Alkaloids in Erythrina

Erythrina species are used in popular medicine as sedative, anxiolytic, anti-inflammatory, and antihypertensive. In this work, we investigated the chemical composition of extracts obtained from leaves of E. falcata and E. crista-galli. The hypotensive potential of E. falcata and the mechanism of action were also studied. The extracts were obtained by maceration and infusion. The total content of phenolic compounds and flavonoids was estimated by spectrophotometric methods. The chemical constituents were studied performing a chromatographic analysis by UPLC-ESI-MS. For in vivo protocols, blood pressure and heart rate were measured by the invasive hemodynamic monitoring method. Different concentrations of extracts and drugs such as L-NAME, losartan, hexamethonium, and propranolol were administrated i.v. The results of total phenolic contents for E. falcata and E. crista-galli were 1.3193–1.4989 mgGAE/mL for maceration and 0.8771–0.9506 mgGAE/mL for infusion. In total flavonoids, the content was 7.7829–8.1976 mg RE/g for maceration and 9.3471–10.4765 RE mg/g for infusion. The chemical composition was based on alkaloids, suggesting the presence of erythristemine, 11β-methoxyglucoerysodine, erysothiopine, 11β-hydroxyerysodine-glucose, and 11-hydroxyerysotinone-rhamnoside. A potent dose-dependent hypotensive effect was observed for E. falcata, which may be related to the route of β-adrenergic receptors

Characterization of Soybean Cultivars for Biodiesel Production

Due to environmental issues involving the polluting gasesemission, Brazil has adopted the policy of using oil and biodiesel. For biodiesel production, the main raw material used in Brazil is soybean oil. The development of the numerous genotypes of this culture has always considered quantitative aspects. The objective was to qualitatively characterize 12 soybean cultivars for biodiesel production. The experimental design was randomized blocks with three replicates. The cultivars were sown in December 2016, in no-tillage system, in Ponta Grossa, Paraná, Brazil (-25.093056, -50.063327 UTM). The analyzed variables were: oil and protein contents, acidity index and specific mass. It was concluded that there were no significant differences among the cultivars for oil and protein contents. For the variables acidity index and specific mass, there were significant differences among the cultivars, being below the limits established by the Brazilian legislation for vegetable oil, but with potential for biodiesel production

Characterization of Mycobacterium chelonae-like strains by comparative genomics

Isolates of the Mycobacterium chelonae-M. abscessus complex are subdivided into four clusters (CHI to CHIV) in the INNO-LiPA (R) Mycobacterium spp DNA strip assay. A considerable phenotypic variability was observed among isolates of the CHII cluster. In this study, we examined the diversity of 26 CHII cluster isolates by phenotypic analysis, drug susceptibility testing, whole genome sequencing and single-gene analysis. Pairwise genome comparisons were performed using several approaches, including average nucleotide identity (ANI) and genome-to-genome distance (GGD) among others. Based on ANI and GGD the isolates were identified as M. chelonae (14 isolates), M. franklinii (2 isolates) and M. salmoniphium (1 isolate). The remaining 9 isolates were subdivided into three novel putative genomospecies. Phenotypic analyses including drug susceptibility testing, as well as whole genome comparison by TETRA and delta differences, were not helpful in separating the groups revealed by ANI and GGD. The analysis of standard four conserved genomic regions showed that rpoB alone and the concatenated sequences clearly distinguished the taxonomic groups delimited by whole genome analyses. In conclusion, the CHII INNO-LiPa is not a homogeneous cluster; on the contrary, it is composed of closely related different species belonging to the M. chelonae-M. abscessus complex and also several unidentified isolates. The detection of these isolates, putatively novel species, indicates a wider inner variability than the presently known in this complex

An essential bifunctional enzyme in Mycobacterium tuberculosis for itaconate dissimilation and leucine catabolism

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is the etiological agent of tuberculosis. One-fourth of the global population is estimated to be infected with Mtb, accounting for ∼1.3 million deaths in 2017. As part of the immune response to Mtb infection, macrophages produce metabolites with the purpose of inhibiting or killing the bacterial cell. Itaconate is an abundant host metabolite thought to be both an antimicrobial agent and a modulator of the host inflammatory response. However, the exact mode of action of itaconate remains unclear. Here, we show that Mtb has an itaconate dissimilation pathway and that the last enzyme in this pathway, Rv2498c, also participates in L-leucine catabolism. Our results from phylogenetic analysis, in vitro enzymatic assays, X-ray crystallography, and in vivo Mtb experiments, identified Mtb Rv2498c as a bifunctional β-hydroxyacyl-CoA lyase and that deletion of the rv2498c gene from the Mtb genome resulted in attenuation in a mouse infection model. Altogether, this report describes an itaconate resistance mechanism in Mtb and an L-leucine catabolic pathway that proceeds via an unprecedented (R)-3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) stereospecific route in nature

Influence of Altitude on the indirect Analysis of α-amylase Content on Wheat Flours

The objective of this study was to verify the influence of altitude on the indirect analysis of α-amylase content on wheat flours. The experimental designused was completely randomized, with eight treatments and three repetitions. The treatments consisted of the analysis of the falling number from flours of four wheat classes (basic, domestic, bread and improver) on the elevations zero, 412, 540, 761, 934, 975, 1,040 and 1,095 meters. After the trial results, under the correction of the averages above 600 meters of elevation, it was verified that there was a significant difference between the results of distinct altitudes, for the four wheat classes. When a polynomial regression is applied, for the values without correction, it was obtained that aquadratic regression equation correlates the falling number values with altitude; however, the coefficient of determination was very low, highlighting the major influence of the different equipments that were used to measure the falling number instead of the different altitudes

Trailing Boom on Fungicides Application on Wheat, Bean and Soybean

This study aimed to determine the influence of air-assisted and trailing boom technologies on fungicide applications to control diseases incidence and severity on wheat, bean and soybean. The experiments were conducted in three different sites in the Campos Gerais (PR) region in a completely randomized blocks design. In the wheat crop season of 2011, the treatments were: i) control (no fungicide application on the plants); fungicide spray with ii) nozzles in conventional ground boom sprayer; iii) nozzles in trailing boom; and iv) nozzles in conventional boom sprayer + trailing boom simultaneously. In the bean and soybean crop season of 2011-12, we added an extra treatment of boom with air-assisted sprayer, since the farmers had this technology available. We conclude that at the area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC), the diseases controlled with fungicides presented lower severity and incidence compared with the control treatment for all the crops evaluated. The fungicide spraying technology aggregated to air-assisted and trailing boom did not differ from the conventional boom sprayer for disease control and yield components of wheat, beans and soybeans

The UZC-SSRS2 Group Catalog

We apply a friends-of-friends algorithm to the combined UZC and SSRS2 redshift surveys to construct a catalog of 1168 groups of galaxies; 411 of these groups have 5 or more members within the redshift survey. The group catalog covers 4.69 steradians and all groups exceed a number density contrast threshold of 80. We demonstrate that the groups catalog is homogeneous across the two underlying redshift surveys; the catalog of groups and their members thus provides a basis for other statistical studies of the large-scale distribution of groups and their physical properties. The median physical properties of the groups are similar to those for groups derived from independent surveys including the ESO Key Programme and the Las Campanas Redshift Survey. We include tables of groups and their members.Comment: Accepted for publication on A

Estudo de seguimento por dois anos de idosos residentes em São Paulo, Brasil: metodologia e resultados preliminares

INTRODUCTION: Previous cross-sectional studies have shown a high prevalence of chronic disease and disability among the elderly. Given Brazil s rapid aging process and the obvious consequences of the growing number of old people with chronic diseases and associated disabilities for the provision of health services, a need was felt for a study that would overcome the limitations of cross-sectional data and shed some light on the main factors determining whether a person will live longer and free of disabling diseases, the so-called successful aging. The methodology of the first follow-up study of elderly residents in Brazil is presented. METHOD: The profile of the initial cohort is compared with previous cross-sectional data and an in-depth analysis of nonresponse is carried out in order to assess the validity of future longitudinal analysis. The EPIDOSO ( Epidemiologia do Idoso ) Study conducted a two-year follow-up of 1,667 elderly people (65+), living in S. Paulo. The study consisted of two waves, each consisting of household, clinical, and biochemical surveys. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: In general, the initial cohort showed a similar profile to previous cross-sectional samples in S. Paulo. There was a majority of women, mostly widows, living in multigenerational households, and a high prevalence of chronic illnesses, psychiatric disturbances, and physical disabilities. Despite all the difficulties inherent in follow-up studies, there was a fairly low rate of nonresponse to the household survey after two years, which did not actually affect the representation of the cohort at the final household assessment, making unbiased longitudinal analysis possible. Concerning the clinical and blood sampling surveys, the respondents tended to be younger and less disabled than the nonrespondents, limiting the use of the clinical and laboratory data to longitudinal analysis aimed at a healthier cohort. It is worth mentioning that gender, education, family support, and socioeconomic status were not important determinants of nonresponse, as is often the case.INTRODUÇÃO: Estudos transversais recentes mostraram alta prevalência de doenças crônicas e incapacidades físicas entre idosos. Considerando o rápido processo de envelhecimento do Brasil e as conseqüências que esse aumento de idosos com doenças crônicas e incapacidades associadas acarretará para o sistema de saúde, fazia-se necessário estudo que pudesse superar as limitações dos dados transversais, permitindo determinar quais os fatores determinantes de uma vida longa e livre de doenças incapacitantes, o chamado envelhecimento bem sucedido. É apresentada a metodologia do primeiro estudo epidemiológico longitudinal com idosos residentes na comunidade, no Brasil. MÉTODO: O perfil do cohorte inicial é comparado com dados de estudos anteriores a com o perfil dos não respondentes para avaliar a validade de análises longitudinais futuras.O projeto EPIDOSO (Epidemiologia do Idoso) seguiu por dois anos 1.667 idosos (65+), residentes em São Paulo. Consistiu de duas ondas, cada qual com três inquéritos: domiciliar, clínico e laboratorial. RESULTADOS E CONCLUSÕES: O perfil da população não diferiu de estudos anteriores, mostrando maioria de mulheres, viúvas, vivendo em domicílios multigeracionais, com uma alta prevalência de doenças crônicas, distúrbios psiquiátricos e incapacidades físicas. A despeito de todas as dificuldades inerentes a um estudo longitudinal, o grupo de não-respondentes ao segundo inquérito domiciliar não diferiu significativamente dos respondentes, assegurando análises longitudinais livres desse tipo de viés. Em relação aos inquéritos clínico e laboratorial, os não-respondentes mostraram-se mais velhos e mais incapacitados que os respondentes, limitando o uso dos dados clínicos e laboratoriais a análises pertinentes a uma cohorte mais jovem e saudável. Sexo, educação, apoio familiar e nível socioeconômico não influenciaram de forma significativa a taxa de não - resposta, ao contrário do que se costuma verificar.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)UNIFESPSciEL