In spite of the many studies examining alcohol consumption, recent reviews have indicated that binge drinking has not been extensively studied. Furthermore, it is becoming increasingly clear that ...sleep is associated with many physiological functions and to drug addictions. The present study aimed to evaluate the relationship between alcohol binge drinking and insomnia in college students of health sciences. All first-year health sciences students (n=286) were evaluated in a cross- sectional study. Envelopes containing the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), the Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST), and questions capturing sociodemographic data were distributed and collected in classes. It was found that most non-drinkers were female (70.6%), although there were no sex-related differences in the number of binge drinkers (more than 5 drinks on each occasion at least once a week), allowing statistical comparison. The Mann-Whitney U test indicated that the ISI scores were significantly greater in female than male binge drinkers (P=0.014). Moderate or severe insomnia was reported by 23% of the sample, with alcohol being the most frequently associated substance. A specialized intervention was suggested by ASSIST: brief for marijuana (19.2%) and tobacco (23.3%) use, and moderate (31.5%) or intensive (1.4%) for alcohol consumers. The data highlighted the need to pay attention to the habits of college students beyond obtaining scientific information. New data suggesting the influence of genetics on insomnia may be of importance when performing additional studies on the sex differences in alcohol binge drinking. Key words: Sleep; Alcohol; University; Insomnia; Binge drinking; Sex
A green, template‐free and easy‐to‐implement strategy was developed to access holey g‐C3N4 (GCN) nanosheets doped with carbon. The protocol involves heating dicyandiamide with β‐cyclodextrin (βCD) ...prior to polymerization. The local symmetry of the GCN skeleton is broken, yielding CxGCN (x corresponds to the initial amount of βCD used) with pores and a distorted structure. The electronic, emission, optical and textural properties of the best‐performing material, C2GCN, were significantly modified as compared to bulk GCN. The spectroscopic and luminescent features of C2GCN show the characteristic π–π* electronic transition of GCN, accompanied by much stronger n–π* electronic transitions owing to the porous and distorted network. These new electronic transitions, along with the presence of additional carbon synergistically contributed to enhanced visible light absorption and restrained recombination of electron–hole pairs. Steady‐state and time‐resolved photoluminescence showed an effective quench of the fluorescence emission, accompanied by a decrease of fluorescence lifetime of C2GCN (2.20 ns) in comparison with GCN (5.85 ns), owing to the delocalization of electron and holes to new recombination centers. The photocatalytic activity of C2GCN was attributed to efficient charge carrier separation and improved visible‐light absorbing ability. As result, C2GCN exhibited ∼5 times higher photocatalytic H2 generation under visible light than bulk GCN.
Holey gas! A green, simple and scalable strategy was used to prepare distorted C‐doped g‐C3N4 porous nanosheets. The synergetic effect between carbon doping and distortion enhanced the visible light absorption capacity and significantly reduced the recombination of the photogenerated charge‐carriers. The creation of a new electron transfer pathway promoted the efficient electron–hole separation, improving the photocatalytic performance for H2 generation in the visible light region.
The N-acylhydrazone function has been reported as a pharmacophore group of molecules with diverse pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory effects. Therefore, this study was designed ...to evaluate the anti-inflammatory potential of the compound N′-(3-(1H-indol-3-yl)benzylidene)-2-cyanoacetohydrazide (JR19) in vivo. The study started with the carrageenan-induced peritonitis model, followed by an investigation of leukocyte migration using the subcutaneous air pouch test and an assessment of the antinociceptive profile using formalin-induced pain. A preliminary molecular docking study focusing on the crystallographic structures of NFκB, iNOS, and sGC was performed to determine the likely mechanism of action. The computational study revealed satisfactory interaction energies with the selected targets, and the same peritonitis model was used to validate the involvement of the nitric oxide pathway and cytokine expression in the peritoneal exudate of mice pretreated with L-NAME or methylene blue. In the peritonitis assay, JR19 (10 and 20 mg/kg) reduced leukocyte migration by 59% and 52%, respectively, compared to the vehicle group, with the 10 mg/kg dose used in subsequent assays. In the subcutaneous air pouch assay, the reduction in cell migration was 66%, and the response to intraplantar formalin was reduced by 39%, particularly during the inflammatory phase, suggesting that the compound lacks central analgesic activity. In addition, a reversal of the anti-inflammatory effect was observed in mice pretreated with L-NAME or methylene blue, indicating the involvement of iNOS and sGC in the anti-inflammatory response of JR19. The compound effectively and significantly decreased the levels of IL-6, TNF-α, IL-17, and IFN-γ, and this effect was reversed in animals pretreated with L-NAME, supporting a NO-dependent anti-inflammatory effect. In contrast, pretreatment with methylene blue only reversed the reduction in TNF-α levels. Therefore, these results demonstrate the pharmacological potential of the novel N-acylhydrazone derivative, which acts through the nitric oxide pathway and cytokine signaling, making it a strong candidate as an anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory agent.
Microgrooved surfaces are recognized as an important strategy of tissue engineering to promote the alignment of bone cells. In this work, we have investigated the mechanical and morphological aspects ...of osteoblasts cells after interaction with different micro‐structured polymeric surfaces. Femtosecond laser writing technique was used for the construction of circular and parallel microgrooved patterns in biocompatible polymeric surfaces based on pentaerythritol triacrylate. Additionally, we have studied the influence of the biocompatible TiO2 nanocrystals (NCs) related to the cell behavior, when incorporated to the photoresin. The atomic force microscopy technique was used to investigate the biomechanical reaction of the human osteoblast‐like MG‐63 cells for the different microgroove. It was demonstrated that osteoblasts grown on circular microgrooved surfaces exhibited significantly larger Young's modulus compared to cells sown on flat films. Furthermore, we could observe that TiO2 NCs improved the circular microgrooves effects, resulting in more populated sites, 34% more elongated cells, and increasing the cell stiffness by almost 160%. These results can guide the design and construction of effective scaffold surfaces with circular microgrooves for tissue engineering and bone regeneration.
Phthalimido-alkyl-1H-1,2,3-triazole derivatives 3a–d and 4a–d were efficiently synthesized using 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction. Anti-inflammatory activity and toxicity studies were performed. ...The results demonstrated that all the tested compounds reduced carrageenan-induced paw edema and indicated no lethality for toxicity against Artemia salina and acute toxicity in vivo (LD50 up to 1 g kg −1). Furthermore, the structure of phthalimide linked to phenyl group proved to be more active than the compounds containing benzothiazole moiety. Structural modifications such as removal of the phthalimide group and subsequent acetylation, to exemplify a non-cyclic amide, demonstrate that the phthalimide and triazole moieties are important for design of potent candidates with anti-inflammatory drug proprieties. Docking into the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) confirms the importance of the phthalimide and triazole groups in the anti-inflammatory activity. The histopathological studies showed that the compounds 3a–d and 4a–d did not cause serious pathological lesions liver or kidneys.
para‐Quinone methides (p‐QMs) are naturally occurring molecules that have been finding increasing synthetic applications in the last few years. The presence of two electronically different exocyclic ...conjugate substituents in their structure, carbonyl and methylidene, leads to a pronounced reactivity owing to the polarization of the molecule. In this sense, those are prone to undergo the attack of nucleophiles in the terminal carbon exocyclic double bond, behaving as vinylogous electrophiles and generating 1,6‐addition products. In this context, in the last few years the development of catalytic approaches for 1,6‐nucleophilic addition reactions involving p‐QMs has attracted considerable attention. Considering the extensive applications that such molecules have found in the last decades in 1,6‐addition reactions, in this review we comprehensively discuss the historical development of this field, starting with early approaches on natural product synthesis, going through seminal non‐stereoselective processes and progressing to cutting‐edge asymmetric‐catalyzed approaches.
para‐Quinone methides (p‐QMs) are naturally occurring molecules with two electronically different exocyclic conjugate substituents in their structure, carbonyl and methylidene, which gives them a pronounced reactivity owing to the polarization of the molecule. By attack of nucleophiles in the terminal carbon exocyclic double bond, they generate 1,6‐addition products.
Medicinal plants have long been used as an alternative to traditional drugs for the treatment of inflammatory conditions due to the classical side effects and restricted access of various ...commercially available drugs, such as steroids (GCs) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Sambucus australis is a Brazilian herb that is commonly used to treat inflammatory diseases; however, few studies have examined the use of this species in the treatment of inflammatory conditions. The present study aims to evaluate the potential anti-inflammatory activity of S. australis in vitro. We established spleen cell cultures stimulated with pokeweed mitogen (PWM) to evaluate the production of proinflammatory cytokines, such as IL-4, IL-5, IFN-y, and IL-10 (by ELISA), and the expression of the transcription factor NF-kB (by RT-PCR). In addition, we evaluated the levels of nitric oxide in macrophage cultures and the membrane-stabilizing activity of S. australis methanolic extract (EMSA). Treatment with EMSA at concentrations of 100, 50, 25 and 12.5 µg/ml significantly decreased IL-4 (p<0.001) and IL-5 (p<0.001) levels. Treatment with 100 µg/ml EMSA reduced IFN-у (p<0.001) levels. Moreover, at 100 mg/ml, EMSA also increased IL-10 production and reduced NF-kB expression (p<0.01). In macrophage cultures stimulated with LPS, EMSA decreased nitric oxide levels (p<0.001) at all concentrations tested (100, 50, 25 and 12.5 µg/ml). Additionally, EMSA had a protective effect in the erythrocyte membrane stabilization assay. Taken together, these results suggest that S. australis has anti-inflammatory potential in vitro, characterized by the reduction of both inflammatory cytokines and the expression of NF-kB along with the up-regulation of IL-10.
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are involved in neuropathic pain, a complicated condition after nerve tissue lesion. Vitamin D appears to improve symptoms of pain and exhibits antioxidant properties. ...We investigated the effects of oral administration of vitamin D3, the active form of vitamin D, on nociception, the sciatic functional index (SFI), and spinal cord pro-oxidant and antioxidant markers in rats with chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve, a model of neuropathic pain. Vitamin D3 (500 IU/kg per day) attenuated the CCI-induced decrease in mechanical withdrawal threshold and thermal withdrawal latency (indicators of antinociception) and SFI. The vitamin prevented increased lipid hydroperoxide levels in injured sciatic nerve without change to total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Vitamin D3 prevented increased lipid hydroperoxide, superoxide anion generation (SAG), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels in the spinal cord, which were found in rats without treatment at 7 and 28 days post-CCI. A significant negative correlation was found between mechanical threshold and SAG and between mechanical threshold and H2O2 at day 7. Vitamin D3 also prevented decreased spinal cord total thiols content. There was an increase in TAC in the spinal cord of vitamin-treated CCI rats, compared to CCI rats without treatment only at 28 days. No significant changes were found in body weight and blood parameters of hepatic and renal function. These findings demonstrated, for first time, that vitamin D modulated pro-oxidant and antioxidant markers in the spinal cord. Since antinociception occurred in parallel with oxidative changes in the spinal cord, the oxidative changes may have contributed to vitamin D-induced antinociception.
Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by pathological aggregation of protein tau and amyloid-β peptides, both of which are considered to be toxic to neurons. Naturally occurring dietary flavonoids ...have received considerable attention as alternative candidates for Alzheimer’s therapy taking into account their antiamyloidogenic, antioxidative, and anti-inflammatory properties. Experimental evidence supports the hypothesis that certain flavonoids may protect against Alzheimer’s disease in part by interfering with the generation and assembly of amyloid-β peptides into neurotoxic oligomeric aggregates and also by reducing tau aggregation. Several mechanisms have been proposed for the ability of flavonoids to prevent the onset or to slow the progression of the disease. Some mechanisms include their interaction with important signaling pathways in the brain like the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways that regulate prosurvival transcription factors and gene expression. Other processes include the disruption of amyloid-β aggregation and alterations in amyloid precursor protein processing through the inhibition of β-secretase and/or activation of α-secretase, and inhibiting cyclin-dependent kinase-5 and glycogen synthase kinase-3β activation, preventing abnormal tau phosphorylation. The interaction of flavonoids with different signaling pathways put forward their therapeutic potential to prevent the onset and progression of Alzheimer’s disease and to promote cognitive performance. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to give additional insight into the specific mechanisms by which flavonoids exert their potential neuroprotective actions in the brain of Alzheimer’s disease patients.
Pharmaceuticals are becoming increasingly more relevant water contaminants, with photocatalysts (such as TiO2) being a promising approach to remove these compounds from water. However, TiO2 has poor ...sunlight-harvesting capacity, low photonic efficiency, and poor adsorption towards organic pollutants. One of the emerging strategies to enhance the photocatalytic performance of TiO2 is by conjugating it with fluorescent carbon dots. Herein, we performed a critical review of the development of TiO2 – carbon dots nanocomposites for the photocatalytic removal of pharmaceuticals. We found that carbon dots can improve the photocatalytic efficiency of the resulting nanocomposites, mostly due to increasing the adsorption of organic pollutants and enhancing the absorption in the visible range. However, while this approach shows significant promise, we also identified and discussed several aspects that need to be addressed before this strategy could be more widely used. We hope that this review can guide future studies aiming to the development of enhanced photocatalytic TiO2 – carbon dots nanocomposites.
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•Pharmaceuticals are contaminating Earth's drinking water.•Photocatalysts, such as TiO2, may be used to photodegrade pharmaceuticals.•TiO2 is limited in terms of photonic efficiency and pollutant adsorption.•Carbon dots bridge those limitations and led to a lower TiO2's energy band gap.•TiO2/CDs nanocomposites efficiently remove pharmaceuticals from water.
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