Molecular fragmentation of wheat-germ agglutinin induced by food irradiation reduces its allergenicity in sensitised mice

WGA, an agglutinin from wheat germ which is largely responsible for many of wheat's allergies, was used as a model to investigate the action of ionising radiation on WGA's anti-nutritive effects in sensitised mice. Based on the molecular structure, the present study also examined the structural modification of WGA in relation to the range of dose. Structural integrity was monitored using HPLC, fluorescence spectrometry and circular dichroism. Results showed a loss of intrinsic activity and the formation of insoluble amorphous aggregates with a lack of native conformational structures after irradiation. Current findings suggest that the allergenic epitopes of WGA became less active and antigenic after high-dose radiation. the reduction of cytokines typical of allergic reactions, with decreased lymphocytic infiltrate, was observed in the gut of mice given irradiated versus native WGA. Food irradiation proved effective and safe in combating immunological and allergic effects of WGA. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Ministerio da Ciencia e Tecnologia (Brazilian)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Fundacao de Amparo a Ciencia e Tecnologia do Estado de Pernambuco (FACEPE)Univ Fed Pernambuco, Dept Bioquim, Recife, PE, BrazilUniv Fed Pernambuco, Dept Histol & Embriol, Recife, PE, BrazilUniv Fed Pernambuco, Dept Biofis & Radiobiol, Recife, PE, BrazilUniv Fed Pernambuco, Dept Antibiot, Recife, PE, BrazilUniv Estadual Oeste Parana, Ctr Engn & Ciencias Exatas, Toledo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Bioquim, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Bioquim, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Synthesis, Cytotoxic and Antimicrobial activities of 5-benzylidene-2- [(pyridine-2-ylmethylene)hydrazono]-thiazolidin-4-one Derivatives

A novel series of 5-benzylidene-2-[(pyridine-2-ylmethylene)hydrazono]-thiazolidin-4-ones 3a-i has been synthesized. 2-[(Pyridine-2-ylmethylene)hydrazono]-thiazolidin-4-ones 2a-c were also obtained and used as intermediates to give the target compounds. The in vitro cytotoxic activity was evaluated for both series. The findings obtained showed that the compounds 2a, 2b, 3b and 3c were effective against the HEp-2 cell lines with IC50 in the 1.6 - 0.5 μg/mL range, whereas the compounds 2a (IC50 = 3.6 μg/mL), 2b (IC50 = 2.4 μg/mL) and 3f (IC50 = 3.5 μg/mL) showed good inhibitory effects against HT-29 cell lines. As complementary biological test, all 4-thiazolidinones were evaluated for antimicrobial activity against various bacterial and fungal species.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

The use of music in group educational activities in Family Health

OBJECTIVE: describe how music is used in the development of group educational activity in Family Health. METHODS: a qualitative, descriptive and exploratory study, developed with 10 group coordinators, distributed in five basic care units in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Data were collected from March to July, 2009, with non participant observation in the group itself, and semi-structured interviews with the coordinators. Information was organized and categorized according to thematic analysis. To interpret the data, the Snyderian concepts in addition to theoretical references about music, communication and health education were used. RESULTS: three thematic nuclei were found: the affective dimension of music; recreative dimension of music and the reflexive dimension of music. CONCLUSION: an attempt by the coordinators was observed, to overcome the pathological barriers with the use of music, considering the group as a whole. As advancement for the production of knowledge, this study shows the need for qualification of these coordinators, by means of workshops and constant follow-up of their musical practices

A gerência da Unidade Básica de Saúde no controle da tuberculose: um campo de desafios

Neste estudo analisamos a gerência das Unidades Básicas de Saúde no controle da Tuberculose em um município do interior de São Paulo. Participaram do estudo 14 gerentes; a coleta dos dados foi realizada por meio de um questionário fechado e uma questão aberta, e também por meio de entrevista com consentimento livre e esclarecido. Para o tratamento dos dados, utilizamos o Programa Statística 8.0 da Statsoft, e para os dados qualitativos, utilizamos a técnica de análise de conteúdo, modalidade temática. Fica explícita uma gerência técnico-burocrática, com debilidades nas dimensões do planejamento e organização das atividades dos serviços de saúde. Assim, os gerentes desta investigação necessitam incorporar aspectos do planejamento e organização como forma de viabilizar a política de controle da TB.En este estudio analizamos el gerenciamiento de las Unidades Básicas de Salud en el control de la Tuberculosis en un municipio del interior de San Pablo, Brasil. Participaron del estudio 14 gerentes. La recolección de datos fue realizada a través de un cuestionario cerrado y una pregunta abierta, más entrevista con consentimiento libre y esclarecido. Para el tratamiento de los datos, utilizamos el programa Statistica 8.0 de la compañía Starsoft; y para los datos cualitativos, se usó la técnica de análisis de contenidos, modalidad temática. Quedó evidenciada una gerencia técnico-burocrática, con debilidad en las dimensiones de planeamiento y organización de las actividades de los servicios de salud. De tal modo, los gerentes que participaron de esta investigación necesitan incorporar aspectos de planeamiento y organización como modo de viabilizar la política de control de la TB.In this study we analyzed the management of Basic Health Units in terms of Tuberculosis (TB) control in a city in the interior of São Paulo state. Fourteen managers participated in the study. A closed questionnaire was administered and an open question was also applied. The interview was carried out after obtaining free and informed consent. Data analysis was performed using the Statsoft software Statística 8.0 and thematic content analysis was used for the qualitative data. It was found there is a clear technical-bureaucratic management, deficient in the activity planning and organization dimensions at the BHU. Hence, health care managers in this study should include management aspects of planning and organization as ways to make TB control feasible

Immunity of an Alternative Host Can Be Overcome by Higher Densities of Its Parasitoids Palmistichus elaeisis and Trichospilus diatraeae

Interactions of the parasitoids Palmistichus elaeisis Delvare & LaSalle and Trichospilus diatraeae Cherian & Margabandhu (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) with its alternative host Anticarsia gemmatalis (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) affect the success or failure of the mass production of these parasitoids for use in integrated pest management programs. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in the cellular defense and encapsulation ability of A. gemmatalis pupae against P. elaeisis or T. diatraeae in adult parasitoid densities of 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 or 13 parasitoids/pupae. We evaluated the total quantity of circulating hemocytes and the encapsulation rate versus density. Increasing parasitoid density reduced the total number of hemocytes in the hemolymph and the encapsulation rate by parasitized pupae. Furthermore, densities of P. elaeisis above 5 parasitoids/pupae caused higher reduction in total hemocyte numbers. The encapsulation rate fell with increasing parasitoid density. However, parasitic invasion by both species induced generally similar responses. The reduction in defensive capacity of A. gemmatalis is related to the adjustment of the density of these parasitoids to their development in this host. Thus, the role of the density of P. elaeisis or T. diatraeae by pupa is induced suppression of cellular defense and encapsulation of the host, even without them possesses a co-evolutionary history. Furthermore, these findings can predict the success of P. elaeisis and T. diatraeae in the control of insect pests through the use of immunology as a tool for evaluation of natural enemies

Solanum paniculatum root extract reduces diarrhea in rats

Abstract Solanum paniculatum L., Solanaceae, locally known as "jurubeba", is widely used in Brazil for culinary purposes, and in folk medicine to treat of diverse disorder including gastric dysfunctions. In this study we investigated the antidiarrheal activity of S. paniculatum roots extract in rats at different concentrations (125, 250 and 500 mg/kg, p.o) using different experimental models such as castor oil-induced diarrhea, enteropooling and gastrointestinal motility, determined by in vivo experimental models. The major compound of root extract was characterized as chlorogenic acid based in the IR, 1D and 2D NMR analysis. All the extract doses achieved antidiarrheal potency, as indicated by reduced weight of feces in castor oil-induced diarrhea, decreased intestinal motility and significantly inhibited castor oil-induced enteropooling compared to the vehicle group. The highest dose (500 mg/kg) produced greater anti-motility effect and better reduction of enteropooling, similar to the reference drug Loperamide (5 mg/kg). Extract from S. paniculatum L. roots had antidiarrheal activity, as shown by the lower weight of the feces as well as decrease in the accumulation of intestinal fluid and slower transit, justifying the traditional use of plant for diarrhea