RESUMEN
Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is a common allergic skin disease that affects individuals subjected to different antigen exposure conditions and significantly impacts the quality of life of those affected. Numerous studies have demonstrated that probiotics suppress inflammation through immunomodulatory effects. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of the probiotic Bifidobacterium longum 51A as a preventive treatment for ACD using an oxazolone-induced murine model. We demonstrated that B. longum 51A exerted a prophylactic effect on oxazolone-induced ACD-like skin inflammation via reductions in ear and dermal thickness and leucocyte infiltration. The administration of inactivated B. longum 51A did not affect oxazolone-induced ACD-like skin inflammation, suggesting that the bacteria must be alive to be effective. Given that B. longum 51A is an acetate producer, we treated mice with acetate intraperitoneally, which also prevented ear and dermal thickening. Moreover, the tissue levels of the inflammatory cytokines and chemokines interleukin (IL)-10, IL-33, tumour necrosis factor-α, chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2/monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 5/RANTES were significantly reduced after probiotic treatment, but only IL-33 and IL-10 were reduced when the mice were treated with acetate. These results show that B. longum 51A exerted a potential prophylactic effect on skin inflammation and that acetate represents one potential mechanism. However, other factors are likely involved since these two treatments do not yield the same results.
Asunto(s)
Bifidobacterium longum/fisiología , Dermatitis Alérgica por Contacto/inmunología , Dermatitis Alérgica por Contacto/prevención & control , Probióticos/administración & dosificación , Animales , Citocinas/genética , Citocinas/inmunología , Dermatitis Alérgica por Contacto/etiología , Dermatitis Alérgica por Contacto/genética , Femenino , Humanos , Interleucina-10/genética , Interleucina-10/inmunología , Interleucina-33/genética , Interleucina-33/inmunología , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos BALB C , Oxazolona/efectos adversos , Factor de Necrosis Tumoral alfa/genética , Factor de Necrosis Tumoral alfa/inmunologíaRESUMEN
The Quechua term ayahuasca refers to a beverage obtained from decoctions of the liana Banisteriopsis caapi with leaves of Psychotria viridis. The ritualistic use of ayahuasca is becoming a global phenomenon, with some individuals using this beverage throughout life, including in old age. Cognitive impairment is a common manifestation during aging. There are conflicting reports on the ability of some ayahuasca compounds to exert neuroprotective or neurotoxic effects that could improve or impair learning and memory. Animal models provide a relevant and accessible means of investigating the behavioral effects of ayahuasca without the environmental conditions associated with the ritualistic use of the beverage. In this study, we investigated the influence of chronic ayahuasca exposure throughout aging on the spatial reference and habituation memories of mice. Twenty-eight male c57bl/6 mice (6 months old) received ayahuasca or water (1.5 mL/kg, orally) twice a week for 12 months and were tested in the Morris water maze (MWM), open field and elevated plus maze (EPM) tasks before and after treatment. During aging, there was significant impairment in the evocation (but not acquisition) of spatial reference memory and in habituation to the open field. There was also a decrease in locomotor activity in the open field and EPM tests, whereas the anxiety parameters were unaltered. Ayahuasca treatment did not alter any of these parameters associated with aging. These findings indicate that chronic exposure to ayahuasca during aging did not affect memory in mice.
Asunto(s)
Banisteriopsis/química , Bebidas , Locomoción/efectos de los fármacos , Aprendizaje por Laberinto/efectos de los fármacos , Memoria/efectos de los fármacos , Psychotria/química , Envejecimiento/fisiología , Animales , Ansiedad/inducido químicamente , Masculino , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos C57BL , Modelos Animales , Factores de TiempoRESUMEN
The objective of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of chronic pelvic pain in the community of São Luís, capital of the State of Maranhão, Northeastern Brazil, and to identify independent conditions associated with it. A cross-sectional study was conducted, including a sample of 1470 women older than 14 years predominantly served by the public health system. The interviews were held in the subject's home by trained interviewers not affiliated with the public health services of the municipality. The homes were visited at random according to the city map and the prevalence of the condition was estimated. To identify the associated conditions, the significant variables (P=0.10) were selected and entered in a multivariate analysis model. Data are reported as odds ratio and 95% confidence interval, with the level of significance set at 0.05. The prevalence of chronic pelvic pain was 19.0%. The independent conditions associated with this diagnosis were: dyspareunia (OR=3.94), premenopausal status (OR=2.95), depressive symptoms (OR=2.33), dysmenorrhea (OR=1.77), smoking (OR=1.72), irregular menstrual flow (OR=1.62), and irritative bladder symptoms (OR=1.90). The prevalence of chronic pelvic pain in Sao Luís is high and is associated with the conditions cited above. Guidelines based on prevention and/or early identification of risk factors may reduce the prevalence of chronic pelvic pain in São Luís, Brazil.
Asunto(s)
Adolescente , Adulto , Femenino , Humanos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Adulto Joven , Dolor Crónico/epidemiología , Dolor Pélvico/epidemiología , Brasil/epidemiología , Estudios Transversales , Dolor Crónico/complicaciones , Depresión/complicaciones , Dispareunia/complicaciones , Menstruación , Análisis Multivariante , Prevalencia , Sector Público , Dolor Pélvico/complicaciones , Premenopausia/fisiología , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , Fumar/efectos adversos , Enfermedades de la Vejiga Urinaria/complicacionesRESUMEN
The objective of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of chronic pelvic pain in the community of São Luís, capital of the State of Maranhão, Northeastern Brazil, and to identify independent conditions associated with it. A cross-sectional study was conducted, including a sample of 1470 women older than 14 years predominantly served by the public health system. The interviews were held in the subject's home by trained interviewers not affiliated with the public health services of the municipality. The homes were visited at random according to the city map and the prevalence of the condition was estimated. To identify the associated conditions, the significant variables (P=0.10) were selected and entered in a multivariate analysis model. Data are reported as odds ratio and 95% confidence interval, with the level of significance set at 0.05. The prevalence of chronic pelvic pain was 19.0%. The independent conditions associated with this diagnosis were: dyspareunia (OR=3.94), premenopausal status (OR=2.95), depressive symptoms (OR=2.33), dysmenorrhea (OR=1.77), smoking (OR=1.72), irregular menstrual flow (OR=1.62), and irritative bladder symptoms (OR=1.90). The prevalence of chronic pelvic pain in Sao Luís is high and is associated with the conditions cited above. Guidelines based on prevention and/or early identification of risk factors may reduce the prevalence of chronic pelvic pain in São Luís, Brazil.
Asunto(s)
Dolor Crónico/epidemiología , Dolor Pélvico/epidemiología , Adolescente , Adulto , Brasil/epidemiología , Dolor Crónico/complicaciones , Estudios Transversales , Depresión/complicaciones , Dispareunia/complicaciones , Femenino , Humanos , Menstruación , Persona de Mediana Edad , Análisis Multivariante , Dolor Pélvico/complicaciones , Premenopausia/fisiología , Prevalencia , Sector Público , Fumar/efectos adversos , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , Enfermedades de la Vejiga Urinaria/complicaciones , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
Mutagenic and antimutagenic activities of the medicinal plant Duguetia furfuracea were assessed using SMART/wing and ring-X-loss tests. For the ring-X-loss test, 2- to 3-day-old Drosophila melanogaster ring-X-lineage males and virgin ywsn³ females received D. furfuracea infusion at doses of 0.085, 0.042, or 0.014 g/mL for 24 h. We found that D. furfuracea did not produce any mutagenic effects in D. melanogaster germinative cells. The somatic cells of D. melanogaster were analyzed using the SMART/wing test involving three lineages - mwh, flr³, and ORR - and the same doses of D. furfuracea infusion employed in the ring-X-loss test, as well as 20 mM urethane. The results of both standard (ST) and high bioactivation (HB) crosses showed absence of mutagenic activity of D. furfuracea. In contrast, in both ST and HB crosses, we observed a modulatory effect of D. furfuracea against the genotoxic activity of urethane.
Asunto(s)
Annonaceae/química , Drosophila melanogaster/efectos de los fármacos , Drosophila melanogaster/genética , Extractos Vegetales/farmacología , Animales , Drosophila melanogaster/citología , Femenino , Genotipo , Masculino , Pruebas de Mutagenicidad , Mutágenos/farmacología , Mutación , Fenotipo , Plantas Medicinales/química , Alas de Animales/efectos de los fármacosRESUMEN
We show here an example of the application of a novel method, MUTIC (model utilization-based clustering), used for identifying complex interactions between genes or gene categories based on gene expression data. The method deals with binary categorical data which consist of a set of gene expression profiles divided into two biologically meaningful categories. It does not require data from multiple time points. Gene expression profiles are represented by feature vectors whose component features are either gene expression values, or averaged expression values corresponding to gene ontology or protein information resource categories. A supervised learning algorithm (genetic programming) is used to learn an ensemble of classification models distinguishing the two categories based on the feature vectors corresponding to their members. Each feature is associated with a "model utilization vector", which has an entry for each high-quality classification model found, indicating whether or not the feature was used in that model. These utilization vectors are then clustered using a variant of hierarchical clustering called Omniclust. The result is a set of model utilization-based clusters, in which features are gathered together if they are often considered together by classification models - which may be because they are co-expressed, or may be for subtler reasons involving multi-gene interactions. The MUTIC method is illustrated here by applying it to a dataset regarding gene expression in prostate cancer and control samples. Compared to traditional expression-based clustering, MUTIC yields clusters that have higher mathematical quality (in the sense of homogeneity and separation) and that also yield novel insights into the underlying biological processes.
Asunto(s)
Regulación Neoplásica de la Expresión Génica , Técnicas Genéticas , Neoplasias de la Próstata/genética , Análisis por Conglomerados , Humanos , MasculinoRESUMEN
We show here an example of the application of a novel method, MUTIC (model utilization-based clustering), used for identifying complex interactions between genes or gene categories based on gene expression data. The method deals with binary categorical data which consist of a set of gene expression profiles divided into two biologically meaningful categories. It does not require data from multiple time points. Gene expression profiles are represented by feature vectors whose component features are either gene expression values, or averaged expression values corresponding to gene ontology or protein information resource categories. A supervised learning algorithm (genetic programming) is used to learn an ensemble of classification models distinguishing the two categories based on the feature vectors corresponding to their members. Each feature is associated with a "model utilization vector", which has an entry for each high-quality classification model found, indicating whether or not the feature was used in that model. These utilization vectors are then clustered using a variant of hierarchical clustering called Omniclust. The result is a set of model utilization-based clusters, in which features are gathered together if they are often considered together by classification models - which may be because they are co-expressed, or may be for subtler reasons involving multi-gene interactions. The MUTIC method is illustrated here by applying it to a dataset regarding gene expression in prostate cancer and control samples. Compared to traditional expression-based clustering, MUTIC yields clusters that have higher mathematical quality (in the sense of homogeneity and separation) and that also yield novel insights into the underlying biological processes.