Cláudia Ferreira Santos’s research while affiliated with State University of Ceará and other places

Objective Earlier work suggests Myoinositol (MI) and D‐chiro‐ inositol (DCI) imbalance in urine and plasma of diabetic patients, and their potential for monitoring insulin resistance. This study aimed to assess levels of Myoinositol (MI) and D‐chiro‐ inositol (DCI) in saliva of children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM‐1) and controls, to verify if concentrations of MI and DCI are similarly altered in saliva, exploring their potential for monitoring DM‐1. Design, Patients and Measurements This cross‐sectional clinical study enroled 45 patients (DM‐1, n = 25; Controls, n = 20). Children aged 3–12 years with fasting blood glucose levels > 126 mg/dL, and HbA1c levels > 7%. Saliva was collected, and salivary measurements included pH, flow rates and concentrations of MI, DCI and glucose, employing high‐performance liquid chromatography. Periodontal health was assessed using bleeding and plaque indices. Results Children with DM‐1 showed elevated MI ( p = 0.001), reduced DCI ( p = 0.001), and increased MI‐DCI ratio ( p = 0.001). The MI‐DCI ratio was elevated by 16‐fold among diabetic children. Plaque ( p = 0.003) and gingival bleeding ( p = 0.001) were higher in DM‐1 than controls. The MI increased the odds of an outcome of DM‐1 by 174%, while DCI reduced the odds by 63%, highlighting their strong and opposing effects on DM‐1. Conclusions Children with DM‐1 express higher MI and lower DCI levels, while non‐diabetic children show an inversion of these concentrations. Inositol imbalance in saliva of diabetic children resembles previous results in urine, and represents a possible venue for monitoring this disease, paving the way for future investigations into salivary inositols.

This cross-sectional study evaluated the association between salivary immunoglobulins, plaque index, and gingival index in Brazilian children with and without type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1). The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) checklist for the reporting of observational studies was followed. The DM1 group had 38 children, and an equal number of volunteers matched by sex and age were recruited as controls. Clinical examination was performed for plaque index and gingival index determination. Non-stimulated whole saliva was collected. Concentrations of IgA, IgG, and IgM were determined by ELISA test. Data were tested by the Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Mann-Whitney, and Spearman tests and a multiple linear regression model (p<0.05) was performed. Gingival index was higher in the Control (DM1: 0.16±0.17; Control: 0.24±0.23, p=0.040). In DM1, there was a correlation between IgA and age (rho=0.371, p=0.024), IgM and IgG (rho=0.459, p=0.007), and IgM and gingival index (rho=0.394, p=0.014). In DM1, multiple linear regression showed that age (p=0.041; β=0.363), gingival index (p=0.041; β=0.398), and plaque index (p=0.008; β=-0.506) were good predictors of IgA levels in saliva. Thus, IgA was the only researched immunoglobulin that was directly associated with plaque and gingival indices in Brazilian children with DM1, but not in control subjects.

Syzigium cumini (L.) Skeels (sinonímia: Eugenia jambolana Lam.) é uma árvore perene, de médio a grande porte e de rápido crescimento popularmente conhecida como Jamelão, jambolão, cereja, jalão, jambu, azeitona do nordeste, ameixa-roxa, entre outras denominações. O fruto desta árvore é rico em antocianinas, compostos polifenóis com potente atividade antioxidante. A partir de frutas maduras coletadas no município de Aquiraz-Ceará foram preparados um extrato etanólico/metanólico da pele (EEMPJ-SF) ou um extrato etanólico/metanólico da pele e da polpa do Jamelão (EEMJ-SF). O objetivo do trabalho foi obter extratos de Jamelão mais concentrados em antocianinas. Nos extratos foram identificadas cinco antocianinas: delfinidina 3,5-diglicosídeo, cianidina 3,5-diglicosídeo, petunidina 3,5-diglicosídeo, peonidina 3,5-diglicosídeo e malvidina 3,5-diglicosídeo. No EEMPJ-SF as antocianinas apresentaram a seguinte ordem de concentração: petunidina 3,5-diglicosídeo (11,20%) > malvidina 3,5-diglicosídeo (9,40%) > delfinidina 3,5-diglicosídeo (7,57%) > cianidina 3,5-diglicosídeo (5,30%) > e peonidina 3,5-diglicosídeo (2,68%). O EEMPJ-SF apresentou um teor de antocianinas na ordem de 361,15 mg/g. No EEMJ-SF as antocianinas apresentaram a seguinte ordem de concentração: petunidina 3,5-diglicosídeo (2,37%) > delfinidina 3,5-diglicosídeo (1,94%) > malvidina 3,5-diglicosídeo (1,85%) > cianidina 3,5-diglicosídeo (0,95%) > e peonidina 3,5-diglicosídeo (0,44%). O EEMPJ-SF apresentou um teor de antocianinas na ordem de 75,43 mg/g. O Jamelão apresentou quantidades de antocianas superiores a outros frutos com notória atividade nutracêutica como mirtilo, amora, uva, açaí e acerola, por exemplo. Portanto, este estudo descreve preparo de um extrato padronizado muito rico em antocianinas agregando conhecimento científico a esta fruta ainda sem muito valor comercial em nosso país.

Endothelial dysfunction is an early complication of diabetes and it is related to both micro- and macroangiopathies. In addition, >70% of diabetic patients develop autonomic neuropathies. Increased oxidative stress has a major role in the development of both nitrergic and endothelial dysfunction. The aim of this work is to evaluate whether rutin, a potent antioxidant, could ameliorate nitrergic and/or endothelial dysfunction in diabetic animals. Primary and secondary treatment protocols with rutin were investigated on rat aortic rings and the mesenteric arteriolar bed, and on rabbit aortic rings and corpora cavernosa (RbCC) from both euglycemic and alloxan-diabetic animals. Acetylcholine endothelium-dependent and sodium nitroprusside endothelium-independent relaxations were compared in tissues from euglycemic or diabetic animals. Electrical field stimulation (EFS)-induced relaxation was performed only in the RbCC. Endothelial-dependent relaxations were blunted by 40% in vessels and neuronal relaxation was blunted by 50% in RbCC taken from diabetic animals when compared to euglycemic animals. Pre-treatment with rutin restored both neuronal and endothelial dependent relaxations in diabetic animals towards the values achieved in control euglycemic tissues. Rutin was able to ameliorate both endothelial dysfunction and nitrergic neuropathy in animal experimental models. Rutin could be a lead compound in the primary or secondary preventive ancillary treatment of endothelial and nitrergic dysfunction in the course of diabetes.

Pinitol is a natural antidiabetic agent shown to prevent or ameliorate metabolic and overall vascular and neural function. In the present study we have evaluated the potential benefits of pinitol on renal function of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Both euglycemic or 8-week or 16-week diabetic rats were treated with either saline (1 ml/kg/12h; p.o) or pinitol (20 mg/kg/12h; p.o). The renal function was evaluated by using metabolic cages, renal hemodynamic and tubular parameters measurements. Histological examination and evaluation of the protein expression of renal markers such as nephrin, TGFβ and pERK were also performed. Pinitol decreased by 50% the increased urinary albumin/creatinine ratio in both 8-week and 16 week diabetic rats. In addition, the glomerular volume of 16-week rats increased by 55% and this increase was blunted by pinitol. Remarkably, pressure-natriuresis was completely blunted in both 8 and 16-week diabetic rats but this impairment was prevented by pinitol in both treatment regimens. Pinitol ameliorated renal lesions and also prevented the decrease in nephrin expression and the increase of pERK and TGFβ expression in both diabetic groups. Natriuresis due to high renal perfusion pressure increased 7-fold in control animals but was blocked in 16-week diabetic rats and remarkably pinitol partially restored pressure natriuresis (3-fold increase in sodium excretion during pressure natriuresis). Pinitol prevents and ameliorates albuminuria, glomerular expansion, impairment of pressure-natriuresis, renal structural alterations and changes of renal markers and has the potential to be tested for the prevention of diabetic kidney disease.

The aim of this study was to investigate the antihypertensive properties of cis-[Ru(bpy)2ImN(NO)]³⁺ (FOR0811) in normotensive and in Nω–nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME)-induced hypertensive rats. Vasorelaxant effects were analyzed by performing concentration response curve to FOR0811 in rat aortic rings in the absence or presence of 1H-[1,2,4]-oxadiazolo-[4,3,-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ), L-cysteine or hydroxocobalamin. Normotensive and L-NAME-hypertensive rats were treated with FOR0811 and the effects in blood pressure and heart rate variability in the frequency domain (HRV) were followed. FOR0811 induced relaxation in rat aortic rings. Neither endothelium removal nor L-cysteine altered the FOR0811 effects. However, the incubation with ODQ and hydroxocobalamin completely blunted FOR0811 effects. FOR0811 administered intravenously by bolus infusion (0.01–1 mg/bolus) or chronically by using subcutaneous implanted osmotic pumps significantly reduced the mean arterial blood pressure. The effect was long lasting and did not induce reflex tachycardia. FOR0811 prevented both LF and VLF increases in L-NAME hypertensive rats and has antihypertensive properties. This new ruthenium complex compound might be a promising nitric oxide donor to treat cardiovascular diseases.

La Asociación Colombiana de Fisiología (COLFISIS) viene trabajando desde hace quince años para fomentar el progreso científico y académico de esta disciplina y por la actualización profesional permanente de sus afiliados. Dentro de sus objetivos se incluyen: promover y apoyar la investigación científica en fisiología y áreas relacionadas, incrementar la divulgación del conocimiento en fisiología, y organizar y convocar reuniones académicas y científicas.En concordancia con estos objetivos, COLFISIS programa cada dos años un congreso, y en esta ocasión presenta su séptima versión. Cada uno de estos siete congresos ha tenido miradas diferentes de la fisiología. Para el año 2019 planteamos el lema “Resolviendo problemas a través de la Fisiología” con la intención de destacar a la investigación y el conocimiento de esta disciplina, como fundamentos para entender y solucionar diferentes problemas del área de la salud y afines.

Introduction: In recent decades, several researches have been conducted in search of new analgesics that do not present the side effects of opioids. In this context, animal venoms contain natural painkillers that have been used for the development of new analgesics. Objective: The aims of this study were to evaluate the antinociceptive effects of telocinobufagin (TCB), a bufadienolide isolated from Rhinella jimi venom, in murine acute pain models, and to verify the participation of the opioid system in these effects. Methods: TCB was purified from R. jimi venom by high-performance liquid chromatography, and its structure was confirmed by spectrometric techniques. TCB was administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) (0.062, 0.125, 0.25, 0.5, and 1 mg·kg-1) and orally (p.o.) (0.625, 1.125, 2.5, 5, and 10 mg·kg-1) in mice, which were then subjected to pain tests: acetic acid-induced writhing, formalin, tail-flick, and hot-plate. Involvement of the opioid system in TCB action was evaluated by naloxone i.p. injected (2.5 mg·kg-1) 20 minutes before TCB administration. In addition, the TCB action on the μ, δ, and κ opioid receptors was performed by radioligand binding assays. Results: In all the tests used, TCB showed dose-dependent antinociceptive activity with more than 90% inhibition of the nociceptive responses at the doses of 1 mg·kg-1 (i.p.) and 10 mg·kg-1 (p.o.). Naloxone did not alter the effect of TCB. In addition, TCB did not act on the μ, δ, and κ opioid receptors. Conclusion: The results suggest that TCB may represent a novel potential nonopioid therapeutic analgesic for treatment of acute pains.