Potential of silicon fertilization in the resistance of chestnut plants toink disease(Phytophthora cinnamomi)

The European chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) is a specie with great economic importance in Europe that have been present for thousands of years. In Portugal, the chestnut helps to maintain a positive trade balance, by contributing to the gross national product (GDP). One of the biggest threats for the chestnut is the ink disease caused by Phytophthoracinnamomi, this disease is problematic to chestnut crop with a damaging impact. Silicon (Si) is classified as a beneficial nutrient, having the ability to make plants more resistant to attacks by pathogens. Studies on the effect of silicon on chestnut are practically non-existent, so the aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of silicon in the resistance of chestnut plants to P. cinnamomi. The plants were treated by 0 mM, 5 mM, 7.5mM and 10 mM SiK® with the analyzed mad at 0, 15 and 30 days after inoculation by P. cinnamomi. These findings showed that the Si-treated plants had higher survival rate resulted from the presence of phytoliths in root tissues, that acted as a mechanical barrier reducing the development of pathogenic structures and they arealso associated with the improvement on antioxidant activity through the increase of CAT and SOD, higher values of total phenols compounds and less oxidative damage. The presence of Si in PDA medium reduced the growth of P. cinnamomi all over the time, presenting high PI. This work shows that the Si fertilization in chestnut plants contributes to increase the resistance against P. cinnamomi infection

Clinical study of a multivitamin and polymineral complex associated with Panax ginseng extract (Natus Gerin®)

This study aimed to stablish the efficacy of a multivitamin and polyminerals supplemented with Panax ginseng extract (Natus Gerin®) on patients subjected to common physical or mental stress. Patients were randomly divided in two groups and underwent a thorough clinical examination. Group A received Natus Gerin® capsules and B placebo capsules. Two capsules were taken daily during meals during four weeks. Mood and physical activity were evaluated through a questionnaire assessing quality of life. From the 176 patients enrolled, 17 were excluded due to voluntary withdrawal, 81 completed the study in group A and 78 in group B. The treatment with Natus Gerin® increased the quality of life when compared to placebo. After 15 and 30 days, group A showed a significant increase in average scoring score from 1.78 to 3.78, and finally 5.32 points. The study has shown that the daily use of Natus Gerin® can be effective in improving quality of life in patients suffering from physical and mental stressColegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Italian Ryegrass Establishment by Self-Seeding in Integrated Crop-Livestock Systems: Effects of Grazing Management

Recent reports have indicated that integrated crop-livestock systems (ICLS) can enhance sustained crop and livestock production by efficiently using agricultural system resources (Liu et al. 2012). In the subtropical South American regions, soybean (Glycine max L. Merril) and maize (Zea Mays L.) crops are widely grown after Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam) pastures. In this system, the pasture may be established by self-seeding. Self-seedling reduces pasture production costs and extends the grazing period. The stoking method, and especially the grazing intensity, can greatly affect the quantity of seeds added to the soil by affecting the demography of the reproductive tillers. In subtropical areas where Italian ryegrass is used for winter pastures in ICLSs, the effects of crop rotation, stocking methods or grazing intensities on the subsequent ability of Italian ryegrass to self-seed are unknown. The objectives of this study are to evaluate the effects of management practices (crop rotation, stocking method and herbage allowance) on the establishment of Italian ryegrass pastures by self-seedling in an ICLS

Preclinical study of the interference of different nutritional diets on the anti-inflammatory and analgesic actions of etoricoxib

The aim of this research was to evaluate the interference of the association of different types of nutritional diet in the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of etoricoxib in in vivo models. The following assays were used: a) Rat paw edema induced by carrageenan; b) Induction of the granulomatous tissue by cotton pellet; c) Dermatitis induced by croton oil; d) Vascular permeability by histamine in rats; e) Writhing test by acetic acid in mice; f) Formalin test in mice and; g) Stress-induced gastric lesions. The association of etoricoxib with the different types of diet did not alter the anti-inflammatory effect in the assays employed, but potentialized the analgesic effect, particularly when associated with hyperproteic diet for peripheral pain and hyperglucidic diet for central pain. The association of etoricoxib with hyperglucidic diet decreased the gastric lesion rate.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

International gestational age-specific centiles for umbilical artery doppler indices: A longitudinal prospective cohort study of the INTERGROWTH-21st project

Background: Reference values for umbilical artery Doppler indices are used clinically to assess fetal well-being. However, many studies that have produced reference charts have important methodologic limitations, and these result in significant heterogeneity of reported reference ranges.Objectives: To produce international gestational age-specific centiles for umbilical artery Doppler indices based on longitudinal data and the same rigorous methodology used in the original Fetal Growth Longitudinal Study of the INTERGROWTH-21st Project.Study design: In Phase II of the INTERGROWTH-21st Project (the INTERBIO-21st Study), we prospectively continued enrolling pregnant women according to the same protocol from 3 of the original populations in Pelotas (Brazil), Nairobi (Kenya), and Oxford (United Kingdom) that had participated in the Fetal Growth Longitudinal Study. Women with a singleton pregnancy were recruited at weeks\u27 gestation, confirmed by ultrasound measurement of crown-rump length, and then underwent standardized ultrasound every 5±1 weeks until delivery. From 22 weeks of gestation umbilical artery indices (pulsatility index, resistance index, and systolic/diastolic ratio) were measured in a blinded fashion, using identical equipment and a rigorously standardized protocol. Newborn size at birth was assessed using the international INTERGROWTH-21st Standards, and infants had detailed assessment of growth, nutrition, morbidity, and motor development at 1 and 2 years of age. The appropriateness of pooling data from the 3 study sites was assessed using variance component analysis and standardized site differences. Umbilical artery indices were modeled as functions of the gestational age using an exponential, normal distribution with second-degree fractional polynomial smoothing; goodness of fit for the overall models was assessed.Results: Of the women enrolled at the 3 sites, 1629 were eligible for this study; 431 (27%) met the entry criteria for the construction of normative centiles, similar to the proportion seen in the original fetal growth longitudinal study. They contributed a total of 1243 Doppler measures to the analysis; 74% had 3 measures or more. The healthy low-risk status of the population was confirmed by the low rates of preterm birth (4.9%) and preeclampsia (0.7%). There were no neonatal deaths and satisfactory growth, health, and motor development of the infants at 1 and 2 years of age were documented. Only a very small proportion (2.8%-6.5%) of the variance of Doppler indices was due to between-site differences; in addition, standardized site difference estimates were marginally outside this threshold in only 1 of 27 comparisons, and this supported the decision to pool data from the 3 study sites. All 3 Doppler indices decreased with advancing gestational age. The 3rd, 5th 10th, 50th, 90th, 95th, and 97th centiles according to gestational age for each of the 3 indices are provided, as well as equations to allow calculation of any value as a centile and z scores. The mean pulsatility index according to gestational age = 1.02944 + 77.7456*(gestational age)-2 - 0.000004455*gestational age3.Conclusion: We present here international gestational age-specific normative centiles for umbilical artery Doppler indices produced by studying healthy, low-risk pregnant women living in environments with minimal constraints on fetal growth. The centiles complement the existing INTERGROWTH-21st Standards for assessment of fetal well-being

Os Açores e os impérios : séculos XV a XX

[...]. Os Açores não constituem simplesmente um elo da correspondência transatlântica. Aliás, possuem uma identidade bem complexa. Com efeito, se a História evidencia muito a mundividência, apresentando as ilhas como o centro do Mundo, já a literatura ressalta muito o isolamento, resultante do afastamento dos continentes e da descontinuidade territorial, apresentando as ilhas como o fim do Mundo. Curiosamente, a política e os políticos, talvez com maior sentido do pragmatismo e da oportunidade, agem em função das circunstâncias. De facto, proclamam a projecção da universalidade, quando reivindicam mais capacidade de auto-governo, mas insistem na pobreza da ultraperifericidade, quando exigem mais contrapartidas financeiras. Apesar da divergência das perspectivas, atentemos mais na universalidade dos Açores, que historicamente influi na definição das dinâmicas do Atlântico, conferindo maior projecção à Europa

New biocompatible peptide-based hydrogels as drug nanocarriers

In this work, several new hydrogelators were developed, containing a Naproxen or a Naphthalene group, and their critical aggregation concentrations were determined by fluorescence. The influence of pH on the aggregation of these molecules was also investigated.Foundation for the Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal), FEDER and QREN for financial support to the Research Centers, CFUM [PEst-C/FIS/UI0607/2013 (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-037291)] and CQ/UM [PEst-C/QUI/UI0686/2013 (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-037302)]. FCT is also acknowledged for the PhD grant of H. Vilaça (SFRH/BD/7265/2010)

Antinociceptive activity of acetylbergenin in mice

Endopleura uchi (Huber) Cuatrec. (Humiriaceae), a Brazilian Amazon plant, is used in folk medicine for the treatment of arthritis. Bergenin, one of the chemical constituents of E. uchi, has several biological activities, including anti-inflammatory properties. Acetylbergenin was obtained from acetylation of bergenin to investigate the antinociceptive effect assessed in models of nociception in mice. This compound dosed at 1, 5, 10, 15 and 25 mg/kg in the writhing test reduced the abdominal constrictions in a significant manner, in 28.2 %, 52.7 %, 61.1 %, 68.3 % and 95.0 %, respectively with ED50 of 6.8 mg/kg. Acetylbergenin in the hot plate test was assayed at 6.8 mg/kg producing no alterations in the latency time when compared to the control. It was tested at 6.8 mg/kg in the formalin test inhibiting significantly the second phase of the algic stimulous, in 88.3 %. These results suggest that acetylbergenin has analgesic activity, probably of peripheral origin. The mechanism involved is not completely understood, however, the results suggest that the opioid system must be involved in the antinociceptive action.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire