Effects of Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) on the Testicular Parenchyma of Adult BALB/C Mice Submitted to a Hypercaloric Diet

Oxidative stress due to obesity plays a detrimental role in the testicular microenvironment and sperm parameters. We explored the impact of a hypercaloric diet in male BALB/c mice as a condition to trigger damage to the spermatogenic process and the antioxidant effect of Aspalathus linearis as well. We used a hypercaloric diet in animals divided into 3 groups: Control, Hypercaloric diet control (HC) and Hypercaloric diet and Rooibos infusion (HCR). Morphometric parameters, enzyme dosages, cell viability, and tubular histopathology were evaluated. Body weight increased in HCR animals at weeks 3, 4, and 8. We found a reduction in seminiferous epithelium height, with an increase in the tubular diameter of the HCR group. Catalase levels were lower in HC and HCR, while carbonyl protein was decreased in HC. We estimate that it induces oxidative stress (OS) capable of affecting the seminiferous epithelium and that the infusion of A. linearis does not demonstrate a potential benefit in cell preservation.

Communication skills training pilot programme after traumatic brain injury: short and medium-term benefits.

Objective: The study aimed to evaluate whether a pilot communication rehabilitation programme improves different communicative modalities in people who have sustained a moderate to severe TBI immediately following the training and at 3 months follow up.Methods: We have recruited 12 participants who had moderate-to-severe TBI. Subjects were randomly divided into two groups, EG and CG. We have assessed the groups before and after treatment and we have performed a follow-up three months later, through of the ABaCo. The EG followed a very structured programme. In the CG, a programme to stimulate communication through free conversation was carried out. Each programme consisted of 24 group sessions, of 1h30 min, twice a week, for 12 weeks.Results: Improvements were observed in both groups, although more evident in the EG. Both groups had better results in extralinguistic production. In the EG, there was still an improvement in the paralinguistic production and extralinguistic comprehension, after ending the training. These improvements persisted 3 months after ending the programme.Conclusion: The results demonstrated the effectiveness of the intervention of a structured pragmatic rehabilitation programme. However, the existence of a communication group based solely on conversation can also have positive results and should be implemented whenever a more specific intervention is not possible. In future research, it will be important to increase the sample size and involve caregivers in person and regularly in the EG programme.

Oral language in children with benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes.

PURPOSE: Benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes is one of the most common childhood disorders. Despite the benignity usually attributed to this epileptic syndrome, several studies have demonstrated that these children have cognitive disabilities. Among these disturbances, language disorders have been the less studied in depth. We aimed to obtain accurate information about the language skills of children with this epileptic syndrome and to explore the correlation between demographic and clinical factors associated with epilepsy and the language skills. METHODS: We assessed 30 children with this epileptic syndrome, followed in three hospitals in Lisbon, and 60 controls, aged between 6 and 12 years, attending the same schools and matched by age, gender, and parents' socioprofessional level. All the included children did not present cognitive impairment (reasoning ability, verbal memory), sensory, or motor limitations. The evaluation tests covered all language areas. RESULTS: Overall, children with this epileptic syndrome had lower skills in the majority of the language areas, when compared with their peers. These children showed greater difficulties in semantics and syntax domains. The atypical evolution of the seizures and a longer duration of epilepsy were the clinical variables that most influence the language skills of our samples. CONCLUSION: The early assessment of these capacities and the possible need for therapeutic intervention should be emphasized, in order to minimize the impact on their academic performance and quality of life.

Transcultural translation and adaptation of the Assessment Battery for Communication (ABaCo) for the Portuguese population / Tradução e adaptação transcultural da Assessment Battery for Communication (ABaCo) para a população portuguesa

ABSTRACT Purpose: to perform the transcultural adaptation and translation of the ABaCo battery for the Portuguese population and check its psychometric properties. Methods: initially, the translation and retroversion of ABaCo was done. A total of 40 participants without pathology were recruited. Two equivalent Forms (Form A and Form B) were used, consisting of linguistic, extralinguistic, paralinguistic and context scales. The instrument was also applied to 12 people who were in the chronic phase after severe or moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI). For statistical analysis the following tests were used: Mann-Whitney U test, Student t test for independent samples, Pearson's correlation (the value is considered significant when p ≤ 0.05) and Cronbach's alpha (the value is considered minimally acceptable when superior to 0.65). Results: TBIs' participants showed lower results as compared to those without neurological pathology. The evidence was discriminatory for the population with TBI, although, on some scales, it was not, due to the ceiling effect. Differences were not found between the two Forms. The results also showed the existence of correlation of schooling and age with some of the components of ABaCo, as verified in the original version. No differences in gender-conditioned responses were found. The battery showed good metrical qualities with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.90 (Form A) and 0.71 (Form B), for the total sample. Conclusion: ABaCo has proved to be an appropriate instrument for assessing communication in the Portuguese adult population. Despite the limitations, this instrument is expected to be useful in the evaluation of the communication, following TBI.

RESUMO Objetivo: realizar a tradução e adaptação transcultural da bateria ABaCo para a população portuguesa e verificar as suas propriedades psicométricas. Métodos: foi realizada a tradução e retroversão da ABaCo. Foram recrutados 40 participantes sem patologia. Foram utilizadas as duas Formas equivalentes (Forma A e B), constituídas por quatro escalas: linguística, extralinguística, paralinguística e de contexto. A prova foi também aplicada a 12 pessoas que se encontravam na fase crónica após traumatismo crânio-encefálico (TCE) grave ou moderado. Para análise estatística foram utilizados os seguintes testes: Mann-Whitney U test, teste t de Student para amostras independentes, a correlação de Pearson (o valor é considerado significante se p ≤ 0.05) e o alpha de Cronbach (o valor é considerado minimamente aceitável se for superior a 0.65). Resultados: os TCE apresentaram resultados mais baixos, comparativamente a população sem patologia neurológica. A prova mostrou ser discriminativa para a população com TCE, embora em algumas escalas tal fato não aconteça, devido ao ceiling effect. Verificou-se não haver diferenças entre as duas Formas. Os resultados mostraram, ainda, a existência de correlação da escolaridade e da idade com algumas das componentes da ABaCo, tal como se verificou na versão original. Não foram verificadas diferenças nas respostas condicionadas pelo gênero. A bateria mostrou ter boas qualidades métricas, com um alpha de Cronbach de 0.90 (Forma A) e de 0.71 (Forma B) para a amostra total. Conclusão: a ABaCo mostrou ser um instrumento adequado para avaliação da comunicação na população adulta portuguesa. Apesar das limitações, é esperado que esta prova seja útil na avaliação da comunicação em indivíduos acometidos por TCE.

Família presente no atendimento da emergência pediátrica: e agora, equipe? / Family present at pediatric emergency care: now what, team?

O atendimento na emergência pediátrica compreende passos importantes no manejo do paciente crítico e pode-se considerar, ou não, a presença da família. O objetivo é analisar a percepção da equipe de saúde multiprofissional, em um pronto atendimento pediátrico, em um município do estado do Paraná, referente à presença da família na emergência pediátrica. O método foi exploratório-descritivo, com abordagem qualitativa. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de conteúdo temática. Os profissionais se mostraram favoráveis à permanência da família, auxiliando na recuperação da criança, proporcionando segurança e tranquilidade. Destacaram que a instabilidade familiar atrapalha o desempenho da equipe. Recomenda-se que instituições hospitalares proporcionem a educação permanente em saúde como forma de capacitação dos profissionais, além de reflexões sobre o processo de trabalho envolvido no acolhimento da família para estruturação de um protocolo interno que padronize as ações.

Phonological development in Portuguese deaf children with cochlear implants: preliminary study / Desarrollo fonológico en niños sordos portugueses con implantes cocleares: estudio preliminar

Introduction: children with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss and prelingual onset of deafness exhibit less linguistic skills and poorer academic achievements when compared with their hearing peers. Recent studies show that cochlear implants may promote language development in this paediatric population, although phonological development does not always follow the patterns attested for typically developing children. Aim and method: the present study aims at describing the phonetic properties of segments and the phonological processes produced by 18 deaf Portuguese children with more than 2.0 years of implant use, divided into two groups according of their hearing age (A=2.10-4.04 and B=5.04-7.03) For this purpose, we used a formal articulation test validated for the Portuguese population. Results: results show that Group B, with a higher hearing age, exhibit a consonant repertoire more complete than Group A, whose hearing age was lower. Syllable and segmental difficulties tend to persist over a long period of time, even after 4 years of implant experience (i.e. hearing age). Discussion: the children's consonant repertoire of plosives and fricatives seems to take longer to establish in deaf children with cochlear implants than in their Portuguese hearing peer; other phonological patterns found in the data show an immature phonological development (e.g. syllable omission and onset deletion); these results match the ones reported for other languages in other studies on cochlear implanted children

Introducción: los niños con un nivel de hipoacusia neurosensitiva entre intensa y profunda, y en fases iniciales de sordera prelocutiva presentan conocimientos lingüísticos y resultados académicos inferiores en relación con otros niños de su misma edad con un cuadro auditivo normal. Estudios recientes muestran que los implantes cocleares pueden promover el desarrollo lingüístico de este segmento pediátrico, aun cuando el desarrollo fonológico no siempre siga la progresión estándar que se observa en niños con una evolución prototípica. Objetivo y metodología: este estudio tiene como objetivo describir las propiedades de los segmentos fonéticos y de las pautas fonológicas producidos por 18 niños sordos portugueses con más de 2 años de experiencia con el implante coclear, divididos en dos cohortes en función del tiempo que han utilizado este tipo de implantes (A = 2.10-4.04 y B = 5.04-7.03). Con este propósito nos hemos servido de una prueba de articulación formal validada para hablantes portugueses. Resultados: los resultados muestran que el grupo B, con mayor edad auditiva, presenta un repertorio de consonantes más completo que el grupo A. Las dificultades en la producción de sílabas y segmentos suelen persistir durante un largo período de tiempo, incluso después de los 4 años de experiencia con el implante, es decir, con 4 años de edad auditiva. Discusión: al parecer, el repertorio de consonantes obstruyentes (oclusivas y fricativas) tarda más tiempo en establecerse en niños sordos con implantes cocleares que en niños con audición normal. Los datos obtenidos revelan, además, pautas propias de un desarrollo fonológico inmaduro (p. ej., omisión total de sílabas y omisión de ataques silábicos); los resultados coinciden así con los que arrojan varios estudios sobre niños de otras lenguas que llevan también implante coclear

Traumatic brain injury in Portugal: progress in incidence and mortality.

Objectives: Traumatic brain injury continue to be a public health issue, mainly as a result of road accidents and falls. Current epidemiological studies appear to be necessary for a better understanding and monitoring of this problem. This paper analyzes the evolution of these cases in Portugal from the late 1990s to 2014. Methods: The number of hospital admissions and of total mortality in the country were analyzed regarding 2011 and 2014. The results were compared with values obtained previously, for 1997. Results: Incidence rate decreased, being 137/100 000 in 1997 and 65/100 000 in 2014. The mortality rate has also decreased from 17/100 000 to 10/100 000. However, between 2011 and 2014, there was a trend to increase the total number of cases. The incidence rate by age group also differs, with fewer cases in the young adult population in 2014 contrasting with a very high mortality among people aged 80 or older, of 57/100 000. Men continue to show a greater incidence, presenting more hospitalization cases (1.4:1), and higher mortality (2.3:1). Conclusions: The results are consistent with other studies, revealing a decrease in cases, but a high mortality in the elderly population, and the need of more preventive measures.

The genome of the water strider Gerris buenoi reveals expansions of gene repertoires associated with adaptations to life on the water.

BACKGROUND: Having conquered water surfaces worldwide, the semi-aquatic bugs occupy ponds, streams, lakes, mangroves, and even open oceans. The diversity of this group has inspired a range of scientific studies from ecology and evolution to developmental genetics and hydrodynamics of fluid locomotion. However, the lack of a representative water strider genome hinders our ability to more thoroughly investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the processes of adaptation and diversification within this group. RESULTS: Here we report the sequencing and manual annotation of the Gerris buenoi (G. buenoi) genome; the first water strider genome to be sequenced thus far. The size of the G. buenoi genome is approximately 1,000 Mb, and this sequencing effort has recovered 20,949 predicted protein-coding genes. Manual annotation uncovered a number of local (tandem and proximal) gene duplications and expansions of gene families known for their importance in a variety of processes associated with morphological and physiological adaptations to a water surface lifestyle. These expansions may affect key processes associated with growth, vision, desiccation resistance, detoxification, olfaction and epigenetic regulation. Strikingly, the G. buenoi genome contains three insulin receptors, suggesting key changes in the rewiring and function of the insulin pathway. Other genomic changes affecting with opsin genes may be associated with wavelength sensitivity shifts in opsins, which is likely to be key in facilitating specific adaptations in vision for diverse water habitats. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that local gene duplications might have played an important role during the evolution of water striders. Along with these findings, the sequencing of the G. buenoi genome now provides us the opportunity to pursue exciting research opportunities to further understand the genomic underpinnings of traits associated with the extreme body plan and life history of water striders.

A new species of Rhagovelia Mayr, 1865 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Veliidae) from French Guiana, with new records of Gerromorpha from the country.

Rhagovelia apuruaque sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Veliidae), from the commune of Régina, French Guiana, is described, illustrated, and compared with species of the salina group. Brachymetra albinervus (Amyot Serville, 1843), B. lata Shaw, 1933, Limnogonus ignotus Drake Harris, 1934, Neogerris lubricus (White, 1879), Rheumatobates crassifemur esakii Schroeder, 1931 (Gerridae), Mesovelia mulsanti White, 1879 (Mesoveliidae), Microvelia longipes Uhler, 1894, M. mimula White, 1879, M. pulchella Westwood, 1834, R. humboldti Polhemus, 1997, and S. transversa (Hungerford, 1929) (Veliidae) are recorded for the first time from French Guiana. The presence of Tachygerris adamsoni (Drake, 1942) (Gerridae) in the country is confirmed. New records are presented for the following species previously reported from the study area: B. shawi Hungerford Matsuda, 1957, Cylindrostethus palmaris Drake Harris, 1934, L. hyalinus (Fabricius, 1803) (Gerridae), Husseyella turmalis (Drake Harris, 1933), Paravelia bullialata Polhemus Polhemus, 1984, and Stridulivelia strigosa (Hungerford, 1929) (Veliidae).

Language skills in children with benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes: A systematic review.

Benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS) is the epileptic syndrome that most affects preschool and school-age children. Despite being usually considered a benign condition, several studies have shown that this epileptic syndrome is responsible for cognitive morbidities in children, namely at the level of attention and memory, as well as language. However, language disorders are still superficially addressed by the literature. This review aimed to compile and synthesize recent literature in this area. This systematic bibliographic research comprises studies published between 2005 and 2016 in PubMed, Science Direct, and PsycInfo computer databases that included the keywords "language", "cognition", "benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes", "rolandic epilepsy", and "children". Studies were selected according to the following criteria: (i) published in scientific peer reviewed journals; (ii) performed with children between the ages of 3 and 16 years; and (iii) performed in children with BECTS in the active phase or after remission. Eighteen studies met these criteria. Nine studies mentioned language skill disorders in children with BECTS in the receptive and productive domains of semantics and seven studies in morphosyntax. Regarding phonological awareness, six studies have found limitations in the intrasyllabic, syllabic, and phonemic levels. These studies have also detected deficits in verbal fluency (semantic and phonemic) and in verbal memory. Because of the heterogeneity of the study samples and the use of innumerable distinct tasks in the evaluation of language skills, the results obtained still show some lack of consensus regarding the affected areas. Despite this, it was possible to synthesize and define more precisely the oral language variations presented by this population. We have concluded that the changes in semantic skills are the most frequently mentioned. The studies have also showed morphosyntactic and phonological disorders, in spite of showing some variability among them.

Effects of high fat diet on kidney lipid content and the Na, K-ATPase activity

ABSTRACT It is widely known that high fat diet (HFD) can contribute to the advent of health problems. Recent studies have indicated that obesity imposes a hemodynamic overload to the kidneys. In order to further investigate such injuries, two groups of six Swiss mice each were fed with a controlled AIN93G diet or a high fat (AIN93G modified) diet for eight weeks. Blood samples were collected to determine the hormonal, lipid profile, glucose, urea, and creatinine levels. Histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis were carried out to analysis the kidney damage. Fractions of renal membranes were prepared to assess the Na,K-ATPase activity, lipid peroxidation, total cholesterol, and phospholipid content. The results indicated that the blood lipid profile, urea and creatinine was not altered by the HFD. On the other hand, it was observed in HFD diet mice elevated glucose blood levels along with an augment on insulin and a decrease on corticosterone release. HFD provoked a reduction in the diameter of the convoluted tubules and cell volume in Bowman's capsule and an increased number of positive cells with Na,K-ATPase, but reduced the Na,K-ATPase activity and the cholesterol content in the kidney cell membrane but favored the lipid peroxidation.

Spontaneous language of preterm children aged 4 and 5 years / Linguagem espontânea de crianças prematuras aos 4 e 5 anos de idade

ABSTRACT Purposes: to evaluate spontaneous language development through the Mean Length of Utterance in words (MLU-w) of children with gestational age between 28 and 36 weeks. This research also aims to study if the gestational age, birth weight, gender, and parents' level of formal education can influence that measurement. Methods: nineteen premature children (9 males, 10 females), in the age range 4-5 years old, enrolled on Lisbon area kindergartens, and considered as having typical development, participated in this research. Spontaneous speech of each child was recorded for 30 minutes and transcribed afterwards. Results: mean values of MLU-w of Portuguese premature children were significantly lower than those with typical development. A positive and significant correlation between the gestational age and the birth weight with the MLU-w was also found. The gender of the children and the parents' level of formal education showed no influence on the results. Conclusion: these results reinforce the need to identify, on these children, possible deficits, in order to prevent negative impacts in school education, and stimulate their psychosocial development.

RESUMO Objetivos: avaliar a linguagem espontânea, através da Extensão Média do Enunciado em palavras (EME-p), de crianças com idade gestacional entre as 28 e as 36 semanas. Pretende-se também verificar se o número de semanas de gestação, o peso à nascença, o gênero e ainda a escolaridade dos pais influenciam essa medida. Métodos: participaram 19 crianças prematuras (9 meninos e 10 meninas), de 4 e 5 anos de idade, matriculadas em jardins-de-infância da área de Lisboa, consideradas como tendo desenvolvimento típico. O discurso espontâneo de cada criança foi gravado durante 30 minutos e posteriormente transcrito. Resultados: os valores encontrados nas crianças nascidas pré-termo eram significativamente inferiores aos de referência para a população portuguesa com a mesma idade. Verificou-se ainda uma correlação positiva e significativa do tempo de gestação e do peso à nascença com a EME-p. Não foram encontrados efeitos decorrentes do gênero das crianças ou da escolaridade dos pais. Conclusão: estes resultados reforçam a necessidade de identificar possíveis défices de linguagem nesta população, de forma a potenciar o seu desenvolvimento psicossocial e acadêmico.

Applications of deuterium oxide in human health.

The main aim goal of this review was to gather information about recent publications related to deuterium oxide (D2O), and its use as a scientific tool related to human health. Searches were made in electronic databases Pubmed, Scielo, Lilacs, Medline and Cochrane. Moreover, the following patent databases were consulted: EPO (Espacenet patent search), USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office) and Google Patents, which cover researches worldwide related to innovations using D2O.

Frequency of metabolic syndrome in children and adolescents from public schools of Divinópolis, Minas Gerais, Brazil, according to three international diagnostic criteria / Frequência de síndrome metabólica em crianças e adolescentes de escolas públicas de Divinópolis, Minas Gerais, Brasil, conforme três critérios diagnósticos internacionais

AIMS: To assess the frequency of metabolic syndrome in children and adolescents according to three international diagnostic criteria determining the level of agreement between these different criteria. METHODS: Waist circumference, blood pressure, blood glucose, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and serum triglycerides were evaluated in students from public schools of different regions of Divinópolis, MG, Brazil. Children and adolescents aged between 10 and 17 years were selected. Criteria adapted from the World Health Organization (WHO), National Cholesterol Education Program ­ Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP/ATPIII), and International Diabetes Federation (IDF) were used for the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome. The kappa coefficient was used to evaluate the level of agreement among the three criteria. RESULTS: The study evaluated 202 students (86 boys and 116 girls). The frequency of metabolic syndrome was 1.16% for boys and none of the girls presented with metabolic syndrome, according to WHO criteria. According to the NCEP/ATPIII and IDF criteria, metabolic syndrome was not detected in the studied sample. Low blood levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was the most frequent metabolic alteration in all teenagers according to the NCEP/ATPIII and IDF criteria, while body mass index was the most frequent one according to WHO criteria. The level of agreement for one altered parameter was poor when comparing WHO and NCEP/ATP/III, moderate when comparing WHO and IDF and high when comparing the NCEP/ATP/III and IDF criteria. CONCLUSIONS: Significant differences between the frequencies of individual metabolic syndrome parameters were found in the studied sample of children and adolescents, depending on the criteria used. According to WHO criteria, metabolic syndrome was found at a low frequency and only in boys, while the NCEP/ATPIII and IDF criteria did not diagnose metabolic syndrome. The present findings suggest the need to reach a consensus on the cut-off points for risk factors and a single diagnostic definition of metabolic syndrome in children and adolescents.

Unique features of a global human ectoparasite identified through sequencing of the bed bug genome.

The bed bug, Cimex lectularius, has re-established itself as a ubiquitous human ectoparasite throughout much of the world during the past two decades. This global resurgence is likely linked to increased international travel and commerce in addition to widespread insecticide resistance. Analyses of the C. lectularius sequenced genome (650 Mb) and 14,220 predicted protein-coding genes provide a comprehensive representation of genes that are linked to traumatic insemination, a reduced chemosensory repertoire of genes related to obligate hematophagy, host-symbiont interactions, and several mechanisms of insecticide resistance. In addition, we document the presence of multiple putative lateral gene transfer events. Genome sequencing and annotation establish a solid foundation for future research on mechanisms of insecticide resistance, human-bed bug and symbiont-bed bug associations, and unique features of bed bug biology that contribute to the unprecedented success of C. lectularius as a human ectoparasite.

Extensão média do enunciado-palavras em crianças de 4 e 5 anos com desenvolvimento típico da linguagem / Mean length of utterance-words in children with typical language development aged 4 to 5 years

Resumo:OBJETIVO:analisar a Extensão Média do Enunciado-palavras (EME-p) em crianças entre os 4;00 e os 5;05.MÉTODOS:foram observadas 92 crianças portuguesas com desenvolvimento típico: 49 meninas e 43 meninos, divididas em grupos etários com 6 meses de intervalo. Foi recolhida para cada criança uma amostra de 100 enunciados produzidos em discurso espontâneo. Os enunciados foram transcritos e analisados.RESULTADOS:a EME-p variou de 4,5 a 5 palavras, aumentando com a idade. Esta progressão foi verificada anteriormente em crianças falantes de Inglês dos EUA e de Português do Brasil, embora no Português Europeu o número de palavras seja, no geral, um pouco superior. O desempenho de meninos e meninas foi idêntico. A escolaridade dos pais mostrou ter alguma influência, mas não em todos os grupos etários. Os resultados mostraram uma correlação positiva e significante com um teste formal de linguagem, tanto na compreensão, como na expressão.CONCLUSÃO:a EME-p é uma boa medida de desenvolvimento da linguagem até aos 5 anos. Os valores encontrados podem servir como referência normativa relativamente às crianças portuguesas, mas também em estudos comparativos sobre o desenvolvimento da linguagem espontânea.

Abstract:PURPOSE:to analyze the Mean Length of Utterance-words (MLU-w) in children aged 4;00-5;05 years.METHODS:ninety two Portuguese children with normal development were observed: 49 girls and 43 boys, divided in age range groups of six months. A sample of 100 utterances produced in spontaneous discourse was collected from each child. The utterances were transcribed and analyzed.RESULTS:MLU-w was shown to vary between 4,5 to 5 words, progressing with age. This progression had been previously observed in US English and in Brazilian Portuguese speaking children, although in European Portuguese the number of words is overall a little higher. Both boys and girls performed similarly. Years of parents formal education showed some influence, but not in all age groups. Results showed a positive and significant correlation with a formal test for language assessment, both in comprehension as in language production.CONCLUSION:the MLU-w is a good measure of language development up to 5 years. The values found can serve as a normative reference for Portuguese children, but also in comparative studies on the development of spontaneous language.

Uric acid as a modulator of glucose and lipid metabolism.

In humans, uric acid is the final oxidation product of purine catabolism. The serum uric acid level is based on the balance between the absorption, production and excretion of purine. Uric acid is similarly produced in the liver, adipose tissue and muscle and is primarily excreted through the urinary tract. Several factors, including a high-fructose diet and the use of xenobiotics and alcohol, contribute to hyperuricaemia. Hyperuricaemia belongs to a cluster of metabolic and haemodynamic abnormalities, called metabolic syndrome, characterised by abdominal obesity, glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, dyslipidaemia and hypertension. Hyperuricaemia reduction in the Pound mouse or fructose-fed rats, as well as hyperuricaemia induction by uricase inhibition in rodents and studies using cell culture have suggested that uric acid plays an important role in the development of metabolic syndrome. These studies have shown that high uric acid levels regulate the oxidative stress, inflammation and enzymes associated with glucose and lipid metabolism, suggesting a mechanism for the impairment of metabolic homeostasis. Humans lacking uricase, the enzyme responsible for uric acid degradation, are susceptible to these effects. In this review, we summarise the current knowledge of the effects of uric acid on the regulation of metabolism, primarily focusing on liver, adipose tissue and skeletal muscle.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and metabolic syndrome in postmenopausal women.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered the most common cause of chronic liver disease in the Western countries. NAFLD includes a spectrum ranging from a simple steatosis to a nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) which is defined by the presence of inflammatory infiltrate, cellular necrosis, hepatocyte ballooning, and fibrosis and cirrhosis that can eventually develop into hepatocellular carcinoma. Studies emphasize the role of insulin resistance, oxidative stress, pro-inflammatory cytokines, adipokines in the development and progression of NAFLD. It seems to be independently associated with type II diabetes mellitus, increased triglycerides, decreased HDL-cholesterol, abdominal obesity and insulin resistance. These findings are in accordance with the criteria used in the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Here, we will discuss the current knowledge on the epidemiology, pathophysiology and diagnosis of NAFLD and the association of metabolic syndrome in postmenopausal women.

Prevalência de síndrome metabólica em mulheres acima de 40 anos de Divinópolis-MG / Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in women aged 40-59 years using two international criteria Prevalencia del síndrome metabólico en las mujeres de 40-59 años utilizando 2 criterios internacionales

Avaliar prevalência da síndrome metabólica (SM) em mulheres comparando critérios internacionais. Métodos: Estudo descritivo transversal envolvendo 93 mulheres, com idade entre 40 a 59 anos, acompanhadas em Unidades Básicas eProgramas de Saúde da Família de Divinópolis-MG. Foram realizadas avaliações clínicas, antropométricas e bioquímicas. Para o diagnóstico de SM foram empregados critérios internacionais: Adult Treatment Panel IIIof the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP/ATP III) e International Diabetes Federation (IDF), que utilizam a presença de três ou mais dos seguintes parâmetros alterados: circunferência da cintura (CC), triglicerídeos (TG), HDL,pressão arterial e glicemia. Resultados: 54 mulheres entre 40 a 49 anos (58,7%) e 39 entre 50 a 59 anos (41,3%). Parâmetro individual mais alterado foi CC para ambos os critérios. De acordo com NCEP/ATP III, 40,8% das participantes foram diagnosticadas com SM e 53,7% pelo IDF. Faixa etária de 50-59 apresentou maior prevalência de SM para ambos critérios. Demonstrou-se aumento de risco para SM com tabagismo, diabetes e hipertensão em ambos os critérios. Boa concordância entre os critérios da NCEP ATP III e IDF (k=0,74). Conclusão: IDF foi o critério com maior prevalência para SM e a faixa etária de 50-59 foi a mais crítica...

To evaluate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) in women compared to international criteria. Methods: Crosssectional descriptive study involving 93 women, aged 40 to 59 years, accompanied in Basic Units and Family HealthPrograms in Divinópolis-MG. Clinical, anthropometric and biochemical assessments were performed. Two International criteria were employedfor the diagnosis of MS: Adult Treatment Panel III of the National Cholesterol Education Program(NCEP/ATP III) and International Diabetes Federation (IDF), which use the presence of three or more of the following altered parameters: waist circumference (WC), triglycerides (TG), HDL, blood pressure and blood glucose. Results: 54women aged 40-49 years (58.7%) and 39 aged 50-59 (41.3%). The most altered individual parameter was the WC for both criteria. According to NCEP/ATP III, 40.8% of participants were diagnosed with MS and 53.7% by IDF. The age group 50-59 showed a higher prevalence of MS for both criteria. Increased risk for MS was demonstrated with smoking, diabetes and hypertension in both criteria. There was agreement between the criteria of NCEP/ATP III and IDF (k = 0.74). Conclusion: IDF criteria was most prevalent for SM and the age group of 50-59 was the most critical...

Evaluar la prevalencia de síndrome metabólico (SM) en las mujeres en comparación con los criterios internacionales. Métodos: estudio descriptivo transversal que involucró a 93 mujeres, entre 40 a 59 años, acompañadas por las UnidadesBásicas y Programas de Salud de la Familia de Divinópolis-MG. Se realizaron evaluaciones clínicas, antropométricas ybioquímicas. Para el diagnóstico de SM criterios internacionales se emplearon: del Programa National de Education porCholesterol - Panel de Tratamiento de Adultos III (NCEP/ATP III) y Federación Internacional de Diabetes (IDF), que utilizan la presencia de tres o más de los siguientes parámetros cambiados: circunferencia de la cintura (CC), triglicéridos (TG), HDL, presión arterial y glucosa enla sangre. Resultados: 54 mujeres de 40-49 años (58,7%) y 39 entre los 50 a 59 años (41,3%). Parámetroindividual más alterado fue CC en ambos criterios. Según NCEP/ATP III, el 40,8% de las participantes fueron diagnosticadas con SM y el 53,7% por IDF. Grupo de edadde 50-59 mostraronmayor prevalencia de SM por ambos criterios. Se demostrómayor riesgo de SM con el tabaquismo, la diabetes y la hipertensión arterial en ambos criterios.Hubo bastante concordancia entre los criterios del NCEP/ATP III y IDF (k = 0,74). Conclusión: criterios de IDF fueron más frecuentes para SM y el grupo de edad de 50 a 59 fue el más crítico...

The sympathetic nervous system regulates the three glycerol-3P generation pathways in white adipose tissue of fasted, diabetic and high-protein diet-fed rats.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the participation of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) in the control of glycerol-3-P (G3P) generating pathways in white adipose tissue (WAT) of rats in three situations in which the plasma insulin levels are low. WAT from 48 h fasted animals, 3 day-streptozotocin diabetic animals and high-protein, carbohydrate-free (HP) diet-fed rats was surgical denervated and the G3P generation pathways were evaluated. Food deprivation, diabetes and the HP diet provoke a marked decrease in the rate of glucose uptake and glycerokinase (GyK) activity, but a significant increase in the glyceroneogenesis, estimated by the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) activity and the incorporation of 1-[(14)C]-pyruvate into glycerol-TAG. The denervation provokes a reduction (~70%) in the NE content of WAT in fasted, diabetic and HP diet-fed rats. The denervation induced an increase in WAT glucose uptake of fed, fasted, diabetic and HP diet-fed rats (40%, 60%, 3.2 fold and 35%, respectively). TAG-glycerol synthesis from pyruvate was reduced by denervation in adipocytes of fed (58%) and fasted (36%), saline-treated (58%) and diabetic (23%), and HP diet-fed rats (11%). In these same groups the denervation reduced the PEPCK mRNA expression (75%-95%) and the PEPCK activity (35%-60%). The denervation caused a ~35% decrease in GyK activity of control rats and a further ~35% reduction in the already low enzyme activity of fasted, diabetic and HP diet-fed rats. These data suggest that the SNS plays an important role in modulating G3P generating pathways in WAT, in situations where insulin levels are low.