Identification of mercury and nanoparticles in roots with different oxidation states of an abandoned coal mine

The morphology and composition of roots with different degrees of oxidation as a function of time were evaluated aiming to identify possible hazardous elements and nanoparticles. The roots were obtained from an abandoned coal mine located in the city of Criciúma, Santa Catarina, Brazil. From the roots, analyses were performed to identify nanoparticles (NPs) and ultrafine particles (UFPs), containing possible hazardous elements (PHEs) that cause potential environmental risks and impacts on human health. The identification of nanoscale materials requires greater robustness, so advanced integrated techniques have been used. The characterization of different types of roots was done by using focused ion beam (FIB), to evaluate nano-compound assemblies with high-resolution transmission electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectroscopy (HR-TEM/EDS). The results showed the presence of NPs containing Hg, Co, Cr, Ni, and V. The presence of these elements has increased consistently with the increase of C concentration in the roots, suggesting that the PHEs were gradually released from organic matter and inorganic minerals of coal. However, even with their decrease in roots, it was found that these elements still remained in the soil in significant quantities, even after 15 years of inactivation of the coal mine

Alkaloids of Abuta panurensis Eichler : In silico and in vitro study of acetylcholinesterase inhibition, cytotoxic and immunomodulatory activities

Natural products obtained from species of the genusAbuta(Menispermaceae) are known as ethnobotanicals that are attracting increasing attention due to a wide range of their pharmacological properties. In this study, the alkaloids stepharine and 5-N-methylmaytenine were first isolated from branches ofAbuta panurensisEichler, an endemic species from the Amazonian rainforest. Structure of the compounds was elucidated by a combination of 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic and MS and HRMS spectrometric techniques. Interaction of the above-mentioned alkaloids with acetylcholinesterase enzyme and interleukins IL-6 and IL-8 was investigatedin silicoby molecular docking. The molecules under investigation were able to bind effectively with the active sites of the AChE enzyme, IL-6, and IL-8 showing affinity towards the proteins. Along with the theoretical study, acetylcholinesterase enzyme inhibition, cytotoxic, and immunomodulatory activity of the compounds were assessed byin vitroassays. The data obtainedin silicocorroborate the results of AChE enzyme inhibition, the IC(50)values of 61.24 mu M for stepharine and 19.55 mu M for 5-N-methylmaytenine were found. The compounds showed cytotoxic activity against two tumor cell lines (K562 and U937) with IC(50)values ranging from 11.77 mu M to 28.48 mu M. Thein vitroassays revealed that both alkaloids were non-toxic to Vero and human PBMC cells. As for the immunomodulatory activity, both compounds inhibited the production of IL-6 at similar levels. Stepharine inhibited considerably the production of IL-8 in comparison to 5-N-methylmaytenine, which showed a dose dependent action (inhibitory at the IC(50)dose, and stimulatory at the twofold IC(50)one). Such a behavior may possibly be explained by different binding modes of the alkaloids to the interleukin structural fragments. Occurrence of the polyamine alkaloid 5-N-methylmaytenine was reported for the first time for the Menispermaceae family, as well as the presence of stepharine inA.panurensis.Peer reviewe

Agave sisalana extract induces cell death in Aedes aegypti hemocytes increasing nitric oxide production

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate the effects of Agave sisalana (A. sisalana) extract on Aedes aegypti (Ae. aegypti) primary cell culture.MethodsCells of Ae. aegypti were exposed to different concentrations of A. sisalana crude extract (0.18–6.00 mg/mL) for 24 h. Then, the cells were labeled with propidium iodide and subjected to fluorescence microscopy to verify cell viability. In addition, nitric oxide production was measured.ResultsResults showed that cells exposed to 6 mg/mL of the crude extract presented a greater percentage of death when compared to control (73.8% ± 9.6% vs. 34.6% ± 9.6%). Furthermore, there was an increase in the nitric oxide production in cells exposed to 6 mg/mL of A. sisalana crude extract [(0.81 ± 0.08) μmol/L] compared to control group [(0.41 ± 0.18) μmol/L].ConclusionsThe results show that A. sisalana is cytotoxic to Ae. aegypti and may be used as raw material for new eco-friendly and inexpensive insecticides, since sisal industry discards the liquid waste for the extraction of plant fiber

Which Approach Is More Effective in the Selection of Plants with Antimicrobial Activity?

The development of the present study was based on selections using random, direct ethnopharmacological, and indirect ethnopharmacological approaches, aiming to evaluate which method is the best for bioprospecting new antimicrobial plant drugs. A crude extract of 53 species of herbaceous plants collected in the semiarid region of Northeast Brazil was tested against 11 microorganisms. Well-agar diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) techniques were used. Ten extracts from direct, six from random, and three from indirect ethnopharmacological selections exhibited activities that ranged from weak to very active against the organisms tested. The strain most susceptible to the evaluated extracts was Staphylococcus aureus. The MIC analysis revealed the best result for the direct ethnopharmacological approach, considering that some species yielded extracts classified as active or moderately active (MICs between 250 and 1000 g/mL). Furthermore, one species from this approach inhibited the growth of the three Candida strains. Thus, it was concluded that the direct ethnopharmacological approach is the most effective when selecting species for bioprospecting new plant drugs with antimicrobial activities

Efeitos da administração intra-hipocampal de S100B 30 minutos após o treino sobre a memória em ratos

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Efeitos e aplicabilidade da terapia espelho na neurorreabilitação - revisão de literatura / Effects and applicability of mirror therapy in neurorehabilitation - literature review

Introdução: A Terapia Espelho (TE) foi originalmente desenvolvida na década de 90, pelo neurocientista indiano Ramachandran. A técnica utiliza um espelho posicionado no plano médio sagital, entre o membro afetado e o membro saudável, fornecendo feedback visual do membro saudável e gerando a sensação de dois membros móveis, como se o membro afetado estivesse realizando movimentos saudáveis no hemicampo negligenciado. Isso resulta na excitabilidade corticoespinhal e das áreas somatossensoriais, contribuindo para a recuperação motora. Objetivo: Identificar a aplicabilidade e os efeitos da Terapia Espelho como recurso da reabilitação neurológica.   Materiais e métodos: Trata-se de uma revisão de literatura, onde as bases de dados utilizadas foram Pedro, SciELO, PubMed e Lilacs, no período de Setembro de 2017 a Outubro de 2018. Utilizou-se como estratégia de pesquisa, nas bases de dados, a combinação dos descritores de acordo com o idioma. Além disso, foi realizada a busca manual na lista de referências dos artigos apresentados. Os estudos foram submetidos a uma avaliação da qualidade metodológica, utilizando-se a escala PeDro. Resultados: Foram encontrados 62 artigos, porém apenas 9 foram analisados. Eram compostos por amostras de indivíduos com diagnóstico de dor fantasma por amputação, Paralisia Cerebral (PC), lesão traumática cerebral ou Acidente Vascular Cerebral (AVC) em suas fases aguda, subaguda e crônica. Os instrumentos de avaliação variaram entre os estudos, assim como o modo de execução, a frequência e a duração do tratamento. Conclusão: A TE é benéfica para a recuperação motora de membros superiores e inferiores, função sensório-motora e para a diminuição da dor. Porém, a literatura voltada para o modo de execução da TE é muito escassa e existem muitas controvérsias em relação ao protocolo utilizado, tornando-se necessária a realização de novos estudos com maior número amostral, de modo que possam obter resultados mais significativos e amplos

Estado nutricional e alterações gastrointestinais em pacientes vivendo com HIV/AIDS atendidos no ambulatório de um hospital de doenças infecciosas / Nutritional status and gastrointestinal changes in patients living with HIV/AIDS attended at the outlet of an infectious disease hospital

A infecção pelo vírus HIV afeta primeiramente o trato gastrointestinal seu principal local de replicação, causando alterações na mucosa podendo levar ao definhamento do estado nutricional. A importância do estado nutricional e da integridade do trato gastrointestinal, possui impactos positivos na qualidade de vida das pessoas vivendo com HIV. O objetivo deste estudo é avaliar o estado nutricional e alterações gastrointestinais em pacientes vivendo com HIV atendidos no ambulatório de nutrição de um hospital de referência de doenças infecciosas de Fortaleza, Ceará. Estudo transversal e quantitativo, que avaliou o estado nutricional e sintomas gastrointestinais de 93 pacientes vivendo com HIV em tratamento, de ambos os sexos com idade entre 18 e 59 anos, através dos dados antropométricos IMC, dobra cutânea tricipital, circunferência do braço e circunferência muscular do braço; e alterações gastrointestinais (náuseas, vômitos, diarreia, distensão abdominal, gases e dor abdominal). Prevalência de homens (83,9%); a maioria se apresentaram eutróficos (50,5%) segundo IMC, porém a desnutrição é perceptível pelos dados antropométricos: circunferência do braço (48,4% apresentando desnutrição), dobra cutânea tricipital (61,3% com perda massa magra) e circunferência muscular do braço (44,1% com perda de tecido muscular); em relação aos sintomas gastrointestinais: distensão abdominal (38,7%), presença de gases (34,4%) e dores abdominais (30,1%) são frequentes. Conclui-se que no ambiente ambulatorial os pacientes com HIV, apresentam-se em sua maioria eutróficos pelo IMC, porém é percebido depleção de gordura subcutânea, perda de massa magra e presença de sintomas gastrointestinais consideráveis

MyD88 Signaling Pathway Is Involved in Renal Fibrosis by Favoring a T(H)2 Immune Response and Activating Alternative M2 Macrophages

Inflammation contributes to the pathogenesis of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Molecules released by the inflamed injured tissue\ud can activate toll-like receptors (TLRs), thereby modulating macrophage and CD4+ T-cell activity. We propose that in renal fibrogenesis,\ud M2 macrophages are recruited and activated in a T helper subset 2 cell (TH2)-prone inflammatory milieu in a MyD88-\ud dependent manner. Mice submitted to unilateral ureteral ligation (UUO) demonstrated an increase in macrophage infiltration with\ud collagen deposition after 7 d. Conversely, TLR2, TLR4 and MyD88 knockout (KO) mice had an improved renal function together with\ud diminished TH2 cytokine production and decreased fibrosis formation. Moreover, TLR2, TLR4 and MyD88 KO animals exhibited less M2\ud macrophage infiltration, namely interleukin (IL)-10+ and CD206+ CD11bhigh cells, at 7 d after surgery. We evaluated the role of a TH2\ud cytokine in this context, and observed that the absence of IL-4 was associated with better renal function, decreased IL-13 and TGF-\ud β levels, reduced arginase activity and a decrease in fibrosis formation when compared with IL-12 KO and wild-type (WT) animals.\ud Indeed, the better renal outcomes and the decreased fibrosis formation were restricted to the deficiency of IL-4 in the hematopoietic\ud compartment. Finally, macrophage depletion, rather than the absence of T cells, led to reduced lesions of the glomerular filtration\ud barrier and decreased collagen deposition. These results provide evidence that future therapeutic strategies against renal\ud fibrosis should be accompanied by the modulation of the M1:M2 and TH1:TH2 balance, as TH2 and M2 cells are predictive of fibrosis\ud toward mechanisms that are sensed by innate immune response and triggered in a MyD88-dependent pathway.Brazilian Foundation - FAPESP (Fundacao de Apoio a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo) [07/07139-3, 10/52180-4]Brazilian Foundation FAPESP (Fundacao de Apoio a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo)International Associated Laboratory (CNPq/Inserm)International Associated Laboratory (CNPq/Inserm)National Institute of Science and Technology (INCT)National Institute of Science and Technology (INCT

Data standardization of plant-pollinator interactions

Background: Animal pollination is an important ecosystem function and service, ensuring both the integrity of natural systems and human well-being. Although many knowledge shortfalls remain, some high-quality data sets on biological interactions are now available. The development and adoption of standards for biodiversity data and metadata has promoted great advances in biological data sharing and aggregation, supporting large-scale studies and science-based public policies. However, these standards are currently not suitable to fully support interaction data sharing. Results: Here we present a vocabulary of terms and a data model for sharing plant–pollinator interactions data based on the Darwin Core standard. The vocabulary introduces 48 new terms targeting several aspects of plant–pollinator interactions and can be used to capture information from different approaches and scales. Additionally, we provide solutions for data serialization using RDF, XML, and DwC-Archives and recommendations of existing controlled vocabularies for some of the terms. Our contribution supports open access to standardized data on plant–pollinator interactions. Conclusions: The adoption of the vocabulary would facilitate data sharing to support studies ranging from the spatial and temporal distribution of interactions to the taxonomic, phenological, functional, and phylogenetic aspects of plant–pollinator interactions. We expect to fill data and knowledge gaps, thus further enabling scientific research on the ecology and evolution of plant–pollinator communities, biodiversity conservation, ecosystem services, and the development of public policies. The proposed data model is flexible and can be adapted for sharing other types of interactions data by developing discipline-specific vocabularies of terms.Fil: Salim, José A. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Saraiva, Antonio M.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Zermoglio, Paula Florencia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigaciones En Recursos Naturales, Agroecologia y Desarrollo Rural. - Universidad Nacional de Rio Negro. Instituto de Investigaciones En Recursos Naturales, Agroecologia y Desarrollo Rural.; ArgentinaFil: Agostini, Kayna. Universidade Federal do São Carlos; BrasilFil: Wolowski, Marina. Universidade Federal de Alfenas; BrasilFil: Drucker, Debora P.. Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuaria (embrapa);Fil: Soares, Filipi M.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Bergamo, Pedro J.. Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Varassin, Isabela G.. Universidade Federal do Paraná; BrasilFil: Freitas, Leandro. Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Maués, Márcia M.. Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuaria (embrapa);Fil: Rech, Andre R.. Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri; BrasilFil: Veiga, Allan K.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Acosta, Andre L.. Instituto Tecnológico Vale; BrasilFil: Araujo, Andréa C. Universidade Federal do Mato Grosso do Sul; BrasilFil: Nogueira, Anselmo. Universidad Federal do Abc; BrasilFil: Blochtein, Betina. Pontificia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Freitas, Breno M.. Universidade Estadual do Ceará; BrasilFil: Albertini, Bruno C.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Maia Silva, Camila. Universidade Federal Rural Do Semi Arido; BrasilFil: Nunes, Carlos E. P.. University of Stirling; BrasilFil: Pires, Carmen S. S.. Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuaria (embrapa);Fil: Dos Santos, Charles F.. Pontificia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Queiroz, Elisa P.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Cartolano, Etienne A.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: de Oliveira, Favízia F. Universidade Federal da Bahia; BrasilFil: Amorim, Felipe W.. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; BrasilFil: Fontúrbel, Francisco E.. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso; ChileFil: da Silva, Gleycon V.. Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia, Inovações. Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia; BrasilFil: Consolaro, Hélder. Universidade Federal de Catalão; Brasi

A cirurgia plástica no contexto estético: aspectos sociais por uma revisão de literatura

The objective of this study is to disassemble, through scientific articles, the aspects related to aesthetic plastic surgery and the body satisfaction resulting from these procedures by the individuals who undergo them. A deep search of articles was carried out in the databases Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE), Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO) and PubMed, with the following Health Sciences Descriptors (DeCS): Body; Body image; Surgical procedures. Articles were selected between the periods of 1998 to 2023, in French, Spanish, English and Portuguese, to increase the level of relevance and quality of the review, given the scarcity of scientific studies on the subject. This review study made it possible to expose the current moment of aesthetic plastic surgeries, in addition to understanding the profile of the individuals who undergo it. Body dissatisfaction becomes an image disorder, correlated with feelings and emotions, are reasons that lead to the search for “correction” through aesthetic procedures. However, plastic surgery can alleviate dissatisfaction and is a tool against different body contexts.El objetivo de este estudio es desmontar, a través de artículos científicos, los aspectos relacionados con la cirugía plástica estética y la satisfacción corporal resultante de estos procedimientos por parte de los individuos que se someten a ellos. Se realizó una búsqueda profunda de artículos en las bases de datos Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE), Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO) y PubMed, con los siguientes Health Sciences Descriptors (DeCS): Body; Imagen corporal; Procedimientos quirúrgicos. Se seleccionaron artículos entre los períodos de 1998 a 2023, en francés, español, inglés y portugués, para aumentar el nivel de relevancia y calidad de la revisión, dada la escasez de estudios científicos sobre el tema. Este estudio de revisión permitió exponer el momento actual de las cirugías plásticas estéticas, además de comprender el perfil de los individuos que se someten a ella. La insatisfacción corporal se convierte en un trastorno de la imagen, correlacionado con los sentimientos y emociones, son motivos que llevan a la búsqueda de “corrección” a través de procedimientos estéticos. Sin embargo, la cirugía plástica puede aliviar la insatisfacción y es una herramienta frente a diferentes contextos corporales.Objetivo desse estudo é desmontar, por meio de artigos científicos, os aspectos que tange a cirurgia plástica estética e a satisfação corporal advinda desses procedimentos pelos indivíduos submetidos. Foi realizada uma profunda pesquisa de artigos nas bases de dados Medical Literature Analysis and Retrievel System Online (MEDLINE), Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO) e PubMed, com os seguintes Descritores em Ciências da Saúde (DeCS): Body; Body image; Surgical procedures. Foram selecionados artigos entre os períodos de 1998 a 2023, nos idiomas Frances, Espanhol, Inglês e Português, para ampliar o nível de relevância e a qualidade da revisão, visto a escassez de estudos científicos sobre a temática. Este estudo de revisão possibilitou expor o momento atual das cirurgias plásticas estéticas, além da compreensão do perfil dos indivíduos que são submetidos. A insatisfação do corpo se torna um distúrbio de imagem, correlacionados a sentimentos e emoções, são motivos que levam a busca de “correção” através de procedimentos estéticos. Todavia, a cirurgia plástica pode amenizar quadros de insatisfação e é uma ferramenta contra diversos contextos corporais