Influence of gut microbiota dysbiosis on brain function: a systematic review

Background: For almost a century it has been recognized that human possess a varied and dens microbial ecosystem called the human microbiota, yet we are still beginning to understand many of the roles that these microorganisms play in human health and development. It is thought that under certain circumstances such as dysbiosis, the microbiota can cause diseases, where the central nervous system (CNS) has an important relevance and where the “gut-brain axis” will play a major role. Aims: This review investigated the influence of the gut microbiota on brain function, trying to demonstrate whether dysbiosis influences CNS diseases or whether it is the disease that causes dysbiosis, highlighting the existing literature within this field. Methods:We performed a systematic literature search in EMBASE, PubMed, and Cochrane combining the terms “gut microbiota,” “dysbiosis,” and “CNS diseases” to identify those whom reported some influence or relation between dysbiosis of gut microbiota and CNS diseases. For the present systematic review, we only included systematic reviews or meta-analysis. Results: The EMBASE, PubMed, and Cochrane were systematically searched, considering only systematic reviews or metaanalysis. Nine studies comprising 705 articles were included in this review. Those 9 systematic reviews consist in 2 about autism spectrum disorder, 1 in dementia, 1 in depression, 2 in autoimmune diseases, 1 in schizophrenia, and 2 in some altered brain function. Available data characterizing several neural diseases demonstrate a significant correlation between dysbiosis and CNS diseases, strengthen the evidence that dysbiosis of gut microbiota may correlate with abnormalities in CNS patients. Conclusions: Although there is a clear need for more investigations to better understand the role of the gut microbiota in CNS diseases, the modulation of the nervous system by the microbiota is clear, continuing to be the subject of continuous research. We need to fully understand the mechanisms by which the microbiota interacts with the human brain, and therefore what’s the connection between dysbiosis and pathologies such depression, dementia, autism, or schizophrenia.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Molecular Recognition Insights of Sialic Acid Glycans by Distinct Receptors Unveiled by NMR and Molecular Modeling

IF/ 00780/2015 PTDC/BIA-MIB/31028/2017 UIDP/04378/2020 UIDB/04378/2020 LA/P/0140/2020 SFRH/BD/140394/2018 2020.03261. CEECIND CA18132 PID 2019-107770RA-I00 H2020-MSCA-ITN-2020 agency for the Glytunes project (956758).All cells are decorated with a highly dense and complex structure of glycan chains, which are mostly attached to proteins and lipids. In this context, sialic acids are a family of nine-carbon acidic monosaccharides typically found at the terminal position of glycan chains, modulating several physiological and pathological processes. Sialic acids have many structural and modulatory roles due to their negative charge and hydrophilicity. In addition, the recognition of sialic acid glycans by mammalian cell lectins, such as siglecs, has been described as an important immunological checkpoint. Furthermore, sialic acid glycans also play a pivotal role in host–pathogen interactions. Various pathogen receptors exposed on the surface of viruses and bacteria are responsible for the binding to sialic acid sugars located on the surface of host cells, becoming a critical point of contact in the infection process. Understanding the molecular mechanism of sialic acid glycans recognition by sialic acid-binding proteins, present on the surface of pathogens or human cells, is essential to realize the biological mechanism of these events and paves the way for the rational development of strategies to modulate sialic acid-protein interactions in diseases. In this perspective, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, assisted with molecular modeling protocols, is a versatile and powerful technique to investigate the structural and dynamic aspects of glycoconjugates and their interactions in solution at the atomic level. NMR provides the corresponding ligand and protein epitopes, essential for designing and developing potential glycan-based therapies. In this review, we critically discuss the current state of knowledge about the structural features behind the molecular recognition of sialic acid glycans by different receptors, naturally present on human cells or pathogens, disclosed by NMR spectroscopy and molecular modeling protocols.publishersversionpublishe

Cynaropicrin- and chlorogenic acid-rich extracts easily prepared from Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus: antioxidant and antigenotoxic properties

Cynara cardunculus L. var. scolymus, commonly known as globe artichoke, is known for its medicinal and culinary properties since ancient times. Nowadays, with the increasing demand for healthier foods artichoke has been valorized and worldwide production has increased to meet the increasing demand in consumption of the flower and infusion from leaves. The aim of this work was to characterize the main bioactive compounds obtained from artichoke leaf extracts using simple and sustainable techniques. Among different extraction procedures tested, decoction in water gave extracts particularly rich in chlorogenic acid (1) and cynaropicrin (2) as demonstrated by the NMR spectroscopy analysis. Compounds 1 and 2 were efficiently separated by liquid-liquid extraction, as 1 was only found in the aqueous (Aq) fraction and 2 was selectively isolated in the organic (O) fraction. While both fractions showed in vitro antioxidant activity by scavenging activity, only the O fraction was able to protect Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells from oxidative stress. Interestingly, the O fraction was much more antigenotoxic than Aq fraction, suggesting a highly efficient hydroxyl radical scavenging activity. Besides being simple and avoiding organic solvents, decoction in water provides maximal extraction of 1 and 2 and, presumably, maximal bioactivities.This work was supported by national funds through the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, FCT I.P. [“Contrato-Programa” UIDB/04050/2020]; the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) in the framework of the Strategic Funding [UIDB/ 00686/2020]; and by the Operation Program of Integrated Infrastructure [Advancing University Capacity and Competence in Research, Development and Innovation, ITMS2014+: 313021X329, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund]

Interplay between the salience and the default mode network in a social-cognitive task toward a close other

Social cognition relies on two main subsystems to construct the understanding of others, which are sustained by different social brain networks. One of these social networks is the default mode network (DMN) associated with the socio-cognitive subsystem (i.e., mentalizing), and the other is the salience network (SN) associated with the socio-affective route (i.e., empathy). The DMN and the SN are well-known resting state networks that seem to constitute a baseline for the performance of social tasks. We aimed to investigate both networks' functional connectivity (FC) pattern in the transition from resting state to social task performance. A sample of 38 participants involved in a monogamous romantic relationship completed a questionnaire of dyadic empathy and underwent an fMRI protocol that included a resting state acquisition followed by a task in which subjects watched emotional videos of their romantic partner and elaborated on their partner's (Other condition) or on their own experience (Self condition). Independent component and ROI-to-ROI correlation analysis were used to assess alterations in task-independent (Rest condition) and task-dependent (Self and Other conditions) FC. We found that the spatial FC maps of the DMN and SN evidenced the traditional regions associated with these networks in the three conditions. Anterior and posterior DMN regions exhibited increased FC during the social task performance compared to resting state. The Other condition revealed a more limited SN's connectivity in comparison to the Self and Rest conditions. The results revealed an interplay between the main nodes of the DMN and the core regions of the SN, particularly evident in the Self and Other conditions.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Polymorphism of exon 20 of the leptin receptor gene and serum leptin concentrations of Nellore heifers raised on pasture

The physiological changes that occur at puberty in heifers are objectives of study in order to better understand this phenomenon and to identify alternatives to achieve greater sexual precocity. Among the most important factors that influence puberty the leptin hormone and its receptor can be highlighted, as they are factors that perform communication between the nutritional status and the reproductive axis, and its participation in reproductive physiology is not fully understood. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the serum profile of the leptin hormone, to identify polymorphisms at exon 20 of the leptin receptor and associate them with the occurrence of puberty in heifers raised on pasture. We followed 56 heifers for 17 months and carried out the progesterone assay for determining the puberty occurrence, leptin dosage and sequencing of the leptin receptor gene for identifying the occurrence of SNP polymorphisms. After identifying the manifestation of puberty in 37 heifers and the association of serum leptin and the occurrence of SNPs with the occurrence of this physiological phenomenon, no correlation was found between variables with the onset of puberty.The physiological changes that occur at puberty in heifers are objectives of study in order to better understand this phenomenon and to identify alternatives to achieve greater sexual precocity. Among the most important factors that influence puberty the leptin hormone and its receptor can be highlighted, as they are factors that perform communication between the nutritional status and the reproductive axis, and its participation in reproductive physiology is not fully understood. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the serum profile of the leptin hormone, to identify polymorphisms at exon 20 of the leptin receptor and associate them with the occurrence of puberty in heifers raised on pasture. We followed 56 heifers for 14 months and carried out the progesterone assay for determining the puberty occurrence, leptin dosage and sequencing of the leptin receptor gene for identifying the occurrence of SNP polymorphisms. Concentration of leptin was compared between the animals puberty with animals not puberty and the hormone of the animals puberty in the pre-pubertal and pubertal periods. After the identification of the polymorphism, the possible interactions of the mutation occurrence in the leptin receptor gene with the leptin concentrations and the puberty were analyzed. After analyzing, no observed correlation between the occurrence of the mutation in the leptin T945M receptor gene and leptin plasma concentrations and the puberty in heifers raised on pasture

Foraminifera as health bioindicators in nearshore and offshore Brazilian coral reef sediments

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Foraminifera on coral reefs of Brazil: the FOCO project

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Metallogenetic potencial of the Paleoproterozoic mafic-ultramafic Hamutenha intrusion (SW Angola). New data from PLANAGEO project [Abstract]

ABSTRACT: In the SW sector of the Angolan shield occur the Kunene Anorthositic Complex (KAC), one of the most remarkable magmatic anorthositic suites worldwide. The KAC is considered a long-lived magmatic system that operated in the area intermittently during the Mesoproterozoic (1450 ± 2 Ma to 1371 ± 2.5 Ma). Smaller mafic-ultramafic intrusive bodies ranging in composition from dunite to harzbugite, pyroxenite, troctolite and gabbro are located in the KAC periphery (e.g. Epupa, Ombuku, Hamutenha, Oncócua). The Hamutenha body is a 3 km long oriented NW-SE, banded intrusion with internal zonation hosted in the Paleoproterozoic granitic rocks (1970 ± 2 Ma). The internal zone is composed by rocks with ultramafic nature, mostly harzburgites and dunites with diorites in the external zone.N/

ALEITAMENTO MATERNO EXCLUSIVO E A SUA ASSOCIAÇÃO COM O CONSUMO DE ALIMENTOS ULTRAPROCESSADOS AOS 12 MESES

ALEITAMENTO MATERNO EXCLUSIVO EA SUA ASSOCIAÇÃO COM O CONSUMO DE ALIMENTOS ULTRAPROCESSADOS AOS 12 MESES. Palavras-chave: assistência alimentar; alimentação complementar; alimentos processados

ESTADO NUTRICIONAL DE CRIANÇAS AOS 12 MESES ALIMENTADAS POR DIFERENTES MÉTODOS DE ALIMENTAÇÃO COMPLEMENTAR: DADOS PRELIMINARES DE UM ENSAIO CLÍNICO RANDOMIZADO

ESTADO NUTRICIONAL DE CRIANÇAS AOS 12 MESES ALIMENTADAS POR DIFERENTES MÉTODOS DE ALIMENTAÇÃO COMPLEMENTAR: DADOS PRELIMINARES DE UM ENSAIO CLÍNICO RANDOMIZADO Palavras-chave: alimentação complementar, estado nutricional, crescimento e desenvolviment