Tylopilus dunensis (Boletaceae, Basidiomycota): notes on morphological, phylogenetical and distributional aspects

Tylopilus is a worldwide distributed genus of boletes with about 100 known taxa, of which at least 16 are from Brazil and Guyana. Tylopilus dunensis, a species originally described from sand dune habitats in the state of Rio Grande do Norte in northeastern Brazil, has now been recovered in a ‘tabuleiro’ (i.e., tableland forest) from Paraíba. The main phenetic features of this still poorly known species are the orange to orange-ochraceous pileus with yellowish brown margins, unchanging pileus context, the pale cream hymenophore with wide pores, the yellowish stipe, the small and narrow basidiospores, and the long and frequent dextrinoid pseudocystidioid pleurocystidia. After the discovery of the phylloporoid tube trama in our specimens, we emended tube trama type of T. dunensis

Phytochemical screening, cytotoxicity and acute toxicity of Annona vepretorum Mart (Annonaceae) leaf extracts

Purpose: To investigate the phytochemistry, cytotoxicity and acute toxicity of leaf extracts from Annona vepretorum.Methods: The crude extracts were obtained by maceration with hexane and  methanol. The crude methanol extract was suspended in a 3:7 (v/v) mixture of methanol (MeOH) and water (H2O) and partitioned with hexane, chloroform (CHCl3) and ethyl acetate (AcOEt) in ascending order of polarity to obtain the respective  extracts. In the investigation of phytochemical profile, the extracts were evaluated on thin layer chromatography (TLC) plates of silica gel. Cytotoxicity was tested using 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium) (MTS) assays against tumor cell lines, viz,HCT-116 (colon), SF-295 (brain), HL-60 (leukemic) and Sarcoma-180. Acute toxicity study was performed by administration of a single oral dose of 2 g/kg body weight of the extracts to mice and the animals were observed for 14 days.Results: Phytochemical screening results showed that A. vepretorum extracts contain alkaloids, flavonoids and terpenes. Methanol and chloroform extracts exhibited high cytotoxic activity against HCT-116, HL-60 and Sarcoma-180. Moreover, the extracts displayed low toxicity in mice, as no deaths and pronounced toxic effects were observed.Conclusion: A. vepretorum contains a variety of secondary metabolites which may confer on this species high cytotoxic activity. In addition, the oral administration of the extracts produced low toxicity in mice.Keywords: Annonaceae, Annona vepretorum, Phytochemistry, Tumor cell lines, Acute toxicit

Ewing's sarcoma: Analysis of single nucleotide polymorphism in the EWS gene

AbstractWe aimed to investigate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the EWS gene breaking region in order to analyze Ewing's sarcoma susceptibility. The SNPs were investigated in a healthy subject population and in Ewing's sarcoma patients from Southern Brazil. Genotyping was performed by TaqMan® assay for allelic discrimination using Real-Time PCR. The analysis of incidence of SNPs or different SNP-arrangements revealed a higher presence of homozygote TT-rs4820804 in Ewing's sarcoma patients (p=0.02; Chi Square Test). About 300bp from the rs4820804 SNP lies a palindromic hexamer (5′-GCTAGC-3′) and three nucleotides (GTC), which were previously identified to be in close vicinity of the breakpoint junction in both EWS and FLI1 genes. This DNA segment surrounding the rs4820804 SNP is likely to indicate a breakpoint region. If the T-rs4820804 allele predisposes a DNA fragment to breakage, homozygotes (TT-rs4820804) would have double the chance of having a chromosome break, increasing the chances for a translocation to occur. In conclusion, the TT-rs4820804 EWS genotype can be associated with Ewing's sarcoma and the SNP rs4820804 can be a candidate marker to understand Ewing's sarcoma susceptibility

Potential application for antimicrobial and antileukemic therapy of a flavonoid-rich fraction of Camellia sinensis

The antimicrobial and antileukemic effect of a purified fraction of flavonoids from the leaves of Camellia sinensis was evaluated. An extraction yield of 9.77 mg.g-1 total flavonoids was recovered through a pressurized liquid extraction associated with solid-phase extraction. This fraction was tested against pathogenic microorganisms (Staphylococcus, Salmonella, and Enterococcus), considering the minimum inhibitory concentration. In addition, the human monocyte cell line THP-1, derived from a patient with acute monocytic leukemia, was used for the antitumor assay. The results show that the flavonoid-rich fraction obtained by coupling a Pressurized Liquids Extraction in-line with a Solid Phase Extraction (PLE-SPE) has a high antimicrobial effect and resulted in cell cycle blockage G0 / G1, increased DNA fragmentation, and altered leukemic cell morphology. These results suggest that a flavonoid-rich fraction obtained from Camellia sinensis can be applied as potential adjuvants in chemotherapy treatment to mitigate the side effects caused by chemotherapy or even as a supplement to cancer therapy9 página

Relato de caso: Linfoma difuso de grandes células B no colo uterino

Relatamos o caso de mulher, 32 anos, branca, previamente hígida, atendida com corrimento vaginal e metrorragia há 3 meses. Exame colpocitológico descreveu esfregaço intensamente hemorrágico e lesão intraepitelial de alto grau com displasia acentuada (NIC III). Ultrassonografia transvaginal e ressonância magnética da pelve caracterizaram aumento dimensional do colo uterino, exibindo aspecto em “barril”, por processo expansivo difuso de aspecto infiltrativo. Estudo anatomopatológico e imunohistoquímico de biopsia do colo uterino revelou um linfoma não Hodgkin difuso de grandes células BWe report the case of a woman, 32 years old, white, previously healthy, presenting vaginal discharge and metrorrhagia for three months. Pap smear described intensely hemorrhagic smear and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions with severe dysplasia (CIN III). Transvaginal ultrasound and MRI of the pelvis characterized an increase in the dimensions of the cervix, displaying aspect “barrel” due process of expansive diffuse infiltrative appearance. The histopathological and immunohistochemistry of the cervical biopsy showed a diffuse non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma large B cel

Multidisciplinary Scientific Cruises for Environmental Characterization in the Santos Basin – Methods and Sampling Design

The Santos Basin (SB) is the main petroliferous basin in the Brazilian continental margin and one of the most studied marine areas in Brazil. However, historical data suggest that new efforts should be carried out to acquire quantitative biological data, especially in the deep sea, to establish the baseline of essential ocean variables in different ecosystems for future monitoring programs. The Brazilian energy company Petrobras planned and executed 24 oceanographic cruises over a period of 2 years to assess the benthic (SANSED cruise) and pelagic (SANAGU cruise) systems of the SB (356 days at sea in 2019 and 2021/2022). These efforts were part of the Santos Project, which comprised a comprehensive environmental study aimed at investigating benthic and pelagic variables to characterize ecology, biogeochemistry, thermohaline properties of water masses, and ocean circulation patterns, geomorphology, and sedimentology, as well as organic and inorganic chemistry. Here we present the detailed sampling designs and the field methods employed on board, during the SB scientific cruises. All sampling protocols were based on standardized approaches. For the benthos analyses, triplicate sediment samples were performed using a GOMEX-type box corer (0.25 m²) or a large modified Van Veen grab (0.75 m²) at 100 stations ranging from 25 to 2400 m depth. At each station, 25 geochemical and physico-chemical parameters were analyzed in addition to micro-, meio-, and macrofauna and living foraminifera samples. For the pelagic system, 60 stations were selected to investigate the plankton community, ranging in size from pico- to macroplankton, through vertical, horizontal, and oblique net hauls (20, 200, and 500 μm mesh size), as well as 25 biogeochemical parameters collected with an aid of a CTD-rosette sampler. Part of this scientific information also serves the Regional Environmental Characterization Project (PCR-BS) in support of Petrobras’ Santos Basin drilling licensing process led by the Brazilian Environmental Agency – IBAMA. This project contributes to the sustainable development of the SB, in line with the guidelines of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development