Vitamin E supplementation inhibits muscle damage and inflammation after moderate exercise in hypoxia.

BACKGROUND: Exercise under hypoxic conditions represents an additional stress in relation to exercise in normoxia. Hypoxia induces oxidative stress and inflammation as mediated through tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α release that might be exacerbated through exercise. In addition, vitamin E supplementation might attenuate oxidative stress and inflammation resulting from hypoxia during exercise. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of vitamin E supplementation (250 mg) on inflammatory parameters and cellular damage after exercise under hypoxia simulating an altitude of 4200 m. METHODS: Nine volunteers performed three sessions of 60 min of exercise (70% maximal oxygen uptake) interspersed for 1 week under normoxia, hypoxia and hypoxia after vitamin E supplementation 1 h before exercise. Blood was collected before, immediately after and at 1 h after exercise to measure inflammatory parameters and cell damage. RESULTS: Percentage oxygen saturation of haemoglobin decreased after exercise and recovered 1 h later in the hypoxia + vitamin condition (P < 0.05). Supplementation decreased creatine kinase (CK)-TOTAL, CK-MB and lactate dehydrogenase 1 h after exercise (P < 0.05). The exercise in hypoxia increased interleukin (IL)-6, TNF-α, IL-1ra and IL-10 immediately after exercise (P < 0.05). Supplementation reversed the changes observed after exercise in hypoxia without supplementation (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that 250 mg of vitamin E supplementation at 1 h before exercise reduces cell damage markers after exercise in hypoxia and changes the concentration of cytokines, suggesting a possible protective effect against inflammation induced by hypoxia during exercise.

Identifying student profiles and their impact on academic performance in a Brazilian undergraduate student sample.

The recognition of the student profile provides strategic information for planning educational policies in the university environment. The aims of this study were to identify natural segmentation of freshman undergraduate dental students based on demographic, socioeconomic and educational variables, and to subsequently investigate their impact on academic performance of Brazilian undergraduate students. Cluster analysis (two-step algorithm) was used to segment students who entered dental school in the time period from 1999 to 2001 (n=158) into groups based on responses to a questionnaire completed by students at the time of the admission examination. Clustering analysis revealed three natural groups. Age, the parents' level of education, and performance on the first admission test were the most important variables for cluster segmentation. Cluster 1 (n=42; 26.6%) was characterized by female students with higher socioeconomic status and better previous educational indicators. Cluster 2 (n=62; 39.2%) represented disadvantaged socioeconomic profiles, with a predominance of females and older students. Cluster 3 (n=54; 34.2%) showed similar socioeconomic characteristics to cluster 1, except for male prevalence, higher age, and experiencing difficulty in the admission test. Clusters' academic performance was satisfactory in both overall course and course groups (grade point average of at least 7.0), with average ranging from 7.89 (SD=0.44) to 8.13 (SD=0.31) and 7.37 (SD=0.75) to 8.31(SD=0.26), respectively. Our findings provide encouraging evidence for the current context of equality of access to education and reveal the importance of financial support to maximize successful educational experiences of socioeconomically disadvantaged dental students.

Factors influencing edentulous patients' preferences for prosthodontic treatment.

The aim of this study was to identify factors influencing edentulous patients' preferences for treatment using conventional or implant dentures (ID). A consecutive sample of 112 patients was selected in a university facility. All patients responded to a questionnaire concerning preferences about treatment and factors influencing preferences for conventional complete dentures (CD), implant-retained overdentures (IRO) and fixed implant-supported prostheses (FISP). Subsequently, a set of 21 questions was presented, and patients were requested to rate the importance of various potential reasons influencing their choice of treatment. Preference for CD was more prevalent for maxilla (52·7%) and mandible (41·1%). Fixed implant-supported prostheses and IRO were preferred for the mandible (FISP=37·5%; IRO=21·4%) rather than maxilla (FISP=27·7%; IRO=19·6%). The most preferred treatment option among the subjects when evaluating both arches was the implant-supported fixed or removable prosthesis (FISP/IRO). A preference for combined upper and lower CD was also commonly reported (39·3%). Factor analysis identified six components that accounted for 72·2% of the total variance: (i) psychosocial benefits, (ii) functional performance, (iii) technical and financial concerns, (iv) post-insertion complaints, (v) removability and (vi) longevity. Technical and financial concerns (cost, complexity, surgery risks and duration of treatment) were more relevant for those who preferred ID (P<0·001). With the exception of post-insertion complaints, all mean scores of component factor loadings were positive for ID. Conventional complete dentures are associated with lower expected outcomes by patients, and cost-related issues are the major factors associated with the preferences for implant treatment of edentulous patients.

Heavy metals bioconcentration in Crassostrea rhizophorae: A site-to-site transplant experiment at the Potengi estuary, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.

In this study, we analyzed the bioconcentration of Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Ni, and Zn in the soft tissue of transplanted oysters in two sites in the Potengi estuary for six months. Native oysters collected before and after the transplantation experiment provided the background for statistical analyses. Cd, Cr, and Ni showed a strong inverse correlation with oyster weight in both sites. Transplantation upstream of the estuary presented increasing concentrations of Zn, Cu, and Pb and condition index (CI) and decreasing trends for Cd and Ni, whereas Cr oscillated significantly. In the downstream transplantation, Cu, Pb, and Zn and the CI tended to decrease, whereas for Ni, Cd, and Cr, the concentrations increased. Spatiotemporal principal component analysis correlated these results mainly with proximity to the polluting source, seasonality, and previous exposure to heavy metals. These results helped interpret the responses provided by these biomonitors to environmental changes, whether they are natural or anthropogenic.

Discriminant analysis of patients' reasons for choosing or refusing treatments for partial edentulism.

The aim of the study was to explore partially edentulous patients' reasons for choosing or refusing prosthodontic treatment with removable partial dentures (RPD), fixed partial dentures (FPD) and implant partial dentures (IPD). Clinical and oral health-related quality of life measures were collected from 165 partially edentulous patients undergoing treatment. Patients' preferences were recorded and reasons for choosing or refusing treatments were measured with 32 questions using a five-point Likert scale. Descriptive statistics, chi-square and multiple logistic regression were used to compare patients' preferences according to clinical variables. Discriminant analysis was used to examine the impact of each reason for a patient's decision to choose or refuse treatment options. Results showed that older patients (P < 0.001) and with greater oral-related quality of life impacts (P < 0.05) were more likely to choose RPD. IPD were preferred by patients with higher education levels (P < 0.01). Discriminant functions revealed that the desire to have a fixed or removable denture had great impact on preferences. Removal of tooth structure was the main reason for refusing FPD and financial cost had a great impact on refusing IPD. Overall agreement between observed patients' decisions and those predicted by the discriminant function was >90% for all treatments. Reasons vary greatly among patients, and the role of individual perception of potential reasons for treatment selection was the most important determinants of patients' decisions. The main reasons for choosing or refusing treatments focused in this study can be used to guide shared decision-making, providing treatments that better match patients' expectations and desires.

Assessing perceived potential outcomes of prosthodontic treatment in partial and fully edentulous patients.

The aim was to develop an instrument to measure and to explore the perception of potential outcomes of prosthodontic treatment in partial and fully edentulous patients, including benefits, risks and consequences of non replacement of missing teeth. It was also aimed to assess the influence of clinical and socio-demographic variables on the perception of potential outcomes. Using a two-phase data collection (open-ended and closed-form), a scale was developed containing 41 statements to measure subject's perception scores in a 5-point Likert-type scale (1, strongly disagree; 2, disagree; 3, neutral; 4, agree; 5, strongly agree). In the second phase 126 partially or fully edentulous subjects were interviewed. Influence of age, gender and clinical variables on perceived outcomes were tested using one-way anova, independent t-test and two-way anova (general linear model). Respondents' mean age was 51.8 years (s.d.=12.3), and 74% were female. Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the scale and subscales ranged from 0.70 to 0.90. Patients' mean scores ranged from 2.37 to 4.88 (mean=4.25; s.d.=0.65), indicating that subjects tended to agree with the proposed affirmatives (scores 4 and 5). Perception scores were influenced by age, gender, edentulous spaces and use of prosthodontics. Older subjects, female, those with higher number of missing teeth and who have been previously treated had greater perception of benefits and risks of prosthodontic treatment. It was concluded that the proposed instrument was suitable for measuring subjects' perception of potential outcomes of prosthodontic treatment.

Detecting animal by-product intake using stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS).

Sheep are used in many countries as food and for manufacturing bioproducts. However, when these animals consume animal by-products (ABP), which is widely prohibited, there is a risk of transmitting scrapie - a fatal prion disease in human beings. Therefore, it is essential to develop sensitive methods to detect previous ABP intake to select safe animals for producing biopharmaceuticals. We used stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) for 13C and 15N to trace animal proteins in the serum of three groups of sheep: 1 - received only vegetable protein (VP) for 89 days; 2 - received animal and vegetable protein (AVP); and 3 - received animal and vegetable protein with animal protein subsequently removed (AVPR). Groups 2 and 3 received diets with 30% bovine meat and bone meal (MBM) added to a vegetable diet (from days 16-89 in the AVP group and until day 49 in the AVPR group, when MBM was removed). The AVPR group showed 15N equilibrium 5 days after MBM removal (54th day). Conversely, 15N equilibrium in the AVP group occurred 22 days later (76th day). The half-life differed between these groups by 3.55 days. In the AVPR group, 15N elimination required 53 days, which was similar to this isotope's incorporation time. Turnover was determined based on natural 15N signatures. IRMS followed by turnover calculations was used to evaluate the time period for the incorporation and elimination of animal protein in sheep serum. The δ13C and δ15N values were used to track animal protein in the diet. This method is biologically and economically relevant for the veterinary field because it can track protein over time or make a point assessment of animal feed with high sensitivity and resolution, providing a low-cost analysis coupled with fast detection. Isotopic profiles could be measured throughout the experimental period, demonstrating the potential to use the method for traceability and certification assessments.

Changes in the water quality conditions of Kuwait's marine waters: Long term impacts of nutrient enrichment.

This work analyses a 30 year water quality data set collated from chemical analyses of Kuwait's marine waters. Spatial patterns across six sites in Kuwait Bay and seven sites located in the Arabian Gulf are explored and discussed in terms of the changing influences associated with point and diffuse sources. Statistical modelling demonstrated significant increases for dissolved nutrients over the time period. Kuwait marine waters have been subject to inputs from urban development, untreated sewage discharges and decreasing river flow from the Shatt al-Arab River. Chlorophyll biomass showed a small but significant reduction; the high sewage content of the coastal waters from sewage discharges likely favouring the presence of smaller phytoplankton taxa. This detailed assessment of temporal data of the impacts of sewage inputs into Kuwait's coastal waters establishes an important baseline permitting future assessments to be made as sewage is upgraded, and the river continues to be extracted upstream.

An improved electrophoretic method for the determination of serum milk protein variants in Gyr-Holstein cows.

Milk serum proteins such as alpha-lactalbumin (ALA) and beta-lactoglobulin (BLG) present biochemical polymorphism which is under the control of codominant autosomal alleles. In the present report, we propose modifications of traditional electrophoretic techniques such as increasing the running gel concentration from 5 to 10% and the addition of 5 M urea to the stacking gel, which permitted the detection of two variants (A and B) at the ALA and BLG loci. About 8 microliters of milk serum (6 mg/ml protein) and 10 microliters of total fresh milk were applied. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) and immunolactoglobulins (ILG) could also be discriminated. Total fresh milk was as useful as the purified serum milk proteins for the discrimination of ALA and BLG serum milk protein polymorphism by alkaline vertical slab polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. However, BSA and ILG ran with caseins, which prevented their characterization in this system.

Turnover do carbono em sangue e plasma, nas fases crescimento e postura, de codornas japonesas (Coturnix coturnix japonica) / Turnover of carbon in blood and plasma, growth stages and posture, japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

O estudo objetivou avaliar o turnover do 13C no sangue e plasma de codornas japonesas utilizando a técnica de isótopos estáveis, para a obtenção do patamar de equilíbrio isotópico que servirá de fundamento para estudos de rastreabilidade. Foram utilizadas 300 aves durante o período experimental de 1-42 e 49-97 dias de idade. Os tratamentos da primeira fase foram constituídos de dietas à base de arroz (C3), contendo ou não farinha de carne e ossos bovinos e um com dieta à base de milho (C4). Nessa primeira fase foi analisado o turnover do sinal isotópico do matrizeiro à base de dietas C4 para dietas à base de C3, como também as diferenças isotópicas das dietas contendo ou não farinha de origem animal. Na segunda fase houve uma substituição de dietas, ou seja, as aves no tratamento C4 da primeira fase passaram a consumir dieta C3, e o tratamento que antes consumia dieta C3 passou para dieta C4. Para determinar a taxa de turnover e o percentual estimado de participação da farinha na composição do material coletado, foi empregado o modelo de diluição isotópica utilizando valores do δ13C. A comparação entre as meias-vidas do sangue e plasma da primeira fase revelou o enriquecimento do δ13C na dieta; já na segunda fase foi possível observar as velocidades de incorporação após a troca das dietas...

The study aimed to evaluate the turnover of 13C in the blood and plasma of Japanese quail using the technique of stable isotopes to obtain the level of isotopic equilibrium that will be the foundation for studies of traceability. A total of 300 birds during the experimental period of 1-42 and 49-97 days of age. The first phase of the treatments consisted of diets based on rice (C3), with or without meat and beef bones and a diet based on corn (C4). This was first examined the turnover signal farm matrix isotope-based diets based diets C4 to C3, as well as isotopic differences of diets with or without animal meal In the second stage there was a substitution of diets, or C4 treatment of the first stage passes to consume C3-based diet than before treatment and diet consumed C3 to C4 diet. To determine the turnover rate and the estimated percentage of participation of flour in the composition of the collected material was used isotope dilution model using δ13C values. A comparison of the half-lives of blood and plasma from the first phase discloses the enrichment of dietary δ 13C, in the second phase was observed after incorporation speeds exchange diets...

Scintigraphy of the hepatobiliar system in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis

The objective of this paper was to evaluate the hepatobiliary function of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis under triple treatment, using the technetium-99m-DISIDA (99mTc-DISIDA) hepatobiliary scintigraphy. Ten men and three women with pulmonary tuberculosis were subjected to hepatobiliary scintigraphy at the beginning of triple treatment (M1) and two months after it (M2). Patients were from the urban area, of low socioeconomic level, malnourished, and chronic alcohol and/or tobacco users. Ten normal individuals were evaluated as controls. Radiotracer images were acquired on a computerized gamma camera (Orbiter-Siemens) and T1/2 uptake and excretion values were calculated. Nutritional status and serum hepatic enzyme levels for each patient were evaluated at M1 and M2. None presented clinical or laboratory antecedent of hepatobiliary disease. At M1, there were no hepatic serum or kinetic alterations of the 99mTc-DISIDA. At M2, patients presented better nutritional conditions than at M1; there was increased serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and reduced excretion time for 99mTc-DISIDA, which was interpreted as a more adaptive than toxic phenomenon, yet not all alterations were significant and none manifested clinically. Apparently, triple treatment acted on the liver inducing the P450 cytochrome enzymatic system, accelerating radiotracer excretion, which follows the same path as the bilirubins

An improved electrophoretic method for the determination of serum milk protein variants in Gyr-Holstein cows

Milk serum proteins such as alpha-lactalbumin (ALA) and beta-lactoglobulin (BLG) present biochemical polymorphism which is under the control of codominant autosomal alleles. In the present report, we propose modifications of traditional electrophoretic techniques such as increasing the running gel concentration from 5 to 10% and the addition of 5 M urea to the stacking gel, which permitted the detection of two variants (A and B) at the ALA and BLG loci. About 8 microliters of milk serum (6 mg/ml protein) and 10 microliters of total fresh milk were applied. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) and immunolactoglobulins (ILG) could also be discriminated. Total fresh milk was as useful as the purified serum milk proteins for the discrimination of ALA and BLG serum milk protein polymorphism by alkaline vertical slab polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. However, BSA and ILG ran with caseins, which prevented their characterization in this system