Antioxidant Migration Studies in Chitosan Films Incorporated with Plant Extracts

This work was supported by CNPq/Brazil (grant number 200790/2014-5); CAPES (APQ-1 2009/02 E-26/110.414/2010, APQ-1 2011-2 E-26/110.269.2012, E-26/111.435/2012 - CsF/Brazil - BEX 11943-13-0); CENIMAT/I3N and MEtRiCS through FCT/MCTES (project number and UID/SEM/04077/2013CN).The aim of this work was to develop an active biopolymer based on chitosan by incorporating natural antioxidants. Five essential oils (ginger, rosemary, sage, tea tree and thyme) and six hydro-alcoholic extracts (from ginger, green and black tea, kenaf leaves, rosemary and sage plants) were tested. Migration assays were carried out to evaluate the films’ activity, and total phenolic content and antioxidant activity were monitored in the simulant during storage. Interaction between natural compounds and polymeric matrix was evaluated by FTIR spectroscopy. The diffusion of the phenolic compounds was not detected in the films incorporated with hydro-alcoholic extracts (HAEs), indicating their entrapment in the chitosan. Migration was observed in the films with essential oils (EOs), and biobased films incorporated with ginger, sage or rosemary essential oils, presented the highest diffusion and antioxidant activity in the simulant, highlighting their functionality and potential to be used as food active packaging materialpublishersversionpublishe

Microwave versus Conventional Sintering of NiTi Alloys Processed by Mechanical Alloying

ABSTRACT: The present study shows a comparison between two sintering processes, microwave and conventional sintering, for the manufacture of NiTi porous specimens starting from powder mixtures of nickel and titanium hydrogenation-dehydrogenation (HDH) milled by mechanical alloying for a short time (25 min). The samples were sintered at 850 degrees C for 15 min and 120 min, respectively. Both samples exhibited porosity, and the pore size results are within the range of the human bone. The NiTi intermetallic compound (B2, R-phase, and B19 ') was detected in both sintered samples through X-ray diffraction (XRD) and electron backscattering diffraction (EBSD) on scanning electron microscopic (SEM). Two-step phase transformation occurred in both sintering processes with cooling and heating, the latter occurring with an overlap of the peaks, according to the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) results. From scanning electron microscopy/electron backscatter diffraction, the R-phase and B2/B19 ' were detected in microwave and conventional sintering, respectively. The instrumented ultramicrohardness results show the highest elastic work values for the conventionally sintered sample. It was observed throughout this investigation that using mechanical alloying (MA) powders enabled, in both sintering processes, good results, such as intermetallic formation and densification in the range for biomedical applications.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Physical and morphological characterization of chitosan/montmorillonite films incorporated with ginger essential oil

This work was supported by CNPq - Brazil (grant number 200790/2014-5) and the MEtRICs unit which is financed by national funds from FCT/MCTES (UID/EMS/04077/2019). This work was also supported by the Associate Laboratory for Green Chemistry-LAQV which is financed by national funds from FCT/MCTES (UID/QUI/50006/2019) and UCIBIO, which is funded by national funds from FCT/MCTES (UID/Multi/04378/2019). It is also acknowledged the funding of CENIMAT by FEDER through the program COMPETE 2020 and National Funds through FCT-Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, under the project UID/CTM/50025/2019.Novel bionanocomposite films of chitosan/montmorillonite (CS/MMT) activated with ginger essential oil (GEO) were produced and characterized in terms of their physical and morphological properties. The homogenization process led to a good interaction between the chitosan and the nanoparticles, however the exfoliation was diminished when GEO was incorporated. Film glass transition temperature did not statistically change with the incorporation of either MMT or GEO, however the value was slightly reduced, representing a relaxation in the polymer chain which corroborated with the mechanical and barrier properties results. Pristine chitosan films showed excellent barrier properties to oxygen with a permeability of 0.184 × 10-16 mol/m·s·Pa being reduced to half (0.098 × 10-16 mol/m·s·Pa) when MMT was incorporated. Although the incorporation of GEO increased the permeability values to 0.325 × 10-16 mol/m·s·Pa when 2% of GEO was integrated, this increment was smaller with both MMT and GEO (0.285 × 10-16 mol/m·s·Pa). Bionanocomposites also increased the UV light barrier. Thus, the produced bioplastics demonstrated their ability to retard oxidative processes due to their good barrier properties, corroborating previous results that have shown their potential in the preservation of foods with high unsaturated fat content.publishersversionpublishe

Assessment of oral conditions and quality of life in morbid obese and normal weight individuals: a cross-sectional study

The aim of this study was to identify the impact of oral disease on the quality of life of morbid obese and normal weight individuals. Cohort was composed of 100 morbid-obese and 50 normal-weight subjects. Dental caries, community periodontal index, gingival bleeding on probing (BOP), calculus, probing pocket depth, clinical attachment level, dental wear, stimulated salivary flow, and salivary pH were used to evaluate oral diseases. Socioeconomic and the oral impacts on daily performances (OIDP) questionnaires showed the quality of life in both groups. Unpaired Student, Fisher’s Exact, Chi-Square, Mann-Whitney, and Multiple Regression tests were used (p<0.05). Obese showed lower socio-economic level than control group, but no differences were found considering OIDP. No significant differences were observed between groups considering the number of absent teeth, bruxism, difficult mastication, calculus, initial caries lesion, and caries. However, saliva flow was low, and the salivary pH was changed in the obese group. Enamel wear was lower and dentine wear was higher in obese. More BOP, insertion loss, and periodontal pocket, especially the deeper ones, were found in obese subjects. The regression model showed gender, smoking, salivary pH, socio-economic level, periodontal pocket, and periodontal insertion loss significantly associated to obesity. However, both OIDP and BOP did not show significant contribution to the model. The quality of life of morbid obese was more negatively influenced by oral disease and socio-economic factors than in normal weight subjects107CNPQ - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOCAPES - COORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL E NÍVEL SUPERIORFAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO558366/2010-4Sem informação2014/09550-

ETNOBOTÂNICA HISTÓRICA DAS PLANTAS DO MARANHÃO NO SÉCULO XVII BASEADA NA OBRA DE CRISTÓVÃO DE LISBOA

When the Portuguese settlers arrived in Brazil, they were impressed by the diversity of plants and uses known to the Indians. The general objective of the study was to verify the uses and provenances of the plants of Maranhão in century XVII through documentary analysis of the work of Cristóvão de Lisboa, and more specifically; identify the plants according to the current botanical nomenclature. The methodology of the work was based on the consultation of the facsimile edition of the work 'History of animals and trees of Maranhão'. Of the total number of plants (n = 55) extracted from the work, 87.27% (n = 48) were identified botanically at least at the family level, and, 12.73% (n = 07) were not identified. Regarding the origin of the species, 98.18% (n = 54) was composed of native species, and only 1.82% (n = 1) consisted of exotic species. The importance of food was highlighted among the uses raised (74%). The manioc (Manihot esculenta Crantz; Euphorbiaceae) and passion fruit (Passiflora spp.; Passifloraceae) were the best-known species among the Indians of the time. Finally, the total number of plants contained in the work of Cristóvão de Lisboa (n = 55) was lower than expected for Maranhão, an area of contact between the main Brazilian biomes.Keywords: Historiography of plants; documentary analysis; Flora of Maranhão.Quando os colonizadores portugueses chegaram ao Brasil, ficaram impressionados com a diversidade de plantas e de usos conhecidos pelos indígenas. O objetivo geral do estudo foi o de verificar os usos e procedências das plantas do Maranhão no século XVII mediante análise documental da obra de Cristóvão de Lisboa, e mais especificamente; identificar as plantas de acordo com a nomenclatura botânica atual. A metodologia do trabalho baseou-se na consulta da edição fac-símile da obra ‘História dos animais e árvores do Maranhão’. Da totalidade de plantas (n= 55) extraídas da obra, 87,27% (n= 48) foram identificadas botanicamente pelo menos ao nível de família, e, 12,73% (n=07) não foram identificadas. Quanto à procedência das espécies, 98,18% (n= 54) foi constituída por espécies nativas, e apenas 1,82% (n= 1) constituída por exótica.  A importância alimentícia teve grande destaque entre os usos levantados (74%). A mandioca (Manihot esculenta Crantz; Euphorbiaceae) e os maracujás (Passiflora spp.; Passifloraceae), foram as espécies mais conhecidas entre os indígenas da época. Por fim, o número total de plantas contidas na obra de Cristóvão de Lisboa (n=55), foi aquém do esperado para o Maranhão, área de contato entre os principais biomas brasileiros.Palavras-chave: Historiografia de plantas, análise documental, Flora do Maranhão

Proximal, local, and distal muscle morphology in women with patellofemoral pain

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare proximal, local, and distal muscle morphology in women with and without patellofemoral pain (PFP). Materials and Methods: Proximal, local, and distal muscle thicknesses (MTs) were obtained with B-mode sonography in healthy (control group [CG], n = 20) and PFP (PFP group, n = 20) women. In addition, muscle mass was measured by the sum of the synergistic MTs. Data were analyzed by independent t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, and effect size. Results: PFP women had smaller gluteus medius (P = .02, d = 0.7), vastus medialis (P < .01, d = 1.0), and flexor digitorum brevis (P < .01, d = 1.0) MT and greater gastrocnemius medialis (P = .04, d = 0.6) MT than CG. Quadriceps muscle mass (P = .01, d = 0.8) and foot muscle mass (P = .008, d = 0.9) were smaller, while plantar flexor muscle mass was greater in the PFP group than in CG (P = .01, d = 0.8). Conclusion: PFP women have proximal, local, and distal MT alterations in comparison with CG, which may explain possible changes in muscle strength and functionality

A APRENDIZAGEM DO ADULTO E INICIAÇÃO À NATAÇÃO

A natação é um exercício, arte ou esporte de nadar. É considerada um dos exercícios mais completos por movimentar grande parte do músculos e articulações do corpo. Oferece vários tipos de benefícios como liberações de tensões resistência muscular, diminuição de estresse, melhora a circulação sanguínea. No dia 24/10/2017 aplicamos a intervenção na disciplina metodologia e pratica da natação, ministrada pelo professor Erisvan Demones Tavares, oferecida para o 3° semestre do curso de Educação Física Licenciatura. A intervenção que aconteceu na Piscina do Complexo Esportivo Centro Universitário Católica de Quixadá, no período da noite, estávamos um pouco receosos pois não sabíamos como seria a reação dos alunos durante a pratica da atividade

Radiation-Induced Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma after Breast Conserving Therapy: Case Report

Introduction: Breast sarcoma is a rare form of malignancy that arises from connective tissue, comprising less than 5% of all sarcomas. Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) of the breast is a rare and aggressive subtype of radiation-induced sarcoma that can occur in treated breast cancer patients. The diagnosis is challenging and often missed due to the low incidence, long latency period, unspecific imaging finding, and difficulties in clinical and histological detection. Case report: A 56-year-old woman was diagnosed with early-stage triple-negative breast cancer in 2013 and underwent breast-conserving therapy (BCT). After five years follow-up, she developed mastalgia and breast induration, and after mammography and ultrasound without suspicious lesions, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed and showed a highly suggestive malignancy mass measuring 8.0 cm and invading the chest wall. The core biopsy revealed a spindle cells malignant tumor, negative for pan cytokeratin and most of immuno-histochemical markers, suggesting sarcoma, but requiring investigation of surgical specimen to exclude metaplastic carcinoma. She underwent Halsted radical mastectomy, full-thickness left anterior chest wall resection contemplating segments of the 4th and 5th ribs and reconstruction with synthetic mesh. The surgical specimen evidenced a UPS with clear margins. The patient had good postoperative recovery and remains in follow-up with the mastology team. Conclusion: This report shows that radiation-induced sarcomas of the breast can be difficult to diagnose, and how later treatment can demand a major surgery with higher morbidity. Prognosis may improve if detected early

Exploring challenges in Giardia cyst visualisation by common microscopy methods

Giardia spp. is an intestinal parasite responsible for worldwide disease outbreaks. Guiding researchers and practitioners to choose among current methods for microscopy detection of the infectious forms may be directly beneficial to public health and the environment. This study provides an overall comparison of brightfield (BF), fluorescence and darkfield (DF) microscopies for detecting Giardia duodenalis and Giardia muris cysts, by illustrating micrographs of such protocols applied to purified samples, as well as discussing advantages and constraints based on secondary information and collected data. BF analysis included Lugol's iodine staining. In fluorescence microscopy, samples were processed by immunofluorescence assay (IFA) with DAPI and by standalone DAPI dye. Cyst suspensions were also analysed by DF microscopy using a recently developed low-cost system. The three techniques enabled detecting Giardia spp. cysts, although they did not provide species identification by morphology. The overview of each method points out some relevant aspects to consider when selecting common optical microscopy techniques, and includes challenges and advantages regarding each of them. HIGHLIGHTS Comparisons of BF, DF, standalone DAPI and IFA-combined are provided.; BF and DF may be alternatives for low-cost detection of Giardia cysts.; Combinations of at least two diagnostic methods are recommended to minimise inherent errors.