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Aging increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, and this can be prevented by dietary restriction (DR). We have previously shown that DR inhibits the downregulation of miRNAs and their processing enzymes - mainly Dicer - that occurs with aging in mouse white adipose tissue (WAT). Here we used fat-specific Dicer knockout mice (AdicerKO) to understand the contributions of adipose tissue Dicer to the metabolic effects of aging and DR. Metabolomic data uncovered a clear distinction between the serum metabolite profiles of Lox control and AdicerKO mice, with a notable elevation of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) in AdicerKO. These profiles were associated with reduced oxidative metabolism and increased lactate in WAT of AdicerKO mice and were accompanied by structural and functional changes in mitochondria, particularly under DR. AdicerKO mice displayed increased mTORC1 activation in WAT and skeletal muscle, where Dicer expression is not affected. This was accompanied by accelerated age-associated insulin resistance and premature mortality. Moreover, DR-induced insulin sensitivity was abrogated in AdicerKO mice. This was reverted by rapamycin injection, demonstrating that insulin resistance in AdicerKO mice is caused by mTORC1 hyperactivation. Our study evidences a DR-modulated role for WAT Dicer in controlling metabolism and insulin resistance.

Objective: To evaluate the alpha-defensin (α-DF) genes polymorphism in women with vulvovaginal candidiasis and recurrence. Methods: This observational study included clinical vaginal secretion samples collected over four years from 88 women, ranging in age from 18 to 65 years, from medical centers of São Paulo and Mogi das Cruzes, Brazil. Thirty-six of these women were asymptomatic (control group) and 52 presented clinical condition compatible with vulvovaginitis (38 primary or episodic as non-recurrent forms, and 14 recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis). A portion of each sample was plated on Sabouraud dextrose agar with chloramphenicol and grown on CHROMagar Candida for presumptive characterization. The identification of the species was obtained by sequencing of the ITS1 region of rDNA. α-DF genes were amplified for subsequent evaluation of polymorphisms by endonuclease restriction assay. Results: From 88 samples were isolated 60 Candida albicans and 28 non-albicans Candida spp. Resistant C. albicans strains and non-albicans Candida spp. were more prevalent in recurrence. In all groups, the number of resistant non-albicans Candida spp. was most high than susceptible strains. α-DF1, α-DF3 and α-DF1/α-DF3 genotypes were found in 32 (36.4%), 17 (19.3%), 6 (6.8%) vaginal samples, respectively. About 33 samples were not amplified. Recurrence and severe disease were more observed in homozygous population. Conclusions: Non-albicans Candida spp. and homozygotic α-DF genotipes (α-DF1 and α-DF3) were more related with severe clinical signs and recurrence. Further studies about vulvovaginal candidiasis and α-DF genes are necessary to access the more comprehen-* Corresponding author.

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Introduction: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the leading cause of cervical cancer and genital lesions in women and men, representing an important global health problem. There are still few data about the prevalence and HPV co-infection in Brazilian patients. Objective: This study aims to describe type specific distribution and co-infection of HPV in patients of a private health clinic using HPV DNA testing. Material and Methods: From April 2010 to October 2011, 15,307 consecutive patients of a private health institution in Sao Paulo, Brazil, were tested using a DNA-array assay, which detects simultaneously 24 HPV types - 19 high risk (HR) and 5 low risk (LR) types (PapilloCheck®). Results: HPV infection was detected in 39% of 13,770 female and 65% of 1,537 male samples. The most common HR-HPV types in women were HPV16, 51, 53, 68, 56 (7.3; 7.2; 7.1; 7.1 and 6.7%) followed by types 39, 66, 52, 31 and 58 (4.7 to 3.9%), which accounted for approximately 56.2% of all detected HPV types. LR-HPV 42 (8.5%) and 44/45 (8.2%) were the most frequent LR types. In males, HR-HPV 16, 51, 56, 68, 53, 39 and 66 (7.8; 7.3; 5.3; 4.6; 4.4 and 4.2%) accounted for 38,7% of all types; HPV 6 (12,8%) and 42 (8%) were the most frequent LR types. HPV 18 accounted for only 1,8% and 2,3% of HPV DNA-positive women and men. Co-infection was observed in 16.3% of female and 36.4% of male samples. 7.1% of women and 22.8% of men showed co-infection with three or more types of HPV. Overall, 59.8% of women and 44% of men had only HR type-infections. 17,6% of women and 23,7% of men had only LR-HPV infections. Co-infection with HR and LR-HPV was observed in 22,6% of female and 32,3% of male samples. Conclusion: Our findings show a high HPV infection prevalence and a high proportion of co-infections in our population. These data can be useful to plan in a more efficient way screening programs and application of prophylactic HPV vaccines in Brazil. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5506. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-5506