Interactions of the CCAAT-binding trimer NF-Y with nucleosomes

NF-Y is a sequence-specific evolutionary conserved activator binding to CCAAT boxes with high affinity and specificity. It is a trimer formed by NF-YA and two putative histone-like subunits, NF-YB and NF-YC, showing similarity to histones H2B and H2A, respectively. We investigated the relationships between NF-Y and chromatin using an Artemia franciscana chromatin assembly system with plasmids containing the Major HistoCompatibility complex class II Ea promoter. The NF-Y trimer, but not single subunits, protects the Y box in the presence of reconstituted chromatin, and it can bind the target sequence during and after assembly. Using reconstitution assays with purified chicken histones, we show that NF-Y associates with preformed nucleosomes. Translational analysis of various Ea fragments of identical length in which the CCAAT box is at different positions indicated that the lateral fragment was slightly more prone to NF-Y binding. In competition experiments, NF-Y is able to prevent formation of nucleosomes significantly. These data support the idea that NF-Y is a gene-specific activator with a built-in capacity to interface with chromatin structures

Diagnosi infermieristiche e pianificazione dell’assistenza domiciliare nell’ASL di Brescia

Il presente articolo illustra i risultati di un progetto di formazione e ricerca realizzato a partire dal mese di ottobre 2007 presso l’ASL di Brescia. Tale progetto, rivolto a un gruppo di circa 90 infermieri operanti nell’ambito dell’assistenza domiciliare, perseguiva un duplice obiettivo: consolidare negli infermieri partecipanti la competenza metodologica relativa alla formulazione delle diagnosi infermieristiche, alla pianificazione e alla documentazione dell’assistenza infermieristica e indagare, attraverso il metodo attivo della consensus conference applicato a tali contenuti, le caratteristiche fondamentali del nursing in ambito domiciliare. Il progetto si è concretizzato in un corso di aggiornamento, durante il quale gli infermieri partecipanti hanno potuto esprimere la propria valutazione in merito alla natura dei problemi di salute prevalentemente incontrati durante la presa in carico domiciliare, alla loro possibile codifica attraverso il linguaggio proposto dalla classificazione delle diagnosi infermieristiche della North American Nursing Diagnosis Association International (NANDA International), al grado di autonomia nell’identificazione e nel trattamento di tali diagnosi, alla tipologia degli interventi assistenziali prevalentemente pianificati e attuati, alla qualità della documentazione attualmente in uso. L’analisi dei dati raccolti configura il profilo di un infermiere domiciliare con competenza avanzata, chiamato ad affrontare problemi socio-sanitari complessi e che richiedono un approccio integrato e multidisciplinare. Nel contesto territoriale della provincia bresciana, secondo gli infermieri partecipanti, il grado di autonomia nell’identificazione delle diagnosi infermieristiche e l’impegno nella pianificazione degli interventi permangono maggiormente orientati verso gli ambiti che riguardano la sfera bio-fisiologica (modello di eliminazione, di alimentazione, cura del sé ecc.). Tuttavia, l’infermiere che fornisce assistenza in ambito domiciliare si confronta sempre più spesso con problematiche emergenti, come la gestione dell’aderenza al regime terapeutico, il supporto comunicativo e relazionale, lo stimolo motivazionale alla gestione del coping e la supervisione del ruolo del caregiver. Infine, il progetto di formazione e ricerca ha stimolato la riflessione sulla necessità di migliorare la struttura e le modalità di gestione della documentazione infermieristica domiciliare

Eneida de Moraes em “Momento Feminino”: um jornal a serviço do seu lar.

Escritora, jornalista e militante do Partido Comunista, a paraense, Eneida de Moraes (1903-1971), atuou na imprensa carioca escrevendo para colunas femininas, dentre as quais destaco: “Mundo de Hoje” do jornal Momento Feminino pertencente ao Partido Comunista Brasileiro, onde apresentava os avanços conquistados pelas mulheres na luta por direitos e assumia um tom de denúncia, pontuando claramente a necessidade de participação feminina num cenário de tensão política nacional e internacional. Mas cabe ressaltar que a luta por conquista de direitos não estava somente para além do Partido, uma vez que o jornal “Momento Feminino” foi resultado do esforço desmedido das militantes, que acreditavam ser este um instrumento agregador e eficaz na conscientização e recrutamento de novas camaradas. Neste trabalho, recorte de um capítulo de minha dissertação, apresentamos, numa perspectiva socioantropológica, a atuação de Eneida no Jornal do PCB. O recorte de gênero se faz necessário, pois Eneida, assim como outras camaradas, afrontou os padrões instituídos para aquilo que seria o desempenho “feminino” de sua época, pessoalmente e profissionalmente. Nos seus escritos, assim, as construções sociais acerca do “feminino” e do “masculino” e sua discussão são introduzidas continuamente, evidenciando às mulheres a atualização constante das injunções de gênero na vida social

Characterization of the Ferrara animal PET scanner

A dedicated small animal PET scanner, YAPPET, was designed and built at Ferrara University. Each detector consists of a 20� 20 matrix of 2� 2� 30 mm 3 YAP:Ce finger-like crystals glued together and directly coupled to a Hamamatsu position sensitive photomultiplier. The scanner is made from four detectors positioned on a rotating gantry at a distance of 7:5 cm from the center and the field of view (FOV) is 4 cm both in the transaxial direction and in the axial direction. The system operates in 3D acquisition mode. The performance parameters of YAPPET scanner such as spatial, energy and time resolution, as well as its sensitivity and counting rate have been determined. The average spatial resolution over the whole FOV is 1:8 mm at FWHM and 4:2 mm at FWTM. The sensitivity at the center is 640 cps=mCi: r 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. PACS: 87.59.Wb; 87.59.Q

Questionário de frequência alimentar para adultos da região Nordeste: ênfase no nível de processamento dos alimentos

OBJECTIVE To develop a quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) for adults in the Northeast region of Brazil, in order to identify the frequency of consumption of foods considered to be of protection and risk for chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs), grouping food items by processing level. METHODS To develop the FFQ, data from 7,516 adults from Northeastern Brazil were used, extracted from the 2008–2009 Household Budget Survey. The food lists were elaborated according to the methodology of the relative contribution of each item, identifying foods with the highest relative contribution for macronutrients, fiber, saturated fat, trans fat, sodium and potassium. All foods whose contribution sum was up to 90% composed such lists. The final structure of the FFQ organized the food items in order to respect the mental image of the meals. RESULT The FFQ resulted in 83 food items, distributed in minimally processed, processed and ultra-processed. We chose the previous year as the time to estimate food consumption, and frequency options ranged from “never” to “10 times”. The instrument includes guidelines for filling and collects data on serving sizes (small, medium, large and extra-large), as well as additional information on culinary preparations. There was a high percentage of people who were overweight (44.1%). CONCLUSION The study culminated in an FFQ to identify the frequency of consumption of foods considered protective and risk for NCDs. The instrument can support epidemiological studies that evaluate outcomes related to the diet of adults considering the level of food processing, in accordance with the Guia alimentar para a população brasileira .OBJETIVO Desenvolver um Questionário de Frequência Alimentar (QFA) quantitativo para adultos da região Nordeste do Brasil, com o fim de identificar a frequência de consumo de alimentos considerados de proteção e risco para doenças crônicas não transmissíveis (DCNT), agrupando os itens alimentares por nível de processamento. MÉTODOS Para desenvolver o QFA foram utilizados dados de 7.516 adultos do Nordeste do Brasil, extraídos da Pesquisa de Orçamentos Familiares 2008–2009. As listas de alimentos foram elaboradas segundo a metodologia da contribuição relativa do item, nas quais foram identificados os itens alimentares com maior contribuição relativa para macronutrientes, fibra, gordura saturada, gordura trans, sódio e potássio. Tais listas foram compostas de todos os alimentos cujo somatório de contribuição foi de até 90%. Na estrutura final do QFA, os itens alimentares foram organizados de modo a respeitar a imagem mental das refeições. RESULTADOS O QFA resultou em 83 itens alimentares, distribuídos em minimamente processados, processados e ultraprocessados. O ano anterior foi escolhido como tempo para estimar o consumo dos alimentos, e as opções de frequência variaram de “nunca” até “10 vezes”. O instrumento inclui orientações para preenchimento e colhe dados sobre o tamanho das porções (pequena, média, grande e extragrande), bem como informações complementares sobre as preparações culinárias. Registrou-se um percentual elevado de pessoas com excesso de peso (44,1%). CONCLUSÃO O estudo culminou em um QFA para identificar a frequência de consumo de alimentos considerados de proteção e risco para DCNT. O instrumento pode subsidiar estudos epidemiológicos que avaliem desfechos relacionados à dieta de adultos considerando o nível de processamento de alimentos, em consonância com o Guia alimentar para a população brasileira

Production and characterization of protein-rich extracts from the red macroalga Gelidium corneum and its industrial agar extraction residues

Funding Information: The research leading to these results has received funding from Fundo Azul - DGPM , project FA-05-2017-033 . Financial support was also received by national funds from FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia , I.P., in the scope of the project UIDB/04565/2020 and UIDP/04565/2020 and of the project LA/P/0140/2020 of the Associate Laboratory Institute for Health and Bioeconomy - i4HB . IM also acknowledges FCT I.P. for PhD grant ( 2020.04413.BD ). Publisher Copyright: © 2024 The AuthorsThe red macroalga Gelidium corneum is a species commercially exploited for agar extraction, though with enormous potential for other industrial applications. This work aimed to produce protein-rich extracts from the crude alga and from residues of the industrial agar extraction process by applying different extraction and recovery procedures, and to characterize the obtained protein extracts. The sequential implementation of two water extractions followed by two alkaline extractions resulted in the recovery of 12.0 ± 1.2 % and 15.4 ± 0.9 % of the total protein contents of the crude alga and industrial residues, respectively. Two sequential water extractions assisted by Celluclast® and Alcalase® enzymes followed by two alkaline extractions recovered 52.1 ± 1.7 % and 36.5 ± 1.3 % of the protein contents of the crude alga and industrial residues, respectively. Extracts produced by these processes were characterized focusing on proximal composition, protein accessibility, nutrition and antioxidant potential, showing value as aquaculture feed ingredients. As all protein products revealed high carbohydrate contents and, aiming at enriching protein content, different protein precipitation methods were assessed, namely through ammonium sulfate precipitation and pH-shift protocols. The pH-shift method in sequential mode proved to be simple and fast with low reagent consumption. The purification of extracts by this precipitation mode allowed precipitating up to 72 % of the extracted protein. The results obtained suggest that protein concentrates extracted from Gelidium corneum appear to be promising sustainable sources for fish feed production, owing to their essential amino acid content, protein bioaccessibility and antioxidant properties.publishersversionpublishe

Effects of industrial boiling on the nutritional profile of common octopus (Octopus vulgaris)

The authors thank the collaboration of the industrial unit FASTER Produtos Alimentares Lda, and to Margarida Muro and Júlia Ferreira for their technical assistance on analytical methods.Industrial cooking of common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) under well-established procedures is advantageous for current consumers, which demand healthy and convenient food. This work aimed to evaluate the e ect of industrial water boiling, without the addition of salt, on the nutritional profile of common octopus. True retentions (TRs) were calculated for essential nutrients and toxic elements. After boiling, the moisture content decreased, resulting in a concentration of other constituents (protein, fat, fatty acids, majority of amino acids, phosphorus, zinc, and iodine). High TRs were obtained for some essential nutrients: 90.2% (eicosapentaenoic acid, EPA), 89.1% (docosahexaenoic acid, DHA), 74.6% (indispensable amino acids, IAA), and 86.8% (iodine). In both raw and boiled octopus, polyunsaturated fatty acids (252.2 and 425.1 mg/100 g), leucine (940.1 and 1613.4 mg/100 g), glutamate (1971.5 and 3257.1 mg/100 g), sodium (393.3 and 332.5 mg/100 g), and zinc (12.6 and 16.6 mg/kg) were, respectively, the most abundant fatty acids, IAA, dispensable amino acids, macro, and micro elements. Cadmium, lead, and mercury levels found in boiled octopus were 0.02, 0.10, and 0.08 mg/kg, respectively. The consumption of 150 g (usual portion) of boiled octopus is advisable because it contributes to significant daily intakes of EPA+DHA (>100%), selenium (75.6%), and iodine (12.4%), and 25% of the daily adequate intake of sodium for adults.This research was funded by CNPQ (Brazil)—Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (Brasil) - through the attribution of a doctoral scholarship (CNPq201142/2015-5) to the author J.A.M., and also by FCT/MCTES, the funding entity of the MEtRiCs unit under the project UID/EMS/04077/2019.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Folates in quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa), amaranth (Amaranthus sp.) and buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum): Influence of cooking and malting

Effects of processing on the contents of five folate vitamers in quinoa, amaranth and buckwheat were analysed using a trienzymatic extraction method followed by LC–MS/MS. Total folate (TF) content, corresponding to the sum of folic acid (FA), 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF) and 10-formyltetrahydrofolate (10-CHOTHF) expressed as folic acid equivalent, in raw quinoa, amaranth and buckwheat were 309 ± 8.07, 228 ± 24.2 and 153 ± 12.4 μg/100 g dw, respectively, being dominantly 5-MTHF. Boiling and steaming reduced the TF in amaranth by 58% and 22%, respectively, whereas up to a 10–15% increase was observed in quinoa. Boiling and steaming did not significantly alter the TF content in buckwheat although significant changes were observed in some individual folate vitamers. Malting, on the other hand significantly increased TF content in amaranth by 21% (276 ± 14.2 μg/100 g dw) and buckwheat by 27% (193 ± 20.0 μg/100 g dw), whereas no significant change in quinoa was observed. Based on the EFSA recommendations, a portion of amaranth and quinoa (either boiled, steamed or malted) may contribute up to more than 25% of the dietary reference value for folates, whereas buckwheat may contribute only 14% when cooked and 19% when malted. Results demonstrate that quinoa, amaranth and buckwheat are good sources of folates, regardless of processing.The scientific work was funded by the Portuguese Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) under the scope of the strategic project UID/EMS/00667/2013. The analytical work has been financially supported by Project ELEMENTARIA funded by the Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge, I.P. Lisbon, Portugal (2013DAN850) and PRO-METROFOOD project, funded by European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 739568.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Chemical Composition, Nutritional Value, and Safety of Cooked Female Chaceon Maritae from Namibe (Angola)

The authors acknowledge SICOPAL-Namibe for donating Chaceon maritae specimens.Despite being highly appreciated and consumed, the nutritional value of Chaceon maritae from Namibe (Angola) had never been studied. In the present work, edible tissues (muscle, ovaries, and hepatopancreas) of boiled female C. maritae caught o Namibe coast in two distinct seasons were analyzed in terms of proximate chemical composition (fat, ash, protein, and moisture), fatty acid and amino acid profiles, cholesterol, essential minerals (macro and trace) and toxic elements. Results showed that, in both seasons, C. maritae muscle was a valuable source of protein, essential amino acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and essential elements, especially zinc, selenium, iodine, and copper. Ovaries and hepatopancreas are also good sources of protein, but were richer in fat, particularly when caught in October. Ovarian fat is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids and that of hepatopancreas has higher values of monounsaturated and saturated fatty acids. Hepatopancreas and ovaries are also good sources of copper and, especially ovaries, of zinc. Moreover, in both seasons, all the edible tissues of C. maritae analyzed presented very low contents of heavy metals (mercury, cadmium, lead, and arsenic).This work was funded by FCT/MCTES as the funding entity of the MEtRiCs unit under the project UID/EMS/04077/2019, and by the post-doctoral grant: Ref.: SFRH/BPD/91498/2012 (FCT/MCTES) for the author J.R.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Methylparaben concentration in commercial Brazilian local anesthetics solutions

OBJECTIVE: To detect the presence and concentration of methylparaben in cartridges of commercial Brazilian local anesthetics. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twelve commercial brands (4 in glass and 8 in plastic cartridges) of local anesthetic solutions for use in dentistry were purchased from the Brazilian market and analyzed. Different lots of the commercial brands were obtained in different Brazilian cities (Piracicaba, Campinas and São Paulo). Separation was performed using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with UV-Vis detector. The mobile phase used was acetonitrile:water (75:25 - v/v), pH 4.5, adjusted with acetic acid at a flow rate of 1.0 ml.min-1. RESULTS: When detected in the solutions, the methylparaben concentration ranged from 0.01% (m/v) to 0.16% (m/v). One glass and all plastic cartridges presented methylparaben. CONCLUSION: 1. Methylparaben concentration varied among solutions from different manufacturers, and it was not indicated in the drug package inserts; 2. Since the presence of methylparaben in dental anesthetics is not regulated by the Brazilian National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) and this substance could cause allergic reactions, it is important to alert dentists about its possible presence