Adsorption of omeprazole on biobased adsorbents doped with Si/Mg: kinetic, equilibrium, and thermodynamic studies

This paper proposes an easy and sustainable method to prepare high-sorption capacity biobased adsorbents from wood waste. A biomass wood waste (spruce bark) was employed to fabricate a composite doped with Si and Mg and applied to adsorb an emerging contaminant (Omeprezole) from aqueous solutions, as well as synthetic effluents loaded with several emerging contaminants. The effects of Si and Mg doping on the biobased material’s physicochemical properties and adsorptive performance were evaluated. Si and Mg did not influence the specific surface area values but impacted the presence of the higher number of mesopores. The kinetic and equilibrium data presented the best fitness by the Avrami Fractional order (AFO) and Liu isotherm models, respectively. The values of Qmax ranged from 72.70 to 110.2 mg g−1 (BP) and from 107.6 to 249.0 mg g−1 (BTM). The kinetic was faster for Si/Mg-doped carbon adsorbent, possibly due to different chemical features provoked by the doping process. The thermodynamic data showed that the adsorption of OME on biobased adsorbents was spontaneous and favorable at four studied temperatures (283, 293, 298, 303, 308, 313, and 318 K), with the magnitude of the adsorption correspondent to a physical adsorption process (ΔH° −1). The adsorbents were applied to treat synthetic hospital effluents and exhibited a high percentage of removal (up to 62%). The results of this work show that the composite between spruce bark biomass and Si/Mg was an efficient adsorbent for OME removal. Therefore, this study can help open new strategies for developing sustainable and effective adsorbents to tackle water pollution

Intracerebral infection with dengue-3 virus induces meningoencephalitis and behavioral changes that precede lethality in mice

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Dengue, one of the most important arboviral diseases of humans, may cause severe systemic disease. Although dengue virus (DENV) has been considered to be a non-neurotropic virus, dengue infection has been associated recently with a series of neurological syndromes, including encephalitis. In this work, we evaluated behavioral changes and inflammatory parameters in C57BL/6 mice infected with non-adapted dengue virus 3 (DENV-3) genotype I.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>C57BL/6 mice received 4 × 10³PFU of DENV-3 by an intracranial route. We evaluated the trafficking of leukocytes in brain microvasculature using intravital microscopy, and evaluated chemokine and cytokine profiling by an ELISA test at 3 and 6 days post infection (p.i.). Furthermore, we determined myeloperoxidase activity and immune cell populations, and also performed histopathological analysis and immunostaining for the virus in brain tissue.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>All animals developed signs of encephalitis and died by day 8 p.i. Motor behavior and muscle tone and strength parameters declined at day 7 p.i. We observed increased leukocyte rolling and adhesion in brain microvasculature of infected mice at days 3 and 6 p.i. The infection was followed by significant increases in IFN-γ, TNF-α, CCL2, CCL5, CXCL1, and CXCL2. Histological analysis showed evidence of meningoencephalitis and reactive gliosis. Increased numbers of neutrophils, CD4⁺and CD8⁺T cells were detected in brain of infected animals, notably at day 6 p.i. Cells immunoreactive for anti-NS-3 were visualized throughout the brain.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Intracerebral infection with non-adapted DENV-3 induces encephalitis and behavioral changes that precede lethality in mice.</p

Effects of previous carbohydrate supplementation on muscular fatigue: double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover study

Abstract AIMS The aim of this study was to examine the effects of previous carbohydrate supplementation on high-volume resistance exercise performance METHODS Twenty males physically independent adults aged ≥18 years participated in a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled crossover study. Sixty minutes before the experimental protocol, each participant ingested 0,6 g.kg of body mass-1 of carbohydrate supplementation or placebo. Maximum voluntary isometric contraction tests were performed before and after the dynamic fatigue induction protocol consisting of 10 sets of 8 repetitions of right leg knee extensors at 120º s-1. RESULTS Lower decrement of the isometric peak torque (p<0,001) and of the rate of torque development (p<0,001) was observed in carbohydrate supplementation after the dynamic protocol. Both concentric and eccentric peak torque differed significantly (p<0,001) between carbohydrate supplementation and placebo treatments from the second set, although the slope of the force-repetitions curve was not different between them. Additionally, the carbohydrate supplementation resulted in a lower session rating of perceived exertion (p<0,05). CONCLUSIONS Previous carbohydrate supplementation attenuates muscle fatigue and internal load exercise in a high-volume isokinetic leg protocol

Flours and instant soup from tilapia wastes as healthy alternatives to the food industry

The aim of this manuscript was to perform a nutritional and technological characterization of value-added products manufactured from tilapia wastes that have partial replacement potential for products commonly used by the food industry. All products displayed highest protein and ash content whereas lowest amount of carbohydrates compared with similar products already commercialized by the food industry. These products also displayed promising technological characteristics such as water absorption index (WAI), particle size average (PSA), water activity (Aw), and pH, which are relevant parameters for the elaboration of innovative food formulation. We concluded that instant soup and flours from tilapia wastes can be used in the food industry either for development and introduction of new food products on the market or for the replacement in current food products made from conventional flour sources, producing a healthy alternative on consumers. Copyright © 2014, Japanese Society for Food Science and Technology

Novel R-roscovitine NO-donor hybrid compounds as potential pro-resolution of inflammation agents

AbstractNeutrophils play a pivotal role in the pathophysiology of multiple human inflammatory diseases. Novel pharmacological strategies which drive neutrophils to undergo programmed cell death (apoptosis) have been shown to facilitate the resolution of inflammation. Both the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (CDKi) R-roscovitine and nitric oxide (NO) have been shown to enhance apoptosis of neutrophils and possess pro-resolution of inflammation properties. In order to search for new multi-target pro-resolution derivatives, here we describe the design, synthesis and investigation of the biological potential of a small series of hybrid compounds obtained by conjugating R-roscovitine with two different NO-donor moieties (compounds 2, 9a, 9c). The synthesized compounds were tested as potential pro-resolution agents, with their ability to promote human neutrophil apoptosis evaluated. Both compound 9a and 9c showed an increased pro-apoptotic activity when compared with either R-roscovitine or structurally related compounds devoid of the ability to release NO (des-NO analogues). Inhibition of either NO-synthase or soluble guanylate cyclase did not affect the induction of apoptosis by the R-roscovitine derivatives, similar to that reported for other classes of NO-donors. In contrast the NO scavenger PTIO prevented the enhanced apoptosis seen with compound 9a over R-roscovitine. These data show that novel compounds such as CDKi–NO-donor hybrids may have additive pro-resolution of inflammation effects

BRCA2 polymorphic stop codon K3326X and the risk of breast, prostate, and ovarian cancers

Background: The K3326X variant in BRCA2 (BRCA2*c.9976A&gt;T; p.Lys3326*; rs11571833) has been found to be associated with small increased risks of breast cancer. However, it is not clear to what extent linkage disequilibrium with fully pathogenic mutations might account for this association. There is scant information about the effect of K3326X in other hormone-related cancers. Methods: Using weighted logistic regression, we analyzed data from the large iCOGS study including 76 637 cancer case patients and 83 796 control patients to estimate odds ratios (ORw) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for K3326X variant carriers in relation to breast, ovarian, and prostate cancer risks, with weights defined as probability of not having a pathogenic BRCA2 variant. Using Cox proportional hazards modeling, we also examined the associations of K3326X with breast and ovarian cancer risks among 7183 BRCA1 variant carriers. All statistical tests were two-sided. Results: The K3326X variant was associated with breast (ORw = 1.28, 95% CI = 1.17 to 1.40, P = 5.9x10- 6) and invasive ovarian cancer (ORw = 1.26, 95% CI = 1.10 to 1.43, P = 3.8x10-3). These associations were stronger for serous ovarian cancer and for estrogen receptor–negative breast cancer (ORw = 1.46, 95% CI = 1.2 to 1.70, P = 3.4x10-5 and ORw = 1.50, 95% CI = 1.28 to 1.76, P = 4.1x10-5, respectively). For BRCA1 mutation carriers, there was a statistically significant inverse association of the K3326X variant with risk of ovarian cancer (HR = 0.43, 95% CI = 0.22 to 0.84, P = .013) but no association with breast cancer. No association with prostate cancer was observed. Conclusions: Our study provides evidence that the K3326X variant is associated with risk of developing breast and ovarian cancers independent of other pathogenic variants in BRCA2. Further studies are needed to determine the biological mechanism of action responsible for these associations

USO DE METODOLOGIA NO ENSINO DO SISTEMA DE VEIAS ÁZIGO

Anatomy is an essential tool for describing species and comparing them when they are morphologically similar, in addition to solving clinical practice problems. In addition, the azygous vein system drains the back of the thoracoabdominal walls and mediastinal viscera. It presents many variations, not only in its origin but also in its path, tributaries, anastomosis and terminations. Therefore, this research aims to carry out a study on the azygous vein system based on active teaching and learning methodology. Two groups of students were analyzed, with only one being influenced by the active methodology and, later, both were compared regarding the learning provided by each method. It was concluded that the use of active methodologies contributed satisfactorily to the student's learning, increasing his ability to fix the content and interact with the material, in addition to maintaining motivation in the active search for learning.La anatomía es un instrumento esencial para la descripción de especies y comparaciones entre ellas cuando son morfológicamente similares, además de resolver problemas de práctica clínica. Además, el sistema de venas cigotos drena la parte posterior de las paredes de las vísceras toracoabdominales y mediastínicas. Presenta muchas variaciones, no solo en su origen sino también en su trayectoria, afluentes, anastomosis y terminaciones Esta investigación tiene como objetivo realizar un estudio sobre el sistema de venas cigotos a partir de la metodología activa de enseñanza y aprendizaje. Se analizaron dos grupos de estudiantes, y solo uno fue influenciado por la metodología activa y, posteriormente, se compararon ambos para el aprendizaje proporcionado por cada método. Se concluyó que el uso de metodologías activas contribuyó satisfactoriamente al aprendizaje del estudiante, aumentando su capacidad para fijar el contenido e interactuar con el sujeto, además de mantener la motivación en la búsqueda activa del aprendizaje.A anatomia é um instrumento essencial para a descrição de espécies e comparações entre elas quando morfologicamente parecidas, além de resolução de problemas da prática clínica. Além disso, o sistema de veias ázigo drena o dorso das paredes toracoabdominais e vísceras mediastinais. Ele apresenta muitas variações, não só na sua origem mas também no seu trajeto, tributárias, anastomose e terminações Diante disso, esta pesquisa tem como objetivo realizar um estudo sobre o sistema de veias ázigo a partir de metodologia ativa de ensino e aprendizagem. Foram analisados dois grupos de estudantes, sendo que somente um recebeu influência da metodologia ativa e, posteriormente, ambos foram comparados quanto ao aprendizado proporcionado por cada método. Concluiu-se que, a utilização de metodologias ativas contribuiu de forma satisfatória para o aprendizado do aluno, aumentando sua capacidade de fixação do conteúdo e interação com a matéria, além de manter a motivação na busca ativa do aprendizado

Spatio-Temporal Tracking and Phylodynamics of an Urban Dengue 3 Outbreak in São Paulo, Brazil

The dengue virus has a single-stranded positive-sense RNA genome of ∼10.700 nucleotides with a single open reading frame that encodes three structural (C, prM, and E) and seven nonstructural (NS1, NS2A, NS2B, NS3, NS4A, NS4B, and NS5) proteins. It possesses four antigenically distinct serotypes (DENV 1–4). Many phylogenetic studies address particularities of the different serotypes using convenience samples that are not conducive to a spatio-temporal analysis in a single urban setting. We describe the pattern of spread of distinct lineages of DENV-3 circulating in São José do Rio Preto, Brazil, during 2006. Blood samples from patients presenting dengue-like symptoms were collected for DENV testing. We performed M-N-PCR using primers based on NS5 for virus detection and identification. The fragments were purified from PCR mixtures and sequenced. The positive dengue cases were geo-coded. To type the sequenced samples, 52 reference sequences were aligned. The dataset generated was used for iterative phylogenetic reconstruction with the maximum likelihood criterion. The best demographic model, the rate of growth, rate of evolutionary change, and Time to Most Recent Common Ancestor (TMRCA) were estimated. The basic reproductive rate during the epidemics was estimated. We obtained sequences from 82 patients among 174 blood samples. We were able to geo-code 46 sequences. The alignment generated a 399-nucleotide-long dataset with 134 taxa. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that all samples were of DENV-3 and related to strains circulating on the isle of Martinique in 2000–2001. Sixty DENV-3 from São José do Rio Preto formed a monophyletic group (lineage 1), closely related to the remaining 22 isolates (lineage 2). We assumed that these lineages appeared before 2006 in different occasions. By transforming the inferred exponential growth rates into the basic reproductive rate, we obtained values for lineage 1 of R0 = 1.53 and values for lineage 2 of R0 = 1.13. Under the exponential model, TMRCA of lineage 1 dated 1 year and lineage 2 dated 3.4 years before the last sampling. The possibility of inferring the spatio-temporal dynamics from genetic data has been generally little explored, and it may shed light on DENV circulation. The use of both geographic and temporally structured phylogenetic data provided a detailed view on the spread of at least two dengue viral strains in a populated urban area