Effects of the flavonoid quercetin and the natural dyes bixin and norbixin on blood parameters of rabbits.

Avaliou-se a a??o terap?utica da quercetina, bixina e norbixina, na dose di?ria de 0,01mol/kg, em coelhos hiperlipid?micos induzidos por colesterol a 0,5% e ?cido c?lico a 0,1%, durante o per?odo de vinte e oito dias, ap?s o qual foram dosados colesterol, colesterol-HDL, triacilglicer?is, ur?ia, creatinina, ?cido ?rico, prote?nas totais, c?lcio, aspartato aminotransferase e alanina aminotransferase. Estes estudos s?o importante para se verificarem os efeitos de flavon?ides e corantes sobre o metabolismo destas subst?ncias, permitindo a interpreta??o de desordens hep?ticas ou renais. Os resultados mostraram que os teores de colesterol foram menores para os animais tratados com bixina (-4,03%) e quercetina (-35,07%), enquanto sua associa??o reduziu o n?vel de ur?ia em 5,73%. Nenhuma das subst?ncias testadas apresentou efeitos delet?rios, todavia, n?o ? poss?vel demonstrar a inocuidade destes compostos.The objective of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic action of quercetin, bixin and norbixin, in the daily dose of 0,01mol/kg, in hyperlipidemic rabbits induced by cholesterol at 0.5% and colic acid at 0.1%, during the period of twenty-eight days, after which they were anesthetized and samples of blood were collected, in order to determine cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triacylglycerols, urea, creatinine, uric acid, total proteins, calcium, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase. These researchs are important to verify the effects of flavonoids and natural dyes on the metabolism of these constituents, in order to study hepatic or renal disorders. The results showed that cholesterol was reduced by bixin (-44.03%) and by quercetin (-35.07%), while the association reduced urea in 5.73%. None of the constituents analyzed in this study presented deleterious effects and it was not possible to demonstrate the innocuity of these compounds

Exact Solution of an Evolutionary Model without Ageing

We introduce an age-structured asexual population model containing all the relevant features of evolutionary ageing theories. Beneficial as well as deleterious mutations, heredity and arbitrary fecundity are present and managed by natural selection. An exact solution without ageing is found. We show that fertility is associated with generalized forms of the Fibonacci sequence, while mutations and natural selection are merged into an integral equation which is solved by Fourier series. Average survival probabilities and Malthusian growth exponents are calculated indicating that the system may exhibit mutational meltdown. The relevance of the model in the context of fissile reproduction groups as many protozoa and coelenterates is discussed.Comment: LaTeX file, 15 pages, 2 ps figures, to appear in Phys. Rev.

Breeding specialty soybean cultivars for processing and value-added utilization at Embrapa in Brazil.

Through traditional genetic breeding, specialty characters are introduced into soybean, to make it more suitable for differents uses. To attend this special market, Embrapa Soybean released for commercial cultivation the cultivars BRS 213, BRS 257, BRS 216, BRS 267 and BRSMG 790A for production in organic or in conventional systems. The cultivars BRS 213 and BRS 257 are null lipoxygenases enzymes, and can prevent the development of the beany flavor observed in soybean products. These cultivars make available excellent raw materials for soyfood processing. The cultivar BRS 216 has high protein content and small seed size (10g/100 seeds), what makes it suitable for ?natto? (Japanese fermented food), and for production of soybean sprouts, as ?moyashi?. The cultivar BRS 258, is a conventional cultivar, highly productive that has mild flavor and seeds with yellow hilum. Cultivars BRS 267 and BRSMG 790A presents large seed size (>25g/100seeds), and superior flavor. These cultivars are suitable for ?tofu?, flours and soymilk. BRS 267 and BRSMG 790A can also be consumed as green vegetable soybean (edamame), when harvested at R6 stage (developed grains, but immature). Among Brazilian soybean cultivars there are differences for isoflavone content, and to increase concentration of isoflavones it is suggested sowing them in locations where average temperatures are cooler during the seed filling period

A reduction in CD90 (THY-1) expression results in increased differentiation of mesenchymal stromal cells

Background: Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are multipotent progenitor cells used in several cell therapies. MSCs are characterized by the expression of CD73, CD90, and CD105 cell markers, and the absence of CD34, CD45, CD11a, CD19, and HLA-DR cell markers. CD90 is a glycoprotein present in the MSC membranes and also in adult cells and cancer stem cells. The role of CD90 in MSCs remains unknown. Here, we sought to analyse the role that CD90 plays in the characteristic properties of in vitro expanded human MSCs. Methods: We investigated the function of CD90 with regard to morphology, proliferation rate, suppression of T-cell proliferation, and osteogenic/adipogenic differentiation of MSCs by reducing the expression of this marker using CD90-target small hairpin RNA lentiviral vectors. Results: The present study shows that a reduction in CD90 expression enhances the osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation of MSCs in vitro and, unexpectedly, causes a decrease in CD44 and CD166 expression. Conclusion: Our study suggests that CD90 controls the differentiation of MSCs by acting as an obstacle in the pathway of differentiation commitment. This may be overcome in the presence of the correct differentiation stimuli, supporting the idea that CD90 level manipulation may lead to more efficient differentiation rates in vitro

Biological properties of natural dyes

El propósito del presente trabajo es evaluar el aumento en el uso de colorantes naturales en la industria alimentariay la posibilidad de desarrollar nuevos medicamentos gracias a sus diversas propiedades biológicas. La presenterevisión aborda las principales actividades biológicas observadas en los carotenoides y las antocianinas y poneénfasis en el amplio uso del extracto de achiote o bija (Bixa orellana L.) y de la curcumina (Curcuma longa) en estasactividadesThe aim of the present work is to evaluate the increase uses of natural colorants in the nourishing industry and in thepromising of new medicines due its several biological properties. In this review the main biological activities observedin the carotenóids and the anthocyianins are boarded, with emphasis in the wide use of the urucum‘s extract from Bixaorellana L.) and of curcumin from Curcuma longa in these activities

Biological properties of natural dyes

El propósito del presente trabajo es evaluar el aumento en el uso de colorantes naturales en la industria alimentaria y la posibilidad de desarrollar nuevos medicamentos gracias a sus diversas propiedades biológicas. La presente revisión aborda las principales actividades biológicas observadas en los carotenoides y las antocianinas y pone énfasis en el amplio uso del extracto de achiote o bija (Bixa orellana L.) y de la curcumina (Curcuma longa) en estas actividades.The aim of the present work is to evaluate the increase uses of natural colorants in the nourishing industry and in the promising of new medicines due its several biological properties. In this review the main biological activities observed in the carotenóids and the anthocyianins are boarded, with emphasis in the wide use of the urucum‘s extract from Bixa orellana L.) and of curcumin from Curcuma longa in these activities

Rapid tree carbon stock recovery in managed Amazonian forests.

While around 20% of the Amazonian forest has been cleared for pastures and agriculture, one fourth of the remaining forest is dedicated to wood production [1] . Most of these production forests have been or will be selectively harvested for commercial timber, but recent studies show that even soon after logging, harvested stands retain much of their tree-biomass carbon and biodiversity [2,3] . Comparing species richness of various animal taxa among logged and unlogged forests across the tropics, Burivalova et al.[4] found that despite some variability among taxa, biodiversity loss was generally explained by logging intensity (the number of trees extracted). Here, we use a network of 79 permanent sample plots (376 ha total) located at 10 sites across the Amazon Basin [5] to assess the main drivers of time-to-recovery of post-logging tree carbon ( Table S1 ). Recovery time is of direct relevance to policies governing management practices (i.e., allowable volumes cut and cutting cycle lengths), and indirectly to forest-based climate change mitigation interventions

Toxicological evaluation of ethanolic extract of Lychnophora trichocarpha, Brazilian arnica.

The species of the genus Lychnophora, Asteraceae, are popularly known as "arnica" and are native from Brazilian savana (Cerrado). They are widely used in Brazilian folk medicine as anti-inflammatory, to treat bruise, pain, rheumatism and for insect bites. For evaluation of acute toxicity, the ethanolic extract was given to albino female and male mice. In open-field test, the extract of Lychnophora trichocarpha (Spreng.) Spreng. (0.750 g/kg) induced a significant inhibition of the spontaneous locomotor activity and exploratory behavior of the animals were observed 1 and 4 h after administration. In traction test, the same dose reduced the muscular force 1 h after administration. The exploratory behavior reduced significantly in the group that received 0.50 g/kg, 1 and 4 h after administration of the extract. The animals that received the doses of 0.25, 0.50 and 0.75 g/kg did not show any change of blood biochemical parameters comparing to control group and showed some histopathological changes such as congestion and inflammation of kidney and liver. The dose of 1.5 g/kg caused the most serious signs of toxicity. Histopathological changes observed was hemorrhage in 62.5% and pulmonary congestion in 100% of the animals. Brain and liver congestion was found in 62.5% of the animals

A oposição aos pavilhões do parque Ibirapuera (1950-1954)

Este artigo trata das disputas em torno da realização do parque Ibirapuera, na primeira metade da década de 1950, quando a Prefeitura Municipal de São Paulo, com o apoio do Governo do Estado, decidiu implementá-lo, com o propósito de nele sediar as comemorações do seu 400º aniversário de fundação. O Ibirapuera é considerado o primeiro parque metropolitano de São Paulo. Foi construído em 1954, momento em que a cidade arvorava a condição de "metrópole moderna". Com 1.584.000 m² de área total, localizado junto a bairros nobres, o parque foi equipado com um conjunto de edifícios desenhados por Oscar Niemeyer, destinados a abrigar exposições comemorativas. Sua construção ensejou uma série de manifestações de oposição, consolidadas em torno de um grupo que teve franca representação em diversos meios institucionais e de comunicação. Posteriormente, no entanto, essa oposição foi totalmente silenciada tanto pelos agentes sociais envolvidos no processo quanto pela bibliografia sobre o assunto. Procura-se, aqui, levantar as questões em torno de tal oposição, com vistas a estabelecer um contraponto ao caráter comemorativo da própria fundação da cidade, permitindo a superação do olhar celebratório e de elogio do progresso paulistano. Essa investigação delineia um campo de conflitos e disputas, indicando que, naquele momento, não havia continuidade entre a celebração do aniversário da cidade e a modernidade dos pavilhões do Ibirapuera, mas sim uma série de embates políticos de relevância para o urbanismo em São Paulo, que merecem ser recuperados.This article discusses the disagreements around the construction of Ibirapuera Park in the first half of the 1950s, when the municipal government of São Paulo decided, with support from the state government, to implement the project for the purpose of staging the celebrations of the city's 400th anniversary on its premises. Ibirapuera is regarded as the first metropolitan park in São Paulo. It was built in 1954 as the city laid claim to the title of "modern metropolis". Sprawling across an area of 1,584,000m² in the vicinity of wealthy neighborhoods, the park boasts a complex of buildings designed by Oscar Niemeyer for commemorative exhibitions. Its construction gave rise to a number of protests gathered around a group with direct representation in several institutions and mass media. Subsequently, however, the opposition was completely silenced not only by the social agents involved in the process but also by the literature published on the subject. In this paper, we try to raise a few questions about the said opposition in an effort to set a counterpoint to the commemorative nature of the events associated with the city's foundation, and thereby look beyond the celebration and acclamation of its progress. Our investigation brings to light an arena of conflicts and disputes, suggesting that there was no direct connection between the celebration of the city's anniversary and the modern design of the pavilions in Ibirapuera Park at the time, but rather a series of political clashes of great import for urban planning in São Paulo that are worth revisiting