Overexpression of mitochondrial uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) induces a hypoxic response in Nicotiana tabacum leaves.

Mitochondrial uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) decreases reactive oxygen species production under stress conditions by uncoupling the electrochemical gradient from ATP synthesis. This study combined transcriptome profiling with experimentally induced hypoxia to mechanistically dissect the impact of Arabidopsis thaliana UCP1 (AtUCP1) overexpression in tobacco. Transcriptomic analysis of AtUCP1-overexpressing (P07) and wild-type (WT) plants was carried out using RNA sequencing. Metabolite and carbohydrate profiling of hypoxia-treated plants was performed using (1)H-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and high-performance anion-exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection. The transcriptome of P07 plants revealed a broad induction of stress-responsive genes that were not strictly related to the mitochondrial antioxidant machinery, suggesting that overexpression of AtUCP1 imposes a strong stress response within the cell. In addition, transcripts that mapped into carbon fixation and energy expenditure pathways were broadly altered. It was found that metabolite markers of hypoxic adaptation, such as alanine and tricarboxylic acid intermediates, accumulated in P07 plants under control conditions at similar rates to WT plants under hypoxia. These findings indicate that constitutive overexpression of AtUCP1 induces a hypoxic response. The metabolites that accumulated in P07 plants are believed to be important in signalling for an improvement in carbon assimilation and induction of a hypoxic response. Under these conditions, mitochondrial ATP production is less necessary and fermentative glycolysis becomes critical to meet cell energy demands. In this scenario, the more flexible energy metabolism along with an intrinsically activated hypoxic response make these plants better adapted to face several biotic and abiotic stresses.

Cementoblastoma related to a primary tooth: a case report.

Cementoblastomas are benign lesions of the odontogenic ectomesenchyme that rarely occur related to the primary dentition, especially on the left side of the mandible. This study describes a case of a true cementoblastoma related to the left second primary mandibular molar in a 7-year-old child (the largest one seen in the left side of the mandible). Additionally, the radiographic and histologic findings of the lesion are described in details.

Desafios a serem enfrentados no terceiro milênio pelo setor saúde na atençäo integral ao idoso / Challenges to be tackled in the third millennium for the health sector in the full attention to aged people

Texto redigido por um grupo de profissionais de vários estados com inserção nas Instituições de Ensino Superior e por técnicos do Ministério da Saúde, convocados através da Secretaria de Políticas de Saúde do Ministério da Saúde (Portaria no. 19, de 30 de setembro de 1998, publicada no Diário Oficial da União no.189 de 2 de outubro de 1998), a elaborarem a Política Nacional de Saúde do Idoso (PNSI)... O objetivo dessa política é permitir um envelhecimento saudável, o que significa preservar a sua capacidade funcional, a sua autonomia e manter o nível de qualidade de vida... A Política Nacional de Saúde do Idoso foi promulgada pelo Sr. Ministro da Saúde, Dr. José Serra (aprovada pela portaria no. 1.395, de 9 de dezembro de 1999, pelo Ministro da Saúde e publicada no DOU no. 237-E, seção 1, páginas 20 a 24 de 13 de dezembro de 1999)...O texto apresenta a síntese do documento oficial. Enfatizamos, também, os aspectos teóricos e conceituais e as novas terminologias. A relevância e as inovações apresentadas pela nova diretriz política merecem uma ampla divulgação no meio acadêmico, nos serviços de saúde e na sociedade em geral, para que sua implementação se efetive o mais breve possível.