Antioxidant properties of different dietary supplements based on Agaricus blazei Murrill

In 2012, the market for nutraceuticals earned $90 billion worldwide and it is predicted to reach$33.6 billion in the next four years. Agaricus blazei Murrill mushroom is native to Brazil and widely cultivated due to nutritional and medicinal value [I ,2]. Its beneficial effects have long been recognized, becoming popular as ordinary food, increasing also its production and marketing as dietary supplements (3]. A. blazei is traditionally used to combat a variety of diseases such as cancer, diabetes, hepatitis and hypercholesterolemia [2]. The use of dietary supplements based on A. blazei has grown significantly, due to pharmacological studies reporting antioxidant, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, immunostimulant, apoptotic and chemopreventive effects [2,3], attributed to ®-glucans and other bioactive compounds, such as steroids, tocopherols and phenolic compounds [4]. Herein, the antioxidant activity of A. blazei capsules enriched with fmits of Malpighia glabra L. (acerola), Solanum melongena L. (eggplant) and Euterpe oleracea Mart. (açai), calcium and chitosan, were evaluated though in vitro assays: DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity, reducing power, inhibition of G-carotene bleaching and inhibition of lipid peroxidation in brain homogenates by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TSARS) assay. Two capsules (daily recommended dose) were dissolved in 100 mL of distilled water in order to prepare a stock solution. Several dilutions were tested until determination of EC50 values (concentration responsible for 50% of antioxidant activity or 0.5 of absorbance in reducing power assay). Globally, all the tested formulations showed high antioxidant activity. A. blazei with acerola gave the highest DPPH scavenging activity (EC50=0.81±0.0 1 mg/mL) and reducing power (EC50=0.53±0.0 1 mg/mL). Nevertheless, A. blazei with ayai showed the highest activity in the lipophilic assays: f3 - carotene bleaching inhibition (EC50=0.55±0.02 mg/mL) and lipid peroxidation inhibition by TSARS assay (EC50=O. 14±0.01 mg/mL). The studied formulations might be useful as antioxidants-enriched supplements to prevent some of the diseases related to oxidative stress

Association between ventilation index and time on mechanical ventilation in infants with acute viral bronchiolitis

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between time on mechanical ventilation and anthropometric, clinical and pulmonary function variables, measured early, in infants on invasive mechanical ventilation with acute respiratory failure due to viral bronchiolitis, and the temporal progression of variables with significant correlations. METHODS: Twenty-nine infants admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit of UNICAMP university hospital were studied. Acute viral bronchiolitis was defined according to clinical and radiological criteria. Children with chronic diseases and those that were hemodynamically unstable were excluded. All measurements were taken after 24 to 72 hours' mechanical ventilation, using volumetric capnography and blood gas analysis. Mechanical ventilation time was divided into: 7 days. Association between time on mechanical ventilation and the variables analyzed was determined by Spearman's Correlation Coefficient (r s). RESULTS: Time on mechanical ventilation showed a significant positive correlation with PaCO2 (r s = 0.45, p = 0.01) and ventilation index (r s = 0.51, p = 0.005), and a negative correlation with pH (r s = -0.40, p = 0.03). Ventilation indices of 37, measured between day one and day five, was associated with a progressively increased risk of more than 7 days on mechanical ventilation (OR = 4.2 on the first day to 15.71 on the fourth day). CONCLUSION: Ventilation index, PaCO2 and pH, measured early, were associated with prolonged mechanical ventilation, reflecting the severity of ventilatory disturbance and the need for support.OBJETIVO: Avaliar a associação entre tempo de ventilação mecânica e variáveis antropométricas, clínicas e de função pulmonar, precocemente, em lactentes com insuficiência respiratória por bronquiolite viral aguda em ventilação mecânica invasiva, e a evolução temporal das variáveis significativamente correlacionadas. MÉTODOS: Foram estudados 29 lactentes admitidos na unidade de terapia intensiva pediátrica do Hospital de Clínicas da UNICAMP, com diagnóstico de bronquiolite viral aguda, definido por critérios clínicos e radiológicos. Lactentes com doenças crônicas ou instabilidade hemodinâmica foram excluídos. Todas as medidas foram feitas entre 24 e 72 horas em ventilação mecânica, usando capnografia volumétrica e análise dos gases sangüíneos. O tempo de ventilação mecânica foi dividido em: menor ou igual que 7 dias e maior que 7 dias. A associação entre o tempo de ventilação e as variáveis analisadas foi determinada pelo coeficiente de correlação de Spearman (r s) RESULTADOS: O tempo de ventilação mecânica apresentou correlação positiva significativa com a PaCO2 (r s = 0,45, p = 0,01) e com o índice de ventilação (r s = 0,51, p = 0,005), e negativa com o pH (r s = -0,40, p = 0,03). Índice de ventilação com valor de 37, avaliado do primeiro ao quinto dia, foi associado a risco progressivamente aumentado de tempo de ventilação mecânica maior que 7 dias (OR = 4,2 no primeiro dia a 15,71 no quarto dia) CONCLUSÕES: Índice ventilatório, PaCO2 e pH, precocemente medidos, foram associados com tempo prolongado em ventilação mecânica, refletindo a gravidade do distúrbio ventilatório e necessidade de suporte.46647

Associação entre índice de ventilação e tempo de ventilação mecânica em lactentes com bronquiolite viral aguda

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a associação entre tempo de ventilação mecânica e variáveis antropométricas, clínicas e de função pulmonar, precocemente, em lactentes com insuficiência respiratória por bronquiolite viral aguda em ventilação mecânica invasiva, e a evolução temporal das variáveis significativamente correlacionadas. MÉTODOS: Foram estudados 29 lactentes admitidos na unidade de terapia intensiva pediátrica do Hospital de Clínicas da UNICAMP, com diagnóstico de bronquiolite viral aguda, definido por critérios clínicos e radiológicos. Lactentes com doenças crônicas ou instabilidade hemodinâmica foram excluídos. Todas as medidas foram feitas entre 24 e 72 horas em ventilação mecânica, usando capnografia volumétrica e análise dos gases sangüíneos. O tempo de ventilação mecânica foi dividido em: menor ou igual que 7 dias e maior que 7 dias. A associação entre o tempo de ventilação e as variáveis analisadas foi determinada pelo coeficiente de correlação de Spearman (r s) RESULTADOS: O tempo de ventilação mecânica apresentou correlação positiva significativa com a PaCO2 (r s = 0,45, p = 0,01) e com o índice de ventilação (r s = 0,51, p = 0,005), e negativa com o pH (r s = -0,40, p = 0,03). Índice de ventilação com valor de 37, avaliado do primeiro ao quinto dia, foi associado a risco progressivamente aumentado de tempo de ventilação mecânica maior que 7 dias (OR = 4,2 no primeiro dia a 15,71 no quarto dia) CONCLUSÕES: Índice ventilatório, PaCO2 e pH, precocemente medidos, foram associados com tempo prolongado em ventilação mecânica, refletindo a gravidade do distúrbio ventilatório e necessidade de suporte

[association Between Ventilation Index And Time On Mechanical Ventilation In Infants With Acute Viral Bronchiolitis].

To evaluate the association between time on mechanical ventilation and anthropometric, clinical and pulmonary function variables, measured early, in infants on invasive mechanical ventilation with acute respiratory failure due to viral bronchiolitis, and the temporal progression of variables with significant correlations. Twenty-nine infants admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit of UNICAMP university hospital were studied. Acute viral bronchiolitis was defined according to clinical and radiological criteria. Children with chronic diseases and those that were hemodynamically unstable were excluded. All measurements were taken after 24 to 72 hours' mechanical ventilation, using volumetric capnography and blood gas analysis. Mechanical ventilation time was divided into: < or = 7 days and > 7 days. Association between time on mechanical ventilation and the variables analyzed was determined by Spearman's Correlation Coefficient (r(s)). Time on mechanical ventilation showed a significant positive correlation with PaCO(2) (rs = 0.45, p = 0.01) and ventilation index (rs = 0.51, p = 0.005), and a negative correlation with pH (rs = -0.40, p = 0.03). Ventilation indices of 37, measured between day one and day five, was associated with a progressively increased risk of more than 7 days on mechanical ventilation (OR = 4.2 on the first day to 15.71 on the fourth day). Ventilation index, PaCO(2) and pH, measured early, were associated with prolonged mechanical ventilation, reflecting the severity of ventilatory disturbance and the need for support.81466-7

Variable expressivity and novel PTEN mutations in Cowden syndrome

Cowden syndrome (CS) is a phosphatase and tensin homolog gene (PTEN) -associated condition characterized by multiple mucocutaneous hamartomas and an increased risk of malignancies. We reported an isolated case and another of several individuals in one family affected by CS. The isolated case showed typical features, including fibrocystic breast disease, benign thyroid nodules, and multiple papillomatous lesions in the face and oral cavity, and the cause was a novel nonsense mutation-guanine (G) to thymine (T) transition at position 940 (c. 940 G>T)-in PTEN. In the family, the proband showed erythema nodosum, duodenal ulcer, intestinal polyps, cervical lipoma, renal cysts, and glaucoma, whereas multiple members of her family were found to have intestinal polyps, and a sister had been diagnosed with breast cancer at early age. An intronic mutation-T>G transition at the +32 position of intron 8 (c.1026+32 T>G)-was found in this family, with in silico analysis revealing the creation of a new donor splice site. This study confirmed the involvement of PTEN in CS and the variable clinical expressivity of disease127115561FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESP2016/02667-

Therapy with mesenchymal stromal cells or conditioned medium reverse cardiac alterations in a high-fat diet-induced obesity model

Submitted by Ana Maria Fiscina Sampaio ([email protected]) on 2018-03-06T13:02:43Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Daltro PS Therapy with mesenchymal stromal....pdf: 2220259 bytes, checksum: 0d8b877260e733ab651cf93ee12e0276 (MD5)Approved for entry into archive by Ana Maria Fiscina Sampaio ([email protected]) on 2018-03-06T13:39:29Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Daltro PS Therapy with mesenchymal stromal....pdf: 2220259 bytes, checksum: 0d8b877260e733ab651cf93ee12e0276 (MD5)Made available in DSpace on 2018-03-06T13:39:29Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Daltro PS Therapy with mesenchymal stromal....pdf: 2220259 bytes, checksum: 0d8b877260e733ab651cf93ee12e0276 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), by Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado da Bahia (FAPESB) and Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos (FINEP).Hospital São Rafael. Centro de Biotecnologia e Terapia Celular. Salvador, BA, Brasil / Federal University of Bahia. Multicentric Program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Salvador, BA, BrazilHospital São Rafael. Centro de Biotecnologia e Terapia Celular. Salvador, BA, Brasil / Federal University of Bahia. Faculty of Biology. Salvador, BA, BrazilUniversidade Federal da Bahia. Faculdade de Medicina. Salvador, BA, BrasilUniversidade Federal da Bahia. Faculdade de Medicina. Salvador, BA, BrasilUniversidade Federal da Bahia. Faculdade de Medicina. Salvador, BA, BrasilUniversidade Federal da Bahia. Faculdade de Medicina. Salvador, BA, BrasilHospital São Rafael. Centro de Biotecnologia e Terapia Celular. Salvador, BA, BrasilHospital São Rafael. Centro de Biotecnologia e Terapia Celular. Salvador, BA, BrasilHospital São Rafael. Centro de Biotecnologia e Terapia Celular. Salvador, BA, BrasilHospital São Rafael. Centro de Biotecnologia e Terapia Celular. Salvador, BA, BrasilUniversidade Federal da Bahia. Faculdade de Medicina. Salvador, BA, Brasil / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Gonçalo Moniz. Salvador, BA, BrasilFederal University of Bahia. Faculty of Pharmacy. Salvador, BA, BrazilHospital São Rafael. Centro de Biotecnologia e Terapia Celular. Salvador, BA, Brasil / National Institute of Science andTechnology for Regenerative Medicine. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BrazilHospital São Rafael. Centro de Biotecnologia e Terapia Celular. Salvador, BA, Brasil / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Gonçalo Moniz. Salvador, BA, Brasil / National Institute of Science andTechnology for Regenerative Medicine. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BrazilHospital São Rafael. Centro de Biotecnologia e Terapia Celular. Salvador, BA, Brasil / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Gonçalo Moniz. Salvador, BA, Brasil / National Institute of Science andTechnology for Regenerative Medicine. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BrazilHospital São Rafael. Centro de Biotecnologia e Terapia Celular. Salvador, BA, Brasil / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Gonçalo Moniz. Salvador, BA, Brasil / National Institute of Science andTechnology for Regenerative Medicine. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil / Federal University of Bahia. Institute of Health Sciences. Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics. Salvador, BA, BrazilObesity is associated with numerous cardiac complications, including arrhythmias, cardiac fibrosis, remodeling and heart failure. Here we evaluated the therapeutic potential of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) and their conditioned medium (CM) to treat cardiac complications in a mouse model of high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity.Methods. After obesity induction and HFD withdrawal, obese mice were treated with MSCs, CM or vehicle. Cardiac function was assessed using electrocardiography, echocardiography and treadmill test. Body weight and biochemical parameters were evaluated. Cardiac tissue was used for real time (RT)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and histopathologic analysis. Results/ Discussion. Characterization of CM by protein array showed the presence of different cytokines and growth factors, including chemokines, osteopontin, cystatin C, Serpin E1 and Gas 6. HFD-fed mice presented cardiac arrhythmias, altered cardiac gene expression and fibrosis reflected in physical exercise incapacity associated with obesity and diabetes. Administration of MSCs or CM improved arrhythmias and exercise capacity. This functional improvement correlated with normalization of GATA4 gene expression in the hearts of MSC- or CM-treated mice. The gene expression of connexin 43, troponin I, adiponectin, transforming growth factor (TGF) β, peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP1) were significantly reduced in MSCs, but not in CM-treated mice. Moreover, MSC or CM administration reduced the intensity of cardiac fibrosis. Conclusion. Our results suggest that MSCs and CM have a recovery effect on cardiac disturbances due to obesity and corroborate to the paracrine action of MSCs in heart disease models

Morfologia de frutos, sementes e plântulas de castanheira (Terminalia catappa L. - COMBRETACEAE) Morphology of the fruit, the seed and the seedlings of chestnut tree (Terminalia catappa L. - COMBRETACEAE)

O trabalho foi realizado com o objetivo de descrever morfologicamente os frutos, sementes e plântulas de castanheira. Foi feita a biometria dos frutos e das sementes e sua caracterização quanto à forma, por meio de mensurações com paquímetro e observações realizadas em estereomicroscópio com câmara clara. Os frutos de castanheira são carnosos, indeiscentes, do tipo nucóide, glabros, de coloração verde a vinácea, projeção das nervuras carpelares externamente evidentes, com epicarpo delgado, mesocarpo carnoso e esponjoso de coloração vinácea, com feixes vasculares conspícuos em corte transversal. Geralmente, cada fruto contém apenas uma semente. As sementes são exalbuminosas, de formas alongadas e cilíndricas, recobertas por endocarpo rígido de coloração marrom; possuem cerca de 2,5cm, 0,7cm e 0,7cm, de comprimento, largura e espessura, respectivamente. A germinação das sementes de castanheira é epígea, e a plantula é fanerocotiledonar.<br>The work was carried out with the objective of describing morphologically the fruits, seeds and seedlings of chestnut tree. It was made the biometry of the fruits and seeds with a digital pachymeter and its characterization in relation to the shape, in stereomicroscope with clear chamber. It can be evidenced that the chestnut tree fruits are fleshly, indehiscent, nucoid, glabrous, from green to purple coloration, with evident projection of the carpel ribbings, with a fleshly and spongy epicarp and mesocarp, of purple color, with conspicuous vascular bundle in transversal cut. Generally, it has a seed per fruit. The seeds are unalbuminous, of prolongated and cylindrical shape and recovered with a rigid endocarp of brown coloration. The seeds possess about 2,5; 0,7 and 0,7 cm, of length, width and thickness, respectively. The germination of the seeds of chestnut tree is epigeal and the seedling is fanerocotyledonary