Primary metabolism components of seeds from Brazilian Amazon tree species

The contents of the main components of the primary metabolism (soluble sugars, starch, proteins, oils, fatty acids) and minerals (P, Ca, Mg, K, Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu) were characterized in seeds of five Brazilian Amazon tree species (Andira parviflora, Bertholletia excelsa, Helicostylis tomentosa, Hymenaea parviflora, and Parkia pendula). Soluble sugar contents were high in P. pendula seeds (14%), whereas starch predominated in A. parviflora seeds (58.7%). A. parviflora and H. parviflora seeds were rich in proteins (35.1% and 32.4%, respectively). The oil contents ranged from 1.4% in A. parviflora to 70.7% in B. excelsa. Only B. excelsa and P. pendula seeds may be considered oilseeds, with 70.7% and 28.4% oil, respectively. The fatty acid compositions showed high proportions of unsaturated fatty acids, mainly oleic and linoleic acids, regardless of the species. B. excelsa and P. pendula also showed high amounts of P, Mg, K and Zn

Purification of a lectin from Cratylia mollis crude extract seed by a single step PEG/phosphate aqueous two-phase system

The partitioning and purification of lectins from the crude extract of Cratylia mollis seeds (Cramoll 1,4) was investigated in aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS). A factorial design model (24) was used to evaluate the influence of polyethylene glycol (PEG) molar mass (15008000g/mol), PEG concentration (12.517.5% w/w), phosphate (1015% w/w) concentration, and pH (68) on the differential partitioning, purification factor, and yield of the lectin. Polymer and salt concentration were the most important variables affecting partition of lectin and used to find optimum purification factor by experimental BoxBehnken design together with the response surface methodology (RSM). ATPS showed best conditions composed by 13.9% PEG1500, 15.3% phosphate buffer at pH 6, which ensured purification factor of 4.70. Sodium dodecyl sulfatepolyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed a single band of protein with 26.1kDa. Furthermore, results demonstrated a thermostable lectin presenting activity until 60°C and lost hemagglutinating activity at 80°C. According to the obtained data it can be inferred that the ATPS optimization using RSM approach can be applied for recovery and purification of lectins.We are grateful to the following bodies for the grants awarded: CAPES (Coordination for the Improvement of Level Personnel Superior); FACEPE (Pernambuco Science and Technology Foundation): Researcher's scholarship grant: BFP-0017-5.05/18 CNPq (National Council for Scientific Development and Technological) process: 427153/2016-6 and we also thank the reviewers for their valuable comments and suggestions as these helped us to improve the manuscript.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Beneficial effects of physical activity in an HIV-infected woman with lipodystrophy: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Lipodystrophy is common in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy, and presents with morphologic changes and metabolic alterations that are associated with depressive behavior and reduced quality of life. We examined the effects of exercise training on morphological changes, lipid profile and quality of life in a woman with human immunodeficiency virus presenting with lipodystrophy.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 31-year-old Latin-American Caucasian woman infected with human immunodeficiency virus participated in a 12-week progressive resistance exercise training program with an aerobic component. Her weight, height, skinfold thickness, body circumferences, femur and humerus diameter, blood lipid profile, maximal oxygen uptake volume, exercise duration, strength and quality of life were assessed pre-exercise and post-exercise training. After 12 weeks, she exhibited reductions in her total subcutaneous fat (18.5%), central subcutaneous fat (21.0%), peripheral subcutaneous fat (10.7%), waist circumference (WC) (4.5%), triglycerides (9.9%), total cholesterol (12.0%) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (8.6%). She had increased body mass (4.6%), body mass index (4.37%), humerus and femur diameter (3.0% and 2.3%, respectively), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (16.7%), maximal oxygen uptake volume (33.3%), exercise duration (37.5%) and strength (65.5%). Quality of life measures improved mainly for psychological and physical measures, independence and social relationships.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These findings suggest that supervised progressive resistance exercise training is a safe and effective treatment for evolving morphologic and metabolic disorders in adults infected with HIV receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy, and improves their quality of life.</p

Estudos paleoambientais interdisciplinares: dinâmica da vegetação, do ambiente marinho e inferências climáticas milenares a atuais na Costa Norte do Espírito Santo, Brasil

Estudos paleoambientais desde ~50.000 anos na costa do Brasil e, em particular, no litoral do Espírito Santo, são ainda insuficientes para servir de base a reconstituições da dinâmica da vegetação, de oscilações do nível relativo do mar e de flutuações climáticas e respectivas influências sobre a ação humana milenar. Para obter essas informações, uma equipe interdisciplinar, financiada por projetos temáticos FAPESP e CNPq, desenvolveu pesquisas correlatas na Reserva Natural Vale (RNV) e região. Para a caracterização da dinâmica da vegetação e marinha, com inferências climáticas, em locais de floresta de tabuleiros e campos naturais da RNV e região desde ~16.000 anos, utilizaram-se isótopos do C (12C, 13C e 14C) da matéria orgânica do solo e sedimentar, além de palinologia em sedimentos lacustres e terrestres. No estudo da dinâmica do ecótono floresta – campo, apresentam-se inferências preliminares sobre a evolução pedogenética dos Espodossolos associados ao campo, com ênfase às suas características físico-químicas, e também dos Argissolos, encontrados sob floresta. Finaliza-se com o estágio inicial de uma coleção de referência de fitólitos, bioindicador de vegetação utilizado em estudos paleoambientais, extraídos de plantas da floresta de tabuleiros da RNV.A equipe agradece todo o empenho dos funcionários e apoio logístico da Reserva Natural Vale, Linhares, Espírito Santo; à FAPESP através do projeto Temático 2011/00995-7 (ProjES); e ao CNPq – Universal 2012-5/470210, pelo aporte financeiro e a colaboração dos técnicos do Laboratório 14C, Liz Mary Bueno de Moraes e Thiago Casemiro Barrios de Campos, na preparação de amostras gasosas para a datação 14C.Peer Reviewe