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Asthma is a chronic inflammatory respiratory condition, characterized by variable airflow limitation, leading to clinical symptoms such as dyspnea and chest tightness. These symptoms result from an underlying inflammatory process. The β2 agonists are bronchodilators prescribed for the relief of the disease. Nevertheless, their efficacy exhibits substantial interindividual variability. Currently, there is widespread recognition of the association between specific genetic variants, predominantly located within the ADRB2 and ADCY9 genes and their efficacy. This association, usually represented by the presence of non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have a strong impact in the protein functionality. The prevalence of these mutations varies based on the ethnic composition of the population and thus understanding the profiles of variability in different populations would contribute significantly to standardizing the use of these medications. In this study, we conducted a sequence-based genotyping of the relevant SNPs within the ADRB2 and ADCY9 genes in patients undergoing treatment with bronchodilators and/or corticosteroids at two healthcare facilities in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. We investigated the presence of c.46A>G, c.79C>G, c.252G>A, and c.491C>T SNPs within the ADRB2, and c.1320018 A>G within the ADCY9. Our results were in line with existing literature data with both for individuals in Brazil and Latin American.

Abstract Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are defined as a rare population of cancer cells related to tumor initiation and maintenance. These cells are primarily responsible for tumor growth, invasion, metastasis, recurrence, and resistance to chemotherapy. In this paper, we demonstrated the ability of Ru(II)-based complexes containing 2-thiouracil derivatives with the chemical formulas trans-[Ru(2TU)(PPh3)2(bipy)]PF6 (1) and trans-[Ru(6m2TU)(PPh3)2(bipy)]PF6 (2) (where 2TU = 2-thiouracil and 6m2TU = 6-methyl-2-thiouracil) to suppress liver CSCs by targeting NF-κB and Akt/mTOR signaling. Complexes 1 and 2 displayed potent cytotoxic effects on cancer cell lines and suppressed liver CSCs from HepG2 cells. Increased phosphatidylserine exposure, loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential, increased PARP (Asp214) cleavage, DNA fragmentation, chromatin condensation and cytoplasmic shrinkage were detected in HepG2 cells treated with these complexes. Mechanistically, complexes 1 and 2 target NF-κB and Akt/mTOR signaling in HepG2 cells. Cell motility inhibition was also detected in HepG2 cells treated with these complexes. Complexes 1 and 2 also inhibited tumor progression in mice with HepG2 cell xenografts and exhibited tolerable systemic toxicity. Taken together, these results indicate that these complexes are new anti-HCC drug candidates that can suppress liver CSCs.

Antioxidants are molecules that act against free radicals, and this effect can bring many benefits to health and society. Antioxidants can be found in various matrices of nature, such as fruits and plants. Some studies have shown that "Rhizophora mangle," a typical mangrove plant, is rich in antioxidants. People report its use for medicinal purposes, such as treating diabetes and high blood pressure. In Espírito Santo, Brazil, the bark extract of the plant is used as a waterproofing agent in the making of the capixaba clay pan, a cultural symbol of the state. Thus, this context was used as a reference for the application of chemical knowledge addressed in the teaching of Instrumental Analytical Chemistry. The participants were undergraduate chemistry students at the Federal University of Espírito Santo (Ufes). Two experiments were designed to be performed by groups of four to five students during 2-4 h laboratory classes. The students employed analytical techniques for spectrophotometric (FRAP, ferric reducing antioxidant power) and electrochemistry (CRAC, ceric reducing antioxidant capacity) determination of the total antioxidant capacity of "R. mangle" bark extracts. The experimental results indicated that the extracts of the plant have significant antioxidant capacity compared to trolox. By performing different extraction procedures and analytical techniques, students were able to compare, analyze, and evaluate strategies aimed at determining antioxidant capacity. The antioxidant capacity assays can be expanded to analyze other matrices of interest to professors and students.

Introdução: Os Beta-lactâmicos (BL) são amplamente usados contra bactérias, as quais podem ter resistência por meio da produção de Beta-lactamase. Para isso dispõe-se de Beta-lactâmicos + Inibidor da Beta-lactamase: a Piperacilina-Tazobactam, por exemplo, inibe a enzima que degrada o BL. Dentre as reações adversas a esse antimicrobiano, a mielotoxicidade é pouco comum; há relatos de 1-4% de frequência da população geral. Objetivo: Relatar caso de efeito adverso raro do uso da Piperacilina-Tazobactam e contribuir para comunidade científica. Método: Relato de caso realizado no Hospital Heliópolis-SP, após aplicação do Termo de Comprometimento Livre e Esclarecido. Resultados: Masculino, 40 anos, queixa de edema, hiperemia e dor no membro inferior direito (MID), associado a febre e náuseas. Ao exame físico, área hiperemiada, não delimitada, dolorosa, edemaciada, se estendendo da perna até metade da coxa e prejudicando o movimento. Paciente é internado para tratamento de celulite com Oxacilina, apresentando reação de hipersensibilidade e necessidade de troca para Daptomicina. Após 5 dias, evoluiu com piora da infecção, associando-se Piperacilina-Tazobactam para cobertura de germes gram negativos. Após 15 dias, de tratamento com Piperacilina-Tazobactam, inicia febre, sem piora clínica e com neutropenia intensa (80/mm³), anemia (HB:10,9 mg/dl) e plaquetopenia (132 mil cels/mm³). Optado por suspensão das drogas e manutenção da internação hospitalar para avaliar evolução. Paciente evolui com ascensão das linhagens hematológicas para níveis normais, resolução da febre e melhora de lesão em MID, recebendo alta hospitalar. Conclusão: O uso frequente de antimicrobianos, requer conhecimento sobre farmacocinética, farmacodinâmica e farmacovigilância, tal qual dos beta lactâmicos, deve ser acompanhado da ciência das possíveis reações adversas, sendo que até mesmo as mais raras podem estar presentes no uso cotidiano dessa classe. Ao se deparar com uma evolução incomum de mielotoxicidade durante o tratamento de uma infecção, é necessário avaliar a gravidade da doença no momento e os riscos e benefícios da suspensão dos antimicrobianos em uso. No caso relatado, com a interrupção da Piperacilina-Tazobactam, a celulite não se exacerbou e a mielotoxicidade se resolveu, prevenindo um desfecho de maior gravidade que poderia decorrer da intensa pancitopenia.

Aquatic macrophytes like Salvinia sp. have rapid proliferation and a great capacity for ecological adaptation. In addition to these characteristics, this study points to their ability to adsorb contaminants such as dyes, metals, and oils. This work aims, through an adsorption study, to propose an alternative treatment using chemically modified Salvinia sp. (SOH) biomass to remove oil from water. Batch adsorption experiments were performed to observe the effects of concentration, pH, time, temperature, desorption, and reuse of the biomass. The adsorption mechanisms, performance, kinetics, isotherm, thermodynamics, and reusability of biomass were evaluated. Both adsorbents were well-defined by the Freundlich model isotherm. According to the results obtained, the qmax was 898.0 mg g−1 for SOH in oil-in-salt water emulsion in 15 min and 930.59 mg g−1 for Salvinia sp. in natura (SS) in the oil-in-water emulsion. In the fixed-bed column adsorption, the adsorption capacity was 2.99 g g−1 for SS and 3.49 g g−1 for SOH, and the saturation capacity was 42.89 g g−1 SS and 42.99 g g−1 SOH. According to the adsorption models, the Bohart–Adams model best fits the experimental data of this study. The SOH adsorbed oil recovery test was successful, with 100% oil recovery.

Infective second-stage juveniles (J2) of Meloidogyne spp. migrate towards host roots, which depends on several factors, including root exudates and soil temperature. Although Meloidogyne enterolobii is a highly virulent nematode that affects major agricultural crops worldwide, there is limited ecological data about it. The objective of this study was to determine the J2 migration pattern vertically in 14-cm long segmented soil columns towards tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and marigold (Tagetes patula) roots, each grown at two soil temperatures (20 or 26ºC). Bottomless cups with tomatoes or marigolds were attached to the top of each column; cups with no plants were used as untreated controls. Juveniles (1,000/column) were injected into a hole located 1 cm from the bottom of each column. The apparatuses were placed in growth chambers at 20 or 26ºC, and J2 were allowed to migrate for 3, 6, 9, or 12 days after injection (DAI). At each harvest, J2 were extracted from each ring of the columns and counted to compare their distribution, and root systems were stained to observe root penetration. M. enterolobii migrated over 13 cm vertically 3 DAI regardless of temperature, even without plant stimuli. The vertical migration was greater at 26ºC, where 60% of active J2 were found at distances >13 cm at 12 DAI. Temperature did not affect root penetration. Overall, a greater number of J2 was observed in tomato roots, and root penetration increased over time.

RESUMO O objetivo desta pesquisa foi infocar os fatores que afetam a qualidade da madeira. Tais fatores podem ser inerentes a própria madeira e também decorrente do ambiente em que as árvores se desenvolveram. A relação existente entre a característica silvicultural aplicada ao rápido crescimento e suas implicações nas propriedades tecnológicas do xilema secundário são avaliadas nesta revisão. O efeito produzido na madeira, tanto em espécies de coníferas como de folhosas, são também abordados, apontando possíveis práticas que visam minimizar tais efeitos.

Hepatic cancer is one of the main causes of cancer-related death worldwide. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a unique subset of cancer cells that promote tumour growth, maintenance, and therapeutic resistance, leading to recurrence. In the present work, the ability of a ruthenium complex containing 1,3-thiazolidine-2-thione (RCT), with the chemical formula [Ru(tzdt)(bipy)(dppb)]PF6, to inhibit hepatic CSCs was explored in human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells. RCT exhibited potent cytotoxicity to solid and haematological cancer cell lines and reduced the clonogenic potential, CD133+ and CD44high cell percentages and tumour spheroid growth of HepG2 cells. RCT also inhibited cell motility, as observed in the wound healing assay and transwell cell migration assay. RCT reduced the levels of Akt1, phospho-Akt (Ser473), phospho-Akt (Thr308), phospho-mTOR (Ser2448), and phospho-S6 (Ser235/Ser236) in HepG2 cells, indicating that interfering with Akt/mTOR signalling is a mechanism of action of RCT. The levels of active caspase-3 and cleaved PARP (Asp214) were increased in RCT-treated HepG2 cells, indicating the induction of apoptotic cell death. In addition, RCT modulated the autophagy markers LC3B and p62/SQSTM1 in HepG2 cells and increased mitophagy in a mt-Keima-transfected mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) cell model, and RCT-induced cytotoxicity was partially prevented by autophagy inhibitors. Furthermore, mutant Atg5-/- MEFs and PentaKO HeLa cells (human cervical adenocarcinoma with five autophagy receptor knockouts) were less sensitive to RCT cytotoxicity than their parental cell lines, indicating that RCT induces autophagy-mediated cell death. Taken together, these data indicate that RCT is a novel potential anti-liver cancer drug with a suppressive effect on CSCs.

The transformation martensite-austenite and Kinetics in Ni-Ti-Hf shape memory alloys (SMAs) were calculated for the first time. The Johnson- Mehl – Avrami- Komogorov (JMAK) equation was used to simulate the transformation Martensite- Austenite, which exhibited the same trends as the DSC test results. DSC studies were conducted using four different heating rates to study the kinetics of the thermally induced transformation process and the dependence of the kinetic parameters and the heating rate. It was clarified that the heating rate adjusts the enthalpies of transformation, indicating that the heating rate can be used to adjust the phase change parameter. The Arrhenius method was used to calculate the activation energies, and it was observed from its use that the activation energies increase as there is an increase in the ternary element in the composition. Moreover, using the same heating is a valuable means of comparing activation energies for the same alloy system. This study provides a reference for designing and calculating the kinetics of Ni- Ti- Hf high-temperature shape memory alloys.

RESUMO: A introdução de árvores em vias públicas sem conhecer as particularidades de cada espécie geram conflitos com equipamentos urbanos como fiações elétricas, encanamentos, calhas, calçamentos, muros, e postes de iluminação. O poder público é o fundamental responsável por políticas de preservação, recuperação e ampliação dos exemplares arbóreos, dando relevância ao cumprimento dos planos de arborização e devendo também propor novas atualizações dessas normativas. Este trabalho tem por objetivo realizar um levantamento qualitativo, identificando as particularidades de todas as espécies, e a quantificação dos conflitos gerados pela arborização na Avenida Adolf John Terry, localizada no município de Corrente - PI. Para isto, foi feito um levantamento dos indivíduos arbóreos existentes nos canteiros centrais da avenida, assim como a identificação das espécies, realizada por meio do conhecimento popular local, para identificação da denominação popular de cada indivíduo. Dos 78 indivíduos encontrados, prevaleceu as espécies exóticas, no qual observou-se que a maior parte desses indivíduos arbóreos geram conflitos com o meio devido à falta de planejamento e escolha inadequada das espécies. Levando então a geração de vários conflitos com os equipamentos urbanos, como o porte é inadequado das arvores, interferindo na fiação elétrica da avenida. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Arborização Urbana, Planejamento Urbano e Equipamentos Urbanos. ABSTRACT: The introduction of trees on public roads without knowing the particularities of each species generate conflicts with urban equipment such as electrical wiring, plumbing, gutters, sidewalks, walls and lampposts. The government is the key responsible for preservation policies, recovery and expansion of arboreal specimens, giving importance to the fulfillment of afforestation plans and should also propose new updates of these regulations. This study aims to conduct a qualitative survey, identifying the characteristics of each species and quantify the conflicts generated. by afforestation on Avenue Adolf John Terry, located in the current municipality - PI. For this, a survey was made of existing individual trees in medians Avenue, as well as the identification of species, held by the local popular knowledge for identification of the popular each individual denomination. It was observed that the choice of species and afforestation plan is essential to avoid many losses that can lead to society. KEYWORDS: Urban Afforestation, Urban Planning e Urban Equipment.

Abstract [Ru(5-FU)(PPh3)2(bipy)]PF6 (Ru/5-FU) is a novel ruthenium complex with 5-fluorouracil with promising potential against colorectal cancer (CRC). In the present study, we investigated the molecular mechanism of Ru/5-FU action in HCT116 CRC cells. Ru/5-FU exhibited potent cytotoxicity on a panel of cancer cell lines and on primary cancer cells and induced apoptosis in HCT116 CRC cells. Ru/5-FU reduced AKT1 gene transcripts, as well as the expression of Akt1 and Akt (pS473) and downstream Akt proteins mTOR (pS2448), S6 (pS235/pS236), 4EBP1 (pT36/pT45), GSK-3β (pS9) and NF-κB p65 (pS529), but not Akt upstream proteins Hsp90 and PI3K p85/p55 (pT458/pT199), indicating an inhibitory action of Akt/mTOR signaling. Ru/5-FU increased LC3B expression and reduced p62/SQSTM1 levels, indicating autophagy induction. Curiously, the autophagy inhibitors 3-methyladenine and chloroquine increased Ru/5-FU-induced cell death, indicating an induction of cytoprotective autophagy by this compound. Ru/5-FU also reduced clonogenic survival, as well as the percentage of CD133+ cells and colonosphere formation, indicating that Ru/5-FU can suppress stem cells in HCT116 cells. Ru/5-FU inhibited cell migration and invasion in wound healing assays and Transwell cell invasion assays, along with a reduction in vimentin expression and an increase in E-cadherin levels, indicating that Ru/5-FU can interfere with epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Ru/5-FU also inhibited in vivo HCT116 cell development and experimental lung metastases in mouse xenograft models. Altogether, these results indicate that Ru/5-FU is an anti-CRC chemotherapy drug candidate with the ability to suppress stemness in CRC cells by inhibiting Akt/mTOR signaling.

Abstract In this work, we describe a novel ruthenium-xanthoxylin complex, [Ru(phen)2(xant)](PF6) (RXC), that can eliminate colorectal cancer (CRC) stem cells by targeting the chaperone Hsp90. RXC exhibits potent cytotoxicity in cancer cell lines and primary cancer cells, causing apoptosis in HCT116 CRC cells, as observed by cell morphology, YO-PRO-1/PI staining, internucleosomal DNA fragmentation, mitochondrial depolarization, and PARP cleavage (Asp214). Additionally, RXC can downregulate the HSP90AA1 and HSP90B1 genes and the expression of HSP90 protein, as well as the expression levels of its downstream/client elements Akt1, Akt (pS473), mTOR (pS2448), 4EBP1 (pT36/pT45), GSK-3β (pS9), and NF-κB p65 (pS529), implying that these molecular chaperones can be molecular targets for RXC. Moreover, this compound inhibited clonogenic survival, the percentage of the CRC stem cell subpopulation, and colonosphere formation, indicating that RXC can eliminate CRC stem cells. RXC reduced cell migration and invasion, decreased vimentin and increased E-cadherin expression, and induced an autophagic process that appeared to be cytoprotective, as autophagy inhibitors enhanced RXC-induced cell death. In vivo studies showed that RXC inhibits tumor progression and experimental metastasis in mice with CRC HCT116 cell xenografts. Taken together, these results highlight the potential of the ruthenium complex RXC in CRC therapy with the ability to eliminate CRC stem cells by targeting the chaperone Hsp90.