Analysis of the dielectric relaxation in reduced graphene oxide/epoxy composites materials using the modulus formalism.

This work reports an analysis of the dielectric properties of reduced graphene oxide mixed into epoxy resin, diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A, in the frequency range 10[Formula: see text]-10[Formula: see text] Hz and over the temperature range of 300-400 K, using impedance spectroscopy. For this study, a series of samples were prepared with various filler contents. Using the electric modulus formalism, it has been found that these composites exhibit below and above the percolation threshold [Formula: see text] a critical behavior of the dielectric relaxation phenomenon due to the single [Formula: see text]-relaxation, which is associated with the glass-rubbery transition of the epoxy matrix above the glass transition temperature. The Cole-Cole model of dielectric relaxation was used for modeling the relaxation processes from which we extract the relaxation parameters. The obtained relaxation parameters suggest a behavior close to single relaxation time.

Dopamine D2 receptor agonist, bromocriptine, remodels adipose tissue dopaminergic signalling and upregulates catabolic pathways, improving metabolic profile in type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The therapeutic effects of the dopamine D2 receptor (D2R) agonist, bromocriptine, in type 2 diabetes (T2D) have been attributed to central nervous system actions. However, peripheral dopamine directly modulates glucose uptake in insulin-sensitive tissues and lipid metabolism in adipose tissue (AT). We hypothesized that the dopaminergic system may be impaired in the adipose tissue of patients with T2D and that the therapeutic actions of bromocriptine could involve the modulation of metabolism in this tissue. METHODS: The expression of dopamine receptors was evaluated in visceral AT samples from patients with obesity and stratified in several groups: insulin sensitive (IS); insulin resistance (IR) normoglycaemic; insulin resistant prediabetic; insulin resistant diabetic, according to Ox-HOMA2IR, fasting glycaemia and HbA1c levels. T2D Goto-Kakizaki rats (GK) were fed a high-caloric diet (HCD) for five months and treated with bromocriptine (10 mg/kg/day, i.p.) in the last month. The levels of dopaminergic system mediators and markers of insulin sensitivity and glucose and lipid metabolism were assessed in the peri-epididymal adipose tissue (pEWAT) and brown (BAT) adipose tissues, liver, and skeletal muscle. RESULTS: Patients with IR presented a decreasing trend of DRD1 expression in the visceral adipose tissue, being correlated with the expression of UCP1, PPARA, and insulin receptor (INSR) independently of insulin resistance and body mass index. Although no differences were observed in DRD2, DRD4 expression was significantly decreased in patients with prediabetes and T2D. In HCD-fed diabetic rats, bromocriptine increased D1R and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) levels in pEWAT and the liver. Besides reducing adiposity, bromocriptine restored GLUT4 and PPARγ levels in pEWAT, as well as postprandial InsR activation and postabsorptive activation of lipid oxidation pathways. A reduction of liver fat, GLUT2 levels and postprandial InsR and AMPK activation in the liver was observed. Increased insulin sensitivity and GLUT4 levels in BAT and an improvement of the overall metabolic status were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Bromocriptine treatment remodels adipose tissue and the liver dopaminergic system, with increased D1R and TH levels, resulting in higher insulin sensitivity and catabolic function. Such effects may be involved in bromocriptine therapeutic effects, given the impaired expression of dopamine receptors in the visceral adipose tissue of IR patients, as well as the correlation of D1R expression with InsR and metabolic mediators.

Polypharmacy but not Potential Inappropriate Prescription Was Associated with Frailty in Older Adults from a Middle-Income Country Outpatient Clinic.

OBJECTIVES: the aims of the present study were: (1) investigate the prevalence and association of polypharmacy and pre-frailty or frailty in a middle-income country sample of older adults; and (2) evaluate the prevalence of potential inappropriate prescription (PIP) and its association with pre-frailty or frailty. DESIGN: Cross-sectional observational study. SETTING: Outpatient center at a university-based hospital in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. PARTICIPANTS: 629 older adults from both sexes evaluated between June 2014 and July 2016. MEASUREMENTS: Frailty was identified through the FRAIL scale. All medications received were analyzed by research staff. Presence of PIP was evaluated according to the 2015 updated Beers list. Binary logistic regression tested the association between 4 definitions of polypharmacy (≥ 3, 4, 5, and 6 drugs), and presence of PIP, and the dependent variable pre-frailty and frailty. RESULTS: 15.7% of participants were frail. Polypharmacy was present in 219 (34.8%), and PIP was observed in 184 (29.3%) older adults. All definitions of polypharmacy were significantly associated with frailty (OR between 2.05 to 2.34, p < 0.001). Polypharmacy with 4 or 5 or more drugs were associated with pre-frailty (OR 1.53 and 1.47, respectively). PIP was not associated with frailty (OR 1.47, p = 0.149). CONCLUSIONS: Several definitions of polypharmacy were associated with frailty, but only two were associated with pre-frailty. The presence of PIP was not associated with pre-frailty or frailty.

Associations of ultra-processed food and drink products with asthma and wheezing among Brazilian adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Although both consumptions of ultra-processed products and asthma are common during adolescence, the epidemiological evidence in regarding their association is unclear. We investigated the associations of ultra-processed products consumption with asthma and wheezing in a representative sample of Brazilian adolescents. METHODS: We used data from a representative sample of 109 104 Brazilian adolescents enrolled in the National Survey of School Health, 2012. The consumption of ultra-processed products was based on the weekly consumption (0-2, 3-4, ≥5 d/wk) of sweet biscuits, salty biscuits, ultra-processed meats, sweets/candies, soft drinks, and packaged snacks over the previous 7 days. We also calculated an ultra-processed consumption score by adding partial scores corresponding to weekly frequency intake of each ultra-processed product. The ultra-processed consumption score ranged from 0 to 42, the higher score, the higher the intake of these products. The presence of wheezing in the previous 12 months and asthma at any time in the past was self-reported. RESULTS: The adjusted odds ratios of asthma comparing the extreme categories ranged from 1.08 (95% CI 1.03-1.13) for sweets/candies to 1.30 (1.21-1.40) for ultra-processed meats. Similar magnitude of associations was found for wheezing outcome. The ultra-processed consumption score was positively associated with the presence of asthma and wheezing in a dose-response manner. The adjusted OR of asthma and wheezing comparing highest to lowest quintile of ultra-processed consumption score was 1.27 (95% CI 1.15-1.41) and 1.42 (1.35-1.50), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The consumption of ultra-processed products was positively associated with the presence of asthma and wheezing in adolescents.

Hisonotus devidei, a new species from the São Francisco basin, Brazil (Siluriformes: Loricariidae).

A recent expedition to headwaters of the Rio Pandeiros, a left-bank tributary of the Rio São Francisco revealed the presence of a fourth species of Hisonotus from that basin. Hisonotus devidei sp. nov. differs from congeners by the presence of conspicuous dark blotches of distinct shapes irregularly arranged along lateral and dorsal surfaces of the body and scattered throughout all fins, by possessing small plates in lateral portions of the abdomen and adjacent areas between pelvic fins without development of dermal plates and by morphometric ratios. The putative phylogenetic placement of the new species is discussed based on morphological comparisons with species of related Hypoptopomatinae genera and the Hisonotus species diversity within the Rio São Francisco Basin is compared with that of adjacent basins.

A new species of Curimatopsis Steindachner (Characiformes: Curimatidae) from the Rio Nhamundá, Amazon basin.

A new species of Curimatopsis is described from the Rio Nhamundá, Amazon basin in northern Brazil. The new species is distinguished from congeners by the presence of a distinctive concentration of dark pigmentation over the entire lower lobe of the caudal fin, reticulate pattern of body pigmentation, lower jaw longer than and overlapping the anterior portion of the upper jaw, crescent-shaped posterior nostril and by morphometric and meristic data. Comments on the phylogenetic position of the new species within Curimatopsis are also provided.

Three new species of Curimatopsis (Characiformes: Curimatidae) from the Amazon basin.

Three new species of Curimatopsis are described from major tributaries of the Amazon basin. Curimatopsis guaporensis n. sp., from the Rio Madeira, belongs to the Curimatopsis evelynae clade and can be distinguished by the distinctive shape of the dark blotch on the caudal peduncle and by the position and shape of the nostrils. Curimatopsis pallida n. sp., from the Rio Negro, also related to C. evelynae, is distinguished from all congeners by the complete absence of pigmentation on the lateral surface of the caudal peduncle. Curimatopsis jaci n. sp., apparently endemic to the upper Rio Tapajós, belongs to the Curimatopsis macrolepis clade and differs from all congeners in details of body pigmentation. Meristic and morphometric features supplement diagnoses for the three new species. These species are hypothesized to belong to the two main clades of Curimatopsis on the basis of previous studies of osteology and external morphology and supplement a recent genetic study that revealed several cryptic and yet undescribed species within the genus. An updated identification key to the species of Curimatopsis is also provided.

Deprotonation and protonation of humic acids as a strategy for the technological development of pH-responsive nanoparticles with fungicidal potential.

Humic acids (HAs) are macromolecules of undefined compositions that vary with origin, the process by which they are obtained and functional groups present in their structure, such as quinones, phenols, and carboxylic acids. In addition to agriculture, there is an increased interest in HAs due to their important pharmacological effects. However, HAs are not readily soluble in water at physiological pH, which may limit their bioavailability. Although primary aggregation forms non-uniform pseudo-micelles, the presence of ionisable groups in the HA molecule makes pH an environmental stimulus for controlled aggregation and precipitation. The aim of this work was to induce HA deprotonation and protonation, without compromising their colloidal dispersion, by means of pH changes as a strategy to produce nanoparticles. Deprotonation and protonation were achieved by treating HAs with sodium hydroxide and acetic acid, respectively, at various concentrations. Non pH-treated HAs at the same concentrations were used as control. The evolution of the treatments was monitored by pH changes in bulk solutions as a function of time. At equilibrium, the conformation of the colloidal structures was characterised by the predominant mean diameter, polydispersity index and absorbance of the solutions. The zeta potential was also measured in protonation assays. Moreover, the fungicidal activity of the nanoparticles was evaluated on the mycelial growth of three fungal genera. The results showed the pH decrease or increment as a function of the balance between hydroxyl and carboxyl groups and of the diffusion rate inside the structures. Deprotonation followed by protonation produced nanosized (100-200nm), electrostatically stable (-30mV) and pH-responsive particles with a polydispersity index <0.5. The protonated nanoparticles significantly inhibited (P≤0.05) the mycelial growth of Candida albicans in vitro, when compared with control, and the fungicidal activity was dose-dependent. No activity was observed for the deprotonated HAs nanoparticles. These results show that deprotonation followed by protonation is an easy and useful strategy for the controlled production of HA nanoparticles, which exhibit a tendency to elicit fungicidal effects, with potential to develop new classes of cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

Clinical and epidemiological profile of women with breast cancer managed in a public referral hospital in northeastern Brazil.

AIM: To evaluate the clinical and epidemiological profile of women with breast cancer, managed in the Breast Service at Hospital Get6lio Vargas (HGV). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A descriptive, observational cross-sectional study, involving 174 breast cancer patients, managed at the Breast Service at HGV in Teresina, in the northeast of Brazil, from May 2011 to June 2014. Epidemiological variables included age group, age at menarche, age at first childbirth, and menopause. The tumor characteristics studied were histological type, TNM classification, and staging. The results were organized in distribution tables. RESULTS: Breast carcinoma was more common in patients aged 60 and over, in multiparous women, and in women who were menopausal before age 55. The most common histological type was ductal invasive carcinoma T2N1MO (Stage IIB) in 83 (48%) women. CONCLUSION: The current study shows that the majority of carcinomas were Stage II or advanced tumors, with clinically positive axillary lymph node status and weak correlation with reproductive risk factors.

Muscle hyperalgesia induced by peripheral P2X3 receptors is modulated by inflammatory mediators.

ATP, via activation of P2X3 receptors, has been highlighted as a key target in inflammatory hyperalgesia. Therefore, the aim of this study was to confirm whether the activation of P2X3 receptors in the gastrocnemius muscle of rats induces mechanical muscle hyperalgesia and, if so, to analyze the involvement of the classical inflammatory mediators (bradykinin, prostaglandins, sympathetic amines, pro-inflammatory cytokines and neutrophil migration) in this response. Intramuscular administration of the non-selective P2X3 receptor agonist α,ß-meATP in the gastrocnemius muscle of rats induced mechanical muscle hyperalgesia, which, in turn, was prevented by the selective P2X3 and P2X2/3 receptors antagonist A-317491, the selective bradykinin B1-receptor antagonist Des-Arg9-[Leu8]-BK (DALBK), the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin, the ß1- or ß2-adrenoceptor antagonist atenolol and ICI 118,551, respectively. Also, the nonspecific selectin inhibitor fucoidan. α,ß-meATP induced increases in the local concentration of the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin 1ß (IL-1ß), which were reduced by bradykinin antagonist. Finally, α,ß-meATP also induced neutrophil migration. Together, these findings suggest that α,ß-meATP induced mechanical hyperalgesia in the gastrocnemius muscle of rats via activation of peripheral P2X3 receptors, which involves bradykinin, prostaglandins, sympathetic amines, pro-inflammatory cytokines release and neutrophil migration. It is also indicated that bradykinin is the key modulator of the mechanical muscle hyperalgesia induced by P2X3 receptors. Therefore, we suggest that P2X3 receptors are important targets to control muscle inflammatory pain.

Morphological and molecular evidence for two new species of Tetragonopterus (Characiformes: Characidae) from central Brazil.

The combination of morphological and molecular data of Tetragonopterus species collected in the Rio Araguaia basin allows the recognition of two undescribed species that are presented in this article. These species are distinguished from their congeners (Tetragonopterus anostomus, Tetragonopterus argenteus, Tetragonopterus carvalhoi, Tetragonopterus chalceus and Tetragonopterus rarus) by characters related to the number and morphology of the teeth, the numbers of gill rakers on the upper and lower limbs of the first gill arch, the number of predorsal scales and the overall colour pattern. In addition, the analysis of mitochondrial DNA sequences identified an accentuated genetic distance between these two new species and their congeners. A discussion of the phylogenetic relationships within Tetragonopterus is provided.

Qualidade seminal e morfometria testicular de coelhos (Oryctolagus cuniculus) suplementados com geleia real / Seminal quality and testicular morphometry of rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) supplemented with royal jelly

Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito da geleia real na qualidade seminal e na morfometria testicular de coelhos. Quatorze coelhos adultos da raça Nova Zelândia foram distribuídos em três grupos: com administração diária de 1mL de água, via oral (SG); administração diária de 0,5mg (0,5G) de geleia real diluída em 1mL de água, via oral; e administração diária de 1,0mL (1,0G) de geleia real diluída em 1mL de água, via oral. O fornecimento de geleia real foi iniciado 30 dias antes das coletas de sêmen, permanecendo durante todo o período de coleta, totalizando 90 dias. Utilizou-se o método da vagina artificial para coleta de sêmen. Foram avaliados os parâmetros físicos e morfológicos do sêmen e os parâmetros de morfometria testicular. Houve diferença no volume seminal do 0,5G (0,54±0,22) em relação ao SG (0,39±0,13) e ao 1,0G (0,30±0,09) (P<0,05). Para os grupos SG, 0,5G e 1,0G, não houve diferença (P>0,05) para turbilhonamento espermático, concentração espermática, motilidade progressiva e vigor espermático. Os defeitos maiores no grupo 0,5G (8,52±3,26) foram menores do que nos grupos SG (14,09±4,26) e 1,0G (16,1±3,95) (P<0,05). Não houve diferença entre os defeitos menores e os defeitos totais (P>0,05). Os pesos corporal, testicular, epididimário e o índice gonadossomático não diferiram entre os grupos (P>0,05). A ingestão diária de 0,5mg de geleia real apresentou efeitos positivos na morfologia espermática de coelhos.

A trial was carried out to evaluate the effects of royal jelly on the seminal quality and testicular morphometry of rabbits. Fourteen mature rabbits of New Zealand breed were distributed between three groups. The first group was supplied with 1mL of water only (SG), the second group was supplied with 0.5mg of royal jelly diluted in 1mL of water (0.5G), and the third group was supplied with 1mg of royal jelly also diluted in 1mL of water (1.0G). The royal jelly supply started 30 days before semen collection and lasted the entire experimental period. An artificial vagina was used to collect the rabbits' semen. Physical and morphological parameters in the semen and the testicular morphometry were evaluated. Differences were found on the seminal volume in group 0.5G(0,54±0,22) in relation to SG (0,39±0,13) and 1.0G (0,30±0,09) groups (P<0.05). For SG, 0.5G and 1.0G groups, no differences (P>0.05) were found in sperm concentration, gross motility, individual motility and vigor. The total of primary defects in group 0.5G (8,52±3,26) was lower than in groups SG (14,09±4,2) and 1.0G (16,1±3,95) (P<0.05). No significant difference was found between secondary defects and the total defects on the semen (P>0.05). Body, testicular and epididymal weights did not differ between groups, as well to the gonadosomatic index (P>0.05). The ingestion of royal jelly produced positive results on the seminal production of males.

Microscopia e morfometria de componentes tubulares de testículos de coelhos suplementados com geleia real / Microscopy and morphometry of tubular components of rabbit testis supplemented with royal jelly

Estudaram-se os efeitos da geleia real sobre a espermatogênese de coelhos tratados com diferentes concentrações de geleia real. Os tratamentos foram formados por três grupos: grupo-controle; grupo que recebeu 0,5mg/dia de geleia real; e grupo que recebeu 1,0mg/dia de geleia real. O estudo envolveu a morfometria testicular. Não houve diferença entre os tratamentos quanto aos pesos corporal (T1=3,20±0,19kg, T2=2,96±0,30kg e T3=3,21±0,37kg) e gonadal (T1=2,36±0,33g, T2=2,53±0,33g e T3=2,64±0,39g) e quanto aos índices gonadossomático (T1=0,15±0,02%, T2=0,17±0,03% e T3=0,16±0,02%) e tubulossomático (T1=0,06±0,01%; T2=0,07±0,01% e T3=0,06±0,01%). O diâmetro médio dos túbulos seminíferos (T1=225,95±13,27µm, T2=239,68±21,50µm e T3=231,57±15,94µm), a altura do epitélio seminífero (T1=66,05±5,37µm, T2= 73,47±9,11µm e T3=63,34±4,79µm) e o comprimento de túbulos seminíferos por testículo (T1=46,63±13,44m, T2=43,58±12,17m e T3=46,96±9,54m) e por grama de testículo (T1=19,50±2,68m, T2=17,12±3,91m e T3=17,78±1,98m) não diferiram entre tratamentos. Conclui-se que a suplementação com geleia real, nas doses utilizadas, não altera as características testiculares avaliadas.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of royal jelly on spermatogenesis in rabbits treated with different concentrations of RJ (Control; 0,5mg/day; and 1,0mg/day) using testicular morphometry. There was no significant difference between the body weight (T1= 3.20±0.19kg; T2= 2.96±0.30kg; T3=3.21±0.37kg) and gonadal weight (T1= 2.36±0.33g; T2= 2.53±0.33g; T3= 2.64±0.39g), gonadossomatic index (T1= 0.15±0.02%; T2= 0.17±0.03%. T3= 0.16±0.02%) and tubulossomatic index (T1= 0.06±0.01%; T2= 0.07±0.01%. T3= 0.06±0.01%) between treatments, showing that the percentage of body mass, and the percentage of seminiferous tubules allocated in testis were similar in the 3 experimental groups. Similarly, the mean diameter of the seminiferous tubules (T1= 225.95±13.27µm; T2=239.68±21.50µm; T3= 231.57±15,94µm), the height of the seminiferous epithelium (T1=66,05±5,37µm; T2=73.47±9.11µm; T3=63.34±4.79 µm) and length of seminiferous tubule for testis (T1=46.63±13.44m; T2=43.58±12.17m; T3=46.96±9.54m) and per gram of testis (T1=19.50±2.68m; T2=17.12±3.91m; T3=17.78±1.98m) did not differ statistically. It was concluded that supplementation with royal jelly, at the doses used, did not alter the testicular parameters evaluated here.

Energy reserves of Artibeus lituratus (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) in two areas with different degrees of conservation in Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Forest fragmentation associated with the expansion of human development is a phenomenon that occurs worldwide. Studies reveal that there have been both a decline in species diversity and a decrease in Neotropical bat population size because of habitat loss. The aim of this study was to investigate whether human action has been affecting the food availability to wildlife species, which could impact the storage of body energy reserves. For this purpose, fruit-eating bats (Artibeus lituratus) were collected in two areas in Minas Gerais state, Brazil. The concentrations of plasma glucose, as well as glycogen, lipids and protein in liver in muscles were performed, in addition to adipose tissue weight and carcass fatty acids. Our results indicate that fat reserves were significantly lower in most tested tissues (muscle of the hindlimbs, breast muscles, adipose tissue and carcass) in animals collected in the region with a higher degree of human disturbance. The other parameters showed no significant differences in the groups collected at different locations. In conclusion, we suggest that human action on the environment may be affecting the storage of body fat energy reserves of this species during the autumn, particularly in metropolitan region areas of Belo Horizonte, MG - Brazil, requiring special attention to the species conservation.

Parâmetros morfofisiológicos testiculares de camundongos (Mus musculus) suplementados com geleia real / Morphophysiological parameters of mice (Mus musculus) testicles supplemented with royal jelly

Avaliaram-se os efeitos da geleia real sobre os parâmetros morfofisiológicos testiculares de camundongos (Mus musculus). Utilizaram-se 57 machos Swiss, com quatro meses de idade, distribuídos aleatoriamente em seis tratamentos: T1: solução fisiológica, via intraperitoneal; T2: 0,1mg de geleia real, via intraperitoneal; T3: 0,2mg de geleia real, via intraperitoneal; T4: água destilada, via oral; T5: 0,1mg de geleia real, via oral; e T6: 0,2mg de geleia real, via oral. Após 45 dias de suplementação com geleia real, os animais sacrificados e pesados tiveram seus testículos coletados, incluídos em parafina e corados com hematoxilina/eosina. Não houve diferença entre os tratamentos quanto aos: pesos corporal e testicular, índice gonadossomático, diâmetro tubular, altura do epitélio, comprimento total dos túbulos seminíferos, comprimento tubular por grama de testículo, índices tubulossomático e leydigossomático e valores de proporção volumétrica referentes à túnica própria, epitélio seminífero, vaso sanguíneo e vaso linfático. Foi encontrada diferença entre T1 e T3 em relação aos túbulos seminíferos e ao espaço intertubular.

The effects of royal jelly on the morphophysiological parameters of mice (Mus musculus) testicles were studied. Fifty-eight male Swiss mice were evaluated. They were four-month old and were randomly distributed in six treatments: T1: physiological solution, intraperitonial route; T2: 0.1mg of royal jelly, intraperitonial route; T3: 0.2mg of royal jelly, intraperitonial route; T4: distilled water, orally; T5: 0.1mg of royal jelly, orally; and T6: 0.2mg of royal jelly, orally. After 45 days of supplementation with royal jelly, the animals were weighted, slaughtered, and the testicles collected, included in paraffin, and stained with haematoxylin-eosin. No differences among treatments were observed for: body and testicular weights, gonadossomatic index, tubular diameter, epithelial height, total length of seminiferous tubules, tubular length per testicle gram, tubulossomatic and leydigossomatic indexes and the value of volumetric proportion related to tunic, seminiferous epithelium, blood vessel, and lymphatic vessel. Differences between T1 and T3 about the seminiferous tubules and intertubular space were found.

Alpha-, beta- and kappa-caseins inhibit the proliferation of the myeloid cell lines 32D cl3 and WEHI-3 and exhibit different differentiation properties.

We have recently shown that sodium caseinate (CasNa) was able to inhibit the proliferation of the myeloid cell line 32D cl3 in a non-toxic way, and that it also induced the expression of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF). Casein is the main protein present in milk and is composed of alpha (alpha), beta (beta) and kappa (kappa) subunits. This work was undertaken to evaluate if any one casein is responsible for the proliferation and differentiation properties found for CasNa on myeloid cells. Taking into consideration that 32D cl3 cells are considered to be non-malignant and dependent on IL-3 for proliferation, we also included for this study a leukemic cell line, WEHI-3, that does not depend on any external growth factor for its proliferation in order to evaluate if the growth inhibitory effect of caseins is also present for malignant cells. Our results showed that all caseins were inhibitory for the proliferation of either 32D cl3 and WEHI-3 and that only the 32D cl3 cells were induced to differentiate into the monocyte-macrophage lineage. In order to evaluate if CasNa was able to inhibit the proliferation of other myeloid cells we used J774 and P388 and found that they were also inhibited. We also determined that the different caseins exhibit different differentiation properties, with alpha-casein being the only one able to induce the secretion of M-CSF. We consider this work to open a new field of research, where casein, or its components, can be studied for their possible role in hematopoiesis and on the inhibition of malignant cell proliferation for therapeutic use.

Treatment of subclinical hypothyroidism reduces atherogenic lipid levels in a placebo-controlled double-blind clinical trial.

Many studies have found clinical and metabolic alterations in subclinical hypothyroidism, however, there are disagreements about the benefits of levothyroxine therapy. The objective of the present study was to analyze the effects of 6 months of treatment on the lipid profile of patients with subclinical hypothyroidism. A randomized double blind, placebo-controlled clinical assay was conducted. Sixty patients were enrolled in stratified random allocation by TSH levels that generated similar groups in average: free thyroxine levels, lipid levels, age, clinical score, and sedentary. At 6 months, 18 patients in the levothyroxine and 20 in the placebo group were reevaluated and a fall in all atherogenic lipid variables was observed with treatment. The TC and LDL-c variations (-22.6+/-37.2 and -18.5+/-34.6 mg/dl, respectively) in the group that received LT4 were statistically different (p=0.023 and p=0.012) from those occurring in the placebo group (+7.3+/-37.1 and +14.7+/-40.6 mg/dl). Baseline characteristics associated with better improvement in the levels of TC and LDL-c were the presence of TPO-Ab, TSH levels >8.0 microUI/ml, Body Mass Index >or=25 kg/m2, and the presence of menopause. We concluded that treatment with dose-adjusted levothyroxine reduced atherogenic lipid levels in some patients. Further studies to determine the effects of LT4 replacement in specific subgroups of SH patients are still necessary, especially in patients with TSH <8.0 microUI/ml.

Is there a trade-off between cognitive and motor recovery after traumatic brain injury due to competition for limited neural resources?

The status of neurorehabilitation for traumatic brain injury (TBI) is under active debate because of a dearth of research findings demonstrating effectiveness. This may be due, in part, to limitations in our understanding of basic mechanisms of cognitive and motor recovery,including those that might impede recovery. In this regard, we examined whether overall recovery following TBI might be undermined by competition between cognitive and motor functions for finite neural resources during recovery. In this preliminary study, 21 moderately and severely impaired patients were administered cognitive and motor assessments at 1, 4, and 12 months post-TBI, and recovery of cognitive and motor functions was measured using regression residuals. Negative correlations between recovery of cognitive versus motor functions were used as the index of competition. We found suggestive evidence that there may indeed be a trade-off between the recovery of cognitive and motor functions after TBI. Implications for rehabilitation are discussed.

Evidence of transient enhancement to cognitive functioning in healthy young adults through environmental enrichment: implications for rehabilitation after brain injury.

We examined preliminarily whether intensive mental activity can transiently enhance higher cognitive functioning in healthy adults. Ten healthy participants performed intensive mental activity for 2 weeks. The intervention entailed daily memorization of multiple prose passages and performance of demanding, speeded mental arithmetic.Neuropsychological testing was conducted before and after the intervention, using alternate forms. (The intervention and neuropsychological tests were different.) Findings in the intervention group were compared to those of a convenience control sample who had performed a near-identical neuropsychological assessment and follow-up in a different study, but who did not perform the intervention. The purpose was to rule out practice effects as the cause of any observed improvement in the intervention group. The intervention group showed improvement on six/eight measures. The non-intervention group showed improvement on only two. Results suggest cognitive capacity can be enhanced in healthy individuals after a period of intensive cognitive stimulation. Implications for rehabilitation are discussed.