Survival of Bifidobacterium ssp. during gastrointestinal passage and their mechanism of action for pathogenic bacteria inhibition in the gut: a concise review

Bifidobacteria genus stands out for being one of the most used probiotic bacteria for food applications. This review presents a concise and direct picture of current knowledge on bifidobacteria strains survival during the passage through the human gastrointestinal system. It also provides the necessary theoretical background and details about mechanisms of actions of bifidobacteria against pathogenic bacteria. We will also report some of the factors which make the combination of food and bifidobacteria one of the most promising research topics in the field of modern food science

Caracterização dos contaminantes do minério de ferro do depósito mineral da Serra do Sapo, Conceição do Mato Dentro, Minas Gerais

Os itabiritos do depósito mineral da Serra do Sapo estão localizados na região da Serra do Espinhaço Meridional e são descritos como parte da Formação Serra do Sapo, unidade superior do Grupo Serra da Serpentina, e estão sobrepostos aos xistos e aos filitos da Formação Meloso. Formações ferríferas com alto teor de Al e P ocorrem no contato com metassedimentos da unidade basal. Esses contatos são transicionais e geram uma rocha bandada, com níveis milimétricos a centimétricos contendo grande concentração de óxido de ferro. Essa litologia tem textura sedosa e ocorre sempre decomposta, sendo descrita como hematita-quartzo-mica xistos ou classificada como itabirito com alto teor de contaminantes (IFX). A classificação dos itabiritos é feita de acordo com o grau de decomposição intempérica da rocha. Formações ferríferas bandadas classificadas como itabiritos (IT), rocha sã, e que também apresentam altos teores de P como contaminante, são classificadas como itabirito com alto teor de fósforo (ITX). Estudos petrográficos identificaram muscovita, clorita e gibbsita como as principais fontes de Al para as amostras de IFX. Os altos teores de Al2O3 e P2O5 desses litotipos também são explicados pelo processo de formação supergênica, em que o espaço dos minerais lixiviados é preenchido por clorita e gibbsita. Para o ITX, os altos teores de P estão relacionados com minerais de apatita que ocorrem com maior frequência nesse litotipo. Dados geoquímicos de rocha total, quando normalizados ao Pos-Archean Australian Shale (PAAS), mostram que as amostras de IFX são enriquecidas em elementos terras raras leves (ETRL) se comparadas aos outros itabiritos. Essas amostras também são enriquecidas em elementos móveis como Ba e Sr. Isso indica que o enriquecimento The itabirites of Serra do Sapo ore deposit are located in the Serra do Espinhaço region and are described as part of the Serra do Sapo Formation, the upper unit of the Serra da Serpentina Group, superposed to the schists and phyllites of the Meloso Formation. Iron formations with a high content of aluminum and phosphorus occur in contact with the schists of the basal unit. These contacts are transitional and generate a rock with millimeter to centimeter levels containing high iron oxide concentration. This lithology has a silky texture and always occurs decomposed, being described as hematite-quartz-mica schists or classified as Itabirite with high content of contaminants (IFX). The classification of itabirites is made according to the degree of weathering of the rock. Banded iron formations classified as Itabirites (IT) that also present high levels of phosphorus as contaminants; are classified as Itabirite with high phosphorus content (ITX). Petrographic studies identified muscovite, chlorite and gibbsite as the main sources of aluminum for IFX samples. The high levels of Al2O3 and P2O5 in these lithotypes are also explained by the supergenic formation process, where the space of the leached minerals is filled by chlorite and gibbsite. For ITX the high levels of phosphorus are related to apatite minerals that occur more frequently in this lithotype. Geochemical data shows that IFX samples, when normalized to PAAS, are enriched in LREE compared to the other itabirites. These samples are also enriched in mobile elements such as Ba and Sr. This indicates that the enrichment is due to the mobility of the LREE in a weathered environment without HREE

Unleashing the Diagnostic, Prognostic and Therapeutic Potential of the Neuronostatin/GPR107 System in Prostate Cancer

Certain components of the somatostatin-system play relevant roles in Prostate Cancer (PCa), whose most aggressive phenotype (Castration-Resistant-PCa (CRPC)) remains lethal nowadays. However, neuronostatin and the G protein-coupled receptor 107 (GPR107), two novel members of the somatostatin-system, have not been explored yet in PCa. Consequently, we investigated the pathophysiological role of NST/GPR107-system in PCa. GPR107 expression was analyzed in well-characterized PCa patient′s cohorts, and functional/mechanistic assays were performed in response to GPR107-silencing and NST-treatment in PCa cells (androgen-dependent (AD: LNCaP) and androgen-independent (AI: 22Rv1/PC-3), which are cell models of hormone-sensitive and CRPC, respectively), and normal prostate cells (RWPE-1 cell-line). GPR107 was overexpressed in PCa and associated with key clinical parameters (e.g., advance stage of PCa, presence of vascular invasion and metastasis). Furthermore, GPR107-silencing inhibited proliferation/migration rates in AI-PCa-cells and altered key genes and oncogenic signaling-pathways involved in PCa aggressiveness (i.e., KI67/CDKN2D/MMP9/PRPF40A, SST5TMD4/AR-v7/In1-ghrelin/EZH2 splicing-variants and AKT-signaling). Interestingly, NST treatment inhibited proliferation/migration only in AI-PCa cells and evoked an identical molecular response than GPR107-silencing. Finally, NST decreased GPR107 expression exclusively in AI-PCa-cells, suggesting that part of the specific antitumor effects of NST could be mediated through a GPR107-downregulation. Altogether, NST/GPR107-system could represent a valuable diagnostic and prognostic tool and a promising novel therapeutic target for PCa and CRPC

Úlcera por pressão: avaliação de fatores de risco em pacientes internados em um hospital universitário

Estudo prospectivo, realizado em hospital público de Uberaba-MG, na clínica médica (UCM) e cirúrgica (UCC), durante setembro de 2007 a janeiro de 2008, com objetivo de classificar pacientes segundo o escore de Braden e verificar associação entre as variáveis clínicas e o escore de risco de Braden. Foram avaliados 189 clientes, sendo 111 (58,7%) na UCM e 78 (41,3%) na UCC. Evidenciou-se que 39 (50,0%) apresentaram risco para úlcera por pressão (UP) na UCC, e 72 (64,9%) na UCM.  Na UCC, 24 (61,5%) apresentavam risco moderado e 15 (38,5%) risco leve. Na UCM, 16 (22,2%) apresentaram risco leve, 32 (44,5%) moderado e 24 (33,3%) elevado para UP. Houve associação significativa (p< 0,05) entre escore de risco segundo Braden e alterações neurológicas, urinárias, e nutricionais. A avaliação precoce para detectar os fatores de risco para UP possibilitou adoção de medidas de prevenção de úlceras, assegurando a qualidade da assistência de enfermagem. Descritores: Úlcera por pressão; Fatores de risco; Enfermagem

Parallel Finite Element Particle-In-Cell Code for Simulations of Space-charge Dominated Beam-Cavity Interactions

Over the past years, SLAC's Advanced Computations Department (ACD) has developed the parallel finite element (FE) particle-in-cell code Pic3P (Pic2P) for simulations of beam-cavity interactions dominated by space-charge effects. As opposed to standard space-charge dominated beam transport codes, which are based on the electrostatic approximation, Pic3P (Pic2P) includes space-charge, retardation and boundary effects as it self-consistently solves the complete set of Maxwell-Lorentz equations using higher-order FE methods on conformal meshes. Use of efficient, large-scale parallel processing allows for the modeling of photoinjectors with unprecedented accuracy, aiding the design and operation of the next-generation of accelerator facilities. Applications to the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) RF gun are presented

A Small Molecule Inhibitor of Signal Peptide Peptidase Inhibits Plasmodium Development in the Liver and Decreases Malaria Severity

The liver stage of Plasmodium's life cycle is the first, obligatory step in malaria infection. Decreasing the hepatic burden of Plasmodium infection decreases the severity of disease and constitutes a promising strategy for malaria prophylaxis. The efficacy of the gamma-secretase and signal peptide peptidase inhibitor LY411,575 in targeting Plasmodium liver stages was evaluated both in human hepatoma cell lines and in mouse primary hepatocytes. LY411,575 was found to prevent Plasmodium's normal development in the liver, with an IC50 of approximately 80 nM, without affecting hepatocyte invasion by the parasite. In vivo results with a rodent model of malaria showed that LY411,575 decreases the parasite load in the liver and increases by 55% the resistance of mice to cerebral malaria, one of the most severe malaria-associated syndromes. Our data show that LY411,575 does not exert its effect via the Notch signaling pathway suggesting that it may interfere with Plasmodium development through an inhibition of the parasite's signal peptide peptidase. We therefore propose that selective signal peptide peptidase inhibitors could be potentially used for preventive treatment of malaria in humans

Database of multiparametric geophysical data from the TOMO-DEC experiment on Deception Island, Antarctica

We are grateful to the officers and crew of the Spanish vessels 'R/V Hesperides' and 'R/V Las Palmas', the personnel of the Marine Technology Unit (UTM), the military personnel of the 'Gabriel de Castilla' Spanish base, and the members of the TOMODEC Working Group. This manuscript has been partially funded by the following research projects: the Spanish project TEC2015-68752-R (MINECO/FEDER); KNOWAVES; the Spanish Education and Research Ministry grants REN 2001-3833, CGL2005-05789-C02-02/ANT, POL2006-08663, and CGL2008-01660; the U.S. National Science Foundation grant ANT-0230094; the European project MED-SUV funded by the European Union's Seventh Framework Program for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement No 308665; the European project EPOS; the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 676564; and the U.S. National Science Foundation grant NSF-1521855 Hazard SEES project. Ocean bottom seismometers were provided by the U.S National Oceanographic Instrument Pool. This publication reflects only the authors' views. The European Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains.Deception Island volcano (Antarctica) is one of the most closely monitored and studied volcanoes on the region. In January 2005, a multi-parametric international experiment was conducted that encompassed both Deception Island and its surrounding waters. We performed this experiment from aboard the Spanish oceanographic vessel 'Hesperides', and from five land-based locations on Deception Island (the Spanish scientific Antarctic base 'Gabriel de Castilla' and four temporary camps). This experiment allowed us to record active seismic signals using a large network of seismic stations that were deployed both on land and on the seafloor. In addition, other geophysical data were acquired, including bathymetric high precision multi-beam data, and gravimetric and magnetic profiles. To date, the seismic and bathymetric data have been analysed but the magnetic and gravimetric data have not. We provide P-wave arrival-time picks and seismic tomography results in velocity and attenuation. In this manuscript, we describe the main characteristics of the experiment, the instruments, the data, and the repositories from which data and information can be obtained.MINECO/FEDER TEC2015-68752-RKNOWAVESSpanish Education and Research Ministry REN 2001-3833 CGL2005-05789-C02-02/ANT POL2006-08663 CGL2008-01660National Science Foundation (NSF) ANT-0230094 NSF-1521855European project MED-SUV - European Union's Seventh Framework Program 308665European project EPOSEuropean Union (EU) 67656

Brazilian Native Species as Potential New Sources of Natural Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Agents

The antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of extracts of 12 plant species growing in Brazil were determined. Antimicrobial activity against 12 food-related bacterial species was studied using the disc-diffusion, MIC, and MBC methods. Campomanesia eugenioides extract was the most active against the tested Gram-positive bacteria, whereas Parapiptadenia rigida bark extract presented the highest activity against the evaluated Gram-negative bacteria (MIC and MBC of 0.075 and 0.62 mg ml−1, respectively, against Pseudomonas aeruginosa). Those two extracts also presented high phenolic content and high DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging ability. C. eugenioides extract presented high Fe2+ chelating capacity. The results of the present study demonstrate that, among the evaluated extracts, P. rigida bark and C. eugenioides, both Brazilian native species, presented the highest potential of application as natural antimicrobial and antioxidant agents