Morphological and cytochemical characterization of the peripheral blood cells of farmed streaked prochilod Prochilodus lineatus (Characiformes, Prochilodontidae) / [Caracterização morfológica e citoquímica das células do sangue periférico do curimatã Prochilodus lineatus (Characiformes, Prochilodontidae) em cultivo]

Morphological and cytochemical studies of peripheral blood cells of fish have improved the understanding of their functions and cell types. The present study performed the Morphological and cytochemical analysis of the peripheral blood of Prochilodus lineatus, Characiform native to South America, which has been gaining space in local aquaculture and as a species introduced in Asia. Our analysis provided information on the morphological and cytochemical characteristics of the leukocytes, for the formulation of hypothesis about their role in the immune system of the species. It was found that Prochilodus lineatus has morphological and cytochemical features in common with other fish species, mainly of the Characiformes order. However, we detected the presence of heterophils and PAS positive granulocytes simultaneously with neutrophils. We also found that heterophils and PAS positive granulocytes are very similar, both morphologically and cytochemically.(AU)

O estudo da morfologia e da citoquímica das células do sangue periférico dos peixes tem sido eficaz para o entendimento de suas funções e dos tipos celulares. Este estudo realizou a análise morfológica e citoquímica do sangue periférico de Prochilodus lineatus, caracídeo nativo da América do Sul que vem ganhando espaço na aquicultura local e como espécie introduzida na Ásia. Essa análise forneceu informações sobre a morfologia e as características citoquímicas dos leucócitos, visando a hipóteses sobre suas funções. Verificou-se que estas são semelhantes em vários aspectos a outras espécies, principalmente da ordem Characiformes. No entanto, neste estudo detectou-se a presença dos heterofilos e da célula granulocítica especial, simultaneamente à presença dos neutrófilos. Ainda, foi verificado que os heterofilos e a célula granulocítica especial são muito semelhantes morfológica e citoquimicamente.(AU)

Use of synthetic oligonucleotides for determination of HTLV-1 proviral load by real-time PCR: a helpful alternative approach in the clinical management.

AIMS: To evaluate the potential use of synthetic oligonucleotides as a standard curve for proviral load (PVL) of human T-cell leukaemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) quantification in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of HTLV-1-infected individuals by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis. METHODS AND RESULTS: Synthetic oligonucleotides based on HTLV-1 genome were customized to use as a standard curve. Twelve anti-HTLV-1-positive samples with known HTLV-1 PVL, previously quantified by qPCR assay using TARL-2 cells as a conventional standard curve, were submitted to the new protocol. The proviral quantification levels had a high concordance with qPCR results using a conventional standard curve. The results demonstrate that the conventional standard curve can be replaced by a synthetic standard curve due to its ability to quantification based on the linearity and qPCR efficiency and similar results with a validated qPCR assay using a conventional standard curve. CONCLUSIONS: Synthetic oligonucleotides standard curves could be a very useful tool on HTLV-1 diagnosis and absolute HTLV-1 PVL quantification. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: HTLV-1 PVL determination using synthetic oligonucleotides standard curve by qPCR could be a helpful alternative for the laboratories that monitor infected patients as an important prognostic factor in HTLV-1-associated diseases progression. Also, it can decrease costs and overcome the biological limitations of the plasmid curve.

Association of uricemia with biochemical and dietary factors in human adults with metabolic syndrome genotyped to C677T polymorphism in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene.

It is suggested that hyperuricemia is a marker of cardiovascular risk in human adults with metabolic syndrome (MS). The C677T polymorphism in the gene encoding the enzyme methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is associated with hyperuricemia. Data on factors associated with uricemia in human adults with MS genotyped for this polymorphism are lacking. We aimed to investigate the factors associated with uricemia in human adults with MS genotyped for the C677T polymorphism in the MTHFR gene. Cross-sectional study was conducted with 63 human adults (24 men and 39 women) with MS. Body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, body fat, glycemia, lipid profile, uricemia, insulinemia, homocysteinemia, plasma folate, erythrocyte folate, blood pressure, smoking, diuretics use, usual dietary alcohol and protein intakes, MTHFR and the presence of the C677T polymorphism in the gene were assessed. Hyperuricemia was observed in 16 (25.4%) human adults (10 men and 6 women). In the group, 33% (n = 21) showed the C677T polymorphism, being 19 heterozygous and 2 mutant homozygous. A significant association between hyperuricemia and C677T polymorphism was not verified. Uricemia was positively associated with homocys-teinemia (r = 0.43, p < 0.05), triglyceridemia (r = 0.41, p<0.05), serum concentrations of very-low-density lipoprotein (r = 0.27, p< 0.05) and the habitual alcohol intake (r = 0.37, p < 0.05). However, only homocysteinemia, triglyc-eridemia, and habitual alcohol intake remained in the final model of linear regression. In human adults with MS geno-typed for the C677T polymorphism in the MTHFR gene, uricemia was positively associated with homocysteinemia, triglyceridemia and the habitual alcohol intake.

[Influence of fat diet in glicidic metabolism in obese women with Pro12Pro genotype in PPARgamma2 gene]. / Influencia de la grasa de la dieta en el metabolismo glucídico de mujeres obesas con el genotipo Pro12Pro en el gen PPARgama2.

INTRODUCTION: The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma 2 (PPARgamma2) is an adipogenic transcription factor that influences in insulin resistance (IR) in the presence of agonists such as polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the influence of dietary fat in glicidic metabolism in morbidly obese women with Pro12Pro genotype in the gene PPARgamma2. METHODS: Were selected 25 women with genotype Pro12Pro. The fat intake was estimated by food records, being used for the division of groups, GA (until 30% of the total energy expenditure (TEE)) and GB (greater than 30% of the TEE). Biochemical and anthropometric evaluations were conducted in fasting, following the test meal high in n-6 PUFA and postprandial biochemical evaluations. IR and insulin sensitivity (IS) were assessed by HOMA-IR (Homeostasis Model Assessment) and QUICKI (Quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index), respectively. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: GA presented normal HOMAIR and QUICKI. GB presented higher body mass index (BMI), HOMA-IR, saturated fatty acids (SFA) and monounsaturated (MUFA) intake higher, compared with GA (p < 0.05). In GA, the MUFA intake was negatively correlated with HOMA-IR, fasting glucose and insulin, and positively with QUICKI. The fat and SFA intake contributed to the increase in body mass and IR. However, MUFA intake may have reduced the impact of high fat diet in glicidic metabolism. It is suggested that obese women with Pro12Pro genotype in the PPARgamma2 gene avoid high fat and SFA diets, prioritizing MUFA for controlling obesity and improving the IS.