In vitro evaluation of alkaline lignins as antiparasitic agents and their use as an excipient in the release of benznidazole

Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.The Amazon rainforest is considered the largest tropical timber reserve in the world. The management of native forests in the Amazon is one of the most sensitive geopolitical issues today, given its national and international dimension. In this work, we obtained and characterized physicochemical lignins extracted from branches and leaves of Protium puncticulatum and Scleronema micranthum. In addition, we evaluated in vitro its potential as an antioxidant, cytotoxic agent against animal cells and antiparasitic against promastigotes of Leishmania amazonensis, trypomastigotes of T. cruzi and against Plasmodium falciparum parasites sensitive and resistant to chloroquine. The results showed that the lignins obtained are of the GSH type and have higher levels of guaiacyl units. However, they show structural differences as shown by spectroscopic analysis and radar charts. As for biological activities, they showed antioxidant potential and low cytotoxicity against animal cells. Antileishmanial/trypanocidal assays have shown that lignins can inhibit the growth of promastigotes and trypomastigotes in vitro. The lignins in this study showed low anti-Plasmodium falciparum activity against susceptible strains of Plasmodium falciparum and were able to inhibit the growth of the chloroquine-resistant strain. And were not able to inhibit the growth of Schistosoma mansoni parasites. Finally, lignins proved to be promising excipients in the release of benznidazole. These findings show the potential of these lignins not yet studied to promote different biological activities.publishersversionpublishe

Laboratório de materiais compósitos: apresentação de um método artesanal na fabricação de compósitos com fibras naturais como recurso didático em aulas práticas / Composite materials laboratory: presentation of an artisanal method in the manufacture of composites reinforced by natural fibers as resources in didatic classes

Este trabalho tem como objetivo propor metodologia de fabricação de material compósito em molde aberto de silicone, a qual foi desenvolvida por alunos de graduação da Faculdade de Engenharia Mecânica da Universidade Federal do Pará, de modo a não só a facilitar o aprendizado de disciplinas da grade curricular, mas também incentivar as práticas em laboratório e o contato dos alunos com a tecnologia de materiais compósitos e em específico com a possibilidade de desenvolver material a partir de fontes renováveis

Uma abordagem acerca da Influenza A-H1N1 e a pandemia de Covid-19 no contexto brasileiro: uma revisão integrativa / An approach to Influenza A-H1N1 in the Brazilian context: an integrative review

O presente estudo tem como objetivo relatar os aspectos da influenza A-H1N1, dentre eles a caracterização viral, diagnóstico e prevenção. Ademais, objetivou-se na abordagem o papel dos suínos na transmissão interespécie e a epidemiologia da doença no Brasil, bem como as semelhanças da doença com a COVID-19, que apresentam um desafio para a saúde pública do país. Trata-se de uma revisão integrativa da literatura realizada através da Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde (BVS), com o auxílio das bases de dados Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências (LILACS), Scientific Library Eletronic Library Online (SciELO) e Base de Dados de Enfermagem (BDENF), sendo utilizados os descritores: Brasil; COVID-19; Epidemiologia; Patologia e Vírus da influenza A subtipo H1N1, localizados no DeCS. Tais descritores foram cruzados utilizando o operador booleano AND. Foram identificados inicialmente 736 estudos nas bases elencas e, após aplicação dos critérios de inclusão e exclusão, apenas 06 estudos foram selecionados para composição e análise do estudo. Os estudos apontam a sintomatologia ocasionada pelos vírus da Influenza A-H1N1 e COVID-19é semelhante, assim como a forma de transmissão e o agravamento ocasionado pela presença eventual de doenças prévias. A diferenciação se encontra no período de incubação, sendo de 3 a 7 dias no caso da influenza e de 2 a 14 dias na COVID-19. Conclui-se que no contexto pandêmico atual envolvendo o vírus SARS-CoV-2 exige um maior monitoramento, uma vez que as enfermidades possuem semelhanças que podem levar a confusão e dificultar o atendimento

PROJETO RONDON NACIONAL – UMA LIÇÃO DE VIDA E CIDADANIA

PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDADE CATÓLICA DO RIO GRANDE DO SU

Núcleos de Ensino da Unesp: artigos 2013: volume 2: metodologias de ensino e a apropriação de conhecimento pelos alunos

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Núcleos de Ensino da Unesp: artigos 2013: volume 2: metodologias de ensino e a apropriação de conhecimento pelos alunos

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

NEOTROPICAL ALIEN MAMMALS: a data set of occurrence and abundance of alien mammals in the Neotropics

Biological invasion is one of the main threats to native biodiversity. For a species to become invasive, it must be voluntarily or involuntarily introduced by humans into a nonnative habitat. Mammals were among first taxa to be introduced worldwide for game, meat, and labor, yet the number of species introduced in the Neotropics remains unknown. In this data set, we make available occurrence and abundance data on mammal species that (1) transposed a geographical barrier and (2) were voluntarily or involuntarily introduced by humans into the Neotropics. Our data set is composed of 73,738 historical and current georeferenced records on alien mammal species of which around 96% correspond to occurrence data on 77 species belonging to eight orders and 26 families. Data cover 26 continental countries in the Neotropics, ranging from Mexico and its frontier regions (southern Florida and coastal-central Florida in the southeast United States) to Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay, and the 13 countries of Caribbean islands. Our data set also includes neotropical species (e.g., Callithrix sp., Myocastor coypus, Nasua nasua) considered alien in particular areas of Neotropics. The most numerous species in terms of records are from Bos sp. (n = 37,782), Sus scrofa (n = 6,730), and Canis familiaris (n = 10,084); 17 species were represented by only one record (e.g., Syncerus caffer, Cervus timorensis, Cervus unicolor, Canis latrans). Primates have the highest number of species in the data set (n = 20 species), partly because of uncertainties regarding taxonomic identification of the genera Callithrix, which includes the species Callithrix aurita, Callithrix flaviceps, Callithrix geoffroyi, Callithrix jacchus, Callithrix kuhlii, Callithrix penicillata, and their hybrids. This unique data set will be a valuable source of information on invasion risk assessments, biodiversity redistribution and conservation-related research. There are no copyright restrictions. Please cite this data paper when using the data in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us on how they are using the data

NEOTROPICAL XENARTHRANS: a data set of occurrence of xenarthran species in the Neotropics

Xenarthrans—anteaters, sloths, and armadillos—have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, 10 anteaters, and 6 sloths. Our data set includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae (3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data on Dasypus pilosus (Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized, but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In this data paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence and quantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is from the southern United States, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to the austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n = 5,941), and Cyclopes sp. have the fewest (n = 240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n = 11,588), and the fewest data are recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n = 33). With regard to sloth species, Bradypus variegatus has the most records (n = 962), and Bradypus pygmaeus has the fewest (n = 12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to make occurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly if we integrate the xenarthran data with other data sets of Neotropical Series that will become available very soon (i.e., Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, and Neotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure, habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possible with the Neotropical Xenarthrans data set. Please cite this data paper when using its data in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us of how they are using these data