Ana Martins Pereira

Endothelial dysfunction — A major mediator of diabetic vascular disease

The vascular endothelium is a multifunctional organ and is critically involved in modulating vascular tone and structure. Endothelial cells produce a wide range of factors that also regulate cellular adhesion, thromboresistance, smooth muscle cell proliferation, and vessel wall inflammation. Thus, endothelial function is important for the homeostasis of the body and its dysfunction is associated with several pathophysiological conditions, including atherosclerosis, hypertension and diabetes. Patients with diabetes invariably show an impairment of endothelium-dependent vasodilation. Therefore, understanding and treating endothelial dysfunction is a major focus in the prevention of vascular complications associated with all forms of diabetes mellitus. The mechanisms of endothelial dysfunction in diabetes may point to new management strategies for the prevention of cardiovascular disease in diabetes. This review will focus on the mechanisms and therapeutics that specifically target endothelial dysfunction in the context of a diabetic setting. Mechanisms including altered glucose metabolism, impaired insulin signaling, low-grade inflammatory state, and increased reactive oxygen species generation will be discussed. The importance of developing new pharmacological approaches that upregulate endothelium-derived nitric oxide synthesis and target key vascular ROS-producing enzymes will be highlighted and new strategies that might prove clinically relevant in preventing the development and/or retarding the progression of diabetes associated vascular complications.

Reclassification of Lepadogaster candollei based on molecular and meristic evidence with a redefinition of the genus Lepadogaster.

Unidade de Investigac ao em Eco-etologia, Instituto Superior de Psicologia Aplicada, Rua do Jardim do Tabaco 34, 1149-041 Lisboa, Portugal b Instituto de Oceanografia, Faculdade de Ciencias da Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal Universidade Lusofona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Campo Grande 376, 1749-024 Lisboa, Portugal Parque Natural da Arrabida, Instituto da Conservac ao da Natureza, Prac a da Republica, 2900 Setubal, Portugal

Metal complexation and rotational isomerism of simple carboxylic acids—IV Tungstate-malic acid complexes studied by 1H NMR☆

Abstract Proton NMR evidence is presented on the number and relative concentrations of complexes formed by W(VI) and L-malic acid (pH range 3–6), their composition, conformation of the ligand moiety, and (briefly) on their pH-dependence and relative rates of formation. In particular, four complexes are detected: 1:2 (two), 1:1, 2:1. A concentration effect and a slow rate of formation suggest that the 1:1 complex is binuclear.

Type 2 Diabetes Aggravates Alzheimer's Disease-Associated Vascular Alterations of the Aorta in Mice

Vascular risk factors are associated with a higher incidence of dementia. In fact, diabetes mellitus is considered a main risk factor for Alzheimers disease (AD) and both diseases are characterized by vascular dysfunction. However, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here, the effects of high-sucrose-induced type 2 diabetes (T2D) in the aorta of wild type (WT) and triple-transgenic AD (3xTg-AD) mice were investigated. 3xTg-AD mice showed a significant decrease in body weight and an increase in postprandial glycemia, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and vascular nitrotyrosine, superoxide anion (O2•-), receptor for the advanced glycation end products (RAGE) protein, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) levels when compared to WT mice. High-sucrose intake caused a significant increase in body weight, postprandial glycemia, HbA1c, triglycerides, plasma vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), and vascular nitrotyrosine, O2•-, RAGE, and MCP-1 levels in both WT and 3xTg-AD mice when compared to the respective control group. Also, a significant decrease in nitric oxide-dependent vasorelaxation was observed in 3xTg-AD and sucrose-treated WT mice. In conclusion, AD and T2D promote similar vascular dysfunction of the aorta, this effect being associated with elevated oxidative and nitrosative stress and inflammation. Also, AD-associated vascular alterations are potentiated by T2D. These findings support the idea that metabolic alterations predispose to the onset and progression of dementia.

THREATENED FISHES OF THE WORLD: Cottus hispaniolensis Bacescu-Mes- ter, 1964 (Cottidae)

Cottus hispaniolensis is a critically endangered cottid fish which is endemic from the Pyrenanean Garonne river basin.

Asexual origin of brooding in the sea anemones Actinia equina and A. schmidti: Molecular evidence from the portuguese shore

ABSTRACT Reproduction by sexual or asexual viviparity is a common phenomenon in some anemone species. In this short communication, the origin of the brooded young of Actinia equina and A. schmidti from the Portuguese shore was investigated. DNA was extracted from 56 brooding adult Actinia sp. and the nuclear gene that codes for the 28S ribosomal subunit was sequenced. Species identity was then assessed using GenBank. In total, 50 individuals were A. schmidti, five were A. equina and one had a hybrid origin. Three adult anemones (the hybrid, one A. equina and one A. schmidti) possessed two different 28S sequences and so their offspring was selected for further analysis using the same molecular procedure. Each brooded polyp was found to possess the exact same sequence as its parent, strongly suggesting the asexual origin of broods in A. equina and A. schmidti.