Submitted by Sandra Pereira (srpereira@ufrrj.br) on 2017-01-12T11:50:46Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2016 - Otavio Augusto Chaves.pdf: 6300833 bytes, checksum: 156947ce06fa4e3b0674f5eaeaa4ef06 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-01-12T11:50:46Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2016 - Otavio Augusto Chaves.pdf: 6300833 bytes, checksum: 156947ce06fa4e3b0674f5eaeaa4ef06 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-07-19 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cient?fico e Tecnol?gico - CNPq / The interactions between human serum albumin (HSA) with 18-PF, BZL, MTZ and MZ and between bovine serum albumin (BSA) with t-DCTN, PF, LF-B, PIA and ?-lap were studied by spectroscopic techniques (molecular absorption in the UV-Vis region, circular dichroism, emission fluorescence in the steady state and temporal resolution) under physiological conditions. Theoretical calculations by molecular docking were performed to complement the experimental data and thus offer accurate to the results. The results obtained for the fluorescence quenching rate constant (kq) is greater than the diffusion rate constant in water (kdiff ? 5,00x109 L/mol), indicating that there is formation of complex between albumin and biologically active molecules in the ground state (for the sample PIA we confirmed this data with time resolved fluorescence experiments). For t-DCTN and LF-B beyond the static mechanism it was observed the presence of dynamic fluorescence quenching mechanism. Finally, for PF and PIA F?rster theory shows that the energy transfer between the fluorophore and the quenchers can occurs with high probability. The thermodynamic values for Gibbs? free energy are in accordance with the spontaneity of the association, for all the samples. Thermodynamic parameters ?H? and ?S? provided evidence of the main intermolecular interactions in the association. The samples 18-FP, t-DCTN, LF-B, PIA, ?-lap, BZL and MTZ interact with albumin by hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions. On the other hand, PF and MZ interact by hydrogen bonding and electrostatic forces. The number of binding sites shows that there is only one main cavity of the protein to the interaction. For 18-PF, PF and LF-B the binding is weak, for t-DCTN the binding is moderate and for PIA, ?-lap, BZL, MTZ and MZ the binding is strong. Circular dichroism results show that upon binding of samples with the albumin there are no significant perturbations on the secondary structure of the protein. Theoretical calculations by molecular docking are in full agreement with the spectroscopic results / As intera??es entre albumina s?rica humana (ASH) com 18-FP, BZL, MTZ e MZ e entre albumina s?rica bovina (ASB) com t-DCTN, PF, LF-B, PIA e ?-lap foram estudadas por t?cnicas espectrosc?picas (absor??o molecular no UV-Vis, dicro?smo circular, emiss?o de fluoresc?ncia no estado estacion?rio e com resolu??o temporal) sobre condi??es fisiol?gicas. C?lculos te?ricos por ancoramento molecular (do ingl?s molecular docking) foram executados para complementa??o dos dados experimentais e dessa forma obter resultados mais precisos. Os resultados obtidos para as constantes de velocidade de supress?o de fluoresc?ncia das albuminas (kq) s?o maiores do que a velocidade de difus?o em ?gua (kdiff ? 5,00x109 L/mols), indicando que h? forma??o de um complexo no estado fundamental entre as albuminas com as mol?culas biologicamente ativas (para amostra PIA tal dado foi confirmado com a fluoresc?ncia resolvida no tempo). Para as amostras t-DCTN e LF-B al?m do mecanismo est?tico foi observado ? presen?a do mecanismo din?mico e j? para as amostras PF e PIA o c?lculo de F?rster mostra alta probabilidade de ocorr?ncia de transfer?ncia de energia entre o fluor?foro e os supressores. Os valores termodin?micos de energia livre de Gibbs, calculados para todas as amostras est?o de acordo com a espontaneidade da associa??o. Par?metros termodin?micos de ?H? e ?S? forneceram ind?cios das principais intera??es intermoleculares na associa??o. As amostras 18-FP, t-DCTN, LF-B, PIA, ?-lap, BZL e MTZ associam com a albumina via liga??o de hidrog?nio e intera??es hidrof?bicas e j? PF e MZ por liga??o de hidrog?nio e intera??es eletrost?ticas. O n?mero de s?tios de liga??o para todas as amostras indicam que h? apenas uma principal cavidade da prote?na para a associa??o das mol?culas estudadas, sendo que essa associa??o ? moderada para 18-FP, PF e LF-B, fraca para t-DCTN e forte para PIA, ?-lap, BZL, MTZ e MZ. Estudos de dicro?smo circular demonstram que n?o h? perturba??es significativas na estrutura secund?ria da albumina com a associa??o. C?lculos te?ricos via ancoramento molecular est?o em total acordo com os resultados espectrosc?picos

Nódulos de tireoide são achados clínicos comuns e, atualmente, o método diagnóstico de escolha para diferenciar lesões benignas de lesões malignas é a análise citopatológica dos nódulos através de punção aspirativa por agulha fina (PAAF). Estudos prévios já indicaram que os níveis séricos de TSH podem estar associados ao risco de malignidade nodular. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar se o TSH sérico é um preditor de malignidade em nódulos de tireoide em pacientes submetidos à PAAF. A amostra contemplou 100 indivíduos puncionados consecutivamente no Centro de Pronto Diagnóstico Ambulatorial, CPDA, HCPA e que apresentavam níveis de TSH dentro da normalidade. Todos os pacientes foram submetidos à PAAF da tireoide com controle ultrassonográfico e tiveram, posteriormente, a análise citopatológica da PAAF e a avaliação histopatológica do bloco celular. A análise estatística baseou-se em dados de frequências e testes não-paramétricos foram utilizados para correlacionar as variáveis. A população de estudo foi composta por 100 pacientes, sendo 89 mulheres e 11 homens. A média de idade foi de 54,1 ± 14,2 anos e o tamanho médio dos nódulos foi de 2.53 ± 1.36 centímetros. Vinte e seis % destes pacientes apresentavam algum tipo de doença tireoidiana prévia. A média do nível de TSH sérico entre os 100 indivíduos foi de 1.81 ± 1.08 uUI/mL. De acordo com o diagnóstico citopatológico da PAAF complementado pelos achados do bloco celular foram classificados como malignos 8% dos nódulos, 70% benignos, 11% suspeitos/ indeterminados, 8% insuficientes e 3% lesões foliculares. A média de TSH para os grupos maligno, benigno, suspeito/indeterminado, insuficiente e lesão folicular foi de, respectivamente, 2.48, 1.59, 2.21, 2.35 e 2.20 uUI/ml (p>0.05). Não houve diferença estatística significante entre os grupos diagnósticos avaliados, apesar de haver uma variação entre os níveis de TSH entre os grupos refletindo, provavelmente, o pequeno tamanho da amostra. / Thyroid nodules are common and currently the first choice of investigation in distinguishing benign from malignant disease is the cytological analysis of fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB). Previous studies have indicated that serum TSH levels might be associated with the likelihood of malignancy. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether serum TSH is a predictor of malignancy of thyroid nodules in patients undergoing FNAB. One hundred consecutive patients, who underwent FNAB as part of clinical investigation of thyroid nodule in a multidisciplinary setting tertiary hospital, underwent ultrasonography followed by FNAB, cytology and cell block analysis. Independent-Samples Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare the groups. The study population comprised of 89 female and 11 male patients. The mean age was 54.1 ± 14.2 years. 26% had previous thyroid disease. Mean TSH levels was 1.81 ± 1.08 uUI/mL and the mean nodule size was 2.53 ± 1.36cm. Final cytology/cell block diagnosis classified 8% as malignant, 70% as benign, 11% suspicious/indeterminate, 8% insufficient and 3% follicular lesion. The mean TSH values for malignant, benign, suspect, insufficient and follicular lesion group were as follows: 2.48, 1.59, 2.21, 2.35 and 2.20 uUI/ml, respectively. No statistical significance was detected between TSH levels and final cytology/cell block diagnosis, possibly reflecting the small sample size (P>0.05). We observed a variation between TSH levels among the groups covered in this study, but there was no statistically significant difference among them.

Background Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a devastating form of chronic lung injury of unknown aetiology characterised by progressive lung scarring. A diagnosis of definite IPF requires High Resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT) appearances indicative of usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP), or in patients with 'possible UIP' CT appearances, histological confirmation of UIP. However the proportion of such patients that undergo SLB varies, perhaps due to a perception of risk of biopsy and additive diagnostic value of biopsy in individual patients. We hypothesised that an underlying UIP pathological pattern may result in increased risk of death and aimed to explore this by comparing the risk of SLB in suspected idiopathic interstitial pneumonia, stratified according to HRCT appearance. Additionally we sought to determine the positive-predictive value of biopsy to diagnose IPF in patients with 'possible UIP HRCT' in our population. In patients with possible UIP who are not biopsied, the clinical value of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is uncertain. We aimed to prospectively study the diagnostic and prognostic value of BAL differential cell count (DCC) in suspected IPF and determine the feasibility of repeat BAL and the relationship between DCC and disease progression in two successive BALs. We hypothesised that BAL DCC between definite and possible IPF was different and that baseline DCC and change in BAL DCC predicted disease progression. Alveolar macrophages (AMs) are an integral part of the lung's reparative mechanism following injury, however in IPF they contribute to pathogenesis by releasing pro-fibrotic mediators promoting fibroblast proliferation and collagen deposition. Expansion of novel subpopulations of pulmonary monocyte-like cells (PMLCs) has been reported in inflammatory lung disease. We hypothesised that a distinct AM polarisation phenotype would be associated with disease progression. We aimed to perform detailed phenotyping of AM and PMLCs in BAL in IPF patients. Several prognostic scoring systems and biomarkers have been described to predict disease progression in IPF but most were derived from clinical trial patients or tertiary referral centres and none have been validated in separate cohorts. We aimed to identify a predictive tool for disease progression utilising physiological, HRCT and serum biomarkers in a unique population of incident treatment naïve IPF patients. Methods Between 01/01/07 and 31/12/13, 611 consecutive incident patients with suspected idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP) presented to the Edinburgh lung fibrosis clinic. Of these patients 222 underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic lung biopsy and histological pattern was determined according to ATS/ERS criteria. Post-operative mortality and complication rates were examined. Fewer than 2% received IPF-directed therapy and less than 1% of the cohort were lost to follow-up. Disease progression was defined as death or ≥10% decline in VC within 12 months of BAL. Cells were obtained by BAL and a panel of monoclonal antibodies; CD14, CD16, CD206, CD71, CD163, CD3, CD4, CD8 and HLA-DR were used to quantify and selectively characterise AMs, resident PMLCs, inducible PMLCs, neutrophils and CD4+/CD8+ T-cells using flow cytometry. Classical, intermediate and non-classical monocyte subsets were also quantified in peripheral blood. Potential biomarkers (n=16) were pre-selected from either previously published studies of IPF biomarkers or our hypothesis-driven profiling. Linear logistic regression was used on each predictor separately to assess its importance in terms of p-value of the associated weight, and the top two variables were used to learn a decision tree. Results Based on the 2011 ATS/ERS criteria, 87 patients were categorised as 'definite UIP', of whom 3 underwent SLB for clinical indications. IPF was confirmed in all 3 patients based on 2013 ATS/ERS/JRS/ALAT diagnostic criteria. 222 patients were diagnosed with 'possible UIP'; 55 underwent SLB, IPF was subsequently diagnosed in 37 patients, 4 were diagnosed with 'probable IPF' and 14 were considered 'not IPF'. In this group, 30 patients were aged 65 years or over and 25/30 (83%) had UIP on biopsy. 306 patients had HRCTs deemed 'inconsistent with UIP', SLB was performed in 168 patients. Post6 operative 30-day mortality was 2.2% overall, and 7.3% in the 'possible UIP' HRCT group. Patients with 'definite IPF' based on HRCT and SLB appearances had significantly better outcomes than patients with 'definite UIP' on HRCT alone (P=0.008, HR 0.44 (95% CI 0.240 to 0.812)). BAL DCC was not different between definite and possible UIP groups, but there were significant differences with the inconsistent with UIP group. In the 12 months following BAL, 33.3% (n=7/21) of patients in the definite UIP group and 29.5% (n=18/61) in the possible UIP group had progressed. There were no significant differences in BAL DCC between progressor and non-progressor groups. Mortality in patients with suspected IPF and a BAL DCC consistent with IPF was no different to those with a DCC inconsistent with IPF (P=0.425, HR 1.590 (95% CI 0.502 to 4.967)). There was no difference in disease progression in either group (P=0.885, HR 1.081 (95% CI 0.376 to 3.106)). There was no statistically significant difference in BAL DCC at 0 and 12 months in either group. There was no significant change in DCC between 0 and 12 month BALs between progressors and non-progressors. Repeat BAL was well tolerated in almost all patients. There was 1 death within 1 month of a first BAL and 1 death within 1 month of a second BAL; both were considered 'probably procedure-related'. AM CD163 and CD71 (transferrin receptor) expression were significantly different between groups (P < 0.0001), with significant increases in the IPF group vs non fibrotic ILD (P < 0.0001) and controls (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.001 respectively). CD71 expression was also significantly increased in the IPF progressor vs non-progressor group (P < 0.0001) and patients with high CD71 expression had significantly poorer survival than the CD71low group (P=0.040, median survival 40.5 and 75.6 months respectively). CD206 (mannose receptor) expression was also significantly higher in the IPF progressor vs non-progressor group (P=0.034). There were no differences in baseline BAL neutrophil, eosinophil or lymphocyte percentages between IPF progressor or non-progressor groups. The percentage of rPMLCs was significantly increased in BAL fluid cells of IPF patients compared to those with non-fibrotic ILD (P < 0.0001) and healthy controls (P < 0.05). Baseline rPMLC percentage was significantly higher in IPF progressors vs IPF non-progressors (P=0.011). Baseline BAL iPMLC:rPMLC ratio was also significantly different between IPF progressor and non-progressor groups (P=0.011). Disease progression was confidently predicted by a combination of clinical and serological variables. In our cohort we identified a predictive tool based on two key parameters, one a measure of lung function and one a single serum biomarker. Both parameters were entered into a decision tree, and when applied to our cohort yielded a sensitivity of 86.4%, specificity of 92.3%, positive predictive value of 90.5% and negative predictive value of 88.9%. We also applied previously reported predictive tools such as the GAP Index, du Bois score and CPI Index to the Edinburgh IPF cohort. Conclusions SLB can be of value in the diagnosis of ILD, however perhaps due to the perceived risks associated with the procedure, only a small percentage of patients undergo SLB despite recommendations that patients have histological confirmation of the diagnosis. Advanced age is a strong predictor for IPF, and in our cohort 83% of patients aged over 65 years with 'possible UIP' HRCT appearances, had UIP on biopsy. BAL and repeat BAL in IPF is feasible and safe (< 1.5% mortality). Of those that underwent repeat BAL, disease progression was not associated with a change in DCC. However, 22% of lavaged patients died or were deemed too frail to undergo a second procedure at 12 months. These data emphasise the importance of BAL in identifying a novel human AM polarisation phenotype in IPF. Our data suggests there is a distinct relationship between AM subtypes, cell-surface expression markers, PMLC subpopulations and disease progression in IPF. This may be utilised to investigate new targets for future therapeutic strategies. / Disease progression in IPF can be predicted by a combination of clinical variables and serum biomarker profiling. We have identified a unique prediction model, when applied to our locally referred, incident, treatment naïve cohort can confidently predict disease progression in IPF. IPF is a heterogeneous disease and there is a definite clinical need to identify 'personalised' prognostic biomarkers which may in turn lead to novel targets and the advent of personalised medicines.

Produtos de glicação avançada (AGE) são prevalentes no diabete melito e alteram o metabolismo de lípides e lipoproteínas. Neste estudo, avaliou-se a influência da albumina, isolada do soro de indivíduos controles (C, n =12) e de portadores de diabete melito tipo 1 (DM 1, n=13) e tipo 2 (DM 2, n=11), com controle glicêmico inadequado, sobre a remoção de colesterol de macrófagos, o acúmulo intracelular de lípides, o conteúdo do receptor de HDL, ABCA-1 e a captação seletiva de colesterol esterificado de HDL. Além disso, foi determinada a expressão diferencial de genes em macrófagos tratados com albumina C, DM 1 ou DM 2. A concentração plasmática de albumina glicada foi superior no grupo DM 1 e DM 2 em relação ao C e correlacionou-se positivamente com glicemia, hemoglobina glicada e frutosamina. Albumina sérica foi isolada por cromatografia para separação rápida de proteínas e purificada por extração alcoólica. Albumina DM 1 e DM 2 apresentaram maior conteúdo de carboximetil-lisina e apo A-I quando comparada à albumina C. Macrófagos enriquecidos com LDL acetilada e 14C-colesterol foram tratados com albumina C, DM 1 ou DM 2 e, a seguir, incubados na presença ou ausência de apo A-I, HDL3 ou HDL2 para determinação do efluxo de colesterol. Apesar de removerem maior quantidade de colesterol celular, as albumina DM 1 e DM 2 reduziram o efluxo de colesterol mediado por apo A-I (70% e 45%, respectivamente) e HDL2 (55% e 54%, respectivamente) em comparação à albumina C. Com HDL3, a queda no efluxo de colesterol só foi observada em macrófagos expostos à albumina DM 2 (55%). Macrófagos incubados apenas com albumina C, DM 1 ou DM 2 apresentaram conteúdo lipídico semelhante, evidenciado por coloração com Oil Red O. A adição de apo A-I, HDL3 ou HDL2 reduziu o conteúdo lipídico apenas nas células tratadas com albumina C, mas não com albumina DM 1 ou DM 2. A expressão de ABCA-1 foi diminuída 82% e 25% em macrófagos expostos, respectivamente, à albumina DM 1 e DM 2, em comparação às células tratadas com albumina C. As albuminas DM 1 e DM 2 reduziram a captação de 3H colesteril oleoil éter de HDL por células que superexpressam o receptor SR-BI. Estes resultados também foram obtidos com albumina humana modificada in vitro por glicação avançada. As albuminas isoladas dos pacientes diabéticos aumentaram a expressão de receptores envolvidos na captação de LDL modificadas e de proteínas que modulam vias da homeostase do colesterol. Os resultados deste estudo evidenciaram que a modificação in vivo da albumina por glicação avançada prejudica o transporte reverso de colesterol no diabete melito, por reduzir a expressão de ABCA-1 e a remoção de colesterol de macrófagos, bem como a captação seletiva de colesterol esterificado de HDL pelo SR-BI. Independentemente de variação na concentração e composição de HDL, a glicação da albumina pode contribuir para o acúmulo de lípides em macrófagos e gênese da aterosclerose no diabete melito / Advanced glycation end products are prevalent in diabetes mellitus and alter lipids and lipoprotein metabolism. In this study we analyzed the role of albumin, isolated from control individuals (C, n = 12) and uncontrolled type 1 (DM 1, n = 13) and type 2 (DM 2, n = 11) diabetes mellitus patients on macrophage cholesterol removal, intracellular lipid accumulation, expression of the HDL receptor protein level, ABCA-1and the uptake of esterified cholesterol from HDL. It was also investigated the differential gene expression in macrophages treated with C, DM 1 or DM 2 albumin. Glycated albumin was higher in DM 1 and DM 2 groups as compared to C and was positivetly correlated with glycemia, glycated hemoglobin and fructosamine. Serum albumin was isolated by fast protein liquid chromatography and alchoolic extraction. DM 1 and DM 2 albumin presented a higher amount of carboxymethyllysine and apo A-I as compared to C albumin. In order to determine cholesterol efflux acetylated LDL and 14C-cholesterol enriched J- 774 macrophages were treated with C, DM 1 or DM 2 albumin and then incubated in the absence or presence of apo A-I, HDL3 or HDL2. Although presenting a higher ability to remove cell cholesterol by itself, DM 1 and DM 2 albumin reduced cholesterol efflux mediated by apo A-I (70% e 45%, respectively) and by HDL2 (55% e 54%, respectively) as compared to C albumin. With HDL3 the reduction of the cholesterol efflux was only observed in macrophages treated with DM 2 albumin (55%) in comparison to C albumin. Macrophages incubated with C, DM 1 or DM 2 albumin alone presented similar amount of intracellular lipids as assessed by Oil Red O staining. The addition of apo A-I, HDL3 or HDL2 reduced the lipid content in cells treated with C albumin, but not in those exposed to DM 1 or DM 2 albumin. The expression of ABCA-1 was reduced 82% and 25% in macrophages treated, respectively, with DM 1 or DM 2 albumin, in comparison to C albumin. DM 1 and DM 2 albumin reduced the uptake of 3H colesteril oleoyl ether from HDL by SR-BI overexpressing cells. These findings also were obtained when cells were treated in vitro with human serum albumin submitted to advanced glycation. DM 1 and DM 2 albumin enhanced the expression of receptors involved in the uptake of modified LDL and cholesterol homeostasis. Our findings showed that the advanced glycation of albumin that takes place in diabetes mellitus impairs the reverse cholesterol transport efficiency by reducing the ABCA-1 expression and cholesterol exportation to HDL and also by diminishing the uptake of esterified cholesterol from HDL. Independently of changes in HDL composition and concentration, advanced glycated albumin contributes to cholesterol accumulation in macrophages and atherogenesis in diabetes mellitus

Background: Vitamin D is known to be associated with inflammatory diseases, but its relationship with allergic diseases is unclear. The study objective is to determine the association of serum vitamin D levels and markers of wheeze, asthma and atopy. Methods: Data (n = 9,463) on serum vitamin D levels and atopy were obtained from 2005-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Serum vitamin D level was categorized into four groups: Normal (≥30ng/ml), Insufficient (21-29ng/ml), Deficient (11-20ng/ml) and Severely Deficient (≤10ng/ml). Atopy was defined as at least 1 positive allergen-specific IgE level measured for a panel of 5 common aeroallergens- cat, dog, house dust mite, cock roach and Alternaria species. Doctor-diagnosed asthma and wheeze in the previous 12 months were assessed by means of questionnaire. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to investigate the association of serum vitamin D with wheeze, asthma and atopy adjusting for age, sex, race, smoking, outdoor physical activity, body mass index and poverty income ratio. Results: Overall, 15%, 14% and 28% of subjects had wheeze, asthma and atopy, respectively. Approximately 21% had normal serum vitamin D levels, while 35%, 28% and 5% had insufficient, deficient and severely deficient levels. Compared to subjects with normal vitamin D levels, those with insufficient, deficient and severely deficient levels had increased relative odds of wheeze and atopy with highest adjusted estimates in subjects with severe vitamin D deficiency (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 2.31, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.73-3.10 for wheeze; OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.17-1.89 for atopy). Conclusion: Low serum vitamin D levels were found to be associated with wheeze and atopy. Findings contribute to ongoing efforts to understanding the role of vitamin D in atopic diseases.

Abstract available through http://www.fasebj.org/doi/abs/10.1096/fasebj.31.1_supplement.1037.5.

Orientador: Ana Cláudia de Melo Stevanato Nakamune / Banca: José Mauro Granjeiro / Banca: Célio Percinoto / Resumo: A saliva é coletada através de métodos simples e não invasivos, além de ser facilmente armazenada. A coleta não-traumática é atrativa especialmente para crianças e quando repetidas coletas são requeridas. A desvantagem da saliva como uma ferramenta de diagnóstico é a variabilidade, que ocorre em decorrência dos fatores fisiológicos e do modo de coleta. Numa primeira etapa o trabalho teve por objetivo estudar as atividades das enzimas fosfatase alcalina (FAlc), fosfatase ácida total (FAT) e fosfatase ácida resistente ao tartarato (TRAP) na saliva total não estimulada de crianças, investigando as influências de fatores como sexo, faixa etária e horário de coleta, bem como a correlação das enzimas com a taxa de fluxo salivar. Nesta etapa, 120 crianças saudáveis de ambos os sexos, nas faixas etárias de 1-5 e 6-12 anos de idade tiveram as amostras de saliva coletada entre 8:00-10:00 horas ou entre 14:00-16:00 horas. A segunda parte do trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar a correlação das atividades enzimáticas da FAT, TRAP, proteína tirosina fosfatase de baixa massa molecular relativa (PTP-BMr) e FAlc na saliva e no soro de crianças, além de analisar a influência do sexo e da faixa etária na atividade das enzimas, no soro e na saliva total. Para tanto 32 crianças de ambos os sexos, nas faixas etárias de 1-5 anos e 6-12 anos de idade tiveram as amostras de saliva e sangue coletadas entre 8:00-10:00 horas. Os resultados da primeira etapa sugerem que as atividades da FAT, TRAP e FAlc são influenciadas, de formas distintas, pelos fatores sexo, faixa etária e horário de coleta e que não existe correlação entre as atividades das enzimas e a taxa de fluxo salivar. / Abstract: Saliva can be collected by simple, non-invasive methods and is easily stored. The non-traumatic collection is specially appealing for children and when repeated collections are required. The main disadvantage of the saliva as a diagnosis tool is the variability that happens due to the physiologic factors and dependence on mode of the collection. In a first stage the work had for objective to study the activities of the enzymes alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total acid phosphatase (TAP) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) in the whole unstimulated saliva of children, investigating the influences of factors as sex, age group and time of collection, as well as the correlation of the enzymes with the salivary flow rate. In this stage, 120 healthy children of both sexes, in the age groups of 1-5 and 6-12 years of age had the saliva samples collected between 8:00-10:00 hours or between 14:00-16:00 hours. In a second stage, the work had for objective to evaluate the correlation of the enzymatic activities of TAP, TRAP, low molecular weight protein tyrosine phosphatase (LMW-PTP) and ALP in the saliva and in the children's serum, besides analyzing the influence of the sex and of the age group in the activity of the enzymes, in the serum and in the whole unstimulated saliva. For so much 32 children of both sexes, in the 1-5 year-old age groups and 6-12 years of age had the saliva samples and blood collected between 8:00-10:00 hours. The results of the first stage suggest that the activities of TAP, TRAP and ALP are influenced, in different ways, for the factors sex, age group and time of collection and that correlation doesn't exist between the activities of the enzymes and the salivary flow rate. / Mestre

Albumin provides the vital scaffolding for growth and tissue repair and supports oncotic blood pressure and hemodynamics. In hemodialysis patients, albumin aids with fluid removal by drawing excess fluid from edematous tissues back into the blood where it can then be removed by a dialyzer. The hyperglycemia seen in dialysis patients with Type II diabetes progressively damages kidney glomeruli, which permits albumin seepage into the urine, thus lowering serum albumin. The conceptual framework underpinning this research is the van't Hoff theory of osmotic pressure. Under this framework, the solute-solvent relationship largely contributes to the osmotic movement of fluid. The purpose of this study was to determine if albumin levels differed in Hispanics on dialysis with and without diabetes and if potential differences existed over time. Differences in diabetes incidence in Hispanics suggest albumin levels may be dissimilar. Albumin physiology is abundant in the literature; how and to what magnitude albumin levels are affected in patients with diabetes is unclear. This quantitative, retrospective cohort study employed ANOVA, Repeated Measures t tests, Spearman Correlation, and regression analysis to evaluate potential associations between the research variables. Data were extracted from CMS-2728 forms to amass the final cohort (N = 827). Differences in albumin levels at the first 2 intervals were observed (Baseline 1.29 -± 0.49 mg/dL, F = 2.28, p < .032; 3 months 0.47 -±0.41 mg/dL, F = 1.62, p < .004). Covariables (hypertension, peripheral vascular disease, and infections) were controlled for but showed inconclusive results. Lower serum albumin in Hispanic dialysis patients with diabetes provides the impetus for developing ethnic-specific albumin therapies, thus promoting positive social change.

Over 2 million adult men in the United States have been diagnosed with prostate cancer, with nearly 200,000 new diagnoses each year. This type of cancer is the leading cause of mortality in U.S. men. One possible risk factor for prostate cancer is a high level of iron in the body, but the association has yet to be confirmed. This study was an investigation of the relationship between serum iron concentration and prostate cancer using data obtained from the 2009-2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. This quantitative study involved 1,850 men in the U.S. aged 51 to 70 years. The framework for this research was based on the exposure-disease model. Participants' data were analyzed using chi-squared independence tests and hierarchical logistic regression, while controlling for demographic variables (body mass index, age, ethnicity, poverty-to-income ratio, educational attainment, and hours worked in the last week) to account for potential confounding effects. Serum iron concentration was not found to be significantly associated with prostate cancer diagnosis in this sample. Additional results indicated a significant association between age and prostate cancer, and between ethnicity and prostate cancer, confirming previous research findings. This study contributes to positive social change by confirming the importance of screening for prostate cancer among high-risk populations and by suggesting that it is premature to use serum iron concentration as a screening tool to detect prostate cancer.

This study was a follow-up of the Christiansen study which was completed in 1967. Dr. Christiansen's 26 subjects ranged in age from 33 to 60 years. Ten were designated as controls and the other 16 were placed on a high polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) diet for a period of 26 weeks . The purpose of doing a follow-up was to determine what effect the study had on present dietary patterns, serum lipid levels and rate of erythrocyte hemolysis. Eighteen of the original subjects participated in this study. Of these 18, nine were from the control group and nine were from the experimental group. There were nine women and nine men. The serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels, rate of erythrocyte hemolysis and blood pressure reading were determined. General health status and dietary pattern were determined through the use of a questionnaire. The results of the questionnaire indicate that the experimental diet of the original study had influenced the present diet of the study's subjects. The use of vegetable oils was increased and the consumption of eggs and whole milk was decreased. The study had little effect on the consumption of beef, pork, fish and chicken. The rate of erythrocyte hemolysis was greater for the control group (non-instructed) than for the experimental group (instructed). The mean values were 12. 65 and 9. 49 percent, respectively. The results indicate that there was no depletion of tocopherol levels due to continued use of PUFA. Serum triglyceride levels varied from 60 to 72 mg percent. Mean values for men were slightly higher than for the women. The means for the instructed and non-instructed groups were almost the same (6 7. 2 and 6 7. 0 mg percent, respectively). The cholesterol values ranged from 139 to 252 mg percent. The mean values were close to those at the end of the previous study (192 and 188 mg percent, respectively). There was no correlation between cholesterol values and the rate of erythrocyte hemolysis or triglyceride values.