Mindfulness and self-compassion along the chronotype: a cross-sectional study

It is well established in the literature that morning-type individuals present better health indicators than evening-types. Mindfulness is considered an adaptive self-regulation skill associated with well-being and physical and mental health. However, there is scarce studies that relate chronotype and mindfulness. Thus, in this research, our aim was to study the relationship between chronotype and mindfulness-related variables. For this purpose, a sample composed of 483 participants from the community was recruited through an online survey and invited to fill out the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, the Self-Compassion Scale, and the Composite Morningness Scale. Regarding mindfulness measure, the results indicated that morning-types presented higher levels of “acting with awareness” than intermediate and evening-types. Additionally, as to self-compassion measure, morning-types presented higher levels of “mindfulness” and “overall self-compassion” than intermediate and evening-types. The remaining associations examined were not statistically significant. In sum, the morning-types showed higher scores in some of the mindfulness and self-compassion scales which seem to suggest that this morningness tendency may function as protective factor concerning eventual disorders´ development. Nonetheless, more systematic studies are needed to better understand this association and subsequently foster changes for psychological intervention.     

Follow-up assessment of patients with Pure Neural Leprosy in a reference center in Rio de Janeiro—Brazil

IntroductionPure Neural Leprosy (PNL) is a rare clinical form of leprosy in which patients do not present with the classical skin lesions but have a high burden of the disability associated with the disease. Clinical characteristics and follow up of patients in PNL are still poorly described in the literature.ObjectiveThis paper aims to describe the clinical, electrophysiological and histopathological characteristics of PNL patients, as well as their evolution after multidrug therapy (MDT).MethodsFifty-two PNL patients were selected. Clinical, nerve conduction studies (NCS), histopathological and anti-PGL-1serology were evaluated. Patients were also assessed monthly during the MDT. At the end of the MDT, all of the patients had a new neurological examination and 44 were submitted to another NCS.ResultsParesthesia was the complaint most frequently reported by patients, and in the neurological examination the most common pattern observed was impairment in sensory and motor examination and a mononeuropathy multiplex. Painful nerve enlargement, a classical symptom of leprosy neuropathy, was observed in a minority of patients and in the motor NCS axonal injuries, alone or in combination with demyelinating features, were the most commonly observed. 88% of the patients did not present any leprosy reaction during MDT. There was no statistically significant difference between the neurological examinations, nor the NCS pattern, performed before and after the MDT.DiscussionThe classical hallmarks of leprosy neuropathy are not always present in PNL making the diagnosis even more challenging. Nerve biopsy is an important tool for PNL diagnosis as it may guide therapeutic decisions. This paper highlights unique characteristics of PNL in the spectrum of leprosy in an attempt to facilitate the diagnosis and management of these patients.     

Deglutarylation of glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase by deacylating enzyme SIRT5 promotes lysine oxidation in mice

A wide range of protein acyl modifications has been identified on enzymes across various metabolic processes; however, the impact of these modifications remains poorly understood. Protein glutarylation is a recently identified modification that can be nonenzymatically driven by glutaryl-CoA. In mammalian systems, this unique metabolite is only produced in the lysine and tryptophan oxidative pathways. To better understand the biology of protein glutarylation, we studied the relationship between enzymes within the lysine/tryptophan catabolic pathways, protein glutarylation, and regulation by the deglutarylating enzyme sirtuin 5 (SIRT5). Here, we identify glutarylation on the lysine oxidation pathway enzyme glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase (GCDH) and show increased GCDH glutarylation when glutaryl-CoA production is stimulated by lysine catabolism. Our data reveal that glutarylation of GCDH impacts its function, ultimately decreasing lysine oxidation. We also demonstrate the ability of SIRT5 to deglutarylate GCDH, restoring its enzymatic activity. Finally, metabolomic and bioinformatic analyses indicate an expanded role for SIRT5 in regulating amino acid metabolism. Together, these data support a feedback loop model within the lysine/tryptophan oxidation pathway in which glutaryl-CoA is produced, in turn inhibiting GCDH function via glutaryl modification of GCDH lysine residues and can be relieved by SIRT5 deacylation activity.     

Molecular model for the binary complex of uropepsin and pepstatin

The three-dimensional structure of human uropepsin complexed with pepstatin has been modelled using human pepsin as a template. Uropepsin is an aspartic proteinase from the urine, produced in the form of pepsinogen A in the gastric mucosa. The structure is bilobal, consisting of two predominantly beta-sheet lobes which, as observed in other aspartic proteinases, are related by a pseudo twofold axis. A structural comparison between binary complexes of pepsin:pepstatin and uropepsin:pepstatin is discussed.     

Livin, a novel inhibitor of apoptosis protein family member

A novel human inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) family member termed Livin was identified, containing a single baculoviral IAP repeat (BIR) domain and a COOH-terminal RING finger domain. The mRNA for livin was not detectable by Northern blot in most normal adult tissues with the exception of the placenta, but was present in developmental tissues and in several cancer cell lines. Highest levels were observed in two melanoma-derived cell lines, G361 and SK-Mel29. Transfection of livin in HeLa cells resulted in protection from apoptosis induced by expression of FADD, Bax, RIP, RIP3, and DR6. Similar to other IAP family members, the anti-apoptotic activity of Livin was dependent on the BIR domain. Livin was also capable of inhibiting DEVD-like caspase activity triggered by tumor necrosis factor-alpha. In vitro binding studies demonstrated a direct interaction between Livin and the active form of the downstream caspases, caspase-3 and -7, that was dependent on the BIR domain of Livin. In addition, the unprocessed and cleaved forms of caspase-9 co-immunoprecipitated with Livin in vivo, and recombinant Livin could inhibit the activation of caspase-9 induced by Apaf-1, cytochrome c, and dATP. The subcellular distribution of the transfected Livin was analyzed by immunofluorescence. Both Livin and Survivin were expressed in the nucleus and in a filamentous pattern throughout the cytoplasm. In contrast to the apoptotic activity, the COOH-terminal RING domain mediated its subcellular localization patterning. Further studies found that transfection of an antisense construct against livin could trigger apoptosis specifically in cell lines expressing livin mRNA. This was associated with an increase in DNA fragmentation and in DEVD-like caspase activity. Thus, disruption of Livin may provide a strategy to induce apoptosis in certain cancer cells.     

Haematinic effect of Hygrophila spinosa T. Anderson on experimental rodents

Ethanolic extract of the aerial parts of H. spinosa a semiwoody herb was examined on male albino rats for certain haematological changes. The extract (100 & 200 mg/kg, po) significantly increased the haemoglobin, haematocrit, RBC and total WBC, as compared with vehicle treated control rat haemogram. In anemic male albino rats, the extract significantly increased haemoglobin, haematocrit and RBC count. Serum iron and serum total iron binding capacity were significantly decreased in H. spinosa extract treated anemic rats as compared with those in the vehicle treated anemic control rats. These findings demonstrated the haematinic effect of H. spinosa extract on experimental animals.     

Production, characterization and properties of polysaccharide depolymerizing enzymes from a strain ofCurvularia inaequalis

Xylanase, β-glucosidase, β-xylosidase, endoglucanase and polygalacturonase production fromCurvularia inaequalis was carried out by means of solid-state and submerged fermentation using different carbon sources. β-Glucosidase. β-xylosidase, polygalacturonase and xylanase produced by the microorganisms were characterized. β-Glucosidase presented optimum activity at pH 5.5 whereas xylanase, poly-galacturonase and β-xylosidase activities were optimal at pH 5.0. Maximal activity of β-glucosidase was determined at 60°C, β-xylosidase at 70°C, and polygalacturonase and xylanase at 55°C. These enzymes were stable at acidic to neutral pH and at 40–45 °C. The crude enzyme solution was studied for the hydrolysis of agricultural residues.     

Isolation,purification and partial chemical characterization of a lethal factor from common indian toad (Bufo melanostictus,Schneider) skin extract

Indian toad (Bufo melanostictus, Schneider) skin extract (TSE) is pharmacologically potent and probably contains several bioactive compounds [Das et. al., Indian J Pharmacol, 28 (1996) 72]. A lethal factor was isolated and purified by neutral alumina column chromatography followed by HPLC. Spectroscopic (UV, IR, FAB-MASS) study indicated that the lethal factor (TSE-LF) was a 254 Da long chain compound with carbonyl, hydroxyl and ester as functional groups. LD50 of TSE-LF was found to be 3.5 mg/kg (iv). Biological study showed that TSE-LF possesses hypotensive, cardiotoxic, neurotoxic activity and produced death by apnoea in experimental animal. Cyproheptadine antagonised TSE-LF induced contraction of isolated smooth muscle indicating involvement of histamine/serotonin receptors. TSE-LF induced neurotoxic action on chick biventer cervices was mediated through Ca2+ ion.