Abstract: Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is the result of the selective destruction of the pancreatic β-cells by T cells of the immune system. Although spleen is a secondary lymphoid organ, it is also involved in the T1D pathogenesis. However, the alterations in a variety of cellular processes of this disease need to be further understood. We aimed to analyze the benefits of resveratrol, and its complexed form on diabetic complications in the spleen of rats. To this end, we investigated important enzymes of phosphoryl transfer network, and Na+, K+-ATPase activity. Wistar rats were divided into non-diabetic groups: Control, Ethanol, Resveratrol, Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin, Resveratrol-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin, and diabetic groups with the same treatments. Diabetes was induced by a single dose of 60 mg/kg of streptozocin intraperitoneally, and treatments by intragastric gavage once daily for 60 days. Hyperglycemia reduced creatine kinase activity, which was reversed by the administration of resveratrol. Na+, K+-ATPase activity was greatly affected, but it was reversed by resveratrol and resveratrol-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin. This suggest an energetic imbalance in the spleen of diabetic rats, and in case this also occurs in the diabetic patients, it is possible that resveratrol supplementation could be beneficial to the better functioning of the spleen in diabetic patients.

ABSTRACT Considering that thiol-containing enzymes like kinases are critical for several metabolic pathways and energy homeostasis, we investigated the effects of cystine dimethyl ester and/or cysteamine administration on kinases crucial for energy metabolism in the kidney of Wistar rats. Animals were injected twice a day with 1.6 µmol/g body weight cystine dimethyl ester and/or 0.26 µmol/g body weight cysteamine from the 16th to the 20th postpartum day and euthanized after 12 hours. Pyruvate kinase, adenylate kinase, creatine kinase activities and thiol/disulfide ratio were determined. Cystine dimethyl ester administration reduced thiol/disulfide ratio and inhibited the kinases activities. Cysteamine administration increased the thiol/disulfide ratio and co-administration with cystine dimethyl ester prevented the inhibition of the enzymes. Regression between the thiol/disulfide ratio, and the kinases activities were significant. These results suggest that redox status may regulate energy metabolism in the rat kidney. If thiol-containing enzymes inhibition and oxidative stress occur in patients with cystinosis, it is possible that lysosomal cystine depletion may not be the only beneficial effect of cysteamine administration, but also its antioxidant and thiol-protector effect.

Resumo: Com o objetivo de verificar a percepção dos alunos quanto às características reais das avaliações a que são submetidos, e àquelas que julgam ideais, bem como de observar a persistência ou não, dessa percepção ao longo dos três primeiros anos do curso, realizou-se uma sondagem de opinião entre alunos das carreiras de Medicina, Odontologia, Enfermagem, Agronomia e Biologia. Os alunos consideraram que as avaliações devem ser contínuas, cumulativas, cooperativas, globais, individualizadas, sistêmicas, válidas, e devem contar com sua participação. Essa opinião não apresentou variação significativa ao longo dos três primeiros anos. A situação real foi considerada significativamente aquém das expectativas. Os resultados sugerem que as avaliações não atendem às expectativas dos alunos, as quais correspondem aos princípios teóricos que embasam a avaliação como processo.

Summary: Two hundred and thirty students of Medicine, Nursing, Odontology, Agronomy and Biology were submitted to nine questions about characteristics of evaluation in the basic disciplines developed on Bioscience Institute. Each student indicated his perception about the real characteristics and what he judged ideal about evaluation in an Osgood scale. Analysis of responses indicated that in students opinion, evaluation must be continuous, cummulative, comprehensive, systemic, reliable, individualized, cooperative, and not somative. The students' opinion was unchanged through three years of basic studies. The real situation of evaluation was considered below the ideal expectation. The expectation of students about evaluation was in accord with theoretical basis of evaluation as a process.