Alpinia

Species of the genus Alpinia are widely used by the population and have many described biological activities, including activity against insects. In this paper, we describe the bioactivity of the essential oil of two species of Alpinia genus, A. zerumbet and A. vittata, against Rhodnius nasutus, a vector of Chagas disease. The essential oils of these two species were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC-MS. The main constituent of A. zerumbet essential oil (OLALPZER) was terpinen-4-ol, which represented 19.7% of the total components identified. In the essential oil of A. vittata (OLALPVIT) the monoterpene β-pinene (35.3%) was the main constituent. The essential oils and their main constituents were topically applied on R. nasutus fifth-instar nymphs. In the first 10 min of application, OLALPVIT and OLALPZER at 125 μg/mL provoked 73.3% and 83.3% of mortality, respectively. Terpinen-4-ol at 25 μg/mL and β-pinene at 44 μg/mL provoked 100% of mortality. The monitoring of resistant insects showed that both essential oils exhibited antifeedant activity. These results suggest the potential use of A. zerumbet and A. vittata essential oils and their major constituents to control R. nasutus population

In Vivo Manganese Exposure Modulates Erk, Akt and Darpp-32 in the Striatum of Developing Rats, and Impairs Their Motor Function

Abstract Manganese (Mn) is an essential metal for development and metabolism. However, exposures to high Mn levels may be toxic, especially to the central nervous system (CNS). Neurotoxicity is commonly due to occupational or environmental exposures leading to Mn accumulation in the basal ganglia and a Parkinsonian-like disorder. Younger individuals are more susceptible to Mn toxicity. Moreover, early exposure may represent a risk factor for the development of neurodegenerative diseases later in life. The present study was undertaken to investigate the developmental neurotoxicity in an in vivo model of immature rats exposed to Mn (5, 10 and 20 mg/kg; i.p.) from postnatal day 8 (PN8) to PN12. Neurochemical analysis was carried out on PN14. We focused on striatal alterations in intracellular signaling pathways, oxidative stress and cell death. Moreover, motor alterations as a result of early Mn exposure (PN8-12) were evaluated later in life at 3-, 4-and 5-weeks-ofage. Mn altered in a dose-dependent manner the activity of key cell signaling elements. Specifically, Mn increased the phosphorylation of DARPP-32-Thr-34, ERK1/2 and AKT. Additionally, Mn increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and caspase activity, and altered mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes I and II activities. Mn (10 and 20 mg/kg) also impaired motor coordination in the 3 rd , 4 th and 5 th week of life. Trolox TM , an antioxidant, reversed several of the Mn altered parameters, including the increased ROS production and ERK1/2 phosphorylation. However, Trolox TM failed to reverse the Mn (20 mg/kg)-induced increase in AKT phosphorylation and motor deficits. Additionally, Mn (20 mg/kg) decreased the distance, speed and grooming frequency in an open field test; Trolox TM blocked only the decrease of grooming frequency. Taken together, these results establish that short-term exposure to Mn during a specific developmental window (PN8-12) induces metabolic and neurochemical alterations in the striatum that may modulate later-life behavioral changes. Furthermore, some of the molecular and behavioral events, which are perturbed by early Mn exposure are not directly related to the production of oxidative stress

Impacto de um programa para profilaxia de tromboembolismo venoso em pacientes clínicos em quatro hospitais de Salvador

OBJETIVO: Implementar um programa hospitalar de profilaxia de TEV através da criação de uma comissão, da realização de palestras e da distribuição de algoritmos baseados na Diretriz Brasileira para Profilaxia de TEV em Pacientes Clínicos e avaliar seu impacto na adequação da utilização de profilaxia em quatro hospitais de Salvador, Bahia. MÉTODOS: Foram realizados dois estudos de corte-transversal, um antes e um depois da implementação do programa, e comparadas as proporções de pacientes em risco de TEV e as mudanças na adequação da profilaxia. RESULTADOS: Foram avaliados 219 pacientes clínicos antes e 292 depois do programa. As taxas daqueles com pelo menos um fator de risco para TEV e daqueles com contra indicação (CI) para heparina foram semelhantes nos dois grupos: 95% vs. 98% (p=0,13) e 42% vs. 34% (p=0,08), respectivamente. Nos dois estudos, 75% vs. 82% (p=0,06) eram candidates para profilaxia, e 44% vs. 55% (p =0,02) eram candidatos sem qualquer CI para heparina. Após o programa, utilizou-se mais profilaxia mecânica, 0,9% vs. 4,5% (p=0,03) e menos profilaxia farmacológica, 55,3% vs. 47,9% (p=0,04), embora tenha havido um aumento significativo na utilização das doses corretas das heparinas, 53% vs. 75% (pThere is a discrepancy between guideline recommendations and practice of venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis in hospitals worldwide. OBJECTIVE: To implement a program using a risk-assessment tool (RAT) for VTE and educational lectures based on the Brazilian Guidelines for VTE Prophylaxis for Medical Patients and to evaluate the impact of these tools on adequacy of VTE prophylaxis in 4 hospitals in Salvador, Bahia. METHODS: We performed two cross-sectional surveys before and after the implementation of the program to compare the proportion of patients at-risk of VTE and the changes in the adequacy of VTE prophylaxis. RESULTS: We compared the data of 219 medical patients before with 292 patients after the program. The rates of patients with at least one risk factor for VTE and with contraindications (CI) for heparins were similar: 95% vs. 98% (p=0.13), and 42% vs. 34% (p=0.08), respectively. In both studies, 75% vs. 82% (p=0.06) were candidates for prophylaxis, and 44% vs. 55% (p =0.02) were candidates for prophylaxis and had no CI for heparin. After the program there was an increase in the use of mechanical prophylaxis 0.9% vs. 4.5% (p=0.03) and a decrease in pharmacological prophylaxis, 55.3% vs. 47.9% (p=0.04). However, there was a significant increase of use of the recommended doses of heparins, 53% vs. 75 (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: There is underutilization of VTE prophylaxis in Brazilian hospitals. Strategies based on passive distribution of RAT and educational lectures were not sufficient to improve the practice of prophylaxis, but improved the adequacy of VTE prophylaxis in hospitalized patients

Rarity of monodominance in hyperdiverse Amazonian forests.

Tropical forests are known for their high diversity. Yet, forest patches do occur in the tropics where a single tree species is dominant. Such "monodominant" forests are known from all of the main tropical regions. For Amazonia, we sampled the occurrence of monodominance in a massive, basin-wide database of forest-inventory plots from the Amazon Tree Diversity Network (ATDN). Utilizing a simple defining metric of at least half of the trees ≥ 10 cm diameter belonging to one species, we found only a few occurrences of monodominance in Amazonia, and the phenomenon was not significantly linked to previously hypothesized life history traits such wood density, seed mass, ectomycorrhizal associations, or Rhizobium nodulation. In our analysis, coppicing (the formation of sprouts at the base of the tree or on roots) was the only trait significantly linked to monodominance. While at specific locales coppicing or ectomycorrhizal associations may confer a considerable advantage to a tree species and lead to its monodominance, very few species have these traits. Mining of the ATDN dataset suggests that monodominance is quite rare in Amazonia, and may be linked primarily to edaphic factors

Environmental factors modulating the stability and enzymatic activity of the Petrotoga mobilis Esterase (PmEst)

Enzymes isolated from thermophilic organisms found in oil reservoirs can find applications in many fields, including the oleochemical, pharmaceutical, bioenergy, and food/dairy industries. In this study, in silico identification and recombinant production of an esterase from the extremophile bacteria Petrotoga mobilis (designated PmEst) were performed. Then biochemical, bioinformatics and structural characterizations were undertaken using a combination of synchrotron radiation circular dichroism (SRCD) and fluorescence spectroscopies to correlate PmEst stability and hydrolytic activity on different substrates. The enzyme presented a high Michaelis-Menten constant (KM 0.16 mM) and optimum activity at ~55°C for p-nitrophenyl butyrate. The secondary structure of PmEst was preserved at acid pH, but not under alkaline conditions. PmEst was unfolded at high concentrations of urea or guanidine through apparently different mechanisms. The esterase activity of PmEst was preserved in the presence of ethanol or propanol and its melting temperature increased ~8°C in the presence of these organic solvents. PmEst is a mesophilic esterase with substrate preference towards short-to medium-length acyl chains. The SRCD data of PmEst is in agreement with the prediction of an α/β protein, which leads us to assume that it displays a typical fold of esterases from this family. The increased enzyme stability in organic solvents may enable novel applications for its use in synthetic biology. Taken together, our results demonstrate features of the PmEst enzyme that indicate it may be suitable for applications in industrial processes, particularly, when the use of polar organic solvents is required