Volatile compounds in the thermoplastic extrusion of bovine rumen

The volatile compounds of raw and extruded bovine rumen, extracted by dynamic headspace, were separated by gas chromatography and analyzed by GC-MS. Raw and extruded materials presented thirty-two volatile compounds. The following compounds were identified in raw bovine rumen: heptane, 1-heptene, 4-methyl-2-pentanone, toluene, hexanal, ethyl butyrate, o-xylene, m-xylene, p-xylene, heptanal, limonene, nonanal, dodecane, tridecane, tetradecane, pentadecane, hexadecane, heptadecane and octadecane. The following compounds were identified in the extruded material: 1-heptene, 2,4-dimethylhexane, toluene, limonene, undecane, tetradecane, pentadecane, hexadecane, heptadecane, octadecane and nonadecane. Mass spectra of some unidentified compounds indicated the presence of hydrocarbons with branched chains or cyclic structure.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

USO DE 3,4-METILENODIOXMETANFETAMINA NO TRATAMENTO DE TRANSTORNO DE ESTRESSE PÓS-TRAUMÁTICO

Introduction: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterized by persistent intense reactions to memories of a traumatic event. In recent years, there have been several neuroscientific and clinical studies examining the potential of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) as a treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder. The purpose of this study is to synthesize the available studies in search of better information on the use of MDMA as a new treatment for PTSD. Methodology: This is an integrative literature review. The search occurred in major databases, with the descriptors "N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine", "MDMA", "ecstasy", "stress disorders", "Post-Traumatic", "PTSD", combined with each other by Boolean operators. After critical appraisal, a final sample of 5 studies was obtained. Results and discussion: Studies showed that the use of MDMA in PTSD patients was able to promote symptom improvement when compared to placebo, besides significantly reducing CAPS-5 and Sheehan Disability Scale scores. No serious adverse effects were observed, but more studies should be done to attest to the safety of this substance. Conclusion: Therefore, the use of MDMA proved to be effective in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder in all studies analyzed, with good tolerability among patients and with prolonged improvement of symptoms after the end of treatment. FurtherIntroducción: El trastorno de estrés postraumático (TEPT) se caracteriza por la persistencia de reacciones intensas a los recuerdos de un evento traumático. En los últimos años, ha habido una serie de estudios neurocientíficos y clínicos que examinan el potencial de la 3,4-metilenedoxmetanfetamina (MDMA) como tratamiento para el trastorno de estrés postraumático. El objetivo de este estudio es sintetizar los estudios disponibles en busca de mejor información sobre el uso de MDMA como un nuevo tratamiento para el TEPT. Metodología: Se trata de una revisión integradora de la literatura. La búsqueda ocurrió en las principales bases de datos, con los descriptores "N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine", "MDMA", "ecstasy", "Stress Disorders", "Post-Traumatic", "PTSD", combinados entre sí por operadores booleanos. Después de la evaluación crítica, se obtuvo una muestra final de 5 estudios. Resultados y discusión: Los estudios han indicado que el uso de MDMA en pacientes con TEPT fue capaz de promover la mejoría de los síntomas en comparación con el uso de placebo, además de atenuar significativamente las puntuaciones CAPS-5 y la Escala de Discapacidad de Sheehan. No se han observado efectos adversos graves, pero se deben realizar más estudios para atestiguar la seguridad de esta sustancia. Conclusión: Por lo tanto, el uso de MDMA demostró ser eficaz en el tratamiento del trastorno de estrés postraumático en todos los estudios analizados, teniendo buena tolerabilidad entre los pacientes y con mejoría prolongada de los síntomas después del final del tratamiento. Se deben realizar estudios adicionales para atestiguar la seguridad en diferentes perfiles de pacientes.Introdução: O transtorno de estresse pós-traumático (TEPT) se caracteriza pela persistência de reações intensas a lembranças de um evento traumático. Nos últimos anos, houve uma série de estudos neurocientíficos e clínicos examinando o potencial de 3,4-metilenodioxmetanfetamina (MDMA) como um tratamento para transtorno do estresse pós-traumático. O objetivo desse estudo é sintetizar os estudos disponíveis em busca de melhores informações sobre o uso do MDMA como um novo tratamento para TEPT. Metodologia: Trata-se de uma revisão integrativa de literatura. A busca ocorreu nas principais bases de dados, com os descritores “N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine”, “MDMA”, “ecstasy”, “Stress Disorders”, “Post-Traumatic”, “PTSD”, combinados entre si por operadores booleanos. Após a avaliação crítica, obteve-se uma amostra final de 5 estudos. Resultados e discussão: Estudos apontaram que o uso de MDMA em pacientes com TEPT foi capaz de promover melhora dos sintomas em comparação ao uso de placebo, além de atenuar de maneira expressiva os escores de CAPS-5 e Escala de Incapacidade de Sheehan. Não foram observados efeitos adversos graves, porém devem ser feitos mais estudos para atestar a segurança dessa substância. Conclusão: Portanto, o uso do MDMA se mostrou eficaz no tratamento de transtorno de estresse pós-traumático em todos os estudos analisados, tendo boa tolerabilidade entre os pacientes e com melhora prolongada dos sintomas após o fim do tratamento. Mais estudos devem ser conduzidos para que seja atestada a segurança em diferentes perfis de pacientes.Introdução: O transtorno de estresse pós-traumático (TEPT) se caracteriza pela persistência de reações intensas a lembranças de um evento traumático. Nos últimos anos, houve uma série de estudos neurocientíficos e clínicos examinando o potencial de 3,4-metilenodioxmetanfetamina (MDMA) como um tratamento para transtorno do estresse pós-traumático. O objetivo desse estudo é sintetizar os estudos disponíveis em busca de melhores informações sobre o uso do MDMA como um novo tratamento para TEPT. Metodologia: Trata-se de uma revisão integrativa de literatura. A busca ocorreu nas principais bases de dados, com os descritores “N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine”, “MDMA”, “ecstasy”, “Stress Disorders”, “Post-Traumatic”, “PTSD”, combinados entre si por operadores booleanos. Após a avaliação crítica, obteve-se uma amostra final de 5 estudos. Resultados e discussão: Estudos apontaram que o uso de MDMA em pacientes com TEPT foi capaz de promover melhora dos sintomas em comparação ao uso de placebo, além de atenuar de maneira expressiva os escores de CAPS-5 e Escala de Incapacidade de Sheehan. Não foram observados efeitos adversos graves, porém devem ser feitos mais estudos para atestar a segurança dessa substância. Conclusão: Portanto, o uso do MDMA se mostrou eficaz no tratamento de transtorno de estresse pós-traumático em todos os estudos analisados, tendo boa tolerabilidade entre os pacientes e com melhora prolongada dos sintomas após o fim do tratamento. Mais estudos devem ser conduzidos para que seja atestada a segurança em diferentes perfis de pacientes

Health-related quality of life in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus in the different geographical regions of Brazil : data from the Brazilian Type 1 Diabetes Study Group

Background: In type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) management, enhancing health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is as important as good metabolic control and prevention of secondary complications. This study aims to evaluate possible regional differences in HRQoL, demographic features and clinical characteristics of patients with T1DM in Brazil, a country of continental proportions, as well as investigate which variables could influence the HRQoL of these individuals and contribute to these regional disparities. Methods: This was a retrospective, cross-sectional, multicenter study performed by the Brazilian Type 1 Diabetes Study Group (BrazDiab1SG), by analyzing EuroQol scores from 3005 participants with T1DM, in 28 public clinics, among all geographical regions of Brazil. Data on demography, economic status, chronic complications, glycemic control and lipid profile were also collected. Results: We have found that the North-Northeast region presents a higher index in the assessment of the overall health status (EQ-VAS) compared to the Southeast (74.6 ± 30 and 70.4 ± 19, respectively; p < 0.05). In addition, North- Northeast presented a lower frequency of self-reported anxiety-depression compared to all regions of the country (North-Northeast: 1.53 ± 0.6; Southeast: 1.65 ± 0.7; South: 1.72 ± 0.7; Midwest: 1.67 ± 0.7; p < 0.05). These findings could not be entirely explained by the HbA1c levels or the other variables examined. Conclusions: Our study points to the existence of additional factors not yet evaluated that could be determinant in the HRQoL of people with T1DM and contribute to these regional disparities

Hippocampal biomarkers of fear memory in an animal model of generalized anxiety disorder

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is highly prevalent and incapacitating. Here we used the Carioca High-Conditioned Freezing (CHF) rats, a previously validated animal model for GAD, to identify biomarkers and structural changes in the hippocampus that could be part of the underlying mechanisms of their high-anxiety profile. Spatial and fear memory was assessed in the Morris water maze and passive avoidance test. Serum corticosterone levels, immunofluorescence for glucocorticoid receptors (GR) in the dentate gyrus (DG), and western blotting for hippocampal brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were performed. Immunohistochemistry for markers of cell proliferation (bromodeoxiuridine/Ki-67), neuroblasts (doublecortin), and cell survival were undertaken in the DG, along with spine staining (Golgi) and dendritic arborization tracing. Hippocampal GABA release was assessed by neurochemical assay. Fear memory was higher among CHF rats whilst spatial learning was preserved. Serum corticosterone levels were increased, with decreased GR expression. No differences were observed in hippocampal cell proliferation/survival, but the number of newborn neurons was decreased, along with their number and length of tertiary dendrites. Increased expression of proBDNF and dendritic spines was observed; lower ratio of GABA release in the hippocampus was also verified. These findings suggest that generalized anxiety/fear could be associated with different hippocampal biomarkers, such as increased spine density, possibly as a compensatory mechanism for the decreased hippocampal number of neuroblasts and dendritic arborization triggered by high corticosterone. Disruption of GABAergic signaling and BDNF impairment are also proposed as part of the hippocampal mechanisms possibly underlying the anxious phenotype of this model

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear un derstanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5–7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8–11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world’s most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepre sented in biodiversity databases.13–15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may elim inate pieces of the Amazon’s biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological com munities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple or ganism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region’s vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most ne glected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lostinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio