Role of VEGFs in metabolic disorders.

Obesity and metabolic disorders are important public health problems. In this review, the role of vasculature network and VEGF in the adipose tissue maintenance and supplementation is discussed. Angiogenesis is a key process implicated in regulation of tissues homeostasis. Dysregulation of new blood vessels formation may be crucial and contribute to the onset of several pathological conditions, including metabolic syndrome-associated disorders. Adipose tissue homeostasis is fine regulated by vascular network. Vessels support adipose structure. Vasculature modulates the balance between positive and negative regulator factors. In white adipose tissue, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) controls the metabolic activities of adipocytes promoting the trans-differentiation from white to beige phenotype. Trans-differentiation results in an increase of energy consumption. VEGF exerts an opposite effect on brown adipose tissue, where VEGF increases oxygen supply and improves energy expenditure inducing the whitening of adipocytes.

Protective effect of Propolfenol® on induced oxidative stress in human spermatozoa.

The propolis extract was shown to possess the capacity to protect sperm membrane from the deleterious action of oxidative attack. Oxidative stress can induce propagation of a lipid peroxidation (LPO) chain reaction because spermatozoa contain high concentration of unsaturated fatty acids. This study aimed at evaluating in vitro the possible toxicity and/or the antioxidant properties of Propolfenol® in ejaculated human spermatozoa. A colorimetric assay determined the total flavonoid content by spectrophotometry and a high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection analysis the quantity of galangin, pinocembrin and caffeic acid phenylethilic ester (CAPE). Sperm parameters such as motility, vitality and DNA integrity were assessed utilising optical microscopy. The antioxidant properties Propolfenol® against LPO induced by tert-Butyl Hydroperoxide were evaluated using the C11-BODIPY581/591 probe. Chemical analysis of Propolfenol® revealed low quantities of galangin, pinocembrin and CAPE; cyclic voltammetry experiments showed that Propolfenol® may exert an antioxidant activity. A protective action of Propolfenol® (20 and 100 µg/ml) on induced LPO in human spermatozoa was detected. Propolfenol® may be proposed as the supplement in media for sperm preparation techniques or cryopreservation to counteract the increased presence of reactive oxygen species generated by these methods.

Clinical presentation, diagnosis, therapy and outcome of alveolar echinococcosis in dogs.

Alveolar echinococcosis (AE), a parasitic disease primarily of the liver caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus multilocularis, is highly endemic in Switzerland. In contrast to well-established management protocols in people, little is known with regard to optimal treatment strategies in dogs. The objective of this study was to describe the clinical signs and diagnostic procedures in dogs with AE and to evaluate outcome following medical treatment alone or surgery and medical treatment. Of 23 putative AE cases between 2004 and 2014, 20 were classified as confirmed (n=18) or probable (n=2) AE, based on abdominal ultrasound, serology, cytology, histology and/or PCR. Most dogs presented with abdominal distension in an advanced stage of disease. Dogs receiving specific treatment (radical or debulking surgery together with medical treatment, or medical treatment alone) survived longer than dogs left untreated, but no difference was found between treatment types. Survival at one year was associated with absence of free abdominal fluid, absence of abdominal distension and treatment of any type. However, dogs treated with debulking surgery all faced relapse. Findings of this study suggest that in AE-affected dogs for which a therapeutic approach is regarded appropriate by owners and veterinarians, radical surgical resection and medical treatment or, if total resection is not possible, medical treatment alone should be considered. However, studies on larger numbers of dogs are necessary before definitive treatment recommendations can be made.

Prevalencia de Caries y Nivel de Higiene Oral en Niños de 6 años Atendidos Bajo la Norma GES y el Modelo JUNAEB / Prevalence of Dental Caries and Oral Hygiene Level in Children Aged 6 Years Attended Under GES and JUNAEB Models

El objetivo del estudio fue conocer la prevalencia de caries e índice de higiene oral en escolares de la comuna de Temuco, y comparar las diferencias del impacto entre dos modelos de atención de salud oral vigentes, bajo norma GES y JUNAEB entre los años 2007­2008. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo observacional en un consultorio del Servicio de Salud, bajo norma GES y un módulo dental JUNAEB. Se seleccionaron mediante muestreo no probabilístico por conveniencia 113 escolares de 6 años. Mediante examen de diagnóstico oral se consignó el índice COP-D, ceo-d e IHO-S al inicio del tratamiento y al control posterior del alta integral. Para los cálculos y estimaciones estadísticas se utilizó el programa Stata 9.0. El total de los estudiantes presentó una alta prevalencia de caries (COP-D 0,88 y ceo-d 3,86) e higiene oral deficiente (IHO-S 1,45). Al comparar el impacto, el modelo JUNAEB mostró mayor disminución de nuevas caries y mejores niveles de higiene oral (-0,70, p=0,0000). Considerando la alta prevalencia de caries, bajo IHO y la necesidad de controles periódicos, la aplicación del modelo JUNAEB generó menor recurrencia de lesiones cariosas y mejor IHO, gracias a su enfoque preventivo, curativo y educativo.

The aim of this work was to study the prevalence of caries and oral hygiene index among schoolchildren in Temuco, and compare the impact differences between two models of oral health care existing, under standard GES and JUNAEB model between the years 2007-2008. A descriptive observational study in an consulting health service, under standard GES and dental JUNAEB module. We selected by non-probability sampling 113 schoolchildren aged 6 years. The COP-D, ceo-d e OHI-S indexes were recorded at oral examination at the initiation of treatment and aftercare in the final integral treatment. Calculations and statistical estimates used Stata 9.0. The total number of students showed a high prevalence of caries (COP-D ceo-d 0.88 and 3.86) and poor oral hygiene (OHI-S 1.45). When comparing the impact, the JUNAEB model showed greater reduction of new dental caries and better oral hygiene levels (-0.70, p=0.0000). In conclusion, considering the high prevalence of dental caries, poor OHI and the need for periodic controls, application of the JUNAEB model generated a lower recurrence of dental caries and better OHI using a preventive, healing and educational approach.

Niveles de ansiedad en la comunidad estudiantil odontológica: Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco - Chile / Anxiety levels in the dental student community: Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco - Chile

Estudios demuestran que el aumento de los niveles de ansiedad se relacionan con el avance curricular al enfrentarse a situaciones de mayor complejidad, con la edad y el sexo. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la frecuencia de los niveles de ansiedad: rasgo y estado en los alumnos de Odontología. Se realizó un estudio de corte transversal basado en una cohorte estratificada por avance curricular, edad y sexo, evaluada con el cuestionario IDARE (Inventario de Ansiedad Rasgo Estado). La muestra fue constituida por 269 alumnos de primer a quinto año quienes consintieron participar y estar presentes en la actividad. El 56,9 por ciento correspondió a mujeres y 43,1 por ciento a hombres, la edad promedio fue 21,9 años (DE +/- 2,94). Los puntajes promedios de escala Ansiedad-Estado fueron 45,3 (2º semestre); 46,4 (4º semestre) ; 48,7 (6º semestre); 48,8 (8º semestre) y 55,5 (10º semestre) (p=0,0002). En la escala Ansiedad-Rasgo, los promedios fueron 36,4; 41,5; 43,9; 41,5 y 47,0 respectivamente (p=0,0000). Según sexo, en las escalas Ansiedad-Estado y Ansiedad-Rasgo no se observaron diferencias significativas (p>0,05). Según edad, la escala Ansiedad-Estado presenta asociación significativa y correlación baja (p=0,0122, r=0,1523). La correlación no fue significativa para edad en la escala de Ansiedad-Rasgo (p=0,0597, r=0,1147). La ansiedad aparece como fenómeno frecuente en nuestros estudiantes con tendencia al aumento según su avance curricular. La relación de estos niveles con sexo y edad no fue significativa.

Studies show that the increase in these levels would be related, with the curricular advance upon being faced with situations of greater complexity, with age and gender. The objective of this study was to determine anxiety levels frequency: trait and state in dental students. Study of cross section nested in a cohort stratified by curricular advance, age and gender. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) assessed anxiety. Sample was constituted by 269 students of first to fifth year that consented to participate and were present in the activity. Of 269 students, 56.9 percent corresponded to females. Average age 21.9 +/- 2.94 DS. The Anxiety-State scale averages scores for semesters 2º (45.3); 4º (46.4); 6º (48.7); 8º (48.8); 10º; (55,5) (p=0.0002). In Anxiety-Trait scale, the averages were (36.4); (41.5); (43.9); (41.5); (47.0) respectively (warning of medium (3044), high levels of anxiety (45 and more) (p=0.0000). According to sex in Anxiety-State scales and Anxiety-Trait, there were no significant differences (p>0.05). According to age in Anxiety/State scale, a significant association and low correlation (p=0.0122, r=0.1523) was present. The correlation was not significant between age and scale of Anxiety/Trait (p=0.0597, r=0.1147). The anxiety appears as a frequent phenomenon in dental students. The levels of anxiety are higher with tendency to increase in proportion to curricular advance. There was no relation between sex and age. The careers of dentistry should plan for educational strategies to handle anxiety considering the risk in the emotional and physical health of the student body.

Functions for adult neurogenesis in memory: an introduction to the neurocomputational approach and to its contribution.

Until recently, it was believed that the introduction of new neurons in neuronal networks was incompatible with memory function. Since the rediscovery of adult hippocampal neurogenesis, behavioral data demonstrate that adult neurogenesis is required for memory processing. We examine neurocomputational studies to identify which basic mechanisms involved in memory might be mediated by adult neurogenesis. Mainly, adult neurogenesis might be involved in the reduction of catastrophic interference and in a time-related pattern separation function. Artificial neuronal networks suggest that the selective recruitment of new-born or old neurons is not stochastic, but depends on environmental requirements. This leads us to propose the novel concept of "soft-supervision". Soft-supervision would be a biologically plausible process, by which the environment is able to influence activation and learning rules of neurons differentially.

Tocopherol rates and oxidative stability measurement in frying oils / Medidas dos teores de tocoferóis e estabilidade oxidativa em óleos de fritura

É crescente o consumo de óleos e gorduras vegetais e de alimentos pré-fritos congelados, devido à preferência do consumidor por cardápios que aportem facilidade de preparo e manipulação. A fritura é um dos processos mais comuns para o preparo de alimentos, tanto na indústria, como em práticas culinárias domésticas. Ela confere ao alimento características agradáveis de cor, sabor, textura e palatabilidade. Além dessas alterações positivas, podem ocorrer também reações, que modificam as qualidades funcionais e nutricionais podendo chegar a níveis em que não se consegue mais produzir alimentos de qualidade. O presente estudo teve como objetivos analisar os teores de tocoferóis e a estabilidade oxidativa dos óleos de algodão, girassol e palma durante o processo de fritura descontínua de mandioca palito congelada e, ainda, verificar a absorção dos óleos, por meio das determinações da umidade e teor lipídico no produto frito. As frituras foram conduzidas em uma fritadeira elétrica doméstica, onde o óleo foi aquecido, à temperatura de 180ºC, por 25 horas, com reposição de óleo fresco. Os resultados obtidos das determinações analíticas foram submetidos às análises de variância, em esquema fatorial, no delineamento inteiramente casualizado, de modo a determinar a influência dos fatores óleos e tempos de fritura sobre as alterações nos óleos e no produto. Os resultados mostraram que as m

Statural growth and skeletal maturation in rheumatic prepubertal children treated with a third generation glucocorticoid (deflazacort) versus prednisone. An interim study.

Deflazacort, a new glucocorticoid (DFZ) which has recently become available, is known to have lower adverse effects on the skeletal metabolism and is expected to inhibit growth to a lesser extent in long-term treated children than earlier cortisone analogues. With the aim of verifying this hypothesis a multicenter study was planned to compare the effects of deflazacort and prednisone on linear growth and skeletal maturation in a group of prepubertal children requiring chronic steroid therapy. The data presented in this interim analysis refer to 24 children (11 females and 13 males ranging in age from 2.4 to 11.8 yrs) with rheumatoid arthritis (18), systemic lupus erythematosus (4) or dermatomyositis, selected from the total sample of 65 subjects included in the trial. They were randomly allocated to DFZ or PDN treatment and received the minimum effective dose of either steroid for at least 6 months per year. Longitudinal height measurements were obtained with standard instruments and techniques, and the bone age was assessed according to Greulich and Pyle. The following indicators of growth retardation were considered: bone age delay (difference between bone age and chronological age), statural age delay (statural age, with respect to the 50th percentile minus the chronological age) and statural age loss (statural age with respect to the individual height percentile at the first observation minus the chronological age).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Validity of electrocardiographic indices of left ventricular hypertrophy in athletes]. / Validità degli indici elettrocardiografici di ipertrofia ventricolare sinistra negli atleti.

The Authors have evaluated the reliability of the most important electrocardiographic criteria for left ventricular hypertrophy in a group of 95 athletes. An ECG and a M- and B-mode echocardiogram have been performed in each subject; the criteria by Sokolow and Lyon, by Cornell, by Gubner, by Romhilt and Estes and by Casale have been employed to evaluate left ventricular hypertrophy. Left ventricular mass has been evaluated by the echocardiogram according to Devereux and coll. The electrocardiographic method by Casale and coll., proposed only for a few years, is based on the valuation of R wave and on the study of ventricular repolarization depending on sex and age. By this method, still now not much used in the study of athletes, a good correlation with the echocardiographic data was expected, in relation to the young age of the population. The athletes have been divided into three groups, practising aerobic sports, aerobic-anaerobic sports and power sports, according to the physiologic classification of the sports activities of Dal Monte. Using the chi-squared test, for the whole population and separately for the three groups, no significant statistical correlation has been observed. In conclusion, the results demonstrate that not only the "classic" criteria, but also the most recent ECG criteria of left ventricular hypertrophy are not reliable in evaluating left ventricular hypertrophy in trained athletes, leaving the final assessment of the real state of the cardiac chambers to echocardiography.

[Possible interpretation errors in studying the pelvis in children. Description of 2 clinical cases]. / Possibili errori interpretativi nello studio del bacino pediatrico. Descrizione di due casi clinici.

The Authors describe two clinical cases in which the report of an abnormal conformation of the pubic bones required a careful differential diagnosis between a pathological condition and physiological variants of the normal ossification. Considering the different ways of this process of ossification, the pediatrician and the radiologist can avoid a wrong diagnosis with considerable consequences for the little patient.

[Particles in infusion fluids. Preventive effectiveness of terminal filters. Comparative study]. / Le paticelle nei liquidi da infusione. efficacia preventiva dei filtri terminali. Studio comparativo.

The main particles present in solutions for parenteral use are potentially harmful. Current industrial technologies are not yet capable of supplying products that are entirely free of corpusculated substances. In addition, the latter increase in direct proportion to the number of handlings that are carried out by hospital staff in the preparation of infusion treatments. Filters capable of cutting down the number of infused particles are suggested for application to defluxion devices. Three such filters currently available on the Italian market are examined. The filter with 0.45 mu diameter holes proved capable of minimising the amount for particles without provoking an appreciable interference with the defluxion times of the solutions used in the experiments.

[Left endoatrial myxoma. Notes on a case]. / Mixoma endoatriale sinistro. Considerazioni su un caso.

A case of left endoatrial mixoma, ecocardiographically discovered and successfully operated, is reported. The usefulness of ecocardiography, especially to discover intracardiac masses, is considered.