Abstract Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with an increase of premature appearance of several disorders such as cardiac complications. Thus, we test the hypothesis that a combination of a high fat diet (HFD) and low doses of streptozotocin (STZ) recapitulate a suitable mice model of T2DM to study the cardiac mitochondrial disturbances induced by this disease. Animals were divided in 2 groups: the T2DM group was given a HFD and injected with 2 low doses of STZ, while the CNTRL group was given a standard chow and a buffer solution. The combination of HFD and STZ recapitulate the T2DM metabolic profile showing higher blood glucose levels in T2DM mice when compared to CNTRL, and also, insulin resistance. The kidney structure/function was preserved. Regarding cardiac mitochondrial function, in all phosphorylative states, the cardiac mitochondria from T2DM mice presented reduced oxygen fluxes when compared to CNTRL mice. Also, mitochondria from T2DM mice showed decreased citrate synthase activity and lower protein content of mitochondrial complexes. Our results show that in this non-obese T2DM model, which recapitulates the classical metabolic alterations, mitochondrial function is impaired and provides a useful model to deepen study the mechanisms underlying these alterations.

In this study, correlations between electronic structure and the antimalarial activities reported for a group of 21 tetrahydropyridines were evaluated by multivariate methods. Simple and multiple linear regressions, principal component analyses, and linear discriminant analyses were employed to evaluate possible correlations between quantum-mechanical descriptors and pharmacological activity. The results obtained provide useful information on the position of active sites of tetrahydropyridines and identify some specific features associated with active derivatives. Based on these findings, simple substitution rules are proposed for designing more efficient tetrahydropyridine derivatives.

BACKGROUND: High-sensitivity C-reactive protein predicts cardiovascular events in a wide range of clinical contexts. However, the role of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein as a predictive marker for perioperative acute myocardial infarction during noncardiac surgery is not yet clear. The present study investigated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels as predictors of acute myocardial infarction risk in patients undergoing high-risk noncardiac surgery. METHODS: This concurrent cohort study included patients aged >50 years referred for high-risk noncardiac surgery according to American Heart Association/ACC 2002 criteria. Patients with infections were excluded. Electrocardiograms were performed, and biomarkers (Troponin I or T) and/or total creatine phosphokinase and the MB fraction (CPK-T/MB) were evaluated on the first and fourth days after surgery. Patients were followed until discharge. Baseline high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels were compared between patients with and without acute myocardial infarction. RESULTS: A total of 101 patients undergoing noncardiac surgery, including 33 vascular procedures (17 aortic and 16 peripheral artery revascularizations), were studied. Sixty of the patients were men, and their mean age was 66 years. Baseline levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein were higher in the group with perioperative acute myocardial infarction than in the group with non-acute myocardial infarction patients (mean 48.02 vs. 4.50, p = 0.005). All five acute myocardial infarction cases occurred in vascular surgery patients with high CRP levels. CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing high-risk noncardiac surgery, especially vascular surgery, and presenting elevated baseline high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels are at increased risk for perioperative acute myocardial infarction.

Fossil arthropods from Upper Triassic outcrops along the Biobío river, south-central Chile, are reported in this paper. Two species of the order Coleoptera, Ademosyne sp., and Ischichucasyne santajuanaensis gen. et sp. nov. (Permosynidae) are described for the first time for the Triassic of Chile. The conchostracans Menucoestheria terneraensis Gallego and Polygrapta troncosoi (Gallego) comb. nov., are re-examined based on newly collected specimens and scanning electron microscope photographs. A close relation between M. terneraensis and Argentinean and Antarctic species is postulated, with the possibility that Menucoestheria evolved from Euestheria Depéret y Mazerán. Menucoestheria could be the origin of all other Gondwanic eosestherids. The use of Menucoestheria and Polygrapta as fossil guides for continental levels of the Upper Triassic of Argentina and Chile is tentatively proposed. The reported entomofauna, which exhibits close affinities with the Argentinean entomofauna, sharing, for example, the genera Ademosyne and Ischichucasyne, broadens our knowledge of South American arthropod diversity during the Triassic. The presence of the homopteran dysmorphoptilid Bandelnielsenia Martins-Neto and Gallego, the most plesiomorphic of the South American forms, seems fundamental for an understanding of the phylogeny of this important Triassic group

En este trabajo se da a conocer el hallazgo de artrópodos del Triásico Superior, en estratos que afloran a lo largo del río Biobío, en el centro sur de Chile. Se describen, por primera vez, para el Triásico de Chile, representantes del orden Coleoptera: Ischichucasyne santajuanaensis gen. et sp. nov. y Ademosyne sp. (Permosynidae). Sobre la base de nuevos materiales recolectados y fotografías de detalle con microscopía electrónica de barrido, se reestudiaron los conchóstracos Menucoestheria terneraensis Gallego y Polygrapta troncosoi (Gallego) comb. nov. Se destaca la estrecha relación entre M. terneraensis Gallego y otras especies de Argentina y Antártica. Se menciona la posibilidad de que este género haya evolucionado a partir de especies de Euestheria Depéret y Mazerán, y que a su vez Menucoestheria Gallego haya dado origen a todos los eosestherideos gondwánicos. Se propone, tentativamente, el empleo de Menucoestheria y Polygrapta como fósiles guías para los niveles continentales del Triásico Superior de Argentina y Chile. La entomofauna registrada muestra estrechas afinidades con las faunas argentinas, con las que comparte los géneros Ademosyne e Ischichucasyne, y amplía el conocimiento sobre la diversidad de artrópodos durante el Triásico en Sudamérica. La presencia del homóptero dysmorphoptilideo Bandelnielsenia Martins-Neto y Gallego, la más plesiomórfica de las formas sudamericanas, resulta fundamental para comprender la filogenia de este importante grupo triásico

Com este trabalho, objetivou-se avaliar a exposição do aplicador à calda de agrotóxico, durante pulverização na cultura da videira, com 4 diferentes pulverizadores. Os equipamentos avaliados foram um pulverizador semi-estacionário típico, um pulverizador de barras adaptado a uma barra semi-circular com os bicos voltados para cima, um turbopulverizador marca Hatsuta modelo café, com sistema de turbina adaptado para utilização na cultura da uva, e um turbo-pulverizador marca KO, modelo Jales, regulados pelos produtores. Para avaliação da exposição dérmica potencial (EDP) amostradores foram distribuídos sobre 22 partes do corpo do aplicador, que pulverizou uma calda contendo 3000 ppm do cátion Cu+2 durante 35 a 40 min. Em laboratório o Cu+2 foi recuperado e quantificado e a exposição calculada em função da concentração do cátion na calda. O pulverizador semi-estacionário proporcionou a maior EDP, seguido pela barra, turbo adaptado e pelo turbo original. A porcentagem do volume pulverizado que atinge o corpo do aplicador num mesmo período de tempo, foi mais que 89 vezes maior para o semi-estacionário, quando comparado ao turbo Jales e à barra adaptada, e 44 vezes maior quando comparado ao turbo adaptado. As áreas mais expostas do corpo foram mãos, cabeça e dorso para os tratorizados e a EDP foi alta em praticamente todas as regiões do corpo com o semi-estacionário. Aspectos da EDP em função do equipamento e da forma de utilização são discutidos.

The aim of present study was to evaluate the dermal exposure of pesticide applicator, during spraying in grapes crop, with 4 different sprayers. The equipments utilized were a typical semi-stationery sprayer, a boom sprayer adapted with a semi-circulate boom with the nozzle returned upward, an airblast sprayer utilized in coffee crop with turbine system adapted for grapes and a original airblast sprayer for grapes (KO, model Jales), regulated by the workers. For assessment of potential dermal exposure (PDE) of spray man, 22 sampling pads were attached to body parts of spray man applying a solution containing 3000 ppm of Cu+2 during 35 to 40 min. Copper was extracted and quantified in laboratory and the exposure was calculated considering the original concentration of the spray solution. The semi-stationery sprayer provided largest PDE, followed by the adapted boom sprayer, adapted airblast and original airblast sprayer. The carrier percentage reaching the spray man body in the same period of time was more than 89 times higher for semi-stationery when compared with the original airblast and the adapted boom and 44 times higher compared to the adapted airblast sprayer. The most exposed areas of the spray man body were the hands, head and back for sprayers adapted to tractor, and PDE was high in practically all the areas of the body with the semi-stationery equipment. Aspects of PDE related to equipment and the form of their use are discussed.