Atividade antiulcerogenica de extratos e frações obtidas dos escapos das especies Syngonanthus bisulcatus Rul. e Syngonanthus arthrotrichus Silveira em modelos animais

Orientador: Alba Regina Monteiro Souza BritoTese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de BiologiaResumo: Syngonanthus bisulcatus e Syngonanthus arthrotrichus, espécies pertencentes à família Eriocaulaceae, são encontradas em regiões tropicais na América do Sul e no Brasil, principalmente nos estados da Bahia e Minas Gerais. Este gênero é conhecido popularmente como ¿sempre vivas¿. S. bisulcatus e S. arthrotrichus foram investigadas porque os dados quimiotaxonômicos e filogenéticos da família apontavam a presença de flavonóides, que possuem atividades biológicas relevantes. Os extratos etanólicos dessas espécies, nas doses de 50, 100 e 250 mg/kg, e as frações ricas (FRF) e deficientes (FDF) em flavonóides, na dose de 100 mg/kg via oral, foram estudadas em modelos de úlceras induzidas agudamente (HCl/etanol, etanol, estresse, indometacina/betanecol e isquemia e reperfusão) e subcronicamente (ácido acético 30%), em camundongos e ratos. A via intraduodenal foi empregada somente para frações no modelo de ligadura do piloro. Tanto extratos, quanto frações, inibiram significativamente as lesões ulcerativas induzidas pelos diferentes agentes. Também foram observadas alterações significantes nos parâmetros bioquímicos da secreção ácida gástrica com redução na concentração total de H+ no suco gástrico com conseqüente elevação do pH. Estes resultados sugeriram atividades anti-secretória e citoprotetora para extratos e frações. O pré-tratamento com as frações FRF de ambas as espécies produziu, no modelo de úlcera por ácido acético, redução na área da lesão por estimulação do processo de cicatrização. Adicionalmente, verificou-se que a atividade antiulcerogênica das frações não está relacionada ao aumento da PGE2; porém, o muco aderido, provavelmente estimulado pelo óxido nítrico, bem como os grupos sulfidrilas protéicos parecem estar envolvidos com a atividade citoprotetora de FRF, de FDF ou de ambas, dependendo do mecanismo de ação investigado. Animais tratados com as FRF das espécies em estudo e submetidos à indução de úlcera por etanol tiveram aumento significativo dos níveis séricos do hormônio somatostatina e redução no de gastrina. As FRF, estudadas em ratos submetidos à isquemia e reperfusão, produziram diminuição do número de lesões, indicando atividade antioxidante verificada através da redução da peroxidação lipídica e aumento dos níveis de grupamentos tióis totais. Por último, experimentos de citotoxicidade demonstraram que as frações da S. bisulcatus foram mais citotóxicas do que as frações da S. arthrotrichus em cultura de células V79. Análises cromatográficas e RMN demonstraram que as FRF contém luteolina e luteolina glicosilada para ambas as espécies, além de lutonarina (5,3¿,4¿-triidroxi-6-C,7-O-di-B-D-glucopiranosilflavona) e 6-hidroxi-7-O-B-D-glucopiranosilluteolina (5,6,3¿,4¿-tetrahidroxi-7-O-B-D-gluco-piranosil) para S. bisulcatus. Para a S. arthrotrichus, foram isoladas ainda apigenina e uteolina-6-C-?-D-glucopiranosideo. O conjunto de dados permite concluir que a atividade antiulcerogênica dos extratos e frações da S. bisulcatus e S. arthrotrichus está relacionada à atividade anti-secretória, citoprotetora e antioxidante dos flavonóides existentes nessas espéciesAbstract: The genus Syngonanthus (family Eriocaulaceae) is found in tropical regions of South America. In Brazil, the species Syngonanthus bisulcatus and Syngonanthus arthrotrichus, popularly known as ¿sempre vivas¿, occur mainly in the states of Bahia and Minas Gerais. Chemiotaxonomic and phylogenetic data have indicated the presence of flavonoids in both of these species. In this work, we investigated the effects of ethanolic extracts (50, 100 and 250 mg/kg, orally) and of flavonoid-rich (FRF) and -deficient (FDF) fractions (100 mg/kg, orally) of these species in models of acute (HCl/ethanol, ethanol, stress, indomethacin/bethanecol) and subchronic (30% acid acetic) ulcers in mice and rats, as well as in a model of pylorus ligature in which the fractions were administered intraduodenally. The extract and fractions significantly prevented ulceration caused by various agents, and also significantly reduced the total H+ concentration in gastric juice, which led to a rise in pH. These results indicated that the extract and fractions had antisecretory and cytoprotective actions. In acetic acid-induced ulcers, treatment with the fractions (FRF) from both species reduced the area of damage by enhancing the healing process. The antiulcerogenic activity of the fractions was not associated with an increase in PGE2 formation. In contrast, the amount of adhered mucus (probably stimulated by nitric oxide), together with the sulphydryl groups of proteins, appeared to be involved in the cytoprotection by FRF and FDF, depending on the mechanism of action. In animals pre-treated with the FRF of either species and then subjected to ulcer induction with ethanol, there was a significant increase in the serum levels of somatostatin and a reduction in those of gastrin. In rats with ischemia and reperfusion, FRF of both species increased the extent of injury, thus indicating an antioxidant activity that was reflected in a reduction in lipid peroxidation and an increase in the levels of total thiols. In cultured Chinese hamster V79 fibroblasts, the fractions of S. bisulcatus were more cytotoxic than those of S. arthrotrichus. Chromatographic analysis and NMR of the fractions of both species showed that the FRF contained luteolin and glycosylated luteolin, as well as previously detected flavonoids such as lutonarin 5'3¿,4¿-trihydroxy-6-C,7-O-di-B-D-glucopyranosylflavone) and 6-hydroxy-7-O-B-D-glucopyranosylluteolin (5,6,3¿,4¿-tetrahydroxy-7-O-B-D-glucopyranosyl), in the case of S. bisulcatus. In addition to luteolin, apigenin and luteolin-6-C-?-D-glucopyranoside were also detected in S. arthrotrichus. These results indicated that the antiulcerogenic activity of extracts and fractions of S. bisulcatus and S. arthrotrichus was related to the antisecretory, cytoprotective and antioxidant actions of flavonoids present in these plantsDoutoradoFisiologiaDoutor em Biologia Funcional e Molecula

A participação da sociedade civil no Conselho Municipal de Assistência Social: o desafio de uma representação democrática

No presente artigo, aborda-se a participação da sociedade civil no Conselho Municipal de Assistência Social. Destacam-se o protagonismo e o papel da sociedade civil no processo de democratização da sociedade brasileira e na luta pela ampliação dos direitos sociais consagrados na Constituição Federal de 1988. Sendo os conselhos um dos principais instrumentos de participação democrática, defende-se que, para que a sociedade civil construa uma representação realmente democrática e participativa, é necessário que os representantes criem canais de interlocução permanente com os segmentos representados e as suas intervenções sejam pautadas na defesa de interesses coletivos e não de interesses particulare

DNA-Binding Specificity Changes in the Evolution of Forkhead Transcription Factors

The evolution of transcriptional regulatory networks entails the expansion and diversification of transcription factor (TF) families. The forkhead family of TFs, defined by a highly conserved winged helix DNA-binding domain (DBD), has diverged into dozens of subfamilies in animals, fungi, and related protists. We have used a combination of maximum-likelihood phylogenetic inference and independent, comprehensive functional assays of DNA-binding capacity to explore the evolution of DNA-binding specificity within the forkhead family. We present converging evidence that similar alternative sequence preferences have arisen repeatedly and independently in the course of forkhead evolution. The vast majority of DNA-binding specificity changes we observed are not explained by alterations in the known DNA-contacting amino acid residues conferring specificity for canonical forkhead binding sites. Intriguingly, we have found forkhead DBDs that retain the ability to bind very specifically to two completely distinct DNA sequence motifs.We propose an alternate specificity-determining mechanism whereby conformational rearrangements of the DBD broaden the spectrum of sequence motifs that a TF can recognize. DNA-binding bispecificity suggests a previously undescribed source of modularity and flexibility in gene regulation and may play an important role in the evolution of transcriptional regulatory networks.Organismic and Evolutionary Biolog

Reflexões sobre o conceito de “legislações linguísticas”

In the present academic paper, we seek to explain and characterize the concept of “linguistic legislation” (or “language legislation”) developed in the field of Language Law (or Linguistic Law) studies, notably since the 1980s. The paper is divided into two parts: first, we will deal with the lato sensu conception of linguistic legislation, approaching it as mechanisms produced by the juridical discourse in the conformation and implementation of language policy (or linguistic policy), that is, as material and instrumental elements of the State's intervention in the domain of linguistic practices; then, we will present the linguistic matters taken more iteratively as objects of linguistic legislation in kind, which encompass, essentially, the naming of languages, the naming of juridical-political functions attributed to languages, the protection of language rights (or linguistic rights) and the establishment of language duties (or linguistic duties).No presente trabalho acadêmico, busca-se explicitar e caracterizar o conceito de “legislações linguísticas” desenvolvido no campo dos estudos de Direito Linguístico, notadamente a partir da década de 1980. O artigo está dividido em duas partes: inicialmente, trata-se da concepção lato sensu de legislações linguísticas, abordando-as como mecanismos produzidos pelo discurso jurídico na conformação e na implementação da política linguística, isto é, como elementos materiais e instrumentais da intervenção do Estado no domínio das práticas linguísticas; em seguida, apresentamos as matérias linguísticas tomadas mais iterativamente como objetos das legislações linguísticas em espécie, que abrangem, essencialmente, a nomeação das línguas, a nomeação das funções jurídico-políticas atribuídas às línguas, a tutela dos direitos linguísticos e o estabelecimento de deveres linguísticos

Anti-inflammatory Intestinal Activity Of Combretum Duarteanum Cambess. In Trinitrobenzene Sulfonic Acid Colitis Model

To evaluate the anti-inflammatory intestinal effect of the ethanolic extract (EtOHE) and hexane phase (HexP) obtained from the leaves of Combretum duarteanum (Cd). METHODS Inflammatory bowel disease was induced using trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid in acute and relapsed ulcerative colitis in rat models. Damage scores, and biochemical, histological and immunohistochemical parameters were evaluated. RESULTS Both Cd-EtOHE and Cd-HexP caused significant reductions in macroscopic lesion scores and ulcerative lesion areas. The vegetable samples inhibited myeloperoxidase increase, as well as pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta. Anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 also increased in animals treated with the tested plant samples. The anti-inflammatory intestinal effect is related to decreased expression of cyclooxygenase-2, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, and an increase in superoxide dismutase. CONCLUSION The data indicate anti-inflammatory intestinal activity. The effects may also involve participation of the antioxidant system and principal cytokines relating to inflammatory bowel disease.2381353136

Liderança, competências empreendedoras e inovação social: um estudo com gestores públicos Leadership, entrepreneurial skills and social innovation: a study with public managers

A globalização tem provocado complexidade econômica, política e social na gestão das organizações, sejam com fins lucrativos ou não, e para se adaptarem elas têm se preocupado cada vez mais em procurar novos mecanismos de gestão. A administração pública, diante deste cenário, também foi desafiada a promover mudanças, sendo válido frisar que dentre tais modificações, há a exigência de novas práticas de liderança e competências empreendedoras que possam mobilizar políticas voltadas à melhoria nas relações do Estado com a sociedade, evidenciando o necessário envolvimento entre todos os atores desta dinâmica social.  O presente trabalho objetivou estudar o processo de inovação social na área da cultura, analisando as relações entre liderança e competências empreendedoras dos administradores públicos. Para tanto se escolheu como objeto para pesquisar um dos eventos desenvolvido pela Secretaria de Estado e Cultura do Estado do Amazonas: o Concerto de Natal. Os procedimentos metodológicos incluíram a abordagem qualitativa e quantitativa e a população investigada foram os gestores da secretaria até o nível de gerência. Também foram feitas observações de campo e entrevistas com empresas prestadoras de serviços. Os resultados permitiram identificar as práticas de lideranças exercidas pelos gestores; mapear suas competências empreendedoras; mensurar as relações entre esses constructos; e, aferir suas influências na promoção da inovação social analisando os eixos condições de vida e geração de trabalho e emprego. Com base nos achados pode-se concluir que existe associação entre os constructos considerados e que eles influenciam positivamente à inovação social

Ulcer Healing And Mechanism(s) Of Action Involved In The Gastroprotective Activity Of Fractions Obtained From Syngonanthus Arthrotrichus And Syngonanthus Bisulcatus

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Background: Syngonanthus arthrotrichus and Syngonanthus bisulcatus, currently known for Comanthera aciphylla (Bong.) L.R.Parra & Giul. and Comanthera bisulcata (Koern.) L.R. Parra & Giul, popularly known in Brazil as "sempre-vivas," are plants from the family Eriocaulaceae. They are found in the states of Minas Gerais and Bahia. The species are known to be rich in flavonoids to which their gastroprotective activity has been attributed. In this research, experimental protocols were performed to elucidate the associated mechanisms of action. Methods: The activity was evaluated using induced gastric ulcer models (acetic acid and ethanol-induced gastric lesions in NEM or L-NAME pre-treated mice, and by ischemia/reperfusion). Antioxidant enzymes, serum somatostatin, and gastrin were also evaluated. Results: In chronic gastric ulcers, a single daily oral dose of Sa-FRF or Sb-FRF (100 mg/kg body wt.) for 14 consecutive days accelerated ulcer healing to an extent similar to that seen with an equal dose of cimetidine. The pre-treatment of mice with NEM (N-ethylmaleimide) or L-NAME (N-nitro-L-arginine) abolished the protective activity of Sa-FRF, Sa-FDF, Sb-FDF and Sb-FRF or Sa-FRF and Sb-FRF, respectively, which indicates that antioxidant compounds and nitric oxide synthase activity are involved in the gastroprotective. Sa-FRF and Sb-FRF (100 mg/kg p.o) protected the gastric mucosa against ulceration that was induced by ischemia/reperfusion (72 and 76 %, respectively). It also decreased lipid peroxidation and restored total thiols in the gastric wall of mice that had been treated with ethanol. When administered to rats submitted to ethanol-induced gastric lesions, Sa-FRF and Sb-FRF (100 mg/kg, p.o.) increased the somatostatin serum levels, while the gastrin serum levels were proportionally decreased. Conclusions: The results indicate significant healing effects and gastroprotective activity for the Sa-FRF and Sb-FRF, which probably involves the participation of SH groups, nitric oxide (NO), the antioxidant system, somatostatin, and gastrin. All are integral parts of the gastrointestinal mucosa's cytoprotective mechanisms against aggressive factors.15Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Assessing forest availability for wood supply in Europe

The quantification of forests available for wood supply (FAWS) is essential for decision-making with regard to the maintenance and enhancement of forest resources and their contribution to the global carbon cycle. The provision of harmonized forest statistics is necessary for the development of forest associated policies and to support decision-making. Based on the National Forest Inventory (NFI) data from 13 European countries, we quantify and compare the areas and aboveground dry biomass (AGB) of FAWS and forest not available for wood supply (FNAWS) according to national and reference definitions by determining the restrictions and associated thresholds considered at country level to classify forests as FAWS or FNAWS. FAWS represent between 75 and 95 % of forest area and AGB for most of the countries in this study. Economic restrictions are the main factor limiting the availability of forests for wood supply, accounting for 67 % of the total FNAWS area and 56 % of the total FNAWS AGB, followed by environmental restrictions. Profitability, slope and accessibility as economic restrictions, and protected areas as environmental restrictions are the factors most frequently considered to distinguish between FAWS and FNAWS. With respect to the area of FNAWS associated with each type of restriction, an overlap among the restrictions of 13.7 % was identified. For most countries, the differences in the FNAWS areas and AGB estimates between national and reference definitions ranged from 0 to 5 %. These results highlight the applicability and reliability of a FAWS reference definition for most of the European countries studied, thereby facilitating a consistent approach to assess forests available for supply for the purpose of international reportinginfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Tannins, Peptic Ulcers and Related Mechanisms

This review of the current literature aims to study correlations between the chemical structure and gastric anti-ulcer activity of tannins. Tannins are used in medicine primarily because of their astringent properties. These properties are due to the fact that tannins react with the tissue proteins with which they come into contact. In gastric ulcers, this tannin-protein complex layer protects the stomach by promoting greater resistance to chemical and mechanical injury or irritation. Moreover, in several experimental models of gastric ulcer, tannins have been shown to present antioxidant activity, promote tissue repair, exhibit anti Helicobacter pylori effects, and they are involved in gastrointestinal tract anti-inflammatory processes. The presence of tannins explains the anti-ulcer effects of many natural products