Carbon Dioxide Utilisation -The Formate Route

UIDB/50006/2020 CEEC-Individual 2017 Program Contract.The relentless rise of atmospheric CO2 is causing large and unpredictable impacts on the Earth climate, due to the CO2 significant greenhouse effect, besides being responsible for the ocean acidification, with consequent huge impacts in our daily lives and in all forms of life. To stop spiral of destruction, we must actively reduce the CO2 emissions and develop new and more efficient “CO2 sinks”. We should be focused on the opportunities provided by exploiting this novel and huge carbon feedstock to produce de novo fuels and added-value compounds. The conversion of CO2 into formate offers key advantages for carbon recycling, and formate dehydrogenase (FDH) enzymes are at the centre of intense research, due to the “green” advantages the bioconversion can offer, namely substrate and product selectivity and specificity, in reactions run at ambient temperature and pressure and neutral pH. In this chapter, we describe the remarkable recent progress towards efficient and selective FDH-catalysed CO2 reduction to formate. We focus on the enzymes, discussing their structure and mechanism of action. Selected promising studies and successful proof of concepts of FDH-dependent CO2 reduction to formate and beyond are discussed, to highlight the power of FDHs and the challenges this CO2 bioconversion still faces.publishersversionpublishe

Binge eating disorder, anxiety, depression and body image in grade III obesity patients Compulsão alimentar periódica, ansiedade, depressão e imagem corporal em pacientes com obesidade grau III

INTRODUCTION: The objective of this study was to assess the frequency of Binge Eating Disorder (BED) or Binge Eating episodes (BINGE), anxiety, depression and body image disturbances in severely obese patients seeking treatment for obesity. METHOD: We assessed 50 patients (10M and 40F) with Body Mass Index (BMI) between 40 and 81.7 Kg/m² (mean 52.2&plusmn;9.2 Kg/m²) and aging from 18 to 56 years (mean 38.5&plusmn;9.7). Used instruments: Questionnaire on Eating and Weight Patterns <FONT FACE=Symbol>&frac34;</FONT> Revised (QEWP-R) for BED or BINGE assessment, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) for depressive symptoms, State - Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-TRAIT and STAI-STATE) for anxiety and Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ) for body image assessments. RESULTS: In this population BED and BINGE frequencies were 36% and 54%, respectively. Symptoms of depression were detected in 100% while severe symptomatology was found in 84% of the cases. The frequency of anxiety as a trait was 70%, as a state, 54% and 76% of all patients reported discomfort regarding body image. The frequency of BED was higher in patients with higher anxiety scores as a personality trait (>40) but not as a state (46% vs. 13%; p<0,05). A high frequency of BINGE was found in those with higher scores (>140) in the BSQ assessment. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate a high frequency of binge eating episodes, severe depressive symptoms, anxiety and concern with body image in grade III obesity patients.<br>INTRODUÇÃO: O objetivo desse trabalho é avaliar a freqüência de transtorno da compulsão alimentar periódica (TCAP), episódios de compulsão alimentar periódica (CAP), ansiedade, depressão e distúrbios na imagem corporal em pacientes com obesidade grau III que procuram tratamento para obesidade. MÉTODO: Foram avaliados 50 pacientes (10M e 40F) com Índice de Massa Corporal (IMC) de 40 a 81,7 Kg/m² (média =52,2&plusmn;9,2 Kg/m²) e idade entre 18 e 56 anos (média de 38,5&plusmn;9,7). Instrumentos utilizados: Questionário sobre Padrões de Alimentação e Peso ("Questionnaire on Eating and Weight Patterns - Revised" - QEWP-R), Inventário de Depressão de Beck ("Beck Depression Inventory" - BDI), o Inventário de Traço e Estado de Ansiedade ("State - Trait Anxiety Inventory" - STAI) e Questionário de Forma Corporal ("Body Shape Questionnaire" - BSQ). RESULTADOS: Nesta população, as freqüências de TCAP e CAP foram de 36% e 54%, respectivamente. Sintomas depressivos se mostraram presentes em 100% dos pacientes, sendo que 84% apresentavam sintomatologia grave. A freqüência de ansiedade como traço foi de 70% e como estado, de 54%. A preocupação com a imagem corporal esteve presente em 76% dos pacientes. A freqüência de TCAP foi maior nos pacientes com alto grau (escore >40) de ansiedade como traço de personalidade, mas não como estado (46% vs. 13%; p<0,05). Foi encontrada uma elevada freqüência de episódios de CAP nos pacientes com escore elevado (>140) na avaliação do BSQ. CONCLUSÃO: Nossos resultados demonstram a ocorrência de alta freqüência de episódios de compulsão alimentar periódica, sintomas depressivos graves, ansiedade e preocupação com a imagem corporal em pacientes com obesidade grau III