In silico drug repurposing by combining machine learning classification model and molecular dynamics to identify a potential OGT inhibitor.

O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) is a unique intracellular post-translational glycosylation at the hydroxyl group of serine or threonine residues in nuclear, cytoplasmic and mitochondrial proteins. The enzyme O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) is responsible for adding GlcNAc, and anomalies in this process can lead to the development of diseases associated with metabolic imbalance, such as diabetes and cancer. Repurposing approved drugs can be an attractive tool to discover new targets reducing time and costs in the drug design. This work focuses on drug repurposing to OGT targets by virtual screening of FDA-approved drugs through consensus machine learning (ML) models from an imbalanced dataset. We developed a classification model using docking scores and ligand descriptors. The SMOTE approach to resampling the dataset showed excellent statistical values in five of the seven ML algorithms to create models from the training set, with sensitivity, specificity and accuracy over 90% and Matthew's correlation coefficient greater than 0.8. The pose analysis obtained by molecular docking showed only H-bond interaction with the OGT C-Cat domain. The molecular dynamics simulation showed the lack of H-bond interactions with the C- and N-catalytic domains allowed the drug to exit the binding site. Our results showed that the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory celecoxib could be a potentially OGT inhibitor.

Long-term outcomes of the global tuberculosis and COVID-19 co-infection cohort.

BACKGROUND: Longitudinal cohort data of patients with tuberculosis (TB) and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are lacking. In our global study, we describe long-term outcomes of patients affected by TB and COVID-19. METHODS: We collected data from 174 centres in 31 countries on all patients affected by COVID-19 and TB between 1 March 2020 and 30 September 2022. Patients were followed-up until cure, death or end of cohort time. All patients had TB and COVID-19; for analysis purposes, deaths were attributed to TB, COVID-19 or both. Survival analysis was performed using Cox proportional risk-regression models, and the log-rank test was used to compare survival and mortality attributed to TB, COVID-19 or both. RESULTS: Overall, 788 patients with COVID-19 and TB (active or sequelae) were recruited from 31 countries, and 10.8% (n=85) died during the observation period. Survival was significantly lower among patients whose death was attributed to TB and COVID-19 versus those dying because of either TB or COVID-19 alone (p<0.001). Significant adjusted risk factors for TB mortality were higher age (hazard ratio (HR) 1.05, 95% CI 1.03-1.07), HIV infection (HR 2.29, 95% CI 1.02-5.16) and invasive ventilation (HR 4.28, 95% CI 2.34-7.83). For COVID-19 mortality, the adjusted risks were higher age (HR 1.03, 95% CI 1.02-1.04), male sex (HR 2.21, 95% CI 1.24-3.91), oxygen requirement (HR 7.93, 95% CI 3.44-18.26) and invasive ventilation (HR 2.19, 95% CI 1.36-3.53). CONCLUSIONS: In our global cohort, death was the outcome in >10% of patients with TB and COVID-19. A range of demographic and clinical predictors are associated with adverse outcomes.

Deep inspiration breath hold: dosimetric benefits to decrease cardiac dose during postoperative radiation therapy for breast cancer patients.

Background: Postoperative radiation therapy (RT) is the standard treatment for almost all patients diagnosed with breast cancer. Even with modern RT techniques, parts of the heart may still receive higher doses than those recommended by clinically validated dose limit restrictions, especially when the left breast is irradiated. Deep inspiration breath hold (DIBH) may reduce irradiated cardiac volume compared to free breathing (FB) treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the dosimetric impact on the heart and left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) in FB and DIBH RT planning in patients with left breast cancer. Materials and methods: A retrospective cohort study of women diagnosed with left-sided breast cancer submitted to breast surgery followed by postoperative RT from 2015 to 2019. All patients were planned with FB and DIBH and hypofractionated dose prescription (40.05 Gy in 15 fractions). Results: 68 patients were included in the study. For the coverage of the planned target volume evaluation [planning target volume (PTV) eval] there was no significant difference between the DIBH versus FB planning. For the heart and LAD parameters, all constraints evaluated favored DIBH planning, with statistical significance. Regarding the heart, median V16.8 Gy was 2.56% in FB vs. 0% in DIBH (p < 0.001); median V8.8 Gy was 3.47% in FB vs. 0% in DIBH (p < 0.001) and the median of mean heart dose was 1.97 Gy in FB vs. 0.92 Gy in DIBH (p < 0.001). For the LAD constraints D2% < 42 Gy, the median dose was 34.87 Gy in FB versus 5.8 Gy in DIBH (p < 0.001); V16.8 Gy < 10%, the median was 15.87% in FB versus 0% in DIBH (p < 0.001) and the median of mean LAD dose was 8.13Gy in FB versus 2.92Gy in DIBH (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The DIBH technique has consistently demonstrated a significant dose reduction in the heart and LAD in all evaluated constraints, while keeping the same dose coverage in the PTV eval.

High Prevalence of Energy and Nutrients Inadequacy among Brazilian Older Adults.

Poor nutrition increases the risk of diseases and adverse health outcomes in older adults. We evaluated the potential inadequacy of nutrient intake among older adults in Brazil and its association with body anthropometry and composition outcomes. Dietary intake was obtained from 295 community-living older adults (>60 years old), of both genders, using a seven-day food record. Nutrient inadequacy was further identified based on the Dietary Reference Intakes and European Guidelines. Skeletal muscle mass (SM), strength and performance, and the diagnosis of sarcopenia were assessed using reference methods. Nutritional inadequacy was high, with energy, dietary fiber, and six micronutrients exhibiting the greatest inadequacy levels (>80%). Energy intake was correlated with SM strength (p = 0.000) and performance (p = 0.001). Inadequate energy, fiber, and protein intakes influenced BMI, while inadequate intake of vitamin B6 directly affected the diagnosis of sarcopenia (p ≤ 0.005). Further research is required to investigate whether these inadequacies can be associated with other clinical health outcomes.

Vestibulocochlear Delineation for Vestibular Schwannoma Treated With Radiation Therapy.

Purpose: To develop a specialist-based consensus of cochlear contouring to be used in patients undergoing stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) treatment for vestibular schwannoma. Methods and Materials: Representative computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were used for cochlear contouring. The semicircles, cochlea, vestibule, and internal acoustic meatus were delineated by 7 radiation oncology department physicians and reviewed by neuroradiologists. A total of 12 cases accrued from a single academic institution were studied for a similarity analysis by the Dice coefficient. Results: The suggested guideline is an easily reproductive tool that allows radiation oncologists to accurately contour the vestibulocochlear system to avoid toxicity due to inadequate dosimetry of organs at risk. This could be a useful tool even for non-vestibular schwannoma radiation therapy. The Dice coefficient suggests reproducible results as long as the following contouring recommendations are observed. Conclusions: The template for vestibulocochlear delineation may be useful for an adequate organs at risk definition. Future studies are required to find specific constraints for each segment of the vestibulocochlear system, and to mitigate interobserver variations.

Bone necrosis as a complication of sodium hypochlorite extrusion. A case report.

Sodium hypochlorite is the most used irrigant in endodontics, although its toxic effect on tissue is known. Sodium hypochlorite extrusion to periapical tissue can cause complications of varying severity, from oedemas and haemorrhagic lesions to life-threatening ones due to airway compromise. Our patient attended the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery department of the Virgen del Rocío University Hospital and was referred by his dentist after bone exposure as a result of irrigant extrusion during endodontics on tooth 14. Sodium hypochlorite caused significant bone and mucosal tissue necrosis to teeth 13-16, with communication to the maxillary sinus. Several surgical procedures were needed to perform the correct debridement of the necrotic tissue and obtain good mucous. Precautions need to be taken during the use of NaOCl to avoid spreading to surrounding tissue. In cases with open apexes and apical lesion, the use of safer irrigants should be considered as an alternative. Key words:Sodium hypochlorite, extrusion, complication, bone necrosis.

Bronchoalveolar Lavage in Systemic Sclerosis Patients: A Systematic Review.

INTRODUCTION: We performed a systematic review of the literature to determine the value of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in evaluating the pulmonary involvement of systemic sclerosis (SSc). METHODS: Articles published between 1980 and 2019 were retrieved from the databases: PubMed and Scielo. The search was restricted to clinical trials published in English, utilizing the keywords "scleroderma, systemic sclerosis, interstitial lung disease, and bronchoalveolar lavage". RESULTS: Twenty-two papers were analyzed. A positive correlation was observed between increased BAL cellularity (alveolitis) and worsening clinical symptoms, pulmonary function, and radiological pattern in 2, 11, and 15 studies, respectively. The majority of BAL studies that evaluated interleukin levels, including TNF-α, IL-6, IL-7, and IL-8, observed higher levels in patients with impaired pulmonary function and increased lung involvement. CONCLUSIONS: Alveolitis and the increase of some cytokines/chemokines in BAL were related to more severe pulmonary disease in SSc in the majority of the studies and seemed to be markers of worse prognosis, but it is unknown whether BAL adds clinical value to the use of the other non-invasive diagnostic procedures.

Determination of multi-mycotoxins in cereals and of total fumonisins in maize products using isotope labeled internal standard and liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry with positive ionization.

Mycotoxins are secondary fungi metabolites present in foods that cause adverse effects in humans and animals. The aims of this work were to develop and validate a multi-mycotoxin method to determine the presence of aflatoxins, citreoviridin, deoxynivalenol, fumonisins ochratoxin A, zearalenone and some metabolites/derivatives in rice, maize-based products and wheat-based products, and a method to determine total fumonisins (free and bound/hidden forms) in maize-based products. The validated multi-mycotoxin method was based on extraction with acidified acetonitrile and LC-ESI+-MS/MS analysis, with LOQs ranging from 0.5 to 121µg/kg, and proved to be suitable for the multi-mycotoxin analysis in wheat, maize and rice products. Bound/hidden fumonisins were determined after extraction of the free forms using the multi-mycotoxin method, followed by a basic hydrolysis of the unextracted bound/hidden and solid-liquid extraction with low temperature purification (SLE-LTP). The hydrolysis efficiency of the bound/hidden extraction procedure was investigated by analyzing a maize reference material and showed recoveries ranging from 75% (HFB2) to 108% (HFB1). The use of isotope internal standards was crucial for mycotoxins quantification in maize meal and wheat flour, while for rice, external calibration and matrix matched curves gave satisfactory results. All 55 samples of wheat-based products analyzed were contaminated with at least one mycotoxin and 16% of 44 rice samples were also contaminated. The most prevalent mycotoxins were DON and ZON in wheat-based products.

Avaliação da dor na unidade neonatal sob a perspectiva da equipe de enfermagem em um hospital no noroeste paulista / Evaluación del dolor en la unidad de cuidado neonatal desde la perspectiva del personal de enfermería de un hospital en el noroeste del estado de São Paulo / Pain assessment in the neonatal unit under a perspective of nursing team at a hospital of the northwest region of São Paulo

Introdução: Vários trabalhos evidenciam que médicos e enfermeiros mostram-se quase sempre incapazes de identificar e tratar adequadamentea dor do recém-nascido que não se queixa verbalmente. Objetivo: Avaliar como está sendo identificada, interpretada e tratada a dor no períodoneonatal em uma Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Neonatal de alto risco de um hospital-escola do interior do estado de São Paulo. Material e Método:Estudo descritivo, exploratório e retrospectivo. Foram incluídos e revisados 44 prontuários de recém-nascidos internados na Unidade de TerapiaIntensiva Neonatal do hospital-escola, para análise dos registros da enfermagem sobre a avaliação da dor nestes bebês. O instrumento usadorotineiramente nas avaliações da dor neonatal é a Escala de Faces. Resultados: Na avaliação dos 44 recém-nascidos, apenas 21 bebês (47,7%)apresentaram dor durante o período de internação; em outros 8 (18%) bebês, a presença da dor foi constatada por duas ou três vezes, e emapenas 5 (11%) recém-nascidos enfermos houve o registro de quatro ou, no máximo, cinco avaliações positivas para dor durante a permanênciadestes na Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Neonatal. O choro foi associado a dor máxima (escore 5) em 60% das avaliações da enfermagem.Conclusão: A dor no período neonatal, mesmo quando avaliada rotineiramente como um dos sinais vitais, deve ser feita por profissionaispreparados e qualificados para promover o conforto destes pacientes com adequada avaliação e tratamento da dor.

Introduction: Several studies have showed that physicians and nurses are almost always incapable of identifying and properly treating pain innewborn who does not verbally complain. Objective: To evaluate how pain is being identified, interpreted and treated in the neonatal periodat a high-risk neonatal in the Intensive Care Units Neonatal of a school hospital of São Paulo state countryside. Methods: It was a descriptive,exploratory and retrospective research. 44 medical records in the Intensive Care Units Neonatal of a University Hospital were included and revisedin order to analyze nursing records about pain assessment in these infants. The routinely used instrument for assessments of Neonatal Pain is theFaces Pain Scale. Results: Only 21 infants (47,7%) of the 44 newborns evaluated presented pain during the hospitalization period. 8 of them (18%)had pain detected at least once during hospitalization; in 8 other newborns (18%) the presence of pain was observed twice or three times, and inonly 5 critically ill infants (11%) records of the presence of pain were found in four, at most five, pain assessments during their stay in the IntensiveCare Units Neonatal. Crying was associated with severe pain (score 5) in 60% of the nursing assessments. Conclusion: Pain in the neonatal period,even when routinely assessed as one of the vital signs, should be evaluated by trained and qualified professionals in order to promote the comfortof these patients with proper assessment and treatment of pain.

Introducción: Varios estúdios muestran que los médicos y enfermeros son casi siempre incapaces de identificar y tratar adecuadamente el dolordel recién nacido cuando no es una queja verbal. Objetivo: Evaluar cómo está siendo identificada, interpretado y tratado con dolor e nel períodoneonatal en una Unidades de Cuidado Intensivo Neonatal e sen alto riesgo de un hospital-escuela en el interior del estado de São Paulo. Material yMétodo: Estúdio descriptivo, exploratorio y retrospectivo. Fueron incluidos y se examinó 44 registros de recién nacidos ingresados en la Unidadesde Cuidado Intensivo Neonatal del hospital-escuela, para el análisis de registros de enfermería sobre la evaluación del dolor en estos bebés. Elinstrumento utilizado rutinariamente en la evaluación del dolor neonatal es la escala de caras. Resultados: En la evaluación de 44 recién nacidos,sólo 21 (47,7%) presentaban dolor durante el período de hospitalización; en otros 8 (18%) de los bebés, la presencia de dolor fue grabado pordos o três veces, y solo en 5 (11%) de los recién nacidos enfermos hubo un récord de cuatro o más en cinco comentarios positivos para el dolordurante la estancia en la Unidades de Cuidado Intensivo Neonatal. El llanto se asoció com el máximo dolor (score 5) e nel 60% de las evaluacionesde la enfermería. Conclusión: El dolor durante el período neonatal, incluso cuando evalúar rutinariamente como uno de los signos vitales debeser realizado por profesionales entrenados y capacitados para promover la comodidad de estos pacientes con adecuada evaluación y tratamientodel dolor.

Expressão de Metaloproteinases de Matriz e Anexina A1 em tumores de pele de diferentes graus de malignidade / Expresión de Metaloproteinasas de Matriz y Anexina A1 en tumores de la piel de diferentes grados de malignidade / Expression of the Matrix Metalloproteinases and Annexin A1 in skin tumors of different malignancy grades

Introdução: Câncer de pele é doença multifatorial consequente de alterações genéticas e exposição prolongada aos raios solares, entreoutras causas. Os basocarcinomas (CBC) são benignos, com invasividade local e reduzido potencial de metastatização; os carcinomasespinocelulares (CEC) são neoplasias malignas, divididos nos graus 1, 2 e 3 e no grupo acantolítico, de pior prognóstico. Estudos associama resposta inflamatória exacerbada e modificação na matriz extracelular com o desenvolvimento tumoral. Objetivos: Analisar, por imunohistoquímica,nas lesões de CBC e CEC (1, 2, 3 e no subtipo acantolítico) a expressão da proteína anti-inflamatória anexina A1 (ANXA1)e das metaloproteinases de matriz dos tipos 2 e 9 (MMP2 e MMP9). Material e Método: Para as análises imuno-histoquímicas, secçõesdas biópsias de todos os grupos, após recuperação antigênica e bloqueio da atividade da peroxidase endógena foram incubadas comanticorpos primários policlonais rabbit: anti-ANXA1 (1:2000), anti-MMP2 e anti-MMP9 (1:100). Posteriormente, incubadas com o anticorposecundário biotinilado, reveladas com os substratos diaminobenzidina ou o aminoetil carbazol e contracorados com hematoxilina. Aexpressão das...

Introduction: Skin cancer is a multifactorial disease resulting from genetic mutations as well as from prolonged exposure to sunlight,among other causes. Basal cell carcinomas (BCC) are benign, with local invasiveness and reduced potential to metastasize, while,squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) are malignant neoplasms, and can be divided into grades 1, 2 and 3, besides of the acantholytic group,which presents poor prognosis. Studies associate exacerbated inflammatory response and modification in the extracellular matrix to tumordevelopment. Objectives: To analyze, by immunohistochemistry, the expression of the anti-inflammatory protein annexin A1 (ANXA1) andthe matrix metalloproteinases of the types 2 and 9 (MMP2 and MMP9), in lesions of BCC and SCC (grades 1, 2, 3 and acantholytic subtype).Materials and Method: For immune-histochemical analysis, sections of biopsies of all groups, following antigen retrieval and blocking ofendogenous peroxidase activity were incubated with primary rabbit polyclonal antibodies: anti-ANXA1 (1:2000), anti-MMP2 and antiMMP9(1:100). Subsequently, they were incubated with biotinylated secondary antibodies, developed with diaminobenzidine or aminoethyl carbazole substrate and counterstained with hematoxylin. The expression of the proteins was verified by densitometry and statisticalanalysis by ANOVA and Bonferroni...

Introducción: El cáncer de piel es una enfermedad multifactorial que resulta de cambios genéticos y la exposición prolongada a laluz solar, entre otras cosas. Los basocarcinomas (CBC) son benignos, con invasión local y reducido potencial para la metástasis; loscarcinomas de células escamosas (SCC) son tumores malignos divididos en grados 1, 2 y 3 y el grupo acantolítico, de peor pronóstico.Estudios asocian la respuesta inflamatória exacerbada y la modificación en la matriz extracelular en el desarrollo tumoral. Objetivos:Analizar, mediante técnicas de inmunohistoquímica, en las lesiones de BCC y SCC (1, 2, 3 y acantolítico subtipo) la expresión de antiinflamatorioproteína anexina A1 (ANXA1) y metaloproteinasas de la matriz de tipos 2 y 9 (MMP2 y MMP9). Material y Método...

Early Training-Induced Reduction of Angiotensinogen in Autonomic Areas-The Main Effect of Exercise on Brain Renin-Angiotensin System in Hypertensive Rats.

BACKGROUND: Exercise training (T) blunts functional deficits and renin-angiotensin system (RAS) hyperactivity in hypertensive individuals. There is no information on T-induced temporal changes of brain RAS. We evaluate now the simultaneous effects of T on functional responses and time course changes in the expression/activity of brain RAS components in autonomic cardiovascular-controlling areas. METHODS AND RESULTS: Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and age-matched normotensive controls (WKY) were trained for 0, 1, 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks. Sedentary (S) groups served as time-controls. After arterial pressure (AP) and heart rate (HR) recordings at rest, fresh and fixed brains were harvested for qPCR and immunofluorescence assays. SHR-S vs. WKY-S exhibited higher mean AP (MAP) and HR, increased pressure variability and sympathetic activity, elevated AT1 receptor (AT1) expression in nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) and higher Mas receptor expression in the rostroventrolateral medulla (RVLM). In SHR, T promptly (T2 on) reduced sympathetic variability to heart/vessels and largely decreased angiotensinogen expression in the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (PVN) and NTS, with a late RVLM reduction (T4). AT1 expression was only reduced at T12 (PVN and NTS) with transient, not maintained Mas receptor changes in PVN and RVLM. These responses were accompanied by baseline MAP and HR reduction in the SHR-T (from T4 on). In the SHR group, PVN angiotensinogen expression correlated positively with sympathetic activity, resting MAP and HR. In WKY-T, a precocious (T2-T12) RVLM AT1 decrease preceded the appearance of resting bradycardia (from T8 on). CONCLUSIONS: Early and maintained reduction of angiotensinogen content in autonomic areas of the SHR is the most prominent effect of training on brain RAS. Down-regulation of PVN RAS expression is an essential factor to drive cardiovascular benefits in SHR-T, while resting bradycardia in WKY-T is correlated to RVLM AT1 reduction.

Acurácia da pesagem de lactentes com a fralda na atenção primária à saúde / Accuracy of weighing infants with the diaper on in primary health care / Exactitud del pesaje del niño pequeño con el pañal en la atención primaria de salud

Objetivo: estimar o viés introduzido pela pesagem de lactentes com fralda na atenção primária à saúde. Métodos: recrutamos lactentes que estavam para ser pesados numa unidade básica de saúde e pesamos cada lactente duas vezes: uma sem fralda, e outra com fralda, depois de a balança ter sido tarada com uma fralda seca. O viés foi calculado como a diferença percentual de peso, subtraindo o peso sem fralda do peso com fralda, e então dividindo o resultado pelo peso sem fralda. Resultados: recrutamos 30 lactentes entre os dias 23 de julho e 1º de agosto de 2013. A maioria estava lá para uma consulta médica agendada, e tinha tido sua fralda trocada havia menos de 45 minutos. A diferença percentual de peso média foi 0,3% (intervalo de confiança de 95%, 0,2% a 0,5%). Conclusão: houve concordância substancial entre as duas técnicas de pesagem. O viés (isto é, perda de acurácia) introduzido pela pesagem de lactentes com a fralda se compara favoravelmente à precisão da técnica padrão e à variabilidade fisiológica do peso dos lactentes. Pesar lactentes com a fralda parece ser uma técnica válida para a avaliação transversal do estado nutricional na atenção primária à saúde, apesar de mais pesquisa ser necessária antes de ela ser usada para a avaliação longitudinal da velocidade de ganho de peso.

Objective: to estimate the bias introduced by weighing infants with the diaper on in primary health care. Methods: we enrolled infants who were about to be weighed at a primary care center and weighed each infant twice - once without the diaper and once with the diaper on - after the scale had been tared with a dry diaper. The bias was calculated, as the percentage difference in weight, by first subtracting the no-diaper weight from the diaper-on weight and then dividing the result by the no-diaper weight. Results: we enrolled 30 infants from July 23 to August 1, 2013. Most infants were present for a scheduled medical doctor's visit, and their diapers had been changed less than 45 minutes before. The mean percentage difference in weight was 0.3% (95% confidence interval, 0.2% to 0.5%). Conclusion: we found a substantial agreement between the two weighing techniques. The bias (that is, loss of accuracy) introduced by weighing infants with the diaper on compared favorably with the precision of the standard technique and the physiological variability of the infants' weights. Our findings suggest that weighing infants with the diaper on may be a valid technique for the cross-sectional assessment of the nutritional status in primary health care settings. However, further research is needed before it is used for the longitudinal assessment of the weight velocity.

Objetivo: estimar el sesgo introducido por el pesaje de niños pequeños con el pañal en la atención primaria de salud. Métodos: se incluyó a los niños pequeños que estaban a punto de ser pesados en un centro de salud, y se pesó cada niño dos veces: una vez sin pañal, y una vez con pañal, después de que la balanza había sido tarada con el pañal seco. El sesgo se calculó como la diferencia porcentual de peso, restando el peso sin pañal del peso con pañal y luego dividiendo el resultado por el peso sin pañal. Resultados: fueron seleccionados 30 niños pequeños entre el 23 de julio y el 1 de agosto del 2013. La mayoría estaba allí para una visita médica programada, y habían tenido el pañal cambiado a menos de 45 minutos antes. La diferencia porcentual de peso media fue del 0,3% (intervalo de confianza del 95%, 0,2% hasta 0,5%). Conclusión: existe un acuerdo sustancial entre las dos técnicas de pesaje. El sesgo (es decir, pérdida de exactitud) introducido por el pesaje de niños pequeños con el pañal se compara favorablemente con la precisión de la técnica estándar y la variación fisiológica del peso de los niños pequeños. Pesar niños pequeños con el pañal parece ser una técnica válida para la evaluación transversal del estado nutricional en la atención primaria de salud, aunque se necesite más investigación antes de que ella sea utilizada para la evaluación longitudinal de la velocidad de peso.

Bioactive potential of Vitis labrusca L. grape juices from the Southern Region of Brazil: phenolic and elemental composition and effect on lipid peroxidation in healthy subjects.

Grapes are rich in polyphenols with biologically active properties. Although the bioactive potential of grape constituents are frequently reported, the effects of Brazilian Vitis labrusca L. grape juices ingestion have not been demonstrated in humans. This study identified the phenolic and elemental composition of red and white grape juices and the effect of organic and conventional red grape juice consumption on lipid peroxidation in healthy individuals. Concentrations of anthocyanins, flavanols and phenolic acids and the in vitro antioxidant activity were significantly higher in the organic juice. The macro-elements K, Ca, Na and Mg were the most abundant minerals in all juices. The acute consumption of red grape juices promoted significant decrease of lipid peroxides in serum and TBARS levels in plasma. It is concluded that red V. labrusca L. grape juices produced in Southern Brazil showed lipid peroxidation inhibition abilities in healthy subjects, regardless of the cultivation system.

Effect of high-fat diet upon inflammatory markers and aortic stiffening in mice.

Changes in lifestyle such as increase in high-fat food consumption are an important cause for vascular diseases. The present study aimed to investigate the involvement of ACE and TGF- ß in the aorta stiffness induced by high-fat diet. C57BL/6 male mice were divided in two groups according to their diet for 8 weeks: standard diet (ST) and high-fat diet (HF). At the end of the protocol, body weight gain, adipose tissue content, serum lipids and glucose levels, and aorta morphometric and biochemical measurements were performed. Analysis of collagen fibers by picrosirius staining of aorta slices showed that HF diet promoted increase of thin (55%) and thick (100%) collagen fibers deposition and concomitant disorganization of these fibers orientations in the aorta vascular wall (50%). To unravel the mechanism involved, myeloperoxidase (MPO) and angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) were evaluated by protein expression and enzyme activity. HF diet increased MPO (90%) and ACE (28%) activities, as well as protein expression of ACE. TGF-ß was also increased in aorta tissue of HF diet mice after 8 weeks. Altogether, we have observed that the HF diet-induced aortic stiffening may be associated with increased oxidative stress damage and activation of the RAS in vascular tissue.

Relato de dois casos de tumores retro-retais e revisão da literatura / Report of two cases of retrorectal tumors and literature review

Os tumores retro-retais são neoplasias raras no adulto. No espaço retro-retal, existem diversas estruturas embriológicas, que podem desenvolver grupos heterogêneos de tumores benignos e malignos. A apresentação clínica desses tumores é inespecífica, variando de queixas urinárias ou intestinais a ausência de sintomas, e a via de acesso cirúrgica ainda é alvo de discussão na literatura. Os autores relatam dois casos de tumores retro-retais, suas manifestações clínicas, diagnóstico e aspectos cirúrgicos

The retro-rectal tumors are rare neoplasms in adults. In the retro-rectal space, there are various embryological structures, which can develop a heterogeneous group of benign and malignant tumors. The clinical presentation of these tumors is nonspecific, ranging from urinary or intestinal complaints to absence of symptoms, and the surgical approach is still a matter of discussion in the literature. The authors report two cases of retro-rectal tumors, their clinical manifestations, diagnosis and surgical aspects

Borboletas frugívoras (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) de uma área urbana (Área de Proteção Especial Manancial Cercadinho) em Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil / Fruit-feeding butterflies (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) in an urban area (Area of Special Protection Manancial Cercadinho) in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, Brazil

Com o objetivo de conhecer as borboletas frugívoras de uma área urbana em Minas Gerais, foi realizado um inventário na Área de Proteção Especial Manacial Cercadinho, localizada na periferia de Belo Horizonte. Foram instaladas 30 armadilhas em dois ambientes: 15 em uma área de Cerrado (campo Cerrado) e 15 na mata ciliar, durante o período de um ano. Foram coletados 1219 indivíduos pertencentes a 45 espécies da família Nymphalidae. A análise de rarefação não indicou diferença entre a riqueza de espécies da mata ciliar e do Cerrado. A curva acumulativa de ocorrência de espécies não resultou em uma assíntota. As quatro espécies mais abundantes pertencem à subfamília Satyrinae. Os resultados em relação à riqueza de espécies no Cercadinho apontam a importância da sua preservação, pois abriga 40% de toda a fauna de borboletas frugívoras estimadas para a região, podendo ser manejada como fonte de colonização de outras áreas urbanas.

Aiming to increase the knowledge of fruit-feeding butterflies in an urban area in Minas Gerais State, a inventory was carried out in the Área de Proteção Especial Manancial Cercadinho, located in the suburban area of Belo Horizonte. Thirty baited traps were arranged in two habitats: 15 in a Cerrado area (Cerrado field) and 15 in a riparian forest. We recorded 1219 individuals belonging to 45 species of Nymphalidae. The rarefaction analyses didn't indicate difference in species richness between the riparian forest and Cerrado. The species accumulation curve did not show an asymptote. The four most abundant species belonged to Satyrinae. Our results about species richness in Cercadinho emphasize the need to protect this area, because it preserves 40% of the whole butterfly fauna estimated for the region, which could be managed as a source of colonization to other urban areas.

Gastric emptying before and after cholecystectomy in patients with cholecystolithiasis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The objective of the present study was to measure gastric emptying time of solids and semisolids in dyspeptic individuals with cholecystolithiasis before and 6 months after cholecystectomy in order to determine whether cholecystectomy interferes with gastric emptying. METHODOLOGY: A prospective, self-pairing study was conducted on 29 patients selected according to appropriate inclusion and exclusion criteria. Gastric emptying time of solids and semisolids was determined before and six months after laparoscopic cholecystectomy by the 13C-octanoic acid and 13C-acetate breath tests, respectively. The samples were analyzed by infrared spectrometry. The gastric retention time (lag phase) and gastric emptying half-time of solid and semisolid were determined and the results obtained before and after surgery were compared in the same patient. In addition, the effects of surgery on dyspeptic symptoms were assessed. RESULTS: No significant differences (p>0.05) in gastric retention time and gastric emptying half-time of solid and semisolid test meals were observed before and after cholecystectomy. Dyspeptic symptoms (pain, upper abdominal gases, early satiety, nausea and vomiting) improved after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy does not interfere with the gastric emptying time of solids or semisolids in dyspeptic individuals with cholecystolithiasis.