First chemical profile analysis of acacia pods

This study intended to evaluate the potential industrial applications of various Acacia species (Acacia melanoxylon, Acacia longifolia, Acacia cyclops, Acacia retinodes, Acacia pycnantha, Acacia mearnsii, and Acacia dealbata) by examining their chemical composition, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. Using high-resolution mass spectrometry, a comprehensive analysis successfully identified targeted compounds, including flavonoids (flavonols/flavones) and phenolic acids, such as 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, p-coumaric acid, and ellagic acid. Additionally, p-coumaric acid was specifically identified and quantified within the hydroxycinnamic aldehydes. This comprehensive characterization provides valuable insights into the chemical profiles of the studied species. Among the studied species, A. pycnantha exhibited a higher concentration of total phenolic compounds, including catechin, myricetin, quercetin, and coniferaldehyde. Furthermore, A. pycnantha displayed notable antibacterial activity against K. pneumoniae, E. coli, S. Typhimurium, and B. cereus. The identified compounds in Acacia pods and their shown antibacterial activities exhibit promising potential for future applications. Moreover, vibrational spectroscopy was a reliable method for distinguishing between species. These significant findings enhance our understanding of Acacia species and their potential for various industrial applications.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Impact Of Hypotensive Action Of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitor On Ovarian-Intraovarian Blood Flow And Follicles Development In Goats Hormonally Stimulated With Repeated Fsh-Ecg Treatment

Background: Recent evidence shows that the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) participates in important reproductive processes, such as steroidogenesis, folliculogenesis, oocyte maturation and ovulation. Several studies have proposed to use an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) as a RAS modulator, aiming to improve reproductive efficiency, however, the presence of the main components of this system in reproductive tissues still need to be further investigated, since the physiological functions seem to be species-specific. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of enalapril-maleate, an ACE inhibitor, during repeated gonadotropins treatment on ovarian blood flow and follicular development in goats. Materials, Methods and Results: Twenty Anglo-Nubian cross-bred goats were equally grouped according to parity (n=10/group): nulliparous and multiparous parity. In each group, five animals were randomly selected to receive 0.4 mg.kg-1 of enalapril-maleate during 11 days of estrus synchronization and gonadotropins treatments. The other animals received the same volume of saline solution. Estrus synchronization of all goats was made by intramuscular administration of PGF2α analog, followed 48 h later by intravaginal insertion of a controlled internal drug release device. Forty-eight hours after device withdrawal, a single dose of 60 mg of FSH plus 300 UI of eCG was administered and repeated every 4 days to complete 3 treatments. Transrectal ultrasonography was performed using pulsed and color Doppler to evaluate Doppler velocimetrics parameters of the ovarian artery and intraovarian blood flow, respectively, and B-mode real-time ultrasound scanner to evaluate the follicular development. In the females treated with enalapril-maleate was observed a significant reduction of systolic and diastolic peak, without difference according to parity. In addition, in the third session of hormonal stimulation, only the groups (nulliparous and multiparous) not treated with enalapril maleate had a significant increase in the intraovarian blood flow (Doppler area). In treated group was also found a greater number of small follicles, a lower proportion of follicle ≥ 5 mm and a smaller follicular size. In the same group, the nulliparous females had a lower proportion of large follicles compared to the saline group, otherwise, there were no differences between the treatments in multiparous goats. In the group treated with enalapril maleate, higher number of large follicles was observed in multiparous animals than in the nulliparous ones.Discussion: In vivo and in vitro studies have shown clear effects of RAS modulation on reproductive aspects. Our results confirmed the hypotensive effect of enalapril maleate on the ovarian artery and intraovarian blood flow, also showing that the administration of the drug reduced the process of follicular depletion and the growth of large follicles. These findings suggest that the hypotensive effects observed in our experiment, result from the treatment with the ACE inhibitor, and that this alteration in hemodynamic parameters may be the main responsible for the lower follicular response observed in animals treated with enalapril-maleate. We suggest that further studies are necessary to elucidate possible effects of the administration of an ACE inhibitor on ovarian activity, especially in the expression of genes associated with follicular, oocyte and embryonic development. Finally, the study conclude that the administration of enalapril-maleate in our experimental condition exhibit a hypotensive effect on ovarian circulatory system but did not show to promote a real benefit of follicular development in goats.

Ensino e prática da pesquisa em comunicação organizacional e relações públicas no contexto pandêmico:

In the face of the socio-organizational resignification imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, our text, of scientific-academic character, reflects the challenges of the teaching and practice of research. Furthermore, it shows some exercises we understand as facilitators of the scientific work of investigation in the scope of academic methodology, inserted in the emergency remote learning modality for the undergraduate programs of Public Relations.Teniendo en cuenta que la pandemia del Covid-19 llevó a una resignificación socioorganizacional, en este texto, de carácter académico-científico, se reflexiona sobre los desafíos de la enseñanza y la práctica de investigación. Además, se presentan algunos ejercicios entendidos como facilitadores del trabajo científico de investigación en el ámbito de la metodología académica, en la modalidad de enseñanza remota de emergencia para los cursos de grado en Relaciones Públicas.Diante da ressignificação sócio-organizacional imposta pela pandemia da covid-19, nosso texto, com caráter acadêmico-científico, reflete os desafios do ensino e prática da pesquisa. Ademais, apresenta alguns exercícios entendidos por nós como facilitadores do labor científico da investigação no âmbito da metodologia acadêmica, inserida na modalidade de ensino remoto emergencial para os cursos de graduação em Relações Públicas

First chemical profile analysis of acacia pods

This work was supported by project PCIF/GVB/0145/2018 (Acacia4fireprev— https://www.acacia4fireprev.com/equipa 4 September 2023). Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal, for financial support through projectsUIDB/00239/2020 (CEF),UIDB/QUI/00100/2020 and UIDP/00100/2020 (to CQE), LA/P/0056/2020 (to IMS), UIDP/00709/2020 (CICS-UBI), project UIDB/00681/2020 (CERNAS-IPCB) funding is also gratefully acknowledged.This study intended to evaluate the potential industrial applications of various Acacia species (Acacia melanoxylon, Acacia longifolia, Acacia cyclops, Acacia retinodes, Acacia pycnantha, Acacia mearnsii, and Acacia dealbata) by examining their chemical composition, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. Using high-resolution mass spectrometry, a comprehensive analysis successfully identified targeted compounds, including flavonoids (flavonols/flavones) and phenolic acids, such as 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, p-coumaric acid, and ellagic acid. Additionally, p-coumaric acid was specifically identified and quantified within the hydroxycinnamic aldehydes. This comprehensive characterization provides valuable insights into the chemical profiles of the studied species. Among the studied species, A. pycnantha exhibited a higher concentration of total phenolic compounds, including catechin, myricetin, quercetin, and coniferaldehyde. Furthermore, A. pycnantha displayed notable antibacterial activity against K. pneumoniae, E. coli, S. Typhimurium, and B. cereus. The identified compounds in Acacia pods and their shown antibacterial activities exhibit promising potential for future applications. Moreover, vibrational spectroscopy was a reliable method for distinguishing between species. These significant findings enhance our understanding of Acacia species and their potential for various industrial applications.This research was funded by project Acacia4fireprev—Acacia biomass exploitation: a tool to reduce wildfires risk in unmanaged forestlands (PCIF/GVB/0145/2018), funded by FCT–Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Structural identification of the pacemaker cells and expression of hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels in the heart of the wild Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua (Linnaeus, 1758)

Hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels are proteins that contain highly conserved functional domains and sequence motifs that are correlated with their unique biophysical activities, to regulate cardiac pacemaker activity and synaptic transmission. These pacemaker proteins have been studied in mammalian species, but little is known now about their heart distribution in lower vertebrates and c-AMP modulation. Here, we characterized the pacemaker system in the heart of the wild Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), with respect to primary pacemaker molecular markers. Special focus is given to the structural, ultrastructural and molecular characterization of the pacemaker domain, through the expression of HCN channel genes and the immunohistochemistry of HCN isoforms, including the location of intracardiac neurons that are adjacent to the sinoatrial region of the heart. Similarly to zebrafish and mammals, these neurons are immunoreactive to ChAT, VAChT and nNOS. It has been shown that cardiac pacemaking can be modulated by sympathetic and parasympathetic pathways, and the existence of intracardiac neurons projecting back to the central nervous system provide a plausible link between them.publishedVersio

The shift from high to low turnover bone disease after parathyroidectomy is associated with the progression of vascular calcification in hemodialysis patients: A 12-month follow-up study

Parathyroidectomy (PTX) may cause low levels of PTH, leading to an excessive reduction of bone turnover, which is associated with poor outcomes in dialysis patients, including vascular calcification (VC). We aimed to prospectively investigate the impact of PTX on bone remodeling and its potential consequence on the progression of VC in hemodialysis patients. In this prospective study, 19 hemodialysis patients with severe secondary hyperparathyroidism (sHPT) were evaluated. All patients underwent laboratorial tests and coronary tomography at baseline and, 6 and 12 months after PTXbone biopsy was performed at baseline and 12-month. At baseline, all patients had increased PTH levels up to 2500 pg/mL and high turnover bone disease in their bone biopsies. Fourteen (74%) patients had VC. During the follow-up, there was a significant decrease of PTH at 6 and 12-month. At 12-month, 90% of the patients evolved to low turnover bone disease. During the period of the hungry bone syndrome (first 6 months), no change of coronary calcium score was observed. However, calcium score increased significantly thereafter (12(th) month). There was an association between VC progression and the severity of low turnover bone disease. In conclusion, the shift from high to low turnover bone disease after PTX occurs in parallel to VC progression, contributing to the understanding of the complex pathophysiology involving mineral metabolism and cardiovascular disease in hemodialysis patients.National Counsel of Technological and Scientific Development (CNPq)Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Nephrol Div, Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Parana, Nephrol Div, Curitiba, Parana, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Head & Neck Surg Div, Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Sao Paulo, Cardiol Div, Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Nephrol Div, Sao Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Photodynamic Therapy as Novel Treatment for Halitosis in Adolescents: A Case Series Study

Introduction: Halitosis is a common problem that affects a large portion of the population worldwide. The origin of this condition is oral in 90% of cases and systemic in 10% of cases. The foul odor is caused mainly by volatile sulfur compounds produced by Gram-negative bacteria. However, it has recently been found that anaerobic Gram-positive bacteria also produce hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in the presence of amino acids, such as cysteine. Light with and without the combination of chemical agents has been used to induce therapeutic and antimicrobial effects. In photodynamic therapy, the antimicrobial effect is confined to areas covered by the photosensitizing dye. The aim of the present case series study was to evaluate the antimicrobial effect of photodynamic therapy on halitosis in adolescents through the analysis of volatile sulfur compounds measured using a sulfide meter (Halimeter®).Methods: Five adolescents aged 14 to 16 years were evaluated using a sulfide meter before and one hour after photodynamic therapy, which involved the use of methylene blue 0.005% on the middle third and posterior thirds of the dorsum of the tongue and nine points of laser irradiation in the red band (660 nm) with an energy dose of 9 J, power output of 100 mW and 90-seconds exposure time.Results: A 31.8% reduction in the concentration of volatile sulfur compounds was found in the comparison of the initial and final readings. The statistically significant reduction (p = 0.0091) led to an absence of halitosis following treatment (mean: 58.2 ppb).Conclusion: Photodynamic therapy seems to be effective on reduction the concentration of volatile sulfur compounds.Considering the positive effects of photodynamic therapy in this case series, further studies involving microbiological analyses should be conducted to allow comparisons of the results