Antioxidant,antimicrobial and toxicological properties of Schinus molle L. essential oils

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Schinus molle L. has been used in folk medicine as antibacterial, antiviral, topical antiseptic, antifungal, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumoural as well as antispasmodic and analgesic; however, there are few studies of pharmacological and toxicological properties of S. molle essential oils. Aim of the study: The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of S. molle leaf and fruit essential oils, correlated with their chemical composition and evaluate their acute toxicity. Materials and methods: The chemical composition of S. molle leaf and fruit essential oils were evaluated by GC-FID and GC-MS. Antioxidant properties were determined using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical and β-carotene/linoleic acid methods. Antimicrobial properties were evaluated by the agar disc diffusion method and minimal inhibitory concentration assay. Toxicity in Artemia salina and acute toxicity with behavioural screening in mice were evaluated. Results: The dominant compounds found in leaf and fruit essential oils (EOs) were monoterpene hydrocarbons, namely -phellandrene, β-phellandrene, β-myrcene, limonene and α-pinene. EOs showed low scavenging antioxidant activity by the DPPH free radical method and a higher activity by the β-carotene/linoleic acid method. Antimicrobial activity of EOs was observed for Gram+, Gram– pathogenic bacteria and food spoilage fungi. EOs showed cytotoxicity for Artemia salina and lower toxicity in Swiss mice. Conclusions: The result showed that EOs of leaves and fruits of S. molle demonstrated antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, suggesting their potential use in food or pharmaceutical industries

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION, ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTIMICROBIAL PROPERTIES OF THREE ESSENTIAL OILS FROM PORTUGUESE FLORA

The present work reports on the evaluation of chemical composition and antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of essential oils of three aromatic herbs, growing wild in the south of Portugal, used in traditional food preparations: Foeniculum vulgare, Mentha spicata and Rosmarinus officinalis. The principal components of essential oils were anethole (41.2%) for F. vulgare, carvone (41.1%) for M. spicata and myrcene (23.7%) for R. officinalis. Essential oils showed antioxidant activity either by DPPH radical scavenging method and system β- carotene/acid linoleic method. Antimicrobial activity of essential oils was observed against pathogenic bacteria and yeasts and food spoilage fungi. F.vulgare essential oil showed bacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella enteritidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Aspergillus niger and Fusarium oxysporum with MICs of 0.25-0.75mg/mL. M. spicata oil was active against E.coli, S.aureus, C.albicans, A. niger and F. oxysporum with MICs ranging between 0.25 and 0.75mg/mL. R. officinalis essential oil showed activity against E.coli and C.albicans with MICs of 0.5-1.0mg/mL. Having in account the important antioxidant and antimicrobial properties observed in present work, we consider that these essential oils might be useful on pharmaceutical and food industry as natural antibiotic and food preservativ

Intensidad de la Senal ˜ en T1 en el Núcleo Dentado Tras la Administración del Agente de Contraste con Gadolinio Macrocíclico Gadoterato de Meglumina: un Estudio Observacional

Introduction and aims: Contradictory results have been reported about hyperintensity of the globus pallidus and/or dentate nucleus on unenhanced T1-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) images after exposure to various gadolinium-based contrast agents. This change in signal intensity varies with different gadolinium-based contrast agents. We aimed to determine whether signal intensity in the dentate nucleus is increased in unenhanced T1-weighted images in patients who have undergone multiple studies with the macrocyclic gadolinium-based contrast agent gadoterate meglumine. We thoroughly reviewed the literature to corroborate our results. Materials and methods: We included patients who had undergone more than 10 MR studies with gadoterate meglumine. We quantitatively analyzed the signal intensity in unenhanced T1-weighted MR images measured in regions of interest placed in the dentate nucleus and the pons, and we calculated the dentate nucleus-to-pons signal intensity ratios and the differences between the ratio in the first MR study and the last MR study. We used t-tests to evaluate whether the differences between the signal intensity ratios were different from 0. We also analyzed the subgroups of patients who had been administered <15 and ≥15 doses of gadoterate meglumine. We used Pearson correlation to determine the relationships between the differences in the signal intensity ratios and the number of doses of gadoterate meglumine administered. Results: The 54 patients (26 men) had received a mean of 13.8±3.47 doses (range, 10-23 doses). The difference in the dentate nucleus-pons signal intensity ratio between the first and last MR study was -0.0275±0.1917 (not significantly different from 0; p=0.2968) in the entire group, -0.0357±0.2204 (not significantly different from 0; p = 0.351 in the patients who had received <15 doses (n=34), and -0.0135±0.1332 (not significantly different from 0; p = 0.655) in those who had received ≥15 doses (n=20). Differences in signal intensity ratios did not correlate significantly with the accumulated dose of gadoterate meglumine (P = 0.9064; ρ = -0.0164 [95%]). Conclusions: Receiving more than 10 doses of gadoterate meglumine was not associated with increased signal intensity in the dentate nucleus.Introducción y objetivo: Se han notificado resultados contradictorios sobre un aumento en la intensidad de la se˜nal (IS) en las imágenes de resonancia magnética (RM) ponderadas en T1 no realzadas en el globo pálido y/o el núcleo dentado (ND) después de la exposición a varios agentes de contraste con gadolinio (ACG). Este cambio en la se˜nal varía en función del ACG específico. Nuestro objetivo fue investigar si existe un aumento en la IS del ND en imágenes ponderadas en T1 no realzadas en pacientes sometidos a múltiples administraciones del ACG macrocíclico gadoterato de meglumina. Se realizó una revisión exhaustiva de la bibliografía para corroborar nuestros resultados. Materiales y métodos: Se incluyeron pacientes que se habían sometido a más de 10 estudios de RM con contraste y administración exclusiva de gadoterato de meglumina. Se llevó a cabo un análisis cuantitativo mediante el uso de mediciones de regiones de interés en el ND y el puente en imágenes no realzadas ponderadas en T1. Se calcularon las proporciones ND-puente y las diferencias en las proporciones entre el inicio y la última RM realizada. Se utilizó una prueba de la t de una muestra para evaluar si las diferencias en la proporción de la IS difieren de 0. Se realizó un análisis de subgrupos de pacientes con <15 y ≥15 dosis. Se utilizó el análisis de correlación de Pearson para determinar las correlaciones entre las diferencias de las proporciones de la IS y el número de administraciones del ACG. Resultados: 54 pacientes (26 hombres) recibieron una media de 13,8 dosis ± 3,47 (desviación estándar [DE]) (rango, 10−23 dosis). La diferencia en la proporción de la IS ND-puente entre la primera y la última exploración de RM fue de -0,0275 ± 0,1917 y no difirió significativamente de 0 P = 0,2968) en el análisis general y en el análisis de subgrupos [(<15 (n = 34), -0,0357 ± 0,2204, P = 0,351 y ≥15 (n = 20), -0,0135 ± 0,1332, p = 0,655)]. Las diferencias en la proporción de la IS no se correlacionaron significativamente Pon la dosis acumulada de gadoterato de meglumina (P = 0,9064; = -0,0164 [95%]). Conclusiones: Más de 10 administraciones de gadoterato de meglumina no se asoció a un aumento de la IS en el ND.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Avaliação da composição química e actividade biológica de óleos essenciais de Lavandula spp.

As Lavandula spp. pertencem à família Lamiaceae, conhecidas vulgarmente por rosmaninho, são das plantas medicinais mais populares e de grande importância económica. Têm sido utilizadas durante séculos, secas, frescas ou os seus óleos essenciais, num grande número de aplicações, na indústria farmacêutica, na aromaterapia e cosmética como fragrância. Algumas espécies do género Lavandula, apesar de apresentarem propriedades etnobotânicas semelhantes, diferem na composição dos óleos essenciais, podendo estes constituir importantes marcadores de quimiotipo para caracterização destas espécies. Para este estudo foram seleccionadas espécies expontâneas do Alentejo, como a L. stoechas L. subsps. luisieri (Rozeira) Rozeira, L. pedunculata (Mill.) Cav. subsp. pedunculata var. lusitanica Chaytor, e do Algarve, L. viridis L’Hér. Estes espécimes são frequentes nos sub-bosques de azinhais, sobreirais e pinhais de pinheiro bravo, matagais, estevais e sargaçais, em solos arenosos, quartzíticos, graníticos ou xistosos. O objectivo deste estudo foi caracterizar os óleos essenciais das espécies-alvo no que concerne à composição química com vista a avaliar a sua diversidade e avaliar as actividades antimicrobiana e antioxidante dos óleos essenciais da espiga e folha de L. luisieri e de L. viridis

CYP3A5 genetic polymorphism in HIV-patients

Poster presented at the From Basic Sciences to Clinical Research - First International Congress of CiiEM. Egas Moniz, Caparica, Portugal, 27-28 November 2015"A number of relevant polymorphisms are known for affecting the most common prescribed ARVs (antiretroviral), inducing drug toxicity, risk of virologic failure and may explain the interpatient variability for drug absorption pathways. CYP3A5 is an isoform of Cytochromes P4503A family, estimated to participate in the metabolism of 40 to 60% of all clinically administered drugs, namely atazanavir (1). The aim of this study was to characterize the CYP3A5 polymorphisms of HIV infected patients, from Santa Maria Hospital, Lisbon, Portugal.

Estudo do material de enchimento/revestimento de elementos construtivos de tabique de construções antigas existentes na Região do Vale do Douro Norte

A região de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro é rica em construções de tabique. Constatou-se que grande parte destas construções antigas apresenta um avançado estado de degradação. Este facto aliado à escassez de estudos científicos relativos às construções de tabique existentes nesta região motivou a realização deste trabalho de investigação que usa doze construções como amostragem e que é focado no estudo experimental de determinação da composição granulométrica e de identificação das composições química e mineralógica do material do revestimento/enchimento usado

Pharmacogenetic: screening relevant polymorphisms on antiretroviral therapy in a HIV Portuguese population

Poster presented at the 15th European AIDS Conference. Barcelona, 21-24 October 2015"Several factors cause heterogeneity of response to antiretroviral therapy. Genetic polymorphisms, particularly in metabolizing enzyme, cytochrome P450 isoenzymes and transport proteins MDR, MRP and SLC, may cause pharmacokinetic variability in some ARVs, leading to viral failure, drug toxicity and may explain the interpatient variability for drug absorption pathways.

Searching relevant polymorphisms of CYP2B6 in HIV infected patients

Poster presented at the From Basic Sciences to Clinical Research - First International Congress of CiiEM. Egas Moniz, Caparica, Portugal, 27- 28 November 2015"The CYP2B6 belongs to the family of Cytochrome P450 enzymes that catalyze the metabolism of a wide variety of drugs, including the anti-retroviral EFV. The CYP2B6 gene, that has been mapped in the chromosome 19, is highly polymorphic and some SNP, namely 516G>T and 785A>G, are associated with decreased protein expression. These variants are related to phenotypes that are characterized as EFV poor metabolizers, and consequently to episodes of neurotoxicity.

Characterization of polypropylene (PP) and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) multifilament braided textile structures for Achilles tendon partial substitution

When tendon injuries present a too large damage extension, the conventional treatment options do not result, so a new prosthetic device needs to be developed to partially replace a tendon. Therefore, in this study, different braided textile structures based on polypropylene (PP) and poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET) multifilament yarns were developed, using a textile technology-based technique, in order to mimic the fibrous structure of tendons. Structures with different architectures were developed using different PP or PET yarns number and different braiding take-up rates, which consequently leads to different braid angles. The braids architecture influenced the porosity level, swelling profile, wicking ability and mostly their mechanical behavior. It was observed that the load at failure of the braids was mainly controlled by the number of yarns, but the strain level was mostly influenced by the take-up rate and consequently by the braid angle. Regarding the stiffness level, it results from a combination of the yarns number and braid angle. The structure based on 16 PET yarns, produced with the highest take-up rate, revealed a very promising creep and force-relaxation behavior for the final application, as well as a very interesting fatigue resistance.Authors acknowledge the financial support from FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia), through the Grant SFRH/BD/88829/2012, Project PEst-C/EME/UI0285/2011 and Project UIDB/50006/2020

MOHID as a tool to evaluate the impact of water discharge from dams on the advection of estuarine fish larval stages

The impoundment of rivers by dams is the biggest direct anthropogenic impact on the hydrological cycle. The utility of dams, as providers of water for human consumption, irrigation and electrical production, is undeniable. However, the price to pay, weighting benefits versus ecological impacts caused by dams, is enormous and often questionable. The deleterious ecological impacts caused by dams are detected at the dam’s site are and at hundreds of kilometers downstream from dams, even in estuaries and coastal areas. The uncontrolled water discharge from dams, both high volumes of water and inappropriate timing, compromise fish recruitment because eggs are flushed from estuarine spawning and nursery areas. Thus, our goal was to develop an hydrodynamic modelling approach that evaluates the impact of water discharge from dams on the advection of fish larval stages off estuaries and into coastal areas. This goal was accomplished by merging the abundance of anchovy eggs along the Guadiana estuary in MOHID