Scientific and technological forecasting of Matricaria RECUTITA l. (chamomile)

A Matricaria recutita L. (camomila) é uma planta pertencente à família Asteraceae que é bastante utilizada na medicina popular devido às suas várias aplicações biológicas como, por exemplo, atividade antidiarreica, anti-inflamatória, antioxidante, gastroprotetora, antibacteriana, entre outras. O objetivo do presente estudo foi realizar uma prospecção científica e tecnológica da planta Matricaria recutita conhecida popularmente como camomila. A prospecção científica foi realizada pesquisando todos os artigos científicos publicados até junho de 2015 nas bases de dados do Pubmed, Web of ScienceTM, Scopus e Scielo utilizando separadamente no descritor o nome científico e o nome popular da planta, e observando o ano da publicação. Já a prospecção tecnológica foi realizada nos bancos de dados USPTO, EPO, WIPO e INPI selecionando as patentes que possuíam o nome científico ou o nome popular da planta no título e/ou resumo, observando a classificação, o ano e os países de depósitos. Desse modo, verificou-se que nas bases de dados de artigos científicos e nos bancos de depósitos de patentes, os trabalhos publicados envolvem principalmente o nome popular da espécie quando comparado ao nome científico, esses resultados podem ser explicados pelo fato da planta ser conhecida mundialmente como camomila. Além disso, a referida prospecção teve como resultados a utilização da planta em diversas finalidades, tais como: formulações farmacêuticas, produtos alimentícios e aplicações industriais na área cosmética. Dessa forma, a planta possui grande relevância para as áreas de ciência e tecnologia

A new peptide from Jatropha curcas seeds: Unusual sequence and insights into its synthetic analogue that enhances proteolytic activity of papain

AbstractA new peptide (1341g/mol) from Jatropha curcas seeds was isolated. The linear sequence (APTLSGGSVPRDAD) was deduced by de novo peptide sequencing, and further used as scaffold for synthesis of linear (1342g/mol) and cyclic (1324g/mol) synthetic analogues. The full peptide sequence was identified as inserted in a putative conserved domain of late-embryogenesis proteins which produced a significant alignment hit (100% of identity and E-value of 1e−05) with a hypothetical protein JCGZ_12502 of J. curcas. Whereas in the linear peptide predominated the double charged ion state (m/z 671.68), in the cyclic form was observed the mono charged ion state (m/z of 1325.19) and an unusual MS/MS fragmentation pattern. The differences between the forms were discrete in terms of ionic mobility, retention time (reverse phase) and net charge as function of pH. Circular dichroism spectra presented an intense negative peak at 198nm which is assigned for its disordered contents. A negative peak at 222nm in the spectrum of the circular form suggested its structure was not as disordered as the linear form. The peptides were neither haemolytic nor cytotoxic and did not inhibit phytopathogenic fungi. Surprisingly, the circular but not the linear peptide increased the proteolytic activity of papain

PROPRIEDADES FÍSICAS E COLORIMÉTRICAS DA MADEIRA DE ESPÉCIES AMAZÔNICAS

As espécies arbóreas da floresta tropical amazônica são ainda pouco conhecidas devido à ausência de estudos, o que dificulta a aplicação em determinadas condições de uso. Neste contexto, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo determinar as propriedades tecnológicas das madeiras de espécies florestais amazônicas. Foram analisadas 17 espécies, determinando as propriedades físicas e os parâmetros colorimétricos da madeira (L*, a*, b*, C* e h*). Os valores de densidade básica apresentaram variações significativas, variando de 0,29 g.cm-3 a 0,79 g.cm-3. Para o coeficiente anisotrópico, apenas 11,76% das espécies foram classificadas como excelentes. Foram observadas diferenças significativas para a maioria das espécies, indicando efeito de lenho para a contração tangencial total, contração radial total e contração tangencial parcial. Foi possível observar que não há efeito de interação do lenho para os valores de densidade e coeficiente anisotrópico. As análises estatísticas mostraram diferenças significativas para os parâmetros colorimétricas (L*, a*, b*, C* e h*) da madeira, evidenciando sua eficiência no agrupamento das 17 espécies florestais. A coordenada b* é a principal responsável pelas variações de cores entre as espécies. A distinção de cores entre espécies analisadas permitiu a organização em seis grupos de cores. As análises de correlação entre a cor, densidade aparente e densidade básica demonstraram que as madeiras mais densas são mais escuras e apresentam mais pigmento vermelho (a*). As análises estatísticas indicaram que as características avaliadas são eficientes para o agrupamento e identificação do potencial de uso das madeiras. A colorimetria pode ser uma importante análise para auxiliar no controle da qualidade da madeira

a population-based and ecological study

Funding Information: Coordena\u00E7\u00E3o de Aperfei\u00E7oamento de Pessoal de N\u00EDvel Superior, Grant/Award Number: 001-2023; Funda\u00E7\u00E3o Ci\u00EAncia e Tecnologia, IP national support, Grant/Award Number:UIDP/04923/2020. Publisher Copyright: © 2024 by the authors.To assess the temporal and spatial dynamics of chikungunya incidence and its association with social vulnerability indicators in Brazil, an ecological and population-based study was conducted herein, with confirmed cases of chikungunya and based on clinical and clinical–epidemiological criteria from 2017 to 2023. Data were obtained from the Notifiable Diseases Information System and social vulnerability indicators were extracted from the official platform of the United Nations Development Program and the Social Vulnerability Atlas. Temporal, spatial, and global spatial regression models were employed. The temporal trend showed that in 2017, the incidence increased by 1.9%, and this trend decreased from 2020 to 2021 (−0.93%). The spatial distribution showed heterogeneity and positive spatial autocorrelation (I: 0.71; p < 0.001) in chikungunya cases in Brazil. Also, the high-risk areas for the disease were concentrated in the northeast and north regions. The social vulnerability indicators associated with the outcome were those related to income, education, and housing conditions. Our analyses demonstrate that chikungunya continues to be a serious health concern in Brazil, but specially in the northeast and north regions. Lastly, mapping risk areas can provide evidence for the development of public health strategies and disease control in endemic regions.publishersversionpublishe

Demodiciose canina: estudo retrospectivo dos casos atendidos no Hospital Veterinário da Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro (2013-2017)

A demodiciose é uma das principais dermatopatias parasitárias atendidas na rotina de clínicas veterinárias, acometendo principalmente animais jovens, cujo diagnóstico pode ser realizado através do raspado cutâneo profundo, tricograma e fita de acetato. Os sinais dermatológicos, incluindo alopecia, eritema, crostas e pápulas localizam-se principalmente na face. O objetivo do trabalho foi realizar levantamento de casos de demodiciose canina diagnosticados no setor de Dermatologia do Hospital Veterinário da Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro no período de janeiro de 2013 a abril de 2017. Foram utilizadas 125 fichas com diagnóstico de demodiciose de um total de 1282 animais atendidos. Foi encontrada uma ocorrência de 9,75%(125/1282) da doença em cães, predominantemente jovens, com idade inferior a um ano e sem predileção sexual. Com relação a distribuição racial, a de maior prevalência foi a sem raça definida (29,6%; 37/125), tendo como principal sinal clínico a hipotricose (60,8%; 76/125) e apresentando-se de forma generalizadas (76,8%; 96/125). O método diagnóstico mais utilizado foi o raspado cutâneo (61,6%; 77/125). Foi possível concluir que a demodiciose é uma doença que deve estar dentre os diagnósticos diferenciais na clínica de animais de companhia, principalmente em animais jovens, com idade inferior a 1 ano de idade. E que esta doença acomete principalmente região de cabeça com lesões mais frequentes de hipotricose e eritema

SARS-CoV-2 in Brazil and Psychosocial Repercussions on Men’s Health: Health Literacy Is Important

This study aimed at analyzing the psychosocial repercussions of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic on the health of men living in Brazil. For this, we carried out a socio-historical and qualitative study, with the participation of 200 men who answered an online questionnaire. The data collected were processed in the NVIVO12® software, structured by the Collective Subject Discourse method, and analyzed from the epidemic disease theoretical framework proposed by Charles Rosenberg. Our results showed that the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic brought about repercussions of different dimensions that compromised the health of men living in Brazil. The repercussions evidenced were behavioral changes and emergence of new habits due to the pandemic; uncomfortable family situations; impaired affective and sexual relationships; harms in marital relationships; and insecurity and psychological distress. It is important to implement strategies that maximize men’s health literacy, promoting better communication in terms of health, and search for help and suitable information about health/mental health.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Novel ocellatin peptides mitigate LPS-induced ROS formation and NF-kB activation in microglia and hippocampal neurons

© The Author(s) 2020. Open Access. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Cre-ative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons license, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons license and your intended use is not per-mitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.Cutaneous secretions of amphibians have bioactive compounds, such as peptides, with potential for biotechnological applications. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the primary structure and investigate peptides obtained from the cutaneous secretions of the amphibian, Leptodactylus vastus, as a source of bioactive molecules. The peptides obtained possessed the amino acid sequences, GVVDILKGAAKDLAGH and GVVDILKGAAKDLAGHLASKV, with monoisotopic masses of [M + H]± = 1563.8 Da and [M + H]± = 2062.4 Da, respectively. The molecules were characterized as peptides of the class of ocellatins and were named as Ocellatin-K1(1-16) and Ocellatin-K1(1-21). Functional analysis revealed that Ocellatin-K1(1-16) and Ocellatin-K1(1-21) showed weak antibacterial activity. However, treatment of mice with these ocellatins reduced the nitrite and malondialdehyde content. Moreover, superoxide dismutase enzymatic activity and glutathione concentration were increased in the hippocampus of mice. In addition, Ocellatin-K1(1-16) and Ocellatin-K1(1-21) were effective in impairing lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and NF-kB activation in living microglia. We incubated hippocampal neurons with microglial conditioned media treated with LPS and LPS in the presence of Ocellatin-K1(1-16) and Ocellatin-K1(1-21) and observed that both peptides reduced the oxidative stress in hippocampal neurons. Furthermore, these ocellatins demonstrated low cytotoxicity towards erythrocytes. These functional properties suggest possible to neuromodulatory therapeutic applications.Alexandra Plácido is a recipient of a post-doctoral grant from the project FCT (PTDC/BII-BIO/31158/2017). Renato Socodato and Camila Cabral Portugal hold postdoctoral fellowships from FCT (Refs: SFRH/BPD/91833/2012 and FRH/BPD/91962/2012, respectively). This work was funded through project UID/QUI/50006/2013-POCI/01/0145/FEDER/007265 (LAQV/REQUIMTE) with financial support from FCT/MEC through national funds and co-financed by FEDER, under the Partnership Agreement PT 2020info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Impacts on Men’s Health/Mental Health

Publisher Copyright: Copyright © 2022 de Sousa, Moreira, da Silva Santana, Araújo, Borges, Almeida, das Mercês, da Silva, Teixeira, Lourenção, Gomes, de Santana Carvalho, de Sousa, de Almeida, Viana and Pereira.Objective: This study aims to analyze sociohistorically how the normative patterns of hegemonic masculinity produced impacts on men’s health/mental health in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A qualitative study from a socio-historical perspective was conducted with 50 men based on an online survey. A semistructured form was applied. The data were analyzed by the Collective Subject Discourse method, interpreted in the light of the context of epidemic disease and hegemonic masculinity. Results: The experience of the pandemic exposed the normative patterns of masculinities from the consummation of acts representative of the pandemic context, which incited men to deny the existence of COVID-19 disease and to delay the understanding and adoption of measures to protect and control COVID-19. As a repercussion, men presented conflicts in the regulation of emotions; presented emotional suppression; were more reactive; felt threatened regarding the loss of the role of family provider, virility; and revealed a sense of invulnerability, added to the weakening of self-care. Conclusion: The discourse revealed that the men’s behaviors are consistent with the characteristics of hegemonic masculinity, but express signs of recognition that this behavior causes harm to themselves and their health.publishersversionpublishe

Factors Associated with Emotion Regulation in Men with Internet Access Living in Brazil during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Publisher Copyright: © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.Objective: to evaluate the factors associated with emotion regulation in men with internet access living in Brazil during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: an epidemiological survey, conducted with 1015 men. An electronic form was applied containing sociodemographic and occu-pational characteristics, support and coping strategies, as well as emotional and behavioral aspects. Emotion regulation was assessed using the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire. Results: The prevalence values observed were 44.6% for Low Cognitive Reappraisal and of 47.1% for High Emotional Sup-pression. The following factors were identified as associated: (a) with Low Cognitive Reappraisal: being aged 30 years old or more, practicing physical activity, worrying about social distancing and having positive emotions and feelings; and (b) with High Emotional Suppression: being heterosexual, non-white race/skin color, having security support or public administration, not sanitizing food, worrying about lack of physical activity and not having negative emotions. Conclusion: the adoption of emotion regulation strategies was associated with individual, contextual and emotional/behavioral characteristics. Masculinity ideals seem to exert an influence on these relationships.publishersversionpublishe

Doenças respiratórias crônicas e repercussões na gestação: revisão integrativa

INTRODUÇÃO: A gestação promove alterações na fisiologia das vias aéreas. Nesse cenário, doenças respiratórias crônicas repercutem na gravidez, sendo que entre as principais doenças estão a asma, a doença pulmonar intersticial e a fibrose cística. OBJETIVOS: Avaliar as repercussões das doenças respiratórias crônicas na gestação e a existência de complicações associadas.&nbsp; METODOLOGIA: Trata-se de uma revisão integrativa na base de dados PUBMED utilizando os descritores: “PREGNANCY AND RESPIRATORY TRACT DISEASES AND COMPLICATIONS’’ para artigos publicados entre 2020 e 2024. RESULTADOS: A prevalência de asma em mulheres gestantes é aproximadamente 2,9%, é significativa a relação com diferentes comorbidades associadas, como a hipertensão crônica, diabetes mellitus e afecções tireoidianas. Cabe ressaltar que mulheres asmáticas possuem maiores riscos de desenvolver diabetes gestacional, descolamento prematuro da placenta, rotura prematura de membranas e principalmente o trabalho de parto prematuro.&nbsp; As doenças pulmonares crônicas, como bronquiectasias, sarcoidose e fibrose cística, tendem à descompensação durante o período gestacional, 50% das gestantes apresentam crises em algum momento da gravidez e 16% passam todo o período descompensadas, efeitos adversos como infertilidade também são evidenciados. Em relação ao tratamento da asma, é consensual sua manutenção durante o período da gravidez, contudo corticosteroides sistêmicos são contraindicados no primeiro trimestre&nbsp;da&nbsp;gravidez. CONCLUSÃO: Na gestação, a mulher está mais suscetível a desenvolver doenças respiratórias crônicas, em casos que a gestante é uma portadora, pode ocorrer uma piora do quadro. Entre as principais repercussões estão as doenças que afetam o sistema cardiovasculares, diabetes gestacional e parto cesariano