A identidade "quebradeira de coco" como símbolo de pertencimento na territorialização dos babaçuais.

Gênero e território se entrelaçam no debate sobre relações sociais de poder, sendo conceitos fundamentais para a compreensão da realidade do campesinato brasileiro. O artigo reflete sobre os processos de territorialização das organizações das mulheres quebradeiras de coco a partir de suas práticas e acordos para acesso, uso e gestão do babaçu, no território do Médio Mearim, Maranhão. Evidencia a conexão entre estudos de gênero e campesinato a partir da realidade do trabalho das quebradeiras de coco babaçu, assim como discute desdobramentos na aplicação da Lei do Babaçu Livre na territorialidade da mulher quebradeira de coco e sua luta pela valorização da coleta e quebra do babaçu. O estudo concluiu que as práticas e acordos de acesso e uso no contexto relacionado ao manejo do babaçu resultam na construção do território em que a territorialidade é marcada pelas relações de poder. Além disso, o estudo concluiu que a trajetória das quebradeiras de coco babaçu indica que reterritorializar campos desiguais a partir da perspectiva de gênero é o passo mais importante para construir políticas públicas mais efetivas, pois a desigualdade social no campo somente será superada se houver também combate à desigualdade de gênero

Mobilidade de camponeses entre assentamentos de reforma agrária: territorialidades em cheque no desenvolvimento local da Transamazônica, Pará, Brasil.

O artigo trata do papel da mobilidade espacial de famílias camponesas entre assentamentos da chamada reforma agrária no desenvolvimento local da região Transamazônica, Estado do Pará. A análise das práticas e narrativas de sujeitos locais no contexto de políticas públicas fundiárias e ambientais evidencia que essa execução vigente não se coaduna com os processos de territorialização concebidos pelos chamados beneficiários de reforma agrária

Dysmetabolic adipose tissue in obesity: morphological and functional characteristics of adipose stem cells and mature adipocytes in healthy and unhealthy obese subjects

The way by which subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) expands and undergoes remodeling by storing excess lipids through expansion of adipocytes (hypertrophy) or recruitment of new precursor cells (hyperplasia) impacts the risk of developing cardiometabolic and respiratory diseases. In unhealthy obese subjects, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnoea are typically associated with pathologic SAT remodeling characterized by adipocyte hypertrophy, as well as chronic inflammation, hypoxia, increased visceral adipose tissue (VAT), and fatty liver. In contrast, metabolically healthy obese individuals are generally associated with SAT development characterized by the presence of smaller and numerous mature adipocytes, and a lower degree of VAT inflammation and ectopic fat accumulation. The remodeling of SAT and VAT is under genetic regulation and influenced by inherent depot-specific differences of adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ASCs). ASCs have multiple functions such as cell renewal, adipogenic capacity, and angiogenic properties, and secrete a variety of bioactive molecules involved in vascular and extracellular matrix remodeling. Understanding the mechanisms regulating the proliferative and adipogenic capacity of ASCs from SAT and VAT in response to excess calorie intake has become a focus of interest over recent decades. Here, we summarize current knowledge about the biological mechanisms able to foster or impair the recruitment and adipogenic differentiation of ASCs during SAT and VAT development, which regulate body fat distribution and favorable or unfavorable metabolic responses

Curcumin as prospective anti-aging natural compound: Focus on brain

The nutrients and their potential benefits are a new field of study in modern medicine for their positive impact on health. Curcumin, the yellow polyphenolic compound extracted from Curcuma longa species, is widely used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine to prevent and contrast many diseases, considering its antioxidant, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, cardio-protective, nephron-protective, hepato-protective, anti-neoplastic, and anti-rheumatic proprieties. In recent years, the investigations of curcumin have been focused on its application to aging and age-associated diseases. Aging is a physiological process in which there is a decreasing of cellular function due to internal or external stimuli. Oxidative stress is one of the most important causes of aging and age-related diseases. Moreover, many age-related disorders such as cancer, neuroinflammation, and infections are due to a low-grade chronic systemic inflammation. Curcumin acting on different proteins is able to contrast both oxidative stress than inflammation. In the brain, curcumin is able to modulate inflammation induced by microglia. Finally in brain tumors curcumin is able to reduce tumor growth by inhibition of telomerase activity. This review emphasizes the anti-aging role of curcumin focusing on its mechanism to counteract aging in the brain. Moreover, new formulations to increase the bioavailability of curcumin are discussed

Dental Disorders and Salivary Changes in Patients with Laryngopharyngeal Reflux

Background: Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) is a common inflammatory condition of the upper aerodigestive tract tissues related to the effects of gastroduodenal content reflux, characterized by a wide variety of clinical manifestations. The aim of our study was to evaluate the possible association between dental disorders and LRP, focusing on the role of salivary changes. Methods: Patient’s dental status was evaluated according to Schiff Index Sensitivity Scale (SISS), Basic Erosive Wear Examination (BEWE) and Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) scores. Reflux-associated symptoms were assessed according to Reflux symptom index (RSI). A qualitative and quantitative examination of saliva was performed. Results: Patients suffering from LPR had a higher incidence of dental disorders, regardless the presence of salivary pepsin, and thus, statistically significant higher scores of RSI (p = 0.0001), SISS (p = 0.001), BEWE (p < 0.001) and VAS (p < 0.001). Moreover, they had lower salivary flow compared with healthy patients. Conclusions: The finding of demineralization and dental caries on intraoral evaluation must raise the suspicion of LRP. Reflux treatments should also be aimed at correcting salivary alterations, in order to preserve the buffering capacity and salivary pH, thus preventing mucosal and dental damage

As catadoras de mangaba no Programa de Aquisição de Alimentos - PAA: um estudo de caso em Sergipe.

O artigo trata da experiência de um grupo de mulheres extrativistas na comercialização de frutas silvestres, no âmbito do Programa de Aquisição de Alimentos (PAA), no estado de Sergipe. O quadro de análise insere-se no debate sobre pobreza e políticas públicas para grupos específicos no espaço rural. O foco aqui são as autodenominadas "catadoras de mangaba", que assumiram uma identidade coletiva baseada no uso comum de recursos com baixo impacto ambiental e pertencem ao Movimento das Catadoras de Mangaba (MCM). Embora tenham sido recentemente reconhecidas como sujeitos de direitos específicos, vivenciam a diminuição dos recursos, sobre os quais praticam o extrativismo, e as dificuldades de comercialização resultantes da insegurança relativa ao acesso aos frutos e à sazonalidade. A pesquisa foi realizada entre 2008 e 2011 por meio de observação direta e entrevistas abertas e semiestruturadas. Os principais resultados mostram que o PAA tem influenciado no aumento da renda, do consumo e da autoestima. Houve reordenamento da rotina diária das catadoras de mangaba que, para participar do programa, relegaram atividades tradicionais a segundo plano. As regras do programa foram ressignificadas e adaptadas localmente. Constata-se o aumento da solidariedade entre as catadoras participantes, paralelamente à intensificação da concorrência pelos frutos

Serum protein profiling of early and advanced stage Crohn's disease

AbstractCrohn's disease (CD) represents a highly debilitating disease of difficult diagnosis and increasing incidence. Serum protein profiling of early stage Crohn's disease (ES) CD was investigated in order to improve the comprehension of the very early pathologic mechanisms and to support the difficult diagnostic procedures currently available. Inflammatory proteins and complement 3 chain C (C3c) were over-represented during ES CD, clusterin, retinol binding protein, α1-microglobulin and transthyretin were under-represented. A C3c isoform was found to be present only during ES CD. By now, lack of specific antibodies to detect isoforms made it impossible to perform alternative validation

Patho- physiological role of BDNF in fibrin clotting

Circulating levels of Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) are lower in coronary heart disease (CHD) than in healthy subjects and are associated with coronary events and mortality. However, the mechanism(s) underling this association is not fully understood. We hypothesize that BDNF may influence fibrin fiber structure and clot stability, favoring clot lysis and thrombus resolution. We showed that recombinant BDNF (rh-BDNF) influenced with clot formation in a concentration-dependent manner in both purified fibrinogen and plasma from healthy subjects. In particular, rh-BDNF reduced the density of fibrin fibers, the maximum clot firmness (MCF) and the maximum clot turbidity, and affected the lysis of clot. In addition, both thrombin and reptilase clotting time were prolonged by rh-BDNF, despite the amount of thrombin formed was greater. Intriguingly, CHD patients had lower levels of BDNF, greater fibrin fibers density, higher MCF than control subjects, and a negative correlation between BDNF and MCF was found. Of note, rh-BDNF markedly modified fibrin clot profile restoring physiological clot morphology in CHD plasma. In conclusion, we provide evidence that low levels of BDNF correlate with the formation of bigger thrombi (in vitro) and that this effect is mediated, at least partially, by the alteration of fibrin fibers formation