5,355 research outputs found
A Further Unique Chondroitin Sulfate from the shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei with Antithrombin Activity that Modulates Acute Inflammation
The detailed structure of a further Chondroitin Sulfate from Litopenaeus vannamei shrimp (sCS) is described. The backbone structure was established by 1H/13C NMR, which identified 3-O-sulfated GlcA, 4-O-sulfated GalNAc, 6-O-sulfated GalNAc, and 4,6-di-O-sulfated GalNAc residues. GlcA is linked to GalNAc 4,6 di S and GlcA 3S is linked to GalNAc 4S, GalNAc 4,6 di-S and GalNAc6S residues. The anticoagulant properties of this sCS were evaluated by activated partial thromboplastin time, anti-IIa, anti-Xa and anti-heparin cofactor II-mediated activities, and sCS failed to stabilise antithrombin in a fluoresence shift assay. The anti-inflammatory effect of sCS was explored using a model of acute peritonitis, followed by leukocyte count and measurement of the cytokines, IL-1ÎČ, IL-6 and TNF-α. The compound showed low clotting effects, but high anti-IIa activity and HCII-mediated thrombin inhibition. Its anti-inflammatory effect was shown by leukocyte recruitment inhibition and a decrease in pro-inflammatory cytokine levels. Although the biological role of sCS remains unknown, its properties indicate that it is suitable for studies of multi-potent molecules obtained from natural sources
Effects of different arachidonic acid supplementation on psychomotor development in very preterm infants; A randomized controlled trial
Background & aims: Nutritional supplementation with polyunsaturated fatty acids is important in preterm infants
neurodevelopment, but it is not known if the omega-6/omega-3 ratio affects this process. This study was designed to
determine the effects of a balanced contribution of arachidonic acid in very preterm newborns fed with formula milk.
Methods: This was a randomized trial, in which newborns <1500 g and/or <32 weeks gestational age were assigned
to one of two groups, based on the milk formula they would receive during the first year of life. Initially, 60 newborns
entered the study, but ultimately, group A was composed of 24 newborns, who were given formula milk with an Ï-6/
Ï-3 ratio of 2/1, and Group B was composed of 21 newborns, given formula milk with an Ï-6/Ï-3 ratio of 1/1. The
infants were followed up for two years: growth, visual-evoked potentials, brainstem auditory-evoked potentials, and
plasma fatty acids were periodically measured, and psychomotor development was assessed using the Brunet LĂ©zine
scale at 24 months corrected age. A control group, for comparison of Brunet LĂ©zine score, was made up of 25
newborns from the SEN1500 project, who were fed exclusively with breast milk.
Results: At 12 months, arachidonic acid values were significantly higher in group A than in group B (6.95 ± 1.55 % vs.
4.55 ± 0.78 %), as were polyunsaturated fatty acids (41.02 ± 2.09 % vs. 38.08 ± 2.32 %) achieved a higher average. Group
A achieved a higher average Brunet Lézine score at 24 months than group B (99.9 ± 9 vs. 90.8 ± 11, p =0.028). The
Brunet LĂ©zine results from group A were compared with the control group results, with very similar scores registered
between the two groups (99.9 ± 9 vs. 100.5 ± 7). There were no significant differences in growth or evoked potentials
between the two formula groups.
Conclusions: Very preterm infants who received formula with an Ï-6/Ï-3 ratio of 2/1 had higher blood levels of
essential fatty acids during the first year of life, and better psychomotor development, compared with very preterm
newborns who consumed formula with an Ï-6/Ï-3 of 1/1. Therefore, formula milk with an arachidonic acid quantity
double that of docosahexaenoic acid should be considered for feeding very preterm infants
The Noncommutative Harmonic Oscillator based in Simplectic Representation of Galilei Group
In this work we study symplectic unitary representations for the Galilei
group. As a consequence the Schr\"odinger equation is derived in phase space.
The formalism is based on the non-commutative structure of the star-product,
and using the group theory approach as a guide a physical consistent theory in
phase space is constructed. The state is described by a quasi-probability
amplitude that is in association with the Wigner function. The 3D harmonic
oscillator and the noncommutative oscillator are studied in phase space as an
application, and the Wigner function associated to both cases are determined.Comment: 7 pages,no figure
Biological, biochemical and molecular features of Trypanosoma cruzi strains isolated from patients infected through oral transmission during a 2005 outbreak in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil: its correspondence with the new T. cruzi Taxonomy Consensus (2009)
Evaluating regulatory strategies for mitigating hydrological risk in Brazil through diversification of its electricity mix
Hydroelectricity provides approximately 65% of Brazilâs power generating capacity, making the country vulnerable to droughts, which are becoming increasingly frequent. Current energy law and policy responses to the problem rely on a sectorial approach and prioritise energy security and market regulation. Brazil has opted to increase energy security levels during periods of hydrological variability with national grid interconnection and thermal plants backup. Additionally, Brazil has created the Energy Reallocation Mechanism (MRE) to manage the generatorsâ financial impacts in times of insufficient water. This policy, however, was unable to avoid the high financial exposure of generators in the spot market during the severe droughts experienced in the period 2013-2017. To explore how a more diversified electricity matrix can contribute to reducing hydrological risk, this article uses Integrated Assessment Modelling (IAM) techniques to analyse future macroeconomic and energy scenarios for Brazil in a global context, aligned with the Brazilian Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) under the 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change. We show that the addition of non-hydro renewables is an advantage from the integrated Water-Energy-Food nexus perspective because it reduces trade-offs amongst the water and energy sectors. Our conclusions suggest that a nexus perspective can provide useful insights on how to design energy laws and policies.Philomathia Foundation; Cambridge Humanities Research Grant
Identification of genes encoding antimicrobial proteins in Langerhans cells
Langerhans cells (LCs) reside in the epidermis where they are poised to mount an antimicrobial response against microbial pathogens invading from the outside environment. To elucidate potential pathways by which LCs contribute to host defense, we mined published LC transcriptomes deposited in GEO and the scientific literature for genes that participate in antimicrobial responses. Overall, we identified 31 genes in LCs that encode proteins that contribute to antimicrobial activity, ten of which were cross-validated in at least two separate experiments. Seven of these ten antimicrobial genes encode chemokines
Construção de um VĂȘ de Gowin para anĂĄlises de produçÔes acadĂȘmicas de Enfermagem
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