Antioxidant activity of aminodiarylamines in the thieno[3,2-b]pyridine series: radical scavenging activity, lipid peroxidation inhibition and redox profile

The antioxidant activity of the aminodi(hetero)arylamines, prepared by C-N coupling of the methyl 3-aminothieno[3,2-b]pyridine-2-carboxylate with bromonitrobenzenes and further reduction of the obtained nitro compounds, was evaluated by chemical, biochemical and electrochemical assays. The aminodi(hetero)arylamine with the amino group ortho to the NH and a methoxy group in para, was the most efficient in radical scavenging activity (RSA, 63 µM) and reducing power (RP, 33 µM), while the aminodiarylamine with the amino group in para to the NH, gave the best results in β-carotene-linoleate system (41 µM) and inhibition of formation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in porcine brain cells homogenates (7 µM), with EC50 values even lower than those obtained for the standard trolox. This diarylamine also presented the lowest oxidation potential, lower than the one of trolox, and the highest antioxidant power in the electrochemical assays. The para substitution with an amino group enables higher antioxidant potential.The authors are grateful to FCT and FEDER (European Fund for Regional Development)-COMPETE/QREN/EU for financial support through the research unities PEst-C/QUI/UI686/2011 and PEst-OE/AGR/UI0690/2011, the research project PTDC/QUI-QUI/111060/2009 and the post-Doctoral grant attributed to R.C.C. (SFRH/BPD/68344/2010)

Genome Characteristics of a Novel Phage from Bacillus thuringiensis Showing High Similarity with Phage from Bacillus cereus

Bacillus thuringiensis is an important entomopathogenic bacterium belongs to the Bacillus cereus group, which also includes B. anthracis and B. cereus. Several genomes of phages originating from this group had been sequenced, but no genome of Siphoviridae phage from B. thuringiensis has been reported. We recently sequenced and analyzed the genome of a novel phage, BtCS33, from a B. thuringiensis strain, subsp. kurstaki CS33, and compared the gneome of this phage to other phages of the B. cereus group. BtCS33 was the first Siphoviridae phage among the sequenced B. thuringiensis phages. It produced small, turbid plaques on bacterial plates and had a narrow host range. BtCS33 possessed a linear, double-stranded DNA genome of 41,992 bp with 57 putative open reading frames (ORFs). It had a typical genome structure consisting of three modules: the “late” region, the “lysogeny-lysis” region and the “early” region. BtCS33 exhibited high similarity with several phages, B. cereus phage Wβ and some variants of Wβ, in genome organization and the amino acid sequences of structural proteins. There were two ORFs, ORF22 and ORF35, in the genome of BtCS33 that were also found in the genomes of B. cereus phage Wβ and may be involved in regulating sporulation of the host cell. Based on these observations and analysis of phylogenetic trees, we deduced that B. thuringiensis phage BtCS33 and B. cereus phage Wβ may have a common distant ancestor

Orientação sobre o uso de vitamina A na saúde escolar: comparação de técnicas pedagógicas Orientation on the use of vitamin A in school health: comparision of pedagogical techniques

O trabalho tem por objetivo comparar a eficácia de técnicas de ensino em motivar a criança em assimilar a importância dos alimentos ricos em vitamina A, e as conseqüências da falta desses nutrientes para o organismo. Foi elaborado material didático com 2 técnicas pedagógicas: uma baseada em um texto de conotação literária e outra, em teatro de fantoches. O estudo foi desenvolvido com alunos da 3ª série do ciclo básico da Escola Municipal Orlando Paulino da Costa, na zona rural de Alfenas, através da aplicação de questionários. Os resultados demonstraram que as técnicas pedagógicas empregadas promoveram aprendizagem de conceitos em relação à vitamina A e incentivo para o consumo de alimentos ricos nesses nutrientes. Não se verificaram diferenças significativas entre as técnicas pedagógicas (Teste de Comparação das Proporções, com p<0,05), uma vez que ambas utilizam os mesmos princípios metodológicos. Concluímos que a aplicação de métodos lúdicos é um incentivador para a reeducação alimentar. Propõe-se, então, o uso desses recursos nas escolas para a aprendizagem de conteúdos de saúde e alimentação.<br>Compare the efficiency teaching techniques with respect to their ability to motivate children in the assimilation of the importance of foods rich in vitamin A and the consequences of the absence of these nutrients for the organism. A didactic material comprising two pedagogical techniques was drawn up: one was based on a text with literary connotation and the other with theater marionettes. The study was developed by third grade students in an elementary school - Escola Municipal Orlando Paulino da Costa (local governement school) - located in the rural area of Alfenas, Minas Gerais, by applying questionnaires. Results demonstrated that the pedagogical techniques used provided learning of concepts related to vitamin A and that they incentivated the consumption of food products containing this vitamin. No significant differences were detected between the pedagogical techniques (Proportion Comparison Test, with p< 0.05), since they both make the use of the same methodological principles. We conclude that the application of playing methods was a stimulus to nourishing education. Thus, we propose to use these resources in schools so that children can learn health and nourishment issues

A gestão do SUS e as práticas de monitoramento e avaliação: possibilidades e desafios para a construção de uma agenda estratégica SUS management and monitoring and evaluation practices: possibilities and challenges for building a strategic agenda

O presente artigo trata dos desafios de se institucionalizar as práticas de Monitoramento e Avaliação no âmbito da Gestão do Sistema Único de Saúde, tendo como base a construção de uma agenda estratégica, organizada a partir das ações do Gestor Federal, na perspectiva de qualificar o espaço da relação federativa. Para tanto é apresentada uma revisão sumária da literatura, contextualizando o atual processo da gestão do SUS, que tem como base o Pacto pela Saúde, como também aspectos teóricos e operacionais inerentes às práticas do monitoramento e avaliação. A abordagem relacionada à agenda estratégica destaca a criação de mecanismos que articulam a decisão político-institucional, a criação de incentivos financeiros, o desenvolvimento de mecanismos técnicos; estratégias organizacionais de qualificação das equipes gestores; a realização de estudos e pesquisa e a divulgação de informações estratégicas, processos estes pautados pela concepção de atender as especificidades da gestão nas suas diferentes esferas e tendo como base um amplo processo de cooperação envolvendo, além dos gestores, as instituições de ensino e pesquisa e as organizações internacionais.<br>This paper deals with the challenges involved in institutionalizing Monitoring and Evaluation practices within the scope of management of the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS), based on the creation of a strategic agenda. This is structured around actions by the Federal Administration, from the perspective of defining the scope of the federative relationship. A summarized literature review is thus presented, placing into context the current SUS management process, which is based on the Pact for Health as well as theoretical and operational aspects inherent to monitoring and evaluation practices. The approach related to the strategic agenda highlights the creation of mechanisms that underpin the political and institutional decision, namely the creation of financial incentives and the development of technical mechanisms. These include organizational strategies for qualifying management teams and conducting studies and research and the dissemination of strategic information. These processes are based on the concept of providing for the management specificities in the different spheres of management based on a broad cooperation process involving teaching and research institutions and international organizations as well as the managers themselves

Current status and perspectives of cell therapy in Chagas disease

One century after its discovery, Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan, Trypanosoma cruzi, remains a major health problem in Latin America. Mortality and morbidity are mainly due to chronic processes that lead to dysfunction of the cardiac and digestive systems. About one third of the chronic chagasic individuals have or will develop the symptomatic forms of the disease, with cardiomyopathy being the most common chronic form. This is a progressively debilitating disease for which there are no currently available effective treatments other than heart transplantation. Like in other cardiac diseases, tissue engineering and cell therapy have been investigated in the past few years as a means of recovering the heart function lost as a consequence of chronic damage caused by the immune-mediated pathogenic mechanisms elicited in individuals with chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy. Here we review the studies of cell therapy in animal models and patients with chronic Chagas disease and the perspectives of the recovery of the heart function lost due to infection with T. cruzi