Immunosuppresive effects of the methanolic extract of Chrysophyllum cainito leaves on macrophage functions

Background: The aim of this work was to evaluate the immunomodulatory effect of the methanol extract (MeOH) from Chrysophyllum cainito leaves on the MΦs functions.Material and Methods: Peritoneal murine MΦs isolated from Balb/c mice were treated with the MeOH extract and stimulated with LPS. The effect on the phagocytosis was evaluated by flow cytometry assay. The nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production was measured by the Griess reagent and phenol red reaction, respectively. Levels of IL-6 and TNF-α was measured using an ELISA kit. Viability of MΦs and Vero cells was determined by the MTT method.Results: The MeOH extract of C. cainito leaves inhibited significantly the phagocytosis, and decreased IL-6 and TNF-α production as well as NO and H2O2 released by the MΦs, in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, MeOH extract of C. cainito showed low cytotoxicity effect against the cells.Conclusion: These results suggest that MeOH extract of C. cainito leaves has an immunosuppressive effect on murine MΦs, without effects on cell viability. GC-MS chromatogram analysis of MeOH extract showed that lupeol acetate and alpha-amyrin acetate are the principal compounds.Keywords: Macrophages, Immunomodulation, Chrysophyllum cainito, Sapotaceae, Phagocytosi

Isolation and selection of rhizospheric bacteria with biofertilizing potential for corn cultivation

 Objective: isolate and determine at the greenhouse level the biofertilizing potential of rhizospheric bacteria associated with corn in the state of Campeche Design/methodology/approach: Rhizospheric soils were collected in zones with different management conditions. Bacterial strain were isolated from these samples and their biofertilizing potential was determined by in vitro and in vivo The data obtained in both tests were analyzed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) and a means comparison test (LSD, p? 0.01). Results: In total 16 rhizospheric bacteria were isolated, a greater number of strains in non-mechanized soils (n=10) compared to mechanized soils (n=6). In in vitro tests, the most representative activity corresponded to nitrogen fixation (81%) attributed to a higher percentage of bacteria, while the activity with a lower number of bacteria corresponded to the production IAA (25%). In in vivo tests in corn plants, theYM1 strain presented the highest fresh and dry root weight (20.00 and 2.00 g plant-1), the YM4 strain the highest height (63.33 cm), and YM5 the highest values in diameter stem (7.13 mm), root lenght (36.78 cm) and fresh weigh of the stem (12.03 g plant-1) Limitations on study/implications: Strain evaluation is limited to controlled greenhouse conditions. Findings/conclusions: The YM1, YM4 and YM5 strains show potential to be evaluated in the future as biofertilizers in the cultivation of corn in the fieldObjective: To isolate and determine in a greenhouse environment the biofertilizingpotential of rhizospheric bacteria associated to corn (Zea mays L.) at Campeche,Mexico.Design / methodology / approach: Rhizospheric soils were collected from twocorn production zones with different management conditions. Bacterial strains wereisolated from these samples and their biofertilizing potential determined by in vitro2 and in vivo tests. The obtained data from both tests were assessed using ananalysis of variance (ANOVA) and a means comparison test (LSD, p ? 0.01).Results: In total, 16 rhizospheric bacteria were isolated, a higher number in non-mechanized soils (n = 10) compared to mechanized ones (n = 6). In the in vitrotests, the most representative activity corresponds to nitrogen fixation (81%)attributed to a higher bacteria percentage, while the activity with lower bacterianumbers corresponds to IAA production (25%). At the in vivo tests in corn plants,the YM1 strain presented the highest fresh and dry root biomass (20 and 2 g plant -1 , respectively). The YM4 strain promoted greater plant height (63.33 cm), and YM5registered the highest values in stem diameter (7.13 mm), root length (36.78 cm)and fresh shoot weight (12.03 g plant -1 ).Limitations / Implications: Strain evaluations were limited to controlledgreenhouse conditions.Conclusion: The YM1, YM4 and YM5 strains show potential for further evaluationas biofertilizers for corn cultivation under field conditions

Representação social da terapia da fala nos profissionais e não profissionais de saúde portugueses

Title in English: Social Representation of Speech Therapy in Portuguese Health Professionals and Non-Health Professionals.This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits distribution, and reproduction in any medium and adaptation — remix, transform, and build upon the material, provided the original author and source are credited and indicated if changes were made. Users must also make clear the license terms under which the work was published. CC BY-NC Licence: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/deed.e

IMMUNOSUPPRESIVE EFFECTS OF THE METHANOLIC EXTRACT OF CHRYSOPHYLLUM CAINITO LEAVES ON MACROPHAGE FUNCTIONS

Background: The aim of this work was to evaluate the immunomodulatory effect of the methanol extract (MeOH) from Chrysophyllum cainito leaves on the MΦs functions. Material and Methods: Peritoneal murine MΦs isolated from Balb/c mice were treated with the MeOH extract and stimulated with LPS. The effect on the phagocytosis was evaluated by flow cytometry assay. The nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production was measured by the Griess reagent and phenol red reaction, respectively. Levels of IL-6 and TNF-was measured using an ELISA kit. Viability of MΦs and Vero cells was determined by the MTT method. Results: The MeOH extract of C. cainito leaves inhibited significantly the phagocytosis, and decreased IL-6 and TNF-α production as well as NO and H2O2 released by the MΦs, in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, MeOH extract of C. cainito showed low cytotoxicity effect against the cells. Conclusion: These results suggest that MeOH extract of C. cainito leaves has an immunosuppressive effect on murine MΦs, without effects on cell viability. GC-MS chromatogram analysis of MeOH extract showed that lupeol acetate and alpha-amyrin acetate are the principal compounds

Contribution for new genetic markers of rheumatoid arthritis activity and severity : sequencing of the tumor necrosis factor-alpha gene promoter

© 2007 Fonseca et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly citedThe objective of this study was to assess whether clinical measures of rheumatoid arthritis activity and severity were influenced by tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) promoter genotype/haplotype markers. Each patient's disease activity was assessed by the disease activity score using 28 joint counts (DAS28) and functional capacity by the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) score. Systemic manifestations, radiological damage evaluated by the Sharp/van der Heijde (SvdH) score, disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug use, joint surgeries, and work disability were also assessed. The promoter region of the TNF-alpha gene, between nucleotides -1,318 and +49, was sequenced using an automated platform. Five hundred fifty-four patients were evaluated and genotyped for 10 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers, but 5 of these markers were excluded due to failure to fall within Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium or to monomorphism. Patients with more than 10 years of disease duration (DD) presented significant associations between the -857 SNP and systemic manifestations, as well as joint surgeries. Associations were also found between the -308 SNP and work disability in patients with more than 2 years of DD and radiological damage in patients with less than 10 years of DD. A borderline effect was found between the -238 SNP and HAQ score and radiological damage in patients with 2 to 10 years of DD. An association was also found between haplotypes and the SvdH score for those with more than 10 years of DD. An association was found between some TNF-alpha promoter SNPs and systemic manifestations, radiological progression, HAQ score, work disability, and joint surgeries, particularly in some classes of DD and between haplotypes and radiological progression for those with more than 10 years of DD.This work was supported by grant POCTI/SAU-ESP/59111/2004 from Fundação Ciência e Tecnologia.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Portuguese recommendations for the use of biological and targeted synthetic diseasemodifying antirheumatic drugs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis – 2020 update

Objective: To update the recommendations for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with biological and targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs and tsDMARDs), endorsed by the Portuguese Society of Rheumatology (SPR). Methods: These treatment recommendations were formulated by Portuguese rheumatologists taking into account previous recommendations, new literature evidence and consensus opinion. At a national meeting, in a virtual format, three of the ten previous recommendations were re-addressed and discussed after a more focused literature review. A first draft of the updated recommendations was elaborated by a team of SPR rheumatologists from the SPR rheumatoid arthritis study group, GEAR. The resulting document circulated among all SPR rheumatologists for discussion and input. The level of agreement with each of all the recommendations was anonymously voted online by all SPR rheumatologists. Results: These recommendations cover general aspects such as shared decision, treatment objectives, systematic assessment of disease activity and burden and its registry in Reuma.pt. Consensus was also achieved regarding specific aspects such as initiation of bDMARDs and tsDMARDs, assessment of treatment response, switching and definition of persistent remission. Conclusion: These recommendations may be used for guidance of treatment with bDMARDs and tsDMARDs in patients with RA. As more evidence becomes available and more therapies are licensed, these recommendations will be updated.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

FEDERALISMO Y DESCENTRALIZACIÓN. UNA TAREA INCONCLUSA. EL CASO YUCATÁN

El propósito de este trabajo, es efectuar una exploración sobre las posibilidades reales de concreción de un proyecto genuinamente descentralizador ubicando el análisis en un espacio y contexto definido como es el Estado de Yucatán. La necesidad de establecer un marco teórico nos conduce a una revisión del concepto de descentralización, así como al análisis de los elementos y naturaleza del sistema federal. Mediante esta labor se intenta precisar el ámbito de estudio, dado que se considera que el federalismo debe ser la base del proceso de descentralización. El objeto mismo del trabajo, obliga a incorporar el análisis histórico de Yucatán a fin de apreciar la influencia que el centralismo ha tenido en la conformación de su desarrollo. Asimismo, la implantación de la descentralización con la carga de nueva responsabilidades que implica también determina que se tome en cuenta la estructura misma de la administración estatal y municipal. Finalmente se busca establecer cuál ha sido el avance real del proceso de descentralización del caso yucateco. Se cierra el trabajo con las conclusiones y con una serie de ideas que se consideran útiles para reforzar la estrategia de descentralización.Yucatán, Sistema Federal, Descentralización, Administración Estatal, Administración Municipal, henequén

A melhoria contínua e a re-engenharia de processos no aumento da flexibilidade e reactividade numa empresa de fabricação discreta

Dissertação apresentada para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Engenharia Electrotécnica e de Computadores, na Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto, sob a orientação do Prof. Doutor José Manuel de Araújo Baptista Mendonç

Productive performance, composition and carcass yield of lambs treated with zeranol

Twenty weaned male hair lambs with average body live weight of 19.20 kg±2.18 kg (SD) were used to evaluate the effect of zeranol on growth, composition and carcass yield. The animals were distributed into a completely randomized design with two treatments: no anabolics (control); and treatment with zeranol, using a subcutaneous dose of 10 mg/50 kg body live weight. Lambs received a diet with 15 g/100 g of crude protein and 2.8 Mcal of metabolizable energy/kg dry matter for 84 days. At the end of experiment all animals were harvested and entire carcass and its parts (neck, shoulder, loin-rib, loin-skirt and leg) were weighed to determine the composition of muscle and bone. Control animals had higher dry matter intake (1.01 vs 0.88 kg/d), average daily gain (198 vs 172 g/animal) and total weight gain (12.9 vs 10.9 kg) compared with those treated with zeranol. Zeranol group had higher muscle weight (1.76 vs 1.98 kg) and less bone (0.86 vs 0.61 kg) in leg section. The leg area represented about 16 kg/100 kg of the carcass weight for both treatments. No differences for other carcass traits were observed. Lambs treated with zeranol have better leg conformation because they develop more muscle mass, though their average feed intake and daily gain decrease