Dietary Protein Modulates the Efficacy of Taurine Supplementation on Adaptive Islet Function and Morphology in Obesity.

Adaptation of islet ß-cell mass and function under limiting or excess nutrient availability is critical for maintenance of glucose homeostasis. Taurine regulates islet function of obese mice in normal and low dietary protein conditions, but whether this involves remodeling of the endocrine pancreas architecture is not well understood. Here, we carried functional and morphometric evaluation of the endocrine pancreas of normal and protein-restricted mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) and investigated the role of taurine supplementation. Weaned mice were placed in a normal (C) or a low-protein diet (R) for 6 weeks, followed by HFD for 8 weeks (CH and RH). Half of HFD groups received 5% taurine supplementation since weaning (CHT and RHT) until the end of the experiment. Isolated islets from both CH and RH groups showed increased insulin release in association with increased pancreas weight and independently of changes in islet or ß-cell area. In normal protein CHT mice, taurine supplementation prevented obesity-induced insulin hypersecretion and promoted increased islet and ß-cell areas in association with increased protein expression of the proliferation marker, PCNA. On a low-protein background, taurine effects on islet function and morphology were blunted, but it prevented obesity-induced DNA fragmentation. In summary, taurine regulates islet function and morphology to improve the adaptive response to diet-induced obesity, but these effects are dependent on adequate dietary protein levels.

A transgeracionalidade do feminino: estudo de caso com três gerações de mulheres casadas / The transgenerationality of the feminine in the family: a case of study with three generations of married women

A partir da teoria familiar sistêmica, o objetivo deste estudo foi compreender como ocorreu a transmissão de padrões e perspectivas sobre a família, o casamento e o feminino em três gerações de mulheres, incluindo o gênero como um marcador interseccional relevante. O estudo de caso foi composto por duas famílias, ambas representadas pelas gerações de avós, mães e filhas. Participaram seis mulheres, com idades variando de 28 a 90 anos. A média de idade da primeira geração foi 82 anos, da segunda foi 57,5 anos, enquanto a terceira foi de 32 anos. O tempo de casamento variou de cinco a 64 anos, sendo que a média de duração da primeira geração foi 60,5 anos, seguida de 33,5 anos para a segunda e 11,5 para a terceira. Todas as participantes foram entrevistadas individualmente. A análise temático-reflexiva evidenciou a transmissão de valores sobre família e casamento, havendo a emergência de relações mais flexíveis de gênero apenas na terceira geração, o que pode ser observado na dimensão da parentalidade e da carreira. No entanto, destacaram-se questões transgeracionais e de gênero para manter o legado familiar e a indissolubilidade do casamento, o que não pode ser compreendido apartado de marcadores sociais e culturais.

From the systemic family theory, the aim of this study was to understand how the transmission of patterns and perspectives on the family, marriage and the feminine occurred in three generations of women, including gender as a relevant intersectional marker. The case study was composed of two families, both represented by generations of grandmothers, mothers and daughters. Six women participated, with ages ranging from 28 to 90 years. The average age of the first generation was 82 years, the second was 57.5 years, while the third was 32 years. The length of marriage ranged from five to 64 years, with the average duration of the first generation being 60.5 years, followed by 33.5 years for the second and 11.5 years for the third. All participants were interviewed individually. The thematic-reflective analysis showed the transmission of values about family and marriage, with the emergence of more flexible gender relationships only in the third generation, which can be observed in the parenting and career dimensions. However, transgenerational and gender issues were highlighted to maintain the family legacy and the indissolubility of marriage, which cannot be understood apart from social and cultural markers

Agomelatine reduces circulating triacylglycerides and hepatic steatosis in fructose-treated rats.

Agomelatine (AGO) is an antidepressant drug with agonistic activity at melatonin receptor 1 (MT1) and MT2 and with neutral antagonistic activity at serotonin receptor 5-HT2C. Although experimental studies show that melatonin reduces hypertriglyceridemia and hepatic steatosis induced by excessive fructose intake, no studies have tested if AGO exerts similar actions. To address this issue we have treated male Wistar rats with fructose (15% in the drinking water) and/or AGO (40 mg/kg/day) for two weeks. AGO reduced body weight gain, feeding efficiency and hepatic lipid levels without affecting caloric intake in fructose-treated rats. AGO has also decreased very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) production and circulating TAG levels after an oral load with olive oil. Accordingly, treatment with AGO reduced the hepatic expression of fatty acid synthase (Fasn), a limiting step for hepatic de novo lipogenesis (DNLG). The expression of apolipoprotein B (Apob) and microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (Mttp) in the ileum, two crucial proteins for intestinal lipoprotein production, were also downregulated by treatment with AGO. Altogether, the present data show that AGO mimics the metabolic benefits of melatonin when used in fructose-treated rats. This study also suggests that it is relevant to evaluate the potential of AGO to treat metabolic disorders in future clinical trials.

Beneficial effects of physical exercise for ß-cell maintenance in a type 1 diabetes mellitus animal model.

NEW FINDINGS: What is the central question of this study? Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) leads to hyperglycaemia owing to pancreatic ß-cell destruction by the immune system. Physical exercise has been shown to have potentially beneficial protective roles against cytokine-induced pancreatic ß-cell death, but its benefits are yet to be proved and should be understood better, especially in the islet environment. What is the main finding and its importance? Physical exercise protects against ß-cell loss in a well-described animal model for T1D, induced by multiple low doses of streptozotocin. This seems to be related to reduced cytokine-induced ß-cell death and increased islet cell proliferation. Contributions of islet neogenesis and/or transdifferentiation of pancreatic non-ß-cells into ß-cells cannot be excluded. ABSTRACT: Physical exercise has beneficial effects on pancreatic ß-cell function and survival in a pro-inflammatory environment. Although these effects have been linked to decreased islet inflammation and modulation of pro-apoptotic pathways, little is known about the islet microenvironment. Our aim was to evaluate the effects of physical exercise in islet histomorphology in a mouse model of type 1 diabetes mellitus induced by multiple low doses of streptozotocin. As expected, induction of type 1 diabetes mellitus led to ß-cell loss and, consequently, decreased islet area. Interestingly, although the decrease in islet area was not prevented by physical exercise, this was not the case for the decrease in ß-cell mass. This was probably related to induction of ß-cell regeneration, because we observed increased proliferation and regeneration markers, such as Ki67 and Pcna, in islets of trained mice. These were found in the central and peripheral regions of the islets. An increase in the percentage of α- and δ-cells in these conditions, combined with an increase in proliferation and Pax4 labelling in peripheral regions, suggest that ß-cell regeneration might also occur by transdifferentiation. This agrees with the presence of cells double stained for insulin and glucagon only in islets of diabetic trained mice. In addition, this group had more extra-islet insulin-positive cells and islets associated with ducts than diabetic mice. Physical exercise also decreased nuclear factor-κB activation in islet cells of diabetic trained compared with diabetic untrained mice, indicating a decrease in pro-inflammatory cytokine-induced ß-cell death. Taken together, these findings indicate that preservation of ß-cell mass induced by physical exercise involves an increase in ß-cell replication and decrease in ß-cell death, together with islet neogenesis and islet cell transdifferentiation.

Dexamethasone programs lower fatty acid absorption and reduced PPAR-γ and fat/CD36 expression in the jejunum of the adult rat offspring.

The progeny of rats born and breastfed by mothers receiving dexamethasone (DEX) during pregnancy exhibits permanent reduction in body weight and adiposity but the precise mechanisms related to this programming are not fully understood. In order to clarify this issue, the present study investigated key aspects of lipoprotein production and lipid metabolism by the liver and the intestine that would explain the reduced adiposity seen in the adult offspring exposed to DEX in utero. Female Wistar rats were treated with DEX (0.1 mg/kg/day) between the 15th and the 21st days of pregnancy, while control mothers were treated with vehicle. Male offspring born to control mothers were nursed by either adoptive control mothers (CTL/CTL) or DEX-treated mothers (CTL/DEX). Male offspring born to DEX-treated mothers were nursed by either control mothers (DEX/CTL) or adoptive DEX-treated mothers (DEX/DEX). We found that only the male DEX/DEX offspring had reduced adiposity. Additionally, male DEX/DEX progeny had lower circulating triacylglycerol (TAG) levels only in fed-state. The four groups of offspring presented similar energy expenditure, respiratory quotient and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) production. On the other hand, DEX/DEX rats displayed reduced TAG levels after gavage with olive oil and reduced expression of fatty acid translocase Cd36 (Fat/Cd36) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (Pparg) in the jejunum. Altogether, our study supports the notion that reduced fat absorption by the jejunum may contribute to the lower adiposity of the adult offspring born and breastfed by mothers treated with DEX during pregnancy.

Queimaduras em crianças e adolescentes atendidos em um pronto-socorro infantil / Burns on children and adolescents assisted at a pediatric emergency room / Quemaduras en niños y adolescentes atendidos en una sala de emergencias pediátricas

Objetivo: Caracterizar os atendimentos por queimaduras em crianças e adolescentes em um Pronto-Socorro Infantil, no período de 2008 a 2018. Métodos: Estudo descritivo e retrospectivo, de abordagem quantitativa. Foram coletados dados secundários de sujeitos de 0 a 14 anos de idade, vítimas de queimaduras, disponíveis em prontuários e no sistema hospitalar. Foram conduzidas análises estatísticas descritiva e de associação (teste Qui-quadrado de Pearson p<0,05). Resultados: Identificaram-se 79 admissões por queimaduras, sendo 64,6% do sexo masculino. A maioria dos atendimentos (62%) correspondeu a crianças menores de 5 anos de idade. Do total analisado, 62% tiveram mais de 10% de Superfície Corporal Queimada. Houve predominância de queimaduras de 2.º grau (57%) e escaldaduras (58,2%). Conclusão: As queimaduras por escaldaduras e de 2.º grau foram as mais frequentes e acometeram mais o sexo masculino, o que reforça a necessidade de ações de promoção da saúde e prevenção de queimaduras envolvendo crianças e adolescentes (AU).

Purpose: To characterize the care for burns on children and adolescents at a Pediatric Emergency Room from 2008 to 2018. Method: Retrospective and descriptive study with quantitative approach. Data gathered from secondary data on subjects from zero to 14 years old, who were victims of burns, available in medical records and in the hospital system. Descriptive statistical analysis and association were conducted (Pearson's chi-square test p <0.05). Results: There were 79 admissions for burns, 64,6% were male. In most cases (62%), children under 5 years of age were involved. On the total analyzed, 62% presented less than 10% of Total Body Surface Area. There had been a predominance of second-degree burns (57%) and scalding (58.2%). Conclusion: Second-degree and scalding burns were the most frequent and affected the male sex the most, which reinforces the need for actions of health promotion and prevention of burns involving children and adolescents (AU).

Objetivo: Caracterizar la atención de los casos de quemaduras de niños y adolescentes en una sala de Emergencias Pediátricas de 2008 a 2018. Método: Estudio descriptivo y retrospectivo con abordaje cuantitativo. Se recolectaron datos secundarios de sujetos de cero a 14 años de edad, que fueron víctimas de quemaduras, disponibles en las historias clínicas y en el sistema hospitalario. Se realizaron análisis estadístico descriptivo y por asociación (Prueba de chi cuadrado de Pearson p <0,05). Resultados: Se identificaron 79 admisiones, el 64,6% era del sexo masculino. La mayoría de las consultas (62%) correspondía a niños con menos de 5 años de edad. Del total analizado, el 62% tenía más del 10% de la Superficie Corporal Quemada. Predominaron las quemaduras de 2º grado (57%) y las escaldaduras (58,2%). Conclusión: Las quemaduras de 2º grado y las escaldaduras fueron las más frecuentes y afectaron más al sexo masculino, lo que indica que es necesario tomar acciones para la promoción de la salud y prevención de las quemaduras en niños y adolescentes (AU).

In utero exposure to dexamethasone programs the development of the pancreatic ß- and α-cells during early postnatal life.

AIMS: The aim of the present study was to clarify if in utero exposure to DEX would affect the development of different types of pancreatic endocrine cells during postnatal life. MAIN METHODS: We investigated morphological and transcriptional features of both pancreatic ß- and α-cell populations within the pancreatic islets during the early postnatal life of rats born to mothers treated with DEX (0.1 mg/kg) from day 14 to 19 of pregnancy. Untreated pregnant Wistar rats of the same age (12-week-old) were used as control (CTL). Pups were euthanized on the 1st, 3rd and 21st (PND1, PND3 and PND21, respectively) days of life, regardless of sex. Serum insulin and glucagon levels were also evaluated. KEY FINDINGS: Rats born to DEX-treated mothers exhibited increased pancreatic α-cell mass, circulating glucagon levels and Gcg, Pax6, MafB and Nkx2.2 expression. Rats born to DEX-treated mothers also presented a rise in serum insulin levels on the PND3 that was paralleled by reduced ß-cell mass. Such increase in serum insulin levels, instead, was associated with increased expression of genes associated to insulin secretion such as Gck and Slc2a2. SIGNIFICANCE: Altogether, the present data reveals yet unknown changes in endocrine pancreas during early postnatal life of rats exposed to DEX in utero. Such data may contribute to the understanding of the metabolic features of rats born to DEX-treated mothers.

Long-term increase of insulin secretion in mice subjected to pregnancy and lactation.

PURPOSE: Observational studies show that longer breastfeeding periods reduce maternal risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, it is currently unknown if the long-term benefits of breastfeeding for maternal glucose homeostasis are linked to changes in the endocrine pancreas. METHODS: We presently evaluated functional, morphological and molecular aspects of the endocrine pancreas of mice subjected to two sequential cycles of pregnancy and lactation (L21). Age-matched mice not allowed to breastfeed (L0) and virgin mice were used as controls. RESULTS: L21 mice exhibited increased tolerance and increased glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) by isolated islets. Pancreatic islets of L21 mice did not present evident morphological changes to justify the increased GSIS. On the other hand, islets of L21 mice exhibited a reduction in Cavb3 and Kir6.2 expression with concordant increased intracellular Ca2+ levels after challenge with glucose. CONCLUSION: Altogether, the present findings show the breastfeeding exerts long-term benefits for maternal endocrine pancreas by increasing intracellular Ca2+ levels and GSIS.

Augmentation index, a predictor of cardiovascular events, is increased in children and adolescents with primary nephrotic syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Arterial stiffness is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. Augmentation index (AIx@75), a measure of arterial stiffness and wave reflection, has not been evaluated in patients with primary nephrotic syndrome (PNS). We investigated whether central and peripheral vascular profiles, hemodynamic parameters, and biochemical tests are associated with AIx@75 in PNS patients. METHODS: This observational study involved 38 children and adolescents with PNS (12.14 ± 3.65 years) and 37 healthy controls (13.28 ± 2.80 years). Arterial stiffness and vascular and hemodynamic parameters were measured noninvasively using the Mobil-O-Graph® (IEM, Stolberg, Germany). In the PNS group, biochemical tests and corticosteroid dosage/treatment time were analyzed. RESULTS: Peripheral and central systolic blood pressure (SBPp, SBPc) Z-scores were significantly higher in the PNS patients. AIx@75 was significantly higher in the PNS patients (25.14 ± 9.93%) than in controls (20.84 ± 7.18%). In the control group, AIx@75 negatively correlated with weight (r = - 0.369; p = 0.025), height (r = - 0.370; p = 0.024), and systolic volume/body surface (r = - 0.448; p = 0.006). In the PNS group, a univariate linear correlation showed that AIx@75 negatively correlated with weight (r = - 0.360; p = 0.027), height (r = 0.381; p = 0.18), and systolic volume/body surface (r = - 0.447; p < 0.002) and positively with the Z-score of SBPp (r = 0.407; p = 0.011), peripheral diastolic blood pressure (DBPp, r = 0.452; p = 0.004), SBPc (r = 0.416; p = 0.009), DBPc (r = 0.407; p = 0.011), triglycerides (r = 0.525; p = 0.001), and cholesterol [total (r = 0.539; p < 0.001), LDLc (r = 0.420; p = 0.010), and non-HDLc (r = 0.511; p = 0.001)]. CONCLUSIONS: Early abnormalities of AIx@75 and vascular parameters suggest that patients with PNS, even in stable condition, present subclinical indicators for the development of cardiovascular disease.

As famílias podem (se) adoecer: revisão integrativa da literatura científica / Families may (themselves) become ill: an integrative review of the scientific literature / Las familias pueden enfermarse: revisión integrativa de la literatura científica

Uma importante via da transmissão psíquica reside nos processos de saúde-doença que atravessam as gerações. Assim, o objetivo desta revisão integrativa foi compreender de que modo são transmitidos os padrões conjugais e familiares relacionados ao adoecimento entre as diferentes gerações. A partir de buscas sistemáticas nas bases/bibliotecas MEDLINE, LILACS, SciELO, PsycINFO e PePSIC entre 2007 e 2017, 35 estudos foram recuperados. Observa-se um predomínio de artigos quantitativos (57,1%), redigidos em inglês (60%) e realizados no Brasil (48,6%). A literatura recuperada ilustra a repetição de acontecimentos relacionados ao adoecimento e a reatualização de sofrimentos não elaborados na história familiar a partir de estudos que discutem temáticas transmitidas transgeracionalmente, como violência, incesto, tabagismo, dependência química, transtornos alimentares, obesidade, ansiedade e o transtorno de estresse pós-traumático. Compreender o modo como esses adoecimentos atravessam as diferentes gerações pode ser útil no delineamento de ações de promoção de saúde mental centralizadas nas histórias familiares e ofertadas em grupo.

An important path of psychic transmission lies in the health-disease processes that cross the generations. Thus, the purpose of this integrative review was to understand how the conjugal and family patterns related to illness among different generations are transmitted. From systematic searches in the databases/libraries MEDLINE, LILACS, SciELO, PsycINFO and PePSIC between 2007 and 2017, 35 studies were restored. It is observed a predominance of quantitative articles (57.1%), written in English (60%) and carried out in Brazil (48.6%). The recovered literature illustrates the repetition of events related to the illness and the re-visualization of unexplained suffering in family history from studies that discuss topics transgenerationally transmitted, such as violence, incest, smoking, chemical dependence, eating disorders, obesity, anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder. Understanding how these illnesses cross different generations can be useful in outlining mental health actions centered on family histories and available in groups.

Una importante vía de la transmisión psíquica reside en los procesos de salud-enfermedad que atraviesan las generaciones. Así, el objetivo de esta revisión integrativa fue comprender de qué modo se transmiten los patrones conyugales y familiares relacionados con la enfermedad entre las diferentes generaciones. A partir de búsquedas sistemáticas en las bases/bibliotecas MEDLINE, LILACS, SciELO, PsycINFO y PePSIC entre 2007 y 2017, 35 estudios fueron recuperados. Se observa un predominio de artículos cuantitativos (57,1%), redactados en inglés (60%) y realizados en Brasil (48,6%). La literatura recuperada ilustra la repetición de acontecimientos relacionados con la enfermedad y la reactualización de sufrimientos no elaborados en la historia familiar a partir de estudios que discuten temáticas transmitidas transgeneracionalmente, como violencia, incesto, tabaquismo, dependencia química, trastornos alimentarios, obesidad, ansiedad y el trastorno de estrés postraumático. Comprender la forma en que estas afecciones atraviesan las diferentes generaciones puede ser útil en el diseño de acciones de promoción de salud mental centralizadas en las historias familiares y ofrecidas en grupo.

Adoecimento e aposentadoria: relato de uma experiência profissional em aconselhamento psicológico / Illness and retirement: report of a professional experience in psychological counseling / Enfermedad y jubilación: relato de una experiencia profesional en asesoramiento psicológico

O aconselhamento psicológico é uma modalidade de atendimento que pode compor o rol de intervenções em Programas de Preparação para a Aposentadoria (PPAs). Entre os anos de 2014 e 2017, foi desenvolvido uma extensão vinculada a um estágio curricular em Psicologia em uma cidade de médio porte do Estado de Minas Gerais, com o objetivo de ofertar o aconselhamento psicológico a pessoas em processo de preparação para a aposentadoria. O objetivo deste estudo é relatar uma experiência profissional a partir de um estudo de casos múltiplos com foco no processo de adoecimento na aposentadoria. Os casos apresentados revelam dificuldades importantes, decorrentes tanto de processos de adoecimento como de aposentadoria por invalidez, e que puderam ser acolhidas em intervenções breves. O referencial da Psicologia Positiva mostrou-se útil no sentido de potencializar o desenvolvimento de recursos para o enfrentamento de situações complexas, bem como para ressignificação da aposentadoria como sendo um processo exclusivo de perdas e decréscimos associados ao envelhecimento e à terminalidade.

Psychological counseling is a modality of care that can be part of interventions in Retirement Preparation Programs (PPAs). Between the years of 2014 and 2017 an extension linked to a psychology curriculum internship was developed in a medium-sized city in the State of Minas Gerais with the objective of offering psychological counseling to people in the process of preparing for retirement. The objective of this study is to report a professional experience based on a multiple case study focused on the process of illness in retirement. The cases presented reveal significant difficulties stemming both from illness and retirement due to disability and that could be accommodated in brief interventions. The Positive Psychology benchmark was useful in the sense of potentializing the development of resources for coping with complex situations, as well as for the re-signification of retirement as an exclusive process of losses and decreases associated with aging and terminality.

El asesoramiento psicológico es una modalidad de atención que puede componer el rol de intervenciones en Programas de Preparación para la Jubilación (PPAs). Entre los años 2014 y 2017 se desarrolló una extensión vinculada a una etapa curricular en Psicología en una ciudad de mediano porte del Estado de Minas Gerais con el objetivo de ofrecer el asesoramiento psicológico a personas en proceso de preparación para la jubilación. El objetivo de este estudio es relatar una experiencia profesional a partir de un estudio de casos múltiples con foco en el proceso de enfermedad en la jubilación. Los casos presentados revelan dificultades importantes derivadas tanto de procesos de enfermedad y de jubilación por invalidez y que pudieron ser acogidas en intervenciones breves. El referencial de la Psicología Positiva se mostró útil en el sentido de potenciar el desarrollo de recursos para el enfrentamiento de situaciones complejas, así como para la resignificación de la jubilación como un proceso exclusivo de pérdidas y decrecimientos asociados al envejecimiento ya la terminal.

Dexamethasone during pregnancy impairs maternal pancreatic ß-cell renewal during lactation.

Pancreatic islets from pregnant rats develop a transitory increase in the pancreatic ß-cell proliferation rate and mass. Increased apoptosis during early lactation contributes to the rapid reversal of those morphological changes. Exposure to synthetic glucocorticoids during pregnancy has been previously reported to impair insulin secretion, but its impacts on pancreatic islet morphological changes during pregnancy and lactation have not been described. To address this issue, we assessed the morphological and molecular characteristics of pancreatic islets from rats that underwent undisturbed pregnancy (CTL) or were treated with dexamethasone between the 14th and 19th days of pregnancy (DEX). Pancreatic islets were analyzed on the 20th day of pregnancy (P20) and on the 3rd, 8th, 14th and 21st days of lactation (L3, L8, L14 and L21, respectively). Pancreatic islets from CTL rats exhibited transitory increases in cellular proliferation and pancreatic ß-cell mass at P20, which were reversed at L3, when a transitory increase in apoptosis was observed. This was followed by the appearance of morphological features of pancreatic islet neogenesis at L8. Islets from DEX rats did not demonstrate an increase in apoptosis at L3, which coincided with an increase in the expression of M2 macrophage markers relative to M1 macrophage and T lymphocyte markers. Islets from DEX rats also did not exhibit the morphological characteristics of pancreatic islet neogenesis at L8. Our data demonstrate that maternal pancreatic islets undergo a renewal process during lactation that is impaired by exposure to DEX during pregnancy.

The absence of lactation after pregnancy induces long-term lipid accumulation in maternal liver of mice.

AIMS: The present investigation evaluated whether pregnancy followed by lactation exerts long-term impacts on maternal hepatic lipid metabolism. MAIN METHODS: Female mice were subjected to two pregnancies, after which they were either allowed to breastfeed their pups for 21 days (L21) or had their litter removed (L0). Age-matched virgin mice were used as controls (CTL). Three months after the second delivery, serum was collected for lipid profiling, and fragments of liver were used to assess lipid content and to evaluate the key steps of de novo non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) synthesis, esterification and ß-oxidation, very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) assembly and secretion and autophagy. KEY FINDINGS: L0 exhibited a significant increase in hepatic TG and reduced apolipoprotein B-100 (ApoB-100) expression. L21 mice had increased ATP citrate lyase (ACLY) activity and reduced acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) phosphorylation but no increased hepatic TG. On the other hand, L21 mice had reduced hepatic sequestosome 1 (SQSTM1/p62) levels. Increased high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and hepatic apolipoprotein A-1 (ApoA-1) expression were found exclusively in L21. SIGNIFICANCE: The present study reveals that long-term hepatic lipid accumulation is induced by the history of pregnancy without lactation. On the other hand, reduced SQSTM1/p62 levels indicate that increased autophagic flux during life may prevent hepatic fat in dams subjected to lactation. Lactation after pregnancy is also obligatory for a long-term increase in maternal HDL. The present data may contribute to the understanding of the mechanisms leading to elevated cardiometabolic risk in women limited to short periods of lactation.

Taurine supplementation induces long-term beneficial effects on glucose homeostasis in ob/ob mice.

The sulfur-containing amino acid, taurine (Tau), regulates glucose and lipid homeostasis under normal, pre- and diabetic conditions. Here, we aimed to verify whether Tau supplementation exerts its beneficial effects against obesity, hyperglycemia and alterations in islet functions, in leptin-deficient obese (ob/ob), over a long period of treatment. From weaning until 12 months of age, female ob/ob mice received, or not, 5% Tau in drinking water (obTau group). After this period, a reduction in hypertriglyceridemia and an improvement in glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity were observed in obTau mice. In addition, the daily metabolic flexibility was restored in obTau mice. In the gastrocnemius muscle of obTau mice, the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) was increased, while total AMPK protein content was reduced. Finally, isolated islets from obTau mice expressed high amounts of pyruvate carboxylase (PC) protein and lower glucose-induced insulin secretion. Taking these evidences together Tau supplementation had long-term positive actions on glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, associated with a reduction in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, in ob/ob mice. The improvement in insulin actions in obTau mice was due, at least in part, to increased activation of AMPK in skeletal muscle, while the increased content of the PC enzyme in pancreatic islets may help to preserve glucose responsiveness in obTau islets, possibly contributing to islet cell survive.

Permanências e Descontinuidades nas Concepções Contemporâneas de Casamento na Perspectiva de Casais Longevos / Continuities and Discontinuities in Contemporary Conceptions of Marriage from the Perspective of Long-Term Couples

Resumo O objetivo deste estudo foi compreender os movimentos de permanências e descontinuidades nas concepções contemporâneas de casamento, a partir da perspectiva de casais longevos, ou seja, unidos há mais de 30 anos. Foram entrevistados sete casais com média de idade de 68,9 anos e unidos há 45,7 anos, em média. Aplicou-se uma entrevista semiestruturada em cada casal (díade). Os resultados mostraram que o respeito à liberdade de se casar e divorciar parece ser a inovação que mais repercutiu nos casais entrevistados. Os participantes tiveram que reestruturar suas concepções sobre o casamento para poderem lidar com as novas possibilidades que emergem na atualidade. As mudanças percebidas se referem mais aos comportamentos dos cônjuges na contemporaneidade e não à estrutura da instituição casamento, vista como estável e confiável.

Abstract This study aimed to understand the movements of continuities and discontinuities in contemporary conceptions of marriage from the perspective of couples in long term marriages, that is, those that last longer than 30 years. Seven couples (mean age = 68.9 years) who were married for 45.7 years on average. Semi-structured interviews with each couple were carried out (dyad). The results showed that respect for freedom to marry and divorce seems to be the innovation that most affected the interviewed couples. Participants had to restructure their marriage conceptions in order to deal with the new possibilities that emerge nowadays. Perceived changes are associated with the behavior of couples in contemporary days and not to the structure of marriage as institution, seen as stable and reliable.

Prolonged fasting elicits increased hepatic triglyceride accumulation in rats born to dexamethasone-treated mothers.

We investigated the effect of dexamethasone during the last week of pregnancy on glucose and lipid metabolism in male offspring. Twelve-week old offspring were evaluated after fasting for 12-hours (physiological) and 60-hours (prolonged). Physiological fasting resulted in glucose intolerance, decreased glucose clearance after pyruvate load and increased PEPCK expression in rats born to dexamethasone-treated mothers (DEX). Prolonged fasting resulted in increased glucose tolerance and increased glucose clearance after pyruvate load in DEX. These modulations were accompanied by accumulation of hepatic triglycerides (TG). Sixty-hour fasted DEX also showed increased citrate synthase (CS) activity, ATP citrate lyase (ACLY) content, and pyruvate kinase 2 (pkm2), glucose transporter 1 (slc2a1) and lactate dehydrogenase-a (ldha) expressions. Hepatic AKT2 was increased in 60-hour fasted DEX, in parallel with reduced miRNAs targeting the AKT2 gene. Altogether, we show that metabolic programming by prenatal dexamethasone is characterized by an unexpected hepatic TG accumulation during prolonged fasting. The underlying mechanism may depend on increased hepatic glycolytic flux due to increased pkm2 expression and consequent conversion of pyruvate to non-esterified fatty acid synthesis due to increased CS activity and ACLY levels. Upregulation of AKT2 due to reduced miRNAs may serve as a permanent mechanism leading to increased pkm2 expression.

Vagotomy Reduces Insulin Clearance in Obese Mice Programmed by Low-Protein Diet in the Adolescence.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of subdiaphragmatic vagotomy on insulin sensitivity, secretion, and degradation in metabolic programmed mice, induced by a low-protein diet early in life, followed by exposure to a high-fat diet in adulthood. Weaned 30-day-old C57Bl/6 mice were submitted to a low-protein diet (6% protein). After 4 weeks, the mice were distributed into three groups: LP group, which continued receiving a low-protein diet; LP + HF group, which started to receive a high-fat diet; and LP + HFvag group, which underwent vagotomy and also was kept at a high-fat diet. Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) in isolated islets, ipGTT, ipITT, in vivo insulin clearance, and liver expression of the insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) was accessed. Vagotomy improved glucose tolerance and reduced insulin secretion but did not alter adiposity and insulin sensitivity in the LP + HFvag, compared with the LP + HF group. Improvement in glucose tolerance was accompanied by increased insulinemia, probably due to a diminished insulin clearance, as judged by the lower C-peptide : insulin ratio, during the ipGTT. Finally, vagotomy also reduced liver IDE expression in this group. In conclusion, when submitted to vagotomy, the metabolic programmed mice showed improved glucose tolerance, associated with an increase of plasma insulin concentration as a result of insulin clearance reduction, a phenomenon probably due to diminished liver IDE expression.

Protein malnutrition blunts the increment of taurine transporter expression by a high-fat diet and impairs taurine reestablishment of insulin secretion.

Taurine (Tau) restores ß-cell function in obesity; however, its action is lost in malnourished obese rodents. Here, we investigated the mechanisms involved in the lack of effects of Tau in this model. C57BL/6 mice were fed a control diet (CD) (14% protein) or a protein-restricted diet (RD) (6% protein) for 6 wk. Afterward, mice received a high-fat diet (HFD) for 8 wk [CD + HFD (CH) and RD + HFD (RH)] with or without 5% Tau supplementation after weaning on their drinking water [CH + Tau (CHT) and RH + Tau (RHT)]. The HFD increased insulin secretion through mitochondrial metabolism in CH and RH. Tau prevented all those alterations in CHT only. The expression of the taurine transporter (Tau-T), as well as Tau content in pancreatic islets, was increased in CH but had no effect on RH. Protein malnutrition programs ß cells and impairs Tau-induced restoration of mitochondrial metabolism and biogenesis. This may be associated with modulation of the expression of Tau-T in pancreatic islets, which may be responsible for the absence of effect of Tau in protein-malnourished obese mice.-Branco, R. C. S., Camargo, R. L., Batista, T. M., Vettorazzi, J. F., Borck, P. C., dos Santos-Silva, J. C. R., Boschero, A. C., Zoppi, C. C., Carneiro, E. M. Protein malnutrition blunts the increment of taurine transporter expression by a high-fat diet and impairs taurine reestablishment of insulin secretion.

Bodas para uma vida: motivos para manter um casamento de longa duração / Entire life's wedding: reasons to maintain a long-term marriage / Bodas para toda la vida: razones para mantener un matrimonio de largo plazo

O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar os motivos que levam as pessoas a manterem casamentos de longa duração. Foram entrevistados sete casais com tempo médio de casamento de 45,7 anos, com média de idade de 68,9 anos e com filhos. A partir de dois roteiros semiestruturados, os participantes foram entrevistados individualmente e em casal, totalizando 21 entrevistas. Por meio da análise de conteúdo temática, foram construídas 19 categorias com os motivos mais frequentes indicados pelos participantes para a manutenção do casamento. A responsabilidade com a família e com o cônjuge, a necessidade de cumprir o que consideram como dever de esposo/esposa e pai/mãe, além dos laços afetivos entre os familiares foram os motivos mais elencados nas entrevistas. Foi possível observar a tentativa de equilíbrio entre individualidades e conjugalidade por parte dos casais entrevistados, bem como a manutenção dos papéis de gênero ao longo dos anos de relacionamento. Devem ser fomentados novos estudos nesse tema, contribuindo para a área da conjugalidade.

The aim of this study is to investigate the reasons why people maintain long-term marriages. We interviewed seven couples with average marriage time of 45.7 years, average age of 68.9 years old and with children. From two semi-structured scripts, the participants were interviewed individually and as a couple, totalizing 21 interviews. Through the thematic analysis of content, 19 categories were made with the most common reasons why the participants maintain the marriage. Responsibility to the family and to the spouse, the need of fulfilling what they consider as duty of a husband/wife and father/mother, in addition to affectional bonds between the relatives were the most important reasons in the interviews. It was possible to notice the interviewed couples' attempt of balance between individualities and conjugality, as well as the maintenance of gender roles throughout the years of relationship. Further researches on this topic should be encouraged, contributing to the study of conjugality.

El objetivo de este estudio fue investigar los motivos que llevan a las personas a mantener matrimonios de larga duración. Fueron entrevistados siete parejas con tiempo medio de matrimonio de 45,7 años, con media de edad de 68,9 años y con hijos. A partir de dos guiones semiestructuradas, los participantes fueron entrevistados individualmente y en pareja, totalizando 21 entrevistas. Por medio del análisis de contenido temática, fueron construidas 19 categorías con los motivos más frecuentes indicados por los participantes para el mantenimiento del matrimonio. La responsabilidad con la familia y con el conyugue, la necesidad de cumplir lo que consideran como deber de esposo/esposa y padre/madre, además de los lazos afectivos entre los familiares fueron los motivos más enumerados en las entrevistas. Fue posible observar el intento de equilibrio entre individualidades e conyugalidad por parte de las parejas entrevistadas, así como la manutención de los papeles de género a lo largo de los años de relacionamiento. Deben ser fomentados nuevos estudios em este tema, contribuyendo para el área de la conyugalidad.

Propranolol treatment lowers blood pressure, reduces vascular inflammatory markers and improves endothelial function in obese mice.

Obesity-associated hypertension is accompanied by a number of cardiovascular risk factors including vascular insulin resistance (IR) and higher sympathetic nervous activity. Therefore, autonomic blockade was demonstrated to reverse hypertension, endothelial dysfunction and IR in obese individuals. We hypothesized that ß-AR blockade with propranolol would restore endothelial function and vascular insulin signaling in obesity, associated with an anti-inflammatory effect. Body weight, systolic blood pressure (SBP), plasma biochemical parameters and aortic endothelial function were analyzed in mice fed standard diet (control group) or a high fat diet (HFD) that were treated with vehicle (water) or propranolol (10mg/kg/day) for 8weeks. Propranolol treatment did not modify obesogenic effect of HFD feeding. However, propranolol was effective in preventing the rise in SBP, the hyperinsulinemia and the impaired endothelium-dependent relaxation to acetylcholine and to insulin in obese mice. Protective effect of propranolol administration in endothelial function was associated with increased nitric oxide (NO) production and phosphorylation of Akt (Ser473) and eNOS (Ser1177), but with reduced phospho-IRS-1(Ser307) and phospho-ERK1/2 (Thr202/Tyr204). In addition, ß-blocker propranolol prevented the NF-kB nuclear translocation and the increase in phospho-IκB-α (Ser32) and in interleukin(IL)-6 expression in aorta of obese mice, without significant changes in either aortic reactive oxygen species production or in circulating IL-6 and TNF-α levels. In ß2-AR knockout mice, despite increasing body weight and visceral fat, HFD did not increase SBP and showed a partial improvement of endothelial function, revealing a role of ß2-AR in cardiovascular effects of obesity. In conclusion, our results suggest that ß-AR blockade with propranolol is effective to prevent the endothelial dysfunction, vascular IR and pro-inflammatory state displayed in HFD-induced obesity, independent of changes in body weight.