DETERMINAÇÃO DO PERFIL BIOQUÍMICO DE RATOS SUBMETIDOS A ACUPUNTURA E LASER ACUPUNTURA NOS PONTOS ZUSANLI E YINTANG

Terapias complementares, como acupuntura e laser acupuntura, têm se destacado na prática médica devido as recomendações da Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS), uma vez que essas terapias apresentam efeitos orgânicos positivos. Objetivo comparar acupuntura e laser acupuntura nos acupontos E36 (Zusanli) e EX3 (Yintang) no perfil lipídico e glicêmico em ratos em jejum e sem jejum, bem como nos níveis séricos de cortisona. Ratos Wistar foram divididos em dois grupos (com jejum e sem jejum) e mantidos em biotério com ciclo claro-escuro (12-12 horas), temperatura controlada (22 ± 2 ° C) e livre acesso à água e comida. Os animais permaneceram no laboratório de bioquímica por um período de 1 h para aclimatação. Verificou-se que a laser acupuntura no grupo sem jejum houve aumento significativo nos níveis de colesterol total (CT, 32%) em relação ao controle e acupuntura, HDL-colesterol (HDL-c, 78%) e glicose (18%) apenas ao controle; no grupo com jejum  a terapia com laser acupuntura foi observado um aumento significativo no CT e no HDL-c (38 e 39%, respectivamente) e uma diminuição significativa nos níveis séricos de cortisol (30%), todos em relação ao controle. O presente estudo demonstrou respostas significativas com o tratamento a laser nos acupontos E36 (Zusanli) e EX3 (Yintang), quando comparados aos grupos acupuntura e controle. Os presentes achados reforçam a hipótese de que as terapias complementares têm efeitos significativos que podem beneficiar o paciente e devem, portanto, ser estimuladas sempre que possível

GESTÃO AMBIENTAL COMO DIFERENCIAL NA IMAGEM CORPORATIVA: Estudo multicaso em meios de hospedagem do município de Urubici - SC

A crescente preocupação ambiental tem influenciado os gestores a minimizar os impactos ambientais gerados por seus estabelecimentos. Tendo em vista que o município de Urubici - SC é considerado indutor do Turismo Rural em Santa Catarina, o objetivo do estudo é analisar a adoção de práticas ambientais em meios de hospedagem rurais do município de Urubici - SC e seus reflexos na imagem corporativa. A pesquisa é caracterizada como exploratória, qualitativa, para a qual foram realizadas entrevistas em profundidade com os seis proprietários dos meios de hospedagem como técnica de coleta de dados e a análise de significado para a interpretação. Como resultado, constatou-se que os meios de hospedagem que utilizam práticas ambientais o fazem por três motivos: cumprimento da lei, redução de custos e consciência ecológica. Apesar da elevada importância deste último, percebe-se que em nenhum caso analisado estas práticas são utilizadas como forma de atrair clientes ou melhorar a imagem do hotel

The Schistosoma mansoni cyclophilin A epitope 107-121 induces a protective immune response against schistosomiasis

Great efforts have been made to identify promising antigens and vaccine formulations against schistosomiasis. Among the previously described Schistosoma vaccine candidates, cyclophilins comprise an interesting antigen that could be used for vaccine formulations. Cyclophilin A is the target for the cyclosporine A, a drug with schistosomicide activity, and its orthologue from Schistosoma japonicum induces a protective immune response in mice. Although Schistosoma mansoni cyclophilin A also represents a promising target for anti-schistosome vaccines, its potential to induce protection has not been evaluated. In this study, we characterized the cyclophilin A (SmCyp), initially described as Smp17.7, analyzed its allergenic potential using in vitro functional assays, and evaluated its ability to induce protection in mice when administered as an antigen using different vaccine formulations and strategies. Results indicated that SmCyp could be successfully expressed by mammalian cells and bacteria. The recombinant protein did not promote IgE-reporter system activation in vitro, demonstrating its probable safety for use in vaccine formulations. T and B-cell epitopes were predicted in the SmCyp sequence, with two of them located within the active isomerase site. The most immunogenic antigen, SmCyp (107–121), was then used for immunization protocols. Immunization with the SmCyp gene or protein failed to reduce parasite burden but induced an immune response that modulated the granuloma area. In contrast, immunization with the synthetic peptide SmCyp (107–121) significantly reduced worm burden (48–50%) in comparison to control group, but did not regulate liver pathology. Moreover, the protection observed in mice immunized with the synthetic peptide was associated with the significant production of antibodies against the SmCyp (107–121) epitope. Therefore, in this study, we identified an epitope within the SmCyp sequence that induces a protective immune response against the parasite, thus representing a promising antigen that could be used for vaccine formulation against schistosomiasis

Response of Benthic Foraminifera to organic matter quantity and quality and bioavailable concentrations of metals in Aveiro Lagoon (Portugal)

This work analyses the distribution of living benthic foraminiferal assemblages of surface sediments in different intertidal areas of Ria de Aveiro (Portugal), a polihaline and anthropized coastal lagoon. The relationships among foraminiferal assemblages in association with environmental parameters (temperature, salinity, Eh and pH), grain size, the quantity and quality of organic matter (enrichment in carbohydrates, proteins and lipids), pollution caused by metals, and mineralogical data are studied in an attempt to identify indicators of adaptability to environmental stress. In particular, concentrations of selected metals in the surficial sediment are investigated to assess environmental pollution levels that are further synthetically parameterised by the Pollution Load Index (PLI). The PLI variations allowed the identification of five main polluted areas. Concentrations of metals were also analysed in three extracted phases to evaluate their possible mobility, bioavailability and toxicity in the surficial sediment. Polluted sediment in the form of both organic matter and metals can be found in the most confined zones. Whereas enrichment in organic matter and related biopolymers causes an increase in foraminifera density, pollution by metals leads to a decline in foraminiferal abundance and diversity in those zones. The first situation may be justified by the existence of opportunistic species (with high reproduction rate) that can live in low oxic conditions. The second is explained by the sensitivity of some species to pressure caused by metals. The quality of the organic matter found in these places and the option of a different food source should also explain the tolerance of several species to pollution caused by metals, despite their low reproductive rate in the most polluted areas. In this study, species that are sensitive and tolerant to organic matter and metal enrichment are identified, as is the differential sensitivity/tolerance of some species to metals enrichment.CNPq [401803/2010-4]; [PEst-OE/CTE/UI4035/2014]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Influence of Mineral Particle Films and Biomaterials on Guava Fruits and Implications for the Oviposition of Anastrepha obliqua (Macquart) (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Anastrepha obliqua (Macquart, 1835) is an important pest of tropical fruits, especially Anacardiaceae and Myrtaceae, in the Americas. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of mineral films and biomaterials on the coloring of guava fruits (Psidium guajava L.) and implications for the oviposition of A. obliqua. Before the bioassays, color, firmness characteristics, total soluble solids, pH, and titratable acidity were determined to characterize the maturation stage of the fruits. Pieces of guava fruit covered in aluminum foil were immersed in suspensions of mineral particles (Surround® WP kaolin; kaolins 605, 607, 608, and 611; and talc) and biomaterials (chitosan, cassava and potato starch, and guar gum) and distilled water (control). After drying, the fruits were exposed to two A. obliqua pairs for 48 h in choice and non-choice tests, and the numbers of eggs per fruit were counted. Mineral films (Surround® WP kaolin, and kaolins 605, 607, 608, and 611) and biomaterials (cassava and potato starch) interfered with the color of guava (luminosity, chroma, and hue angle), inhibiting the oviposition of A. obliqua. Talc, chitosan, and guar gum did not influence the oviposition of A. obliqua in guava