Bárbara Silva

Signaling through retinoic acid receptors in cardiac development: Doing the right things at the right times

Retinoic acid (RA) is a terpenoid that is synthesized from vitamin A/retinol (ROL) and binds to the nuclear receptors retinoic acid receptor (RAR)/retinoid X receptor (RXR) to control multiple developmental processes in vertebrates. The available clinical and experimental data provide uncontested evidence for the pleiotropic roles of RA signaling in development of multiple embryonic structures and organs such eyes, central nervous system, gonads, lungs and heart. The development of any of these above-mentioned embryonic organ systems can be effectively utilized to showcase the many strategies utilized by RA signaling. However, it is very likely that the strategies employed to transfer RA signals during cardiac development comprise the majority of the relevant and sophisticated ways through which retinoid signals can be conveyed in a complex biological system. Here, we provide the reader with arguments indicating that RA signaling is exquisitely regulated according to specific phases of cardiac development and that RA signaling itself is one of the major regulators of the timing of cardiac morphogenesis and differentiation. We will focus on the role of signaling by RA receptors (RARs) in early phases of heart development. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Nuclear receptors in animal development.

Effects of anti-TNF therapy on glucose metabolism in patients with ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis or juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS) or psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Sixty-two patients were investigated: 7 JIA; 37 AS; and 18 PsA. Caucasian race accounted for 79% and 29% were female. Mean age was 40.4 +/- 12.6 years. None of the patients had a history of diabetes, and none had used oral hypoglycemic agents or insulin. Treatment was with adalimumab, infliximab and etanercept. Glucose, inflammatory markers and prednisone dose were assessed at baseline, as well as after three and six months of treatment. The mean erythrocyte sedimentation rate was significantly lower at three months and six months than at baseline (13.7 +/- 18.0 and 18 +/- 22.5 vs. 27.9 +/- 23.4 mm; p = 0.001). At baseline, three months and six months, we found the following: mean C-reactive protein levels were comparable (22.1 +/- 22.7, 14.5 +/- 30.7 and 16.0 +/- 23.8 mg/L, respectively; p = 0.26); mean glucose levels remained unchanged (90.8 +/- 22.2 mg/dl, 89.5 +/- 14.6 mg/dl and 89.8 +/- 13.6 mg/dl, respectively; p = 0.91); and mean prednisone doses were low and stable (3.9 +/- 4.9 mg/day, 3.7 +/- 4.8 mg/day and 2.6 +/- 4.0 mg/day, respectively; p = 0.23). During the first six months of treatment, anti-TNF therapy does not seem to influence glucose metabolism in JIA, AS or PsA.

Características endócrinas, metabólicas e indicadoras da qualidade da carne em bovinos Nelore castrados e não castrados

The aim of this study was to evaluate neuroendocrine (plasma ACTH and cortisol), metabolic (muscle glycogen and lactate) and meat quality characteristics in castrated and non-castrated Nellore cattle. To this end, 130 animals were slaughtered (78 castrated and 52 non-castrated), between the years 2009 and 2011. Blood samples were collected, in vivo and post mortem (IV and PM), for endocrine measurements. For the metabolites, samples were collected from Longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle. For physical-chemical analysis, three steaks from LD muscle (between 10th and 12th rib) were aged by one, seven and 14 days. The pH and temperature of the animals were measured at one and 24 hours PM. Statistical analyzes were performed using mixed models of the Statistical Analysis System software. It was observed that muscle cortisol (IV and PM) and lactate concentrations were higher (P<0.05) in castrated compared to non-castrated animals. Castrated had lower pH 24 hours values and tender meat (P<0.05) in all times aging compared to non-castrated animals.

Frequency of antibodies against the etiologic agents of acquired imunodeficiency syndrome, syphilis, hepatitis B and C, and Chagas' disease in patients with rheumatic diseases treated with anti-tumor necrosis factor

INTRODUCAO: Os pacientes reumatologicos em terapia com antifator de necrose tumoral (anti-TNF, Tumor Necrosis Factor) sao considerados imunodeprimidos. Neste sentido, a pesquisa de doencas infecciosas nesta populacao e imperiosa devido a alta morbidade e, por vezes, mortalidade associada a este quadro. OBJETIVOS: O presente trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar a frequencia de soropositividade para os seguintes agentes infecciosos: Treponema pallidum (sifilis), Trypanosoma cruzii (doenca de Chagas), virus da imunodeficiencia humana adquirida (Human imunnodeficiency Virus - HIV) e hepatites B e C (HBV e HCV, respectivamente) em pacientes recebendo terapia anti-TNF. PACIENTES E METODOS: Foram avaliados 143 pacientes reumatologicos em um estudo observacional, com artrite reumatoide, espondilite anquilosante, artrite psoriasica e outras doencas, em uso de terapia anti-TNF (adalimumabe, etanercepte e infliximabe) no periodo de setembro de 2007 a novembro de 2008. Foram coletados dados clinicos e demograficos, bem como uma amostra de sangue para a analise da presenca de anticorpos contra os agentes infecciosos HIV (Aids), HBV e HCV (hepatites B e C, respectivamente), Treponema pallidum (sifilis) e Trypanosoma cruzii (doenca de Chagas). RESULTADOS: A media de idade da populacao estudada foi de 45,78 ± 12,7 anos, sendo 60,1% do sexo feminino e 76,9% de cor branca. Treze (9%) dos pacientes apresentaram pelo menos uma sorologia positiva. Nenhum dos pacientes apresentou sorologia positiva para o Trypanosoma cruzii (doenca de Chagas), bem como para HIV. Somente dois (1,4%) individuos apresentaram positividade para o Treponema pallidum (sifilis) (ELISA positivo e VDRL negativo). A frequencia de anti-HBc total foi de 5% (7/140), sendo que todos estes foram positivos tambem para anti-HBs. O HBsAg foi negativo em todos os pacientes. Quatro pacientes tiveram HCV positivo, sendo que dois deles tinham PCR negativo para o virus e os outros dois foram positivos e estavam estaveis. CONCLUSAO: A frequencia de soropositividade para certas doencas infecciosas em pacientes em terapia com anti-TNF e baixa. Os individuos que merecem maior atencao sao aqueles com sorologia positiva para o HCV.

Mucopolysaccharidosis type VI: Assessment of functionality, functional capacity and respiratory muscle strength

Introduction: Maroteaux-Lamy Syndrome (MPS VI) is a rare type of mucopolysaccharidosis in the world, however in Brazil it is one of the most commonly diagnosed. Objectives: to measure the functionality, functional capacity and strength of the respiratory muscles of MPS type VI carriers in a Brazilian Center of inborn errors of metabolism. Method: cross sectional study. Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI) or Functional Independence Measure (FIM) was applied according with the age. Relation between muscles strength and total distance walked on the test (6MWD) were analyzed based on simple linear regression models. Students t test and ANOVA test were performed to measure the average difference between groups. Relations between Maximal Inspiratory Pressure (MIP), Maximal Expiratory Pressure (MEP) and the total distance walked on 6MWT were analysed based on simple linear regression models, significant p<0.05. Results: from the 24 MPS VI carriers, the average distance walked on the 6MWT was 300 meters (about 984ft) and it´s average predicted value was 585 meters (p<0.001) (about 1919ft). The average values found in the respiratory muscles strength tests was MIP -56 ± 36.0 cmH2O, and the predicted average MIP= -62±12,7cmH2O ( p =0,002). In the PEDI evaluation, 33.3% showed lower performance than expected in the self-care and mobility areas. In the FIM evaluation, 53.3% showed modified dependence and 41.7% showed modified independence. Conclusion: we observed reduction on the functional capacity and significant reduction strength of the respiratory muscles in MPS VI patients, besides the functional dependence in most of the patients.