Phenolic screening by HPLC–DAD–ESI/MSn and antioxidant capacity of leaves, flowers and berries of Rubus grandifolius Lowe

In Madeira Island (Macaronesia Island), Rubus grandifolius Lowe berries, locally known by amoras, are widely consumed fresh or processed as jam, juice or liquor. Folk medicine describes R. grandifolius Lowe fruits and leaves being used to treat diabetes, as depurative, diuretic and to relieve sore throat. The aim of this study was to investigate phenolic composition and antioxidant capacity of the different edible parts of the plant (berries, leaves and flowers). HPLC–DAD–ESI/MSn was used to establish the phe nolic profile. Phenolic monomers such as flavonol O-glycosilated (quercetin and kaempferol), quinic acid and caffeic acid conjugates were characterized using the electrospray source in the negative mode; while positive mode was employed to detect glycosylated anthocyanins (cyanidin, delphinin and petunidin). The berries presented a higher radical scavenger capacity (DPPH and ABTS assays) and reducing prop erties (FRAP) than the leaves and the flowers. Ethanolic extracts showed highest antioxidant capacity when compared with water based extracts: DPPH values of 147.9 ± 0.7 mol eq Trolox/g DM; ABTS value of 255.8 ± 1.9 mol eq Trolox/g DM and FRAP value 9455 ± 29 mmol Fe(II)/mgDM).Mrs. Conceic¸ ão Pires is recognized for excellent assistance in sample collection.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Serum levels of oxylipins in achilles tendinopathy: An exploratory study

Background: Linoleic acid-derived oxidation products are found in experimental pain models. However, little is known about the levels of such oxylipins in human pain. In consequence, in the present study, we have undertaken a lipidomic profiling of oxylipins in blood serum from patients with Achilles tendinopathy and controls. Methodology/Principal findings: A total of 34 oxylipins were analysed in the serum samples. At a significance level of P<0.00147 (<0.05/34), two linoleic acid-derived oxylipins, 13-hydroxy-10E,12Z-octadecadienoic (13-HODE) and 12(13)-dihydroxy-9Z-octadecenoic acid (12,13-DiHOME) were present at significantly higher levels in the Achilles tendinopathy samples. This difference remained significant when the dataset was controlled for age, gender and body-mass index. In contrast, 0/21 of the arachidonic acid- and 0/4 of the dihomo-γ-linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid or docosahenaenoic acid-derived oxylipins were higher in the patient samples at this level of significance. The area under the Receiver-Operator Characteristic (ROC) curve for 12,13-DiHOME was 0.91 (P<0.0001). Levels of four N-acylethanolamines were also analysed and found not to be significantly different between the controls and the patients at the level of P<0.0125 (<0.05/4). Conclusions/Significance: It is concluded from this exploratory study that abnormal levels of linoleic acid-derived oxylipins are seen in blood serum from patients with Achilles tendinopathy. Given the ability of two of these, 9- and 13-HODE to activate transient receptor potential vanilloid 1, it is possible that these changes may contribute to the symptoms seen in Achilles tendinopathy

Приватизация государственной собственности в агропромышленном комплексе Республике Беларусь

Материалы межвуз. науч. конф. студентов, магистрантов и аспирантов, Гомель, 15 мая 2008 г

Gravidez e tabagismo : uma oportunidade para mudar comportamentos

Introduction: Maternal smoking during pregnancy is related not only to perinatal adverse events but also to important postnatal problems. Smoking is very prevalent in women with several socio-demographic factors playing an important role. Aims: To assess the frequency of smoking as well as mothers’ change in behaviours during pregnancy. To identify socio-demographic factors associated to smoking and to assess women’s knowledge and sources of information about adverse effects of smoking during pregnancy.Methods: We started a cohort study between March and October 2003 at the Maternity, Hospital Santa Maria. After an informed consent the mothers in the post natal ward were asked to fill in a questionnaire. Results: Four hundred and seventy five mothers responded to the questionnaire and among them 30% were smokers before pregnancy. Thirty five percent stopped smoking during pregnancy and those who continued significantly reduced the number of cigarrettes per day. Smoking was less prevalent in married women, with higher educational level and with stable employment (statistically significant correlations). Forty five percent of the mothers were misinformed or had no information about the adverse effects of smoking during pregnancy. Their main source of information were the media. Discussion: Smoking prevalence was high (30%) among the respondents but the pregnancy lowered the numbers of cigarrettes per day. The percentage of misinformed mothers concerned about the adverse effects of smoking during pregnancy was high (45%), which also showed that doctors’ role as a source of information was surpassed by the media. The study also brought to light the need for the health professionals to improve their competences in their role on prevention of smoking during pregnancy and the postnatal period

Production, Characterization and Application of a Thermostable Tannase from Pestalotiopsis guepinii URM 7114

Tanaza (EC 3.1.1.20) je enzim koji hidrolizira esterske veze i razgrađuje taničnu kiselinu na galnu kiselinu i glukozu. Koristi se u proizvodnji hrane i pića za uklanjanje nepoželjenog učinka tanina. Svrha je ovoga rada bila ispitati mogućnost uporabe endofitskih gljivica izoliranih iz lista crne šljive (Syzygium cumini (l.) Skeels), koje pripadaju vrsti Pestalotiopsis guepinii, u proizvodnji tanaze. Tanaza je dobivena submerznim uzgojem, uzgojem u polučvrstoj, te na čvrstoj podlozi. Najviše je tanaze (98,6 U/mL) proizvedeno submerznim uzgojem. Metodom je odzivnih površina ispitan učinak pH-vrijednosti i temperature, a najbolji su uvjeti za aktivnost tanaze bili: pH-vrijednost od 6,9 i temperatura od 30 °C. Vrijednosti su kinetičkih parametara bile sljedeće: Km=7,18·10-4 mol/L i vmax=250,00 U/mL. Aktivnost je tanaze bila najveća u prisutnosti iona Ca2+ koncentracije od 5·10-3 mol/L. Osim toga, ispitan je učinak kelatora i deterdženata, te je utvrđeno da nisu inhibirali aktivnost enzima. Stabilnost je enzima ispitana simulacijom gastrointestinalne probave monogastričnih životinja. Sirovi je enzim bio vrlo stabilan u simuliranim uvjetima, te je nakon šest sati zadržao 87,3 % početne aktivnosti. Ovo istraživanje pridonosi identifikaciji mikrobioloških organizama koji proizvode tanazu, a što bi se moglo primijeniti u biotehnologiji.Tannase (EC 3.1.1.20) is an enzyme that hydrolyzes the ester and depside bonds of tannic acid to gallic acid and glucose. In the production of foods and beverages, it contributes to the removal of the undesirable effects of tannins. The aim of this study is to investigate the potential of endophytic fungi isolated from jamun (Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels) leaves, and identified as Pestalotiopsis guepinii, in the production of tannase. Tannase was produced extracellularly by P. guepinii under submerged, slurry-state and solid-state fermentations. The submerged fermentation was found to be the most promising (98.6 U/mL). Response surface methodology was employed to evaluate the effect of variables (pH and temperature), and the results showed that the best conditions for tannase activity were pH=6.9 and 30 °C. Km was found to be 7.18·10–4 mol/L and vmax=250.00 U/mL. The tannase activity was the highest in the presence of Ca2+ at a concentration of 5·10–3 mol/L. Moreover, the enzyme was not inhibited by the tested chelators and detergents. The stability of the enzyme was also studied, and crude enzyme was evaluated in simulation of gastrointestinal digestion of monogastric animals. The crude enzyme was highly stable under simulated conditions; it retained 87.3 % of its original activity after 6 h. The study contributes to the identification of microbial species that produce tannase, with potential application in biotechnology

Sexualidade na gravidez : influência no bébé? Mitos, atitudes e informação das mães

Introdução: A gravidez envolve alterações fisiológicas e psicológicas que afectam vários aspectos da vivência da mulher, nomeadamente a sua sexualidade. Factores culturais e educacionais podem ter também uma influência importante na vivência da actividade sexual neste período. Objectivos: O objectivo deste estudo foi determinar a repercussão da gravidez na actividade sexual e seus possíveis factores condicionantes, assim como descrever a informação que as mulheres demonstram e as fontes de informação de que dispõem sobre os efeitos da actividade sexual durante a gravidez. Métodos: Estudo transversal analítico realizado na Maternidade de um Hospital Universitário com aplicação de um inquérito validado a uma amostra de 475 puérperas entre as 24 e as 28 horas pós- -parto, em dias da semana pré-estabelecidos. Foram estudadas as variáveis respeitantes a caracterização sócio-demográfica, gravidez, parto, recém-nascido e sexualidade durante a gravidez. Na análise dos dados foram utilizados os programas estatísticos SPSS e STATA. Resultados: Verificou-se que a maioria das mulheres (59%) refere alteração da vivência da sexualidade com a gravidez, o que se relacionou com a idade (p=0,002) e a escolaridade (p=0,001), mas não com outros factores sócio-demográficos. Não se verificou correlação entre a actividade sexual durante a gravidez e a idade gestacional ou peso do recém-nascido ao nascer. Em relação à informação apresentada verificou-se que 53,9% das mulheres se encontram informadas sobre a sexualidade na gravidez e que 36,4% referem a comunicação social como principal fonte de informação. Conclusão: Considera-se necessário que os profissionais de saúde se envolvam na informação sobre sexualidade durante a gravidez, de forma a permitir uma vivência saudável da gravidez em todos os aspectos relacionais da mulher.Introduction: Pregnancy is a period of psychological and physiological changes which affect several aspects of women’s lives, namely their sexuality. Cultural and educational factors may also play an important role in sexual activity during this period. Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the repercussion of pregnancy on sexuality and possible related factors as well as information on this subject and sources of information reported. Methods: We conducted a cohort study at the Maternity of a University Hospital. A standard questionnaire was applied to 475 women between 24 and 48 hours postpartum, on predetermined week days. Variables studied included socio-demographic aspects, pregnancy, type of delivery, newborn and sexual behaviour. The statistical packages STATA and SPSS were used. Results: The majority of women (59%) report a change in their sexual life during pregnancy, which was related to age (p=0,002) and education (p=0,001), but not to other socio demographic factors. No correlation was found between sexual activity during pregnancy and gestational age at delivery or birth weight. Regarding information we noted that 53,9% of the women had knowledge about sexuality during pregnancy and that 36,4% referred to media as their main source of information on this subject. Conclusion: We consider that healthcare professionals involved in perinatal care should be more active informing pregnant women about sexuality during pregnancy in order to help them to adopt healthier life styles in this period.Estudo financiado por Laboratórios Abbott Portugal

Gravidez e exercício físico : mitos, evidências e recomendações

In recent years there has been a great increase of scientific research regarding physical exercise during pregnancy. Nevertheless, many doubts persist leading to a decrease of its practice. We aimed to evaluate the main factors that influence the practice of physical activity during pregnancy and mothers’ knowledge regarding its effects. Physical activity has decreased significantly, although it was higher in nulliparous mothers, with higher educational level, employment and between 25 and 34 years old. Mothers who practiced exercise during pregnancy breastfed longer. No correlation was found concerning birth weight, gestational age or obstetric pathology. Although most mothers understand the benefits of physical activity in pregnancy, that doesn’t seem to translate in an increasing practice. We believe there should be an increased awareness of health professionals in order to promote controlled physical exercise in pregnant woman.Trabalho realizado com o apoio do Laboratório Abbott Portugal

Мотивация и ее методы социально-психологического стимулирования

Материалы XVIII Междунар. науч.-техн. конф. студентов, аспирантов и молодых ученых, Гомель, 26–27 апр. 2018 г