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BACKGROUND: In 2016, 23% of children (155 million) aged [Formula: see text] were stunted. Global-level modeling has consistently found climate change impacts on food production are likely to impair progress on reducing undernutrition. OBJECTIVES: We adopt a new perspective, assessing how climate change may affect child stunting via its impacts on two interacting socioeconomic drivers: incomes of the poorest 20% of populations (due to climate impacts on crop production, health, labor productivity, and disasters) and food prices. METHODS: We developed a statistical model to project moderate and severe stunting in children aged [Formula: see text] at the national level in 2030 under low and high climate change scenarios combined with poverty and prosperity scenarios in 44 countries. RESULTS: We estimated that in the absence of climate change, 110 million children aged [Formula: see text] would be stunted in 2030 under the poverty scenario in comparison with 83 million under the prosperity scenario. Estimates of climate change-attributable stunting ranged from 570,000 under the prosperity/low climate change scenario to [Formula: see text] under the poverty/high climate change scenario. The projected impact of climate change on stunting was greater in rural vs. urban areas under both socioeconomic scenarios. In countries with lower incomes and relatively high food prices, we projected that rising prices would tend to increase stunting, whereas in countries with higher incomes and relatively low food prices, rising prices would tend to decrease stunting. These findings suggest that food prices that provide decent incomes to farmers alongside high employment with living wages will reduce undernutrition and vulnerability to climate change. CONCLUSIONS: Shifting the focus from food production to interactions between incomes and food price provides new insights. Futures that protect health should consider not just availability, accessibility, and quality of food, but also the incomes generated by those producing the food. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP2916.

In 2016, 23% of children (155 million) aged [Formula: see text] were stunted. Global-level modeling has consistently found climate change impacts on food production are likely to impair progress on reducing undernutrition.We adopt a new perspective, assessing how climate change may affect child stunting via its impacts on two interacting socioeconomic drivers: incomes of the poorest 20% of populations (due to climate impacts on crop production, health, labor productivity, and disasters) and food prices.We developed a statistical model to project moderate and severe stunting in children aged [Formula: see text] at the national level in 2030 under low and high climate change scenarios combined with poverty and prosperity scenarios in 44 countries.We estimated that in the absence of climate change, 110 million children aged [Formula: see text] would be stunted in 2030 under the poverty scenario in comparison with 83 million under the prosperity scenario. Estimates of climate change-attributable stunting ranged from 570,000 under the prosperity/low climate change scenario to [Formula: see text] under the poverty/high climate change scenario. The projected impact of climate change on stunting was greater in rural vs. urban areas under both socioeconomic scenarios. In countries with lower incomes and relatively high food prices, we projected that rising prices would tend to increase stunting, whereas in countries with higher incomes and relatively low food prices, rising prices would tend to decrease stunting. These findings suggest that food prices that provide decent incomes to farmers alongside high employment with living wages will reduce undernutrition and vulnerability to climate change.Shifting the focus from food production to interactions between incomes and food price provides new insights. Futures that protect health should consider not just availability, accessibility, and quality of food, but also the incomes generated by those producing the food. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP2916.

The biogeographic histories of parasites and pathogens are infrequently compared with those of free-living species, including their hosts. Documenting the frequency with which parasites and pathogens disperse across geographic regions contributes to understanding not only their evolution, but also the likelihood that they may become emerging infectious diseases. Haemosporidian parasites of birds (parasite generaPlasmodium,HaemoproteusandLeucocytozoon) are globally distributed, dipteran-vectored parasites. To date, over 2000 avian haemosporidian lineages have been designated by molecular barcoding methods. To achieve their current distributions, some lineages must have dispersed long distances, often over water. Here we quantify such events using the global avian haemosporidian database MalAvi and additional records primarily from the Americas. We scored lineages as belonging to one or more global biogeographic regions based on infection records. Most lineages were restricted to a single region but some were globally distributed. We also used part of the cytochromebgene to create genus-level parasite phylogenies and scored well-supported nodes as having descendant lineages in regional sympatry or allopatry. Descendant sister lineages ofPlasmodium,HaemoproteusandLeucocytozoonwere distributed in allopatry in 11, 16 and 15% of investigated nodes, respectively. Although a small but significant fraction of the molecular variance in cytochromebof all three genera could be explained by biogeographic region, global parasite dispersal likely contributed to the majority of the unexplained variance. Our results suggest that avian haemosporidian parasites have faced few geographic barriers to dispersal over their evolutionary history.

Urban populations living in informal settlements are inherently vulnerable to climate change, as informal settlements are characterized by overcrowding, poor-quality housing, lack of basic infrastructure, and poverty. Nevertheless, evidence of the associations among weather or climate and health in these populations is lacking, which severely constrains the design of climate change and disaster risk reduction adaptation strategies. To help fill this gap, this paper is a guide for researchers working on climate and health in informal settlements that summarizes key epidemiological methods and study designs commonly used in environmental health research. We focus on designs that have modest data requirements and that have been used successfully in resource-poor settings. The final section of the paper gives an overview of the current state of evidence about climate change and weather hazards in urban areas, as this is one of the main concerns for policymakers.

The drivers of regional parasite distributions are poorly understood, especially in comparison with those of free-living species. For vector-transmitted parasites, in particular, distributions might be influenced by host-switching and by parasite dispersal with primary hosts and vectors. We surveyed haemosporidian blood parasites (Plasmodium and Haemoproteus) of small land birds in eastern North America to characterize a regional parasite community. Distributions of parasite populations generally reflected distributions of their hosts across the region. However, when the interdependence between hosts and parasites was controlled statistically, local host assemblages were related to regional climatic gradients, but parasite assemblages were not. Moreover, because parasite assemblage similarity does not decrease with distance when controlling for host assemblages and climate, parasites evidently disperse readily within the distributions of their hosts. The degree of specialization on hosts varied in some parasite lineages over short periods and small geographic distances independently of the diversity of available hosts and potentially competing parasite lineages. Nonrandom spatial turnover was apparent in parasite lineages infecting one host species that was well-sampled within a single year across its range, plausibly reflecting localized adaptations of hosts and parasites. Overall, populations of avian hosts generally determine the geographic distributions of haemosporidian parasites. However, parasites are not dispersal-limited within their host distributions, and they may switch hosts readily.

心臓・腎臓など糖尿病性臓器障害の進展は, AMP活性化プロテインキナーゼ(AMPK)と小胞体ストレスが関与する. AMPKと小胞体ストレスは, 糖尿病性臓器障害における新治療薬の標的となりうることが示唆される. 糖尿病性腎症モデルの腎臓では酸化ストレス・炎症・線維化・脂肪沈着が亢進している. クルクミンはこれらを改善し, 安価な糖尿病腎症の予防薬・治療薬となりうることが示唆される., Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the leading cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in patients starting renal replacement therapy and affects ～ 40 % of type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients. Hyperglycemia plays a key role in the pathogenesis of long-term complications in diabetes mellitus. This process is influenced by individual susceptibility (i.e. genetic determinants) and by accelerating factors such as hypertension, inflammation and dyslipidemia, all of which are able to stimulate generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The increased of ROS production causes tissue damage through 4 major mechanisms: (1) increased flux of glucose and other sugars through the polyol pathway; (2) increased intracellular formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and its receptor; receptor for AGEs (RAGE) and its activating ligands; (3) activation of protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms; and (4) overactivity of the hexosamine pathway. The PKC signaling pathway is the postulate that has received the most attention lately. PKC activation is involved in the regulation of vascular permeability and contractility, endothelial cell activation and vasoconstriction, extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis and turnover, abnormal angiogenesis, excessive apoptosis, leucocyte adhesion, abnormal growth factor signaling and cytokine action, as well as abnormal cell growth and angiogenesis, all of which are involved in the pathophysiology of diabetic vascular complications. There is growing evidence that abnormal lipid metabolism and renal accumulation of lipids play a role in the pathogenesis of DN. Sterol regulatory elemen-binding proteins (SREBPs) are transcription factors that regulate fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis. SREBPs belong to basic helix-loop-helix-leucine zipper family and activate the entire program of fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis in liver. Currently, there are three SREBPs isoforms that have been identified and characterized, namely, SREBP-1a, SREBP-1c, and SREBP-2. Multiple lines of evidence suggest that SREBP-1 and SREBP-2 have different relative effects on target genes. SREBP-1 preferentially activates genes involved in fatty acid and triglyceride synthesis, including Acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and fatty acid synthase (FAS), whereas SREBP-2 preferentially activates genes involved in cholesterol biosynthesis such as hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA synthase, hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA reductase, farnesyl diphosphate synthase, and squalene synthase. It has been demonstrated that there is an inverse correlation between 5' Adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and SREBP-1c activity in hepatocytes and in livers of re-fed mice and ethanol-fed mice. In fact, AMPK is sufficient and necessary for the suppression of SREBP-1c proteolytic processing, nuclear translocation, and gene expression of target lipogenic enzymes in response to AMPK activators, such as polyphenols and metformin, in primary hepatocytes under conditions mimicking in vivo hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia. Curcumin is the major active constituent of turmeric, a yellow compound originally isolated from the plant Curcuma longa L. and has been used as a dietary spice and coloring agent in foods. It has a wide spectrum of biological and pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anti-obesity, and anticancer properties, prevents liver injury and kidney toxicity. We investigated the role of curcumin in experimental type 1 diabetic rats. Our results suggest that curcumin could ameliorate hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, inflammation and fibrosis in kidney tissues associated with DN which involved the dual blockade of both PKCα and PKCβ1 activities, reduced macrophage infiltration through the inhibition of NF-κB, and reduced renal triglyceride accumulation through the modulation of AMPK-SREBP pathway. Collectively, my present study provides data to support the role of curcumin in ameliorating DN in rats.

Background The longer term impact of flooding on health is poorly understood. In 2015, following widespread flooding in the UK during winter 2013/14, Public Health England launched the English National Study of Flooding and Health. The study identified a higher prevalence of probable psychological morbidity one year after exposure to flooding. We now report findings after two years. Methods In year two (2016), a self-assessment questionnaire including flooding-related exposures and validated instruments to screen for probable anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was sent to all participants who consented to further follow-up. Participants exposure status was categorised according to responses in year one; we assessed for exposure to new episodes of flooding and continuing flood-related problems in respondents homes. We calculated the prevalence and odds ratio for each outcome by exposure group relative to unaffected participants, adjusting for confounders. We used the McNemar test to assess change in outcomes between year one and year two. Results In year two, 1064 (70%) people responded. The prevalence of probable psychological morbidity remained elevated amongst flooded participants [n = 339] (depression 10.6%, anxiety 13.6%, PTSD 24.5%) and disrupted participants [n = 512] (depression 4.1%, anxiety 6.4%, PTSD 8.9%), although these rates were reduced compared to year one. A greater reduction in anxiety 7.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 4.6–9.9) was seen than depression 3.8% (95% CI 1.5–6.1) and PTSD: 6.6% (95% CI 3.9–9.2). Exposure to flooding was associated with a higher odds of anxiety (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 5.2 95%, 95% CI 1.7–16.3) and depression (aOR 8.7, 95% CI 1.9–39.8) but not PTSD. Exposure to disruption caused by flooding was not significantly associated with probable psychological morbidity. Persistent damage in the home as a consequence of the original flooding event was reported by 119 participants (14%). The odds of probable psychological morbidity amongst flooded participants who reported persistent damage, compared with those who were unaffected, were significantly higher than the same comparison amongst flooded participants who did not report persistent damage. Conclusions This study shows a continuance of probable psychological morbidity at least two years following exposure to flooding. Commissioners and providers of health and social care services should be aware that the increased need in populations may be prolonged. Efforts to resolve persistent damage to homes may reduce the risk of probable psychological morbidity. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12889-018-5236-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Native Galapagos bird species show varying colonization histories, with lineages representing a wide age distribution and various geographic origins. Of the taxa studied, founding lineages arrived from less than 300,000 years ago (e.g., Band-rumped Storm Petrel, hawk) up to 2.0–5.5 million years ago (e.g., dove, finches, mockingbirds). Some of these earlier lineages reached Galapagos before the youngest of the current islands formed, so they must have first colonized what are now the eastern islands. While the exact origin of colonizing lineages cannot always be determined, all the native land birds studied originated from the New World, where their closest living sister taxa breed. The closest related lineages to Galapagos seabirds are generally found elsewhere in the Pacific Ocean. Galapagos species vary in their diversification patterns post-colonization, with factors such as life history traits, island geology, and trade winds affecting the genetic patterns described. The mockingbirds and Darwin’s finches radiated into multiple species, while most others have not, probably due to high rates of gene flow (e.g., dove) or lack of time since colonization (e.g., hawks, warblers). Humans were responsible for the introduction of 12 bird species to Galapagos, as well as the introduction of invasive invertebrates, parasites, and pathogens, which pose a serious threat to native Galapagos fauna. Continued research into colonization histories and evolutionary units of native lineages will aid our understanding of host-parasite interactions and better inform conservation management decisions.

Colonization comprises the physical arrival of a species in a new area, but also its successful establishment within the local community. Oceanic islands, like the Hawaiian and the Galapagos archipelagos, represent excellent systems to study the mechanisms of colonization because of their historical isolation. In this chapter, we first review some of the major mechanisms by which parasites and vectors could arrive to an oceanic island, both naturally or due to human activities, and the factors that may influence their successful establishment in the insular host community. We then explore examples of natural and anthropogenic colonization of the Galapagos Islands by parasites and vectors, focusing on one or more case studies that best represent the diversity of colonization mechanisms that has shaped parasite distribution in the archipelago. Finally, we discuss future directions for research on parasite and vector colonization in Galapagos Islands.

The student worksheet that is currently used generally contain material and questions. A student worksheet is only used on certain materials, so it has not been an effective teaching material. This research aims to develop guided inquiry-based worksheets to improve the ability of Scientific literacy in straight-motion material. The method used in this study is research and development. The research design used in this development refers to Lee and Owens with stages consisting of analyzing, design, development, implementation, evaluation. The worksheet developed has very high validity. This can be seen based on the average score on the material expert test of 0.90 with very high validity criteria and the design expert test obtained an average score of 0.90 with very high validity criteria. Based on the readability test obtained an average score of 0.85 with a very good category. The worksheets developed have been able to improve students’ scientific literacy abilities. This can be seen from the n-gain test results of 0.8 with high criteria, and sig values. in the paired sample t-test of 0,000. Teachers and students also give a good response to the worksheet. The conclusions of this study are valid guided inquiry-based worksheets to improve students’ literacy skills.

The numerical ability of students needs to be mastered because it relates to speed and accuracy in using basic functions in calculating basic mathematical operations. This study aims to determine the impact of the Group Investigation (GI) learning model on numerical ability. The research method used is Quasi Experimental using a quantitative approach. The instrument used in the form of essay test questions. The data used are the results of the post-test analysed with T test. Based on the data obtained Tcount= 5,849 and Ttable= 2,005 because Tcount≥ Ttableit means that the numerical ability of students taught with GI learning model is better than the numerical ability of students who were given conventional learning model so it can be concluded that, Group Investigation (GI) learning model has a good impact on students’ numerical ability.

In the process of identifying seafloor objects, the hydroacoustic method using 2 beams, namely ports and starboards in side scan sonar instruments is a very efficient and renewable method in its field, especially in the hydrographic field. This study was carried out at December 2016 on Punggur waters, Indonesia (104°05.6103 E, 1°04.3226 N until 1°03.3977 N 104°07.9100 E, 1°02.2866 N). The side scan sonar used when recording seabed images in this study uses one frequency, 325 325 kHz covering surface around 4.72 km in Punggur waters, Indonesia. The ship navigates using GPS Trimble 361, which is corrected using beacons, with data retrieval activities when the waves are calm. The gain produced by the side scan sonar instrument will have a relationship that will not be the same at every seabed data collection location. Side scan sonar uses a Baudrate value of 19200 and with a value of 8 bits with a maximum Gain value of 8 dB. Highest result of the time is 13568 cm/second and 104.325 cm in line trace object 4 of side scan sonar imagery. Highest result of line trace is target 1 with 191.88 cm on object 1, and highest of time result is 13568 cm/second on object 4.

The study aimed to prove the implementation of Problem Based Learning (PBL) model having better achievement than conventional model in improving students’ mathematic connection competence. The method used is qualitative with control group doing pretest and posttest. Population of the study were X year students of vocational school in Kabupaten Sukoharjo. The sample was X year students of SMK Pelayaran Pancasila Kartasura. Instrument used was test of mathematical connection ability. The result showed that with significance level α = 0,05 showed that Problem Based Learning (PBL) model was better significantly than conventional learning model to improve students’ mathematic connection ability.

Meru Betiri National Park (TNMB) has five forest formation, e.g. coastal forest, mangrove forest, swamp forest, rheophyte, and lowland rain forest. The study aims to analyze vegetation structure and composition on Rafflesia zollingeriana habitat and to map the distribution of trees in TNMB. Vegetation data, diameter at breast height, and canopy height obtained by using line-transect method and analyzed using vegetation analysis. The sampling method used purposive sampling. TNMB had 64 trees species with 1,366 seedlings and saplings, 257 poles, and 183 trees. Pancal kidang (Aglaia variegata) had the highest Important Value Index (IVI) amounting to 32.46%. The result showed that the community similarity index (IS) in two sample plots was 86.86%. Tetrastigma spp. is a liana as a host of Rafflesia zollingeriana, and only found pancal kidang, besuleh, welangan, magnolia flower, laban, and rauh trees.

Mathematic connection is part mathematic thinking competence meant as the interrelationship of mathematic concept internally. The study aimed to investigate the students’ profile of managed mathematic conection in SMK Pelayaran. The study was qualitative with test method. The subject of the study was ten class year student consisting of three persons having different mathematic connection competence in SMK Pelayaran. The result of the study that students having high managed mathematic connection competence had characteristics of: 1) Able to identify problem other to mathematic concept, 2) able to identify concepts mathematic, 3) able to apply mathematic outside of mathematic context, 4) Able to determine basic mathematic to solve the problems, 5) able to understand mathematic concept was interrelated. Students with managed mathematic concept competence had characteristics of: 1) able to identify in other to mathematic concept, 2) able to identify concepts in mathematics, 3) able to apply mathematic outside mathematics context, 4) Able determine mathematic concepts. Low competence of mathematic connection students had characteristics: 1) not able to identify in other to mathematic, 2) unable to identify concepts in mathematics, 3) less ability in applying mathematic outside mathematics context . 4) Unable determine mathematic concept.

Introduction Les hyponatremies sont frequentes au cours de l’insuffisance renale aigue et peuvent entrainer des troubles neurologiques compliquant le tableau clinique. Methodes Nous avons recense les insuffisances renales aigues au niveau des differents services hospitaliers, pour lesquels le nephrologue est sollicite. Le recueil des donnees est effectue au cours du rapport de garde. La saisie est realisee sur logiciel SPSS par une meme personne pendant une periode de 6 mois. Le travail est supervise par un senior. Resultats obtenus ou attendus Nous avons recense toutes les insuffisances renales aigues au niveau des differents services hospitaliers. Le nombre etait de 1127 sur une periode de deux ans, les hypernatremiques representaient 15,1 % des cas alors que les hyponatremiques 55,9 %. L’age des hyponatemiques est de 65,2 ± 16,3 ans avec des extremes de 20 a 96 ans, 58 % ont plus de 65 ans. Il s’agit de164 hommes vs 147 femmes. Les diabetiques et/ou cardiopathes correspondaient a 62 % des cas, alors que les cancereux 17,5 %. Une hyponatremie severe Conclusion L’hyponatremie participe a la gravite du tableau d’insuffisance renale aigue. Les comorbidites associees, l’âge avance representent des facteurs predisposant a une hyponatremie de depletion ou plutot de dilution qui imposent une evaluation adequate du volume extra-cellulaire en consequence une correction efficace.

We aimed: – to determine the frequency of high blood pressure in the elderly at different stages of chronic renal failure and; – to evaluate the antihypertensive therapeutic treatment in a nephrology environment. Patients and methods The patients were recruited in the consultation of nephrology; we included hypertensive subject aged of more than 65 years old followed by nephrologists. 292 patients were included: 53% women and 47% men, with an average age of 76.52 ± 6.45 years [66-97]. The average duration of the follow-up was 1.69 ± 0.94 years [1–5]. The duration of arterial hypertension was more than 10 years in 55% of cases. The patients were at different stages of renal failure: chronic incipient, chronic renal failure 4%, moderate 54% and severe to terminal renal failure 42%. Results Several pathologies were associated with arterial hypertension, namely: 50.3% of patients were diabetic, 39.2% had a cardiovascular pathology (22% AC/FA, 16% valve pathology, 31% heart failure, 31% IDM% sequels), 36% of patients had dyslipidemia and 25% had neoplasia. Antihypertensive quadritherapy was needed in 4% of cases, triple therapy in 22% of cases, dual therapy in 50% and single therapy in 24% of patients. The diuretics of the loop represents the most prescribed therapeutic class (63%), followed by blockers of the renin angiotensin system (47.5%), calcium channel blockers (24%), while the beta-blockers (23%) were often prescribed by the cardiologist. Conclusion Older patients with renal pathology are often hypertensive. Hypertensive therapeutic management must be adequate to slowdown the progression of chronic renal failure as well as the worsening of other associated pathologies.

Waqf is an Islamic philanthrophy instrument that can be used as a source of funds for Muslims. Indonesia as a country that has the largest Muslim population in the world, but in practice the realization of the optimization of the potential and utilization of waqf funds in Indonesia is still low, while Singapore which is a minority Muslim is able to utilize waqf funds optimally and productively. The priority of regulatory issues is less supportive, because regulation is the basis or legal basis for the management of waqf. The purpose of this research is to compare the regulation and management of waqf management in Indonesia and Singapore, so that the implications of this research result can be used as input for the development of waqf management in Indonesia. The research method used is descriptive qualitative approach and a statute approach. The results of this research is waqf regulation in Indonesia contained in Law No. 41 of 2004 and Government Regulation Number 42 of 2006 as implementing regulations. Waqf regulations in Singapore are found in the Administration of Muslim Law Act (AMLA) in the Act. No. 27 of 1966. Most of the management of waqf in Indonesia is still on the property of waqf not moving like land, but in its development Indonesia is developing waqf of movable property (cash waqf). The management in the development of productive waqf in Singapore uses istibdal method which is applied in various forms to make waqf assets have high value and are productive. Keywords: Waqf, Regulation, Management

The potential of Drug-Drug Interactions (DDI) in prescription have high incidence around the world, including Indonesia. However, scientific evidence regarding DDI in Indonesia is not available. Therefore, in this study we have conducted survey in 2 pharmacies in Bandung against pediatric prescription given by pediatrician. These prescriptions then analyzed the potential for DDI contained in the prescription and clinical manifestation. The analysis showed that in pharmacy A, there are 33 prescriptions (from a total of 155 prescriptions) that have potential DDI, or approximately 21.19% (2 prescriptions have the potential DDI major categories, 23 prescriptions categorized as moderate, and 8 prescriptions as minor). In Pharmacy B, there are 6 prescriptions (from a total of 40 prescriptions) or 15% of potential DDI (4 prescriptions categorized as moderate and 2 prescriptions as minor). This result showed that potential DDI happened less than 50% in pediatric prescription from both pharmacies. However, this should get attention because DDI should not happen in a prescription considering its clinical manifestations caused by DDI. Moreover, current pharmaceutical care refers to patient oriented than product oriented. In addition, further study for the pediatric prescription on DDI incidence in large scale need to be investigated.

Haemosporidian parasites in the genus Plasmodium were recently detected through molecular screening in the Galapagos Penguin (Spheniscus mendiculus). We summarized results of an archipelago-wide screen of 3726 endemic birds representing 22 species for Plasmodium spp. through a combination of molecular and microscopy techniques. Three additional Plasmodium lineages were present in Galapagos. Lineage A–infected penguins, Yellow Warblers (Setophaga petechia aureola), and one Medium Ground Finch (Geospiza fortis) was detected at multiple sites in multiple years. The other 3 lineages were each detected at one site and at one time; apparently, they were transient infections of parasites not established on the archipelago. No gametocytes were found in blood smears of infected individuals; thus, endemic Galapagos birds may be dead-end hosts for these Plasmodium lineages. Determining when and how parasites and pathogens arrive in Galapagos is key to developing conservation strategies to prevent and mitigate the effects of introduced diseases. To assess the potential for Plasmodium parasites to arrive via migratory birds, we analyzed blood samples from 438 North American breeding Bobolinks (Dolichonyx oryzivorus), the only songbird that regularly migrates through Galapagos. Two of the ephemeral Plasmodium lineages (B and C) found in Galapagos birds matched parasite sequences from Bobolinks. Although this is not confirmation that Bobolinks are responsible for introducing these lineages, evidence points to higher potential arrival rates of avian pathogens than previously thought. Linajes Multiples de Parasitos de Malaria Aviar (Plasmodium) en las Islas Galapagos y Evidencia de su Arribo por Medio de Aves Migratorias Resumen Parasitos de la familia Haemosporidia, del genero Plasmodium recientemente fueron detectados por medio de analisis moleculares en el pinguino de las Galapagos (Spheniscus mendiculus). Resumimos los resultados de un analisis, extendido a lo largo del archipielago, de 3726 aves endemicas representando a 22 especies para Plasmodium spp. mediante la combinacion de tecnicas moleculares y de microscopia. Tres linajes adicionales de Plasmodium estuvieron presentes en las Galapagos. El linaje A infecto pinguinos, individuos Setophaga petechia aureola y a un individuo de Geospiza fortis en sitios multiples y en varios anos. Los otros 3 linajes fueron detectados cada uno en un sitio y en un tiempo especifico; aparentemente, fueron infecciones transitorias de parasitos no establecidos en el archipielago. No se encontraron gametocitos en los frotis de sangre de individuos infectados; por esto, las aves endemicas de las Galapagos pueden ser hospederos finales de estos linajes de Plasmodium. Determinar cuando y como llegaron los parasitos y los patogenos a las Galapagos es clave para desarrollar estrategias de conservacion para prevenir y mitigar los efectos de las enfermedades introducidas. Para evaluar el potencial de llegada de Plasmodium en aves migratorias, analizamos muestras de sangre de 438 Dolichonyx oryzivorus en epoca reproductiva. Esta ave es la unica canora que migra regularmente a traves de las Galapagos. Dos de los linajes efimeros de Plasmodium (B y C) que se hallaron en las aves de las Galapagos coincidieron con secuencias de parasitos del ave canora. Aunque esto no confirma que Dolichonyx oryzivorus sea responsable de introducer estos linajes, la evidencia apunta a un potencial mas alto de tasas de llegada de patogenos aviares de lo que se pensaba previamente.

BACKGROUND: Extensive flooding occurred during the winter of 2013-14 in England. Previous studies have shown that flooding affects mental health. Using data from the 2013-14 Public Health England National Study of Flooding and Health, we compared the prevalence of symptoms of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder between participants displaced by flooding and those flooded, but not displaced, 1 year after flooding. METHODS: In this multivariable ordinal regression analysis, we collected data from a cross-sectional survey collected 1 year after the flooding event from flood-affected postcodes in five counties in England. The analysis was restricted to individuals whose homes were flooded (n=622) to analyse displacement due to flooding. The primary outcome measures were depression (measured by the PHQ-2 depression scale) and anxiety (measured by the two-item Generalised Anxiety Disorder [GAD]-2 anxiety scale), and post-traumatic stress disorder (measured by the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist [PCL]-6 scale). We adjusted analyses for recorded potential confounders. We also analysed duration of displacement and amount of warning received. FINDINGS: People who were displaced from their homes were significantly more likely to have higher scores on each scale; odds ratio (OR) for depression 1·95 (95% CI 1·30-2·93), for anxiety 1·66 (1·12-2·46), and for post-traumatic stress disorder 1·70 (1·17-2·48) than people who were not displaced. The increased risk of depression was significant even after adjustment for severity of flooding. Scores for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder were higher in people who were displaced and reported receiving no warning than those who had received a warning more than 12 h in advance of flooding (p=0·04 for depression, p=0·01 for post-traumatic stress disorder), although the difference in anxiety scores was not significant. INTERPRETATION: Displacement after flooding was associated with higher reported symptoms of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder 1 year after flooding. The amount of warning received showed evidence of being protective against symptoms of the three mental illnesses studied, and the severity of flooding might be the reason for some, but not all, of the differences between the groups. FUNDING: National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Units (HPRU) in Emergency Preparedness and Response at King's College London, Environmental Change and Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and Evaluation of Interventions at the University of Bristol, Public Health England.

Vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) is a common condition in which no standard treatment has been approved. VCI is often accompanied by behavioral problems which require psychiatric interventions. The common therapeutic agent used for the acute management is antipsychotic injections. Current findings showed that atypical antipsychotic possess better safety profile for treating behavioral problems related to VCI compared to typical antipsychotic. In this study, we induced VCI in Sprague Dawley rats between 6-8 weeks old using bilateral carotid communist artery occlusion technique. The subjects were divided into 4 treatment groups: sham, olanzapine, haloperidol, and risperidone groups. Subjects received intramuscular injections of subsequent drugs for 3 days post VCI induction. Impulsive behavior and object recognition were examined using cliff jumping test and novel object recognition test. The analyses results showed that impulsive behavior was lower in the olanzapine and haloperidol groups compared to sham group, although it was not statistically significant (p = 0.651). The results also showed that there were no significant differences in the time spent exploring old and novel objects in all groups (p = 0.945;0.637 respectively). In conclusion, antipsychotic injection might not be effective to control impulsive behavior post VCI induction.

Background There is limited data about ICU, short and long-term mortality prediction of severe CAP with neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR): N-terminal proB- type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP): C-reactive protein (CRP). Aim Besides the known severity indexes of ICU, can NLR, NT-proBNP, CRP predict ICU, short and long term mortality? Methods A retrospective cohort study was carried out in a level III ICU of a tertiary training hospital for chest diseases and thoracic surgery. Results Over the study period, a total of 143 patients were enrolled in the study. The APACHE II scoring showed a significantly higher predicting performance for ICU mortality (p = 0.002). The performance for predicting short term mortality NLR (p = 0.039) and long term mortality NTproBNP (p = 0.002) had a significantly higher performance. The survival analysis revealed that mortality was significantly higher in patients with CURB65 score ≥ 4 (p = 0.047). Conclusion NLR, NTproBNP > 2000pg/mL can be used to predict pneumonia severity in ICU alike CURB65 and PSI. Higher NLR, APACHE II and atrial fibrillation can cause an important mortality factor in long term. Consequently, clinicians should take an attention for good cardiac evaluation and cardiac follow-up of patients with CAP (Tab. 4, Fig. 3, Ref. 36).

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF, OMIM 249100) is the most common hereditary fever, resulting from mutations in MEFV. FMF is characterized by episodic febrile attacks and polyserositis. Renal AA-amyloidosis is a major complication, which often leads to end-stage renal disease in untreated patients. The data about the renal AA-amyloidosis secondary to FMF are scarce in North African countries and non-existent in Algeria. We aimed to investigate the MEFV mutations associated with this complication in an Algerian patient cohort. Molecular analysis included 28 unrelated Algerian FMF patients with ascertained amyloidosis, 23 of them were symptomatic and 5 were asymptomatic. For this study, a group of 20 FMF patients without renal amyloidosis were selected as controls according to their age, disease onset and disease duration. The mutations were detected by sequencing exon 10 of MEFV. A total of 87.5% (49/56) mutant alleles were identified in 27/28 analyzed patients; p.M694I was predominant and appeared with an allele frequency of 62.5%, followed by p.M694V (17.85%), p.M680I (5.35%) and p.I692Del (1.78%). Remarkably, only p.M694I mutation was observed among the asymptomatic patients. The M694I/M694I genotype, identified in 14/27 (52%) patients, was significantly associated with the development of amyloidosis compared to group of controls (p = 0.022). This study did not link the M694V/M694V genotype to the renal complication despite the fact that it has been observed only in the patients with amyloidosis (3/27; 11%) (p = 0.349). The association of other identified genotypes to this complication was statistically insignificant. The progression of amyloidosis led to end-stage renal disease in 14 patients with 6 deaths. This study shows that p.M694I homozygosity is a potential genetic risk factor for the development of renal AA-amyloidosis in Algerian FMF patients.

Le rhumatisme psoriasique est une des formes les plus fréquentes de spondylarthropathies. Les manifestations articulaires peuvent précéder, accompagner ou suivre la dermatose quelle que soit la forme clinique. La forme périphérique représente 70% des cas, le plus souvent féminine sans association avec l’antigène HLAB27. Les manifestations rachidiennes sont plus fréquentes chez les hommes avec une association à l’antigène HLA B27 dans 50% des cas posant un problème de diagnostic différentiel avec la spondylarthrite ankylosante. Nous rapportons le cas d’une insuffisance rénale chronique dans un tableau d’atteinte articulaire diffuse avec limitation douloureuse des articulations et boiterie à la marche chez un patient aux antécédents de psoriasis. Une ponction biopsie rénale retrouve un aspect histopathologique d’amylose glomérulaire et vasculaire. La négativité des facteurs rhumatoïdes, la présence de l’antigène HLAB27 et l’aspect radiologique typique de spondylarthropathies permettent de retenir le diagnostic de rhumatisme psoriasique.

Aim To discover the origins of the lice, haemosporidian parasites and feather mites found on or in Galapagos flycatchers (Myiarchus magnirostris), by testing whether they colonized the islands with the ancestors of M. magnirostris or if they were acquired by M. magnirostris after its arrival in the Galapagos Islands. Location The Galapagos Islands (Ecuador) and north-western Costa Rica. Methods We collected lice, feather mites and blood samples from M. magnirostris on seven of the Galapagos Islands (n = 254), and from its continental sister species, M. tyrannulus, in Costa Rica (n = 74), and identified them to species level using traditional taxonomy and DNA sequencing. Results The blood parasites from the two bird species were different: Plasmodium was found only in M. tyrannulus, while a few individuals of M. magnirostris were infected by Haemoproteus multipigmentatus from Galapagos doves (Zenaida galapagoensis). Myiarchus tyrannulus was parasitized by three louse species, two of which (Ricinus marginatus and Menacanthus distinctus) were also found on Myiarchus magnirostris. We also collected one louse specimen from M. magnirostris, which was identified as Brueelia interposita, a species commonly found on finches and yellow warblers from the Galapagos, but never recorded on M. tyrannulus. The richness of mite species was lower for M. magnirostris than for M. tyrannulus; all mite species or genera from M. magnirostris were also sampled on M. tyrannulus, but M. tyrannulus had two additional mite species. Main conclusions Our results revealed that two of the louse and three of the mite species we found on M. magnirostris are likely to have come to the archipelago with these birds’ colonizing ancestors, but that one louse and one haemosporidian species were acquired from the Galapagos bird community after the arrival of the M. magnirostris lineage. We also confirmed that, for closely related hosts, island mite richness was lower than on the continent.

Scope We hypothesized that curcumin, by increasing the expression of nuclear factor-erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), could reduce oxidative stress, inflammation, and renal fibrosis in remnant kidney. Methods and results Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to 5/6 nephrectomy and randomly assigned to untreated (Nx), curcumin-treated (75 mg/kg/day, orally), and telmisartan-treated groups (10 mg/kg/day, orally; as positive control). Sham-operated rats also served as controls. Five/sixth nephrectomy caused renal dysfunction, as evidenced by elevated proteinuria, blood urea nitrogen, and plasma creatinine, and decreased creatinine clearance that were ameliorated by curcumin or telmisartan treatment. The Nx rats demonstrated reduced Nrf2 protein expression, whereas the Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 was upregulated and heme oxygenase-1 level was significantly diminished. Consequently, Nx animals had significantly higher kidney malondialdehyde concentration and lower glutathione peroxidase activity, which was associated with the upregulation of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphatase oxidase subunit (p67phox and p22phox), NF-kappaB p65, TNF-α, TGF-β1, cyclooxygenase-2, and fibronectin accumulation in remnant kidney. Interestingly, all of these changes were ameliorated by curcumin or telmisartan. Conclusion These findings demonstrate that, by modulating Nrf2-Keap1 pathway, the curcumin effectively attenuates oxidative stress, inflammation, and renal fibrosis, which suggest that curcumin hold promising potential for safe treatment of chronic kidney disease.

The development of diabetic cardiomyopathy is accompanied with a high membrane-bound protein kinase C (PKC) levels. Curcumin is a naturally occurring compound which is known to inhibit PKC activity. However, the effects of curcumin on ameliorating diabetic cardiomyopathy are still undefined. We evaluated whether curcumin treatment is associated with the modulation of PKC-α and -β₂-mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway in experimental diabetic cardiomyopathy. Diabetes was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats by streptozotocin (STZ). Curcumin (100mg/kg/day) was started three weeks after STZ injection and was given for 8 weeks. We demonstrate that curcumin significantly prevented diabetes-induced translocation of PKC-α and -β2 to membranous fraction and diabetes-induced increased phosphorylation of p38MAPK and extracellular regulated-signal kinase (ERK)1/2 in left ventricular tissues of diabetic rats. Curcumin treatment also markedly decreased NAD(P)H oxidase subunits (p67phox, p22phox, gp91phox), growth factors (transforming growth factor-β, osteopontin) and myocyte enhancer factor-2 protein expression as well as inhibited NF-κB activity at nuclear level. Furthermore, curcumin decreased the mRNA expression of transcriptional coactivator p300 and atrial natriuretic peptide, decreased accumulation of ECM protein and reversed the increment of superoxide production in left ventricular tissues, as evidenced by dihydroethidium staining. It is also significantly lowered plasma glucose and attenuated oxidative stress, as determined by lipid peroxidation and activity of anti-oxidant enzyme, and as a result attenuated cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, myocardial fibrosis and left ventricular dysfunction. Taken together, it is suggested that curcumin by inhibiting PKC-α and -β₂-MAPK pathway may be useful as an adjuvant therapy for the prevention of diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Edaravone, a novel antioxidant, acts by trapping hydroxyl radicals, quenching active oxygen and so on. Its cardioprotective activity against experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM) was reported. Nevertheless, it remains to be determined whether edaravone protects against cardiac remodelling in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). The present study was undertaken to assess whether edaravone attenuates myocardial fibrosis, and examine the effect of edaravone on cardiac function in rats with DCM after EAM. Rat model of EAM was prepared by injection with porcine cardiac myosin 28 days after immunization, we administered edaravone intraperitoneally at 3 and 10 mg/kg/day to rats for 28 days. The results were compared with vehicle-treated rats with DCM. Cardiac function, by haemodynamic and echocardiographic study and histopathology were performed. Left ventricular (LV) expression of NADPH oxidase subunits (p47(phox), p67(phox), gp91(phox) and Nox4), fibrosis markers (TGF-β(1) and OPN), endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress markers (GRP78 and GADD 153) and apoptosis markers (cytochrome C and caspase-3) were measured by Western blotting. Edaravone-treated DCM rats showed better cardiac function compared with those of the vehicle-treated rats. In addition, LV expressions of NADPH oxidase subunits levels were significantly down-regulated in edaravone-treated rats. Furthermore, the number of collagen-III positive cells in the myocardium of edaravone-treated rats was lower compared with those of the vehicle-treated rats. Our results suggest that edaravone ameliorated the progression of DCM by modulating oxidative and ER stress-mediated myocardial apoptosis and fibrosis.

The aim of this study was to estimate genetic and phenotypic trends for growth traits including birth (BW), weaning (WW) and yearling weight (YW) in Bali cattle. The number of cattle used to determine growth traits of BW, WW, and YW were 235, 215, and 178 heads, respectively. Estimation of breeding value, phenotypic and genetic correlation were calculated by Restricted Maximum Likelihood and General Linier Model (GLM) procedures, respectively. Genetic trends analysis was performed using the regression mean breeding values on birth year. Phenotypic and genetic correlation among BW and WW were 0.10 and 0.08 respectively and 0.90 and 0.70 for WW and YW respectively. The phenotypic trends for traits of birth and weaning weight were constant, whereas yearling weight was fluctuating from 2000 to 2008. Likewise, in the case of genetic trends, the birth and weaning weight were constant from 2000 to 2008 except for WW in 2005, whereas the genetic trends for yearling weight showed a fluctuation of wide range. According to the breeding value estimated for all traits, the best was the sire No. 0565, whose breeding value for BW, WW and YW were +0.07, +2.79, and +10.25 kg, respectively higher than the mean value of the population. The genetic trends showed that there have been a significant and positive genetic improvement in all growth traits and indicate that selection would be effective. Genetic correlation between WW and YW was high (0.70) which indicates that the selection on weaning weight might also increase yearling weight in Bali cattle.

BackgroundClimate change is expected to have significant effects on human health, partly through an increase in extreme events such as heatwaves. People with mental illness may be at particular risk.AimsTo estimate risk conferred by high ambient temperature on patients with psychosis, dementia and substance misuse.MethodWe applied time-series regression analysis to data from a nationally representative primary care cohort study. Relative risk of death per 1° increase in temperature was calculated above a threshold.ResultsPatients with mental illness showed an overall increase in risk of death of 4.9% (95% CI 2.0–7.8) per 1° increase in temperature above the 93rd percentile of the annual temperature distribution. Younger patients and those with a primary diagnosis of substance misuse demonstrated greatest mortality risk.ConclusionsThe increased risk of death during hot weather in patients with psychosis, dementia and substance misuse has implications for public health strategies during heatwaves.

Mulberry is commonly used as silkworm diet and an alternative medicine in Japan and China, has recently reported to contain many antioxidative flavanoid compounds and having the free radical scavenging effects. Antioxidants reduce cardiac oxidative stress and attenuate cardiac dysfunction in animals with pacing-induced congestive heart failure. Hence we investigated the cardioprotective effect of mulberry leaf powder in rats with experimental autoimmune myocarditis. Eight-week-old Lewis rats immunized with cardiac myosin were fed with either normal chow or a diet containing 5% mulberry leaf powder and were examined on day 21. ML significantly decreased oxidative stress, myocyte apoptosis, cellular infiltration, cardiac fibrosis, mast cell density, myocardial levels of sarco/endo-plasmic reticulum Ca(2+) ATPase2, p22(phox), receptor for advanced glycation end products, phospho-p38 mitogen activated protein kinase, phospho-c-Jun NH(2)-terminal protein kinase, glucose regulated protein78, caspase12 and osteopontin levels in EAM rats. These results may suggest that mulberry diet can preserve the cardiac function in experimental autoimmune myocarditis by modulating oxidative stress induced MAPK activation and further afford protection against endoplasmic reticulum stress mediated apoptosis.

There is evidence that the activation of renal angiotensin (Ang)-II plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of diabetic kidney diseases (DN) via the ER stress-induced renal apoptosis. Since, the potential negative role of Ang-II in the pathogenesis of ER stress-mediated apoptosis is poorly understood; we evaluated whether treatment of mice with AT-1R specific blocker, olmesartan is associated with the reduction of ER stress-induced renal apoptosis in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic animal model. We employed western blot analysis to measure the renal protein expressions level of NADPH oxidase subunits, ER chaperone GRP78 and the ER-associated apoptosis proteins. Furthermore, TUNEL staining was used to measure the renal apoptosis. Additionally, dihydroethidium staining and TBARS assay, and immunohistochemistry were performed to measure the renal superoxide radical production and lipid peroxidation, and activation of an Ang-II, respectively. The diabetic kidney mice were found to have increased protein expressions of NADPH oxidase subunits, GRP78 and ER-associated apoptosis proteins, such as TRAF2, IRE-1α, CHOP, p-JNK and procaspase-12, in comparison to normal mice, and which were significantly blunted by the olmesartan treatment in diabetic kidney mice. Furthermore, the diabetic kidney mice were found to have significant increment in renal apoptosis, superoxide radical production, MDA level and activation of an Ang-II and which were also attenuated by the olmesartan treatment. Considering all the findings, it is suggested that the AT-1R specific blocker-olmesartan treatment could be a potential therapy in treating ER stress-induced renal apoptosis via the modulation of AT-1R/CHOP-JNK-Caspase12 pathway in STZ-induced diabetic mice.

The aim of this study was to evaluate genetic analysis including heritability and further phenotypic and genetic trends of reproductive traits in Bali cattle. Reproductive traits studied were age at first calving (AFC), calving interval (CI) and pregnancy rate (PR). Data of reproductive traits were collected from Breeding Centre of Bali Cattle, Denpasar-Bali at the year period of 2000-2007. To evaluate the genetic analysis, heritability were estimated using the Mixed Model Least Squares and Maximum Likelihood procedure. The phenotypic and genetic trends were calculated using regression equation. Estimation of heritability for AFC, CI and PR were 0.22, 0.41 and 0.40, respectively. The phenotypic trend of AFC, CI and PR decreased at an average rate of 1.70 month, 10.4 days and 0.75% per year, respectively. The same pattern was showed for genetic trends for AFC, CI and PR decreased at 0.38 month, 4.25 days and 0.30% per year respectively in the same period. The heritability of reproduction traits in Bali cattle were considered as moderate to high (0.22-0.41) which means that the selection program will be more effective and efficient in improving the genetic merits in Bali cattle.

The aim of this study was to evaluate effect of non genetic factors on reproductive performance of Bali cattle. Data on reproduction performance were collected from Breeding Centre of Bali Cattle in Denpasar-Bali. Reproductive traits studied were age at first calving (AFC), calving interval (CI) and pregnancy rate (PR). To observe the effect of non genetic factors on the reproductive traits, a mixed model was used because all of the traits studied were measured repeatedly in individuals. The overall means for AFC, CI, PR and preweaning mortality were 43.86±0.70 months, 360.93±4.47 days, 88.44±1.91% and 7.58±1.07%, respectively. The results showed that AFC and PR were significantly (P0.05) effect. With regard to CI, dam year of birth and parity affected CI while mating system had no significantly affect (P>0.05) on CI. The preweaning mortality was only affected by the age of dam significantly (P

Oxidative stress has been strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic encephalopathy (DE). Numerous studies have demonstrated a close relationship between oxidative stress and AMPK activation in various disorders, including diabetes-related brain disorders. Since curcumin has powerful antioxidant properties, this study investigated its effects on hyperglycaemia-mediated oxidative stress and AMPK activation in rats with DE. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ-55 mg/kg BW). The diabetic rats were then orally administered curcumin (100 mg/kg BW) or vehicle for 8 weeks. The cerebra of the diabetic rats displayed upregulated protein expression of AdipoR1, p-AMPKα1, Tak1, GLUT4, NADPH oxidase sub-units, caspase-12 and 3-NT and increased lipid peroxidation in comparison with the controls and all of these effects were significantly attenuated with curcumin treatment, except for the increase in AdipoR1 expressions. These results provide a new insight into the beneficial effects of curcumin on hyperglycaemia-mediated DE, which are produced through the down-regulation of AMPK-mediated gluconeogenesis associated with its anti-oxidant property.

Although chronic sympathetic activation provides inotropic and chronotropic support to the failing heart, such activation may also have deleterious effects, including the direct cardiotoxic effects of catecholamines, activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and an increase in myocardial oxygen demand. These observations indicate that β-blockade might be beneficial in the treatment of heart failure resulting from dilated cardiomyopathy or ischaemic heart disease. Carvedilol is a non-selective β-blocker acting on β1-, β2-, and α1-adrenoceptors. It possesses potent anti-oxidant and anti-apoptotic properties, along with neuroprotective, vasculoprotective, cardioprotective effects, and it has reduced overall mortality in patients with heart failure in controlled clinical trials. Its role in treating cardiomyopathy requires focus. The fact that anthracyclines are cardiotoxic seriously narrows their therapeutic index in cancer therapy. The cardiotoxic risk increases with the cumulative dose and may lead to congestive heart failure and dilated cardiomyopathy in adults and in children. This review focuses on recent research regarding the beneficial effects of carvedilol in the treatment of dilated cardiomyopathy and to revisit the available evidence on the cardioprotection of carvedilol when associated with anthracycline and to explain the mechanisms underlying the benefits of their co-administration.

The beneficial effects of telmisartan on Angiotensin (Ang)-II mediated oxidative stress and renal fibrosis in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic nephropathy (DN) were studied. Thirty mice were divided into normal (NG), STZ-induced diabetic (DG) and telmisartan-treated diabetic (TG) groups. Compared with NG mice, DG mice showed significant up-regulations of AT-1R, TGF-β1, p-p38MAPK, p-MAPKAPK-2, p-Akt, p47phox, p67phox, gp91phox protein and collagen-III and all of these were significantly reversed in TG mice. The down-regulated protein expression of Ang-(1-7) mas receptor, ACE-2, PPAR-γ and PGC-1α were observed in DG mice and a significant up-regulation effect of telmisartan has been seen in the TG mice. Furthermore, TG mice showed reduced expression of fibronectin, production of superoxide radical as well as renal hypertrophy and fibrosis when compared with DG mice. These findings suggest that Ang-II plays a significant role in DN and telmisartan would be beneficial in reducing oxidative stress and fibrosis in STZ-induced DN.