Antifungal activity of bacterial strains from the rhizosphere of Stachytarpheta crassifolia

This study evaluated the antifungal action of biomolecules produced from the secondary metabolism of bacterial strains found in the rhizosphere of semi arid plants against human pathogenic Candida albicans. Crude extracts were obtained using ethyl acetate as an organic solvent and the bioactivity was assessed with a bioautography technique. The results showed that bacterial strains, Alcaligenes faecalis MRbS12 and Bacillus cereus MRbS26, had compounds with antifungal bioactivity. The largest inhibition zones for both compounds were located on spots with Rf values below 0.500, indicating that the molecules possibly had polar characteristics. These results suggested that microorganisms found in the environment could have bioprospecting potential.Key words: Biomolecules, bioautoghaphy, antifungal activity, Alcaligenes faecalis, Bacillus cereus, Candida albicans

Reverse Myocardial Remodeling in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: Little Explored Benefit of Exercise

International Journal of Exercise Science 14(2): 1018-1026, 2021. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is an autosomal dominant disease that causes myocardial remodeling. Physical exercise (PE) is a therapeutic resource used in Supervised Cardiac Rehabilitation (SCR) to improve Quality of Life (QL), reducing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Therefore, the aim of this study is to report how SCR using a personalized exercise prescription, promoted Reverse Myocardial Remodeling (RMR), improved functionality and QL of a patient with HCM. This is a case report of a 43-year-old sedentary female patient with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 24.7 kg/m2. The patient was diagnosed with Septal Type Asymmetric HCM. Heart Failure (HF) grade III / IV, according to the New York Heart Association (NYHA), was initially treated with 40mg of Propranolol Hydrochloride twice a day, and presented with excessive fatigue, and angina. The echocardiogram showed a final diastolic volume (FDV) of 130 ml, a final systolic volume (FSV) of 44 ml, a left ventricular mass (LVM) of 236 g, interventricular septum thickness of 14 mm, left ventricular posterior wall (LVPW) thickness of 9 mm, left atrium diameter 46 mm, left ventricular end diastolic diameter of 52mm, septum/left ventricular wall ratio of 1.55 mm, and ejection fraction (EF) of 66% (Teicholz). It was obtained as a result of decreased FDV 130 vs. 102ml, decreased FSV 44 vs. 32 ml, decreased LVM 236 vs. 201 g, increased EF 66 vs. 69%, 26% improvement in QL, and 50% reduction in the dosage of Propranolol Hydrochloride. These results suggest that a personalized SCR program is an adjuvant treatment capable of promoting RMR and improving QL and functionality in a patient with HCM

Customised bifurcating networks for mapping polymer dynamics in shear flows

Understanding the effect of varying shear stresses on individual polymer dynamics is important for applications such as polymer flooding, polymer induced drag reduction, or the design of DNA separation devices. In all cases, the individual polymer response to varying shear flows needs to be understood. A biomimetic design rule was recently proposed for bifurcating networks of rectangular channels of constant depth. These customised microfluidic geometries represent an elegant option to investigate, in a single device, multiple well-controlled shear stresses. Here, we present the first experimental realisation of such customised microfluidic networks, consisting of a series of rectangular microchannels with varying cross-sections, and we demonstrate their potential for testing polymer dynamics. We used microfluidic geometries optimised for both Newtonian and power-law fluids of constant or increasing average wall shear stress. The experimental model systems were tested using particle tracking velocimetry to confirm the theoretically predicted flow fields for shear-thinning xanthan gum solutions and a Newtonian fluid. Then, λ-DNA molecules were used as an example of shear sensitive polymers to test the effect of distinct shear stress distributions on their extension. By observing the conformation of individual molecules in consecutive channels, we demonstrate the effect of the varying imposed stresses. The results obtained are in good agreement with previous studies of λ-DNA extension under shear flow, validating the bifurcating network design. The customised microfluidic networks can thus be used as platforms for the investigation of individual polymer dynamics, in a large range of well-controlled local and cumulative shear stresses, using a single experiment

Viscoelastic fluid flow simulations in the e-VROCTM geometry

Microfluidic contraction devices have been proposed for extensional rheometry measurements, in particular as a useful method for determining the extensional viscosity of low elasticity solutions. The first commercially avail- able “Extensional Viscometer-Rheometer-On-a-Chip ”(e-VROC TM ), developed by Rheosense, is a hyperbolically- shaped contraction/expansion geometry which incorporates pressure-drop measurement capabilities. To better understand the underlying flow kinematics within this geometry we have conducted a numerical study perform- ing three-dimensional numerical simulations for both Newtonian and viscoelastic fluids. For the viscoelastic fluids the simplified Phan-Thien and Tanner (sPTT) and the Finitely Extensible Nonlinear Elastic models (FENE-P) are employed, in order to investigate the efficiency of this configuration in terms of increasing Weissenberg numbers and to understand the effects of various model parameters on the flow field. Our Newtonian fluid results suggest that the e-VROC TM geometry produces only a small region of extensional flow and is mainly shear-dominated, po- tentially suggesting any pressure-drop measurements from this device may be related to viscoelastic first normal- stress differences developed via a combination of shear and extension, rather than solely pure extension. By a careful selection of the sPTT and FENE-P model parameters, such that steady-state viscometric properties in ho- mogeneous flows are matched, we are able to show that a small enhanced pressure-drop is seen for both models, which is larger for the FENE-P model

Uptake of oxLDL and IL-10 production by macrophages requires PAFR and CD36 recruitment into the same lipid rafts

Macrophage interaction with oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) leads to its differentiation into foam cells and cytokine production, contributing to atherosclerosis development. In a previous study, we showed that CD36 and the receptor for platelet-activating factor (PAFR) are required for oxLDL to activate gene transcription for cytokines and CD36. Here, we investigated the localization and physical interaction of CD36 and PAFR in macrophages stimulated with oxLDL. We found that blocking CD36 or PAFR decreases oxLDL uptake and IL-10 production. OxLDL induces IL-10 mRNA expression only in HEK293T expressing both receptors (PAFR and CD36). OxLDL does not induce IL-12 production. The lipid rafts disruption by treatment with βCD reduces the oxLDL uptake and IL-10 production. OxLDL induces co-immunoprecipitation of PAFR and CD36 with the constitutive raft protein flotillin-1, and colocalization with the lipid raft-marker GM1-ganglioside. Finally, we found colocalization of PAFR and CD36 in macrophages from human atherosclerotic plaques. Our results show that oxLDL induces the recruitment of PAFR and CD36 into the same lipid rafts, which is important for oxLDL uptake and IL-10 production. This study provided new insights into how oxLDL interact with macrophages and contributing to atherosclerosis development

The view of teachers on bullying and implications for nursing

Objetivo: Compreender o bullying escolar, na perspectiva dos professores, e refletir sobre as possíveis ações da área da saúde em seu enfrentamento. Para tanto, tomaram- se por base as diretrizes do Programa Saúde na Escola, dos Ministérios da Saúde e da Educação. Método: Estudo de caso qualitativo, realizado com professores de uma escola pública de Minas Gerais. Foram utilizados grupos focais na coleta de dados e o material empírico foi decodificado a partir de técnica de análise temática de conteúdo, resultando em uma categoria analítica: concepções e experiências de professores diante do bullying. Resultados: Foram identificadas percepções pontuais sobre o fenômeno e utilização de recursos de intervenção pouco eficazes. No plano interpretativo, problematizaram-se as contribuições da saúde e da enfermagem no redimensionamento das intervenções e no processo de formação continuada dos professores. Conclusão: Os resultados apontam para a construção de práticas intersetoriais para o enfrentamento do bullying.To understand school bullying from the perspective of teachers and reflect about the possible actions of the health area when coping with it. The guidelines of the School Health Program of the Ministries of Health and Education were used to reach that purpose. Method: A qualitative study carried out with teachers of a public school in Minas Gerais. Focus groups were used to collect data and the empirical material was decoded from thematic analysis of content, resulting in an analytical category: conceptions and experiences of teachers on bullying. Results: Specific perceptions about the phenomenon and the use of ineffective intervention resources were identified. In the interpretive plan were problematized the health and nursing contributions with resizing the interventions and the continuing training process of teachers. Conclusion: The results point to the construction of intersectoral practices forcoping with bullying.Objetivo: Comprender el bullying escolar desde la perspectiva de los profesores, y reflexionar sobre las posibles acciones del área de salud en su enfrentamiento. Tomando como base los lineamientos del Programa de Salud Escolar, de los Ministerios de Salud y de Educación. Método: Estudio de caso cualitativo realizado con los profesores de una escuela pública en Minas Gerais. Para la recolección de datos se utilizaron grupos focales y el material empírico fue decodificado a partir de la técnica de análisis temático de contenido, dando lugar a una categoría analítica: concepciones y experiencias de los profesores sobre el acoso escolar. Resultados: Se identificaron percepciones específicas sobre el fenómeno y la utilización de recursos ineficaces de intervención. En el plano interpretativo, se problematizaron las contribuciones de la salud y de la enfermería en el redimensionamiento de las intervenciones y en el proceso de formación continua de los profesores. Conclusión: Los resultados apuntan a la construcción de prácticas intersectoriales para el enfrentamiento del bullying.CIEC - Centro de Investigação em Estudos da Criança, UM (UI 317 da FCT