Growth and nutrient accumulation in the aerial part of red pitaya (Hylocereus sp.).

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Avaliação da precisão e aplicação de método para determinação de impurezas do café torrado e moído.

A detecção de impurezas do café torrado e moído é esse ncial para assegurar a melhoria da qualidade da produção e do produto. O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar a precisão obtida com o método de microscopia em duas faixas de concentração e com a utilização de três analistas diferentes. As análises preconizadas por este estudo foram realizadas na Unidade de Microscopia do Laboratório Nacional Agropecuário (LANAGRO-MG), situada em Pedro Leopoldo, MG. O método para detecção, identificação e quantificação das impurezas cascas e paus em café torrado e moído baseia-se no desengorduramento parcial do café com solvente orgânico, eliminação do pó fino por peneiração e determinação por catação através do uso de microscópio estereoscópico. As análises foram constituídas por 11 amostras de café torrado e moído feitas em duplicata por três analistas totalizando 66 determinações, cujos resultados foram fornecidos em porcentagens das impurezas cascas e paus. Os desvios padrão e os coeficientes de variação dos resultados analíticos do método estudado diminuíram a medida que se aumentou a concentração de cascas e paus. Na faixa de concentração acima de 2,5% o coeficiente de variação geral obtido foi 22,5% sendo plenamente aceitável. Na faixa de concentração de 0,1 a 0,5% o coeficiente de variação geral obtido foi 44,5% o que indica que, nestas concentrações, o resultado obtido não tem a mesma confiabilidade das faixas de concentração mais altas. Um estudo mais profundo avaliando-se todos os parâmetros de desempenho do método, e contando com um numero maior de análises é necessário para se validar adequadamente esta metodologia

HuR Controls Glutaminase RNA Metabolism

Glutaminase (GLS) is directly related to cell growth and tumor progression, making it a target for cancer treatment. The RNA-binding protein HuR (encoded by the ELAVL1 gene) influences mRNA stability and alternative splicing. Overexpression of ELAVL1 is common in several cancers, including breast cancer. Here we show that HuR regulates GLS mRNA alternative splicing and isoform translation/stability in breast cancer. Elevated ELAVL1 expression correlates with high levels of the glutaminase isoforms C (GAC) and kidney-type (KGA), which are associated with poor patient prognosis. Knocking down ELAVL1 reduces KGA and increases GAC levels, enhances glutamine anaplerosis into the TCA cycle, and drives cells towards glutamine dependence. Furthermore, we show that combining chemical inhibition of GLS with ELAVL1 silencing synergistically decreases breast cancer cell growth and invasion. These findings suggest that dual inhibition of GLS and HuR offers a therapeutic strategy for breast cancer treatment

Morphological characteristics of Schistosoma mansoni PZQ-resistant and -susceptible strains are different in presence of Praziquantel

Schistosomiasis is one of the most common human parasitic diseases whose socioeconomic impact is only surpassed by malaria. Praziquantel (PZQ) is the only drug commercially available for the treatment of all schistosome species causing disease in humans. However, there has been stronger evidences of PZQ-resistance on Schistosoma mansoni and thus it is very important to study the phenotypic characteristics associated with it. The aim of this study was to evaluate morphological alterations in S. mansoni PZQ-resistant adult worms and eggs, by comparing a PZQ- resistant strain obtained under PZQ drug pressure with a PZQ-susceptible strain. For this, scanning electronic microscopy was used to assess tegumental responsiveness of both strains under PZQ exposure, and optical microscopy allowed the monitoring of worms and eggs in the presence of the drug. Those assays showed that PZQ-susceptible worms exposed to the drug had more severe tegumental damages than the resistant one, which had only minor alterations. Moreover, contrary to what occurred in the susceptible strain, resistant worms were viable after PZQ exposure and gradually regaining full motility after removal of the drug. Eggs from resistant strain parasites are considerably smaller than those from susceptible strain. Our results suggest that there might be a difference in the tegument composition of the resistant strain and that worms are less responsive to PZQ. Changes observed in egg morphology might imply alterations in the biology of schistosomes associated to PZQ-resistance, which could impact on transmission and pathology of the disease. Moreover, we propose a hypothetical scenario where there is a different egg tropism of the S. mansoni resistant strain. This study is the first comparing two strains that only differ in their resistance characteristics, which makes it a relevant step in the search for resistance determinants.publishersversionpublishe

Identification of an alpha-amylase inhibitor from Pterodon pubescens with ability to inhibit Cowpea weevil digestive enzymes.

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Initial growth and nutrient accumulation in pitaya plants at different phenological stages.

Crescimento inicial e acúmulo de nutrientes em plantas de pitaia em diferentes períodos fenológicos