Açaí (Euterpe oleracea Martius) supplementation in the diet during gestation and lactation attenuates liver steatosis in dams and protects offspring.

Purpose: Maternal high-fat diet affects offspring and can induce metabolic disorders such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). New therapeutic strategies are being investigated as way to prevent or attenuate this condition. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of açaí supplementation in the maternal high-fat diet on dams and offspring lipid metabolism. Methods: Female Fisher rats were divided in four groups and fed a control diet (C), a high-fat diet (HF), an açaí supplemented diet (CA) and a high-fat diet supplemented with açaí (HFA) 2 weeks before mating, during gestation and lactation. The effects of açaí were evaluated in the male offspring after birth (P1) and weaning (P21). Results: HFA reduced relative liver weight, fat and cholesterol liver content in dams and improved liver steatosis as confirmed by histological analyses. HFA increased serum cholesterol and expression of Srebpf1 and Fasn genes. In offspring, HFA decreased relative liver weight, and serum cholesterol only in P21. An increase in the Sirt1, Srebpf1 and Fasn genes expression was observed in P21. Conclusions: These results suggest that açaí supplementation may attenuate NAFLD in dams and protect offspring from the detrimental effects of lipid excess from a maternal high-fat diet

Coagulation/flocculation/flotation/nanofiltration processes using Moringa Oleifera as coagulant of Eutrophized river

This study investigated the efficiency of Moringa oleifera (MO) seeds as natural coagulant in coagulation/flocculation/dissolved air flotation (C/F/DAF), followed by nanofiltration (NF) for Microcystis protocystis and microcystin-LR removal. The methodology adopted in this work was performed in two steps: 1) coagulation/flocculation/dissolved air flotation (C/F/DAF) process using the MO extracted in saline solution of potassium chloride (KCl-1M) and sodium chloride (NaCl-1M) in optimum dosage 50 mg·L-1; 2) nanofiltration process using NF90 and NF270 membrane provided Dow Chemical Company®. A working pressure of 8 bar was applied. In all samples were analyzed color, turbidity, pH, cyanobacterial cells count and microcystin concentration. The use of MO seeds as natural coagulant, obtained satisfactory results in the M. protocystis, color and turbidity removal. NF was able to completely remove cyanobacterial cells and microcystins (100 %) from M. protocystis (always under the quantification limit). Therefore, C/F/DAF+NF sequence is a safe barrier against M. protocystis and microcystins in drinking water.CAPES (Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel) National Council of Technological and Scientific Development (CNPq

Programa de Atendimento Odontológico a Pacientes Transplantados da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais: uma história bem sucedida

O objetivo deste trabalho é descrever a trajetória de um projeto de extensão odontológica da Faculdade de Odontologia da UFMG até se transformar em Programa de Extensão que atende pacientes em fase anterior e posterior ao transplante de medula óssea, fígado e rins. Funcionando como projeto desde 2002, pelos registros existentes, foi possível apurar que o programa já contou com a participação de cerca de 470 alunos e prestou assistência odontológica qualificada a 881 pacientes. Atualmente, o programa envolve 52 graduandos de odontologia, 16 professores e seis pós-graduandos, sendo campo profícuo para o exercício de ações multidisciplinares entre a Faculdade de Odontologia e Hospital das Clínicas da UFMG. O programa permite que o estudante acolha o paciente, humanizando o seu atendimento e integrando as ações em saúde. O tratamento odontológico permite controlar fontes de infecção e restaura a função mastigatória do paciente. O estudante ainda tem a oportunidade de participar da produção do conhecimento por meio do desenvolvimento de pesquisas e da análise dos dados gerados a partir dos prontuários dos pacientes. O programa é um campo para o desenvolvimento de conhecimento teórico útil e aplicável no atendimento odontológico de pacientes pré e pós-transplantados

Myosin Va interacts with the exosomal protein spermine synthase

Myosin Va (MyoVa) is an actin-based molecular motor that plays key roles in the final stages of secretory pathways, including neurotransmitter release. Several studies have addressed how MyoVa coordinates the trafficking of secretory vesicles, but why this molecular motor is found in exosomes is still unclear. In this work, using a yeast two-hybrid screening system, we identified the direct interaction between the globular tail domain (GTD) of MyoVa and four protein components of exosomes: the WD repeat-containing protein 48 (WDR48), the cold shock domain-containing protein E1 (CSDE1), the tandem C2 domain-containing protein 1 (TC2N), and the enzyme spermine synthase (SMS). The interaction between the GTD of MyoVa and SMS was further validated in vitro and displayed a Kd in the low micromolar range (3.5 ± 0.5 µM). SMS localized together with MyoVa in cytoplasmic vesicles of breast cancer MCF-7 and neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell lines, known to produce exosomes. Moreover, MYO5A knockdown decreased the expression of SMS gene and rendered the distribution of SMS protein diffuse, supporting a role for MyoVa in SMS expression and targeting393CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQCOORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPESFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESP478059/2009-4; 486841/2012-0; 457603/2013-5; 309187/2015-088887.137811/2017-002014/09720-9; 2018/04017-9; 2013/08135-2; 2014/00584-5; 2011/20229-7; 2009/14257-8; 2016/10862-8; 2014/03989-6; 2004/08868-0The present work was supported by FAPESP [grant number: 2014/09720-9 (to M.T.M.); grant numbers: 2018/04017-9 and 2013/08135-2 (to E.M.E); grant number: 2014/00584-5 (to L.G.D.); grant number: 2011/20229-7 (to L.H.P.A); grant number: 2009/14257-8 (to A.F.Z.N.); grant number: 2016/10862-8 (to J.S.A); grant number: 2014/03989-6 (to R.M.P.S.J.)]. Grant to multiuser facilities [grant number: 2004/08868-0]; CNPq [grants numbers: 478059/2009-4 and 486841/2012-0 (to M.T.M.), grants numbers: 457603/2013-5 and 309187/2015-0 (to E.M.E)] and CAPES [grant number: 88887.137811/2017-00 (to R.M.P.S.J.

Influence of cooling methods on the residual mechanical behavior of fire-exposed concrete : an experimental study.

This work reports the main conclusions of a study on the mechanical behavior of concrete under ISO 834 fire with different cooling methods. The aim of this research was to provide reliable data for the analysis of structures damaged by fire. The experimental program used cylindrical concrete test specimens subjected to ISO 834 heating in a furnace up to maximum gas temperatures of 400, 500, 600, 700, and 800 ?C. The compressive strength was measured in three situations: (a) at the different temperature levels reached in the furnace; (b) after a natural cooling process; and (c) after aspersion with water at ambient temperature. The results indicate that the concrete residual compressive strength is fairly dependent on the maximum temperature reached in the furnace and revealed that concrete of a lower strength preserved relatively higher levels of strength. The cooling method significantly influenced the strength, albeit at a lower intensity. In all cases, the residual strength remained in the range of 38% to 67% of the strength at ambient temperature. The statistical analysis showed that the data obtained by the experimental program are significant and confirmed the influence of the conditions imposed on the residual strength

Amplitude de movimento de quadril associada ao índice de massa corporal em idosos

Introduction: Range of motion (ROM) is defined as the angular displacement of a joint. This displacement is necessary for performing functional activities and varies from individual to individual depending on age, gender, physical activity, presence or absence of dysfunction, and degree of muscle strength. WMD assessment is used in physical assessment to identify joint limitations and enable practitioners to quantitatively monitor the effectiveness of the interventions applied. Objective: To analyze hip range of motion associated with body mass index in the elderly. Materials and Method: The study was an experimental cross-sectional research with quantitative approach. Sixty elderly (30 Senior Citizenship Center - CCI and 30 Outdoor Academies - AAL) aged 60 to 70 years old, of both sexes, were evaluated. Results and discussion: The study showed a prevalence of female elderly, who practiced activities independently and who had at least one type of injury. At the ICC there was the presence of a Physical Education professional, which was not found in AAL. The most common diseases between the two groups were Hypertension, Diabetes and Osteoarthritis. In both again, BMI was high and ROM was low, and when correlated with ROM was inversely proportional. Conclusion: It is concluded that the prevalence of overweight elderly, injured and physical activity practitioners without an individualized exercise program can contribute to low ROM.Introdução: A amplitude de movimento (ADM) é definida como o deslocamento angular de uma articulação. Esse deslocamento é necessário para a realização de atividades funcionais e varia de indivíduo para indivíduo dependendo da idade, sexo, prática de atividade física, presença ou ausência de disfunção e o grau de força muscular. A avaliação da ADM é utilizada na avaliação física para identificar limitações articulares e permitir aos profissionais o acompanhamento de modo quantitativo a eficácia das intervenções aplicadas. Objetivo: analisar a amplitude de movimento de quadril associada ao índice de massa corporal em idosos. Matérias e Método:  O estudo tratou-se de uma pesquisa experimental, transversal com abordagem quantitativa. Foram avaliados 60 idosos (30 Centro de Convivência dos Idosos - CCI e 30 das Academias ao Ar Livre - AAL) com idade entre 60 a 70 anos, de ambos os sexos. Resultados e discussão: O estudo apresentou prevalência de idosos do sexo feminino, que praticavam atividades de forma independente e que possuíam pelo menos um tipo de lesão. No CCI havia a presença de um profissional de Educação Física, o que não foi constatado na AAL. As doenças mais comuns entre os dois grupos foram Hipertensão, Diabetes e Osteoartrites. Em ambos novamente, o IMC apresentou-se elevado e a ADM baixa, e quando correlacionado com a ADM mostrou-se inversamente proporcional. Conclusão: Conclui-se que a prevalência de idosos com sobrepeso, lesionados e praticantes de atividade física sem um programa de exercícios individualizados podem contribuir para a ADM baixa.       &nbsp

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear un derstanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5–7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8–11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world’s most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepre sented in biodiversity databases.13–15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may elim inate pieces of the Amazon’s biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological com munities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple or ganism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region’s vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most ne glected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lostinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio