-linked, noncommunicable diseases. Contributing events include genomic instability, telomere shortening, epigenetic mechanisms, reduced proteome homeostasis, altered stem-cell function, defective intercellular communication, progressive deregulation of nutrient sensing, mitochondrial dysfunction, and metabolic unbalance. These complex events and their interplay can be modulated by dietary habits and the ageing process, acting as potential measures of primary and secondary prevention. Promising nutritional approaches include the Mediterranean diet, the intake of dietary antioxidants, and the restriction of caloric intake. A comprehensive understanding of the ageing processes should promote new biomarkers of risk or diagnosis, but also beneficial treatments oriented to increase lifespan.

Predictors for Pulmonary Tuberculosis Outcome and Adverse Events in an Italian Referral Hospital: A Nine-Year Retrospective Study (2013-2021).

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has undone years of progress in providing essential TB services and controlling the TB burden. Italy, a low TB burden country, has an incidence of 7.1 cases per 100,000 people. To control the TB spreading in Italy is critical to investigate the characteristics of patients with the worst outcomes and the highest risk of adverse events related to antituberculosis therapy. Therefore, we conducted a large retrospective study in TB patients admitted to the Clinic of Infectious Diseases University of Bari, Italy, in order to describe the clinical presentation and the factors associated with adverse events and outcomes. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the patients admitted to the Clinic of Infectious Diseases from January 2013 to 15 December 2021. We stratified our cohort into two groups: <65 years of age and ≥65 years in order to assess any differences between the two groups. Two logistic regression models were implemented considering the dependent variables as: (I) the adverse events; and (II) the unsuccessful treatments. Results: In total, 206 consecutive patients [60% (n = 124) M, median age 39 years, range 16-92] were diagnosed and admitted with TB at Clinic of Infectious Diseases. Of the whole sample, 151 (74%) were <65 years and 55 (26%) were ≥65. Statistically significant differences between the two groups were detected (p-value < 0.05) for nationality (p-value = 0.01), previous contact with TB patient (p-value = 0.00), type of TB (p-value = 0.00), unsuccessful treatment (p-value = 0.00), length of hospitalization (p-value = 0.02) and diagnostic delay (p-value = 0.01). Adverse events related to TB drug regimen were reported in 24% (n = 49). Age < 65 years (O.R. = 3.91; 95% CI 1.72-4.21), non-Italian nationality (O.R. = 4.45; 95% CI 2.22-4.98.), homeless (O.R. = 3.23; 95% CI 2.58-4.54), presence of respiratory symptoms (O.R. = 1.23; 95% CI 1.10-1.90), diagnostic delay (O.R = 2.55; 95% CI 1.98-3.77) resulted associated with unsuccessful treatment outcome (death, failure or lost to follow up). Finally, age < 65 years (O.R. = 1.73; 95% CI 1.31-2.49), presence of pulmonary TB (O.R. = 1.15; 95% CI 1.02-1.35), length of hospitalization (O.R. = 1.82; 95% CI 1.35-2.57) and TB culture positive (O.R. = 1.35; 95% CI 1.12-1.82) were associated with adverse events in our populations. Conclusions: The pharmacological approach alone seems insufficient to treat and cure a disease whose ethiopathogenesis is not only due to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis, but also to the poverty or the social fragility. Our data suggest that young foreigners, the homeless, and the people with low social and economic status are at higher risk of an unfavorable outcome in low incidence TB countries. Targeted actions to support this highly vulnerable population both in terms of outcome and occurrence of adverse events are needed.

Na detenção ou na liberdade: onde eu encontro minha saúde? / In Detention or Freedom: Where do I Find my Health? / En detención o libertad: ¿dónde encuentro mi salud?

Introdução: a vida no encarceramento é permeada por desafios de diferentes áreas, a percepção sobre como as mulheres percebem saúde e o seu processo de adoecimento no ambiente prisional é fundamental para ampliar as discussões que possam reduzir as iniquidades a que estão expostas. Objetivo: conhecer e refletir sobre a percepção do processo saúde-doença a partir do ponto de vista de reeducandas. Método: trata-se de uma pesquisa descritiva e exploratória, com abordagem qualitativa desenvolvida em uma Cadeia Pública Feminina de um município da região médio norte de Mato Grosso junto a 57 mulheres condenadas ou em regime provisório. A coleta de dados foi realizada no mês de outubro de 2016, através de entrevista individual guiada por roteiro semiestruturado elaborado pelos próprios pesquisadores, contendo questões abertas que abordavam aspectos relacionados à percepção das reeducandas sobre o conceito de saúde e seus condicionantes e determinantes. Resultados: os relatos expressaram significados diversificados de saúde para essa população, desde conceitos reduzidos à outros mais amplos, correspondendo à ausência de doenças, acesso aos profissionais de saúde e medicamentos, autocuidado, possibilidade de exercerem atividades laborais e liberdade. Conclusões: ressalta-se a necessidade da criação e efetivação de políticas públicas e projetos sociais, oferta de educação continuada aos profissionais penitenciários, parceria com atores sociais e participação ativa dos profissionais de saúde para garantia de melhor qualidade de vida para as reeducandas e manutenção do sistema prisional.

Introduction: Life in incarceration is permeated by challenges from different areas, perceptions about how women perceive health and their process of illness in the prison environment are fundamental to broaden the discussions that can reduce the iniquities to which they are exposed. Objective: To know and reflect on the perception of the health-disease process from the point of view of re-education. Method: This is a descriptive and exploratory research, with a qualitative approach developed in a Female Public Chain of a municipality in the northern region of Mato Grosso along with 57 convicted or provisional women. The data collection was carried out in October 2016, through an individual interview guided by a semistructured script prepared by the researchers themselves, containing open questions that addressed aspects related to the perception of reeducation on the concept of health and its determinants and determinants. Results: The reports expressed diverse meanings of health for this population, from reduced concepts to broader ones, corresponding to the absence of diseases, access to health professionals and medicines, self-care, possibility of exercising work activities and freedom. Conclusions: It is necessary to create and implement public policies and social projects, offer continuing education to prison professionals, partnership with social actors and active participation of health professionals to guarantee better quality of life for re-education and maintenance of the Prison system.

Introducción: La vida en encarcelamiento es permeada por desafíos de diferentes áreas, la percepción sobre cómo las mujeres perciben la salud y su proceso de morbilidad en el ambiente carcelario es fundamental para ampliar las discusiones que puedan reducir las inequidades a que están expuestas. Objetivo: Conocer y reflexionar sobre la percepción del proceso salud-enfermedad a partir del punto de vista de las reescolarizadas. Método: Se trata de una investigación descriptiva y exploratoria, con enfoque cualitativo desarrollada en una Cárcel Pública Femenina de un municipio de la región medio-norte de Mato Grosso junto a 57 mujeres condenadas o en régimen provisional. La recolección de datos fue realizada en el mes de octubre de 2016, a través de entrevista individual semiestructurada con guión elaborado por los propios investigadores, que contenían preguntas abiertas que abordaban aspectos relacionados a la percepción de las reescolarizadas sobre el concepto de salud y sus condicionantes y determinantes. Resultados: las historias expresaron significados diversificados de salud para esa población, desde conceptos reducidos a otros más amplios, correspondiendo la ausencia de enfermedades, acceso a los profesionales de salud y medicamentos, autocuidado, posibilidad de ejercer actividades laborales y libertad. Conclusiones: Se resalta la necesidad de la creación y activación de políticas públicas y proyectos sociales, oferta de educación continuada a los profesionales penitenciarios, alianza con actores sociales y participación activa de los profesionales de salud para garantía de mejor calidad de vida para las reescolarizadas y manutención del sistema carcelario.

Dificuldades das mulheres privadas de liberdade no acesso aos serviços de saúde / Dificultades de mujeres privadas de libertad para el acceso a los servicios de salud / Difficulties of women deprived of liberty in accessing health services

Objetivo: Conhecer como se dá o acesso aos serviços de saúde pelas reeducandas de uma cadeia pública. Métodos: Trata-se de pesquisa descritiva e exploratória, com abordagem qualitativa, desenvolvida na cadeia pública feminina de um município da região Médio-norte de Mato Grosso, Brasil, junto a 15 mulheres privadas de liberdade. A coleta de dados ocorreu no mês de outubro de 2016, através de entrevista semiestruturada em que as falas foram gravadas e, posteriormente, transcritas para análise de conteúdo na modalidade Análise Temática. Resultados: O descontentamento com os serviços oferecidos foi evidenciado, devido, principalmente, a ausência dos recursos humanos e materiais necessários para o atendimento em saúde no cárcere. O encaminhamento para serviços municipais é realizado apenas em situações de urgência/emergência, sendo executado através de escolta que, muitas vezes, é limitada em decorrência do baixo contingente de profissionais disponíveis. Conclusão: A dificuldade no acesso expressa as iniquidades a que essa população está exposta, limitando as ações de promoção e prevenção, tornando o acesso restrito ao atendimento de doenças e agravos em fase grave e aguda, em que a atenção é voltada exclusivamente para assistência. (AU)

Objective: To understand how the female inmates of a public jail are provided with access to health services. Methods: This is a descriptive and exploratory research, with a qualitative approach, developed in the female public jail of a municipality in the northern region of Mato Grosso, Brazil, with 15 women deprived of their liberty. Data collection was carried out in October 2016, through a semi-structured interview, when the statements were recorded and later transcribed for content analysis in the Thematic Analysis modality. Results: Discontentment with the services provided was evidenced, mainly due to the absence of human and material resources necessary for health care in incarceration. Referral to municipal services is only performed in urgent/emergency situations, being carried out with use of an escort, which is often limited due to the small contingent of available professionals. Conclusion: The difficulty in access expresses the iniquities to which this population is exposed, limiting the actions of promotion and prevention, making the access restricted to treating diseases and injuries in a severe and acute stage, in which the attention is exclusively directed to the healthcare assistance. (AU)

Objetivo: Conocer cómo se da el acceso a los servicios de salud por las mujeres reeducadas de una cárcel pública. Métodos: Se trata de una investigación descriptiva y exploratoria de abordaje cualitativo desarrollada en una cárcel pública femenina de un municipio de la región Medio-norte de Mato Grosso, Brasil, con 15 mujeres con privación de libertad. La recogida de los datos se dio en octubre de 2016 con una entrevista semiestructurada en la cual las hablas fueron grabadas y, a posteriori, trascritas para el análisis de contenido en la modalidad Análisis Temática. Resultados: Ha sido evidenciado el descontento con los servicios ofrecidos, en especial, con la ausencia de los recursos humanos y materiales necesarios para la atención en salud en la cárcel. El seguimiento para los servicios municipales se da solamente en situaciones de urgencia/emergencia a través de escolta la cual muchas veces es limitada por el bajo contingente de profesionales disponibles. Conclusión: La dificultad del acceso expresa las iniquidades a las cuales esa población se expone limitando las acciones de promoción y prevención convirtiendo el acceso restricto a la atención de enfermedades y agravio en la fase grave y aguda en la cual la atención se vuelve con exclusividad para la asistencia. (AU)

Perfil epidemiológico e prisional das detentas de um município do médio norte de Mato Grosso / Epidemiological and prison profile of the detention of a municipality of the north of Mato Grosso

Objetivou-se apresentar o perfil de mulheres privadas de liberdade em uma cadeia pública da região médio de Mato Grosso. Trata-se de uma pesquisa do tipo transversal, com abordagem quantitativa realizada em 2017. Foi realizada aplicação de formulário semiestruturado contendo perguntas abertas e fechadas com as 57 mulheres, sendo as mesmas entrevistadas individualmente; posteriormente os dados foram sistematizados em planilhas eletrônicas e analisados pelo SPSS versão 20.0. O perfil predominante foi de participantes autodeclaradas pardas (73,7%), com faixa etária entre 18 e 31 anos (56,2%), ensino fundamental incompleto (56,2%), donas de casa (38,6%), solteiras (47,4%), com até 4 filhos (82,5%), detidas pelo crime de tráfico de drogas (54,4%) e com período de reclusão de até dois anos (82,5%). O perfil aqui descrito reflete a relação entre a população com maior fragilidade socioeconômica, a inserção no crime através do parceiro e o tráfico de drogas como busca de renda. Neste sentido faz-se necessário a elaboração de políticas públicas intersetoriais que possibilitem a redução das desigualdades sociais, de gênero e a inserção das mulheres desde a infância em ambientes que potencializem sua qualidade de vida.

The objective of this study was to present the profile of women deprived of their liberty in a public chain in the middle region of Mato Grosso. This was a cross-sectional survey with a quantitative approach carried out in 2017. A semi-structured questionnaire containing open and closed questions was applied to 57 women with individual interviews, later the data systematized in electronic spreadsheets and analyzed by the SPSS version 20.0. The predominant profile self-reported by the participants was brown (73.7%), aged between 18 and 31 (56.2%), incomplete elementary school (56.2%), housewives (38.6%), (47.4%), with up to 4 children (82.5%), arrested for the crime of drug trafficking (54.4%) and with imprisonment for up to two years (82.5%). The profile described reflects the relationship between the population with greater socioeconomic fragility, insertion in crime through the partner and drug trafficking as a search for income. In this sense is necessary the elaboration of intersectional public policies that allow the reduction of social and gender inequalities and the insertion of women since their childhood in environments that enhance the quality of life

Udder characteristics and effects of pulsation rate on milking machine efficiency in donkeys.

Very little is known about the udder characteristics, partitioning of milk in the mammary gland and efficiency of machine milking in donkeys. This study aimed to evaluate the characteristics of the udder and teats, milk yield in relation to pulsation rates (90, 120 and 150 cycles/min), milk partitioning in the mammary gland, composition of the spontaneously removed and residual milk fractions and milking efficiency. Forty-one healthy Martina Franca jennies in the third month of lactation and routinely milked twice daily were used in three studies. Udder characteristics were evaluated by direct measurements and ultrasonographic scanning. Residual milk was obtained by milking after an oxytocin administration (40 IU i.m.). The prevalent shapes were 'bowl' for udders and 'conical' for teats. After milking the udder characteristics decreased within a range from -11·6% (udder depth) to -25·7% (diameter of teat at the base). The internal structures of the udder resulted as several pockets of ducts empting directly into the teat. The pulsation rate of 120 cycles/min improved (P<0·05) the milk yield in comparison to the 90 and 150 cycles/min, reduced the residual milk fraction, thus improved (P<0·05) milking efficiency. Residual milk composition had higher (P<0·05) fat content and somatic cell count than the spontaneously removed milk fraction. The udders revealed several pockets of ducts empting into the teat instead of a single cisternal cavity and showed a certain compliance. The use of 120 cycles/min pulsation rate improved milking efficiency.

Nicotinic acid and DP1 blockade: studies in mouse models of atherosclerosis.

The use of nicotinic acid to treat dyslipidemia is limited by induction of a "flushing" response, mediated in part by the interaction of prostaglandin D(2) (PGD(2)) with its G-protein coupled receptor, DP1 (Ptgdr). The impact of DP1 blockade (genetic or pharmacologic) was assessed in experimental murine models of atherosclerosis. In Ptgdr(-/-)ApoE(-/-) mice versus ApoE(-/-) mice, both fed a high-fat diet, aortic cholesterol content was modestly higher (1.3- to 1.5-fold, P < 0.05) in Ptgdr(-/-)ApoE(-/-) mice at 16 and 24 weeks of age, but not at 32 weeks. In multiple ApoE(-/-) mouse studies, a DP1-specific antagonist, L-655, generally had a neutral to beneficial effect on aortic lipids in the presence or absence of nicotinic acid treatment. In a separate study, a modest increase in some atherosclerotic measures was observed with L-655 treatment in Ldlr(-/-) mice fed a high-fat diet for 8 weeks; however, this effect was not sustained for 16 or 24 weeks. In the same study, treatment with nicotinic acid alone generally decreased plasma and/or aortic lipids, and addition of L-655 did not negate those beneficial effects. These studies demonstrate that inhibition of DP1, with or without nicotinic acid treatment, does not lead to consistent or sustained effects on plaque burden in mouse atherosclerotic models.

Characterization of mice lacking the multidrug resistance protein MRP2 (ABCC2).

The multidrug resistance protein Mrp2 is an ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter mainly expressed in liver, kidney, and intestine. One of the physiological roles of Mrp2 is to transport bilirubin glucuronides from the liver into the bile. Current in vivo models to study Mrp2 are the transporter-deficient and Eisai hyperbilirubinemic rat strains. Previous reports showed hyperbilirubinemia and induction of Mrp3 in the hepatocyte sinusoidal membrane in the mutant rats. In addition, differences in liver cytochrome P450 and UGT1a levels between wild-type and mutant rats were detected. To study whether these compensatory mechanisms were specific to rats, we characterized Mrp2(-/-) mice. Functional absence of Mrp2 in the knockout mice was demonstrated by showing increased levels of bilirubin and bilirubin glucuronides in serum and urine, a reduction in biliary excretion of bilirubin glucuronides and total glutathione, and a reduction in the biliary excretion of the Mrp2 substrate dibromosulfophthalein. To identify possible compensatory mechanisms in Mrp2(-/-) mice, the expression levels of 98 phase I, phase II, and transporter genes were compared in liver, kidney, and intestine of male and female Mrp2(-/-) and control mice. Unlike in Mrp2 mutant rats, no induction of Mrp3 in Mrp2(-/-) mice was detected. However, Mrp4 mRNA and protein in liver and kidney were increased approximately 6- and 2-fold, respectively. Phenotypic analysis of major cytochrome P450-mediated activities in liver microsomes did not show differences between wild-type and Mrp2(-/-) mice. In conclusion, Mrp2(-/-) mice are a new valuable tool to study the role of Mrp2 in drug disposition.

MR in the study of knee cartilage pathologies: influence of location and grade on the effectiveness of the method.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic effectiveness of magnetic resonance (MR) in knee cartilage pathologies of different regions and grades with the aim of establishing the role of MR in treatment choice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We enrolled 90 patients who underwent MR and arthroscopy of the knee. To classify cartilage lesions we used a simplified grading system that correlates MR to arthroscopic reports and divides lesions into low and high grades. The MR examinations were performed with a 1.5 T superconducting magnet with a standard protocol to obtain quality images in a short time, using T1-weighted spin-echo sequences, T2* weighted gradient-echo sequences and inversion recovery sequences. The MR diagnostic specificity, sensitivity and accuracy and MR positive predictive value and negative predictive value in identifying and grading the chondral lesions of the femorotibial and patellofemoral compartments were calculated and compared to arthroscopy parameters. RESULTS: The analysis of each grade of chondral lesions reveals an MR accuracy of 94% in high-grade lesions of the femorotibial and patellofemoral compartments and an MR accuracy of 78% in low-grade lesions of patellofemoral compartment and of 70% in low-grade lesions of femorotibial compartment. This result suggests MR is useful for the grading of chondral lesions in clinical practice. CONCLUSIONS: MR diagnostic effectiveness substantially changes according to the different location and grade of chondral lesions. While MR seems to be nearly equivalent to arthroscopy for high-grade lesions subject to surgery, it appears to be less accurate in diagnosing low-grade lesions, in particular femorotibial lesions.

Comparison of Cardiovascular Parameters and/or Serum Chemistry and Hematology Profiles in Conscious and Anesthetized Rhesus Monkeys (Macaca mulatta).

The rhesus monkey is often used in pre-clinical research, and such studies frequently involve a variety of anesthetic conditions. Therefore, it is important to determine baseline physiologic blood chemistry and cardiovascular parameters in anesthetized animals to facilitate appropriate comparisons. The present study compares the cardiovascular parameters, hematology, serum chemistry, and blood gas levels of rhesus monkeys anesthetized with pentobarbital, isoflurane, ketamine, and propofol. Hematology, serum chemistry, and blood gas levels were unaffected by the four anesthetic regimens. However, because of its formulation, propofol is inappropriate for use in animals in which changes in tryglycerides will be evaluated. Compared to those in conscious, unrestrained monkeys, heart rates were higher in anesthetized animals, but the rates of anesthetized animals were similar regardless of anesthetic agent used. In contrast, mean arterial blood pressure was lower in animals anesthetized with pentobarbital, propofol, or isoflurane than in the conscious monkeys. However, mean arterial pressure of ketamine-anesthetized monkeys was similar to that of the conscious monkeys.