Consumo de agua como hábito saludable en la población universitaria / Consumption of water as healthy habit in the university population

Objetivo: Caracterizar el perfil de hábitos y prácticas de salud de los universitarios en cuanto al consumo deagua en la Universidad de Panamá.El agua es uno de los grandes componentes del cuerpo humano. Constituye el medio en que se llevan a cabola mayor parte de las reacciones químicas en el cuerpo y juega un papel importante en la transformación deenergía, la excreción de desechos y la regulación de la temperatura (Brown 2006).Metodología: Se utilizó el muestreo aleatorio estratificado proporcional, utilizando un error máximo de 3%y un 95% de confianza. Además se le probó la homogeneidad estructural del instrumento. Con los resultadosobtenidos, se procedió a desarrollar un análisis descriptivo con diferentes variables de tipo general ademásde las preguntas sobre el consumo de agua. Por otro lado se realizó un análisis multivariante aplicando elmétodo HJ-Biplot el cual permitirá identificar patrones con respecto a las respuestas manifestadas en lasfacultades examinadas.Resultados: La muestra estaba distribuida 15% administrativos, 68% estudiantes 17% docentes. Dondemanifiestanqueeltipodelíquidoconelqueacompañanlascomidastienecomopreferenciaconsumiragua. Y delgrupo de los encuestados los estudiantes universitarios son aquellos con los menores niveles de consumo deagua argumentados por la falta de tiempo.Conclusión: La población está anuente que el consumo del agua genera beneficios en la salud física y en elbienestar general, sin embargo los hábitos generales de la misma no reflejan dicho conocimiento.

Objective: Characterize the habit profile and health practices of university students, administrative personneland faculty members, in regards to water consumption in the University of Panama.Water is one of the major components of human body. It constitutes the mean for body’s main chemicalreactions and plays an important role in the transformation of energy, waste excretion and temperatureregulation (Brown, 2006).Methodology: Proportional stratified random sampling was used, using a maximum error of 3% and 95%confidence. Also, the structural homogéneity of the instrument was tested. With the results, we proceeded todevelop a descriptive analysis with different general variables in addition to questions about drinking water.Furthermore, a multivariate analysis using the HJ- Biplot method was run for identifying patterns related tothe responses expressed by the students from different schools.Results: The sample was distributed among 15% staff, 68% students and 17% faculty. They expressed theirpreference of drinking water during meals instead of any other kind of beverage. The students interviewedare the group drinking the less amount of water due to lack of time.Conclusion: The population is aware of the benefits of drinking water for physical health and well-being;however, the general habits do not reflect this knowledge.

Objetivo: Caraterizar o perfil de hábitos e práticas de saúde dos universitários enquanto ao consumo de águana Universidade de Panamá.A água é um dos grandes componentes do corpo humano. Constitui o meio em que se dão a maior partereações químicas no corpo e têm um papel importante na transformação de energia, a excreção dos detritose a regulação da temperatura (Brown 2006). Metodologia: Se utilizou a amostragem aleatória estratificadaproporcional com um erro máximo de 3% e um 95% de confiança. Além disso, se provou a homogeneidadeestrutural do instrumento. Com os resultados obtidos se procedeu a desenvolver uma análise descritiva comdiferentes variáveis de tipo geral, além das perguntas sobre o consumo de água. Por outro lado, se realizouuma análise múlti variante aplicando o método HJ-Biplot, que permitirá identificar padrões com respeito àsrespostas manifestadas nas faculdades testadas.Resultados: A amostra foi distribuída em 15% administrativos, 68% estudantes e 17% docentes. Osresultados indicam que o tipo de líquido preferido para acompanhar as comidas é a água, e do grupo derespondentes, os estudantes universitários foram aqueles com os menores níveis de consumo de água,argumentando a falta de tempo.Conclusão: A população sabe que o consumo de água gera benefícios na saúde física e o bem-estar integral,porém, os hábitos gerais no refletem esse conhecimento.

α-Synuclein Misfolding Versus Aggregation Relevance to Parkinson's Disease: Critical Assessment and Modeling.

α-Synuclein, an abundant and conserved presynaptic brain protein, is implicated as a critical factor in Parkinson's disease (PD). The aggregation of α-synuclein is believed to be a critical event in the disease process. α-Synuclein is characterized by a remarkable conformational plasticity, adopting different conformations depending on the environment. Therefore, it is classified as an "intrinsically disordered protein." Recently, a debate has challenged the view on the intrinsically disordered behavior of α-synuclein in the cell. It has been proposed that α-synuclein is a stable tetramer with a low propensity for aggregation; however, its destabilization leads to protein misfolding and its aggregation kinetics. In our critical analysis, we discussed about major issues: (i) why α-synuclein conformational behavior does not fit into the normal secondary structural characteristics of proteins, (ii) potential amino acids involved in the complexity of misfolding in α-synuclein that leads to aggregation, and (iii) the role of metals in misfolding and aggregation. To evaluate the above critical issues, we developed bioinformatics models related to secondary and tertiary conformations, Ramachandran plot, free energy change, intrinsic disordered prediction, solvent accessibility, and FoldIndex pattern. To the best of our knowledge, this is a novel critical assessment to understand the misfolding biology of synuclein and its relevance to Parkinson's disease.

Polyphenols as therapeutic molecules in Alzheimer's disease through modulating amyloid pathways.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complex and multifactorial neurodegenerative condition. The complex pathology of this disease includes oxidative stress, metal deposition, formation of aggregates of amyloid and tau, enhanced immune responses, and disturbances in cholinesterase. Drugs targeted toward reduction of amyloidal load have been discovered, but there is no effective pharmacological treatment for combating the disease so far. Natural products have become an important avenue for drug discovery research. Polyphenols are natural products that have been shown to be effective in the modulation of the type of neurodegenerative changes seen in AD, suggesting a possible therapeutic role. The present review focuses on the chemistry of polyphenols and their role in modulating amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing. We also provide new hypotheses on how these therapeutic molecules may modulate APP processing, prevent Aß aggregation, and favor disruption of preformed fibrils. Finally, the role of polyphenols in modulating Alzheimer's pathology is discussed.

In vitro evidence that an aqueous extract of Centella asiatica modulates α-synuclein aggregation dynamics.

α-Synuclein aggregation is one of the major etiological factors implicated in Parkinson's disease (PD). The prevention of aggregation of α-synuclein is a potential therapeutic intervention for preventing PD. The discovery of natural products as alternative drugs to treat PD and related disorders is a current trend. The aqueous extract of Centella asiatica (CA) is traditionally used as a brain tonic and CA is known to improve cognition and memory. There are limited data on the role of CA in modulating amyloid-ß (Aß) levels in the brain and in Aß aggregation. Our study focuses on CA as a modulator of the α-synuclein aggregation pattern in vitro. Our investigation is focused on: (i) whether the CA leaf aqueous extract prevents the formation of aggregates from monomers (Phase I: α-synuclein + extract co-incubation); (ii) whether the CA aqueous extract prevents the formation of fibrils from oligomers (Phase II: extract added after oligomers formation); and (iii) whether the CA aqueous extract disintegrates the pre-formed fibrils (Phase III: extract added to mature fibrils and incubated for 9 days). The aggregation kinetics are studied using a thioflavin-T assay, circular dichroism, and transmission electron microscopy. The results showed that the CA aqueous extract completely inhibited the α-synuclein aggregation from monomers. Further, CA extract significantly inhibited the formation of oligomer to aggregates and favored the disintegration of the preformed fibrils. The study provides an insight in finding new natural products for future PD therapeutics.

Studies on the mechanism of the DNA nicking property of amyloid-ß40: implications in Alzheimer's disease.

Amyloid-ß peptide is presumably a key etiological factor involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), and several hypotheses exist on the possible ways Aß contributes to the progression of the disease. There are reports on the nuclear localization of Aß and very limited evidence on its DNA binding property. The present study provided the mechanism of Aß enantiomers binding to DNA and showed that Aß40L induces ψ-DNA, while Aß40D causes only altered B-DNA. Further, we evidenced the DNA nicking property of Aß enantiomers and endonuclease mimicking behavior. The role of Aß in modulating DNA stability was reported by altered melting temperature and ethidium bromide binding studies. The data provides new evidence on stereospecific dependent Aß-DNA interaction and we discuss its biological relevance to neurodegeneration. Our results imply that Aß-DNA interaction needs to be considered as a significant cause of the toxicity in the pathogenesis of AD.

Myocardial infarction and stem cells.

Permanent loss of cardiomyocytes and scar tissue formation after myocardial infarction (MI) results in an irreversible damage to the cardiac function. Cardiac repair (replacement, restoration, and regeneration) is, therefore, essential to restore function of the heart following MI. Existing therapies lower early mortality rates, prevent additional damage to the heart muscle, and reduce the risk of further heart attacks. However, there is need for treatment to improve the infarcted area by replacing the damaged cells after MI. Thus, the cardiac tissue regeneration with the application of stem cells may be an effective therapeutic option. Recently, interest is more inclined toward myocardial regeneration with the application of stem cells. However, the potential benefits and the ability to improve cardiac function with the stem cell-based therapy need to be further addressed. In this review, we focus on the clinical applications of stem cells in the cardiac repair.

A review on the therapeutic potential of embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells in hepatic repair.

Despite the liver being proliferatively quiescent, it maintains balance between cell gain and cell loss, invokes a rapid regenerative response following hepatocyte loss, and restores liver mass. Human liver has immense regenerative capacity. Liver comprises many cell types with specialized functions. Of these cell types, hepatocytes play several key roles, but are most vulnerable to damage. Recent studies suggest that the extrahepatic stem cell pool contributes to liver regeneration. Stem cell therapies have the potential to enhance hepatic regeneration. Both embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells could be a suitable source to regenerate hepatocytes. In the present review, we discuss the therapeutic potential of stem cells in hepatic repair and focus on the clinical applications of stem cells.

Evidence of altered DNA integrity in the brain regions of suicidal victims of Bipolar Depression.

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) integrity plays a significant role in cell function. There are limited studies with regard to the role of DNA damage in bipolar affective disorder (BP). In the present study, we have assessed DNA integrity, conformation, and stability in the brain region of bipolar depression (BD) patients (n=10) compared to age-matched controls (n=8). Genomic DNA was isolated from 10 postmortem BD patients' brain regions (frontal cortex, Pons, medulla, thalamus, cerebellum, hypothalamus, Parietal, temporal, occipital lobe, and hippocampus) and from the age-matched control subjects. DNA from the frontal cortex, pons, medulla, and thalamus showed significantly higher number of strand breaks in BD (P<0.01) compared to the age-matched controls. However, DNA from the hippocampus region was intact and did not show any strand breaks. The stability studies also indicated that the melting temperature and ethidium bromide binding pattern were altered in the DNA of BD patients' brain regions, except in the hippocampus. The conformation studies showed B-A or secondary B-DNA conformation (instead of the normal B-DNA) in BD patients' brain regions, with the exception of the hippocampus. The levels of redox metals such as Copper (Cu) and Iron (Fe) were significantly elevated in the brain regions of the sufferers of BD, while the Zinc (Zn) level was decreased. In the hippocampus, there was no change in the Fe or Cu levels, whereas, the Zn level was elevated. There was a clear correlation between Cu and Fe levels versus strand breaks in the brain regions of the BD. To date, as far as we are aware, this is a new comprehensive database on stability and conformations of DNA in different brain regions of patients affected with BD. The biological significance of these findings is discussed here.