Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is associated with various metabolic disorders, and adipokines, secreted by adipose tissue, are involved in their pathogenesis. This study investigated associations between VAT/subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) ratio, inflammatory markers, and cardiovascular (CV) risk-score in adults. Plasma levels of adipokines, plasma lipid profile, blood pressure, and body composition (using dual-emission x-ray absorptiometry) were determined. CV risk-score based on the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) score was calculated in a sample of 309 Brazilian civil servants aged <60 years. Participants' VAT/SAT ratio were categorized into quartiles. Among males, plasma leptin (2.8 ng/mL) and C reactive protein (CRP) (0.2 mg/dL) (P<0.05) levels were higher at P75 and P50 than P5, and the highest calculated CV risk-score was observed at P75 (7.1%). Among females, higher plasma adiponectin levels were observed at P25 (54.3 ng/mL) compared with P75 (36 ng/mL) (P<0.05). Higher plasma CRP levels were observed at P75 (0.4 mg/dL) compared with P5 (0.1 mg/dL) (P<0.05). Higher CV risk-score was observed at P75 (2.0%) compared with P5 (0.7%). In both sexes, VAT and VAT/SAT ratio were directly associated with plasma leptin, CRP, and CV risk-score, and inversely associated with adiponectin; SAT was directly associated with plasma leptin and CRP (P<0.01); interleukin (IL)-10 and CRP were directly associated with adiponectin and leptin, respectively (P<0.05). Among men only, IL-10 (inversely) and CRP (directly) were associated with CV risk-score (P=0.02). Our results strengthened the relevance of the VAT/SAT ratio in cardiovascular risk.

RESUMO: Objetivou-se neste estudo avaliar os efeitos da aplicação de herbicidas pós-emergentes, recomendados para a cultura do feijoeiro comum, nas variáveis de fluorescência da clorofila a, no conteúdo de proteína solúvel foliar (LSPC) e na produtividade de grãos. O experimento foi conduzido em campo e teve cinco tratamentos, que constaram da aplicação dos seguintes herbicidas: bentazon (720 g ha-1), fluazifop-p-butil (187,5 g ha-1), fomesafen (250 g ha-1), fluazifop-p-butil + fomesafen (187,5 + 250 g ha 1), além de um tratamento controle capinado, sem aplicação de herbicida, com delineamento de blocos ao acaso com quatro repetições. O bentazon foi o único herbicida que causou reduções significativas, mas somente até o primeiro dia após aplicação (DAA), nas seguintes variáveis de fluorescência da clorofila a: rendimento quântico máximo do fotossistema II (Fv/Fm), rendimento quântico efetivo do fotossistema II (ϕFSII), bem como no coeficiente de extinção fotoquímica (qP), e promoveu incremento na variável de coeficiente de extinção não fotoquímica (NPQ). Entre elas, o Fv/Fm foi a variável mais indicadora dos efeitos decorrentes da aplicação de herbicidas no aparato fotossintético de plantas no campo. As variáveis de fluorescência da clorofila a obtidas em folhas adaptadas à luz sofreram grande influência do ambiente, principalmente da variação da densidade de fluxo de fótons fotossintéticos (DFFF) durante as medidas, não sendo recomendadas como indicadoras do efeito dos herbicidas no campo. Nenhum dos herbicidas avaliados causou redução na produtividade, sendo recomendáveis para a cultura do feijoeiro comum.

ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the application of contact herbicides recommended for common bean crops, as for chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters, leaf soluble proteins content (LSPC) and productivity. The experiment was conducted on the field with five treatments, which were the application of the following herbicides: bentazon (720 g ha-1), fluazifop-p-butil (187.5 g ha-1), fomesafen (250 g ha-1) fluazifop-p-butil + fomesafen (187.5 + 250 g ha-1), and a manually weeded control treatment without herbicide application, in a randomized block design with four replications. Bentazon was the only herbicide causing significant reductions, but only until the first day after herbicide application (DAA), on the following chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters: maximum quantum yield of photosystem II (Fv/Fm), effective quantum yield of photosystem II (ϕPSII), photochemical quenching (qP); it also induced an increase in non-photochemical quenching (NPQ). Fv/Fm was the best parameter to indicate herbicide effect on the photosynthetic apparatus of plants in the field. Chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters obtained in light-adapted leaves underwent a high environmental influence, especially deriving from the variation in the photosynthetic photon flow density (PPFD) during measurements; they are not recommended to evaluate the effects of herbicides on the field. None of the applied herbicides evaluated caused reductions in grain yield; therefore, they are recommended for common bean crops.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the success of treatment with periurethral collagen injections in patients suffering from stress urinary incontinence (SUI) with bladder neck hypermobility and intrinsic sphincter deficiency MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty women suffering from (SUI) were selected and divided into GI (consisting of 13 women with SUI and bladder neck hypermobility) and GII (consisting of 27 women with SUI and intrinsic sphincter deficiency). Periurethral collagen was injected followed by a subjective evaluation (the need for urinary protectors) and an objective evaluation through urodynamic study before and after the treatment RESULTS: It was noticed that after 9 months there was a decrease in the need of urinary protectors in the two groups. It was observed through the urodynamic study that either cure or improvement was achieved in 46% in GI and 40.7% in GII. There was a significant increase in the leak pressure in GII. Moreover, there was a decrease in the volume of urine leak in the two groups, being the results in GII statistically significant CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that the periurethral collagen injection is useful for the treatment of the SUI. The results in hypermobility are similar to those in intrinsic sphincter deficiency. In fact, it is a very simple out patient's procedure, with little side effects.

The effect of peritoneal fluid (PF) on the human sperm acrosome reaction (AR) was tested. Sperm was pre-incubated with PF and the AR was induced by calcium ionophore A23187 and a neoglycoprotein bearing N-acetylglycosamine residues (NGP). The AR induced by calcium ionophore was inhibited 40% by PF from controls (PFc) and 50% by PF from the endometriosis (PFe) group, but not by PF from infertile patients without endometriosis (PFi). No significant differences were found in the spontaneous AR. When the AR was induced by NGP, pre-incubation with PFc reduced (60%) the percentage of AR, while PFe and PFi caused no significant differences. The average rates of acrosome reactions obtained in control, NGP- and ionophore-treated sperm showed that NGP-induced exocytosis differed significantly between the PFc (11%) and PFe/PFi groups (17%), and the ionophore-induced AR was higher for PFi (33%) than PFc/PFe (25%). The incidence of the NGP-induced AR was reduced in the first hour of pre-incubation with PFc and remained nearly constant throughout 4 h of incubation. The present data indicate that PF possesses a protective factor which prevents premature AR.

OBJETIVO: Investigar a atividade ovariana antes e após a supressão gonadal com análogo de GnRH em pacientes com síndrome dos ovários policísticos (SOP), hiperandrogenismo, hiperinsulinismo e acantose nigricante. DESENHO: Estudo clínico prospectivo. LOCAL: Centro médico-acadêmico nível terciário. PACIENTES: Seis pacientes com sinais clínicos de SOP, hirsutismo e acantose nigricante. INTERVENÇÕES: Colheita de amostras sanguíneas matinais na fase folicular para determinar os valores séricos de esteróides, curva glicêmica e insulínica, comparando esta última à do grupo controle. Administração por dois meses consecutivos de análogo de GnRH, comparando, nas pacientes do grupo de estudo, os níveis séricos de testosterona livre antes e após a supressão gonadal. PRINCIPAIS DETERMINAÇÕES: Determinação dos níveis séricos de insulina nas pacientes com SOP, hirsutismo e acantose nigricans e avaliar os níveis de testosterona livre antes e após supressão gonadal. RESULTADOS: Os níveis de insulina foram significativamente maiores nas pacientes do grupo de estudo, quando comparados a mulheres normais, durante a curva glicêmica. Também encontramos uma significativa queda nos valores de testosterona livre, após dois meses de supressão gonadal com analógo de GnRH, quando confrontados ao tempo inicial. CONCLUSÕES: Pacientes com SOP, hirsutismo e acantose nigricante apresentam altos níves séricos de insulina, sugerindo uma hiperativação ovariana por este peptídeo, que, entretanto, não é mantida se promovermos o bloqueio gonadotrófico.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the ovarian activity before and after gonadal suppression with GnRH-analog in patients with PCO, hyperandrogenism, hyperinsulinism and acanthosis nigricans. DESIGN: Controlled clinical study. SETTING: Tertiary academic medical center. PATIENTS: Six patients with clinical findings of PCO, hirsutism and acanthosis nigricans. INTERVENTIONS: Morning blood samples in the follicular phase to determine the steroid levels, glucose and insulin curve, comparing to a control group. Administration for 2 consecutive months of a GnRH-analog, comparing, in the study group, the free testosterone levels before and after ovarian suppression. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Determination of insulin levels in PCO, hirsutism and acanthotic patients and the free-testosterone levels before and after gonadal suppression. RESULTS: Insulin levels were significantly higher in the study group when compared to normal women during the glycemic test. We also found a significant decrease in the free-testosterone levels after 2 months of gonadal suppression with GnRH-analog when compared to the initial time. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with PCO, hirsutism and acanthosis nigricans present high levels of insulin, suggesting an ovarian hyperesponsiveness, which is not sustained when gonadotrophic blockage was achieved.