Analysis of errors in verbal fluency tasks in patients with chronic schizophrenia

Background and Objectives: Even if verbal fluency deficits have been described in Schizophrenia, error pattern in this test has not been analyzed in detail in the literature. The pattern analysis of such errors could contribute to the understanding of the factors that influence poor task performance in schizophrenia. In this study we analyzed the intrusion and perseveration errors in verbal fluency tasks in patients with chronic schizophrenia. Methods: 87 patients diagnosed with Chronic Schizophrenia and 87 healthy controls were included in this investigation and were assessed with four Phonological and Semantic Verbal Fluency tasks. Results The results of this study showed that at least half of schizophrenic patients produced perseverative errors on verbal fluency and about made intrusion errors. The severity of negative symptoms, the severity of Formal Thought Disorder and pharmacological variables were significant moderators to errors in Verbal Fluency performance. Conclusions Errors in Verbal Fluency can be explained by the interaction of different variables in patients with schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is a psychological pathology with great phenomenological complexity and its particularities can only be explained by the consideration of the multiple factors involved in its manifestation.Fil: Galaverna, Flavia Soledad. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Neurociencia Cognitiva. Fundación Favaloro. Instituto de Neurociencia Cognitiva; ArgentinaFil: Bueno, Adrián Marcelo. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Psicología; ArgentinaFil: Morra, Carlos A.. Prof. León S. Morra Sanitarium; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Roca, María. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Neurociencia Cognitiva. Fundación Favaloro. Instituto de Neurociencia Cognitiva; ArgentinaFil: Torralva, Teresa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Neurociencia Cognitiva. Fundación Favaloro. Instituto de Neurociencia Cognitiva; Argentin

Open field study of some Zea mays hybrids, lipid compounds and fumonisins accumulation

Lipid molecules are increasingly recognized as signals exchanged by organisms interacting in pathogenic and/or symbiotic ways. Some classes of lipids actively determine the fate of the interactions. Host cuticle/cell wall/membrane components such as sphingolipids and oxylipins may contribute to determining the fate of host–pathogen interactions. In the present field study, we considered the relationship between specific sphingolipids and oxylipins of different hybrids of Zea mays and fumonisin by F. verticillioides, sampling ears at different growth stages from early dough to fully ripe. The amount of total and free fumonisin differed significantly between hybrids and increased significantly with maize ripening. Oxylipins and phytoceramides changed significantly within the hybrids and decreased with kernel maturation, starting from physiological maturity. Although the correlation between fumonisin accumulation and plant lipid profile is certain, the data collected so far cannot define a cause-effect relationship but open up new perspectives. Therefore, the question—“Does fumonisin alter plant lipidome or does plant lipidome modulate fumonisin accumulation?”—is still open

Continuous flow processing as a tool for the generation of terpene-derived monomer libraries

We report the development of a continuous flow approach for the preparation of two bio-derived monomer libraries. A small range of terpenes (ocimene, myrcene, α-terpinene, α-phellandrene, isoprene, and farnesene) have been used as the base set for the library, with the first library derived from a Diels–Alder reaction with the platform chemical maleic anhydride. The second library requires the derivatization of the first through a hydrogenation reaction. The potential for scale-up of both libraries has been demonstrated, with the Diels–Alder process delivering 10.5 grams of the product in 3 hours and the hydrogenation process delivering 10 grams of the material in 16 hours

Exploring the generation and use of acylketenes with continuous flow processes

The generation and use of reactive intermediates is well suited to continuous flow processing owing to the ability to scale up reactions, contain hazards and heat solvents past their atmospheric temperature boiling points. Herein we explore the chemistry of acylketenes, generated from commercially available 2,2,6-trimethyl-4H-1,3-dioxin-4-one (TMD, 10) under continuous flow conditions. The developed flow chemistry system is capable of permitting a wide range of applications of these acylketene intermediates, including access to equilibrating processes that result in ketone exchange. Some of the dioxinone products resulting from this study are destabilised towards acylketene generation, this is demonstrated through their ability to generate acylketene at lower reaction temperatures

Assessing the hydrolytic fate of the masked mycotoxin zearalenone-14-glucoside–A warning light for the need to look at the “maskedome”

Masked mycotoxins are plant metabolites of mycotoxins that contaminate food and feed. They pose health concern as the shortage of toxicological data forces the lack of regulation worldwide. The present work investigated the toxicological relevance of the masked mycotoxin zearalenone-14-glucoside. In vitro, it shows a lower toxicity in respect to the parent compound. However, the major risks related to the consumption of masked mycotoxins depend on the possibility to undergo hydrolysis. Therefore, the hydrolysis and further transformation of zearalenone-14-glucoside in bovine blood and blood components (i.e. plasma, serum and serum albumin) were monitored using LC/MS-MS analysis to gain insights on the possible systemic fate. Hydrolysis was observed in all matrices, and both cell-dependent and eindependent contributions were pointed out. Moreover, further metabolism was observed in the whole blood as zearalenol isomers were found. Serum albumin was identified among the active components, and the protein-ligand interaction was investigated via computational analysis. The blood has been pointed out as possible district of reversion and further activation of zearalenone-14-glucoside, and a similar fate cannot be excluded for other masked mycotoxins. Therefore, the systemic hydrolysis should be evaluated beside the absorption, bioavailability and bioaccessibility to deeply understand the toxicity of masked mycotoxins

Preventing the Interaction between Coronaviruses Spike Protein and Angiotensin I Converting Enzyme 2: An In Silico Mechanistic Case Study on Emodin as a Potential Model Compound

Emodin, a widespread natural anthraquinone, has many biological activities including health-protective and adverse effects. Amongst beneficial effects, potential antiviral activity against coronavirus responsible for the severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreak in 2002–2003 has been described associated with the inhibition of the host cells target receptors recognition by the viral Spike protein. However, the inhibition mechanisms have not been fully characterized, hindering the rational use of emodin as a model compound to develop more effective analogues. This work investigates emodin interaction with the Spike protein to provide a mechanistic explanation of such inhibition. A 3D molecular modeling approach consisting of docking simulations, pharmacophoric analysis and molecular dynamics was used. The plausible mechanism is described as an interaction of emodin at the protein–protein interface which destabilizes the viral protein-target receptor complex. This analysis has been extended to the Spike protein of the coronavirus responsible for the current pandemic hypothesizing emodin’s functional conservation. This solid knowledge-based foothold provides a possible mechanistic rationale of the antiviral activity of emodin as a future basis for the potential development of efficient antiviral cognate compounds. Data gaps and future work on emodin-related adverse effects in parallel to its antiviral pharmacology are explored

Exploring the generation and use of acylketenes with continuous flow processes

The generation and use of reactive intermediates is well suited to continuous flow processing owing to the ability to scale up reactions, contain hazards and heat solvents past their atmospheric temperature boiling points. Herein we explore the chemistry of acylketenes, generated from commercially available 2,2,6-trimethyl-4H-1,3-dioxin-4-one (TMD, 10) under continuous flow conditions. The developed flow chemistry system is capable of permitting a wide range of applications of these acylketene intermediates, including access to equilibrating processes that result in ketone exchange. Some of the dioxinone products resulting from this study are destabilised towards acylketene generation, this is demonstrated through their ability to generate acylketene at lower reaction temperatures

Análise biofotométrica de ombro e cotovelo e sua relação com a funcionalidade de pacientes submetidas à cirurgia oncológica mamária

CNPq - Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e TecnológicoTrabalho de Conclusão de Curso (Graduação)Introdução: As cirurgias no câncer de mama ocasionam consequências negativas à mulher, como a redução da amplitude de movimento (ADM) de ombro impactando diretamente em sua funcionalidade. A biofotometria é um recurso capaz de avaliar a ADM, mostrando precisão e reprodutibilidade. Objetivo: Averiguar os movimentos de ombro antes e após intervenção fisioterapêutica com eletrotermoterapia e cinesioterapia e relacioná-las com a funcionalidade em mulheres mastectomizadas. Métodos: Pesquisa quantitativa longitudinal, com 30 mulheres pós cirurgia oncológica mamária em acompanhamento no Hospital do Câncer de Uberlândia, as quais foram submetidas à avaliação biofotométrica com marcações em pontos específicos e padronizados nos membros superiores (MMSS) para análise de ADM em vista frontal e perfil, aplicação do questionário de disfunção de braço, ombro e mão (DASH) e questões de atividades diárias propostas em uma ficha de anamnese antes e após quatro meses de intervenção. Resultados: Observou-se redução da ADM em todos os movimentos dos MMSS, as médias de abdução e flexão do ombro homolateral, antes e após quatro meses de intervenção fisioterapêutica foram de 130,3 e 149,4 graus (p = 0,002); e 128,1 e 140 (p = 0,008), respectivamente. O escore do DASH diminuiu significativamente de 38,1 para 32,15 (p = 0,047), e nas questões que envolvem abdução e flexão de ombro, houve maior aumento da porcentagem de respostas no item “nenhuma dificuldade”, com média de 23,08% para 42,86%. Conclusão: A abdução e flexão de ombro são os movimentos mais alterados no membro homolateral à cirurgia repercutindo na funcionalidade, entretanto, após quatro meses de fisioterapia houve melhora da ADM e significativa melhora da funcionalidade.2022-11-2

Rice Bran By-Product: From Valorization Strategies to Nutritional Perspectives

The aim of this study is to review the innovative techniques based on bioprocessing, thermal or physical treatments which have been proposed during the last few decades to convert rice bran into a valuable food ingredient. Rice bran (Oryza sativa) is the main by-product of rice grain processing. It is produced in large quantities worldwide and it contains a high amount of valuable nutrients and bioactive compounds with significant health-related properties. Despite that, its application in food industry is still scarce because of its sensitivity to oxidation processes, instability and poor technological suitability. Furthermore, the health-related effects of pretreated rice bran are also presented in this review, considering the up-to-date literature focused on both in vivo and in vitro studies. Moreover, in relation to this aspect, a brief description of rice bran arabinoxylans is provided. Finally, the application of rice bran in the food industry and the main technology aspects are concisely summarized

Perenniality, more than genotypes, shapes biological and chemical rhizosphere composition of perennial wheat lines

Perennial grains provide various ecosystem services compared to the annual counterparts thanks to their extensive root system and permanent soil cover. However, little is known about the evolution and diversification of perennial grains rhizosphere and its ecological functions over time. In this study, a suite of -OMICSs - metagenomics, enzymomics, metabolomics and lipidomics - was used to compare the rhizosphere environment of four perennial wheat lines at the first and fourth year of growth in comparison with an annual durum wheat cultivar and the parental species Thinopyrum intermedium. We hypothesized that wheat perenniality has a greater role in shaping the rhizobiome composition, biomass, diversity, and activity than plant genotypes because perenniality affects the quality and quantity of C input – mainly root exudates – hence modulating the plant-microbes crosstalk. In support of this hypothesis, the continuous supply of sugars in the rhizosphere along the years created a favorable environment for microbial growth which is reflected in a higher microbial biomass and enzymatic activity. Moreover, modification in the rhizosphere metabolome and lipidome over the years led to changes in the microbial community composition favoring the coexistence of more diverse microbial taxa, increasing plant tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Despite the dominance of the perenniality effect, our data underlined that the OK72 line rhizobiome distinguished from the others by the increase in abundance of Pseudomonas spp., most of which are known as potential beneficial microorganisms, identifying this line as a suitable candidate for the study and selection of new perennial wheat lines