Search

Undernutrition is associated with worse clinical outcomes and so screening is recommended. Given the paucity of information on nutritional status and on the clinical impact of undernutrition in Pulmonology patients who have been hospitalized, it is of the utmost importance that it is studied.Through a longitudinal study conducted of 323 patients consecutively admitted to a Pulmonology hospital department, undernutrition was screened using the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool and the association between length of hospital stay, pathology type, discharge destination and undernutrition risk was quantified.There was found to be a high proportion of patients at risk of undernutrition, with 18.3% at high risk and 15.5% at moderate risk. Patients at risk of undernutrition had a higher risk of dying during hospitalization (OR = 2.72, 95% CI: 1.48- 4.97).One in three patients admitted to this unit is at risk of undernutrition; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was the pathology most strongly associated with undernutrition risk. Present data reinforces the need for screening for undernutrition on admission. Resumo: A desnutrição encontra-se associada a uma evolução clínica mais desfavorável e, por isso, é recomendado o seu rastreio. Dada a escassez de informação sobre o estado nutricional e sobre o impacto clínico da desnutrição nos doentes respiratórios que estiveram hospitalizados, é da maior importância que este seja estudado.Através de um estudo longitudinal realizado em 323 doentes, consecutivamente hospitalizados no departamento de pneumologia de um hospital, avaliou-se o risco de desnutrição com recurso ao Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool e foi quantificada a associação entre o tempo de permanência no hospital, o tipo de patologia, o destino da alta e o risco de desnutrição.Verificou-se existir uma elevada percentagem de doentes em risco de desnutrição, 18,3% com risco elevado e 15,5% com risco moderado. Os doentes em risco de desnutrição apresentaram um risco mais elevado de morrerem durante a hospitalização (OR = 2,72; 95% IC: 1,48-4,97).Um em cada 3 doentes admitidos nesta unidade está em risco de desnutrição; a doença pulmonar obstrutiva crónica foi a patologia mais fortemente associada ao risco de desnutrição. Os dados actuais reforçam a necessidade de um rastreio para a desnutrição, na admissão. Keywords: Screening, Undernutrition, Nutritional screening, Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool, Pulmonology, Palavras-chave: Rastreio, Desnutrição, Risco Nutricional, Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool, Pneumologia

The renin-angiotensin system plays a key role in cardiovascular pathophysiology and one of its members, angiotensin-(1-7) (ANG-(1-7)), is now recognized as a peptide with the ability to counter-regulate angiotensin II (ANGII) effects. We sought to investigate ANG-(1-7) actions in human vessels, particularly its effect on ANGII-induced vasoconstriction in human mammary arteries (HMA). Samples of HMA from patients submitted to coronary revascularization (22 patients, mean age 67 years) were cut into small rings, mounted in a myograph bath system, normalized and allowed to contract and dilate isometrically. In baseline experiments, the rings were incubated with ANG-(1-7) or vehicle, followed by increasing concentrations of ANGII. This protocol was repeated in the presence of A-779, PD123177, losartan and after mechanical endothelium removal. Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence were also performed in order to verify the presence of Mas receptor in HMA. ANG-(1-7) significantly attenuated ANGII-induced contraction, producing a maximal inhibition of approximately 65.2 %. This effect was not abolished by A-779, PD123177 or endothelium removal. In the presence of losartan, ANGII response was attenuated and no differences were observed between ANG-(1-7) and vehicle treated rings. Finally, we observed, for the first time, that the Mas receptor is expressed in HMA endothelium. ANG-(1-7) significantly attenuates ANGII-induced vasoconstriction and, although the Mas receptor is expressed in HMA, this effect seems to be independent of its activation. Additionally, AT(2) receptor and endothelium are not involved in this mechanism, which suggests a direct effect on smooth muscle cells.

The aging process is characterized by progressive accumulation of damaged biomolecules in the endoplasmic reticulum, as result of increased oxidative stress accompanying cellular senescence. In agreement, we hypothesized that WI-38 human cellular models of replicative senescence and stress-induced premature senescence (SIPS) induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2-SIPS) or copper sulfate (CuSO4-SIPS) would present endoplasmic reticulum chaperoning mechanisms impairment and unfolded protein response activation. Results show that in replicative senescence and CuSO4-SIPS, immunoglobulin binding protein, calnexin, protein disulfide isomerase, and ER oxireductin-1 levels adjust to restore proteostasis and inositol-requiring enzyme-1 (IRE1)-, activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6)-, and pancreatic ER kinase (PERK)-mediated unfolded protein response are activated. However, H2O2-SIPS does not exhibit IRE1 and ATF6 pathways activation but a PERK-mediated upregulation of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein homologous protein, showing that CuSO4-SIPS mimics better the endoplasmic reticulum molecular events of replicative senescence than H2O2-SIPS. Moreover, unfolded protein response activation is required for both SIPS models induction, because PERK and IRE1 inhibitors decreased senescence-associated beta-galactosidase appearance. In CuSO4-SIPS, the decrease in senescence levels is associated with PERK-driven, but IRE1 independent, cell cycle arrest while in H2O2-SIPS cell proliferation is PERK independent. These results add a step further on the molecular mechanisms that regulate senescence induction; moreover, they validate CuSO4-SIPS model as a useful tool to study cellular stress responses during aging, hoping to postpone age-related health decline.

Objective To test a combined version of the Child Feeding Questionnaire and the expanded concept of parental control (“covert” and “overt”) among Portuguese preschool children. Methods The final questionnaire comprised 38 items and 9 subscales. The translated questionnaire was self-administered to 854 mothers of 4 year-old children from the Generation XXI birth cohort. Maternal and children's weight and height and socio-demographic characteristics were measured. The global goodness of fit was evaluated by confirmatory factor analysis. Cronbach's alpha was used to measure the reliability of subscales. Construct validity was tested for different dimensions. Results A 9-factor model was obtained, after excluding five “restriction” items and 1 “overt control” item, with a global goodness of fit (CFI = 0.961, TLI = 0.973, RMSEA = 0.057). Cronbach's alpha ranged from 0.684 to 0.889. Children's body mass index (BMI) was significantly and positively related with “perceived parental weight”, “perceived child's weight” and “concern about child's weight”, and inversely related with “pressure to eat”, supporting the theoretical hypothesis. Maternal BMI was positively related with “perceived parental weight”. Conclusions Our study confirmed the usefulness of this questionnaire for Portuguese preschool children, and supports the need of reformulating the restriction dimension and keeping separately the overt and covert control dimensions.

In this study we characterized (3)H-2-deoxy-d-glucose ((3)H -DG) uptake by the estrogen receptor (ER)-positive MCF7 and the ER-negative MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cell lines and investigated the effect of quercetin (QUE) and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) upon (3)H-DG uptake, glucose metabolism and cell viability and proliferation. In both MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells (3)H-DG uptake was (a) time-dependent, (b) saturable with similar capacity (Vmax) and affinity (Km), (c) potently inhibited by cytochalasin B, an inhibitor of the facilitative glucose transporters (GLUT), (d) sodium-independent and (e) slightly insulin-stimulated. This suggests that (3)H-DG uptake by both cell types is mediated by members of the GLUT family, including the insulin-responsive GLUT4 or GLUT12, while being independent of the sodium-dependent glucose transporter (SGLT1). QUE and EGCG markedly and concentration-dependently inhibited (3)H-DG uptake by MCF7 and by MDA-MB-231 cells, and both compounds blocked lactate production by MCF7 cells. Additionally, a 4h-treatment with QUE or EGCG decreased MCF7 cell viability and proliferation, an effect that was more potent when glucose was available in the extracellular medium. Our results implicate QUE and EGCG as metabolic antagonists in breast cancer cells, independently of estrogen signalling, and suggest that these flavonoids could serve as therapeutic agents/adjuvants even for ER-negative breast tumors.

The aim of the present study was to analyze the distinct locations of minimum joint space width (mJSW) across the articular surface among osteoarthritic (OA) hip joints and to correlate the radiographic signs of cartilage wasting with clinical measures of hip function. Forty patients (mean age 67.6 years, range 50-82 years) with 80 hips showing varying degrees of OA were included in this study. For each hip, the Lequesne Index and the passive range of hip motion were evaluated and the mJSW was localized and measured in a. p. radiographs. Independent of the mJSW localization, the lateral, superior, and axial joint space width (JSW) were additionally measured in radiographs. Radiographic and clinical data were analysed and correlated with each other. mJSW was found in the superiolateral and axial parts of the OA hip joint in 90% of the cases. A significant correlation was found among almost all variables; however, the highest correlation (P < 0.01) existed between all functional variables and the sum of lateral, superior, and axial JSW (lsaJSW). As compared to the traditional mJSW, the results strongly recommend the measurement of lsaJSW, since this radiographic parameter represents well the weight-bearing areas of cartilage and shows a superior correlation with clinical evidences of hip disability.

Hop flavonoids are being regarded as attractive molecules to prevent or treat certain forms of cancer. Studies have focused mainly on xanthohumol, the most abundant prenylated chalcone existing in hops extract. However, during the production of beer, or after its ingestion, xanthohumol originates different metabolites, among which isoxanthohumol and 8-prenyinaringenin. The aim of this work was to study the effect of the prenylflavonoids xanthohumol, isoxanthohumol and 8-prenylnaringenin on the breast cancer Sk-Br-3 cell line proliferation, apoptosis and activity of the enzyme aromatase (estrogen synthase). Aromalase activity was determined by a tritiated water assay, cell proliferation was assessed by [H-3]thymidine incorporation, sulforhodamine B protein measurement and Ki-67 immunostaining and apoptosis was determined by TUNEL. Our results show that all tested prenylflavonoids were able to inhibit aromatase activity and thus, estrogen formation. Additionally, breast cancer cell line proliferation was decreased and apoptosis induced by all three compounds. The presence of 17 beta-estradiol in treatment medium was able to revert the effect of the prenylflavonoids on cellular proliferation. These observations strengthen the idea that hop flavonoids may have anti-breast cancer effects and shed new light on a possible mechanism of action by which these effects occur, namely through their ability to decrease estrogen synthesis.

Sendo a universalidade da educação pré-escolar um objectivo prioritário da política de educação, é fundamental discutir a sua organização em termos de estrutura e composição dos agrupamentos. Os modelos de interacção e estimulação, fundamentais no desenvolvimento infantil, estão intrinsecamente ligados à composição do grupo de trabalho. O objectivo deste artigo foi rever a legislação nacional acerca da organização da educação pré-escolar, a sua relação com o desenvolvimento infantil e comentar a singularidade da organização vertical., Portuguese Journal of Pediatrics, Vol 42 No 2 (2011)

Objective: to identify diet quality time trends in Portuguese elderly households and the association of diet quality with sociodemographic characteristics. Design: Set of four cross-sectional studies. Setting: Portuguese population. Subjects: nationally representative samples from Household Budget Surveys (1989-1990, 1994-1995, 2000-2001 and 2005-2006 versions). Households with members aged >= 65 years were categorized as solitary elderly female, solitary elderly male, or elderly couple (composed of one elderly female and one elderly male) and compared with adult households with the same composition. Methods: Diet quality was assessed through a revised version of the Healthy Diet indicator (HDIr). Univariate and multiple backward linear regression models were used to study the association with sociodemographic characteristics. Results: Mean values of dietary index were low and the proportion of elderly households with low diet quality (HDIr

[resumo] [abstract]

To analyze the simultaneous effects of sociodemographic variables and time on each food group contribution to total Portuguese elderly household food availability. Four cross sectional Portuguese Household Budget Surveys were used. A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA), using a general linear model (GLM), was applied to analyze the simultaneous effects of sociodemographic variables and time. Portuguese population. Nationally representative samples of households with members aged a parts per thousand yen 65 years were selected and categorized as solitary elderly female, solitary elderly male, or couple (one elderly female and one elderly male). Samples included 1,967 households in 1989-1990, 2,219 households in 1994-1995, 2,533 households in 2000-2001 and 2,441 households in 2005-2006. The simultaneous effects of sociodemographic variables and time were significant for all food groups (P < 0.001). The highest contribution for the total household food availability was found for cereals, potatoes, alcoholic beverages, nonalcoholic beverages and fruits. The effects were large for "household food availability" and medium for "elderly household type", "urbanization degree", "income", "food expenses" and "eating out expenses". Solitary elderly male households had the highest proportion of cereals and alcoholic beverages, whilst solitary elderly female households had higher availability of milk/milk products and fruits. Households located in urban areas had higher contribution of milk/milk products while rural, had higher contribution of potatoes. The simultaneous effect of the studied variables on food group contribution to total household food availability can be considered when addressing dietary recommendation for providing an insight into the motivations associated with food purchases.

Few studies have reported associations between clustering metabolic risk factors and socioeconomic status (SES) in youth. This study aimed to analyze the association between clustering metabolic risk factors and SES in adolescents. It was hypothesized that SES is inversely related to clustering metabolic risk factors. This 2009 cross-sectional school-based study investigated 517 Portuguese adolescents ages 15-18 years. The study considered the age- and sex-adjusted z-scores for the ratio of total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein, homeostasis model, triglycerides, and systolic blood pressure, and a metabolic risk score was constructed by summing all the z-scores (a parts per thousand yen1 standard deviation was considered high risk). Cardiorespiratory fitness was estimated by the 20 m shuttle-run test and dietary intake by a food frequency questionnaire. The best of parental education was used as a proxy measure of SES. The results showed that adolescents with low SES were more likely to have a high metabolic risk score (odds ratio [OR], 1.96; p < 0.020) regardless of cardiorespiratory fitness, adherence to the Mediterranean diet, or pubertal stage. In conclusion, a lower SES was associated with increased risk for a high metabolic risk score among Azorean adolescents after adjustment for pubertal stage, adherence to the Mediterranean diet, and cardiorespiratory fitness. Future health-promotion strategies among Azorean adolescents should consider the impact of SES on their health.

Author's personal copy, Objective. To examine the effects of an intervention program held by teachers previously trained in nutrition, on the consumption of low nutrient, energy-dense (LNED) foods, of children attending elementary schools. Method. 464 children (239 female, 6 to 12 years) from seven elementary Portuguese schools participated in this randomized trial. Three schools were allocated to the intervention, and four to the control group. The intervention program was based on the Health Promotion Model and social cognitive theory. Teachers previously trained by researchers in nutrition and healthy eating implemented the intervention in the classroom from November 2008 to March 2009. Sociodemographic, anthropometric, physical activity, and dietary assessments were performed before (2007/2008) and at the end of the intervention (2009). Dietary intake was gathered by a 24-hour dietary recall and two groups of LNED foods were defined, namely SSBs and solid LNED foods. Results. Children from intervention group reported a reduction whereas the control group reported an increase in solid LNED foods consumption. The odds of increasing solid LNED foods consumption was 0.48, 95%CI (0.24, 0.95) in the intervention schools. Conclusion. Our study provides further support for the success of intervention programs aimed at limiting the consumption of solid LNED foods in children., This work was supported by the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), Projeto PEst-OE/SAU/UI0617/2011.

AIM: The benefits of promoting physical activity (PA) in counteracting the high prevalence of childhood obesity have become increasingly important in the past decade. The aim of this study was to examine the association between compliance of daily PA recommendations and the risk of being overweight or obese in preschool-aged children. METHODS: The sample comprised 607 children aged 4-6 years, recruited from kindergartens located in the metropolitan area of Porto, Portugal. Preschooler's body mass index was classified according to International Obesity Task Force. PA was assessed during 7 consecutive days by accelerometer. Children were classified as meeting or not meeting PA recommendations based on two guidelines: (i) at least 3 h per day of total PA (TPA); and (ii) at least 1 h per day of moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA). RESULTS: The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 23.5 and 10.6% in girls and 17.2 and 8.9% in boys. In all, 90.2 and 97.3% of girls met the >= 1 h MVPA and >= 3 h TPA recommendations, respectively. In all, 96.2 and 99.4% boys met the >= 1 h MVPA and >= 3 h TPA recommendations, respectively. Boys were significantly more likely to achieve the >= 1 h MVPA and >= 3 h TPA recommendations than girls (P = 1 h MVPA guideline was associated with obesity status (OR: 3.8; IC: 1.3-10.4), in girls, but not boys. No other statistically significant associations were found. DISCUSSION: These findings suggest that over 90% of children met the recommended guidelines. There is an association with low levels of MVPA and higher obesity status among preschool girls. Further, longitudinal studies are needed to confirm these data.

Background and aim Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and diet have been involved as significant factors towards the prevention of cardio-metabolic diseases. This study aimed to assess the impact of the combined associations of CRF and adherence to the Southern European Atlantic Diet (SEADiet) on the clustering of metabolic risk factors in adolescents. Methods and Results A cross-sectional school-based study was conducted on 468 adolescents aged 15 - 18, from the Azorean Islands, Portugal. We measured fasting glucose, insulin, total cholesterol (TC), HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, systolic blood pressure, waits circumference and height. HOMA, TC/HDL-C ratio and waist-to-height ratio were calculated. For each of these variables, a Z-score was computed by age and sex. A metabolic risk score (MRS) was constructed by summing the Z scores of all individual risk factors. High risk was considered when the individual had ≥1SD of this score. CRF was measured with the 20 m-Shuttle-Run-Test. Adherence to SEADiet was assessed with a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Logistic regression showed that, after adjusting for potential confounders, unfit adolescents with low adherence to SEADiet had the highest odds of having MRS (OR = 9.4; 95%CI:2.6–33.3) followed by the unfit ones with high adherence to the SEADiet (OR = 6.6; 95% CI: 1.9–22.5) when compared to those who were fit and had higher adherence to SEADiet. Conclusions Unfit adolescents showed higher odds of having high MRS, regardless of the adherence to SEADiet suggesting that high CRF may overcome the deleterious effects of low adherence to a healthy dietary pattern in adolescents.

Objective: In this study, we examined the relationships between body fat accumulation and distribution and bone mineral density (BMD) in older women. Methods: A total of 100 healthy white women (mean +/- SD age, 68.7 +/- 5.5 y) free of medications known to affect bone were enrolled. Lean mass, fat mass (FM), percentage body fat, android FM, gynoid FM, appendicular FM (AFM), appendicular lean mass, and femoral neck BMD were measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Dietary intake was assessed by 4-day dietary record, and potential renal acid load was also calculated. Performance measures included knee extension and flexion strength measured on an isokinetic dynamometer. Physical activity was assessed using accelerometers and a questionnaire. Lactase nonpersistence was defined by the C/T-13910 genotype. Sociodemographic information, lifestyle behaviors, and clinical status were also examined. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis showed that AFM was the most significant positive predictor of femoral neck BMD. Results: After adjustment for confounders (age, height, age at menopause, potential renal acid load, physical activity, and knee muscle strength), AFM had strong and independent associations with femoral neck BMD (26.4% of variance). Conclusions: These data highlight that in older women, localization of FM is more important for bone mass than obesity per se or lean mass. AFM (subcutaneous adiposity) seems to exhibit an independent protective effect on BMD.

Dairy foods comprise a range of products with varying nutritional content. The intake of dairy products (DPs) has been shown to have beneficial effects on body weight and body fat. This study aimed to examine the independent association between DP intake, body mass index (BMI), and percentage body fat (%BF) in adolescents. A cross-sectional, school-based study was conducted with 1,001 adolescents (418 boys), ages 15-18 years, from the Azorean Archipelago, Portugal. Anthropometric measurements were recorded (weight and height), and %BF was assessed using bioelectric impedance analysis. Adolescent food intake was measured using a self-administered, semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. Data were analyzed separately for girls and boys, and separate multiple linear regression analysis was used to estimate the association between total DP, milk, yogurt, and cheese intake, BMI, and %BF, adjusting for potential confounders. For boys and girls, respectively, total DP consumption was 2.6 +/- 1.9 and 2.9 +/- 2.5 servings/day (P = 0.004), while milk consumption was 1.7 +/- 1.4 and 2.0 +/- 1.7 servings/day (P = 0.001), yogurt consumption was 0.5 +/- 0.6 and 0.4 +/- 0.7 servings/day (P = 0.247), and cheese consumption was 0.4 +/- 0.6 and 0.5 +/- 0.8 servings/day (P = 0.081). After adjusting for age, birth weight, energy intake, protein, total fat, sugar, dietary fiber, total calcium intake, low-energy reporters, parental education, pubertal stage, and physical activity, only milk intake was negatively associated with BMI and %BF in girls (respectively, girls: beta = -0.167, P = 0.013; boys: beta = -0.019, P = 0.824 and girls: beta = -0.143, P = 0.030; boys: beta = -0.051, P = 0.548). Conclusion: We found an inverse association between milk intake and both BMI and %BF only in girls.

Purpose: Osteoporosis is a pathologic condition characterized by low bone mass and changes in the microarchitecture of the bone tissue. Although compromised bone strength and increased susceptibility to fracture have been established, little is known regarding the process of bone regeneration in osteoporotic conditions. Accordingly, this study sought to evaluate the intramembranous bone regeneration process in an ovariectomized rat model following the establishment of calvarial subcritical-size defects (sCSDs). Materials and Methods: Calvarial sCSDs were established in rats that had been ovariectomized (Ovx) or sham-operated 2 months previously and left to heal, unfilled, for 6 months. Bone regeneration was assessed by radiographic, densitometric, histologic, and histometric analyses. Results: Radio logic and histologic analyses showed reduced new bone formation in calvarial sCSDs in Ovx animals in comparison to sham animals. Densitometric analysis of radiologic images and histometric analysis showed significant quantitative differences between groups that converged to substantiate reduced bone regeneration in Ovx animals. Conclusions: The intramembranous ossification process is impaired in the Ovx rat model. This may suggest an impairment of the bone regeneration process in clinical conditions of postmenopausal osteoporosis and highlight the requirement for selective bone regenerative strategies in affected patients. INT J ORAL MAXILLOFAC IMPLANTS 2012;27:1400-1408

Human diploid fibroblasts (HDFs) exposed to subcytotoxic concentrations of oxidative or stressful agents, such as hydrogen peroxide, tert-butylhydroperoxide or ethanol, undergo stress-induced premature senescence (SIPS). This condition is characterized by the appearance of replicative senescence biomarkers such as irreversible growth arrest, increase in senescence-associated -galactosidase (SA -gal) activity, altered cell morphology and overexpression of several senescence-associated genes. Copper is an essential trace element known to accumulate with ageing and to be involved in the pathogenesis of some age-related disorders. Past studies using either yeast or human cellular models of ageing provided evidence in favour of the role of intracellular copper as a longevity modulator. In the present study, copper ability to cause the appearance of senescent features in HDFs was assessed. WI-38 fibroblasts exposed to a subcytotoxic concentration of copper sulfate presented inhibition of cell proliferation, cell enlargement, increased SA -gal activity, and mRNA overexpression of several senescence-associated genes such as p21, apolipoprotein J (ApoJ), Fibronectin, Transforming growth factor -1 (TGF 1), Insulin growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP3) and Heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1). Western blotting results confirmed enhanced intracellular p21, ApoJ and TGF 1 in copper treated cells. Thus, similarly to other SIPS inducing agents, HDFs exposure to subcytotoxic concentration of copper results in premature senescence. Further studies will unravel molecular mechanisms and the biological meaning of copper associated senescence and lead to a better understanding of copper-related disorders establishment and progression. Human diploid fibroblasts (HDFs) exposed to subcytotoxic concentrations of oxidative or stressful agents, such as hydrogen peroxide, tert-butylhydroperoxide, or ethanol, undergo stress-induced premature senescence (SIPS). This condition is characterized by the appearance of replicative senescence biomarkers such as irreversible growth arrest, increase in senescence-associated beta-galactosidase (SA beta-gal) activity, altered cell morphology, and overexpression of several senescence-associated genes. Copper is an essential trace element known to accumulate with ageing and to be involved in the pathogenesis of some age-related disorders. Past studies using either yeast or human cellular models of ageing provided evidence in favor of the role of intracellular copper as a longevity modulator. In the present study, copper ability to cause the appearance of senescent features in HDFs was assessed. WI-38 fibroblasts exposed to a subcytotoxic concentration of copper sulfate presented inhibition of cell proliferation, cell enlargement, increased SA beta-gal activity, and mRNA overexpression of several senescence-associated genes such as p21, apolipoprotein J (ApoJ), fibronectin, transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF beta 1), insulin growth factor binding protein 3, and heme oxygenase 1. Western blotting results confirmed enhanced intracellular p21, ApoJ, and TGF beta 1 in copper-treated cells. Thus, similar to other SIPS-inducing agents, HDF exposure to subcytotoxic concentration of copper results in premature senescence. Further studies will unravel molecular mechanisms and the biological meaning of copper-associated senescence and lead to a better understanding of copper-related disorder establishment and progression.

Cancer is related to a deterioration of nutritional status and quality of life (QoL), but the extent of these conditions in patients with Non Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) has not been studied. The aim of the present study was to assess the association between QoL and undernutrition in NSCLC patients. Nutritional status was evaluated with Patient Generated â Subjective Global Assessment and QoL using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life â C30 and also with the specific module for lung cancer patients. A consecutive sample of fifty six patients diagnosed with NSCLC was evaluated. A high proportion of patients is undernourished (35.7%), 1.8% in early stages vs 33.9% in advanced stages of disease. Undernutrition is related to measured dimensions of QoL: lack of appetite (rho = 0.70), fatigue (rho = 0.54), nausea and vomiting (rho = 0.52) and constipation (rho = 0.56). Undernourished patients have worse global health status, physical, emotional, social and role functioning.Patients with NSCLC have high frequency of undernutrition in advanced stages of disease. Undernourished patients present more symptoms, a worse global health status/QoL, physical, role, emotional and social functioning than patients without undernutrition. Undernutrition is associated with worse QoL, specifically in the parameters: appetite loss, nausea and vomiting, constipation and fatigue. Resumo: O cancro está associado a uma deterioração do estado nutricional e da qualidade de vida (QdV), mas não se conhece a dimensão destas consequências nos doentes com cancro do pulmão não pequenas células (CPNPC). O objectivo deste estudo foi avaliar a associação entre a qualidade de vida e a desnutrição em doentes com CPNPC. O estado nutricional foi avaliado pelo Patient Generated â Subjective Global Assessment e a QdV foi avaliada através do European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life â C30 e do módulo específico para doentes com cancro do pulmão. Foi avaliada uma amostra com cinquenta e seis doentes diagnosticados com CPNPC. Uma elevada proporção de doentes encontra-se desnutrida (35,7%), dos quais 1,8% em estádios precoces vs 33,9% em estádios avançados de doença. A desnutrição está associada a dimensões de QdV como a falta de apetite (rho = 0,70), fadiga (rho = 0,54), náuseas e vómitos (rho = 0,52) e também obstipação (rho = 0,56). Os doentes com CPNPC apresentam elevada frequência de desnutrição nos estádios avançados de doença. Os doentes desnutridos apresentam mais sintomatologia e piores estado de saúde global, de funcionamento físico, emocional, social e de desempenho, do que os doentes sem desnutrição. A desnutrição está associada com pior QdV, especificamente nos parâmetros: falta de apetite, náuseas e vómitos, obstipação e fadiga. Keywords: Non Small Cell Lung Cancer, Undernutrition, Quality of Life, PG-SGA, : Cancro do Pulmão Não Pequenas Células, Desnutrição, Qualidade de Vida, PG-SGA

This study compared the effects of a resistance training protocol and a moderate-impact aerobic training protocol on bone mineral density (BMD), physical ability, serum osteoprotegerin (OPG), and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL) levels. Seventy-one older women were randomly assigned to resistance exercise (RE), aerobic exercise (AE) or a control group (CON). Both interventions were conducted 3 times per week for 8 months. Outcome measures included proximal femur BMD, muscle strength, balance, body composition, serum OPG, and RANKL levels. Potential confounding variables included dietary intake, accelerometer-based physical activity (PA), and molecularly defined lactase nonpersistence. After 8 months, only RE group exhibited increases in BMD at the trochanter (2.9%) and total hip (1.5%), and improved body composition. Both RE and AE groups improved balance. No significant changes were observed in OPG and RANKL levels, and OPG/RANKL ratio. Lactase nonpersistence was not associated with BMD changes. No group differences were observed in baseline values or change in dietary intakes and daily PA. Data suggest that 8 months of RE may be more effective than AE for inducing favourable changes in BMD and muscle strength, whilst both interventions demonstrate to protect against the functional balance control that is strongly related to fall risk. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Sendo a universalidade da educação pré-escolar um objectivoprioritário da política de educação, é fundamental discutir asua organização em termos de estrutura e composição dosagrupamentos. Os modelos de interacção e estimulação, fundamentais no desenvolvimento infantil, estão intrinsecamente ligados à composição do grupo de trabalho. O objectivo deste artigo foi rever a legislação nacional acerca da organização da educação pré-escolar, a sua relação com o desenvolvimento infantil e comentar a singularidade da organização vertical.

The RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK kinase pathway is pivotal in the transduction of mitogenic stimuli from activated growth factor receptors, which regulates cell proliferation, survival, and differentiation. Up-regulation of this pathway due to RAS mutations is found in approximately 30% of human tumors. Recently, activating mutations of B-RAF were identified in a large proportion of human cancers. Gliomas are the most frequent primary central nervous system tumors and the molecular mechanisms that underlie the development and progression of these tumors are far from being completely understood. The purpose of this study was to clarify the incidence of B-RAF mutations and their possible relation with tumor progression in a series of 82 human gliomas, including 49 astrocytic and 33 oligodendroglial tumors. The analysis of B-RAF hotspot regions, exons 11 and 15, showed presence of B-RAF mutations in only 2 out of 34 (6%) glioblastomas, and absence in the remaining histological types. Both mutations were located in the hotspot residue 600 (V600E) at exon 15, which leads to constitutive B-RAF kinase activity. These data suggest that activating mutations of B-RAF are not a frequent event in gliomas; nevertheless, when present they are associated with high-grade malignant lesions.

Objective To determine whether diabetes, smoking and dyslipidaemia were associated with greater than normal stiffness of aortic walls in subjects with white-coat hypertension. Methods Arterial distensibility was assessed by automatic measurement of carotid-femoral PWV in 35 healthy normotensives, 46 white-coat hypertensives (WCH, clinic blood pressures > 140/90 mmHg, daytime blood pressures < 130/85 mmHg) and 81 ambulatory hypertensives (clinic blood pressures > 140/90 mmHg, daytime blood pressures greater than or equal to 130 mmHg systolic or greater than or equal to 85 mmHg diastolic, or both) all matched for age, sex and body mass index, Nineteen normotensives (subgroup A), 28 WCH (subgroup A) and 37 ambulatory hypertensives (subgroup A) had only one or no other major cardiovascular risk factor whereas 16 normotensives (subgroup B), 18 WCH (subgroup B) and 44 ambulatory hypertensives (subgroup B) had also some combination of non-insulin-dependent diabetes, a smoking habit and dyslipidaemia. Results Both for the WCH and for ambulatory hypertensives diabetes and dyslipidaemia (subgroups B) were associated with higher (P < 0.04) PWV (11.6 +/- 0.3 and 12.8 +/- 0.3 m/s, respectively) than for subgroups A (9.3 +/- 0.5 and 10.9 +/- 0.6 m/s, respectively). In contrast, PWV for WCH in subgroup A (9.3 +/- 0.5 m/s) did not differ (P > 0.35) from those for the normotensive subgroups A (9.2 +/- 0.3 m/s) and B (9.6 +/- 0.4 m/s), PWV was not correlated to levels of glycaemia, glycosylated haemoglobin and cholesterolaemia. Conclusions These results suggest that, both for ambulatory hypertensives and for WCH, diabetes and dyslipidaemia are associated with an impairment of arterial distensibility that can entail a greater than normal cardiovascular risk, which might dictate a more than usually stringent treatment of concomitant risk factors and possibly of high blood pressure. In contrast, PWV in WCH of the subgroup A did not differ from those in normotensives, reinforcing the hypothesis that WCH is associated with a benign cardiovascular outcome in the absence of other cardiovascular risk factors. (C) 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Proper nutrition, not simply adequate energetic intake, is needed to achieve optimal dance performance. However, little scientific research exists concerning nutrition in dance, and so, to propose nutritional guidelines for this field, recommendations need to be based mainly on studies done in other physically active groups. To diminish the risk of energy imbalance and associated disorders, dancers must consume at least 30 kcal/kg fat-free mass/day, plus the training energy expenditure. For macronutrients, a daily intake of 3 to 5 g carbohydrates/kg, 1.2 to 1.7 g protein/kg, and 20 to 35% of energy intake from fat can be recommended. Dancers may be at increased risk of poor micronutrient status due to their restricted energy intake; micronutrients that deserve concern are iron, calcium, and vitamin D. During training, dancers should give special attention to fluid and carbohydrate intake in order to maintain optimal cognition, motivation, and motor skill performance. For competition/stage performance preparation, it is also important to ensure that an adequate dietary intake is being achieved. Nutritional supplements that may help in achieving specific nutritional goals when dietary intake is inadequate include multivitamins and mineral, iron, calcium, and vitamin D supplements, sports drinks, sports bars, and liquid meal supplements. Caffeine can also be used as an ergogenic aid. It is important that dancers seek dietary advice from qualified specialists, since the pressure to maintain a low body weight and low body fat levels is high, especially in styles as ballet, and this can lead to an unbalanced diet and health problems if not correctly supervised.