Neuroinflammation, blood-brain barrier dysfunction, hippocampal atrophy and delayed neurodevelopment: Contributions for a rat model of congenital Zika syndrome

The congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) has been characterized as a set of several brain changes, such as reduced brain volume and subcortical calcifications, in addition to cognitive deficits. Microcephaly is one of the possible complications found in newborns exposed to Zika virus (ZIKV) during pregnancy, although it is an impacting clinical sign. This study aimed to investigate the consequences of a model of congenital ZIKV infection by evaluating the histopathology, blood-brain barrier, and neuroinflammation in pup rats 24 h after birth, and neurodevelopment of the offspring. Pregnant rats were inoculated subcutaneously with ZIKV-BR at the dose 1 × 107 plaque-forming unit (PFU mL-1) of ZIKV isolated in Brazil (ZIKV-BR) on gestational day 18 (G18). A set of pups, 24 h after birth, was euthanized. The brain was collected and later evaluated for the histopathology of brain structures through histological analysis. Additionally, analyses of the blood-brain barrier were conducted using western blotting, and neuroinflammation was assessed using ELISA. Another set of animals was evaluated on postnatal days 3, 6, 9, and 12 for neurodevelopment by observing the developmental milestones. Our results revealed hippocampal atrophy in ZIKV animals, in addition to changes in the blood-brain barrier structure and pro-inflammatory cytokines expression increase. Regarding neurodevelopment, a delay in important reflexes during the neonatal period in ZIKV animals was observed. These findings advance the understanding of the pathophysiology of CZS and contribute to enhancing the rat model of CZS.

Olive oil-rich diet during pregnancy/lactation attenuated the early life stress effects on depressive-like behavior and altered energy metabolism in the dorsal hippocampus in a sex-specific manner

METHODS

and results: Pregnant Wistar rats received diets enriched in soybean oil (SO) or OO during gestation/lactation. At birth, litters were subdivided into MS or intact groups. After weaning, the pups received standard chow until adulthood, when they were subjected to behavioral tasks. At PND90 biochemical analyses were performed. Maternal OO-enriched diet prevented MS-induced higher weight gain, and decreased MS-induced anhedonic behavior. Increased latency to immobility and shorter immobility time were observed in the maternal OO-enrich diet groups. Maternal OO-enrich diet groups also presented reduced reactive oxygen species and increased activity of antioxidant enzymes. In addition, this diet showed sex-specific effects, by decreasing mitochondrial mass and potential, reducing AMPK activation, and increasing synaptophysin and PSD-95 immunocontent in the DH of male rats. Early stress, on the other hand, decreased production of free radicals and decreased levels of SIRT1 in the DH of male rats. In females, OO prevented the anhedonic behavior induced by MS.

CONCLUSIONS

Maternal OO-enrich diet attenuated MS-induced depressive behavior in both sexes. In addition, it affected energy metabolism in the DH of male rats, favored synaptic plasticity, and contributed to reducing pathophysiological conditions.

Regional support in the health regions of Rio de Janeiro state: a strategy for strengthening SUS

Brazil is one of the few countries in the world with more than 200 million inhabitants that has a universal public health system. In its 30 years of existence, the Unified Health System (SUS) has brought many advances to the Brazilian society. However, it still faces challenges to ensure health services in quantity and quality to the entire population. Federal, state and municipal government levels share the responsibility for its management and financing. In this governance scheme, it is the Municipal Health Secretariats (MHS) of the 5,596 Brazilian municipalities that are primarily responsible for providing and managing health services. Given the importance of this responsibility, Councils of Municipal Health Departments (COSEMS) and the National Council of Municipal Health Departments (CONASEMS) were created in 1986. Their role is to promote the articulation and negotiation of their interests with the federal and state levels. In Rio de Janeiro, a team of specialized professionals has been providing support for COSEMS-RJ since 2012. The team carries out activities in the nine regions of the state, which has 92 municipalities and more than 16 million inhabitants, the 3rd largest population in Brazil. Its activities are maintained by CONASEMS, the Ministry of Health and the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ). The objetive of this report is to present the experience of the expert team of COSEMS RJ as a strategy for strengthening regional governance and intergovernmental relations. Providing specialized technical support for MHS has improved local management of SUS and has allowed for the establishment of regionalized health care networks in Rio de Janeiro.

Key messages

The project improves the participation of municipal managers and teams in regional spaces. It strengthens their capacity for intergovernamental decision-making and regionalization of the health system. The project qualifies the municipal management for fundraising, knowledge building, policy implementing and monitoring, as well as participatory planning.

Casein Breakdown in Terrincho Ovine Cheese: Comparison with Bovine Cheese and with Bovine/Ovine Cheeses

Terrincho cheese is an uncooked, pressed cheese made from raw whole ovine milk from the "Churra da Terra Quente" breed. It requires a minimum ripening time of 30 d. A detailed evaluation of the effect of ripening time on the breakdown of the casein fractions, along with the formation of major breakdown products of casein hydrolysis, was monitored by HPLC to contribute to a more complete characterization of this product. In 30-d-old cheeses, only 20% of alpha(S1)-casein remained intact; the beta-casein fraction was more resistant to hydrolysis. The ripening time of Terrincho cheese can be predicted using 2 variables of normalized peak areas of alpha(S1)-casein and alpha(S1)-I peptide, and a constant; the estimation error is 2.5 d. The pH 4.3-insoluble fraction of Terrincho and cheeses manufactured with bovine milk and with ovine milk combined with 2 levels of bovine milk (10 and 20%) revealed different chromatographic and electrophoretic profiles, especially the alpha(S1)-casein fraction. Similar proteolysis progress was observed, particularly in the percentage of casein fraction degradation. However, using both analytical methods, the detection of 10% bovine milk at 30 d of ripening was no longer possible as result of alpha(S1)-casein hydrolysis. The discriminate analysis applied to HPLC data indicated that at 30 d of ripening, differences between the casein fractions of Terrincho cheese and mixture cheeses were mainly from beta1-casein content. The function thus obtained was able to correctly classify all the samples according to cheese type. Using the descriptive sensory profile, Terrincho cheese at 30 d of ripening could be distinguished from bovine and mixture cheeses owing to its higher fracturability and adhesiveness and lower elasticity and hardness, which correlated with its lower total casein content.

[Pelvic lipomatosis]

Pelvian lipomatosis is a proliferative process of fatty tissue in the perivesical and perirectal pelvian space. The etiology is unknown and some authors consider that in reality is a localized form of obesity. Diagnosis can be incidental, or be part of a sequence within a study for unspecific symptoms such as pelvian complains or perineal problems. As part of the presentation of a clinical case report, the authors make a revision of this disease, focusing in several particular aspects, like diagnostic methods, treatment, etc.