The inhibitory action of purple tea on in vivo starch digestion compared to other Camellia sinensis teas

In order to contribute to improve knowledge about the actions of Camellia sinensis extracts on starch digestion, several varieties were compared. The latter were green, oolong, white, black, and purple teas. The results are hoped to contribute to our understanding of the mode of action and potency of the various tea preparations as possible adjuvants in the control of post-prandial glycemia. The extracts were prepared in way similar to their form of consumption. All extracts decreased starch digestion, but the purple tea extract was the strongest inhibitor, their inhibitory tendency started at the dose of 50 mg/kg and was already maximal with 250 mg/kg. Maltose tolerance was not significantly affected by the extracts. Glucose tolerance was not affected by purple tea, but black tea clearly diminished it; green tea presented the same tendency. Purple tea was also the strongest inhibitor of pancreatic α-amylase, followed by black tea. The green tea, oolong tea, and white tea extracts tended to stimulate the pancreatic α-amylase at low concentrations, a phenomenon that could be counterbalancing its inhibitory effect on starch digestion. Based on chemical analyses and molecular docking simulations it was concluded that for both purple and black tea extracts the most abundant active component, epigallocatechin gallate, seems also to be the main responsible for the inhibition of the pancreatic α-amylase and starch digestion. In the case of purple tea, the inhibitory activity is likely to be complemented by its content in deoxyhexosidehexoside- containing polyphenolics, especially the kaempferol and myricetin derivatives. Polysaccharides are also contributing to some extent. Cyanidins, the compounds giving to purple tea its characteristic color, seem not to be the main responsible for its effects on starch digestion. It can be concluded that in terms of postprandial anti-hyperglycemic action purple tea presents the best perspectives among all the tea varieties tested in the present study.This work was financially supported by grants from the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq-304090/ 2016-6), Coordenação do Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal do Ensino Superior (CAPES) and Fundação Araucária (53/2019). The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) for financial support through national funds FCT/MCTES to CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020) and through the institutional scientific employment program-contract for L. Barros and M.I. Dias contracts. This work was also funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Regional Operational Program North 2020, within the scope of Project Mobilizador ValorNatural®: Norte-01-0247-FEDER-024479 and GreenHealth: Norte-01-0145-FEDER-000042.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Effects of a Myrciaria jaboticaba peel extract on starch and triglyceride absorption and the role of cyanidin-3- O -glucoside

The purpose of this study was to perform a parallel and comparative investigation of the effects of a Myrciaria jaboticaba (common name jabuticaba) peel extract and of its constituent cyanidin-3-O-glucoside on the overall process of starch and triglyceride intestinal absorption. The peel extract inhibited both the porcine pancreactic α-amylase and the pancreatic lipase but was 13.6 times more potent on the latter (IC50 values of 1963 and 143.9 μg mL-1, respectively). Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside did not contribute significantly to these inhibitions. The jabuticaba peel extract inhibited starch absorption in mice at doses that were compatible with its inhibitory action on the α-amylase. No inhibition of starch absorption was found with cyanidin-3-O-glucoside doses compatible with its content in the extract. The extract also inhibited triglyceride absorption, but at doses that were considerably smaller than those predicted by its strength in inhibiting the pancreatic lipase (ID50 = 3.65 mg kg-1). In this case, cyanidin-3-O-glucoside was also strongly inhibitory, with 72% inhibition at the dose of 2 mg kg-1. When oleate + glycerol were given to mice, both the peel extract and cyanidin-3-O-glucoside strongly inhibited the appearance of triglycerides in the plasma. The main mechanism seems, thus, not to be the lipase inhibition but rather the inhibition of one or more steps (e.g., transport) in the events that lead to the transformation of free fatty acids in the intestinal tract into triglycerides. Due to the low active doses, the jabuticaba peel extract presents many favourable perspectives as an inhibitor of fat absorption and cyanidin-3-O-glucoside seems to play a decisive role. This journal is.This work was financially supported by grants from the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq-304090/2016-6) and Coordenação do Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal do Ensino Superior (CAPES). The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) for financial support through national funds FCT/MCTES to CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020) and through the institutional scientific employment program-contract for L. Barros contract. This work was also funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Regional Operational Program North 2020, within the scope of Project Mobilizador Norte-01-0247-FEDER-024479: ValorNatural®.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

ANÁLISE DA ABORDAGEM SOBRE A ANEMIA FALCIFORME EM LIVROS DIDÁTICOS DE CIÊNCIAS DA NATUREZA

This work aimed to analyze the Sickle Cell Anemia (SCA) approach in Natural Sciences textbook collections approved in 2021 National Textbook and Teaching Material Program (PNLD) for High School. The focus of these analyses was: the racial discourse associated with SCA and scientific racism; health approaches; and adequacy from a clinical-scientific point of view. To this end, the content analysis proposed by Bardin was adopted, involving textbooks floating reading, the creation or adaptation of categories and indicators for analysis, the material description and the interpreting the data collected. The data was compared with previous analyses of the approach to SCA in biology textbooks from the 2012 and 2015 PNLD. The approach to SCA, when it did occur in the current collections, was linked to natural selection, without focusing on racial issues, and based on a molecular description. There was a silencing of the approach to SCA in relation to the findings of previous research. In addition, biomedical and reductionist approaches to SCA continued to predominate, disregarding socio-political and historical aspects related to the disease.El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar el abordaje de la Anemia Falciforme (AF) en las colecciones de Ciencias Naturales y sus Tecnologías aprobadas en el Programa Nacional de Libros de Texto y Material Didáctico (PNLD) 2021 para la enseñanza media. El foco de ese análisis fue: el discurso racial asociado a la Anemia Falciforme y el racismo científico; los abordajes de salud; y la adecuación del punto de vista clínico-científico. Para ello, se adoptó el análisis de contenido propuesto por Bardin, que implica la lectura flotante de las colecciones, la creación o adaptación de categorías e indicadores para el análisis, la descripción del material y la interpretación de los datos. Los datos se compararon con análisis anteriores sobre el abordaje de la AF en los libros de texto de biología de los PNLD de 2012 y 2015. La aproximación a la AF, cuando se producía en las colecciones actuales, estaba vinculada a la selección natural, sin centrarse en cuestiones raciales, y basada en una descripción molecular. Hubo un silenciamiento del abordaje de la AF en relación a los hallazgos de investigaciones anteriores. Además, siguieron predominando los enfoques biomédicos y reduccionistas de la AF, sin tener en cuenta los aspectos sociopolíticos e históricos relacionados con la enfermedad.Este trabalho objetivou analisar a abordagem sobre a Anemia Falciforme (AF) nas coleções de Ciências da Natureza e Suas Tecnologias aprovadas no Programa Nacional do Livro e do Material Didático (PNLD) de 2021 para o Ensino Médio. Os focos desta análise foram: o discurso racial associado a AF e ao racismo científico; as abordagens de saúde; e a adequação do ponto de vista clínico-científico. Para tanto, adotou-se a análise de conteúdo proposta por Bardin, envolvendo a leitura flutuante das coleções, a criação ou a adaptação de categorias e indicadores para análise, a descrição do material e a interpretação dos dados. Os dados foram comparados com análises anteriores sobre a abordagem da AF em livros didáticos de biologia do PNLD de 2012 e de 2015. A abordagem da AF, quando ocorreu nas coleções atuais, esteve atrelada a seleção natural, sem pautar questões raciais, e a partir de uma descrição molecular. Observou-se um silenciamento na abordagem sobre a AF em relação aos achados de pesquisas anteriores. Além disso, manteve-se a predominância de abordagens biomédicas e reducionistas sobre a AF, desconsiderando aspectos sociopolíticos e históricos relacionados a doença

VIOLÊNCIA CONTRA A MULHER NO CONTEXTO RURAL: ANÁLISE DA ABORDAGEM DO AGENTE COMUNITÁRIOS DE SAÚDE

Tem o objetivo analisar a abordagem dos Agentes Comunitários de Saúde (ACS) da zona rural frente a problemática de violência contra mulher no município de Iguatu/Ceará. Trata-se de uma pesquisa descritiva, exploratória, com abordagem qualitativa, o estudo foi realizado nas Estratégias de Saúde da Família (ESF) do município de Iguatu/Ceará, no período de agosto a outubro de 2022. A amostra do estudo se deu por 24 Agentes Comunitários de Saúde das Estratégia Saúde da Família da zona rural do referido município. A coleta foi realizada por intermédio de um link, através de um questionário eletrônico no Google Forms. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida seguindo os preceitos éticos das resoluções 510/2016 e 466/2012, sendo submetida ao Comitê de Ética e Pesquisa da Universidade Regional do Cariri e aprovado sob o parecer nº de CAAE: 12205319.3.0000.5055. Os tipos de violência mais citadas foram a violência física, sexual, moral e psicológica. Ao investigar a abordagem dos agentes comunitários de saúde, foi possível conhecer sua diversidade, tais como: o diálogo, o vínculo, as orientações e o trabalho da equipe multidisciplinar. As participantes também mencionaram as dificuldades que permeavam essa assistência, dentre elas, a falta de informação para atuar com essa situação

Saúde sexual na adolescência: desafios e perspectivas em âmbito escolar / Sexual health in adolescence: challenges and perspectives in school

A adolescência traz à tona uma série de modificações a nível biológico, psicológico, social e cultural, estas que são afloradas quando posto em discussão a sexualidade e suas relações. A escola é um espaço ideal para que se lance mão destas discussões, desde que exista formação adequada e mecanismos de ação. Dado o exposto, este estudo tem por objetivo averiguar o discurso de adolescentes escolares sobre às questões que emergem diante da saúde sexual na adolescência. Trata-se de uma pesquisa exploratória e descritiva, com abordagem qualitativa, desenvolvida junto a 8 adolescentes escolares do município de Icó – Ceará no ano de 2017, com idade entre 15 e 18 anos, e matriculados no ensino médio de tempo integral. Os dados foram coletados através de uma entrevista semiestruturada e analisados por meio do método de análise de conteúdo proposto por Minayo, os quais, posteriormente, tiveram a sua organização feita por meio de categorização temática. Os resultados foram apresentados através da categoria que se intitula Adolescência, Escola e Sexualidade: desafios e perspectivas, onde foram feitos apontamentos importantes sobre a visão do adolescente diante do ensino sobre sexualidade na escola, trazendo narrativas singulares importantes e às corroborando junto a literatura científica pertinente. O estudo concluiu que existem obstáculos a serem superados junto ao binômio aluno-escola, e que é pertinente, ainda, a prática de ações educativas por meio das tecnologias leves de saúde

A list of land plants of Parque Nacional do Caparaó, Brazil, highlights the presence of sampling gaps within this protected area

Brazilian protected areas are essential for plant conservation in the Atlantic Forest domain, one of the 36 global biodiversity hotspots. A major challenge for improving conservation actions is to know the plant richness, protected by these areas. Online databases offer an accessible way to build plant species lists and to provide relevant information about biodiversity. A list of land plants of “Parque Nacional do Caparaó” (PNC) was previously built using online databases and published on the website "Catálogo de Plantas das Unidades de Conservação do Brasil." Here, we provide and discuss additional information about plant species richness, endemism and conservation in the PNC that could not be included in the List. We documented 1,791 species of land plants as occurring in PNC, of which 63 are cited as threatened (CR, EN or VU) by the Brazilian National Red List, seven as data deficient (DD) and five as priorities for conservation. Fifity-one species were possible new ocurrences for ES and MG states

Post-intervention Status in Patients With Refractory Myasthenia Gravis Treated With Eculizumab During REGAIN and Its Open-Label Extension

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether eculizumab helps patients with anti-acetylcholine receptor-positive (AChR+) refractory generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) achieve the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) post-intervention status of minimal manifestations (MM), we assessed patients' status throughout REGAIN (Safety and Efficacy of Eculizumab in AChR+ Refractory Generalized Myasthenia Gravis) and its open-label extension. METHODS: Patients who completed the REGAIN randomized controlled trial and continued into the open-label extension were included in this tertiary endpoint analysis. Patients were assessed for the MGFA post-intervention status of improved, unchanged, worse, MM, and pharmacologic remission at defined time points during REGAIN and through week 130 of the open-label study. RESULTS: A total of 117 patients completed REGAIN and continued into the open-label study (eculizumab/eculizumab: 56; placebo/eculizumab: 61). At week 26 of REGAIN, more eculizumab-treated patients than placebo-treated patients achieved a status of improved (60.7% vs 41.7%) or MM (25.0% vs 13.3%; common OR: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.1-4.5). After 130 weeks of eculizumab treatment, 88.0% of patients achieved improved status and 57.3% of patients achieved MM status. The safety profile of eculizumab was consistent with its known profile and no new safety signals were detected. CONCLUSION: Eculizumab led to rapid and sustained achievement of MM in patients with AChR+ refractory gMG. These findings support the use of eculizumab in this previously difficult-to-treat patient population. CLINICALTRIALSGOV IDENTIFIER: REGAIN, NCT01997229; REGAIN open-label extension, NCT02301624. CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE: This study provides Class II evidence that, after 26 weeks of eculizumab treatment, 25.0% of adults with AChR+ refractory gMG achieved MM, compared with 13.3% who received placebo

Minimal Symptom Expression' in Patients With Acetylcholine Receptor Antibody-Positive Refractory Generalized Myasthenia Gravis Treated With Eculizumab

The efficacy and tolerability of eculizumab were assessed in REGAIN, a 26-week, phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody-positive (AChR+) refractory generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG), and its open-label extension

Analysis of the accuracy of different laboratory methods for the diagnosis of intestinal parasites from stray and domiciled cats (Felis catus domesticus) in Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil

Abstract Cats are carriers of zoonotic agents to humans, including intestinal parasites. The purpose of this study was to analyze the accuracy of different laboratory methods for the diagnosis of intestinal parasites. Fecal samples were processed by the Willis, Sheather, Faust and Hoffman-Janer-Pons-Lutz (HJPL) methods. Accuracy analysis was performed determining the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value and Kappa. A total of 149 fecal samples were collected, 65 from stray cats and 84 from domiciled cats. The prevalence of intestinal parasites in stray cats was 60% while in domiciled cats it was 17%. In the analysis of accuracy, the techniques that showed the greatest accuracy for Ancylostomids were Willis and Faust, for Cystoisospora spp. Sheather with Faust or HPJL, and Toxoplasma gondii/Hammondia hammondi the association between Willis and Faust. Therefore, for a reliable evaluation of the prevalence of intestinal parasites, at least two different techniques should be used in parasitological exams of feces