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Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the accumulation of amyloid-β, leading to N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-dependent synaptic depression, spine elimination, and memory deficits. Glycine transporter type 1 (GlyT1) modulates glutamatergic neurotransmission via NMDA receptors (NMDAR), presenting a potential alternative therapeutic approach for AD. This study investigates the neuroprotective potential of GlyT1 inhibition in an amyloid-β-induced AD mouse model. C57BL/6 mice were treated with N-[3-([1,1-Biphenyl]-4-yloxy)-3-(4-fluorophenyl)propyl]-N-methylglycine (NFPS), a GlyT1 inhibitor, 24 h prior to intrahippocampal injection of amyloid-β. NFPS pretreatment prevented amyloid-β-induced cognitive deficits in short-term and long-term memory, evidenced by novel object recognition and spatial memory tasks. Moreover, NFPS pretreatment curbed microglial activation, astrocytic reactivity, and subsequent neuronal damage from amyloid-β injection. An extensive label-free quantitative UPLC-MSE proteomic analysis was performed on the hippocampi of mice treated with NFPS. In proteomics, KEGG enrichment analysis revealed increased in dopaminergic synapse, purine-containing compound biosynthetic process and long-term potentiation, and a reduction in Glucose catabolic process and glycolytic process pathways. The western blot analysis confirmed that NFPS treatment elevated BDNF levels, correlating with enhanced TRKB phosphorylation and mTOR activation. Moreover, NFPS treatment reduced the GluN2B expression after 6 h, which was associated with an increase on CaMKIV and CREB phosphorylation. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that GlyT1 inhibition by NFPS activates diverse neuroprotective pathways, enhancing long-term potentiation signaling and countering amyloid-β-induced hippocampal damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic consumption of hyperpalatable and hypercaloric foods has been pointed out as a factor associated with cognitive decline and memory impairment in obesity. In this context, the integration between peripheral and central inflammation may play a significant role in the negative effects of an obesogenic environment on memory. However, little is known about how obesity-related peripheral inflammation affects specific neurotransmission systems involved with memory regulation. Here, we test the hypothesis that chronic exposure to a highly palatable diet may cause neuroinflammation, glutamatergic dysfunction, and memory impairment. For that, we exposed C57BL/6J mice to a high sugar and butter diet (HSB) for 12 weeks, and we investigated its effects on behavior, glial reactivity, blood–brain barrier permeability, pro-inflammatory features, glutamatergic alterations, plasticity, and fractalkine-CX3CR1 axis. Our results revealed that HSB diet induced a decrease in memory reconsolidation and extinction, as well as an increase in hippocampal glutamate levels. Although our data indicated a peripheral pro-inflammatory profile, we did not observe hippocampal neuroinflammatory features. Furthermore, we also observed that the HSB diet increased hippocampal fractalkine levels, a key chemokine associated with neuroprotection and inflammatory regulation. Then, we hypothesized that the elevation on glutamate levels may saturate synaptic communication, partially limiting plasticity, whereas fractalkine levels increase as a strategy to decrease glutamatergic damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to apply gamma radiation as a cell pretreatment method for lipid extraction and for obtaining astaxanthin from residual biomass of Haematococcus pluvialis. Factor 1 of the two-factor experimental design was represented by cell pretreatment methods: biomass with chloroform:methanol under ultrasound (BCMU), biomass with chloroform:methanol under γ radiation (BCMR), dry biomass under γ radiation (DBR), and control (without pretreatment). Factor 2 considered the vegetative and cystic phases. Cultivation was performed in a mixotrophic system, and biomass was collected in both phases, centrifuged, lyophilized, and submitted to cell pretreatment and lipid extraction. Lipid content and FAMEs were evaluated comparing pretreatment methods and life cycle phases. Total lipid content was higher with the BCMR method in the vegetative (18% DW) and cystic (14% DW) phases. Gamma radiation combined with organic solvent was more efficient for increasing lipid yield, and DBR had a lipid yield similar to BCMU. FAME content differed between phases and pretreatments for most fatty acids, mainly C16:0, C16:1, C18:1n9c, C18:2n6c, C18:2n6t, and C18:3n3. The predominance of saturated or low unsaturated fatty acids makes H. pluvialis, in both phases, suitable for biofuel production. The preservation of astaxanthin from residual cystic biomass was observed when submitted to the DBR method, with a concentration similar to the raw biomass (1.5% DW). Gamma radiation in dry biomass has an antioxidant effect. Therefore, the lipid extraction method preceded by gamma irradiation was efficient for vegetative and cystic cells of H. pluvialis and contributed to the preservation of astaxanthin from residual cystic biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yield is one of the most important traits of arabica coffee. Plant breeders seek to maximize yield directly or indirectly, using other related traits. The standard multi-trait genome-wide association study (MTM-GWAS) does not accommodate the network structure of phenotypes, therefore, does not address how traits are interrelated. We applied structural equation modeling (SEM) to GWAS to explore interrelated dependencies between phenotypes related to morphology (fruit size and number of reproductive nodes), physiology (vegetative vigor), and productivity (yield) traits using 195 Coffea arabica individuals genotyped with 21,211 single-nucleotide polymorphism markers. We inferred the probabilistic phenotypic network by the Hill-Climbing algorithm to estimate the structural coefficients. The integration of multivariate GWAS and SEM (SEM-GWAS) identified a positive interrelationship between vegetative vigor and yield, and vegetative vigor and the number of reproductive nodes. Among those traits, yield and number of reproductive nodes presented indirect SNP effects. There was no evidence of a single quantitative trait locus controlling all the traits jointly. We identified three genes (Stress enhanced protein 1, Abscisic stress-ripening protein 5, and SAR–SNI1) that acted directly on yield. In summary, SEM-GWAS offered new insights into the relationship between the traits linked to coffee yield, providing useful information for arabica coffee breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is on the sharp end of the O&G operations where the real work happens, but also where the highest risks and system demands are placed. Understanding the skills—technical and non-technical—necessary to perform efficiently and safely is not only needed to maintain the business and assets, but also to ensure the safety of lives and the environment. Accidents such as Piper Alpha (1988), P-36 (2001) and Deepwater Horizon (2010) highlight the importance of understanding the real role of the human element in these events, from the highest hierarchical levels to the sharp end, where the work as done takes place. This article presents a non-technical skills analysis focused on the sharp end of O&G operations, specifically in the facilities/utilities operations, onshore (refineries) and offshore (production platforms). The findings show the importance and presence of certain non-technical skills, as well as the need for improvement of others in the daily routine and in emergencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity represents a global health problem and is characterized by metabolic dysfunctions and a low-grade chronic inflammatory state, which can increase the risk of comorbidities, such as atherosclerosis, diabetes and insulin resistance. Here we tested the hypothesis that the genetic deletion of metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) may rescue metabolic and inflammatory features present in BACHD mice, a mouse model of Huntington's disease (HD) with an obese phenotype. For that, we crossed BACHD and mGluR5 knockout mice (mGluR5−/−) in order to obtain the following groups: Wild type (WT), mGluR5−/−, BACHD and BACHD/mGluR5−/− (double mutant mice). Our results showed that the double mutant mice present decreased body weight as compared to BACHD mice in all tested ages and reduced visceral adiposity as compared to BACHD at 6 months of age. Additionally, 12-month-old double mutant mice present increased adipose tissue levels of adiponectin, decreased leptin levels, and increased IL-10/TNF ratio as compared to BACHD mice. Taken together, our preliminary data propose that the absence of mGluR5 reduce weight gain and visceral adiposity in BACHD mice, along with a decrease in the inflammatory state in the visceral adipose tissue (VAT), which may indicate that mGluR5 may play a role in adiposity modulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of biodiesel blends with petroleum diesel in vehicular engines demands the evaluation of the possible impacts and effects of the gases emitted from their combustion on the environment. Among studies on these questions, biomonitoring using lichens is a viable alternative, given their interactions with the elements dispersed in the atmosphere, as well as its sensitivity and capacity to retain contaminants. In this study, we analyzed the effects of gas emissions from the combustion of biodiesel mixture with petroleum diesel on Cladonia verticillaris thalli. Samples of the lichen (10 g) were exposed to the gases emitted by the exhaust of the generator engine during the combustion process of biodiesel mixtures to petroleum diesel (7% (B7), 10% (B10), 40% (B40), 50% (B50), and 70% (B70)). At 90 days after exposure, samples were analyzed for n-alkane profiles, thallus morphology, photosynthetic pigment contents, and secondary lichen metabolites (protocetraric and fumarprotocetraric acids). Sets B7 and B10 showed better resistance of the lichen to pollutants. Set B40 showed a high stress evidenced by the chain elongation of n-alkanes structure and high chlorophyll production, presenting high morphological damages when compared to the control sets, B7 and B10. The results showed significant reductions of n-alkanes profiles for mixtures with high concentrations of biodiesel (B50 and B70), as well as decreases in the chlorophyll content. These groups showed an increase in the synthesis of secondary metabolites, corroborating the hypothesis that high concentrations of biodiesel in the mixture with petroleum diesel have greater impacts on the lichen. Schematic model for demonstration of using the lichen Cladonia verticillaris as biomonitor of effects from gas emissions from the combustion of biodiesel blends with petroleum diesel by a stationary engine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different data suggest that microglia may participate in the drug addiction process as these cells respond to neurochemical changes induced by the administration of these substances. In order to study the role of microglia in drug abuse, Swiss mice aged 8–9 weeks were treated with the CSF1R inhibitor PLX3397 (40 mg/kg, p.o.) and submitted to behavioral sensitization or conditioned place preference (CPP) induced by cocaine (15 mg/kg, i.p.). Thereafter, brains were used to evaluate the effects of CSF1R inhibition and cocaine administration on morphological, biochemical and molecular changes. CSF1R inhibition attenuated behavioral sensitization, reduced the number of Iba-1+ cells and increased ramification and lengths of the branches in the remaining microglia. Additionally, both cocaine and PLX3397 increased the cell body to total cell size ratio of Iba-1+ cells, as well as CD68+ and GFAP+ stained areas, suggesting an activated pattern of the glial cells. Besides, CSF1R inhibition increased CX3CL1 levels in the striatum, prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, as well as reduced CX3CR1 expression in the hippocampus. In this region, cocaine also reduced BDNF levels, an effect that was enhanced by CSF1R inhibition. In summary, our results suggest that microglia participate in the behavioral and molecular changes induced by cocaine. This study contributes to the understanding of the role of microglia in cocaine addiction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A preferred treatment for residual/recurrent pituitary adenomas has not been established. The existence of higher complication rates for revision surgeries remains under debate. This study aimed to compare complication rates of primary and revision transsphenoidal endoscopic surgeries and to identify risk factors for complications. Data from 144 primary and 39 revision surgeries were analysed. The surgical complications evaluated were intraoperative and postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks; meningitis; permanent diabetes insipidus (DI) and hypopituitarism; worsening visual acuity; ophthalmoplegias; visual field defects; otorhinolaryngological, systemic and vascular complications; and death. The variables that were potentially associated with surgical complications were gender, age, comorbidities, lumbar drain use, duration of lumbar drain use, invasion of the sphenoid and cavernous sinuses, presence and degree of suprasellar expansion, preoperative identification of the pituitary, CSF leaks and intraoperative pituitary identification. Intraoperative CSF leaks, visual field losses and worsening visual acuity were more common for revision surgeries. There were no between-group differences in the occurrence of postoperative CSF leaks; systemic, vascular and otorhinolaryngological complications; meningitis; DI and hypopituitarism; ophthalmoplegias; or death. Intraoperative identification of the pituitary was associated with lower rates of permanent DI and hypopituitarism, systemic complications, intraoperative CSF leaks and worsening visual acuity. Suprasellar expansion increased the risk of intraoperative CSF leaks but not endocrinological deficits or visual impairment. Intraoperative CSF leaks were associated with postoperative CSF leaks, meningitis, anterior hypopituitarism, DI and worsening visual acuity. Intraoperative CSF leaks, worsening visual acuity and visual field losses were more common in reoperated patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Up to 25% of otoplasties can lead to complications, indicating the need for technical refinement. Stenström's anterior auricular cartilage scoring is used in combination with Mustardé's technique to treat the antihelix deformity in several series, with good results. Both can be performed with different instruments such as rasps or puncture needles. Objectives: This study aims to compare the use of puncture needles and rasps for anterior cartilage scoring in otoplasty. The association of Stenström and Mustardé were the basic technique. Anatomical and aesthetic endpoints were assessed. We also reviewed postoperative complications. Methods: Forty-two patients with prominent ears and no previous surgery were randomly assigned needle or rasps technique. They were operated on by the first-year plastic surgery resident in the years of 2014 and 2019. The patients were followed up and reviewed at days 2 and 15, as well as 1, 3 and 6 months postoperatively. The endpoints were evaluated through pre- and postoperative photographs by four experienced plastic surgeons unaware of the techniques used in each case. Patient satisfaction was searched by a "yes" or "no" question. Surgical time and postoperative edema were evaluated in 20 patients (2014 group). Results: There were no statistical differences between the groups in terms of overall results, symmetry, antihelix shape or cartilage fracture. Ninety-five percent of the patients were satisfied with the outcome. The needle technique resulted in less postoperative edema and shorter surgical time. Conclusion: Anterior cartilage scoring used in combination with posterior mattress sutures to treat poorly formed antihelical fold has good and similar results when performed with rasps or puncture needles, even in unexperienced hands. The needle has the advantage of leading to a comparable surgical time and less postoperative edema, while not requiring any special surgical instrument. Level of Evidence IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these evidence-based medicine ratings, please refer to the table of contents or the online instructions to authors www.springer.com/00266. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examined the total phenol and tannin contents in stem bark and leaf tissues of the medicinal species Cenostigma microphyllum (Mart ex. G. Don) E. Gagnon & G. P. Lewis distributed under different rainfall amounts and soil fertility levels in the Caatinga, the largest nucleus of Seasonally Dry Tropical Forest and Woodlands in the Neotropics. Using colorimetric method (Folin–Ciocalteu to total phenol content and casein precipitation to total tannin content), it was shown that both phenol and tannin content was significantly higher in the leaves than in the stem bark. Soil fertility affected negatively only the total phenol content. No relationship was observed between rainfall and compounds, and between soil fertility and total tannin content. Thus, our findings indicate that although water-deficit stress is a limiting factor in arid and semi-arid regions, soil fertility is also an abiotic factor that affect the production of phenolic compounds. Moreover, the concentration of such metabolites changes according to the class of compound and plant tissue analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the physiological and biochemical responses to three different water regimes in two castor bean genotypes (BRS Energia and BRS Nordestina) with different drought tolerance. After 67 days of sowing and 28 days under different water stress levels, some growth parameters were affected by increased stress, resulting in lower height, root, and shoot biomass, leaf area, and number of mature leaves. The increase in cuticular wax load on leaves was prominent under higher water stress. Triterpene and primary alcohols were the main constituent classes identified, but their content did not change under water deficit. Changes primarily occurred in the n-alkane and fatty acid classes. Water stress caused an increase in hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde content, a decrease in soluble protein content, and an increase in the activity of key enzymes of the antioxidant defense system (SOD, CAT, and APX). The BRS Nordestina genotype demonstrated a more efficient protection mechanism against drought compared to BRS Energia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vascular plants exhibit defense syndromes, a variety of interdependent defensive traits against herbivores, which may considerably differ between plant groups. Although ferns are an abundant component of tropical forest understories, studies of fern–herbivore interactions are scarce, and none has focused on the underlying defense syndromes. To examine the potential defense syndromes of 34 species of tropical ferns of Brazilian forests, we measured ten leaf traits and examined their correlation with parallelly assessed leaf damages. The first three components of categorical PCA were related (1) with SLA, water content, nitrogen, and phosphorus (33.2% of variance); (2) with tannins and saponins, but negatively with trichome density (22.5%); and (3) with phenol concentrations (16.1%). We identified three groups of fern species with similar leaf damages but different defense syndromes: (I) 14 species were of high nutritional quality (= high SLA, N and water content), but a variable trichome density; (II) 4 species were of low nutritional quality, but had high phenol concentrations, and often a high trichome density; and (III) 16 species were of intermediate nutritional quality and had a low trichome density or were glabrous. Most species (groups I and III) including tree ferns used chemical defenses to protect their highly valuable, nutritious leaves. Group II, exemplified by bracken fern, combined however a low nutritional quality with a powerful chemical defense, including high phenol concentrations, and many trichomes. Because leaf damages did not differ significantly among groups, we conclude that each defense syndrome provides species with a similar resistance against their herbivores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a chronic disease which presents a big prevalence in the world and several patients with this condition fail to respond to the available treatments. There is a huge unmet clinical need for the development of new therapeutic approaches for this condition. This study aims to evaluate the effects of anodal tDCS on Quality of Life and physical fitness in patients with diabetic polyneuropathy. Methods: A pilot, parallel, sham, randomized, double-blind trial was conducted with twenty patients. Five consecutive sessions of C3/Fp2 tDCS montage were performed. To assess the primary outcome Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) was used. Physical fitness level, according to lower and upper body strength, flexibility, Time Up and Go Test (TUG) and Six-Minute Walking Test (6MWT) were measured as secondary outcomes. The measures were performed at 3 different times (baseline, 1st and 2nd weeks). Results: SF-36 increased throughout the protocol, but no difference between groups were found. However, there was a significant difference between groups at 1st and 2nd weeks, which shows a permanent growth in the active-tDCS group. Physical health and functioning, functional capacity and bodily pain showed significant improvements in active-tDCS group in 1st and 2nd weeks during inter-group analysis. Emotional scores showed significant interaction group-time with interaction effects only for active-group in 1st and 2nd weeks. TUG and 6MWT showed significant improvements only in active-tDCS group. Conclusions: It is suggested that five sessions of anodal M1 tDCS improves QoL and functionality of patients with diabetic polyneuropathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most incident neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by accumulation of extracellular amyloid-β (Aβ), intracellular neurofibrillary tangles, and cognitive impairment. The current available treatments are mainly based on the use of reversible acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors, which only ameliorate the cognitive deficits. However, it is important to develop disease-modifying drugs with neuroprotective effects in order to hamper the progression of the disease. Here, we describe the effect of four promising new drugs with additional protective characteristics on AD-associated memory changes. C57Bl/6 mice treated with the compounds received an intra-hippocampal injection of Aβ1-40 and were submitted to the novel object recognition test, to evaluate memory recovery. All the compounds prevented memory loss. Compounds PQM-56 (4c) and PQM-67 (4g) showed the best profile of memory recovery, representing potential drug candidates for AD treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The monoamine stabilizer (3S)-3-[3-(methenesulfonyl)phenyl]-1-propylpiperidine hidrochloride [(−)-OSU6162] is a promising compound for the treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia. Here, we tested the hypothesis that (−)-OSU6162 prevents hyperlocomotion and sensorimotor deficits in prepulse inhibition of the startle response (PPI) induced by psychomimetic drugs. Male Swiss mice received injections of (−)-OSU6162 (1, 3, 10, or 30 mg/kg), and their motor responses were investigated in the open field and in the catalepsy tests, which predicts liability to induce sedation and extrapyramidal side effects, respectively. Next, in independent experiments, this compound was evaluated for its efficacy to prevent hyperlocomotion induced by cocaine (10 mg/kg; dopamine transporter inhibitor) or ketamine (60 mg/kg; glutamate NMDA channel blocker) in the open field. Finally, we tested if (−)-OSU6162 prevents PPI disruption induced by MK-801 (0.5 mg/kg; glutamate NMDA channel blocker). (−)-OSU6162 induced neither locomotion impairment nor catalepsy. This compound prevented cocaine-induced hyperlocomotion at the doses of 10 and 30 mg/kg and ketamine-induced hyperlocomotion at the doses of 1 and 3 mg/kg. In the sensorimotor test, (−)-OSU6162 failed to reverse MK-801-induced PPI deficits. The dopamine stabilizer (−)-OSU6162 prevents the hyperactivity induced by dopaminergic and anti-glutamatergic drugs at doses that preserve motor functions, although it failed in the PPI test. Its therapeutic potential for specific symptoms of schizophrenia warrants further investigation in both preclinical and clinical studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kefir is an acidic and low alcohol beverage obtained from the fermentation of milk at ambient temperature and, in form of biofilm, it can be used for several purposes, e.g., as an antimicrobial against a wide variety of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and against some fungi. However, some pharmaceutical applications require materials both antibacterial and antioxidant at same time. Herein, we obtain the first fundamental insights into the chemical production of antibacterial and antioxidant biofilms using brown sugar, kefir grains, açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) pulp and cupuaçu (Theobroma grandiflorum Schum) pulp. Four essays were performed to obtain the biofilms, namely a without kefir film, a kefir biofilm, a biofilm of kefir with Cupuaçu extract, and a biofilm of kefir with Açaí extract. The crystallinity of the biofilms was analyzed using X-ray diffraction, which revealed a semicrystalline structure. These results were explained by the biofilms microstructure, which was analyzed by atomic force microscopy, demonstrating a growing dependence of roughness on the substrate concentration, mainly for the Cupuaçu and Açaí biofilms. The homogeneity of the surface of the biofilms was determined, revealing that all the biofilms have uniform distribution of heights on their surfaces. This research showed that the surfaces of the kefir, kefir with Açaí extract and kefir with Cupuaçu extract biofilms are characterized to be amorphous, without any diffraction peak associated with the crystal structure, and having high roughness, indicating that the films have good adhesion, and are uniform in the distribution of surface peaks, thus emphasizing that, once adhered to some surface, there will be no formation of bubbles on their surface. Therefore, considering their potential application in the pharmaceutical industry, the biofilms can be used as natural healing materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early-life challenges, particularly infections and stress, are related to neuropsychiatric disorders such as autism and schizophrenia. Here, we conducted a wide range of behavioral tests in periadolescent (postnatal day (PN) 35) and adult (PN70) Swiss mice neonatally challenged with LPS on PN5 and -7, to unveil behavioral alterations triggered by LPS exposure. Immune and neurotrophic (brain-derived neurotrophic factor—BDNF) alterations were determined in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), hippocampus (HC), and hypothalamus (HT). Since the incidence and clinical manifestations of neurodevelopmental disorders present significant sex-related differences, we sought to distinctly evaluate male and female mice. While on PN35, LPS-challenged male mice presented depressive, anxiety-like, repetitive behavior, and working memory deficits; on PN70, only depressive- and anxiety-like behaviors were observed. Conversely, females presented prepulse inhibition (PPI) deficits in both ages studied. Behavioral changes in periadolescence and adulthood were accompanied, in both sexes, by increased levels of interleukin (IL-4) (PFC, HC, and HT) and decreased levels of IL-6 (PFC, HC, and HT). BDNF levels increased in both sexes on PN70. LPS-challenged male mice presented, in both ages evaluated, increased HC myeloperoxidase activity (MPO); while when adult increased levels of interferon gamma (IFNγ), nitrite and decreased parvalbumin were observed. Alterations in innate immunity and parvalbumin were the main LPS-induced remarks between males and females in our study. We concluded that neonatal LPS challenge triggers sex-specific behavioral and neurochemical alterations that resemble autism spectrum disorder, constituting in a relevant model for the mechanistic investigation of sex bias associated with the development of this disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different factors may contribute to the development of neurodegenerative diseases. Among them, metabolic syndrome (MS), which has reached epidemic proportions, has emerged as a potential element that may be involved in neurodegeneration. Furthermore, studies have shown the importance of the sirtuin family in neuronal survival and MS, which opens the possibility of new pharmacological targets. This study investigates the influence of sirtuin metabolic pathways by examining the functional capacities of glucose-induced obesity in an excitotoxic state induced by a quinolinic acid (QA) animal model. Mice were divided into two groups that received different diets for 8 weeks: one group received a regular diet, and the other group received a high-fat diet (HF) to induce MS. The animals were submitted to a stereotaxic surgery and subdivided into four groups: Standard (ST), Standard-QA (ST-QA), HF and HF-QA. The QA groups were given a 250 nL quinolinic acid injection in the right striatum and PBS was injected in the other groups. Obese mice presented with a weight gain of 40 % more than the ST group beyond acquiring an insulin resistance. QA induced motor impairment and neurodegeneration in both ST-QA and HF-QA, although no difference was observed between these groups. The HF-QA group showed a reduction in adiposity when compared with the groups that received PBS. Therefore, the HF-QA group demonstrated a commitment-dependent metabolic pathway. The results suggest that an obesogenic diet does not aggravate the neurodegeneration induced by QA. However, the excitotoxicity induced by QA promotes a sirtuin pathway impairment that contributes to metabolic changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Acromegaly is a rare, insidious disease resulting from the overproduction of growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), and is associated with a range of comorbidities. The extent of associated complications and mortality risk is related to length of exposure to the excess GH and IGF-1, thus early diagnosis and treatment is imperative. Unfortunately, acromegaly is often diagnosed late, when patients already have a wide range of comorbidities. The presence of comorbid conditions contributes significantly to patient morbidity/mortality and impaired quality of life. Methods: We conducted a retrospective literature review for information relating to the diagnosis of acromegaly, and its associated comorbidities using PubMed. The main aim of this review is to highlight the issues of comorbidities in acromegaly, and to reinforce the importance of early diagnosis and treatment. Findings and conclusions: Successful management of acromegaly goes beyond treating the disease itself, since many patients are diagnosed late in disease evolution, they present with a range of comorbid conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, and sleep apnea. It is important that patients are screened carefully at diagnosis (and thereafter), for common associated complications, and that biochemical control does not become the only treatment goal. Mortality and morbidities in acromegaly can be reduced successfully if patients are treated using a multimodal approach with comprehensive comorbidity management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent evidence suggests that the traditional view of myrmecochory as a highly diffuse interaction between diaspores and a wide range of ant species attracted to their elaiosomes may not be correct. The effectiveness of dispersal varies markedly among ant species, and combined with differential attractiveness of diaspores due to elaiosome size and composition, this raises the potential for myrmecochorous plants to target ant species that offer the highest quality dispersal services. We ask the question: Do particular physical and chemical traits of elaiosomes result in disproportionate removal of Euphorbiaceae diaspores by high-quality disperser ants in Caatinga vegetation of north-eastern Brazil? We offered seeds of five euphorb species that varied in morphological and chemical traits of elaiosomes to seed-dispersing ants. High-quality seed-disperser ants (species of Dinoponera, Ectatomma and Camponotus) were identified as those that rapidly collected and transported diaspores to their nests, often over substantial distances, whereas low-quality disperser ants (primarily species of Pheidole and Solenopsis) typically fed on elaiosomes in situ, and only ever transported diaspores very short distances. Low-quality disperser ants were equally attracted to the elaiosomes of all study species. However, high-quality dispersers showed a strong preference for diaspores with the highest elaiosome mass (and especially proportional mass). As far as we are aware, this is the first study to identify a mechanism of diaspore selection by high-quality ant dispersers based on elaiosome traits under field conditions. Our findings suggest that myrmecochorous plants can preferentially target high-quality seed-disperser ants through the evolution of particular elaiosome traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The current article provides a brief overview of the criteria for defining disease control in acromegaly. Methods: This was a retrospective, narrative review of previously published evidence chosen at the author's discretion along with an illustrative case study from Latin America. Findings and Conclusions: In the strictest sense, 'cure' in acromegaly is defined as complete restoration of normal pulsatile growth hormone secretion, although this is rarely achieved. Rather than 'cure', as such, it is more appropriate to refer to disease control and remission, which is defined mainly in terms of specific biochemical targets (for growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1) that predict or correlate with symptoms, comorbidities and mortality. However, optimal management of acromegaly goes beyond biochemical control to include control of tumour growth (which may be independent of biochemical control) and comprehensive management of the symptoms and comorbidities typically associated with the disease, as these may not be adequately managed with acromegaly-specific therapy alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is the standard treatment in Western countries for gastric cancer patients submitted to curative resection. However, the role of adjuvant CRT in gastric cancer treated with D2 lymphadenectomy has not been well defined. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study in patients with stage II to IV gastric adenocarcinoma with no distant metastases, who underwent curative resection with D2 lymphadenectomy between January 2002 and December 2007. The present study compared the 3-year overall survival of two treatments (adjuvant CRT according to the INT 0116 trial versus resection alone). Survival curves were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method and compared with a log-rank test. Multivariate analysis of prognostic factors was performed by the Cox proportional hazards model. Results: A total of 185 patients were included, 104 patients (56 %) received adjuvant CRT and 81 received resection alone. The 3-year overall survival was 64.4 % in the CRT group and 61.7 % in the resection-alone group ( p: 0.415). However, according to the Cox proportional hazards model, adjuvant CRT was a prognostic factor for 3-year overall survival (hazard ratio [HR] 0.46, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 0.26-0.82, p: 0.008). Conclusions: In the present study, adjuvant CRT was associated with a lower risk of death over a 3-year period in gastric cancer patients treated with D2 lymphadenectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tetracyclines are natural or semi-synthetic bacteriostatic agents which have been used since late 1940s against a wide range of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and atypical organisms such as chlamydia, mycoplasmas, rickettsia, and protozoan parasites. After the discovery of the first tetracyclines, a second generation of compounds was sought in order to improve water solubility for parenteral administration or to enhance bioavailability after oral administration. This approach resulted in the development of doxycycline and minocycline in the 1970s. Doxycycline was included in the World Health Organization Model List of Essential Medicines either as antibacterial or to prevent malaria or to treat patients with this disease. Additional development led to the third generation of tetracyclines, being tigecycline the only medicine of this class to date. Besides antibacterial activities, the anti-inflammatory, antihypernociceptive and neuroprotective activities of tetracyclines began to be widely studied in the late 1990s. Indeed, there has been an increasing interest in investigating the effects induced by minocycline as this liposoluble derivative is known to cross the blood-brain barrier to the greatest extent. Minocycline induces antihypernociceptive effects in a wide range of animal models of nociceptive, inflammatory and neuropathic pain. In this study, we discuss the antihypernociceptive activity of tetracyclines and summarise its underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) have been described to play an important role in cancer, but to date there are no reports on the significance of MCT expression in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). The aim of the present work was to assess the value of MCT expression, as well as co-expression with the MCT chaperone CD147 in GISTs and evaluate their clinical-pathological significance. We analyzed the immunohistochemical expression of MCT1, MCT2, MCT4 and CD147 in a series of 64 GISTs molecularly characterized for KIT, PDGFRA and BRAF mutations. MCT1, MCT2 and MCT4 were highly expressed in GISTs. CD147 expression was associated with mutated KIT ( p = 0.039), as well as a progressive increase in Fletcher's Risk of Malignancy ( p = 0.020). Importantly, co-expression of MCT1 with CD147 was associated with low patient's overall survival ( p = 0.037). These findings suggest that co-expression of MCT1 with its chaperone CD147 is involved in GISTs aggressiveness, pointing to a contribution of cancer cell metabolic adaptations in GIST development and/or progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented regarding the risk of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST).

Responsible for approximately 70% of the world's coffee exports, Brazil is increasingly concerned about the quality of the coffees produced, given the growing demand for so-called specialty coffees. With this, the breeders need, besides the agronomic characteristics, to consider the physical and sensorial quality of the beans in the breeding programs. However, the greater the number of characteristics to be considered in the selection process, the higher the difficulty in selecting superior genotypes. In this context, multivariate analyzes can help to overcome this problem. In the light of the facts, the objective was to select Coffea arabica genotypes with a high simultaneous potential of variables of commercial interest, in three municipalities belonging to the Matas de Minas region—MG, Brazil, through factor analysis, using their scores as criteria or indices of selection for genotype identification. Multivariate analyzes were performed for each environment individually and, by commonality, three factors were established for each environment. The factors were interpreted as sensorial quality, sieve and vigor, in a similar way in the three environments. The interaction genotype by environment was maintained even after the summary of the variables in factorial complexes. The genotypes Catucaí Amarelo 24/137 and H419-3-3-7-16-4-1 excelled in relation to the factorial complexes, besides showing good adaptability and stability, consequently, they present great potential to improve the coffee production performance in the region of Matas de Minas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phyllanthus niruri is a plant that is used to prevent calcium oxalate crystallisation and to block the stone formation in urolithiasis. Contaminants in the environment can be readily taken up by medicinal plants due to their ability to absorb chemicals into their tissues. If contaminated plants are ingested, they have the potential to negatively affect human and environmental health. The aim of this study was to assess contamination in the soil and the medicinal plant P. niruri by cadmium (Cd) in ceramic industrial areas of Monte Carmelo, Brazil. Soil samples and plant samples (divided in root, shoot and leaves) were collected from a contaminated monitoring site and from a rural area (which was used as a reference site for comparative purposes). The Cd concentrations of the samples were analysed with an atomic absorption spectrometer. P. niruri was found to be sensitive to soil contamination by Cd that was attributed to ceramic industrial emissions. The results revealed that Cd bioaccumulation in the roots and shoots of P. niruri was associated with a significant increase (p < 0.05) in the concentration of active lignan compounds (phyllanthin and hypophyllanthin) in the leaves. The identification of high concentrations of Cd and active lignan compounds suggests a risk of contamination of the site and the risk of a high dose of Cd to people exposed at the site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most drugs are synthesized by human medicine both for the treatment of men and animals and are also produced to maintain their physical and chemical properties for a time sufficient to serve a therapeutic purpose in treatments of some kind of illness. Ciprofloxacin is an antibiotic synthetically obtained in 1987 and belongs to the family of fluoroquinolones and is currently prescribed in certain treatments. This work was developed with the objective of evaluating the adsorption of the ciprofloxacin antibiotic in solution on zinc oxide (ZnO) supported on SBA-15-type mesoporous silica. The results showed that the post-synthesis method is effective in impregnating zinc oxide in SBA-15 and its structure has not been damaged and has not lost its organization in the hexagonal 2D planes. The ZnO-SBA-15 (10%) sample adsorbed 69.10% of ciprofloxacin (25 mg/L) in 180 min. Freundlich adsorption model was observed with the correlation factor of R2 = 0.9999, for the adsorbent ZnO-SBA-15 (10%), which showed the best sample. The kinetics was classified as pseudo-second order, as well as the thermodynamic parameters were determined, showing that the process has a spontaneous nature and a value of ΔH° = 4.677 kJ/mol, evidencing that the process has the nature of physiosorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acromegaly is a chronic disease characterized by the presence of a pituitary growth hormone (GH)-producing tumour, excessive secretion of growth hormone, raised levels of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and characteristic clinical presentation of acral enlargement. Over the past two decades, major advances have occurred in the understanding of some aspects of acromegaly--such as the biology of pituitary tumours, the physiology, molecular mechanisms of GH secretion and IGF-I generation, and the pathogenesis of comorbidities. Moreover, new approaches to diagnosis and surveillance (both in terms of screening and follow-up) of acromegaly have led to increases in the number of patients diagnosed with active disease, many of whom would previously have been missed. The development of sensitive assays for detecting plasma GH and IGF-I levels, as well as the widespread use of MRI for visualization of small tumours, have been major contributing factors to these improvements. Treatment advances have resulted in improved cure rates and disease control through novel neurosurgical techniques and pharmacological approaches. This Review summarizes and discusses the changes in our understanding of the epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of acromegaly and its comorbidities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]