Original article - Effect of different resistance training intensities on endothelial function in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review.

AIMS: The objective of this systematic review was to analyze the effects of different resistance training (RT) intensities compared with group control (GC) or control conditions (CON) on endothelial function (EF) in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHODS: Seven electronic databases were searched Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane, Web of Science, Scopus, PEDro and CINAHL) until February 2021. RESULTS: This systematic review retrieved a total of 2,991 studies of which 29 articles fulfilled the eligibility criteria. Four studies were included in the systematic review compared RT intervention with GC or CON. One study demonstrated an increase in blood flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery immediately after (95% CI: 3.0% to 5.9%; p < 0.05), 60 min after (95% CI: 0.8 % to 4.2%; p < 0.05) and 120 min after (95%CI: 0.7% to 3.1%; p < 0.05) a single high-intensity resistance training session (RPE âˆ¼ 5 "hard"), compared to the control condition. Nevertheless, this increase was not significantly demonstrated in three longitudinal studies (more than 8 weeks). CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review suggest that a single session of high-intensity resistance training improves the EF of people with T2DM. More studies are needed to establish the ideal intensity and effectiveness for this training method.

GCNA is a histone binding protein required for spermatogonial stem cell maintenance.

Recycling and de-novo deposition of histones during DNA replication is a critical challenge faced by eukaryotic cells and is coordinated by histone chaperones. Spermatogenesis is highly regulated sophisticated process necessitating not only histone modification but loading of testis specific histone variants. Here, we show that Germ Cell Nuclear Acidic protein (GCNA), a germ cell specific protein in adult mice, can bind histones and purified GCNA exhibits histone chaperone activity. GCNA associates with the DNA replication machinery and supports progression through S-phase in murine undifferentiated spermatogonia (USGs). Whilst GCNA is dispensable for embryonic germ cell development, it is required for the maintenance of the USG pool and for long-term production of sperm. Our work describes the role of a germ cell specific histone chaperone in USGs maintenance in mice. These findings provide a mechanistic basis for the male infertility observed in patients carrying GCNA mutations.

The meiosis-specific MEIOB-SPATA22 complex cooperates with RPA to form a compacted mixed MEIOB/SPATA22/RPA/ssDNA complex.

During meiosis, programmed double-strand breaks are repaired by homologous recombination (HR) to form crossovers that are essential to homologous chromosome segregation. Single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) containing intermediates are key features of HR, which must be highly regulated. RPA, the ubiquitous ssDNA binding complex, was thought to play similar roles during mitotic and meiotic HR until the recent discovery of MEIOB and its partner, SPATA22, two essential meiosis-specific proteins. Here, we show that like MEIOB, SPATA22 resembles RPA subunits and binds ssDNA. We studied the physical and functional interactions existing between MEIOB, SPATA22, and RPA, and show that MEIOB and SPATA22 interact with the preformed RPA complex through their interacting domain and condense RPA-coated ssDNA in vitro. In meiotic cells, we show that MEIOB and SPATA22 modify the immunodetection of the two large subunits of RPA. Given these results, we propose that MEIOB-SPATA22 and RPA form a functional ssDNA-interacting complex to satisfy meiotic HR requirements by providing specific properties to the ssDNA.

The distinct roles of water table depth and soil properties in controlling alternative woodland-grassland states in the Cerrado.

Open grassy vegetation and forests share riparian zones across the Neotropical savannas, characterizing alternative stable states. However, factors determining the occurrence and maintenance of each vegetation type are yet to be elucidated. To disentangle the role of environmental factors (soil properties and groundwater depth) constraining tree colonization of wet grasslands in the Cerrado, we assessed tree establishment during the early seedling and sapling stages and the influence of these factors on leaf gas exchange and leaf water potential of tree saplings. Three functionally distinct tree species were studied: (1) flood-tolerant species characteristic of gallery forests, (2) flood-intolerant species characteristic of seasonally dry savannas, and (3) generalist species found in both gallery forests and seasonally dry savannas. Savanna species was constrained by waterlogging, especially at the sapling stage, with restricted stomatal conductance and leaf water potential, resulting in low carbon assimilation, decreased plant size, and high mortality (above 80%). The gallery forest and the generalist species, however, were able to colonize the wet grasslands and survive, despite the low seedling emergence (below 30%) and sapling growth constrained by low gas exchange rates. Soil waterlogging is, therefore, an effective environmental filter that prevents savanna trees from expanding over wet grasslands. However, colonization by trees adapted to a shallow water table cannot be constrained by this or other soil properties, turning the wet grasslands dependent on natural disturbances to persist as an alternative state, sharing the waterlogged environments with the gallery forests in the Cerrado region.

shani mutation in mouse affects splicing of Spata22 and leads to impaired meiotic recombination.

Recombination is crucial for chromosome pairing and segregation during meiosis. SPATA22, along with its direct binding partner and functional collaborator, MEIOB, is essential for the proper repair of double-strand breaks (DSBs) during meiotic recombination. Here, we describe a novel point-mutated allele (shani) of mouse Spata22 that we isolated in a forward genetic screen. shani mutant mice phenocopy Spata22-null and Meiob-null mice: mutant cells appear to form DSBs and initiate meiotic recombination, but are unable to complete DSB repair, leading to meiotic prophase arrest, apoptosis and sterility. shani mutants show precocious loss of DMC1 foci and improper accumulation of BLM-positive recombination foci, reinforcing the requirement of SPATA22-MEIOB for the proper progression of meiotic recombination events. The shani mutation lies within a Spata22 coding exon and molecular characterization shows that it leads to incorrect splicing of the Spata22 mRNA, ultimately resulting in no detectable SPATA22 protein. We propose that the shani mutation alters an exonic splicing enhancer element (ESE) within the Spata22 transcript. The affected DNA nucleotide is conserved in most tetrapods examined, suggesting that the splicing regulation we describe here may be a conserved feature of Spata22 regulation.

Technical Strategy of Bone Graft Augmentation in the Anterior Maxilla.

Bone graft augmentation in the anterior maxilla has a high successful rate. However, suture dehiscence and consequent bone graft exposure can compromise and fail this procedure. Therefore, this article presents a new strategy of closure technique to guarantee the bone graft augmentation. The sutures occur in muscular and mucous planes to avoid suture tension, thus decreasing complications of bone graft augmentation in the anterior maxilla.

Ecological and phylogenetic predictors of mobbing behavior in a tropical dry forest.

Mobbing represents a well-known anti-predatory behavior, where potential prey display aggressively against a predator. Despite considerable experimental and descriptive work, no models predict species participation in mobbing assemblages. Here, we aimed to understand why some bird species engage in this behavior, while others do not, and what factors can be used to predict mobbing engagement within an avian community. We investigated whether certain functional traits, such as body size, foraging guild, foraging mode, and strata, as well species abundance and evolutionary relatedness, are important mobbing predictors. To address these goals, we simulated the presence of the Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl (Glaucidium brasilianum) by broadcasting its voice in 230 experiments conducted in 115 points, systematically distributed in a dry forest of northeastern Brazil. We compared these results to 162 avian surveys (point counts) conducted in the same area. Our avian surveys detected 108 bird species (local avian community), whereas our playback experiments attracted 72 species (mobbing assemblage). In general, small, canopy insectivorous or frugivorous birds dominated the mobs. The best mobbing predictors were body mass and guild, whereas species abundance, foraging mode, and strata were not retained in the best models. We found a strong phylogenetic component in body mass and mobbing propensity (almost 90% of the species and individuals participating in the mobs were passerines). At the community level, we found significant differences in the functional and phylogenetic structure of the mobbing assemblage in relation to the avian community. Our results suggest that mobbing behavior is tightly associated with predation risk and the capacity of individual species to find and detect predators, and that functional and phylogenetic features can predict species participation in this complex animal behavior.

Hipoglicemia em diabéticos tipo 2 praticantes de exercício físico / Hypoglycemia in diabetic type 2 practitioners physical exercise

Introdução: A hipoglicemia é, de fato, o mais frequente efeito secundário do tratamento da diabetes, e o principal obstáculo para a otimização do controle glicêmico. Objetivo: O Objetivo deste estudo foi identificar episódios de hipoglicemia em diabéticos tipo 2 praticantes de exercício físico. Métodos: Pesquisa descritiva, quase-experimental. Amostra foi composta por 18 mulheres com diabetes tipo 2, participantes do Projeto Doce Vida-Programa de Exercício Físico Supervisionado para Diabéticos da ESEF/UPE. O programa de treinamento aeróbio, resistido e combinado, teve duração de 38 semanas. A monitorização da glicemia foi realizada antes e imediatamente após as sessões de treino. Análise estatística foi à descritiva, com avaliação da frequência absoluta. Resultados: Após análise de todos os treinamentos, identificou-se 233 hipoglicemias, sendo 19 hipoglicemias moderadas, 214 hipoglicemias leves. Não ocorreram casos de hipoglicemias grave. Conclusão: Por fim, conclui-se que o treinamento físico aeróbio, resistido e combinado podem causar hipoglicemias de leves a moderadas em diabéticos tipo 2 desta amostra, principalmente o treinamento físico aeróbio, que obteve um maior número de hipoglicemias.

Introduction: Hypoglycaemia is, in fact, the most frequent side effect of diabetes treatment, and the main obstacle to optimizing glycemic control. Objective: The objective of this study was to identify episodes of hypoglycemia in type 2 diabetics practicing physical exercise. Methods: Descriptive, quasi-experimental research. Sample was composed of 18 women with type 2 diabetes, participants of the Sweet Life Project - Supervised Exercise Exercise for Diabetics of the ESEF / UPE. The combined aerobic training program lasted 38 weeks. Blood glucose monitoring was performed before and immediately after the training sessions. Statistical analysis was descriptive, with absolute frequency evaluation. Results: After analyzing all the training, 233 hypoglycemia was identified, 19 moderate hypoglycemia, 214 mild hypoglycaemia. There were no cases of severe hypoglycemia. Conclusion: Finally, aerobic, resisted and combined physical training may cause mild to moderate hypoglycemia in type 2 diabetics of this sample, mainly aerobic physical training, which obtained a greater number of hypoglycemias.

Clotrimazole Drug Resistance in Candida glabrata Clinical Isolates Correlates with Increased Expression of the Drug:H(+) Antiporters CgAqr1, CgTpo1_1, CgTpo3, and CgQdr2.

For years, antifungal drug resistance in Candida species has been associated to the expression of ATP-Binding Cassette (ABC) multidrug transporters. More recently, a few drug efflux pumps from the Drug:H(+) Antiporter (DHA) family have also been shown to play a role in this process, although to date only the Candida albicans Mdr1 transporter has been demonstrated to be relevant in the clinical acquisition of antifungal drug resistance. This work provides evidence to suggest the involvement of the C. glabrata DHA transporters CgAqr1, CgQdr2, CgTpo1_1, and CgTpo3 in the clinical acquisition of clotrimazole drug resistance. A screening for azole drug resistance in 138 C. glabrata clinical isolates, from patients attending two major Hospitals in Portugal, was performed. Based on this screening, 10 clotrimazole susceptible and 10 clotrimazole resistant isolates were selected for further analysis. The transcript levels of CgAQR1, CgQDR2, CgTPO1_1, and CgTPO3 were found to be significantly up-regulated in resistant isolates when compared to the susceptible ones, with a level of correlation that was found to be similar to that of CgCDR2, an ABC gene known to be involved in the clinical acquisition of resistance. As a proof-of-concept experiment, the CgTPO3 gene was deleted in an azole resistant C. glabrata isolate, exhibiting high levels of expression of this gene. The deletion of CgTPO3 in this isolate was found to lead to decreased resistance to clotrimazole and fluconazole, and increased accumulation of azole drugs, thus suggesting the involvement of this transporter in the manifestation of azole resistance.

Tomographic Evaluation of Mandibular Thickness on Premolar and Molar Regions Related to Monocortical Screws.

The aim of this study was to measure the thickness of the mandible from the external cortical plate to the teeth roots on premolar and molar regions using CT scan to determine the safety margin for the application of monocortical screws for internal rigid fixation. Thirty-one patients underwent CT-scan imaging for surgical planning. The images were used to measure bilaterally the distance from the external cortex of the mandible to the roots of teeth on premolar and molar region by means of Dental Slice software (Bioparts Prototipagem Biomedica, Brasília, DF, Brazil). Mean, median, standard deviation, one-way ANOVA and post hoc Tukey's test were used for statistical analysis. No statistical differences for thickness were found between right and left side (p = 0.1652). The mean thickness for the left side was 4.17 ± 1.68 mm and for right side 3.93 ± 1.49 mm. Increase in mandibular thickness from anterior to posterior regions in both sides was observed and statistical difference was found among the different groups according to the measured region (p < 0.05). The present results can predict the safety zone for the use of monocortical screws in the mandible, but the use of CT scan is imperative and individual analysis is desired owing to anatomical variations. Further studies with larger samples are necessary to confirm these data and should include other anatomic structures, different regions of mandible/maxilla, as well as other ethnic groups.

Implementation of meiosis prophase I programme requires a conserved retinoid-independent stabilizer of meiotic transcripts.

Sexual reproduction is crucially dependent on meiosis, a conserved, specialized cell division programme that is essential for the production of haploid gametes. Here we demonstrate that fertility and the implementation of the meiotic programme require a previously uncharacterized meiosis-specific protein, MEIOC. Meioc invalidation in mice induces early and pleiotropic meiotic defects in males and females. MEIOC prevents meiotic transcript degradation and interacts with an RNA helicase that binds numerous meiotic mRNAs. Our results indicate that proper engagement into meiosis necessitates the specific stabilization of meiotic transcripts, a previously little-appreciated feature in mammals. Remarkably, the upregulation of MEIOC at the onset of meiosis does not require retinoic acid and STRA8 signalling. Thus, we propose that the complete induction of the meiotic programme requires both retinoic acid-dependent and -independent mechanisms. The latter process involving post-transcriptional regulation likely represents an ancestral mechanism, given that MEIOC homologues are conserved throughout multicellular animals.

RPA homologs and ssDNA processing during meiotic recombination.

Meiotic homologous recombination is a specialized process that involves homologous chromosome pairing and strand exchange to guarantee proper chromosome segregation and genetic diversity. The formation and repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) during meiotic recombination differs from those during mitotic recombination in that the homologous chromosome rather than the sister chromatid is the preferred repair template. The processing of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) formed on intermediate recombination structures is central to driving the specific outcomes of DSB repair during meiosis. Replication protein A (RPA) is the main ssDNA-binding protein complex involved in DNA metabolism. However, the existence of RPA orthologs in plants and the recent discovery of meiosis specific with OB domains (MEIOB), a widely conserved meiosis-specific RPA1 paralog, strongly suggest that multiple RPA complexes evolved and specialized to subdivide their roles during DNA metabolism. Here we review ssDNA formation and maturation during mitotic and meiotic recombination underlying the meiotic specific features. We describe and discuss the existence and properties of MEIOB and multiple RPA subunits in plants and highlight how they can provide meiosis-specific fates to ssDNA processing during homologous recombination. Understanding the functions of these RPA homologs and how they interact with the canonical RPA subunits is of major interest in the fields of meiosis and DNA repair.