Supplementation of the maternal diet with Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa H.B.K.) prevents cognitive impairment in the offspring of obese mothers.

Maternal obesity may trigger long-term neurodevelopmental disorders in offspring. Considering the benefits of the Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa H.B.K.), a rich source of nutrients such as selenium, this study aimed to evaluate its effect on the behavior of obese rat offspring and its relationship with oxidative stress. From 60 days of age until weaning, female Wistar rats were fed a high-fat diet (mHF) or an HF diet supplemented with 5% Brazil nut (mHF/BN), while control mothers (mCTL) were fed a standard diet or a standard diet supplemented with 5% Brazil nut (mBN). Male pups received a standard diet throughout life and, at 30 and 90 days old, were subjected to behavioral tasks to evaluate anxiety and cognition. Biochemical evaluations were performed at 90 days of age. No alterations were observed in the anxiety behavior of the offspring. However, the offspring of the mHF group (oHF) exhibited impaired short-term memory at 30 and 90 days of age and impaired long-term memory at 30 days. Short-term memory impairment was prevented by Brazil nuts in young rats (30 days). While the serum selenium concentration was reduced in the oHF group, the serum catalase concentration was reduced in all groups, without changes in lipid peroxidation or protein carbonylation. Brazil nut maternal diet supplementation prevented short- and long-term cognitive impairment in the offspring, which may be related to the selenium levels.

Condições de saúde de comunidade quilombola no norte de Minas Gerais / Condiciones de la salud de la comunidad quilombola en el norte de Minas Gerais / Health conditions of quilombola community in the north of Minas Gerais

Objective: To characterize the health of a quilombo community in northern Minas Gerais. Method: This was a descriptive study of a quantitative nature, from the secondary data collection system of the Primary Care Information - SIAB, 2010. Results: It was observed that most households own brick house (89.4%), households are mostly supplied by water from wells and springs (66.3%) without the use of the method forpurification (91, 3%), household garbage and waste (32.0%) are deposited in the open, 74.0% of households have electricity from the public. It observed that the most prevalent diseases were hypertension (9.5%) and Chagas disease (2.5%). In risk analysis, 47.1% of households classified as medium risk. Conclusion: The data shows the vulnerability of the health conditions of quilombola families...

Objetivo: Caracterizar as condições de saúde de uma comunidade quilombola no Norte de Minas Gerais. Método: Trata-se de um estudo descritivo de natureza quantitativa, a partir da coleta de dados secundários Sistema de Informação da Atenção Básica - SIAB, ano de 2010. Resultados: Observou-se que a maioria das famílias possui casa de alvenaria (89,4%); os domicílios em sua maioria são abastecidos pela água proveniente de poços e nascentes (66,3%) sem uso de método para purificação (91,3%); o lixo doméstico e dejetos (32,0%) são depositado a céu aberto; 74,0% das famílias possuem energia elétrica da rede pública. Observou-se que as doenças mais prevalentes foram a hipertensão arterial (9,5%) e a doença de Chagas (2,5%). Na análise de risco, 47,1% das famílias foram classificadas como médio risco. Conclusão:Os dados revelam a vulnerabilidade das condições de saúde das famílias quilombolas...

Objetivo: Caracterizar la salud de una comunidad aislada en el norte de Minas Gerais. Método: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo de carácter cuantitativo, desde el sistema de recolección de datos secundarios de la Información de Atención Primaria - SIAB, 2010. Resultados: Se observó que la mayoría de los hogares poseen casa de ladrillo (89,4%), los hogares son en su mayoría suministrados por el agua de los pozos y los resortes (66,3%) sin el uso del método para la purificación (91, 3%), la basura doméstica y los residuos (32,0%) se depositan al aire libre, el 74,0% de los hogares tienen electricidad por parte del público. Se observó que las enfermedades más prevalentes fueron hipertensión (9,5%) y la enfermedad de Chagas(2,5%). En el análisis de riesgo, el 47,1% de los hogares fueron clasificados como de riesgo medio. Conclusión: Los datos muestran la vulnerabilidad de las condiciones de salud de las familias cimarrones...

Antinociceptive effects of 14-membered cyclopeptide alkaloids.

The analgesic potential of six 14-membered-ring cyclopeptide alkaloids, namely, franganine (1), discarine B (2), scutianines B (3), C (4), and D (5), and adouetine X (6), have been investigated. Among the compounds tested, only franganine (1) and adouetine X (6) produced antinociceptive effects in a mouse model of acute pain, without inducing undesirable side effects. Furthermore, compound 6 also exhibited a pronounced analgesic effect in a chronic neuropathic pain model in mice. It has been found that adouetine X (6) can decrease the activities of Ca(2+)-ATPase and Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase in vitro. Thus, the present findings have demonstrated that adouetine X (6) is a promising analgesic agent.

Spermine attenuates behavioral and biochemical alterations induced by quinolinic acid in the striatum of rats.

Polyamines are aliphatic amines containing nucleophilic centers that are found in all eukaryotic cells, including brain cells. These compounds determine neuroprotection in experimental models of cerebral ischemia and neurotoxicity. In the current study we investigated the protective effects of spermine, an agonist of the polyamine binding site at the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor, against the behavioral and neurochemical alterations induced by quinolinic acid. The unilateral intrastriatal injection of quinolinic acid (180 nmol/site into the dorsal striatum) induced stereotypical motor asymmetries, assessed by the open field and elevated body swing tests. Spermine modulated quinolinic acid-induced rotational behavior biphasically. While the previous intrastriatal administration of spermine at the dose of 0.1 nmol/site increased, the administration of spermine at the dose of 10 nmol/site reduced quinolinic acid-induced rotational behavior. Spermine (10 nmol/site) also decreased the contralateral swing behavior induced by quinolinic acid. Furthermore, the effect of 10 nmol of spermine was counteracted by the co-administration of arcaine (10 nmol), a selective antagonist of the polyamine binding site at the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor. In addition, spermine (10 nmol) protected against quinolinic acid-induced protein carbonylation in the rat striatum, further suggesting an antioxidant role for this polyamine. These results provide evidence that the behavioral and biochemical alterations induced by quinolinic acid are attenuated or prevented by spermine through its interaction with N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor and/or its antioxidant function.