Oxidative Stress in Neurodegenerative Diseases: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Perspectives

The incidence and prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases (ND) increase with life expectancy. This paper reviews the role of oxidative stress (OS) in ND and pharmacological attempts to fight against reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced neurodegeneration. Several mechanisms involved in ROS generation in neurodegeneration have been proposed. Recent articles about molecular pathways involved in ROS generation were reviewed. The progress in the development of neuroprotective therapies has been hampered because it is difficult to define targets for treatment and determine what should be considered as neuroprotective. Therefore, the attention was focused on researches about pharmacological targets that could protect neurons against OS. Since it is necessary to look for genes as the ultimate controllers of all biological processes, this paper also tried to identify gerontogenes involved in OS and neurodegeneration. Since neurons depend on glial cells to survive, recent articles about the functioning of these cells in aging and ND were also reviewed. Finally, clinical trials testing potential neuroprotective agents were critically reviewed. Although several potential drugs have been screened in in vitro and in vivo models of ND, these results were not translated in benefit of patients, and disappointing results were obtained in the majority of clinical trials

Uso de árvores nativas em pastagens agroecológicas

O conhecimento tradicional tem sido a base da parceria entre o Centro de Tecnologias Alternativas, as organizações dos agricultores familiares da Zona da Mata de Minas Gerais e as Universidades Federais de Viçosa e, mais recentemente, de Lavras. O objetivo desse trabalho foi identificar o conhecimento tradicional sobre os usos comuns de árvores nativas em pastagens de famílias agricultoras dos municípios de Divino e Araponga, aplicando metodologias participativas (observação participante e entrevista semi-estruturada). O principal uso da terra na região é com café e pastagens. Foi observado pelas famílias que os animais comem ramos de Solanum mauritianum, Senna macranthera, Aegiphila sellowiana e Inga edulis. De acordo com as famílias, a maioria das árvores já estava na pastagem antes do capim. É necessário aprofundamento que dialogue com o aprendizado de famílias agricultoras.Traditional knowledge has been the main base of the partnership among the Center of Alternative Technologies, the organizations of family farmers of Zona da Mata of Minas Gerais and the Federal Universities of Viçosa and, more recently, of Lavras. The objective was to identify the traditional knowledge about the common uses of native trees in the pastures of the properties of family farmers in the municipalities of Divino and Araponga, applying qualitative methodologies (participant observation and semi-structured interviews). The land use in the region is mainly coffee and pastures. Was observed by the families that the animals feed themselves with branches of Solanum mauritianum, Senna macranthera, Aegiphila sellowiana and Inga edulis. According to the families the majority of the trees was already in the field before the grass. It is necessary to deep the dialogue to keep leaning and exchange knowledge with smallholders families.Eje A1 Sistemas de producción de base agroecológica (Trabajos científicos)Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestale

Educomunicação, Transformação Social e Desenvolvimento Sustentável

Esta publicação apresenta os principais trabalhos dos GTs do II Congresso Internacional de Comunicação e Educação nos temas Transformação social, com os artigos que abordam principalmente Educomunicação e/ou Mídia-Educação, no contexto de políticas de diversidade, inclusão e equidade; e, em Desenvolvimento Sustentável os artigos que abordam os avanços da relação comunicação/educação no contexto da educação ambiental e desenvolvimento sustentável

Structural, theoretical and biological activity of mono and binuclear nickel(II) complexes with symmetrical and asymmetrical 4,6-diacetylresorcinol-dithiocarbazate ligands

The present work reports the synthesis and a structural study of two novel dithiocarbazate, the 4,6-diacetylresorcinol-S-benzyldithiocarbazate (H3L1) and the 4,6-diacetylresorcinol-bis(S-benzyldithiocarbazate) (H4L2), and their Ni(II) complexes, [Ni(HL1)(Py)] (1) and [Ni2(L2)(PPh3)2] (2). Single crystal X-ray analyzes reveal mono and binuclear complexes and the metal centers with distorted square planar geometry. The analyses of the Hirshfeld surface and fingerprints plots revealed intermolecular contacts attributed to the H···H and C···H/H···C bonds. The Density Functional Theory (DFT), with the B3LYP functional and 6–311-G(d,p)/LanL2DZ basis sets, was employed to optimize the geometries of synthesized compounds. From the resulting geometries, the highest occupied and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital maps (HOMO-LUMO), orbital energy gap, electron localization function (ELF), electron density, natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis, and complexation of the ligands with Ni(II) were calculated supporting the experimental data. The ESI (+)-MS/MS data indicated the presence in solution of the characteristic fragmentation with the [H3L1]+ and [H4L2]+ molecular ions for the ligands. The pharmacological potential of the dithiocarbazate ligands and their Ni(II) complexes were evaluated in vitro against MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells. A remarkable cytotoxic activity was observed, more evident for free ligands than complexes at low concentrations; however, this latter showed a better dose–response pattern, being more attractive in terms of pharmacokinetics and therapeutic window

Phosphorus transfer at a small catchment in southeastern Brazil: distributed modelling in different land use scenarios

Identifying and ranking nutrient loss risk areas are important steps towards integrated catchment management. This study aimed to apply the P index model at the Posses catchment, south of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. We applied the P index for the current land use at the Posses catchment and for two hypothetical scenarios: scenario 1, in which P fertilizer was applied to all land uses, except for native forests; and scenario 2, which considered the use of P fertilizer as in scenario 1, and that the Environmental Protection Areas referring to the riparian forests and springs were totally restored. Considering current land use, almost the whole catchment area (91.4%) displayed a low P loss risk. The highest P index was associated to croplands and eucalyptus plantations. Regarding scenario 1, areas under pasture fell into the low (15.1%), medium (45.5%), high (27.1%) and very high (12.3%) P index categories. Environmental Protection Areas on scenario 2 decreased the P loss risk from the scenario 1 in 37.6%. Hence, the model outputs indicate that the reforestation of buffer zones can decrease P loss risk in the case increasing use of P fertilizer. The P index model is a potential support tool to promote judicious use of fertilizers and conservation practices at the Posses catchment.Transferência de fósforo em uma bacia hidrográfica no sudeste brasileiro: modelagem distribuída em diferentes cenários de uso do soloPhosphorus transfer at a small catchment in southeastern Brazil: distributed modelling in different land use scenariospublishedVersio