Tipos de configuração familiar e condições de saúde física e psicológica em idosos / Family configuration and physical and psychological health status in a sample of elderly / Tipos de configuración familiar y condiciones de salud física y psicológica en ancianos

Investigamos relações entre configuração familiar (arranjo de moradia, chefia familiar e contribuição financeira para o sustento da família), idade, sexo e condições de saúde física (capacidade funcional, número de doenças e de sinais e sintomas, e envolvimento social) e saúde psicológica (depressão e ansiedade) em idosos, conforme autorrelato. A amostra probabilística tinha 134 idosos sem déficit cognitivo e os dados foram coletados por entrevista domiciliar. Foi feita análise de conglomerados mediante o método da partição (três agrupamentos). As variáveis que mais contribuíram para a formação dos grupos foram as atividades básicas (R2 = 0,732) e instrumentais da vida diária (R2 = 0,487), o número de doenças (R2 = 0,241) e a idade (R2 = 0,225). A configuração familiar predominante foi corresidência com os descendentes, sendo os idosos provedores e chefes de família. Foram encontradas relações entre configuração familiar, condições de saúde física e saúde psicológica. As mulheres apresentaram maior ônus financeiro e pior saúde física e psicológica do que os homens.

This study focused on the relations between family configuration (living arrangements, heads of family, and financial contributions to the family's support), age, gender, and physical health (functional capacity, number of diseases and signs and symptoms, and social involvement) and psychological health (depression and anxiety) among the elderly, based on self-reported data. The probabilistic sample included 134 elderly without cognitive deficit, with data collected in home interviews. Cluster analyses were performed using the partitioning method (three groupings). The variables that contributed the most to forming groups were basic activities of daily living (R2 = 0.732) and instrumental activities of daily living (R2 = 0.487), number of diseases (R2 = 0.241), and age (R2 = 0.225). The predominant family configuration was living with children and/or grandchildren, with the elderly as providers and heads of the family. The study showed associations between family configuration and physical and psychological health status. Women showed a higher financial burden and worse psychological health than men.

Hemos investigado las relaciones entre la configuración familiar (arreglo de la vivienda familiar, liderazgo y contribución financiera para la familia), edad, sexo y condiciones de salud física (capacidad funcional, número de signos y síntomas, enfermedades y participación social) y salud psicológica (depresión y ansiedad) de ancianos, según el mismo informe. La muestra probabilística fue 134 personas mayores sin déficit cognitivo y los datos recogidos por entrevista domiciliaria. Se crearon por el método de análisis de conglomerados de partición (tres grupos). Las variables que han contribuido más a la formación de los grupos fueron actividades básicas (R2 = 0,732) y actividades instrumentales de la vida cotidiana (R2 = 0,487), el número de enfermedades (R2 = 0,241) y edad (R2 = 0,225). Predominaron los arreglos con los descendientes, siendo los ancianos proveedores y sostén de la familia. Las relaciones encontradas entre configuración familiar, las condiciones de salud física y psicológica fueron importantes. Las mujeres tuvieron mayor carga financiera y peor salud psicológica y física que los hombres.

Application of nuclear magnetic resonance to the determination of the configuration of glycoside bond / 药学学报

In the structural determination of natural glycosides, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is an important approach in determining the configuration of glycoside bond. The test of coupling constant of the anomeric proton and chemical shift of the anomeric carbon are two common methods, but these methods are not suitable for some sugars. For those sugars, detailed 13C NMR analysis is an alternative choice. This paper summarizes the characteristics of 1H and 13C NMR data of the common monosaccharides published in the literatures, in order to search an approach to determine the configuration of glycoside bond.

á-N-acetylglucosamine-linked O-glycans of sialoglycoproteins (Tc-mucins) from Trypanosoma cruzi Colombiana strain

Trypanosoma cruzi sialoglycoproteins (Tc-mucins) are mucin-like molecules linked to a parasite membrane via a glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor. We previously determined the structures of Tc-mucin O-glycan domains from several T. cruzi strains and observed significant differences among them. We now report the amino acid content and structure of Tc-mucin O-glycan chains from T. cruzi Colombiana, a strain resistant to common trypanocidal drugs. Amino acid analysis demonstrated the predominance of threonine residues (42%) and helped to identify the O-glycans as belonging to a Tc-mucin family that contain a ²-galactofuranose (²-Galf) residue attached to an á-N-acetylglucosamine (á-GlcNAc) O-4, with the most complex glycan, a pentasaccharide-GlcNAc-ol with a branched trigalactopyranose chain, on the GlcNAc O-6. The presence of ²-Galf on O-glycans from T. cruzi Colombiana mucins supports the use of glycosylation as a phylogenetic marker for the classification of Colombiana in the T. cruzi I group.

Structure of aldobiouronic acid and glucuronic acid from Agathis australis degraded gum polysaccharide.

Agathis australis gum on acid hydrolysis with sulphuric acid yielded L-arabinose and D-galactose in 1:4 molar ratio with traces of L-fucose. The components of aldobiouronic acid and glucuronic acid were obtained by graded hydrolysis of degraded gum polysaccharide. The derivatives of aldobiouronic acid was obtained as methyl ester methyl glycoside.

Polysaccharide structure of degraded glucomannan from Abrus precatorius Linn. seeds.

Degraded glucomannan was isolated from Abrus precatorius Linn. seed polysaccharide (Papilionaceae). Acid hydrolysis and methylation studies produced certain degraded methyl sugars as, 2, 3, 6-tri-O-methyl-D-glucose and 2, 3, 6-tri-O-methyl-D-mannose in 1:4 molar ratio. On the basis of hydrolysis and methylation experiments, a polysaccharide structure has been assigned to the degraded glucomannan and to the parent glucomannan of Abrus precatorius Linn. seed.

Molecular modelling of MHC class I carbohydrates.

In this article we present the results of molecular modelling of four complex carbohydrates which have been found in the MHC class I proteins. Though these proteins show diversity in their sequences, the glycosylation sites are highly conserved indicating a possible structural/functional role of the glycan chain. Similar glycan chains have been found linked with other proteins of completely different function, such as IgG, and erythropoeitin. Thus, the molecular modelling of these carbohydrates will not only provide structural/dynamic information of these complex molecules but will also provide conformational information which can be utilised to build the glycoprotein models. The results presented here indicate that although several linkages show less conformational flexibility, terminal linkages can be quite flexible.

Influence of primary and secondary structures of oligosaccharide chain on the aggregative and geometrical properties of gangliosides.

The aggregative and geometrical properties of gangliosides have been compared and discussed. It is shown that, due to the steric packing features of gangliosides, significative considerations can be made on the primary and secondary structures of their head group, starting from their cooperative behaviour, supporting NMR direct observations.

Biosynthesis and regulation of Le(x) and SA-Le(x) glycolipids in metastatic human colon carcinoma cells.

This report concerns the stepwise biosynthesis in vitro of Sialyl Lewis X, (SA-Le(x)), a carcinoembryonic antigen, in human colon carcinoma KM12 cells exhibiting different metastatic behaviors. The significance of SA-Le(x) has become even more apparent since the detection of its terminal epitope NeuAc(alpha 2-3)Gal beta 1-4(Fuc alpha 1-3)GlcNAc-, as the binding ligand of the selectin family member ELAM-1. The activity level of galactosyltransferase GalT-4 which catalyzes the formation of core nLcOse4Cer (Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4Glc-Cer) is very high in all the metastatic lines tested with highly metastatic lines (KM12-SM) exhibiting the highest activity. The same activity pattern for galactosyltransferase is also observed when tested with iLcOse5Cer (GlcNAc beta 1-3nLcOse4Cer), the precursor for polylactosamine glycolipid. Sialyltransferase SAT-3 which catalyzes the formation of LM1 (NeuAc alpha 2-3nLcOse4Cer), the precursor for SA-Le(x), is also present in all the metastatic cell lines although the activity levels are much lower compared to galactosyltransferase. The fucosyltransferase FucT-3, which catalyzes the formation of R'-Gal-Fuc(alpha 1-3)GlcNAc-R linkage, is active with both nonsialylated substrate, nLcOse4Cer, and sialylated substrate, LM1 (NeuAc alpha 2-3nLcOse4Cer) with the formation of either Le(x) (Gal beta 1-4(Fuc alpha 1-3)GlcNAc beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4Glc-Cer) or SA-Le(x) (NeuAc alpha 2-3nLcOse4Cer). However, the sialylated substrate LM1 is preferred to enzymatic activity since it exhibited lower Km (46 microM) than that of nLcOse4Cer (67 microM).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Molecular characterization of gangliotetraosylceramide (GA1) in normal human brain and its developmental change.

Several neutral glycosphingolipids have recently been purified from normal human brain to the criterion of migration as homogeneous bands in two different solvent systems. One of these has been permethylated and analyzed by gas chromatography. Stepwise specific exoglycosidase hydrolysis confirms its structure as GAl or Gal beta 1-->3GalNAc beta 1-->4Gal beta 1-->4Glc beta 1-->1Cer. The neutral glycosphingolipids of rat CNS have been examined in order to investigate changes in GA1 during critical ages of brain development. Employing the highly sensitive techniques of digoxigenin (DIG) immunostaining and Fluorescence Assisted Carbohydrate Electrophoresis (FACE), we have identified several previously uncharacterized long chain neutral glycosphingolipids in brain and myelin. A major band with Rf close to that of nLcOse5Cer purified from bovine erythrocytes has been identified as GA1 by immuno-TLC using mono-specific polyclonal anti-GA1 antisera. It appears in 5 day-postpartum (P5) developing brain, increases until 21 days (P21) and subsequently declines. This phasic change along with changes in other nonsialylated glycosphingolipids of the developing brain strongly suggests that GA1 and other neutral glycosphingolipids may play a mediator role(s) in brain development and/or myelinogenesis.

Amphiphilic properties of polysaccharides: dextrin chains as example.

Polysaccharide chains are usually considered to be highly hydrophilic, since they contain no obvious apolar moieties. However, it is possible for even these chains to display hydrophobic character, arising out of stereochemical constraints in the chain. We had earlier shown that linear dextrin chains display amphiphilic properties, since all the hydroxyl groups are disposed on one side or face of the chain and the hydrogens disposed on the other. We provide further evidence here for this conclusion that dextrins are amphiphilic chains. In contrast, dextrans and cellulosic chains do not display amphiphilicity. Oligosaccharides that can adopt incipient helical structures might display amphiphilicity. This property might be relevant to intermolecular recognition on cell surfaces, lectin-sugar binding, antigen-antibody interactions and the like, and might be manifested more in a heteromolecular recognition process than as homomolecular self-aggregation.

Conformation of alginate and pectate chains monitored by the binding of the dye stains-all.

The carbocyanine dye Stains-all displays spectral colour shifts or metachromasia upon binding to proteins, polysaccharides and other anionic substrates. The conformational status of the binding region of the substrate appears to govern the metachromatic features of the bound Stains-all. We have used this property to derive information about the conformational differences between the two anionic polysaccharides alginate and pectate. The stronger induction of circular dichroism in the 500 nm region of the dye by pectate is indicative of a greater extent of helical order in this polymer in solution than in the alginate or perhaps even hyaluronate chains.

El enlace O-glicosídico en glicoproteínas de plasma seminal humano / The linkage O-glycosidic in glycoproteins of human seminal plasma

La composición y estructura de los extremos terminales no reductores portadores de los determinantes antigénicos en las cadenas de oligosacáridos de las glicoproteínas del plasma seminal humano, han permitido deducir que estos componentes son fragmentos producidos por la degradación proteolítica endógena de las mucinas. Dado que las cadenas de hidratos de carbono unidas O-glicosídicamente a la serina y la treonina de la cadena peptídica dan lugar a una reacción de beta-eliminación en condiciones alcalinas suaves, hicimos uso del tratamiento alcalino para demostrar la presencia de enlaces lábiles al álcali en las muestras de plasma seminal humano y algunas fracciones glicoproteicas aisladas a partir del mismo. El análisis de los hidratos de carbono que se liberan durante ell tratamiento han permitido obtener información sobre la composición y estructura de este tipo de unidades de oligosacarídos. Hemos identificado al monosacárido involucrado en el enlace O-glicosídico a serina y treonina y hemos podido caracterizar, a través de la reacción de beta-eliminación en condiciones reductoras y no reductoras, las unidades de monosacáridos del extremo terminal reductor