Biological and phytochemical evaluation of methanolic extracts from ennyroyal and lavender species of the portuguese flora

Medicinal and aromatic plants represent a healthier alternative to synthetic phenolic compounds, with a positive impact on therapeutic, aromatic and dietetic or gastronomic purposes. The in vitro biological activities of the phenolic compounds are an important parameter to select the most promising extracts for use in industrial applications. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant, antibacterial and cytotoxicity properties of 17 pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium L.) and 18 lavender (Lavandula pedunculata L.) accessions from the Portuguese flora, conserved in the Portuguese Genebank (BPGV), in order to select the accessions with the highest yield and high content of active ingredients for use in the different industrial sectors.The authors are grateful to the PDR2020-7.8.4-FEADER-042741- Recursos genéticos – Conservação e melhoramento de recursos genéticos e vegetais (2018-2022) UIDB/00195/2020, and to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) for financial support through national funds for financial support through national funds FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC) to CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020 and UIDP/00690/2020) and SusTEC (LA/P/0007/2020) and through the institutional scientific employment program-contract for C.P., M.I.D. and L.B. contracts .info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Produção do conhecimento em Educação Física nas pesquisas com abordagens qualitativas: áreas de conhecimento e temáticas

The objective was to identify the knowledge areas and to understand research themes with qualitative approaches in Physical Education in Brazil, based on documental research and the following criteria: Brazilian studies; studies in collaboration with Physical Education researcher; original studies indexed in the SciELO database; elaborated texts; and published between January/2008 and August/2020. In total, 191 articles were analyzed. The results showed that the qualitative research concentrates its production within the areas of sociocultural and the pedagogical one. In the sociocultural area were identified the themes: sport, corporal practices, physical activity and physical exercise. In the pedagogical area were identified the themes: initial formation; continuous formation; trainer´s formation; researchers’ formation; basic education. In conclusion, qualitative studies in Physical Education concentrate in the sociocultural and pedagogic area only, with diverse thematic, but within the specificity of knowledge areas, in order to meet the Physical Education.El objetivo fue identificar las áreas de conocimiento y comprender los temas de investigación cualitativos en Educación Física en Brasil, en una investigación documental con los criterios: estudios brasileños; estudios realizados en colaboración con un profesor de Educación Física; estudios originales; publicación indexada en la base SciELO; textos completos; publicado entre enero de 2008 y agosto de 2020. Se analisaram 191 artículos. Los resultados mostraron que la investigación cualitativa concentra su producción en las áreas de conocimiento sociocultural y pedagógica. En el área sociocultural, se identificaron los temas: deporte, prácticas corporales, actividad física y ejercicio físico. En el área pedagógica, los temas fueran: formación inicial; educación continua; entrenador de entrenadores; formación de investigadores; Educación básica. Se concluye que los estudios cualitativos en Educación Física se enfocan en las áreas socioculturales y pedagógicas, con temáticas diversificadas, pero dentro de las áreas de conocimiento, con el fin de atender la Educación Física.Objetivou-se identificar as áreas de conhecimento e compreender as temáticas com abordagens qualitativas em Educação Física no Brasil, a partir de uma pesquisa documental com os seguintes critérios: estudos desenvolvidos no Brasil; estudos em colaboração com profissionais de Educação Física; artigos originais; indexados na base SciELO; textos completos online; publicados entre janeiro/2008 e agosto/2020. Foram analisados 191 artigos. Os resultados apontaram que as pesquisas qualitativas concentram suas produções nas áreas de conhecimento sociocultural e pedagógica. Na área sociocultural foram predominantes as temáticas: esporte, práticas corporais, atividade física e exercício físico. Na área pedagógica observaram-se as temáticas: formação inicial; formação continuada; formação de treinadores; formação de pesquisadores; educação básica. Conclui-se que os estudos qualitativos em Educação Física se concentram apenas nas áreas sociocultural e pedagógica, com temáticas diversificadas, mas dentro da especificidade das áreas de conhecimento, para atender à Educação Física

Correlação entre sinais clínicos da conjuntivite felina e a detecção molecular de felid herpesvirus-1, feline calicivirus, chlamydophila felis e mycoplasma felis em gatos de abrigos no Rio de Janeiro

Objectives: To perform molecular diagnosis of microbial agents (FHV-1, FCV, Mycoplasma felis, and Chlamydophila felis) in kittens with conjunctivitis and correlate the clinical signs with clinical severity. Material and Methods: A total of 108 conjunctival swab were collected from kittens without (G1; n = 40) and with (G2; n = 68) clinical signs of conjunctivitis. Animals from G2 group were scored from 1 (mild) to 4 (severe) according to the severity of conjunctivitis. All samples were submitted to PCR and RT-PCR. Results: FHV-1 was detected in 62/108 (57.4%) of samples, FCV in 40/108 (37.0%), M. felis in 11/108 (10.2%) and C. felis in 26/108 (24.1%). Mixed infections were detected in 39/108 (36.1%). In G1, 28/40 (70.0%) were positive for one or more agents, in G2, 58/68 (85.3%) were positive (P = 0.03). In 1, single infections by FHV-1were found in 21/40 (52.5%) samples, FCV in 2/40 (5.0%), C. felis in 1/40 (2.5%), and no pathogens were detected in 12/40 (30%) of samples, while mixed infections accounted for 29/40 (72.5%) of the cases. In G2, single FHV-1 infections were found in 31/68 (45.6%) samples, FCV in 10/68 (14.7 %), M. felis in 2/68 (3.0%) and C. felis also in 2/68 (3.0%), and no pathogens were detected in 10/68 (14.7%) samples, while mixed infections accounted for 36/68 (52.0%) of the cases. They were categorized as grade 1, 20/68 (29.4%), grade 2, 14/68 (20.6%), grade 3, 21/68 (30.9%) and grade 4, 13/68 (19.1%). The presence of FHV-1 and FCV is equally distributed among the four categories. More severe clinical signs, scores 3 and 4, are related to coinfections by C. felis and M. felis. Conclusions: FHV-1, FCV, C. felis and M. felis were identified in feline conjunctivitis. Co-infections are related to more severe cases of conjunctivitis. Molecular diagnosis is helpful to detect asymptomatic carriers and is a rapid and accurate method to determine the pathogen of feline conjunctivitis.O objetivo deste estudo foi realizar diagnóstico molecular de agentes microbiológicos (FHV-1, FCV, Mycoplasma felis e Chlamydophila felis) em gatos filhotes e associar a presença dos patógenos à gravidade dos sinais clínicos de conjuntivite. Foram coletadas um total de 108 amostras de suabe conjuntival de filhotes felinos assintomáticos (G1; n = 40) e sintomáticos (G2; n = 68). Animais do G2 foram categorizados de 1 (leve) até 4 (grave), de acordo com o quadro clínico de conjuntivite. As 108 amostras foram submetidas à PCR e RT-PCR. O FHV-1 foi detectado em 57,4% das amostras, o FCV em 37%, o M. felis em 10,2% e o C. felis em 24,1%. Coinfecções, por sua vez, foram detectadas em 36,1%. No G1, 70% das amostras foram positivas para um ou mais patógenos. No G2, 85,3% apresentavam infecções (P = 0,03). No G1, monoinfecções por FHV-1 foram diagnosticadas em 52,5% das amostras, por FCV em 5%, por C. felis em 2,5%, e em 30% das amostras analisadas nenhum dos patógenos estudados foi encontrado. Coinfecções, por sua vez, estavam presentes em 72,5% das amostras. No G2, monoinfecções por FHV-1 foram encontradas em 45,6% das amostras, por FCV em 14,7 %, por M. felis em 3% e por C. felis também em 3%. Nenhum dos patógenos estudados foi encontrado em 14,7% das amostras analisadas. Coinfecções, responsáveis por 52% dos casos, foram categorizados como Grau 1 (29,4%), Grau 2 (20,6%), Grau 3 (30,9%) e Grau 4 (19,1%). A presença de FHV-1 e FCV está igualmente distribuída entre as quatro categorias. Os sinais clínicos mais graves (graus 3 e 4) estão relacionados a coinfecções por C. felis e M. felis. Os agentes microbiológicos FHV-1, FCV, C. felis e M. felis foram encontrados em animais com conjuntivite. Coinfecções estão relacionadas aos casos mais graves. Por fim, concluiu-se que o diagnóstico molecular, além de detectar portadores assintomáticos, é um método rápido e acurado para o diagnóstico do patógeno causador da conjuntivite felina

Antibacterial potential of northeastern Portugal wild plant extracts and respective phenolic compounds

The present work aims to assess the antibacterial potential of phenolic extracts, recovered from plants obtained on the North East of Portugal, and of their phenolic compounds (ellagic, caffeic, and gallic acids, quercetin, kaempferol, and rutin), against bacteria commonly found on skin infections. The disk diffusion and the susceptibility assays were used to identify the most active extracts and phenolic compounds. The effect of selected phenolic compounds on animal cells was assessed by determination of cellular metabolic activity. Gallic acid had a higher activity, against gram-positive (S. epidermidis and S. aureus) and gram-negative bacteria (K. pneumoniae) at lower concentrations, than the other compounds. The caffeic acid, also, showed good antibacterial activity against the 3 bacteria used. The gallic acid was effective against the 3 bacteria without causing harm to the animal cells. Gallic and caffeic acid showed a promising applicability as antibacterial agents for the treatment of infected wounds.The authors thank the Foundation for Science and Technology (Portugal) for financial support by the E. Pinho grant (SFRH/BD/62665/2009) and L. Barros grant (SFRH/BPD/4609/2000), and by the projects PEst-OE/EQB/LA0023/2013, PEst-C/CTM/UI0264/2011, and PEst-OE/EQB/LA0023/2013. Also, the authors acknowledge the financial support from FEDER through Programa Operacional Factores de Competitividade-COMPETE and to COMPETE/QREN/EU (CIMO strategic project 19 PEst-OE/AGR/UI0690/2011), and through the Project "BioHealth-Biotechnology and Bioengineering approaches to improve health quality", Ref. NORTE-07-0124-FEDER-000027, co-funded by the Programa Operacional Regional do Norte (ON.2-O Novo Norte), QREN, FEDER. The authors also acknowledge the project "Consolidating Research Expertise and Resources on Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology at CEB/IBB", Ref. FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-027462

Recursos pessoais e contextuais preditores de afetos positivo e negativo em adolescentes

The purpose of this research was to explore the relationship between the experience of personal and ecological Developmental Assets® and positive and negative affect. A convenience sample of 503 Portuguese students was evaluated, mean age of 15.92 years (SD = 1.17), 63 % female gender. Results indicate that adolescents who experience a greater number of assets tend to reveal a superior experience of positive affect and an inferior of negative affect. Data suggest the impact of subsets of Development Assets® on the prediction of positive and negative affect (explaining 30 and 31 % of the variance, respectively): both internal and external assets contributed to the variance in results, internal ones constitute stronger predictors. Present findings suggest the utility of the Developmental Assets® framework in order to understand the experience of positive and negative affect in adolescence, focusing on promoting a successful development.Este estudio tuvo como objetivo explorar la relación entre la experiencia de recursos del desarrollo —Developmental Assets®— personales y contextuales y los afectos positivo y negativo. Fue evaluada una muestra de conveniencia constituida por 503 estudiantes, entre los años escolares 9° y 12°, con edades comprendidas entre los 13 y los 19 años (M = 15,92; dp = 1,17), mayoritariamente del género femenino (63 %). Los resultados indican que los adolescentes que experimentan un mayor número de recursos tienden a revelar una experiencia superior de afecto positivo e inferior de afecto negativo. Los datos sugieren el impacto de los subconjuntos de recursos del desarrollo en la predicción de los afectos positivo y negativo (explicando el 30 y el 31 % de varianza en los resultados, respectivamente). Ambos recursos, internos y externos, contribuyeron con la varianza de los resultados, y constituyeron los recursos internos predictores más fuertes. Se sugiere la utilidad del modelo de recursos de desarrollo para comprender la experiencia de afecto positivo y afecto negativo en la adolescencia, con el propósito de promover un desarrollo exitoso.Este estudo teve como objetivo explorar a relação entre a experiência de recursos do desenvolvimento —“de- velopmental assets®”— pessoais e contextuais, e os afetos positivo e negativo. Foi avaliada uma amostra de conveniência constituída por 503 estudantes, entre o 9o e o 12o ano, com idades compreendidas entre os 13 e 19 anos (M = 15,92; DP = 1,17), maioritariamente do gênero feminino (6%). Os resultados indicam que os adolescentes que experimentam um maior número de Recursos tendem a revelar uma experiência superior de Afeto Positivo e inferior de Afeto Negativo. Os dados sugerem o impacto de subconjuntos de recursos do desenvolvimento na predição dos afetos positivo e negativo (explicando 3 % e 31 % da variância nos resultados, respectivamente): ambos os Recursos Internos e Externos contribuíram para a variância nos resultados, constituindo os Recursos Internos preditores mais fortes. Sugere-se a utilidade do modelo de recursos de desenvolvimento para a compreensão de experiência de afeto positivo e afeto negativo na adolescência, com o propósito de promoção de um desenvolvimento bem-sucedido

Casuística cirúrgica em cães de um Hospital Veterinário - Universidade Federal do Piauí

The objective of this report was to record surgical procedures performed in 241 dogs in a teaching veterinary hospital. There were 40 elective surgical procedures (16.6%) and 201 therapeutic surgical procedures (83.4%). The most frequent procedure was ovariohysterectomy (OH), 65% (26/40) and 24.38% (49/201), respectively, for elective and therapeutic surgical procedures. Among therapeutic surgical procedures were registered fracture reduction (16.91%, 34/201), mastectomies (13.93%, 28/201), drainage of the otohematoma (12.94%; 26/201) and ophthalmic surgical procedures (5.47%, 11/201). The high percentage of therapeutic surgical procedures conducted demonstrates the complexity of the cases attended daily in a teaching veterinary hospital.O presente relato tem o objetivo de registrar procedimentos cirúrgicos realizados em 241 cães em um Hospital Veterinário Universitário. Foram realizados 40 procedimentos cirúrgicos eletivos (16,6%) e 201 procedimentos cirúrgicos terapêuticos (83,4%). Em ambos os casos, o procedimento mais frequente foi ovariosalpingohisterectomia (OSH), 65% (26/40) e 24,38% (49/201) respectivamente para procedimentos cirúrgicos eletivos e terapêuticos. Entre os procedimentos cirúrgicos terapêuticos foram registradas redução de fraturas (16,91%; 34/201), mastectomias (13,93%; 28/201), drenagem de otohematomas (12,94%; 26/201) e procedimentos cirúrgicos oftálmicos (5,47%; 11/201). A alta porcentagem de procedimentos cirúrgicos terapêuticos demonstra a complexidade dos casos atendidos diariamente em um Hospital Escola

Miniaturization of aqueous two-phase extraction for biological applications

Aqueous two-phase extraction (ATPE) is a biocompatible liquid-liquid (L-L) separation technique that has been under research for several decades towards the purification of biomolecules, ranging from small metabolites to large animal cells. More recently, with the emergence of rapid-prototyping techniques for fabrication of microfluidic structures with intricate designs, ATPE gained an expanded range of applications utilizing physical phenomena occurring exclusively at the microscale. Studies of ATPSs at nanoliter-scale are further extending the range of applications of these systems by taking advantage of rapid diffusion times, increased degree of control of individual liquid streams and droplets, continuous flow and the integration of multi-dimensional separation modes. Several examples of microfluidic ATPS platforms are described. The partition of molecules between two co-flowing liquid streams confined within a microchannel was successfully demonstrated by the on-line extraction of a fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) labeled immunoglobulin G (IgG) from a salt rich flow to a PEG rich flow. IgG diffusion to the PEG-rich phase was complete after 16 cm of channel using flow rates of 1 and 0.2 μL/min for the salt and PEGrich phases respectively. Besides proteins, ATPS have also been used to separate other more complex biomolecules in microfluidics such as virus-like particles. The potential of miniaturization as a high-throughput screening tool has also been explored. The developed setup allowed the screening of a wide range of concentrations inside the microchannel by varying the flow rates of the solutions while using sub-mL volumes for each ATPS-forming system. As a novel demonstration of the integrative potential of ATPE as a microfluidic sample preparation module, a microfluidic device comprising two modules was developed and used to perform a complex matrix clean-up in-line with an immunoassay. References: Silva, D. F., Azevedo, A. M., Fernandes, P., Chu, V. et al., Design of a microfluidic platform for monoclonal antibody extraction using an aqueous two-phase system. J. Chromatogr. A 2012, 1249, 1–7. Jacinto, M. J., Soares, R. R. G., Azevedo, A. M., Chu, V. et al., Optimization and miniaturization of aqueous two phase systems for the purification of recombinant human immunodeficiency virus-like particles from a CHO cell supernatant. Sep. Purif. Technol. 2015, 154, 27–35. Silva, D. F. C., Azevedo, A. M., Fernandes, P., Chu, V. et al., Determination of aqueous two phase system binodal curves using a microfluidic device. J. Chromatogr. A 2014, 1370, 115–120. Soares, R. R., Novo, P., Azevedo, A. M., Fernandes, P. et al., On-chip sample preparation and analyte quantification using a microfluidic aqueous two-phase extraction coupled with an immunoassay. Lab Chip 2014, 14, 4284–429

Cladosporium tenuissimum URM 7803: a promising new β-galactosidase producer

The Cladosporium genus, defined by Link in 1816, is one of the largest and most heterogeneous Hyphomycetes genus. It comprises more than 189 species still rarely explored biotechnologically. One of the most studied microbial enzymes, -galactosidase is a glycoside hydrolase enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of -galactosides into monosaccharides through the breaking of a glycosidic bond. Recently, new studies comprising new microbial sources of -galactosidase, presenting biotechnologically interesting characteristics, have been encouraged. In this context, the present study evaluated the production of -galactosidase by a new isolate of Cladosporium tenuissimum. A C. tenuissimum inoculum was prepared adding 107 spore/mL in sterile saline solution 0.85% (w/v) NaCl containing 0.01% (w/v) Tween 80 and added to fermentation medium for enzyme production. The fermentation medium, composed of (% w/v): lactose (2), peptone (0.4), yeast extract (0.4) and salts (KH2PO4 (0.2), Na2HPO4.12H2O (0.8) and MgSO4.7H2O (0.025), pH 6.5, was maintained at 28° C and 180 rpm for 13 days. One sample (50 mL erlenmeyer) was removed every 24 hours and -galactosidase activity was evaluated using ONPG (ortho-Nitrophenyl--galactoside) method. The results showed maximum -galactosidase production by C. tenuissimum URM 7803 on thirteenth day, displayed enzymatic activity of 462.13 U/mL. The C. tenuissimum URM 7803 isolate proved to be a powerful new -galactosidase producer with potential application for food processing.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Prefácio: Experiências atuais em fitoterapia e farmácias vivas no Estado de São Paulo: um trabalho multidisciplinar

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