Low-Protein Diet during Lactation and Maternal Metabolism in Rats

Some metabolic alterations were evaluated in Wistar rats which received control or low-protein (17%; 6%) diets, from the pregnancy until the end of lactation: control non-lactating (CNL), lactating (CL), low-protein non-lactating (LPNL) and lactating (LPL) groups. Despite the increased food intake by LPL dams, both LP groups reduced protein intake and final body mass was lower in LPL. Higher serum glucose occurred in both LP groups. Lactation induced lower insulin and glucagon levels, but these were reduced by LP diet. Prolactin levels rose in lactating, but were impaired in LPL, followed by losses of mammary gland (MAG) mass and, a fall in serum leptin in lactating dams. Lipid content also reduced in MAG and gonadal white adipose tissue of lactating and, in LPL, contributed to a decreased daily milk production, and consequent impairment of body mass gain by LPL pups. Liver mass, lipid content and ATP-citrate enzyme activity were increased by lactation, but malic enzyme and lipid: glycogen ratio elevated only in LPL. Conclusion. LP diet reduced the development of MAG and prolactin secretion which compromised milk production and pups growth. Moreover, this diet enhanced the store of lipid to glycogen ratio and suggests a higher risk of fatty liver development

Synthesis and thermochemical study of quinoxaline-N-oxides: enthalpies of dissociation of the N-O bond

The synthesis of three new quinoxaline mono-N-oxides derivatives, namely, 2-tert-butoxycarbonyl-3-methylquinoxaline-N-oxide, 2-phenylcarbamoyl-3-ethylquinoxaline-N-oxide, and 2-carbamoyl-3-methylquinoxaline-N-oxide, from their corresponding 1,4-di-N-oxides is reported. Samples of these compounds were used for a thermochemical study, which allowed derivation of their gaseous standard molar enthalpies of formation, Delta fHmo(g), from their enthalpies of formation in the condensed phase, Delta fHmo(cr), determined by static bomb combustion calorimetry, and from their enthalpies of sublimation, Delta crgHmo, determined by Calvet microcalorimetry. Finally, combining the Delta fHmo(g) for the quinoxaline-N-oxides derived in this work with literature values for the corresponding 1,4-di-N-oxides and atomic oxygen, the bond dissociation enthalpies for cleavage of the first N-O bond in the di-N-oxides, DH1(NO), were obtained and compared with existing data. Copyright (c) 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

Mechanisms of vesicular stomatitis virus inactivation by protoporphyrin ix, zinc- protoporphyrin ix, and mesoporphyrin ix

© 2017 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.Virus resistance to antiviral therapies is an increasing concern that makes the development of broad-spectrum antiviral drugs urgent. Targeting of the viral envelope, a component shared by a large number of viruses, emerges as a promising strategy to overcome this problem. Natural and synthetic porphyrins are good candidates for antiviral development due to their relative hydrophobicity and pro-oxidant character. In the present work, we characterized the antiviral activities of protoprophyrin IX (PPIX), Zn-protoporphyrin IX (ZnPPIX), and mesoporphyrin IX (MPIX) against vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) and evaluated the mechanisms involved in this activity. Treatment of VSV with PPIX, ZnPPIX, and MPIX promoted dose-dependent virus inactivation, which was potentiated by porphyrin photoactivation. All three porphyrins inserted into lipid vesicles and disturbed the viral membrane organization. In addition, the porphyrins also affected viral proteins, inducing VSV glycoprotein cross-linking, which was enhanced by porphyrin photoactivation. Virus incubation with sodium azide and α-tocopherol partially protected VSV from inactivation by porphyrins, suggesting that singlet oxygen (1O2) was the main reactive oxygen species produced by photoactivation of these molecules. Furthermore, 1O2 was detected by 9,10-dimethylanthracene oxidation in photoactivated porphyrin samples, reinforcing this hypothesis. These results reveal the potential therapeutic application of PPIX, ZnPPIX, and MPIX as good models for broad antiviral drug design.Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ; Brazil; grant number E-26/201.167/2014), the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnológico (CNPq; Brazil; grant number 306669/2013-7), the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES; Brazil; grant number CsF 171/2012), the Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia-Ministério da Educação e Ciência (FCT-MEC; Portugal; project HIVERA/0002/2013), and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA; European Commission project INPACT 644167). C.C.-O. acknowledges a Science without Borders postdoctoral fellowship from CAPES (171/2012), and J.M.F. acknowledges an FCT-MEC Ph.D. fellowship (SFRH/BD/70423/2010)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Practical Science and Environmental Education Workshop in Manaus, Brazil

It is an unequivocal fact that Amazonian tropical forest is the largest remaining primary forest in the world. The ecosystem in the region is e tremely comple with high biodiversity (Peres et al. 2010). Conservation and protection of the dynamic forest and river regions is e tremely important not only for the natural environments, but also for the economy and social dependence of benefits from such abundant natural environments. Important natural parameters that affect status of the natural environments include light (natural sunlight), soil, and water, which abundantly e ist in the Amazon region. Solar energy is the primary energy source for the majority of living organisms in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, and drives the diurnal and seasonal cycles of biogeochemical processes (Monteith & Unsworth 2013). In particular, in situ light data remains one of the most underappreciated data measurements although having a significant impact on the physical, chemical and biological processes in the ecosystem (Johnsen 2012). Soil provides the fundamental basis for all terrestrial living organisms including the Amazonian forests as well as life-sustaining infrastructure for human society. Water is the most essential single entity to constitute all organisms from a single cell to the earth. Understanding of importance and roles of each factor and interaction of such comple dynamics in the natural environments can serve as fundamental platform for natural scientists, particularly for young scientists such as university students. The objective of this workshop was to provide hand- on scientific and environmental education for university students in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil through practical field measurements using the three most important parameters in the natural ecosystem composed of natural sunlight, soil, and water. The workshop was divided into a series of lectures, in situ field sampling, and data processing, analysis and interpretation with the ultimate goal of empowering the undergraduate students with research-centered environmental education and e perience of developing international collaboration.departmental bulletin pape

Progression of mitral regurgitation in rheumatic valve disease : role of left atrial remodeling

Introduction: Mitral regurgitation (MR) is the most common valve abnormality in rheumatic heart disease (RHD) often associated with stenosis. Although the mechanism by which MR develops in RHD is primary, longstanding volume overload with left atrial (LA) remodeling may trigger the development of secondary MR, which can impact on the overall progression of MR. This study is aimed to assess the incidence and predictors of MR progression in patients with RHD. Methods: Consecutive RHD patients with non-severe MR associated with any degree of mitral stenosis were selected. The primary endpoint was a progression of MR, which was defined as an increase of one grade in MR severity from baseline to the last follow-up echocardiogram. The risk of MR progression was estimated accounting for competing risks. Results: The study included 539 patients, age of 46.2 ± 12 years and 83% were women. At a mean follow-up time of 4.2 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 1.2–6.9 years), 54 patients (10%) displayed MR progression with an overall incidence of 2.4 per 100 patient-years. Predictors of MR progression by the Cox model were age (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 1.541, 95% CI 1.222–1.944), and LA volume (HR 1.137, 95% CI 1.054–1.226). By considering competing risk analysis, the direction of the association was similar for the rate (Cox model) and incidence (Fine-Gray model) of MR progression. In the model with LA volume, atrial fibrillation (AF) was no longer a predictor of MR progression. In the subgroup of patients in sinus rhythm, 59 had an onset of AF during follow-up, which was associated with progression of MR (HR 2.682; 95% CI 1.133–6.350). Conclusions: In RHD patients with a full spectrum of MR severity, progression of MR occurs over time is predicted by age and LA volume. LA enlargement may play a role in the link between primary MR and secondary MR in patients with RHD

Constituintes químicos de Capraria biflora (Scrophulariaceae) e atividade larvicida de seu óleo essencial

Analysis of essential oil from fresh leaves of Capraria biflora allowed identification of fourteen essential oil constituents among which thirteen are sesquiterpene compounds, and α-humulene (43.0%) the major constituent. The essential oil was tested for larvicidal activity against Aedes aegypti showing good activity, with LC50 73.39 µg/mL (2.27 g/mL). Chromatographic studies of extracts from roots and stems allowed the isolation of five compounds: naphthoquinone biflorin, sesquiterpene caprariolide B, the steroid β-sitosterol, the carbohydrate D-mannitol and iridoid myopochlorin first reported in the species C. biflora. The structures of compounds were characterized by spectroscopic data, IR, MS, NMR13C, NMR¹H, NOE, HSQC and HMBC

The cyanobacterial saxitoxin exacerbates neural cell death and brain malformations induced by zika virus

The northeast (NE) region of Brazil commonly goes through drought periods, which favor cyanobacterial blooms, capable of producing neurotoxins with implications for human and animal health. The most severe dry spell in the history of Brazil occurred between 2012 and 2016. Coincidently, the highest incidence of microcephaly associated with the Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreak took place in the NE region of Brazil during the same years. In this work, we tested the hypothesis that saxitoxin (STX), a neurotoxin produced in South America by the freshwater cyanobacteria Raphidiopsis raciborskii, could have contributed to the most severe Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS) profile described worldwide. Quality surveillance showed higher cyanobacteria amounts and STX occurrence in human drinking water sup-plies of NE compared to other regions of Brazil. Experimentally, we described that STX dou-bled the quantity of ZIKV-induced neural cell death in progenitor areas of human brain organoids, while the chronic ingestion of water contaminated with STX before and during gestation caused brain abnormalities in offspring of ZIKV-infected immunocompetent C57BL/6J mice. Our data indicate that saxitoxin-producing cyanobacteria is overspread in water reservoirs of the NE and might have acted as a co-insult to ZIKV infection in Brazil. These results raise a public health concern regarding the consequences of arbovirus outbreaks happening in areas with droughts and/or frequent freshwater cyanobacterial blooms.Fil: Pedrosa, Carolina da S. G.. D’Or Institute for Research and Education; BrasilFil: Souza, Leticia R. Q.. D’Or Institute for Research and Education; BrasilFil: Gomes, Tiago A.. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Brasil. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz; BrasilFil: de Lima, Caroline V. F.. D’Or Institute for Research and Education; BrasilFil: Ledur, Pitia F.. D’Or Institute for Research and Education; BrasilFil: Karmirian, Karina. D’Or Institute for Research and Education; Brasil. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Barbeito Andrés, Jimena. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Brasil. Universidad Nacional Arturo Jauretche. Unidad Ejecutora de Estudios en Neurociencias y Sistemas Complejos. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Ministerio de Salud. Hospital Alta Complejidad en Red El Cruce Dr. Néstor Carlos Kirchner Samic. Unidad Ejecutora de Estudios en Neurociencias y Sistemas Complejos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Unidad Ejecutora de Estudios en Neurociencias y Sistemas Complejos; ArgentinaFil: Costa, Marcelo do N.. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Higa, Luiza M.. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Rossi, Átila D.. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Bellio, Maria. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Tanuri, Amilcar. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Prata Barbosa, Arnaldo. D’Or Institute for Research and Education; BrasilFil: Tovar Moll, Fernanda. D’Or Institute for Research and Education; Brasil. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Garcez, Patricia P.. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Lara, Flavio A.. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz; BrasilFil: Molica, Renato J. R.. Universidad Federal Rural Pernambuco; BrasilFil: Rehen, Stevens K.. D’Or Institute for Research and Education; Brasil. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Brasi

Roles of non-coding RNA in sugarcane-microbe interaction

Studies have highlighted the importance of non-coding RNA regulation in plant-microbe interaction. However, the roles of sugarcane microRNAs (miRNAs) in the regulation of disease responses have not been investigated. Firstly, we screened the sRNA transcriptome of sugarcane infected with Acidovorax avenae. Conserved and novel miRNAs were identified. Additionally, small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) were aligned to differentially expressed sequences from the sugarcane transcriptome. Interestingly, many siRNAs aligned to a transcript encoding a coppertransporter gene whose expression was induced in the presence of A. avenae, while the siRNAs were repressed in the presence of A. avenae. Moreover, a long intergenic non-coding RNA was identified as a potential target or decoy of miR408. To extend the bioinformatics analysis, we carried out independent inoculations and the expression patterns of six miRNAs were validated by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR). Among these miRNAs, miR408—a copper- microRNA—was downregulated. The cleavage of a putative miR408 target, a laccase, was confirmed by a modified 50RACE (rapid amplification of cDNA ends) assay. MiR408 was also downregulated in samples infected with other pathogens, but it was upregulated in the presence of a beneficial diazotrophic bacteria. Our results suggest that regulation by miR408 is important in sugarcane sensing whether microorganisms are either pathogenic or beneficial, triggering specific miRNA-mediated regulatory mechanisms accordingly

Stress ocupacional no ensino : um estudo com professores dos 3º ciclo e ensino secundário

Este trabalho foi realizado com 689 professores portugueses, a leccionarem nos terceiro ciclo e ensino secundário. Foram avaliados indicadores de stress, “burnout”, saúde física e satisfação profissional. Observaram-se valores significativos de stress ocupacional (perto de 40%), e de “burnout” (10% na exaustão emocional, 3% na baixa realização pessoal e 1% na despersonalização), vários problemas de saúde física e valores de insatisfação profissional perto dos 20%. As análises de regressão múltipla apontaram diferentes variáveis preditoras para as três dimensões do “burnout” (62% de variância explicada na exaustão emocional, 16% na realização pessoal e 13% na despersonalização). As análises discriminantes e “t-test” para amostras independentes demonstraram maior stress ocupacional nas mulheres, nos professores mais velhos, nos profissionais com vínculos profissionais mais precários, nos professores com mais horas de trabalho e com mais alunos em sala de aula. No final, apresentam-se as limitações do estudo e as implicações para a investigação futura.(undefined