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•β-glucans (EPS-P) were purified from the fermentation broth of two Diaporthe endophytes.•β-glucans consisted of a main chain of glucopyranosyl (1→3) linkages substituted at O-6 by ...glucosyl residues.•EPS-PD2 inhibited up to ∼75% of the proliferation of MCF-7 cells.•Both glucans inhibited up to ∼84% of the proliferation of HepG2-C3A cells.
This study reports the characterization and antiproliferative activity of exopolysaccharides (EPS) produced by submerged cultures of the endophytes Diaporthe sp. JF766998 and Diaporthe sp. JF767007 isolated from the medicinal plant Piper hispidum Sw. Both strains secreted a crude EPS that, upon size exclusion chromatography, showed to contain a heteropolysaccharide (galactose, glucose and mannose) and a high-molecular weight glucan. Data from methylation analysis, FTIR and NMR spectroscopy (1H, COSY, TOCSY and HSQC-DEPT) indicated that the purified glucan consisted of a main chain of glucopyranosyl β-(1→3) linkages substituted at O-6 by glucosyl residues. According to MTT assay, some treatments of both β-glucans have antiproliferative activity against human breast carcinoma (MCF-7) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2-C3A) cells after 24 and 48h of treatment, exhibiting a degree of inhibition ratio that reached the highest values at 400μg/mL: 58.0% (24h) and 74.6% (48h) for MCF-7 cells, and 61.0% (24h) and 83.3% (48h) for HepG2-C3A cells. These results represent the first reports on the characterization and antiproliferative effect of β-glucans from Diaporthe species and also expand the knowledge about bioactive polysaccharides from endophytic sources.
In this work, on the one hand, we examined the relationship between emotional intelligence (EI) and empathy and, on the other, the relationship between EI and non-verbal sensitivity, through two ...independent studies. The first study analyzed the relationship between dimensions of EI and aspects of empathy, in a sample of 856 participants who completed two measures of EI, the trait meta-mood scale (TMMS) and the trait emotional intelligence questionnaire (TEIQue), and a measure of empathy, the interpersonal reactivity index (IRI). The results showed a similar pattern of significant positive relations in all the EI domains with empathic perspective-taking (PT), and significant negative relationships with empathic personal distress (PD), except for the EI domain of attention, which had a positive relationship. Stepwise multiple regression analyses showed that the dimension that best predicted empathic PT and empathic concern (EC) was the emotionality factor; whereas attention best predicted empathic fantasy; and the self-control factor best predicted PD, although negatively. Gender emerged as a predictor of three empathic aspects, fantasy, EC, and PD, with women obtaining higher scores than men in all of them. Age was the only predictor of fantasy, with a negative relationship. The second study involved 646 people who completed the same measures of EI as the participants of the first study and the mini-profile of non-verbal sensitivity (Mini-PONS). The results showed some significant relationships between EI dimensions and the channels and quadrants of the MiniPONS. Stepwise multiple regression analyses showed that very few EI dimensions predicted non-verbal sensitivity, with attention obtaining the best result. Both gender and age emerged as predictors, some in unique cases, of channels, quadrants, and of the total score of non-verbal sensitivity; age had a negative relationship, and women obtained higher scores than men.
Previous studies have found that the expansion of primary health care in Brazil following the country-wide family health strategy (ESF), one of the largest primary care programs in the world, has ...improved health outcomes. However, these studies have relied either on aggregate data or on limited individual data, with no fine-grained information available concerning household participation in the ESF or local supply of ESF services, which represent crucial aspects for analytical and policy purposes. This study analyzes the relationship between the ESF and health outcomes for the adult population in metropolitan areas in Brazil. We investigate this relationship through two linked dimensions of the ESF: the program’s local supply of health teams and ESF household registration. In contrast with previous studies focusing on comparisons between certain definitions of "treated" versus "nontreated" populations, our results indicate that the local density of health teams is important to the observed effects of the ESF on adult health. We also find evidence consistent with the presence of positive primary health care spillovers to people not registered with the ESF. However, current ESF coverage levels in metropolitan areas have limited ability to address prevailing health inequalities. Our analysis suggests that the local intensity of ESF coverage should be a key consideration for evaluations and policy efforts related to future ESF expansion.
•We analyse two dimensions of the ESF: the program’s local supply of health teams and ESF household registration.•Adults registered in the program are less likely to self-rate their health as bad.•The ESF program is related to indirect health benefits for non-treated adults.•The number of health teams in the population is a key element for policy in large cities.
The main objective of this longitudinal study, with two mea-surements, one before the lockdown (M1: March 2-8), and the other du-ring the lockdown (M2: April 20-26), using the same participants, is ...to determine the evolution of the hedonic and eudaimonic aspects of well-being and the effect of compulsory confinement due to the COVID-19 pande-mic in Spain. The study was conducted online, participants completed the domains of the PERMA-Profiler well-being measure at both measurement times (M1 and M2) and the Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-sR) measure of dispositional optimism at the first measurement (M1). The results show significant relationships between all the well-being domains and the Overall Well-being (PERMA) score, similar at both measurements (M1 and M2). The comparison of the well-being domains score between the two measurements shows significant differences in Positive Emotion, Engagement, Meaning, and the Overall Well-being score; the score is higher at the first measurement (M1) than at the second measurement (M2). For the Negative Emotion domain, the score is higher during the lockdown (M2). Dispositional optimism has a moderation effect during the lockdown on the Accomplishment domain: the more optimistic the person is, the more their Accomplishment score increases. Gender also has a moderation effect during the lockdown on the Happiness domain: in men, the Happiness score increases during the lockdown and, in women, it decreases, when comparing both genders with their previous non-confinement levels.
El principal objetivo de este estudio longitudinal con dos mediciones, una antes del período de confinamiento M1 (del 2 al 8 de marzo), y otra durante el confinamiento M2 (del 20 al 26 de abril), realizadas a los mismos participantes, es conocer la evolución de los aspectos hedónicos y eudaimónicos del bienestar y el efecto que sobre ellos ha supuesto el confinamiento obligatorio debido a la pandemia por COVID-19 en España. El estudio se realizó online, los participantes completaron los dominios de la medida de bienestar “The PERMA-Profiler” en ambas mediciones (M1 y M2) y la medida de optimismo disposicional “Life Orientation Test-Revised” (LOT-R) en la primera medición (M1). Los resultados muestran una relación significativa entre todos los dominios de bienestar y con la puntuación PERMA Global Bienestar, similares en ambas mediciones (M1 y M2). La comparación de las puntuaciones medias de los dominios de bienestar entre ambas mediciones muestra diferencias significativas en Emociones Positivas, Compromiso, Significado y en la puntuación de PERMA Global Bienestar; la puntuación es más elevada en la primera medición (M1) que en la segunda medición (M2). En el dominio Emociones Negativas, la puntuación es más alta en el período de confinamiento (M2). El optimismo disposicional ejerce un efecto de moderación durante el confinamiento en el dominio de Logros: cuánto más optimista es la persona más aumenta su puntuación en este dominio. El género también ejerce un efecto de moderación durante el confinamiento en el dominio de Felicidad: en los hombres aumenta la puntuación de Felicidad durante el período de confinamiento y en las mujeres disminuye, comparados ambos con sus niveles previos de no confinamiento.
Solid culture with small amounts of low-quality raw coffee beans was used for total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) removal from a weathered and polluted soil. Soil contaminated with 58 000
mg
kg
−1 of ...TPH was treated with soil:coffee bean ratios of 98:2, 96:4, 94:6, and 92:8, at a C:N:P ratio of 100:10:1, 20% humidity, and 28
°C, for periods of 15, 60, and 90 days. The highest TPH removal (63%) was obtained with a soil/bean ratio of 98:2 over 15 days, corresponding with the highest rates of microbial respiration and the greatest increases in bacterial and fungal counts to 9 lnCFU and 6 lnCFU, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy showed high fungal colonization of coffee beans, with
Mucor sp.,
Aspergillus sp.,
Aspergillus niger., and
Penicillium sp. growing on TPH as sole carbon source.
Purpose
Minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) using diferent devices is a promising strategy for treating mild glaucoma. However, long‐term complications require further evaluation. We report a ...case of displacement to the anterior chamber and cornea of a previously successful XEN implant.
Methods
A 85‐year‐old female treated for open angle glaucoma with Latanoprost, Timolol and Brinzolamide started presenting IOP of 24 mmHg in her right eye and a progression was also evident in visual field examination and spectral‐domain optical coherence tomography. Due to failure of medical treatment, surgery with a XEN implant was offered to the patient. The XEN implant was successfully implanted in the right eye and an adecuate control of the IOP was achieved for eight months. After that period of time, IOP raised to 22 mmHg and topical treatment with Brinzolamide and Timolol was reintroduced. Nine months later, the patient suffered a visual acuity loss and came to the emergency department. During the slit‐lamp examination intense corneal edema, Descement membrane folds and a dislocation of the XEN implant into the anterior chamber affecting the cornea were described.
Results
Taking into account the patient situation we started adding topical corticosteroid therapy to her previous treatment. Finally a surgical removal of the implant was performed. Rejecting other surgical therapies for now, the patient is at the moment treated topically.
Conclusions
Despite MIGS is a safe and useful technique, long‐term complications require further evaluation. We describe the dislocation of a XEN implant into the anterior chamber or to the cornea as a new potential complication of this device to keep in mind.
Digital health literacy (DHL) increases the self-efficacy and empowerment of pregnant and lactating women (PLW) in using the Internet for health issues. The European project IC-Health aimed to ...improve DHL among PLW, through the co-creation of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs).
The co-creation of the MOOCs included focus groups and the creation of communities of practice (CoPs) with PLW and healthcare professionals aimed to co-design the MOOCs. The quantitative measures of MOOCs' acceptability, experience in the co-creation process and increase in DHL (dimensions of finding, understanding and appraisal) were assessed.
17 PLW participated in focus groups, 113 participants were included in CoPs and 68 participants evaluated the acceptability of MOOCs. A total of 6 MOOCs aimed at improving PLW's DHL were co-designed. There was a significant improvement in self-perceived DHL after using MOOCs (
-value < 0.001). The acceptability of MOOCs and co-creation experience were positively valued.
The preliminary results of the quantitative assessment showed a higher self-perceived DHL after the IC-Health MOOCs. These results suggest that IC-Health MOOCs and the co-creation methodology appear to be a viable process to carry out an intervention aimed to improve DHL levels in European PLW.
How could a primitive credit market finance the early industrialisation of an underdeveloped economy? To answer this question, we use a hand-collected data set of mortgage loans raised by industrial ...firms in the city of São Paulo during the period 1866-1914. These mortgages were debt obligations collateralised by land, improvements, machinery and equipment. We argue that the mortgage credit market was a key source of funding for early industrial investments in Brazil. We find that industries were mainly funded by non-banking and domestic agents. The empirical evidence suggests that mortgages were an important proxy for industrial investment.
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