Efeito da farinha de chia (Salvia hispanica L.) sobre as taxas glicêmicas de Drosophila melanogaster / Effect of chia flour (Salvia hispanica L.) on glycemic rates in Drosophila melanogaster

A chia tem alto valor nutricional, é rica em ácidos graxos poli-insaturados, proteínas e minerais, além de fibras e polifenóis. A prevenção de certas doenças tem sido relacionada a um consumo apropriado em fibras alimentares e ômega-3 e pobres em gorduras saturada, trans e colesterol. Nesta conjuntura temos a chia (Salvia hispanica L.) que é uma semente versátil devido a suas inúmeras propriedades. Esta pesquisa procurou observar a ação da farinha de chia nos parâmetros bioquímicos de Drosophila melanogaster, utilizadas como modelo experimental. Obteve-se a farinha de chia no comércio local. Nas dietas quando adicionado 10%, 20% e 30% de farinha de chia, detectou-se uma redução na glicose correlacionando a adição da farinha de chia com a diminuição das taxas, demonstrando que emprego da Salvia hispanica L. como substrato alimentar no modelo experimental Drosophila melanogaster modificou os parâmetros bioquímicos. Por meio deste estudo pode-se inferir que a farinha de chia possui um efeito protetor no modelo experimental (Drosophilas melanogaster). Recomenda-se a elaboração de mais estudos para a confirmação destes resultados

Avaliação dos efeitos neuroprotetores da tianeptina e seu derivado NANT 03 em uma linhagem de células SH-SY5Y diferenciadas

Introdução: O Transtorno Bipolar (TB) é uma doença crônica e recorrente, e sua fisiopatologia ainda não esta completamente elucidada. Recentes estudos têm encontrado significativas alterações em vias neurotróficas em pacientes com TB, principalmente na neurotrofina BDNF. O BDNF está envolvido em muitas funções cerebrais, como sobrevivência, diferenciação neuronal e plasticidade sináptica. Fármacos que atuem aumentando os níveis de BDNF podem se tornar promissores tratamentos para o TB. Objetivos: O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos neuroprotetores da tianeptina, um antidepressivo atípico, e de uma nova molécula sintetizada a partir da tianeptina em um modelo in vitro. Métodos: Para o estudo, foi utilizada uma linhagem de células de neuroblastoma humano SH-SY5Y, diferenciada em neurônios dopaminérgicos tratadas com tianeptina e NANT 03 nas concentrações de 30, 50 e 100μM por 48 horas. Após, foi quantificado os níveis de mRNA do BDNF, BDNF intracelular e secretado e níveis intracelulares de Bcl-2. Resultado: NANT 03 aumentou os níveis de mRNA do BDNF no tratamento com 50 e 100μM, aumentou BDNF intracelular e secretado e Bcl-2 na dose de 100μM. A tianeptina na dose de 100μM aumentou os níveis de BDNF intracelular e secretado. Conclusão: O novo composto apresentou um caráter neuroprotetor maior que a tianeptina o que demonstra que essa nova molécula pode contribuir para melhorar a plasticidade sináptica e cognição dos pacientes com TB.Background: Bipolar disorder (BD) is a chronic and recurrent illness and its pathophysiology is not yet completely understood. Recent studies have found significant changes in neurotrophic pathways in patients with BD, especially in the neurotrophin BDNF. BDNF is involved in several brain functions, such as neuronal survival and differentiation and synaptic plasticity. Drugs that act by increasing levels of BDNF may become promising treatments for BD. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of tianeptine, an atypical antidepressant, and of new molecule synthesized from tianeptine in an in vitro model. Methods: For study, a cell line of human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y differentiated into dopaminergic neurons was treated with concentrations of 30, 50 and 100μM of tianeptine and NANT 03 for 48 hours. Afterwards, it was measured the levels of BDNF mRNA, intracellular and secreted BDNF and intracellular levels of Bcl-2. Results: NANT 03 increased BDNF mRNA levels in treatment with 50 and 100μM, and increased intracellular and secreted BDNF and Bcl-2 levels in a dose of 100μM. The tianeptine in the dose of 100μM increased levels of intracellular and secreted BDNF. Conclusion: The new compound showed a neuroprotective character greater than tianeptine. This suggests this new molecule can improve cognition and neuronal plasticity of bipolar patients

Promises and pitfalls of immune-based strategies for Huntington's disease

Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal-dominant neurodegenerative disease characterized by the selective loss of neurons in the striatum and cortex, leading to progressive motor dysfunction, cognitive decline and behavioral symptoms. HD is caused by a trinucleotide (CAG) repeat expansion in the gene encoding for huntingtin. Several studies have suggested that inflammation is an important feature of HD and it is already observed in the early stages of the disease. Recently, new molecules presenting anti-inflammatory and/or immunomodulatory have been investigated for HD. The objective of this review is to discuss the data obtained so far on the immune-based therapeutic strategies for HD

Gene Expression Profiling in Huntington’s Disease: Does Comorbidity with Depressive Symptoms Matter?

Huntington’s disease (HD) is an inherited neurodegenerative disease. Besides the well-characterized motor symptoms, HD is marked by cognitive impairment and behavioral changes. In this study, we analyzed the blood of HD gene carries using RNA-sequencing techniques. We evaluated samples from HD gene carriers with (n = 8) and without clinically meaningful depressive symptoms (n = 8) compared with healthy controls (n = 8). Groups were age- and sex-matched. Preprocessing of data and between-group comparisons were calculated using DESeq2. The Wald test was used to generate p-values and log2 fold changes. We found 60 genes differently expressed in HD and healthy controls, of which 21 were upregulated and 39 downregulated. Within HD group, nineteen genes were differently expressed between patients with and without depression, being 6 upregulated and 13 downregulated. Several of the top differentially expressed genes are involved in nervous system development. Although preliminary, our findings corroborate the emerging view that in addition to neurodegenerative mechanisms, HD has a neurodevelopmental component. Importantly, the emergence of depression in HD might be related to these mechanisms

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder And Inflammation: What Does Current Knowledge Tell Us? A Systematic Review

BackgroundAttention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a complex condition that interferes with development and/or functioning. Our objective is to investigate the potential association between ADHD and inflammation.MethodsWe conducted a systematic review of human studies measuring inflammatory markers in ADHD. The studies were identified by searching PUBMED, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PSYCHINFO, COCHRANE, and SCOPUS databases for peer-reviewed journals published until September 2016. We included cytokine gene expression and protein measured. Fourteen papers met the inclusion criteria.ResultsSeven studies evaluated the association of cytokine gene polymorphisms in ADHD, and six studies measured cytokines levels in blood. One study analyzed the presence of cytokines in cerebrospinal fluid in patients with ADHD. Altogether, these studies indicate a possible role of inflammation in ADHD pathogenesis, despite the significant heterogeneity and contradictory results.ConclusionEvidence points to the association of ADHD with inflammatory processes, but more studies are warranted

Templateless electropolymerization for controlled growth of polymeric nanotubes on micropatterned surfaces

Controlling the growth of nanostructures onto surfaces is fundamental to develop new materials for various fields such as sensing or biomedical applications. Here, we study for the first time the influence of micropatterned substrates on the growth of nanotubes using a templateless electropolymerization approach. The influence of both the nature of the monomer and the deposition charge used in the polymerization process is assessed along with geometric parameters of the microstructured surfaces composed of bidimensionally distributed squared micropillars. First, we show that the formation of nanotubes is always favored at the basis of the microfeatures rather than on their top surface. As a consequence, it is preferable to avoid using monomers which lead to mono-directional (1D) nanotube growth which would be only generated at the basis of the micropillars. Besides, we hereby demonstrate that the surface coverage with the nanotubes is highly dependent on the geometric parameters of micropatterned substrates. Indeed, the growth of the nanostructures over the micropillars requires a significant energy and thus micropillars of lower height give optimal results. We demonstrate that it is possible to obtain a complete coverage of the microstructured substrate at even very low deposition charge applied during the electropolymerization step.JRC.F.2-Consumer Products Safet