Resistance Exercise Improves Metabolic Parameters And Changes Adipocyte-derived Leptin: A Comparison Between Genders In Untrained Adults

This study examined gender differences after resistance exercise (RE) by measuring fasting plasma levels of creatine kinase, lipid profile, blood glucose, adiponectin, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and leptin. Thirteen women (23.6 ± 7.3 years) and 11 men (29.5 ± 9 years) were enrolled in the study. Two bouts of RE were performed on two different occasions separated by 48 h each. Blood samples were collected and analyzed at baseline and 15 h after the last RE session. Increased creatine kinase levels and improvements in lipid profile and blood glucose were found for both genders. No changes in adiponectin and TNF-α levels were observed for both genders, but leptin levels were reduced (p < 0.05) only for women after RE. Collectively, our findings clearly show that RE was effective in lowering blood glucose and that this effect was not accompanied by changes in adiponectin levels in healthy subjects, indicating that RE is still an important tool for the prevention of metabolic diseases. Furthermore, two sessions of RE promoted a reduction in leptin levels in women, even though no changes in body weight were found, showing that RE is an interesting approach to study obese patients and metabolic regulation.22321722

Acute and subacute anti-inflammatory activities of dichloromethane extract of Cassia alata (Linn.) leaves in wistar rats

Background: In Burkina Faso, leaves of Cassia alata are used in the treatment of several diseases, including inflammation. This study evaluated the  anti-inflammatory effects of the dichloromethane extract of Cassia alata leaves (CF-AECal) on different models of inflammation in wistar rats in order to enhance its use in traditional medicine.Materials and Methods: Acute inflammation was induced among rats with 0.1 ml of carrageenan, serotonin, histamine and dextrane 1%. The effects of the CF-AECal 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg were compared to the effects of diclofenal 5 mg/kg, prednisone 5 mg/kg, promethazine 1 mg/kg, cyproheptadin 2 mg/kg. Cotton pellet and air pouch - induced granuloma permitted to study CF-AECal effects on the subacute inflammation. The ways of administrations were intra peritoneal for the substances of inductions and oral for the molecules of references and CF-AECal.Result: Carrageenan-induced paw edema has been inhibited to 52.39% by CF-AECal 50 mg/kg and 50.17% by CF-AECal 100 mg/kg. Wet granulomas formation has been inhibited by CF-AECal 50 and 100 mg/kg to 20.94 and 57.82%. The dry granulomas were inhibited at 24.32 and 59.04% by CF-AECal 50 and 100 mg/kg. Air pouch fluid was significantly reduced by CF-AECal in comparison to the control group. There was a massive recruitment of leukocytes in the pocket granuloma of the control group. CF-AECal caused strong inhibition of this infiltration of leukocytes (p&lt; 0.001).Conclusion: Dichloromethane extract of Cassia alata showed anti-inflammatory effects.Key words: Cassia alata, anti-inflammatory effect, animal models, edema, granulom

Integrating biological data into ocean observing systems: the future role of OBIS

The future data needs of ocean science and ocean resource management will require a more seamless and accessible coupling of biological data with physical oceanographic processes. This bio-physical data framework will be built through the active integration of data from an extensive variety of sensors, observers, platforms and data archives across a wide range of space and time scales. This necessary synthesis of raw biological data into useful information and potentially new understanding is dependent on both new developments in ocean exploration as well as developments in information systems and informatics. The Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS) is poised to play a significant and expanding role in the evolving ocean observation system

A Política De Desenvolvimento Produtivo Da Saúde E A Capacitação Dos Laboratórios Públicos Nacionais

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Technological innovations play a decisive role in societies’ development by contributing to economic growth and the population’s welfare. The state has a key role in this process by inducing innovative behavior, strategies, and decisions. This study addresses Brazil’s current policy for development of the health industry and its effects on qualification of national public laboratories by contextualizing different cycles of interaction between health policy and the industrial base, discussing the government’s development strategy and the transfer and absorption of health technology (through Industrial Development Partnerships), and presenting two current partnerships involving public laboratories in the production of medicines and vaccines. © 2016, Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz. All rights reserved.32supl.2CNPq, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e TecnológicoConselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Caracterização química e avaliação das atividades antibacteriana, antifúngica, antimicobacteriana e citotóxica de Talinum paniculatum

In this study, the bioactivity of Talinum paniculatum was evaluated, a plant widely used in folk medicine. The extract from the T. paniculatum leaves (LE) was obtained by percolation with ethanol-water and then subjecting it to liquid-liquid partitions, yielding hexane (HX), ethyl acetate (EtOAc), butanol (BuOH), and aqueous (Aq) fractions. Screening for antimicrobial activity of the LE and its fractions was evaluated in vitro through broth microdilution method, against thirteen pathogenic and non-pathogenic microorganisms, and the antimycobacterial activity was performed through agar diffusion assay. The cytotoxic concentrations (CC90) for LE, HX, and EtOAc were obtained on BHK-21 cells by using MTT reduction assay. The LE showed activity against Serratia marcescens and Staphylococcus aureus, with Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) values of 250 and 500 µg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, HX demonstrated outstanding activity against Micrococcus luteus and Candida albicans with a MIC of 31.2 µg/mL in both cases. The MIC for EtOAc also was 31.2 µg/mL against Escherichia coli. Conversely, BuOH and Aq were inactive against all tested microorganisms and LE proved inactive against Mycobacterium tuberculosisand Mycobacterium bovisas well. Campesterol, stigmasterol, and sitosterol were the proposed structures as main compounds present in the EF and HX/EtOAc fractions, evidenced by mass spectrometry. Therefore, LE, HX, and EtOAc from T. paniculatumshowed potential as possible sources of antimicrobial compounds, mainly HX, for presenting low toxicity on BHK-21 cells with excellent Selectivity Index (SI = CC90/MIC) of 17.72 against C. albicans.Neste estudo foi avaliada a bioatividade de Talinum paniculatum, planta amplamente utilizada na medicina popular. O extrato das folhas (EF) de T. paniculatum foi obtido por percolação com etanol-água e, em seguida, submetido à partição líquido-líquido, obtendo-se as frações hexânica (HX), acetato-etílica (AcOEt), butanólica (BuOH) e aquosa (Aq). A triagem para a atividade antimicrobiana do EF e de suas frações foram avaliadas in vitro através do método de microdiluição em caldo contra treze micro-organismos patogênicos e não-patogênicos e, a atividade antimicobacteriana, foi avaliada através do teste de difusão em ágar. As concentrações citotóxicas (CC90) do EF e das frações HX e AcOEt foram obtidas sobre células da linhagem BHK-21 através do ensaio de redução do MTT. O EF mostrou atividade contra Serratia marcescens e Staphylococcus aureus, com valores de concentração inibitória mínima (CIM) de 250 e 500 µg/mL, respectivamente. Além disso, HX demonstrou excelente atividade contra Micrococcus luteus e Candida albicans com uma CIM de 31,2 µg/mL, em ambos os casos. Contra Escherichia coli, a CIM para AcOEt foi também de 31,2 µg/mL. Por outro lado, as frações BuOH e Aq foram inativas contra todos os micro-organismos testados, assim como o EF contra Mycobacterium tuberculosis e Mycobacterium bovis. Campesterol, estigmasterol e sitosterol foram as estruturas propostas como principais compostos presentes no EF e nas frações HX e AcOEt, evidenciadas através de espectrometria de massas. Portanto, o extrato da folha e as frações HX e AcOEt provenientes de T. paniculatum apresentaram potencial como possíveis fontes de compostos antimicrobianos, HX principalmente, por ter apresentado uma baixa toxicidade sobre células BHK-21 com um bom índice de seletividade (IS = CC90/MIC) de 17,72 contra C. albicans

Self-gender schemes: A comparison between individual and collective sport modalities

e aim of this study was to analyze the dierences in gender schemas of self between collective and individual sports. e participants were 140 amateur athletes aged between 13 and 17 years practicing a team sport (indoor soccer) and an individual sport (athletics) in the Chapecó and Florianópolis municipalities of Santa Catarina-SC. e instruments used were the Questionnaire for Socio-Demographic and Training, the Inven- tory Female Gender Schemas of Self-Concept (IFEGA) and the Inventory of Male Gender Schemas of Self-Concept (IMEGA). No dierences in gender schema were found among women athletes who were mostly classi- ed as masculine/ feminine (iso schematic). Among men, the soccer players showed a hetero masculine gender schema, while those in athletics showed an iso schematic scheme. Regarding the variation within the gender schema dimensions, the soccer athletes had higher values in terms of inferiority in relation to those in athletics. Among men, the athletics athletes showed higher values of boldness and lower values of insecurity as compared to soccer athletes. We conclude that gender schemas of self-concept only had variations in the two modalities for male athletes; however, the variations in their constitutive dimensions of schema occurred according to the nature of the sport practiced.

Fresh, hardened and thermal properties of coating mortars containing mineral additions and vermiculite

Efforts are made to alleviate thermal problems in buildings. The use of thermal mortars for coating with vermiculite as aggregate is used for this purpose, but the use with mineral additions is still scarce, especially the rheology through squeeze-flow. Thus, it was aimed to evaluate the behavior in fresh, hardened state and in the thermal conductivity of these mortars. Mortars containing Portland cement, lime, vermiculite, sand, and additions of metakaolin or ceramic brick waste, in the proportion of 1:1:6 (Cement: Lime: Sand), were evaluated. The sand was replaced by vermiculite in 40%, and the additions added in the proportion of 20% to the cement mass, and the water content determined with the spread obtained on the consistency table. Mixtures containing 20% mineral addition and 40% vermiculite proved to be feasible, reaching minimum values according to the respective standards

Kinin B1 receptor gene ablation affects hypothalamic CART production

A role for the kinin B1 receptor in energy-homeostatic processes was implicated by previous works. Notably the studies where kinin B1 receptor knockout mice (B1-/-) are observed to have impaired adiposity, impaired leptin and insulin production, lower feed efficiency, protection from liver steatosis and diet induced obesity when fed a high fat diet (HFD). More particularly, in a model where the B1 receptor is expressed exclusively in the adipose tissue, it rescues the plasma insulin concentration and the weight gain seen in wild type mice. Taking into consideration that leptin participates in the formation of hypothalamic nuclei, which modulate energy expenditure, and feeding behavior, we hypothesized that these brain regions could also be altered in B1-/- mice. We observed for the first time a difference in the gene expression pattern of CART (cocaine-and-amphetamine related transcript) in the LHA (lateral hypothalamic area) resulting from the deletion of the kinin B1 receptor gene. The correlation between CART expression in the LHA and the thwarting of diet-induced obesity corroborates independent correlations between CART and obesity. Further it seems to indicate that the mechanism underlying the 'lean' phenotype of B1-/- mice is not solely stemming from changes in peripheral tissues but may also receive contributions from changes in the hypothalamic machinery involved in energy homeostasis processes

Plantio direto, adubação verde e suplementação com esterco de aves na produção orgânica de berinjela.

Sob manejo orgânico, foram avaliados, em Seropédica, RJ, os sistemas de plantio direto da berinjela(Solanum melongena) nas palhadas de Crotalaria juncea (crotalária), Pennisetum glaucum (milheto, cv. BRS 1501)e vegetação espontânea (pousio), em comparação com o plantio convencional (aração e gradagem ou enxada rotativa). Simultaneamente, foram avaliados três tipos de cultivo: berinjela em monocultura, em consórcio com crotalária e em consórcio com caupi (Vigna unguiculata, cv. Mauá). Não houve diferença entre os sistemas de plantio direto e convencional quanto à produção comercial da berinjela. A palhada da crotalária foi mais eficiente que a do milheto e do pousio para cobertura morta do solo e conseqüentemente o controle de plantas espontâneas foi maior. O cultivo simultâneo com as leguminosas não acarretou redução da produtividade da berinjela.Em um segundo estudo, foram comparados plantio direto (palhadas de crotalária e da vegetação espontânea) e plantio convencional, combinados com doses crescentes de cama de aviário (0, 100, 200 e 400 kg ha-1 de N)aplicada em cobertura. Em termos de aporte de biomassa, a crotalária foi novamente superior à vegetação espontânea.A berinjela respondeu à adubação orgânica, com produtividade máxima de 50,6 t ha-1 , correspondendo à maior dose empregada, contra 36,9 t ha-1 referentes ao controle

Morphological phenotypic dispersion of garlic cultivars by cluster analysis and multidimensional scaling

Multivariate techniques have become a useful tool for studying the phenotypic diversity of Germplasm Bank accessions, since they make it possible to combine a variety of different information from these accessions. This study aimed to characterize the phenotypic dispersion of garlic (Allium sativum L.) using two multivariate techniques with different objective functions. Twenty accessions were morphologically characterized for bulb diameter, length, and weight; number of cloves per bulb; number of leaves per plant; and leaf area. Techniques based on generalized quadratic distance of Mahalanobis, UPGMA (Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Mean) clustering, and nMDS (nonmetrric MultiDimensional Scaling) were applied and the relative importance of variables quantified. The two multivariate techniques were capable of identifying cultivars with different characteristics, mainly regarding their classification in subgroups of common garlic or noble garlic, according to the number of cloves per bulb. The representation of the phenotypic distance of cultivars by multidimensional scaling was slightly more effective than that with UPGMA clustering