Azadirachta indica A. Juss. In Vivo Toxicity-An Updated Review.

The Neem tree, Azadirachta indica A. Juss., is known for its large spectrum of compounds with biological and pharmacological interest. These include, among others, activities that are anticancer, antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory. Some neem compounds are also used as insecticides, herbicides, and/or antifeedants. The safety of these compounds is not always taken into consideration and few in vivo toxicity studies have been performed. The current study is a literature review of the latest in vivo toxicity of A. indica. It is divided in two major sections-aquatic animals toxicity and mammalian toxicity-each related to neem's application as a pesticide or a potential new therapeutic drug, respectively.

Biological Activities of Gedunin-A Limonoid from the Meliaceae Family.

Gedunin is an important limonoid present in several genera of the Meliaceae family, mainly in seeds. Several biological activities have been attributed to gedunin, including antibacterial, insecticidal, antimalarial, antiallergic, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and neuroprotective effects. The discovery of gedunin as a heat shock protein (Hsp) inhibitor represented a very important landmark for its application as a biological therapeutic agent. The current study is a critical literature review based on the several biological activities so far described for gedunin, its therapeutic effect on some human diseases, and future directions of research for this natural compound.

Ziwi: indoor and outdoor planning network-framework to collection, modeling and network structure based on computational optimization and measurements.

Society is increasingly connected, utilizing more data that demands greater capacity and better channel quality. Furthermore, wireless networks are being inserted into the population's daily lives. Therefore, solutions capable of transferring a high volume of data are increasingly needed. In this context, we present a framework that aims to network planning through data collection, modeling, and routers optimization in the environment. Ziwi framework can simulate wireless networks in indoor and outdoor environments with the main classical propagation models, obtain and calculate metrics and performance parameters. It is possible to measure data by cell phone and send it to the website quickly. Furthermore, it can model the data and compare with different propagation models. Also, optimize them using a genetic algorithm or permutation, choosing whether or not to consider sockets to turn on the routers and how many routers are needed to place in the environment. In addition, have a virtual reality environment aiming at greater interactivity with the data. We analyzed framework results comparing with Close-In propagation model, free space model, and statically using the root mean square error metric. Measurements were made in a real environment using the Ziwi mobile application, inserting data captured on Ziwi website to validate the framework.

Flow Cytometry Analysis of Murine Bone Marrow Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells and Stromal Niche Cells.

The bone marrow (BM) is the soft tissue found within bones where hematopoiesis, the process by which new blood cells are generated, primarily occurs. As such, it contains hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs), as well as supporting stromal cells that contribute to the maintenance and regulation of HSPCs. Hematological and other BM disorders disrupt hematopoiesis by affecting hematopoietic cells directly and/or through the alteration of the BM niche. Here, we describe a method to study hematopoiesis in health and malignancy through the phenotypic analysis of murine BM HSPCs and stromal niche populations by flow cytometry. Our method details the required steps to enrich BM cells in endosteal and central BM fractions, as well as the appropriate gating strategies to identify the two key niche cell types involved in HSPC regulation, endothelial cells and mesenchymal stem cells. The phenotypic analysis proposed here may be combined with mouse mutants, disease models, and functional assays to characterize the HSPC compartment and its niche.

Adding value to polyvinylpolypyrrolidone winery residue: A resource of polyphenols with neuroprotective effects and ability to modulate type 2 diabetes-relevant enzymes.

A polyphenols-rich extract was obtained from polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (PVPP) winery residue, and its neuroprotective effects and ability to modulate the kinetics of type 2 diabetes-relevant enzymes were characterized. The PVPP-white wine extract is a mixture of polyphenols (840.08 ± 161.25 µg/mg, dry weight) dominated by proanthocyanidins and hydroxycinnamic acids, affording strong antioxidant activity, as detected by the protection of membrane lipids against oxidation and superoxide radical anion scavenging activity. Regarding type 2 diabetes framework, the extract inhibits α-glucosidase (Ki = 166.9 µg/mL) and aldose reductase (Ki = 127.5 µg/mL) through non-competitive mechanisms. Despite the modest ability to inhibit rat brain acetylcholinesterase, it protects neuronal SH-SY5Y cells against oxidative damage promoted by glutamate, decreasing reactive oxygen species generation and preserving cell redox state. Thus, PVPP-white wine extract has potential to support the development of functional foods and/or nutraceuticals aiming neuroprotection and glucose homeostasis regulation, with high relevance in Alzheimers disease and type 2 diabetes interlink.

Evaluation of progressive hepatic histopathology in long-term tamoxifen therapy.

Tamoxifen (TAM) therapy is the better treatment for breast cancer and the drug use the prophylaxis of this disease in young premenopausal women. Yet, the effects associated with this therapy are unknown. To better understand the extension of this problem, we developed an animal model to mimic this therapy, aiming to evaluate its potential biochemical and histopathological changes in the liver. Young cycling female rats were treated with TAM for one, two and three months and toxicological biomarkers and liver histomorphometry were evaluated. Starting at two months, TAM-treatment prevented the normal age-dependent increase in body weight, without inducing changes in food intake. Serum levels of cholesterol and of the metabolic enzymes creatine kinase and aspartate aminotransferase were reduced in all TAM treatment periods. Serum levels of the metabolic enzymes alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase were increased after the first month but returned to control levels upon 3 months of drug exposition. Moderate microvesicular steatosis, classified only at the first month of TAM treatment, was reduced afterwards. Our model showed an adaptive response of liver upon 3 months of treatment, suggesting that at the stated conditions, TAM will not promote hepatotoxicity. In this way, the present model may be useful in the study of possible key endocrine effects of TAM use and the search for better clinical outcomes.

Participação social de conselheiros de segurança alimentar e nutricional / Participación social de asesores de seguridad alimentaria y nutricional / Social participation of food and nutrition security counselors

OBJECTIVE: To know the sociodemographic profile and social participation of food and nutrition security counselors. METHODS: Cross-sectional study conducted with members of municipal councils and the state council for food and nutrition security of Piauí, Brazil, between 2016 and 2017. A questionnaire was applied for identification of sex, age, schooling, skin color/race, and level of representation; segment and entity represented by them; time of participation in the Food and Nutrition Security National Council (CONSEA); theoretical-political training in food and nutrition security (FNS). The software Stata® was used to organize and analyze data. Variables were presented in numbers and proportions. For association between the variables, Pearson's chi-square test or Fisher's exact test was used, when appropriate, considering the tests with p-value ≤ 0.05 as statistically significant. RESULTS: The study found 117 councilors from 16 municipalities and the (state) CONSEA. The majority were female (69.2%, n = 81), aged between 40 and 59 years (45.3%; n = 53). Moreover, 64.1% (n = 75) attained higher education, 87.2% (n = 102) worked in urban areas, and 35% (n = 41) had been working for the councils for 4 to 6 years. There was a statistically significant association (p=0.056) between participation in conferences and confidence in CONSEA's representation. CONCLUSION: There was a higher prevalence of female counselors, aged between 40 and 59 years, with higher education, from urban area and working for the CONSEA for 4 to 6 years. In addition, there was a high level of insecurity about CONSEA's representation associated with low participation in conferences.

OBJETIVO: Conhecer o perfil sociodemográfico e a participação social de conselheiros de segurança alimentar e nutricional. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal realizado com membros dos conselhos municipais e do conselho estadual de segurança alimentar e nutricional do Piauí, Brasil, entre 2016 a 2017. Aplicou-se questionário para identificação do sexo, idade, escolaridade, cor da pele/raça e instância de representação; segmento e entidade que representa; tempo de participação no Conselho Nacional de Segurança Alimentar e Nutricional (CONSEA) e formação teórico-política em segurança alimentar e nutricional (SAN). Utilizou-se o software Stata® para organizar e analisar os dados. As variáveis foram apresentadas em números e proporções. Para associação entre as variáveis, aplicou-se o qui-quadrado de Pearson ou teste exato de Fisher, quando apropriado, considerando-se estatisticamente significantes os testes com p-valor ≤ 0,05. RESULTADOS: Encontraram-se 117 conselheiros de 16 municípios e do CONSEA (estadual). A maioria era do sexo feminino (69,2%, n = 81), com idade entre 40 e 59 anos (45.3%; n=53). Além disso,64,1% (n = 75) tinham ensino superior, 87,2% (n = 102) trabalhavam em áreas urbanas e 35% (n = 41) possuíam entre 4 e 6 anos de trabalho nos conselhos. Houve associação estatisticamente significativa (p=0,056) entre a participação em conferências e a segurança na representação do CONSEA. CONCLUSÃO: Houve maior prevalência de mulheres conselheiras, entre 40 e 59anos de idade, com nível superior, da área urbana e com tempo de atuação no CONSEA de 4 a 6 anos. Além disso, houve alto nível de insegurança na representação do CONSEA associado à baixa participação nas conferências.

OBJETIVO: Conocer el perfil sociodemográfico y la participación social de los consejeros de seguridad alimentaria y nutricional. MÉTODOS: Estudio transversal realizado con miembros de los consejos municipales y del consejo estadual de seguridad alimentaria y nutricional de Piauí, Brasil, entre 2016 y 2017. Se aplicó un cuestionario para la identificación del sexo, la edad, la escolaridad, el color de la piel/raza y la instancia de representación; el segmento y la entidad que representa; el tiempo de participación en el Consejo Nacional de Seguridad Alimentaria y Nutricional (CONSEA) y la formación teórico-político en seguridad alimentaria y nutricional (SAN). Se utilizó el software Stata® para organizar y analizar los datos. Las variables fueron presentadas en números y proporciones. Para la asociación entre las variables, se aplicó el chi-cuadrado de Pearson o la prueba exacto de Fisher, cuando apropiado, considerándose estadísticamente significativas las pruebas con el p-valor ≤ 0,05. RESULTADOS: Se encontraron 117 consejeros de 16 municipios y del CONSEA (estadual). La mayoría era del sexo femenino (69,2%, n = 81) y con edad entre 40 y 59 años (45,3%; n=53). Además, el 64,1% (n = 75) tenía educación superior, el 87,2% (n = 102) trabajaban en áreas urbanas y el 35% (n = 41) tenían entre 4 y 6 años de trabajo en los consejos. Hubo asociación estadísticamente significativa (p=0,056) entre la participación en ponencias y la seguridad en la representación del CONSEA. CONCLUSIÓN: Hubo mayor prevalencia de mujeres consejeras entre los 40 y 59 años de edad, con educación superior, del área urbana y con tiempo de actuación en el CONSEA entre 4 y 6 años. Además, hubo elevado nivel de inseguridad en la representación del CONSEA asociado con la pequeña participación en las ponencias.