Isolation and characterization of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii from calves and piglets.

The goal of our study was to isolate and characterize Faecalibacterium prausnitzii from fecal samples of healthy calves and piglets, in order to develop a novel probiotic for livestock animals. We identified 203 isolates of Faecalibacterium sp., which were clustered in 40 genetically distinct groups. One representative isolate from each cluster was selected for further characterization. The concentrations of the short chain fatty acids (SCFA) acetate, butyrate, propionate and isobutyrate in the culture media were measured by gas chromatography. We observed reduction in the concentration of acetate followed by concomitant increase in the concentration of butyrate, suggesting that the isolates were consuming acetate present in the media and producing butyrate. Butyrate production correlated positively with bacterial growth. Since butyrate has many benefits to the colonic epithelial cells, the selection of strains that produce higher amounts of butyrate is extremely important for the development of this potential probiotic. The effect of pH and concentration of bile salts on bacterial growth was also evaluated in order to mimic the conditions encountered by F. prausnitzii in vivo. The optimal pH for growth ranged between 5.5 and 6.7, while most isolates were inhibited by of the lowest concentration of bile salts tested (0.1%). Antimicrobial resistance profile showed that most isolates of Faecalibacterium sp. were resistant against ciprofloxacin and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim. More than 50% of the isolates were resistant to tetracycline, amikacin, cefepime and cefoxitin. A total of 19 different combinations of multidrug resistance were observed among the isolates. Our results provide new insights into the cultural and physiological characteristics of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii illustrating large variability in short chain fatty acid production, in vitro growth, sensitivity to bile salts, and antibiotic resistance and suggesting that future probiotic candidates should be carefully studied before elected for in vivo studies

Força dos músculos cérvico-escapulares e a severidade da disfunção temporomandibular em mulheres com cervicalgia mecânica

Introdução: modificações da função muscular cervical têm sido verificadas em pacientes com cervicalgia e DTM. Entretanto, ainda não é conhecida a relação entre a severidade da DTM e a força muscular cervical na presença/ausência de cervicalgia. Objetivo: verificar a prevalência de DTM em mulheres com e sem cervicalgia mecânica, avaliar a força dos músculos cérvico-escapulares e sua associação com a severidade da DTM. Métodos: participaram 15 voluntárias sem dor cervical (GC) e 14 mulheres com cervicalgia mecânica (GCM), selecionadas por meio do Índice de Disfunção Relacionada ao Pescoço. O diagnóstico e a gravidade da DTM foram determinados pelos Critérios diagnósticos para pesquisa em desordens temporomandibulares e Índice Temporomandibular (IT), respectivamente. A força dos músculos trapézio superior, flexores e extensores cervicais foi aferida por dinamometria digital manual. Resultados: 64,5% das mulheres com cervicalgia e 33,3% das sem dor cervical apresentaram diagnóstico de DTM (p = 0,095). O GCM apresentou menor força dos músculos flexores (p = 0,044) e extensores cervicais (p = 0,006) e maior IT (p = 0,038) que o GC. Também foi verificada correlação negativa moderada entre o IT e força dos músculos trapézio superior dominante (p = 0,046, r = -0,547), não dominante (p = 0,007, r = -0,695) e flexores cervicais (p = 0,023, r = -0,606) no GCM. Conclusão: não houve diferença na prevalência de DTM entre mulheres com e sem cervicalgia. Entretanto, mulheres com cervicalgia apresentaram menor força muscular cervical (comparadas às sem cervicalgia) que esteve associada a maior severidade da DTM. Assim, em mulheres com cervicalgia associada à DTM, é recomendável avaliar e abordar a severidade desta disfunção e o comprometimento dos músculos cérvico-escapulares.Introduction: changes in cervical muscle function have been observed in patients with neck pain (NP) and TMD. However, the relationship between TMD severity and neck muscle strength in the presence/absence of NP is unknown. Objective: to determine the prevalence of TMD in women with and without mechanical NP and assess the cervical-scapular muscle strength and its association with TMD severity. Methods: fifteen volunteers without neck pain (CG) and 14 women with mechanical neck pain (NPG) took part and were selected by the Neck Disability Index. The diagnosis and severity of TMD were determined by the Research Diagnostic Criteria for TMD and Temporomandibular Index (TI), respectively. The strength of the upper trapezius muscle, and cervical flexor and extensor muscles was measured by digital hand dynamometer. Results: 64.5% of women with NP and 33.3% without NP were diagnosed with TMD (p = 0.095). The NPG showed lower strength of the cervical flexor (p = 0.044) and extensor (p=0.006) muscles, and higher TI (p = 0.038) than in the CG. It was also verified moderate negative correlation between TI and the strength of dominant (p = 0.046, r = -0.547) and non-dominant (p = 0.007, r = -0.695) upper trapezius, and cervical flexors (p = 0.023, r = -0.606) in the NPG. Conclusion: there was no difference in the prevalence of TMD in women with and without NP. However, women with NP have lower cervical muscle strength - compared to those without NP - which was associated with greater severity of TMD. Thus, in women with NP associated with TMD, it is advisable to assess and address the severity of this dysfunction and identify the cervical-scapular muscles compromise

Anti-Candida targets and cytotoxicity of casuarinin isolated from Plinia cauliflora leaves in a bioactivity-guided study

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Impact of power ultrasound on the quality of fruits and vegetables during dehydration

Trabajo presentado en el 2015 International Congress on Ultrasonics, celebrado los días 10 a 14 de mayo de 2015 en Metz, FranciaTo date, most of dehydrated vegetables and fruits are obtained by convection preceded or not by a pre-treatment. In general, their quality is low due to the physical modi- fications, loss of vitamins, polyphenols and carbohydrates and Maillard reaction (MR). MR can originate a remarkable loss of nutritional value due to the involvement of lysine. To improve the final quality of these products, one of the alternatives is the application of power ultrasound (US). US produces mechanical effects, such as cavitation, microstream and formation of microscopic channels which facilitate the mass transport and so, the removal of water from the food. The synergistic effect of US and temperature allows carrying out dehydration at low temperatures and short times. In the present work, the influence of power US on the quality of fruits and vegetables during the pre-treatment and drying was evaluated. Chemical indicators such as pectinmethyl esterase and peroxidase enzymes, vitamin C, carbohydrates, proteins, polyphenols and 2-furoylmethylamino acids was studied. In addition, rehydration capacity, leaching losses, shrinkage and organoleptic characteristics of the final product was assessed. During blanching, similar leaching losses and enzyme inactivation were found in low temperature and prolonged conventional treatments and in US processes, but with a significant reduction in the time for the latter. Application of US in the drying of carrots and strawberries provided high-quality end-products. The quality was better as compared to marketed products and superior or equivalent to samples obtained in a convective dryer, and, in some indicators, similar to that of freeze-dried samples.Peer reviewe

Information management in the Brazil and Argentina journals: an analysis of the last decade

Percibir cómo la gestión de la información está siendo trabajada por las revistas del área auxilia tanto en el crecimiento de la propia área, así como en la de los profesionales que en ella actúan. El objetivo general de esta comunicación fue realizar un análisis minucioso de los artículos de las revistas con estrato Qualis Capes A1, A2 y B1 del área de Comunicación e información, direccionados para la temática de la Gestión de la Información, de Brasil y de Argentina. Con relación a los objetivos específicos, se buscó identificar cuáles son las revistas que más publicaron artículos en la temática; descubrir en qué año hubo un mayor número de publicaciones; conocer quiénes son los autores más productivos; encasillar las palabras-clave más empleadas en los artículos; averiguar los procedimientos metodológicos utilizados y la manera como los textos recuperados están discutiendo la temática gestión de la información, así como sus modelos en estos contextos. En cuanto a la metodología, el artículo es de naturaleza exploratoria con abordaje tanto cualitativa como cuantitativa, a partir de una revisión bibliográfica sobre los temas información y competitividad; gestión de la información; modelos de gestión de la información y, posteriormente, un estudio bibliométrico realizado en los artículos de revistas brasileñas y argentinas en el período de enero de 2007 a enero de 2017. Como resultado, se demuestra que hay una producción considerable sobre la temática, y que se mantiene con el transcurrir de los años. Se considera que existe un interés de los investigadores en cuanto a la importancia de la gestión de la información para el área disciplinar.Understanding how information management is being handled by the area's journals assists both in the growth of the area itself and in the professionals who work in it. Therefore, the general objective of this communication was to carry out a detailed analysis of the articles of the journals with Qualis Capes A1, A2 and B1 strata of the Communication and Information area, addressed to the Information Management, Brazil and Argentina. With regard to the specific objectives, we tried to identify which are the periodicals that most published articles in the theme; Discover in which year there were more publications; Knowing who are the most productive authors; Listing the most commonly used keywords in the articles; To ascertain the methodological procedures used and the way the recovered texts are discussing the information management theme, as well as their models in these contexts. Regarding the methodology, the article is exploratory with a qualitative-quantitative approach based on a bibliographical review on the topics of information and competitiveness; information management; Information management models and, later, a bibliometric study carried out in the articles of Brazilian and Argentine periodicals from January 2007 to January 2017. As results, they show that there is considerable production on the subject and that it is being. Maintained over the years. it is considered that there is the interest of researchers in the importance of information management for the area.Dossier: Gestión de la información: dilemas y perspectivaFacultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educació

Elderberry Stalks as a Source of High-Value Phytochemical: Essential Minerals and Lipophilic Compounds

Elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) consumption has been growing in the last years, generating a large number of stalks (~10% of the berries bunch) that are still under-valorized. This study focused on the evaluation of elderberry stalks as a source of high-value phytochemicals. In this vein, the essential mineral content and lipophilic composition were analyzed for the first time. In addition, the polar fraction was evaluated regarding its total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity by both 2,2-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) and 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl hydrate (DPPH) assays. The lipophilic fraction was mainly composed of triterpenic acids (2902.20 mg kg−1 of dry weight (dw)), fatty acids (711.73 mg kg−1 dw) and sterols (288.56 mg kg−1 dw). Minor amounts of long-chain aliphatic alcohols and other components were also detected. Ursolic acid (2265.83 mg kg−1 dw), hexadecanoic acid (219.85 mg kg−1 dw) and β-sitosterol (202.74 mg kg−1 dw) were the major lipophilic components verified. The results of this study also indicated that elderberry stalks might be used as a natural source of essential minerals, particularly calcium, iron and potassium, which are known to play important roles in various body functions. The analysis of the polar fraction also showed that elderberry stalks present TPC as high as elderberry themselves as well as considerable antioxidant activity (1.04 and 0.37 mmol TE g−1 of extract, against respectively ABTS and DPPH radicals). These results highlight the potential of elderberry stalks as a natural source of high-value phytochemicals that may be explored in several fieldspublishe

Development of a manometric monitoring method for early detection of air microbiological contamination in the bloodstream

Atmospheric air is a microbial habitat of pathogenic bioaerosols that may pose serious risks to humans. A commonly laboratory-based approach for the diagnosis of such infections in the bloodstream is the blood culture analysis. Its clinical relevance is attributed to the fact that these infections are characterized by high rates of morbidity and mortality, requiring the need for efficient methods for rapid diagnosis. For this reason, our study aimed to develop a method of manometric monitoring for the rapid detection of viable microorganisms in blood culture vials. A methodology was developed to detect pressure variation in intra-vials through a manometric instrument that was coupled to vials of blood culture containing culture broth that allowed microbial growth. This device allowed the early detection of microbial activity based on the production or use of intra-flask gases as a result of microbial metabolic activity. The analyzed variables were the pressure as a function of time, microbial species, and culture medium. The highest pressure found in the flasks without microorganisms was 40 mmHg between 2 and 6 h, and the lowest pressure was 42 mmHg between 21 and 24 h. The variation of the internal pressure in blood culture flasks according to different groups of microorganisms as a function of time demonstrated that the fermentative gram-negative bacilli and gram-positive cocci exhibited a significant increase in relation to their respective control groups (p < 0.001). The non-fermenting gram-negative bacilli showed expected results in relation to the pressure variation in which the production of negative pressures was noticed during the period of analysis, with a significant difference with respect to their control groups (p < 0.001). The developed methodology for the early detection of microorganisms responsible for bloodstream infection was demonstrated to be effective.e Fundação de Apoio à Pesquisa e à Inovação Tecnológica do Estado de Sergipe-Program Centelha (FAPITEC/SE) and by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), and Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation (FCT) through the project UIDB/04469/2020 (strategic fund) funded by national funds, and co-financed Education (FCT/MEC) from national funds and FEDER, under the Partnership Agreement PT2020info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Saberes docentes e professores iniciantes : dialogando sobre a forma??o de professores para o Ensino Superior.

A tem?! ca voltada para a doc?ncia universit?ria tem sido foco de pesquisas recentes no campo sobre a forma??o e a pr?! ca docentes. Ques! onamentos referentes a quem s?o e o que sabem estes (as) professores (as) t?m nos acompanhado em nossa pr?! ca profi ssional e de pesquisa. Este ar! go apresenta resultados ob! dos em uma disserta??o de mestrado que inves! gou o perfi l e os saberes que envolvem a atua??o dos docentes nomeados na Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto (UFOP), no per?odo de 2008 a 2011. A metodologia, de abordagens quan! ta! va e qualita! va, u! lizou, para a coleta de dados, al?m da an?lise de curr?culos La es, a entrevista semiestruturada junto a professores nomeados na UFOP durante a implementa??o do Programa de Apoio a Planos de Reestrutura??o e Expans?o das Universidades Federais (Reuni). Para an?lise dos dados, u! lizou-se o m?todo de an?lise de conte?do. Considerando a pluralidade de saberes, foi poss?vel iden! fi car quatro saberes que mobilizam o fazer docente dos sujeitos desta pesquisa: o saber disciplinar ou saber do conte?do; o saber das rela??es entre professor e aluno; o saber da experi?ncia docente e da pr?! ca profi ssional; e o saber adquirido nas rela??es cons! tu?das na ins! tui??o. Acredita-se que a refl ex?o sobre a pr?! ca dos professores iniciantes pode auxiliar o fazer docente na universidade, uma vez que, de forma geral, esse ? um espa?o pouco explorado pelas pesquisas sobre a forma??o docente

Blocking inos and endoplasmic reticulum stress synergistically improves insulin resistance in mice

Recent data show that iNOS has an essential role in ER stress in obesity. However, whether iNOS is sufficient to account for obesity-induced ER stress and Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) has not yet been investigated. In the present study, we used iNOS knockout mice to investigate whether high-fat diet (HFD) can still induce residual ER stress-associated insulin resistance. Methods: For this purpose, we used the intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (GTT), euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp, western blotting and qPCR in liver, muscle, and adipose tissue of iNOS KO and control mice on HFD. Results: The results of the present study demonstrated that, in HFD fed mice, iNOS-induced alteration in insulin signaling is an essential mechanism of insulin resistance in muscle, suggesting that iNOS may represent an important target that could be blocked in order to improve insulin sensitivity in this tissue. However, in liver and adipose tissue, the insulin resistance induced by HFD was only partially dependent on iNOS, and, even in the presence of genetic or pharmacological blockade of iNOS, a clear ER stress associated with altered insulin signaling remained evident in these tissues. When this ER stress was blocked pharmacologically, insulin signaling was improved, and a complete recovery of glucose tolerance was achieved. Conclusions: Taken together, these results reinforce the tissue-specific regulation of insulin signaling in obesity, with iNOS being sufficient to account for insulin resistance in muscle, but in liver and adipose tissue ER stress and insulin resistance can be induced by both iNOS-dependent and iNOS-independent mechanisms62206218FAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOCAPES - COORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL E NÍVEL SUPERIORCNPQ – CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO2012/15009-0; 2016/07122-2sem informaçãosem informaçã