Physiological and structural changes in cells of Synechocystis aquatilis f. aquatilis acclimated to grow in the presence of high zinc levels (2.20-3.30 mg.L super(-1)) were investigated. Growth of ...these cells showed a decreased specific growth rate and final yield of about 60% and 50%, respectively, of the values found for cells grown in the presence of 0.21 mg zinc.L super(-1) (control culture). The higher the zinc concentration in the culture medium, the more pronounced the reduction in the chl a content. Regardless of zinc concentration, S. aquatilis possessed three distinct carotenoids. A decrease in carotenoid content accompanied the decrease of chl a, and the proportions of the pigments to each other were not affected by zinc. The photosynthetic performance of cells cultured in the presence of high zinc levels showed a decline in both the apparent photosynthetic efficiency and the photosynthetic maximal rate. In these cells the PSII reaction centers became partially closed, and the electron transport activity around PSII and PSI was reduced to 61% and 38% of the control values, respectively, which may indicate an altered PSII /PSI stoichiometry. In addition, electron micrographs revealed a reduced amount of thylakoid membranes, indicating that acclimation to high zinc levels led to a decrease in the overall number of photosynthetic units. On the other hand, light microscopic observation of negative-stained cells revealed the presence of a thick mucilaginous layer surrounding the high zinc-acclimated cells. This extracellular material could retain high amounts of metal ions from the medium, thus providing the Synechocystis cells a mechanism to circumvent toxic levels of zinc.
Carassius auratus is a teleost fish that has been largely used in behavioral studies. However, little is known about potential environmental influences on its performance of learning and memory ...tasks. Here, we investigated this question in C. auratus, and searched for potential correlation between exercise and visuospatial enrichment with the total number of telencephalic glia and neurons. To that end, males and females were housed for 183 days in either an enriched (EE) or impoverished environment (IE) aquarium. EE contained toys, natural plants, and a 12-hour/day water stream for voluntary exercise, whereas the IE had none of the above. A third plus-maze aquarium was used for spatial and object recognition tests. Different visual clues in 2 of its 4 arms were used to guide fish to reach the criteria to complete the task. The test consisted of 30 sessions and was concluded when each animal performed three consecutive correct choices or seven alternated, each ten trials. Learning rates revealed significant differences between EE and IE fish. The optical fractionator was used to estimate the total number of telencephalic cells that were stained with cresyl violet. On average, the total number of cells in the subjects from EE was higher than those from subjects maintained in IE (P=0.0202). We suggest that environmental enrichment significantly influenced goldfish spatial learning and memory abilities, and this may be associated with an increase in the total number of telencephalic cells.
Group B streptococcal (GBS) meningitis remains a devastating disease. The absence of an animal model reproducing the natural infectious process has limited our understanding of the disease and, ...consequently, delayed the development of effective treatments. We describe here a mouse model in which bacteria are transmitted to the offspring from vaginally colonised pregnant females, the natural route of infection. We show that GBS strain BM110, belonging to the CC17 clonal complex, is more virulent in this vertical transmission model than the isogenic mutant BM110∆cylE, which is deprived of hemolysin/cytolysin. Pups exposed to the more virulent strain exhibit higher mortality rates and lung inflammation than those exposed to the attenuated strain. Moreover, pups that survive to BM110 infection present neurological developmental disability, revealed by impaired learning performance and memory in adulthood. The use of this new mouse model, that reproduces key steps of GBS infection in newborns, will promote a better understanding of the physiopathology of GBS-induced meningitis.
In this work, floating photocatalysts based on composites of low density polyethylene (LDPE) containing 30, 68 and 82wt.% of TiO2 P25 were prepared and characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy, ...Powder XRD data, surface area (B.E.T. method) and Thermogravimetric analyses. Degradation of the model dye methylene blue with UV (Hg 245nm) and solar irradiation under constrained conditions, i.e. non-stirring and no-oxygenation showed excellent results. Under the same conditions pure TiO2 showed very low activities. The floating photocatalyst can be reused for at least three consecutive times without any significant decrease on the discoloration and Total Organic Carbon removal after each reuse.
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► Floating photocatalysts based on TiO2/polyethylene were prepared and characterized. ► Highly active and efficient floating photocatalyst for degradation of dyes. ► Potential applications, as in the treatment of wastewater located in remote areas. ► Photocatalyst can be recycled and reused.
Cardiovascular-Active Venom Toxins: An Overview Rebello Horta, Carolina Campolina; Chatzaki, Maria; Rezende, Bruno Almeida ...
Current medicinal chemistry,
01/2016, Letnik:
23, Številka:
6
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Animal venoms are a mixture of bioactive compounds produced as weapons and used primarily to immobilize and kill preys. As a result of the high potency and specificity for various physiological ...targets, many toxins from animal venoms have emerged as possible drugs for the medication of diverse disorders, including cardiovascular diseases. Captopril, which inhibits the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), was the first successful venom-based drug and a notable example of rational drug design. Since captopril was developed, many studies have discovered novel bradykinin-potentiating peptides (BPPs) with actions on the cardiovascular system. Natriuretic peptides (NPs) have also been found in animal venoms and used as template to design new drugs with applications in cardiovascular diseases. Among the anti-arrhythmic peptides, GsMTx-4 was discovered to be a toxin that selectively inhibits the stretch-activated cation channels (SACs), which are involved in atrial fibrillation. The present review describes the main components isolated from animal venoms that act on the cardiovascular system and presents a brief summary of venomous animals and their venom apparatuses.
This work aims to develop a mannosylated nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC) loaded with rifampicin to improve tuberculosis treatment.
An active targeting strategy was used and the nanoparticles were ...characterized. Effects on cell viability and the antimycobacterial activity of the nanoformulations were evaluated.
The nanoparticles developed exhibited a size of about 315 nm and polydispersity <0.2. The drug encapsulation efficiency was higher than 90% and its release was sensitive to pH. The mannosylated NLCs showed efficient uptake by bone marrow derived macrophages. Further, rifampicin-loaded mannosylated NLCs were more efficient in inducing a decrease of intracellular growth of mycobacteria.
The NLCs developed can be used as a promising carrier for safer and efficient management of tuberculosis.
Relatar as experiências de educação em saúde dos residentes multiprofissionais em Oncohematologia.
Estudo do tipo relato de experiência. A atividades ocorreram no mês de setembro de 2020 e nos meses ...de junho de 2021 durante o período de pandemia. Os locais em que as atividades aconteceram foi: Ambulatório de Quimioterapia no Centro de Hematologia e Hemoterapia do Ceará e Hospital Universitário Walter Cantídio. O público atingido foram os pacientes e acompanhantes que aguardavam atendimento no ambulatório e funcionários do hospital. As atividades foram alusivas ao Setembro Verde - Doação de Medula Óssea e Junho Vermelho – Promoção da Doação de Sangue. Ocorreram nos turnos manhã e tarde, foi utilizado decoração do ambiente alusiva a temática, jogos como mitos e verdades, dado de perguntas e respostas, banner expositivo, entrega de folder.
Durante o período de pandemia as instituições que prestam serviços em oncologia e hospitais prestaram assistência ininterrupta, sendo serviços essenciais. Cuidados como higienização das mãos, e distanciamento foram efetivados durante a realização das atividades. Ao todo 96 pessoas foram atingidas, sendo 27 pessoas em setembro de 2020, 66 profissionais de saúde em junho de 2021. Foi realizada introdução da temática com o público, sendo realizado tira dúvidas, sendo possível sensibilizar a população para a doação voluntária de medula óssea e sangue.
Atividades de promoção da saúde como as descritas neste trabalho são de suma importância, pois divulgam conhecimento dos assuntos abordados nas atividades para a público, contribuindo para a efetivação de políticas públicas em saúde.
BMP‐6 has been found to be important to ovarian cells and oocyte, as well as to uterus. Thus, this study investigated the effect of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP‐6) and recombinant ...follicle‐stimulating hormone (rFSH) alone or in combination on the in vitro culture (IVC) of isolated caprine secondary follicles (Experiment 1) and the mRNA levels for BMP receptors/Smad signalling pathway (BMPR1A, BMPR2, SMAD1, SMAD4, SMAD5, SMAD6, SMAD7 and SMAD8) in vivo and in vitro using BMP‐6 (Experiment 2). Secondary follicles were cultured in αMEM⁺ alone (control medium) or supplemented with BMP‐6 at 1 or 10 ng/ml and rFSH alone or the combination of both BMP‐6 concentrations and rFSH. The results from Experiment 1 showed that the antrum formation rate was higher in the BMP‐6 at 1 ng/ml (p < 0.05) than in MEM. In Experiment 2, the mRNA expression for BMPR2, SMAD1, SMAD5 and SMAD6 was detected in non‐cultured control and after in vitro culture (MEM and 1 ng/ml BMP‐6); while the expression of SMAD7 and SMAD8 mRNA was only detected after IVC, SMAD4 was only detected in the BMP‐6 at 1 ng/ml treatment. In conclusion, the low BMP‐6 concentration positively influenced antrum formation and ensured normal mRNA expression for BMP receptor and Smads after IVC of caprine secondary follicles.
Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic skin condition. Its complexity and impact on patients highlight the need for multidisciplinary care that can address the physical, psychological, and social ...aspects. Centers of excellence can ideally provide the necessary infrastructure, resources, and expertise to effectively treat HS. However, there are still no consolidated models of centers of excellence in HS, and establishing their foundations is an intricate research challenge. Purposely, design and co-creation as innovation techniques are helpful approaches to this type of research.
In this study, we conducted a co-creation with consensus among HS specialists to propose the criteria and requirements to establish outpatient centers of excellence of HS in Brazil. We followed a linear process with mixed methods in 6 stages.
The process resulted in 10 categories for establishing outpatient centers, including their respective requirements, rationale, and classification. The categories include onboarding and welcoming; infrastructure and procedures; infusion therapy; flows and referrals; staffing; disease management; metrics during diagnosis; metrics during treatment; awareness and advocacy; research and education.
The idealized outpatient centers can play a role in the complete multidisciplinary treatment for HS and advancing the science of healthcare services by providing a focus for research, training, and translation of findings into practice.
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