Phytosociology of the herbaceous-subshrub layer of a rupestrian complex in Serra do Espinha?o, Brazil.

Rupestrian complexes of the Serra do Espinha?o are recognized for their high degree of biodiversity and endemism. However, environmental impacts, particularly from mining, have degraded these environments. The purpose of this study was to describe the herbaceous-subshrub communities that occur in quartzitic (QRC) and ferruginous (FRC) rupestrian complexes in different seasons of the year, with regard to floristic similarity and phytosociological structure. Additionally, the study aimed to identify native species with potential use for the restoration of similar degraded areas. Vegetation was sampled from plots located in the municipality of Concei??o do Mato Dentro, state of Minas Gerais. Five contiguous strata of 10 ? 50 m were demarcated in each environment, in which 12 plots of 2 ? 1 m (2 m?) were randomly distributed, for a total of 60 plots (sample units) in each physiognomy. The studied communities exhibited few similarities and lower floristic diversity than other rupestrian complexes. Detrended correspondence analysis distinguished the communities of FRC from those of QRC. The species with the highest value of importance in FRC were Bulbostylis fimbriata and Centrosema brasilianum, while in QRC Echinolaena inflexa had the highest values, thus, making them eligible for restoration programs in similar environments

Estudo da Influência do 2-Etilhexanol na Determinação da Acidez em Reações de Esterificação com o Ácido Caprílico / Study of the Influence of 2-Ethylhexanol on the Determination of Acidity in Esterification Reactions with Caprylic Acid

A cinética da reação de esterificação do ácido caprílico com 2-etilhexanol foi avaliada nas condições ótimas do processo e verificada qual a influência do álcool residual no índice de acidez para medir a conversão e avaliar o tempo necessário da conversão do ácido em éster. As reações foram realizadas em um reator de vidro sob condições fixas de temperatura e pressão. As cinéticas foram obtidas a 120ºC, com razão molar ácido/álcool de 1:6, e o tempo de reação foi de 6 horas sem o uso de catalisadores. O comportamento cinético observado em todas as horas da reação teve como melhor resultado uma conversão de 62,49% na 6º hora de reação. Os resultados foram avaliados através do índice de acidez do produto obtido destilados e não destilados.

Aerobic exercise inhibits acute lung injury: from mouse to human evidence Exercise reduced lung injury markers in mouse and in cells

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is defined as hypoxemic respiratory failure with intense pulmonary inflammation, involving hyperactivation of endothelial cells and neutrophils. Given the anti-inflammatory effects of aerobic exercise (AE), this study investigated whether AE performed daily for 5 weeks would inhibit extra-pulmonary LPS-induced ARDS. C57Bl/6 mice were distributed into Control, Exercise, LPS and Exercise+ LPS groups. AE was performed on a treadmill for 5x/week for four weeks before LPS administration. 24hours after the final AE physical test, animals received 100ug of LPS intra-peritoneally. In addition, whole blood cell culture, neutrophils and human endothelial cells were pre-incubated with IL-10, an anti-inflammatory cytokine induced by exercise. AE reduced total protein levels (p<0.01) and neutrophil accumulation in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) (p<0.01) and lung parenchyma (p<0.01). AE reduced BAL inflammatory cytokines IL-1 beta, IL-6 and GM-CSF (p<0.001), CXCL1/KC, IL-17, TNF-alpha and IGF-1 (p<0.01). Systemically, AE reduced IL-1 beta, IL-6 and IFN-gamma (p<0.001), CXCL1/KC (p<0.01) and TNF-alpha (p<0.05). AE increased IL-10 levels in serum (p<0.001) and BAL (p<0.001). Furthermore, AE increased superoxide dismutase SOD (p<0.01) and decreased superoxide anion accumulation in the lungs (p<0.01). Lastly, pre-incubation with IL-10 significantly reduced LPS-induced activation of whole blood cells, neutrophils and HUVECs, as observed by reduced production of IL-1 beta, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-alpha. Our data suggest that AE inhibited LPS-induced lung inflammation by attenuating inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress markers in mice and human cell culture via enhanced IL-10 production.Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) [2012/15165-2]Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento (CNPq) [311335-2015-2]Comissao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES) [12804/13-4, 1303/13-9]FAPESP [2013/24076-6, 2014/23196-0, 2012/14604-8, 2012/25435-7, 2012/24880-7]CAPESNove Julho Univ, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilBrazilian Inst Teaching & Res Pulm & Exercise Imm, Sao Jose Dos Campos, SP, BrazilFed Univ Sao Paulo UNIFESP, Postgrad Program Sci Human Movement & Rehabil, Santos, SP, BrazilUniv Brasil, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Sao Paulo, Sch Med, Dept Pathol LIM 59, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Lavras UFLA, Sci Dept Hlth, Lavras, MG, BrazilFed Univ Sao Paulo UNIFESP, Campus Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilHarbor UCLA Med Ctr, Div Resp & Crit Care Physiol & Med, Los Angeles Biomed Res Inst, Torrance, CA 90509 USAUniv Tubingen, Inst Clin & Expt Transfus Med IKET, Tubingen, GermanyFed Univ Sao Paulo UNIFESP, Postgrad Program Sci Human Movement & Rehabil, Santos, SP, BrazilFed Univ Sao Paulo UNIFESP, Campus Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilFAPESP [2012/15165-2]CNPq [311335-2015-2]CAPES [12804/13-4, 1303/13-9]FAPESP [2013/24076-6, 2014/23196-0, 2012/14604-8, 2012/25435-7, 2012/24880-7]Web of Scienc

Caracterização da institucionalização da assistência farmacêutica na atenção básica no Brasil

Objetivo: caracterizar o estágio atual da institucionalização da assistência farmacêutica nos municípios brasileiros. Métodos: artigo integrante da Pesquisa Nacional sobre Acesso, Utilização e Promoção do Uso Racional de Medicamentos, um estudo transversal, exploratório, de natureza avaliativa, composto por um levantamento de informações numa amostra representativa de municípios estratificada pelas regiões do Brasil. Foram entrevistados os secretários municipais de saúde, responsáveis pela assistência farmacêutica e farmacêuticos responsáveis pela dispensação dos medicamentos. As variáveis selecionadas das entrevistas foram agrupadas em cinco dimensões, definindo-se três estágios de institucionalização da assistência farmacêutica: incipiente (0–34%), parcial (35%–69%), avançada (70%–100%), estimados com base nas respostas dos entrevistados. Foram estimadas frequências com intervalos de 95% de confiança. Para análise de associação estatística aplicou-se o teste do qui-quadrado, com nível de significância de p < 0,05. Resultados: os resultados mostram um processo heterogêneo e parcial da institucionalização da assistência farmacêutica no Brasil e grau avançado nas estruturas formais, como nos planos municipais de saúde e existência de lista padronizada de medicamentos. As variáveis analisadas na dimensão organização, estrutura e financiamento configuraram estágios que variam de parcial a avançado. A gestão apresentou grau parcial de institucionalização, revelando positivamente a existência de sistema informatizado, e resultados discrepantes no tocante à autonomia na gestão dos recursos financeiros. Itens imprescindíveis relacionados à estrutura expressaram disparidades entre as regiões, com diferenças estatísticas significantes. Conclusões: o estudo mostrou um processo de institucionalização heterogêneo e parcial da assistência farmacêutica em municípios brasileiros, revelando desigualdades regionais. Destacaram-se positivamente as variáveis relacionadas aos aspectos normativos da institucionalização em todas as dimensões, entretanto faz-se necessário novos estudos para avaliar a institucionalização das atividades finalísticas da assistência farmacêutica.Objective: to characterize the current stage of the institutionalization of pharmaceutical services in Brazilian cities. Methods: this study is part of the Pesquisa Nacional sobre Acesso, Utilização e Promoção do Uso Racional de Medicamentos (PNAUM – National Survey on Access, Use and Promotion of Rational Use of Medicines), a cross-sectional, exploratory, and evaluative study composed by an information survey in a representative sample of cities, stratified by Brazilian regions. We interviewed municipal secretaries of health, responsible for pharmaceutical services, and pharmacists responsible for the dispensing of medicines. The variables selected from the interviews were grouped into five dimensions that defined three stages of pharmaceutical services institutionalization: incipient (0%-34.0%), partial (35.0%-69.0%), and advanced (70.0%-100%), estimated based on the interviewees’ answers. Frequencies were estimated with 95% confidence intervals. For the statistical association analysis, the Chi-square test was applied, with significance level of p<0.05. Results: our results show a partial and heterogeneous process of institutionalization of pharmaceutical services in Brazil, and an advanced stage in formal structures, such as the municipal health plans and the existence of a standardized list of medicines. The analysed variables in the “organization, structure, and financing” dimension configured stages that range from partial to advanced. The management presented partial institutionalization, positively showing the existence of computerized system, but also disparate results regarding the autonomy in the management of financial resources. Indispensable items related to the structure expressed disparities between the regions, with statistically significant differences. Conclusion: the study showed a partial and heterogeneous process of institutionalization of pharmaceutical services in Brazilian cities, showing regional disparities. Variables related to the normative aspects of institutionalization were positively highlighted in all dimensions; however, it is necessary to conduct new studies to evaluate the institutionalization of pharmaceutical services’ finalistic activities

Leucemia Linfoblástica Aguda (LLA) na população pediátrica: marcadores moleculares e implicações terapêuticas

A Leucemia Linfoblástica Aguda (LLA) é uma forma comum de câncer pediátrico, representando cerca de 80% dos casos de leucemia em crianças. A patologia é caracterizada pela proliferação descontrolada de células-tronco hematopoéticas na medula óssea, e avanços recentes na pesquisa genômica têm proporcionado uma compreensão mais profunda da complexidade molecular subjacente à doença. O presente estudo tem como objetivo oferecer uma visão abrangente dos principais marcadores moleculares e implicações terapêuticas associadas à LLA na população pediátrica. Este estudo, baseado em uma revisão sistemática da literatura científica, abrange o período de 2013 a 2023, utilizando as bases de dados PubMed (Medline), Cochrane Library e Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO). Marcadores moleculares preponderantes, como rearranjos cromossômicos específicos (t(12;21), t(1;19), t(9;22)), mutações genéticas distintivas (ETV6-RUNX1, E2A-PBX1, TP53) e amplificação do gene BCR-ABL1, têm sido objeto de estudo aprofundado. Esses marcadores desempenham um papel crucial na estratificação de risco e prognóstico, permitindo uma abordagem mais personalizada no tratamento da LLA em crianças. As implicações terapêuticas derivadas desses marcadores são vastas, destacando a promissora era das terapias direcionadas. Terapias específicas para mutações, como aquelas direcionadas à mutação BCR-ABL1, e inovações em imunoterapia estão moldando o cenário do tratamento da LLA, proporcionando resultados mais eficazes e menos tóxicos. Os resultados destacam a eficácia das terapias direcionadas e a necessidade contínua de pesquisa para otimizar a intervenção terapêutica, melhorar a qualidade de vida dos pacientes pediátricos afetados pela LLA e explorar novas facetas do tratamento. Em conclusão, este artigo fornece uma análise aprofundada dos marcadores moleculares e terapias associadas à LLA na população pediátrica, destacando avanços significativos e delineando áreas para investigação futura

NEOTROPICAL XENARTHRANS: a data set of occurrence of xenarthran species in the Neotropics

Xenarthrans – anteaters, sloths, and armadillos – have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with 24 domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, ten anteaters, and six sloths. Our dataset includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae (3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data on Dasypus pilosus (Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized, but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In this data-paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence and quantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is from the south of the USA, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to its austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n=5,941), and Cyclopes sp. has the fewest (n=240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n=11,588), and the least recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n=33). With regards to sloth species, Bradypus variegatus has the most records (n=962), and Bradypus pygmaeus has the fewest (n=12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to make occurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly if we integrate the xenarthran data with other datasets of Neotropical Series which will become available very soon (i.e. Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, and Neotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure, habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possible with the Neotropical Xenarthrans dataset

Phytosociology of the herbaceous-subshrub layer of a rupestrian complex in Serra do Espinhaço, Brazil

<div><p>ABSTRACT Rupestrian complexes of the Serra do Espinhaço are recognized for their high degree of biodiversity and endemism. However, environmental impacts, particularly from mining, have degraded these environments. The purpose of this study was to describe the herbaceous-subshrub communities that occur in quartzitic (QRC) and ferruginous (FRC) rupestrian complexes in different seasons of the year, with regard to floristic similarity and phytosociological structure. Additionally, the study aimed to identify native species with potential use for the restoration of similar degraded areas. Vegetation was sampled from plots located in the municipality of Conceição do Mato Dentro, state of Minas Gerais. Five contiguous strata of 10 × 50 m were demarcated in each environment, in which 12 plots of 2 × 1 m (2 m²) were randomly distributed, for a total of 60 plots (sample units) in each physiognomy. The studied communities exhibited few similarities and lower floristic diversity than other rupestrian complexes. Detrended correspondence analysis distinguished the communities of FRC from those of QRC. The species with the highest value of importance in FRC were Bulbostylis fimbriata and Centrosema brasilianum, while in QRC Echinolaena inflexa had the highest values, thus, making them eligible for restoration programs in similar environments.</p></div

Exercise Inhibits the Effects of Smoke-Induced COPD Involving Modulation of STAT3

Purpose. Evaluate the participation of STAT3 in the effects of aerobic exercise (AE) in a model of smoke-induced COPD. Methods. C57Bl/6 male mice were divided into control, Exe, COPD, and COPD+Exe groups. Smoke were administered during 90 days. Treadmill aerobic training begun on day 61 until day 90. Pulmonary inflammation, systemic inflammation, the level of lung emphysema, and the airway remodeling were evaluated. Analysis of integral and phosphorylated expression of STAT3 by airway epithelial cells, peribronchial leukocytes, and parenchymal leukocytes was performed. Results. AE inhibited smoke-induced accumulation of total cells (p<0.001), lymphocytes (p<0.001), and neutrophils (p<0.001) in BAL, as well as BAL levels of IL-1β (p<0.001), CXCL1 (p<0.001), IL-17 (p<0.001), and TNF-α (p<0.05), while increased the levels of IL-10 (p<0.001). AE also inhibited smoke-induced increases in total leukocytes (p<0.001), neutrophils (p<0.05), lymphocytes (p<0.001), and monocytes (p<0.01) in blood, as well as serum levels of IL-1β (p<0.01), CXCL1 (p<0.01), IL-17 (p<0.05), and TNF-α (p<0.01), while increased the levels of IL-10 (p<0.001). AE reduced smoke-induced emphysema (p<0.001) and collagen fiber accumulation in the airways (p<0.001). AE reduced smoke-induced STAT3 and phospho-STAT3 expression in airway epithelial cells (p<0.001), peribronchial leukocytes (p<0.001), and parenchymal leukocytes (p<0.001). Conclusions. AE reduces smoke-induced COPD phenotype involving STAT3