This work aimed to investigate the chemical composition, antimicrobial, antinociceptive, acute toxicity and antioxidant activity of the essential oil of Algrizea minor (EOAm). The essential oil ...presented as the major constituents β-Pinene (56.99%), α-Pinene (16.57%), Germacrene D (4.67%), Bicyclogermacrene (4.66%), (E)-Caryophyllene (3.76%) and Limonene (1.71%). It was verified that the essential oil did not show acute toxicity in the maximum dose of 5,000 mg/kg. In the evaluation of the antinociceptive activity it was verified that the essential oil reduced in 65.84% the number of writhing in the mice, reducing the pain in 59.17%, and the mechanism of action in pain reduction was opioid, similar to morphine. The essential oil also presented significant antimicrobial against Gram positive and Gram-negative bacteria and fungi, and the antioxidant activity was relevant. Therefore, these results demonstrate the great potential for the future development of pharmaceutical products with the essential oil of Algrizea minor (EOAm).
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BFBNIB, GIS, IJS, KISLJ, NUK, PNG, UL, UM, UPUK
Gold standard serological diagnostic methods focus on antigens that elicit a strong humoral immune response that is specific to a certain pathogen. In this study, we used bioinformatics approaches to ...identify linear B-cell epitopes that are conserved among Leishmania species but are divergent from the host species Homo sapiens and Canis familiaris and from Trypanosoma cruzi, the parasite that causes Chagas disease, to select potential targets for the immunodiagnosis of leishmaniasis. Using these criteria, we selected heat shock protein 83.1 of Leishmania braziliensis for this study. We predicted three linear B-cell epitopes in its sequence. These peptides and the recombinant heat shock protein 83.1 (rHSP83.1) were tested in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) against serum samples from patients with tegumentary leishmaniasis (TL) and visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and from dogs infected with Leishmania infantum (canine VL CVL). Our data show that rHSP83.1 is a promising target in the diagnosis of TL. We also identified specific epitopes derived from HSP83.1 that can be used in the diagnosis of human TL (peptide 3), both human and canine VL (peptides 1 and 3), and all TL, VL, and CVL clinical manifestations (peptide 3). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves confirmed the superior performance of rHSP83.1 and peptides 1 and 3 compared to that of the soluble L. braziliensis antigen and the reference test kit for the diagnosis of CVL in Brazil (EIE-LVC kit; Bio-Manguinhos, Fiocruz). Our study thus provides proof-of-principle evidence of the feasibility of using bioinformatics to identify novel targets for the immunodiagnosis of parasitic diseases using proteins that are highly conserved throughout evolution.
In this study, a preliminary food quality and safety assessment was performed on organic and cage-free egg samples marketed in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, that were analyzed concerning ...veterinary drug and pesticide residues using high performance and ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. The polyether ionophore salinomycin was detected in two organic egg samples (25% of the organic samples), one with an estimated concentration even higher than the maximum permissible amount of 3 µg kg
−1
established for conventional eggs by the European Commission. The other sample presented a concentration higher than the limit of detection of 0.3 µg kg
−1
, but lower than the lowest calibration level of 1.5 µg kg
−1
. Regarding pesticide residues, spiroxamine, pirimiphos, mephosfolan and pyraclostrobin were identified at residual levels below the lowest calibration level of 4.5 µg kg
−1
, except for one organic egg sample, presenting 8.3 µg kg
−1
of spiroxamine. Spiroxamine was identified in 62% of the assessed samples. These findings indicate that non-conformities were found even with a limited number of samples, impacting the confidence in the quality of organic and cage-free alternative systems in egg production. The hazard index (HI) approach demonstrated that chemical food safety might be at risk, since a mixture of the detected analytes may pose a risk for children up to 27 kg, through egg consumption.
Summary
The increase in chronic diseases has arisen interest to search for alternative treatments so that people can improve their quality of life. Thus, Carya illinoinensis is the subject of the ...present work which aims at determining whether it has antidiabetic activity. The plant was collected and its nuts were separated from their peels, dried and grinded and incorporated into the feed, in concentration of 6% and 10%, for the treatment of animals. The centesimal composition of this diet was also determined. From the nut was also obtained the fixed oil, for the profile of fatty acids, and the 70% hydroethanolic extract for the phytochemical analysis. The results have shown that species presents hypoglycaemic effect, high fat composition of unsaturated fatty acids and the presence of some phenolic compounds, directly related to the antidiabetic activity. Therefore, the specie presente benefits that can contribute to the binomial diet/health.
The nuts of the species Carya illinoinensis were evaluated for the fatty acid profile by HPLC and for the hypoglycemic effect in diabetes mellitus through the treatment of male Wistar rats.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) core protein, in addition to its structural role to form the nucleocapsid assembly, plays a critical role in HCV pathogenesis by interfering in several cellular processes, ...including microRNA and mRNA homeostasis. The C-terminal truncated HCV core protein (C124) is intrinsically unstructured in solution and is able to interact with unspecific nucleic acids, in the micromolar range, and to assemble into nucleocapsid-like particles (NLPs)
. The specificity and propensity of C124 to the assembly and its implications on HCV pathogenesis are not well understood.
Spectroscopic techniques, transmission electron microscopy and calorimetry were used to better understand the propensity of C124 to fold or to multimerize into NLPs when subjected to different conditions or in the presence of unspecific nucleic acids of equivalent size to cellular microRNAs.
The structural analysis indicated that C124 has low propensity to self-folding. On the other hand, for the first time, we show that C124, in the absence of nucleic acids, multimerizes into empty NLPs when subjected to a pH close to its isoelectric point (pH ≈ 12), indicating that assembly is mainly driven by charge neutralization. Isothermal calorimetry data showed that the assembly of NLPs promoted by nucleic acids is enthalpy driven. Additionally, data obtained from fluorescence correlation spectroscopy show that C124, in nanomolar range, was able to interact and to sequester a large number of short unspecific nucleic acids into NLPs.
Together, our data showed that the charge neutralization is the major factor for the nucleocapsid-like particles assembly from C-terminal truncated HCV core protein. This finding suggests that HCV core protein may physically interact with unspecific cellular polyanions, which may correspond to microRNAs and mRNAs in a host cell infected by HCV, triggering their confinement into infectious particles.
: The biotechnological potential of medicinal plants from Brazilian Caatinga and the Atlantic Forest has not been extensively studied. Thus, screening programs are important in prospecting for ...compounds for developing new drugs. The purpose of this study was to determine the chemical composition and to evaluate the anti-
activity of essential oils from leaves of
var.
,
, and
.
: The oils were extracted through hydrodistillation and their chemical compositions were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Antifungal activity against
,
,
,
, and
was evaluated by determining the minimal inhibitory (MIC) and fungicidal (MFC) concentrations.
: The major compounds of the oils were caryophyllene oxide and
-caryophyllene for
; spathulenol, α-pinene, and caryophyllene oxide for
; and caryophyllene oxide and humulene epoxide II for
oil. The oils showed antifungal activity against all the strains tested, and the MIC values ranged between 0.625 and 1.25 μL/mL and MFC from 0.625 to 2.5 μL/mL.
: The essential oils from the species studied have the potential to be evaluated as clinical applications in the treatment of candidiasis.
Introdução: A introdução da ultrassonografia na Unidade de Terapia Intensiva (UTI) representa um marco significativo, promovendo avanços substanciais na prática multidisciplinar e influenciando ...positivamente o manejo de diversas condições críticas. A aplicação da ultrassonografia pulmonar, em particular, surge como uma ferramenta versátil e essencial, impactando diretamente a qualidade do atendimento prestado.
Metodologia: A pesquisa bibliográfica foi conduzida na plataforma PUBMED, utilizando descritores Mesh específicos: Ultrasonography, Intensive Care Units, Patient Care Team. O período de busca abrangeu os anos de 2013 a 2021, totalizando 33 artigos.
Resultado: Aplicação da ultrassonografia na UTI tem se mostrado uma ferramenta de extrema relevância para o atendimento multidisciplinar. A ultrassonografia pulmonar, quando utilizada pelos intensivistas, não apenas oferece uma avaliação precisa das condições mencionadas, mas também desempenha um papel fundamental na rápida tomada de decisões e na otimização do tratamento.
Conclusão: A ultrassonografia emerge como uma ferramenta transformadora na UTI, moldando a prática multidisciplinar e promovendo uma era de cuidados intensivos mais avançados e centrados no paciente. Seu papel crucial na rápida tomada de decisões e na otimização do tratamento reforça sua posição como um elemento indispensável na caixa de ferramentas dos profissionais de saúde nas UTIs do presente e do futuro.
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