(-)-tarchonanthuslactone Exerts A Blood Glucose-increasing Effect In Experimental Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)A number of studies have proposed an anti-diabetic effect for tarchonanthuslactone based on its structural similarity with caffeic acid, a compound known for its blood glucose-reducing properties. However, the actual effect of tarchonanthuslactone on blood glucose level has never been tested. Here, we report that, in opposition to the common sense, tarchonanthuslactone has a glucose-increasing effect in a mouse model of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The effect is acute and non-cumulative and is present only in diabetic mice. In lean, glucose-tolerant mice, despite a slight increase in blood glucose levels, the effect was not significant.20350385049Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Institute of Chemistry/UNICAMPFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)FAPESP [proc. 13/07607-8]FAPESP [11/50514-5, 12/09254-2, 10/08673-6, 2009/53606-8

Production Capacity and Queues in a Bookstore at Porto Velho, Brazil

The objective of this work was to study the productive capacity and queues in the services of a bookstore in Porto Velho city, Brazil. To do this, the specific objectives were: (1) to study the productive capacity in the operation units of the bookstore; (2) to carry out an analysis of queuing and flow management in the operation units of the bookstore; and (3) to suggest prospects for the development using the SWOT Matrix analysis tool

Biodegradable chitosan films with ZnO nanoparticles synthesized using food industry by-products—production and characterization

UIDB/04077/2020 PTDC/BTM‐SAL/29335/2017 UIDB/04138/2020 UIDP/04138/2020 grant (2020.04441.BD) of C.R.This work aimed to produce bionanocomposites of chitosan incorporated with zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) synthesized using food industry by-products and to characterize them. Such nanoparticles are highlighted due to their low cost, antimicrobial activity, accessibility, and sustainability synthesis. Four different levels of ZnO NPs (0, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0% w/w of chitosan) were tested, and the bionanocomposites were characterized in terms of their hydrophobicity, mechanical, optical, and barrier properties. Overall, the incorporation of ZnO NPs changed the composites from brittle to ductile, with enhanced elongation at break and reduced Young Modulus and tensile strength. Thus, ZnO NPs acted as plasticizer, turning the films more flexible, due to the presence of organic compounds on the NPs. This also favored permeability of oxygen and of water vapor, but the good barrier properties were maintained. Optical properties did not change statistically with the ZnO NPs incorporation. Thus, the characterization presented in this paper may contribute to support a decision on the choice of the material’s final application.publishersversionpublishe

SAMARAS OF AUSTROPLENCKIA POPULNEA (CELASTRACEAE): NEW CONSTITUENTS AND EFFECT OF EXTRACTS AND FRIEDELIN ON GERMINATION OF BIDENS PILOSA (ASTERACEAE)

Objective: Evaluation of the impact of extracts and constituents from samaras of Austroplenckia populnea on percentage of seed germination (%SG), germination speed index (GSI), length of rootlets (LR), seedling length (SL), and on dry mass (DM) of Bidens pilosa L weed.Methods: The  powder  of  samaras  was  extracted  with  organic  solvents  providing  the  hexane  (SAPEH),  chloroform  (SAPEC),  ethyl  acetate  (SAPEAE) and ethanol  (SAPEE)  extracts. The terpene 1 was isolated from SAPEH by means of column and thin layer chromatography and identified through NMR spectroscopy. Each extract and 1 were subjected to growth inhibition assays evaluating the following parameters: %SG, GSI, LR, SL and DM, with five repetitions.Results: The compounds Friedelin (1), 7-hydroxy-clerodan-3-en-16,15:18,20-diolide (2), 3,5,7,4'-tetrahydroxy-6-methoxy-8-prenylflavanone (3), tetradecanamide (4), and 4-hydroxy-1,6,15-acetyloxy-8,9-benzoyloxy-agarofurane (5) were isolated from hexane extract of samaras of A. populnea and identified by spectroscopic data. The compounds 2, 3 and 5 were not previously described as being chemical constituents from Celastraceae family. In addition, the novel compounds 3 and 5 were described here for the first time. Substantial effect on the germination of B. pilosa L. (picão-preto) was observed after treatment of seeds with nonpolar extracts from Samaras of A. populnea. Friedelin inhibited the seed germination in the tested concentrations showing toxic properties against picão-preto.Conclusion: The germination inhibition of seeds was higher using nonpolar extracts than polar extract. Friedelin inhibited the seed germination in the tested concentrations showing toxic properties against B. pilosa.Â

Eco-friendly ZnO/chitosan bionanocomposites films for packaging of fresh poultry meat

UID/EMS/04077/2019 UID/QUI/50006/2019 UID/QUI/00100/2019 Contrato No: IST-ID/154/2018) under Decree-Law No. 57/2016 and 57/2017.The advances on the development of novel materials capable to enhance the shelf life of food products may contribute to reduce the current worldwide food waste problem. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are considered GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and due to their good antimicrobial properties are suitable to be applied as active compounds in food packaging. ZnO NPs were synthesized to be tested in active bionanocomposites through an eco-friendlier route using apple peel wastes. This work aimed to develop bionanocomposites based on chitosan and incorporated with ZnO NPs to characterize its bioactivity via in vitro and in situ studies, using fresh poultry meat as the food matrix. Overall, bio-based biodegradable films presented good antimicrobial activity, being the intrinsic antimicrobial properties of chitosan enhanced by the ZnO NPs added on the system. When used as primary packaging of the meat, the samples protected with the films presented a decrease on the deterioration speed, which was represented by the preservation of the initial reddish color of the meat and reduction on the oxidation process and microbiological growth. The nanoparticles enhanced especially the antioxidant properties of the films and proved to be potential food preservatives agents to be used in active food packaging.publishersversionpublishe

Caracterização Morfométrica dos Compartimentos do Relevo do Parque Nacional da Serra do Cipó, Serra do Espinhaço Meridional – Minas Gerais

O mapeamento morfológico é uma importante ferramenta na interpretação de processos, materiais e formas do relevo regional. Sobretudo em Unidades de Conservação, auxilia no planejamento e gestão ambiental das áreas protegidas. Nesse contexto, o principal objetivo desse trabalho é caracterizar os compartimentos morfológicos do Parque Nacional da Serra do Cipó a partir da medição de parâmetros morfométricos. Os procedimentos metodológicos envolvem a sobreposição de dados cartográficos, a elaboração de perfis topográficos, a identificação de rupturas de declive e, finalmente, medições morfométricas. Os resultados mostram que o Parque Nacional da Serra do Cipó pode ser dividido em onze compartimentos morfológicos na escala de 1:50.000, demonstrando a importância da morfometria na individualização de unidades do relevo. Espera-se que esses resultados e os avanços metodológicos desse trabalho possam colaborar para pesquisas futuras assim como para a gestão de Unidades de Conservação na Serra do Cipó

Estratégias de tratamento para os erros inatos do metabolismo

Recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) have improved substantially the prognosis for many of these conditions. In the clinical practice it is important to recognize this pathology mainly in an acute situation, when the early intervention is essential. In this article, we presented some therapeutic strategies for IEM that should be used to improve their prognose.Recentes avanços no diagnóstico e tratamento dos erros inatos do metabolismo têm melhorado substancialmente o prognóstico de muitos pacientes com estas condições. Na pratica médica é importante o diagnóstico precoce destas patologias, especialmente em um paciente agudamente enfermo, para que um tratamento adequado e rápido seja instituído. Neste artigo, apresentamos várias estratégias terapêuticas para alguns erros inatos do metabolismo, que devem ser utilizadas no sentido de melhorar o seu prognóstico

Skin picking treatment with the Rothbaum cognitive behavioral therapy protocol : a randomized clinical trial

Introduction: Although behavioral therapies can effectively treat skin picking disorder (SPD), there is no standardized treatment for improving SPD and its comorbidities and there is no group intervention option. This trial aimed to adapt the Rothbaum trichotillomania protocol to SPD (Study 1) and test its efficacy for treating SPD and comorbidities in individual and group formats (Study 2). Methods: The adapted protocol was applied to 16 SPD patients, who were allocated to group or individual treatment (Study 1). Afterwards, 54 patients were randomly allocated to treatment in an individual (n=27) or group format (n=27) (Study 2). In both studies, assessments of SPD severity, anxiety, depression, clinical status and skin lesion severity were performed at baseline and the endpoint. Results: The adapted protocol was feasible in both treatment modalities (Study 1) and led to high SPD remission rates (individual 63%; group 52%), with no significant difference between intervention types (p = 0.4) (Study 2). SPD, anxiety, and depression symptoms and objective patient lesion measures improved after treatment. There was large effect size for SPD symptom improvement in both treatment types (Cohen’s d: group = 0.88; individual = 1.15) (Study 2). Conclusion: The adapted Rothbaum protocol was effective for SPD remission, comorbidities, and skin lesions, both in individual and group formats

Three-Dimensional and Biomimetic Technology in Cardiac Injury After Myocardial Infarction: Effect of Acellular Devices on Ventricular Function and Cardiac Remodelling

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DMC) of ischemic or non-ischemic aetiology remains a lethal condition nowadays. Despite early percutaneous or medical revascularization after an acute myocardial infarct (AMI), many patients still develop DMC and severe heart failure due to cardiac remodelling. Possibility of regenerating myocardium already damaged or at least inducing a more positive cardiac remodelling with use of biodegradable scaffolds has been attempted in many experimental studies, which can be cellular or acellular. In the cellular scaffolds, the cells are incorporated in the structure prior to implantation of the same into the injured tissue. Acellular scaffolds, in turn, are composites that use one or more biomaterials present in the extracellular matrix (ECM), such as proteoglycans non-proteoglycan polysaccharide, proteins and glycoproteins to stimulate the chemotaxis of cellular/molecular complexes as growth factors to initiate specific regeneration. For the development of scaffold, the choice of biomaterials to be used must meet specific biological, chemical and architectural requirements like ECM of the tissue of interest. In acute myocardial infarction, treating the root of the problem by repairing injured tissue is more beneficial to the patient. Inducing more constructive forms of endogenous repair. Thus, patches of acellular scaffolds capable of mimicking the epicardium and ECM should be able to attenuate both cardiac remodelling and adverse cardiac dysfunction

Biotinidase deficiency: Genotype-biochemical phenotype association in Brazilian patients

[EN] The association between the BTD genotype and biochemical phenotype [profound biotinidase deficiency (BD), partial BD or heterozygous activity] is not always consistent. This study aimed to investigate the genotype-biochemical phenotype association in patients with low biotinidase activity. Methods All exons, the 5'UTR and the promoter of the BTD gene were sequenced in 72 Brazilian individuals who exhibited low biotinidase activity. For each patient, the expected biochemical phenotype based on the known genotype was compared with the observed biochemical phenotype. Additional non-genetic factors that could affect the biotinidase activity were also analysed. Most individuals were identified by neonatal screening (n = 66/72). When consecutive results for the same patient were compared, age, prematurity and neonatal jaundice appeared to affect the level of biotinidase activity. The biochemical phenotype at the time of the second blood collection changed in 11/22 patients compared to results from the first sample. Three novel variants were found: c.1337T>C (p.L446P), c.1466A>G (p.N489S) and c.962G>A (p.W321*). Some patients with the same genotype presented different biochemical phenotypes. The expected and observed biochemical phenotypes agreed in 68.5% of cases (concordant patients). The non-coding variants c.-183G>A, c.-315A>G and c.-514C>T were present in heterozygosis in 5/17 discordant patients. In addition, c.- 183G>A and c.-514C>T were also present in 10/37 concordant patients. The variants found in the promoter region do not appear to have a strong impact on biotinidase activity. Since there is a disparity between the BTD genotype and biochemical phenotype, and biotinidase activity may be affected by both genetic and non-genetic factors, we suggest that the diagnosis of BD should be based on more than one measurement of plasma biotinidase activity. DNA analysis can be of additional relevance to differentiate between partial BD and heterozygosity.SIThis study received financial support from Fundo de Incentivo à Pesquisa e Eventos/Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (FIPE-HCPA) for research materials and publication fee. Post Graduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology (Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul) funded the translation. ECN has a commercial affiliation (CTN Diagnósticos) which did not have any role or financial contribution to this research. TB have fellowship from the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (Capes). FS had fellowship from the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul (FAPERGS). IVDS, MRSC and PASF have fellowships from the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq). HB receives a research grant of Orphan Europe. The funders did no provide support in the form of salaries for any author, and did not have any additional role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The specific roles of these authors are articulated in the ‘author contributions’ section