BIODIGESTOR PARA O GÁS DO LIXO ORGÂNICO

Este artigo tem como objetivo apresentar uma alternativa de reutilização do gás produzido pelo lixo, por meio da construção de um biodigestor, visando a preservação do meio ambiente por meio de energia renovável. A energia produzida por esse sistema, obtida da decomposição do lixo orgânico, é o biogás, formado por gases, tais como o metano (CH4) e o dióxido de carbono (CO2). Esse experimento verifica a possibilidade de utilizar o gás metano como alternativa para o funcionamento de um fogão doméstico

Bases conceptuales de las actividades profesionales a confiar para la educación de profesionales de la salud en Latinoamérica

The concept of entrustable professional activities emerged as an attempt to overcome some of the criticisms to the competency-based medical education approach; it has had a broad impact in practice and health professions education research. It has been disseminated internationally with its English acronym: EPA. This approach proposes to orient assessment and teaching to specific activities in the profession, which allows the integration of several competencies, and to determine which responsibilities can be entrusted to the trainee, in a gradual and explicit manner. The model assumes the definition of levels of supervision that allow progressive autonomy for each EPA, in students or residents, once they demonstrate the required competencies. Practice, supervision and feedback in real clinical scenarios are key to the development of autonomy in EPA performance. The dissemination of the EPA approach is still limited in Latin America, but it has the potential to create a significant contribution to curriculum design and evaluation, and to assessment practices of health professionals across their careers. It provides a deep review of the assumptions under which healthcare professional practice decisions are made, at under and postgraduate levels.Revisión por pare

Violacein-Induced Chaperone System Collapse Underlies Multistage Antiplasmodial Activity

Antimalarial drugs with novel modes of action and wide therapeutic potential are needed to pave the way for malaria eradication. Violacein is a natural compound known for its biological activity against cancer cells and several pathogens, including the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum (Pf). Herein, using chemical genomic profiling (CGP), we found that violacein affects protein homeostasis. Mechanistically, violacein binds Pf chaperones, PfHsp90 and PfHsp70-1, compromising the latter's ATPase and chaperone activities. Additionally, violacein-treated parasites exhibited increased protein unfolding and proteasomal degradation. The uncoupling of the parasite stress response reflects the multistage growth inhibitory effect promoted by violacein. Despite evidence of proteotoxic stress, violacein did not inhibit global protein synthesis via UPR activation - a process that is highly dependent on chaperones, in agreement with the notion of a violacein-induced proteostasis collapse. Our data highlight the importance of a functioning chaperone-proteasome system for parasite development and differentiation. Thus, a violacein-like small molecule might provide a good scaffold for development of a novel probe for examining the molecular chaperone network and/or antiplasmodial drug design.publishersversionpublishe

IL33 in rheumatoid arthritis: potential contribution to pathogenesis

ABSTRACT A better understanding of the inflammatory mechanisms of rheumatoid arthritis and the development of biological therapy revolutionized its treatment, enabling an interference in the synovitis – structural damage – functional disability cycle. Interleukin 33 was recently described as a new member of the interleukin-1 family, whose common feature is its pro-inflammatory activity. Its involvement in the pathogenesis of a variety of diseases, including autoimmune diseases, raises the interest in the possible relationship with rheumatoid arthritis. Its action has been evaluated in experimental models of arthritis as well as in serum, synovial fluid and membrane of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. It has been shown that the administration of interleukin-33 exacerbates collagen-induced arthritis in experimental models, and a positive correlation between cytokine concentrations in serum and synovial fluid of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and disease activity was found. This review discusses evidence for the role of interleukin-33 with a focus on rheumatoid arthritis

Amplification of cytokine production through synergistic activation of NFAT and AP-1 following stimulation of mast cells with antigen and IL-33.

Submitted by Nuzia Santos ([email protected]) on 2014-07-31T12:50:33Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Amplification of cytokine production through synergistic activation of NFAT and AP-1 following stimulation of mast cells with antigen and IL-33.pdf: 3336885 bytes, checksum: a989827a69a92122d37dfa68bfd4d32a (MD5)Made available in DSpace on 2014-07-31T12:50:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Amplification of cytokine production through synergistic activation of NFAT and AP-1 following stimulation of mast cells with antigen and IL-33.pdf: 3336885 bytes, checksum: a989827a69a92122d37dfa68bfd4d32a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011National Institutes of Health. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Laboratory of Molecular Immunology. Bethesda, MD, USA/Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Escola de Medicina. Departamento de Medicina Interna. Belo Horizonte, MG, BrazilNational Institutes of Health. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Laboratory of Molecular Immunology. Bethesda, MD, USAFundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisas Rene ́Rachou. Laboratório de Imunopatologia. Belo Horizonte, MG, BrazilFundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisas Rene ́Rachou. Laboratório de Imunopatologia. Belo Horizonte, MG, BrazilUniversidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Escola de Medicina. Departamento de Enfermagem. Belo Horizonte, MG, BrazilNational Institutes of Health. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Laboratory of Molecular Immunology. Bethesda, MD, USAL-33 is associated with atopic and autoimmune diseases and, as reported here, it interacts synergistically with Ag to markedly enhance production of inflammatory cytokines in rodent mast cells even in the absence of degranulation. Investigation of the underlying mechanisms revealed that synergy in signaling occurred at the level of TGF-β-activated kinase 1, which was then transmitted downstream through JNK, p38 MAP kinase, and AP-1. Stimulation of the Ca(2+) /calcineurin/NFAT pathway by Ag, which IL-33 did not, was critical for the synergy between Ag and IL-33. For example, selective stimulation of the NFAT pathway by thapsigargin also markedly enhanced responses to IL-33 in a calcineurin-dependent manner. As indicated by luciferase-reporter assays, IL-33 failed to stimulate the transcriptional activities of NFAT and AP-1 but augmented the activation of these transcription factors by Ag or thapsigargin. Robust stimulation of NF-κB transcriptional activity by IL-33 was also essential for the synergy. These and pharmacologic data suggested that the enhanced production of cytokines resulted in part from amplification of the activation of AP-1 and NFAT as well as co-operative interactions among transcription factors. IL-33 may retune mast cell responses to Ag toward enhanced cytokine production and thus determine the symptoms and severity of Ag-dependent allergic and autoimmune diseases

Amplification of cytokine production through synergistic activation of NFAT and AP-1 following stimulation of mast cells with antigen and IL-33.

L-33 is associated with atopic and autoimmune diseases and, as reported here, it interacts synergistically with Ag to markedly enhance production of inflammatory cytokines in rodent mast cells even in the absence of degranulation. Investigation of the underlying mechanisms revealed that synergy in signaling occurred at the level of TGF-β-activated kinase 1, which was then transmitted downstream through JNK, p38 MAP kinase, and AP-1. Stimulation of the Ca(2+) /calcineurin/NFAT pathway by Ag, which IL-33 did not, was critical for the synergy between Ag and IL-33. For example, selective stimulation of the NFAT pathway by thapsigargin also markedly enhanced responses to IL-33 in a calcineurin-dependent manner. As indicated by luciferase-reporter assays, IL-33 failed to stimulate the transcriptional activities of NFAT and AP-1 but augmented the activation of these transcription factors by Ag or thapsigargin. Robust stimulation of NF-κB transcriptional activity by IL-33 was also essential for the synergy. These and pharmacologic data suggested that the enhanced production of cytokines resulted in part from amplification of the activation of AP-1 and NFAT as well as co-operative interactions among transcription factors. IL-33 may retune mast cell responses to Ag toward enhanced cytokine production and thus determine the symptoms and severity of Ag-dependent allergic and autoimmune diseases

Substituição parcial do milho pela palma forrageira em dietas para cabras em lactação

The objective of this trial was to evaluate the effect of the partial replacement of corn by forage cactus (Nopalea cochenillifera Salm Dyck) in the diets of lactating goats on the nutrient intake, milk production and composition and ingestive behavior. Five crossbreed Saanen x Pardo Alpina goats with body weights of 47 ± 3.3 kg were used in the study. The design was 5x5 Latin square design, in which the treatments were as follows: 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40% of girl cactus included in the diet as a partial replacement of corn, with 0, 18, 36, 54 and 72% of the added the cactus comprising of gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium (Jacq) Walp) as roughage in all treatments. Treatment did not affect (P > 0.05) the dry matter intake, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber and total digestible nutrients with the increasing levels of cactus in the diet, presenting means of 1.64, 0.26, 0.82, 0.54 and 1.17 kg day-1, respectively. In the same way, no influence was observed on the daily milk production and levels of fat, protein, lactose and total solids of milk, which averaged 1.18 kg day-1; 3.74, 3.34, 5.06 and 13.56%, respectively. The inclusion of cactus also had no influence (P > 0.05) on the ingestion behavior. The treatment with 35% cactus showed a lower impairment of food intake (31%). The partial replacement of the corn by the girl cactus in the diets of dairy goats can be accomplished because it does not alter the intake, milk yield and composition and feeding behavior. The replacement of up to 54% corn by the cactus is recommended to reduce producer costs for food.Objetivou-se avaliar a substituição parcial do milho (Zea mays L.) pela palma forrageira miúda (Nopalea cochenillifera- Salm Dyck) em dietas de cabras em lactação sobre o consumo de nutrientes, produção e composição do leite, comportamento ingestivo e o comprometimento da receita com alimentação. Foram utilizadas 5 cabras mestiças de Saanen x Pardo Alpina, com peso corporal de 47 ± 3,3 kg. O delineamento utilizado foi o quadrado latino 5x5, em que os tratamentos consistiram em níveis de 20, 25, 30, 35 e 40% de palma forrageira miúda incluídos na dieta em substituição ao milho que foram de 0, 18, 36, 54 e 72% tendo o feno de gliricídia (Gliricídia sepium (Jacq) Walp) como volumoso em todos os tratamentos. Os tratamentos não influenciaram (P > 0,05) o consumo de matéria seca, proteína, fibra em detergente neutro, fibra em detergente ácido e nutrientes digestíveis totais apresentando médias iguais a 1,64; 0,26; 0,82; 0,54 e 1,17 kg dia-1, respectivamente. Do mesmo modo, não houve influência dos níveis sobre a produção de leite e os teores de gordura, proteína, lactose e sólidos totais do leite apresentando médias iguais a 1,18 kg dia-1; 3,74; 3,34; 5,06 e 13,56%, respectivamente. O comportamento ingestivo também não sofreu influência com a inclusão de palma nas dietas. O tratamento com 35% de palma demonstrou menor comprometimento da receita com alimentação (31%). A substituição parcial do milho pela palma forrageira miúda em dietas para cabras leiteiras pode ser realizada, pois não altera o consumo, a produção de leite e sua composição e o comportamento ingestivo. Recomenda-se substituir em até 54% o milho pela palma por apresentar menor comprometimento da receita do produtor com a alimentação

Neutrophil vacuolization in peripheral blood smear assessed with May Grünwald-Giemsa stain in direct correlation with the severity of hemorrhagic shock and serum lactate in trauma patients.

Tissue trauma induces migration and activation of neutrophils through specific mediators. Vacuolated neutrophils in peripheral blood smear of septic patients correlated with mortality. However, scarce data exist with respect to findings in hemorrhagic shock (HS) trauma patients. The aim of this work was to evaluate the number and size of cytoplasmic and nuclear vacuoles in polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) obtained from a peripheral blood smear stained with the May-Grunwald-Giemsa method in trauma patients with hemorrhagic shock. Seven sequential blood samples were taken from 20 patients with severe hemorrhagic shock and 20 patients who sustained mild thoracic trauma (control group). The first sample was obtained shortly after admission to the hospital followed by new samples taken at 6, 12, 18, 24, 48 and 72 h. Blood smears from both groups were processed to assess vacuolization and vacuole morphology in one hundred PMNs at each time point. The number and the area of vacuoles in the nucleus and the cytoplasm were determined using the program Image-Pro Express version 4.0 for Windows (Media Cybernetics, Bethesda, MD, USA). The number and the area of vacuoles in the cytoplasm and nucleus were significantly different (p <0.05) between shock and control groups. Moreover, serum lactate and heart rate correlated directly with the number (r=0.634) and the area (r=0.624) of cytoplasmic vacuoles as shown by multivariate analysis (p<0.05). Severe hemorrhagic shock induces greater vacuolization of PMNs as compared to mild trauma. PMN vacuolization has direct correlation with serum lactate, a known marker of severe shock