Budd-chiari syndrome and unsuspected gastric adenocarcinoma

A síndrome de Budd-Chiari não tem sido descrita em pacientes jovens portadores de câncer gástrico. Relata-se caso de síndrome de Budd-Chiari e linfangite carcinomatosa em homem branco de 28 anos, portador de câncer gástrico insuspeito, apresentando icterícia, hematêmese e dispnéia. O estudo de autopsia revelou adenocarcinoma gástrico infiltrando vasos das camadas submucosa e serosa, com sangramento do estômago e intestino, além de metástases hepáticas e pulmonares. Múltiplos microtrombos mistos (fibrina, plaquetas e células tumorais) foram observados em pequenos vasos sangüíneos pulmonares e tanto os vasos linfáticos subpleurais quanto o interstício pulmonar continham células tumorais metastáticas.The Budd-Chiari syndrome has not been described in young patients with gastric cancer. A case of Budd-Chiari syndrome and carcinomatous lymphangitis is reported in a 28 years-old white man with unsuspected gastric cancer, presenting jaundice, hematemesis and dyspnea. Autopsy disclosed gastric adenocarcinoma invading vessels of the submucous and serous layers, with gastric and intestinal bleeding, liver and lung metastases. Multiple mixed (fibrin, platelets and tumor cells) microthrombi were observed in small pulmonary blood vessels, and both subpleural lymph vessels and lung interstitium contained metastatic tumor cells

Diversity of plant growth-promoting bacteria associated with sugarcane

The sugarcane (Saccharum spp) presents economic importance, mainly for tropical regions, being an important Brazilian commodity. However, this crop is strongly dependent on fertilizers, mainly nitrogen (N). This study assessed the plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) associated with sugarcane that could be used as a potential inoculant to the crop. We evaluated the genetic diversity of PGPB in the plant tissue of sugarcane varieties (RB 867515, RB 1011, and RB 92579). The primer BOX-A1R was used to differentiate the similar isolated and further sequencing 16S rRNA ribosomal gene. The 16S rRNA gene showed the presence of seven different genera distributed into four groups, the genus Bacillus, followed by Paenibacillus (20%), Burkholderia (14%), Herbaspirillum (6%), Pseudomonas (6%), Methylobacterium (6%), and Brevibacillus (3%). The molecular characterization of endophytic isolates from sugarcane revealed a diversity of bacteria colonizing this plant, with a possible biotechnological potential to be used as inoculant and biofertilizers

Anticipated adaptation difficulties to higher education: a study with first-year students

A qualidade da adaptação e sucesso no Ensino Superior está relacionada com características prévias dos estudantes, sendo que a literatura sugere diferenças de género, de tipos de estudos e de background familiar nos resultados dos estudantes. Além de variáveis socioculturais nesta determinação, variáveis mais sociocognitivas como as expetativas de resultado e a autoeficácia parecem influenciar as experiências adaptativas dos estudantes. Este estudo caracteriza as dificuldades antecipadas de adaptação de um grupo de 931 estudantes de uma universidade pública portuguesa, que acedem ao primeiro ano do Ensino Superior, uma semana antes do início das suas aulas. A análise das dificuldades antecipadas, avaliadas em três domínios – adaptação académica, integração social e autonomia -, é feita em função da área do curso frequentado, do sexo e do agrupamento em estudantes de primeira geração (pais sem frequência do Ensino Superior) ou estudantes de famílias com formação superior. Os resultados sugerem o impacto destas variáveis, sobretudo em termos da antecipação de dificuldades de integração social e autonomia, apontando para maiores dificuldades antecipadas nas mulheres, estudantes de primeira geração e estudantes de cursos de ciências sociais e humanas. Discutem-se implicações para a investigação e intervenção e contexto de Ensino Superior.The quality of adaptation and success in Higher Education is related to students’ entry characteristics, as literature suggests the impact of gender, the field of studies, and family background on students’ results. In addition to sociocultural factors, social-cognitive variables such as outcome expectations and self-efficacy also influence students’ adaptation experiences. This study characterizes the anticipated difficulties presented by a group of 931 first-year students matriculating at a Portuguese public university, one week before the beginning of classes. The analysis of anticipated difficulties, assessed in three major domains – academic adjustment, social integration, and autonomy -, is conducted concerning the field of studies, sex, and grouping in firstgeneration (students’ whose parents do not have a college education) or students from families with higher education backgrounds. Findings suggest the impact of these variables, namely regarding anticipated social integration and autonomy difficulties, suggesting higher anticipated difficulties by women, first-generation students, and students in social sciences and humanities courses. The results are discussed regarding implications for research and intervention in Higher Education

Development of novel magnetoliposomes containing nickel ferrite nanoparticles covered with gold for applications in thermotherapy

Multifunctional nanosystems combining magnetic and plasmonic properties are a promising approach for cancer therapy, allowing magnetic guidance and a local temperature increase. This capability can provide a triggered drug release and synergistic cytotoxic effect in cancer cells. In this work, nickel ferrite/gold nanoparticles were developed, including nickel ferrite magnetic nanoparticles decorated with plasmonic gold nanoparticles and core/shell nanostructures (with a nickel ferrite core and a gold shell). These nanoparticles were covered with a surfactant/lipid bilayer, originating liposome-like structures with diameters below 160 nm. The heating capacity of these systems, upon excitation with light above 600 nm wavelength, was assessed through the emission quenching of rhodamine B located in the lipid layer. The developed nanosystems show promising results for future applications in thermotherapy.This research was funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) in the framework of the Strategic Funding of CF-UM-UP (UID/FIS/04650/2019) and through the research project PTDC/QUI-QFI/28020/2017 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-028020), financed by European Fund of Regional Development (FEDER), COMPETE2020, and Portugal2020. The magnetic measurements were supported by projects UTAP-EXPL/NTec/0046/2017, NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-028538, and PTDC/FIS-MAC/29454/2017. I.S.R.R. acknowledges FCT for a research grant under CF-UM-UP Strategic Funding (UID/FIS/04650/2019)

Magnetic liposomes containing calcium ferrite nanoparticles for breast cancer therapy

In this work, calcium ferrite nanoparticles were prepared and characterized. The structural and magnetic properties of the nanoparticles were evaluated by XRD, TEM and SQUID. The synthesized nanoparticles were either entrapped in liposomes, originating aqueous magnetoliposomes (AMLs), or covered with a lipid bilayer, forming solid magnetoliposomes (SMLs). Magnetoliposomes present average diameters around 150 nm, suitable for biomedical applications. The magnetoliposomes were loaded with new potential anticancer drugs, thienopyridine derivatives, with a strong antitumor activity against breast cancer cells.This work was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) in the framework of the Strategic Funding of CF-UM-UP (UID/FIS/04650/2013) and of CQUM (UID/QUI/00686/2013). FCT, POPH-QREN and FSE are acknowledged for the PhD grants of A. R. O. Rodrigues (SFRH/BD/90949/2012) and V. A. Machado (SFRH/BD/77373/2011) and for financial support to MAP-Fis Joint Doctoral Programme.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Magnetogels based on iron oxide nanoparticles and peptide hydrogels containing Naproxen and/or RGD

In this work, iron oxide nanoparticles, with diameters around 12 nm, were synthesized by coprecipitation method in aqueous solution. These nanoparticles exhibit a superparamagnetic behavior, with a coercive field of 9.7 Oe and a blocking temperature of 118 K. The nanoparticles were successfully incorporated in peptide-based hydrogels containing naproxen (Npx) and/or RGD. The ability of these magnetogels to act as drug nanocarriers is being investigated, aiming at developing multifunctional therapeutic nanosystems.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Alpinia

Species of the genus Alpinia are widely used by the population and have many described biological activities, including activity against insects. In this paper, we describe the bioactivity of the essential oil of two species of Alpinia genus, A. zerumbet and A. vittata, against Rhodnius nasutus, a vector of Chagas disease. The essential oils of these two species were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC-MS. The main constituent of A. zerumbet essential oil (OLALPZER) was terpinen-4-ol, which represented 19.7% of the total components identified. In the essential oil of A. vittata (OLALPVIT) the monoterpene β-pinene (35.3%) was the main constituent. The essential oils and their main constituents were topically applied on R. nasutus fifth-instar nymphs. In the first 10 min of application, OLALPVIT and OLALPZER at 125 μg/mL provoked 73.3% and 83.3% of mortality, respectively. Terpinen-4-ol at 25 μg/mL and β-pinene at 44 μg/mL provoked 100% of mortality. The monitoring of resistant insects showed that both essential oils exhibited antifeedant activity. These results suggest the potential use of A. zerumbet and A. vittata essential oils and their major constituents to control R. nasutus population

Magnetoliposomes containing multicore nanoparticles and a new antitumor thienopyridine compound with potential application in chemo/thermotherapy

Multicore magnetic nanoparticles of manganese ferrite were prepared using carboxymethyl dextran as an agglutinating compound or by an innovative method using melamine as a cross-coupling agent. The nanoparticles prepared using melamine exhibited a flower-shape structure, a saturation magnetization of 6.16 emu/g and good capabilities for magnetic hyperthermia, with a specific absorption rate (SAR) of 0.14 W/g. Magnetoliposome-like structures containing the multicore nanoparticles were prepared, and their bilayer structure was confirmed by FRET (Förster Resonance Energy Transfer) assays. The nanosystems exhibited sizes in the range of 250–400 nm and a low polydispersity index. A new antitumor thienopyridine derivative, 7-[4-(pyridin-2-yl)-1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl]thieno[3,2-b]pyridine, active against HeLa (cervical carcinoma), MCF-7 (breast adenocarcinoma), NCI-H460 (non-small-cell lung carcino-ma) and HepG2 (hepatocellular carcinoma) cell lines, was loaded in these nanocarriers, obtaining a high encapsulation efficiency of 98% ± 2.6%. The results indicate that the new magnetoliposomes can be suitable for dual cancer therapy (combined magnetic hyperthermia and chemotherapy).This research was funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) in the framework of the Strategic Funding of CF-UM-UP (UIDB/04650/2020) and through the research project PTDC/QUI-QFI/28020/2017 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-028020), financed by the European Fund of Regional Development (FEDER), COMPETE2020, and Portugal2020. J.M.R. acknowledges FCT, ESF (European Social Fund—North Portugal Regional Operational Program) and HCOP (Human Capital Operational Program) for a PhD grant (SFRH/BD/115844/2016)

Magnetic/plasmonic liposomes as nanocarriers for novel antitumor tricyclic lactones against non-small cell lung cancer

In this work, MnFe2O4/Au core/shell nanoparticles (NPs) and MnFe2O4 NPs decorated with Au NPs were synthesized and the structural, spectroscopic and magnetic properties evaluated. The prepared NPs were covered with a lipid bilayer, forming solid magnetoliposomes (SMLs). The heating capabilities of the nanosystems were assessed through the fluorescence quenching of Nile Red (incorporated in the lipid bilayer of the SMLs) under irradiation.UIDB/04650/2020; PTDC/QUI-QFI/28020/2017 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-028020