Violence against women in the media during the Covid-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: To describe situations of violence against women in the Covid-19 pandemic reported in the media. METHOD: Documentary, qualitative research, in a virtual environment, carried out with 39 reports published in the newspaper O Globo and the Universo On-line portal, between March 2020 and July 2021, in Salvador - BA. Data organization followed the steps of content analysis, with a discussion based on the scientific literature. RESULTS: In the analysis process, four core meanings were organized: social isolation denounces situations of domestic violence; Economic crisis and closed doors: justify more violence?; Tools available for ending violence against women: what changes with the pandemic?; The gender and color of violence in the pandemic. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: The media released alarming data on the intensification and susceptibility of women to different types and situations of violence, especially during social isolation, in the Covid-19 pandemic.

Karaya/Gellan-Gum-Based Bilayer Films Containing 3,3'-Diindolylmethane-Loaded Nanocapsules: A Promising Alternative to Melanoma Topical Treatment.

This study aimed to incorporate nanocapsules containing 3,3'-diindolylmethane (DIM) with antitumor activity into a bilayer film of karaya and gellan gums for use in topical melanoma therapy. Nanocarriers and films were prepared by interfacial deposition of the preformed polymer and solvent casting methods, respectively. Incorporating DIM into nanocapsules increased its antitumor potential against human melanoma cells (A-375) (IC50 > 24.00 µg/mL free DIM × 2.89 µg/mL nanocapsules). The films were transparent, hydrophilic (θ < 90°), had homogeneous thickness and weight, and had a DIM content of 106 µg/cm2. Radical ABTS+ scavenger assay showed that the DIM films presented promising antioxidant action. Remarkably, the films showed selective bioadhesive potential on the karaya gum side. Considering the mechanical analyses, the nanotechnology-based films presented appropriate behavior for cutaneous application and controlled DIM release profile, which could increase the residence time on the application site. Furthermore, the nanofilms were found to increase the permeation of DIM into the epidermis, where melanoma develops. Lastly, the films were non-hemolytic (hemolysis test) and non-irritant (HET-CAM assay). In summary, the combination of karaya and gellan gum in bilayer films that contain nanoencapsulated DIM has demonstrated potential in the topical treatment of melanoma and could serve as a viable option for administering DIM for cutaneous melanoma therapy.

Natural cordiaquinones as strategies to inhibit the growth and biofilm formation of methicillin-sensitive and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus spp.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to investigate the antibacterial and antibiofilm potential of cordiaquinones B, E, L, N, and O against different Staphylococci strains, in addition to analyzing in silico the observed effect. METHODS AND RESULTS: The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined according to CLSI guidelines. The inhibition of biofilm formation was investigated at sub-MICs. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and density functional theory method were performed. The tested strains of Staphylococcus spp. were susceptible to cordiaquinones B, E, and L, among which cordiaquinone B exerted a bactericidal effect, confirmed by a bacterial growth curve study, against Staphylococcus saprophyticus. Cordiaquinones B and E showed lowest MBC values against S. saprophyticus. AFM revealed that cordiaquinone L reduced the mean cell size of S. saprophyticus. Cordiaquinones B and E inhibited the biofilm formation ability of S. aureus by ∼90%. The in silico analysis suggested that the antimicrobial activity of cordiaquinones is driven by their electron donation capability. CONCLUSIONS: Cordiaquinones inhibit the growth and biofilm formation (virulence factor) of both methicillin-sensitive and methicillin-resistant Staphylococci strains, indicating their antimicrobial potential.

Fatores de personalidade e aspectos de saúde em idosos: um estudo longitudinal / Personality factors and health aspects in older adults: a longitudinal study / Factores de personalidad y aspectos de salud en adultos mayores: un estudio longitudinal

O Modelo dos Cinco Grandes Fatores de Personalidade é uma teoria contemporânea que efetivamente auxilia no entendimento das características da personalidade de um indivíduo. Portanto, o presente estudo procurou comparar os cinco grandes fatores de personalidade (neuroticismo, consciência, abertura à experiência, concordância e extroversão) dos idosos antes e depois de um intervalo de quatro anos e identificar o efeito preditivo desses fatores nas variáveis de saúde. Este é um estudo quantitativo e longitudinal. A amostra foi constituída por 60 idosos com idade média de 73,17 anos (DP = 5,99). Os seguintes instrumentos foram aplicados: 1) Questionário de Dados Sociodemográficos e Clínicos e 2) Bateria Fatorial de Personalidade (BFP). As principais descobertas revelaram mudanças significativas nos escores de três fatores de personalidade ao longo de quatro anos: extroversão, consciência e aceitação. Nesse contexto, a variável tempo influenciou significativamente os fatores de personalidade.

The Big Five Personality Factors Model is a contemporary theory that effectively assists in understanding an individual's personality features. Therefore, the present study sought to compare the older adults' big five personality factors (neuroticism, conscientiousness, openness to experience, agreeableness, and extraversion) before and after a four-year interval and to identify the predictive effect of these factors on health variables. This is a quantitative and longitudinal study. The sample consisted of 60 older adults with a mean age of 73.17 years (SD = 5.99). The following instruments were applied: 1) Sociodemographic and Clinical Data Questionnaire; and 2) Personality Factorial Battery (PFB). The main findings revealed significant changes in the scores of three personality factors over four years: extraversion, conscientiousness, and agreeableness. In this context, the time variable had a significant influence on personality factors.

El Gran Modelo de los Cinco Factores de la Personalidad es la teoría contemporánea que efectivamente ayuda a comprender las características de la personalidad de un individuo. Por lo tanto, el presente estudio buscó comparar los cinco grandes factores de personalidad (neuroticismo, conciencia, apertura a la experiencia, amabilidad y extraversión) de los adultos mayores antes y después de un intervalo de cuatro años e identificar el efecto predictivo de estos factores en las variables de salud. Este es un estudio cuantitativo y longitudinal. La muestra consistió en 60 adultos mayores con una edad media de 73.17 años (DE = 5.99). Se aplicaron los siguientes instrumentos: 1) Cuestionario de Datos Sociodemográficos y Clínicos; y 2) Batería Factorial de Personalidad (BFP). Los principales hallazgos revelaron cambios significativos en las puntuaciones de tres factores de personalidad durante cuatro años: extraversión, conciencia y amabilidad. En este contexto, la variable tiempo tuvo una influencia significativa en los factores de personalidad

Dynamic changes in hepatic DNA methylation during the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease induced by a high-sugar diet

DNA methylation is an important epigenetic mechanism of gene expression control. The present study aimed to evaluate the temporal effect of isocaloric high-sugar diet (HSD) intake on the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and the role of DNA methylation in this event. Newly weaned Wistar rats were divided into eight groups and fed a standard chow diet or an HSD ad libitum for 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 15 weeks, and 18 weeks. After the experimental periods, the animals were euthanized and their livers were removed for histological analysis, gene expression of maintenance methylase (Dnmt1), de novo methylases (Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b), demethylases (Tet2 and Tet3) of DNA, and global DNA methylation. HSD intake led to the gradual development of NAFLD. HSD intake for 18 weeks was associated with downregulation of Dnmt1 expression and global DNA hypomethylation; these results were negatively correlated with more severe steatosis scores observed in these animals. The HSD consumption for 18 weeks was also associated with a decrease in Dnmt3a and Tet2 expression. Interestingly, the expression of de novo methyltransferase Dnmt3b was reduced by HSD during all experimental periods. Together, these results indicate that the downregulation of de novo DNA methylation, Dnmt3b, induced by HSD is the primary factor in the development of NAFLD. On the other hand, disease progression is associated with downregulation of maintenance DNA methylation and global DNA hypomethylation. These results suggest a link between the dynamic changes in hepatic DNA methylation and the development of NAFLD induced by an HSD intake. (AU)

Alterações gastrointestinais causadas pela infecção do Sars-Cov-2 / Gastrointestinal changes caused by infection do Sars-Cov-2 / Cambios gastrointestinales causados por la infección de Sars-Cov-2

A pandemia de COVID-19 se propagou rapidamente pelo mundo, causada pela infecção do novo coronavírus (SARS-CoV-2), que surgiu na China no final de 2019. Apesar da porta de entrada mais comum do agente etiológico ser pelo trato respiratório, evidências demonstram que a doença pode apresentar sintomas extrapulmonares, como os do trato gastrointestinal. Descrever sobre possíveis alterações gastrointestinais ocasionadas em pacientes infectados pelo SARS-CoV-2. Tratou-se de uma revisão bibliográfica, que utilizou artigos científicos disponíveis na íntegra em bases de dados Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online, Google Acadêmico, Scientific Electronic Library Online, nos meses de abril a outubro de 2021, além de monografias, dissertações, teses e livros. Foram utilizados como descritores as palavras: SARS-CoV-2 e intestino, COVID-19 e intestino, alterações intestinais na COVID-19. Os distúrbios gastrointestinais mais prevalentes são náuseas, vômitos e diarreia e dor abdominal. O papel da microbiota intestinal em influenciar as doenças pulmonares foi bem articulado, devido à existência do eixo intestino-pulmão, a inflamação em um desses órgãos interfere diretamente no perfil inflamatório no outro. Embora ainda não esteja totalmente esclarecido se os sintomas gastrointestinais indicam maior viremia ou um processo fisiopatológico alternativo, observa-se que a presença destes configura um fator de risco para a maior severidade da doença.

The COVID-19 pandemic has spread rapidly around the world, caused by the infection of the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), which emerged in China at the end of 2019. respiratory evidence shows that the disease can present extrapulmonary symptoms, such as those in the gastrointestinal tract. Objective: To describe possible gastrointestinal alterations caused in patients infected by SARS-CoV-2. Methodology: this was a literature review, which used scientific articles available in full in the Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE), Academic Google, Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO) databases, as well as monographs, dissertations, theses and books. The words used as descriptors were: SARS-CoV-2 and intestine, COVID-19 and intestine, intestinal alterations in COVID-19. Development: The most prevalent gastrointestinal disorders are nausea, vomiting and diarrhea and abdominal pain. The role of the intestinal microbiota in influencing lung diseases was well articulated, due to the existence of the gut- lung axis, inflammation in one of these organs directly interfering with the inflammatory profile in the other. Conclusion: Although it is not yet fully understood whether the gastrointestinal symptoms

La pandemia COVID-19 se ha extendido rápidamente por todo el mundo, causada por la infección del nuevo coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), que surgió en China a finales de 2019. Las evidencias respiratorias muestran que la enfermedad puede presentar síntomas extrapulmonares, como los del tracto gastrointestinal. Objetivo: Describir las posibles alteraciones gastrointestinales causadas en pacientes infectados por SARS-CoV-2. Metodología: se trató de una revisión bibliográfica, que utilizó artículos científicos disponibles en su totalidad en las bases de datos Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE), Academic Google, Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), así como monografías, disertaciones, tesis y libros. Las palabras utilizadas como descriptores fueron: SARS-CoV-2 e intestino, COVID-19 e intestino, alteraciones intestinales en COVID-19. Desarrollo: Las alteraciones gastrointestinales más prevalentes son náuseas, vómitos y diarrea y dolor abdominal. Se articuló bien el papel de la microbiota intestinal en la influencia de las enfermedades pulmonares, debido a la existencia del eje intestino-pulmón, la inflamación en uno de estos órganos interfiere directamente en el perfil inflamatorio del otro. Conclusiones: Aunque aún no se comprenda del todo si los síntomas gastrointestinales indican una mayor viremia o un proceso fisiopatológico alternativo, se observa que su presencia es un factor de riesgo para la mayor gravedad de la enfermedad.

Effects of the Long-Term Consumption of a High-Sucrose Diet on microRNA Expression in Visceral Adipose Tissue of Rats.

Noncoding microRNAs are involved in lipid and carbohydrate metabolism pathways and are powerful regulators of gene expression. The goals of this study were to evaluate the temporal expression profiles of miRNAs in rat adipose tissue and predict mRNA−microRNA interactions. Newly weaned Wistar rats were divided into groups fed a standard diet and high-sucrose diet (HSD). The HSD contains 66.86% carbohydrates (40.45% standard diet, 40.45% condensed milk, and 8.58% crystal sugar), and the HSD was provided for 4, 8 and 15-week periods to investigate the expression levels of miRNAs in visceral adipose tissue using RT−qPCR. Target selection, enriched pathways and networks were analyzed in silico. The factor consumption time significantly was associated to decreases (p < 0.05) in the expression levels of the following miRNAs: 124-5p, 125-5p, 126-5p, 200c-3p, and 212-3p in all experimental groups. The factor diet significantly influenced rno-miR-124-5p, 200c-3p, and 212-3p expression (p < 0.05). A significant reduction (p < 0.05) in rno-miR-27a-3p expression was observed. The biological processes involved key pathways regulating fat deposition. Our findings provide important insights into downregulated miRNA expression patterns in visceral adipose tissue, adiposity level, hyperinsulinemia and increased VLDL-c and triglyceride levels.

Dynamic changes in hepatic DNA methylation during the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease induced by a high-sugar diet.

DNA methylation is an important epigenetic mechanism of gene expression control. The present study aimed to evaluate the temporal effect of isocaloric high-sugar diet (HSD) intake on the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and the role of DNA methylation in this event. Newly weaned Wistar rats were divided into eight groups and fed a standard chow diet or an HSD ad libitum for 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 15 weeks, and 18 weeks. After the experimental periods, the animals were euthanized and their livers were removed for histological analysis, gene expression of maintenance methylase (Dnmt1), de novo methylases (Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b), demethylases (Tet2 and Tet3) of DNA, and global DNA methylation. HSD intake led to the gradual development of NAFLD. HSD intake for 18 weeks was associated with downregulation of Dnmt1 expression and global DNA hypomethylation; these results were negatively correlated with more severe steatosis scores observed in these animals. The HSD consumption for 18 weeks was also associated with a decrease in Dnmt3a and Tet2 expression. Interestingly, the expression of de novo methyltransferase Dnmt3b was reduced by HSD during all experimental periods. Together, these results indicate that the downregulation of de novo DNA methylation, Dnmt3b, induced by HSD is the primary factor in the development of NAFLD. On the other hand, disease progression is associated with downregulation of maintenance DNA methylation and global DNA hypomethylation. These results suggest a link between the dynamic changes in hepatic DNA methylation and the development of NAFLD induced by an HSD intake.

Política Nacional de Atenção Integral à Saúde do Adolescente em Conflito com a Lei (PNAISARI) no Estado do Rio de Janeiro: um estudo exploratório das contribuições da economia política marxista na compreensão do Estado e das políticas de saúde no século XXI / National Policy for Comprehensive Health Care for Adolescents in Conflict with the Law in the State of Rio de Janeiro: an exploratory study of the contributions of Marxist Political Economy to the understanding of the State and health policies in the 21st century

O estudo buscou explorar o papel do Estado na condução Política Nacional de Atenção Integral à Saúde do Adolescente em Conflito com a Lei - PNAISARI no Estado do Rio de Janeiro a partir das contribuições da Economia Política Marxista. Argumenta-se que o Estado é um espaço relacional, complexo e contraditório permeado pela disputa de visões sociais de mundo e que a implementação de políticas públicas, incluindo as políticas de saúde, ocorrem em torno do conflito distributivo. No estudo de caso da PNAISARI foi evidenciado que a publicação das portarias 1.082 e 1.083 levou a indução da descentralização da política aos municípios contribuindo no reconhecimento do direito à saúde dos adolescentes em atendimento socioeducativa e na responsabilidade sanitária do município perante as unidades socioeducativas reforçando o princípio da incompletude institucional previsto no SINASE. O processo de descentralização da política aos municípios foi caracterizado pela baixa participação da Secretaria Estadual de Saúde levando a pactuações interfederativas frágeis e com baixa interlocução entre os gestores da saúde e do socioeducativo na corresponsabilização pela saúde dos adolescentes. Neste cenário, ainda persistem os problemas estruturais do SUS que dificultam ou mesmo impossibilitam a atenção integral à saúde desta população. Desta forma, concluísse que consolidar o direito à saúde dos adolescentes envolve considerar a determinação social da saúde que condiciona a vida e a saúde dos adolescentes e de suas familias. E, ainda, necessariamente o enfrentamento a ideologia neoliberal que impossibilita a conformação de um modelo de proteção social no Brasil.

The present study explored of the State in steering the National Policy on Comprehensive Health Care of Adolescents in Conflict with the Law (PNAISARI) in the State of Rio de Janeiro the contributions of the Marxist Political Economy. It discusses that the State is a relational, complex, and contradictory permeated by the dispute of different ideological views and that the development of public policies, including health policies, happens in the context of a distributive conflict. In the case study of the PNAISARI, it became evident that the publication of resolutions 1.082 e 1.083 leaded to the decentralization to municipalities contributing in the acknowledgement of the right to health of the adolescents under socio-educational measures and in the sanitary responsibility of the municipalities. The decentralization process of the health system to the municipalities was characterized by a low commitment of the State Secretary of Health leading to fragile negotiations and little dialog between health and socio-educational public managers in the commitment to adolescent´s health. In this context, the structural problems of the SUS that limits the possibilities of comprehensive and universal care. As conclusions, the dissertation reaffirms that the right to health of adolescents includes confronting the social determinants of health that deeply influence their lives and health, fighting against the neoliberal ideology that impedes the development of universal social protection in Brazil.

Executive functions in Parkinson's disease / Funções executivas na doença de Parkinson / Funciones ejecutivas en la enfermedad de Parkinson

The objective of this study was to investigate executive functions (EFs) in older adults with Parkinson's disease (PD). It was a cross-sectional and comparative study, composed of 62 participants divided into PD group (n = 31; M age = 75.26; SD age = 7.26) and control group (n = 31; M age = 74.03; SD age = 6.95), aged 61 to 93 years, recruited for convenience in 5 cities in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The instruments used were a sociodemographic data questionnaire; MMSE; GDS-15; BIS-11; verbal fluency tasks (FAS and animals), DEX; WCST-64 and FDT. Descriptive analyzes and Student's t and Chi-square tests were used. The PD group had a lower performance in the WCST-64 and FDT tests compared to controls, indicating worse performance in tasks that required reasoning, cognitive flexibility and processing speed, in addition, showed difficulties in performing tasks that require EF (DEX). (AU)

O objetivo foi investigar as funções executivas (FE) em idosos com Doença de Parkinson (DP). Estudo transversal e comparativo, composto por 62 participantes, 50% do sexo feminino, recrutados por conveniência em cinco cidades do estado do Rio Grande do Sul, e divididos em dois grupos: com DP (n = 31; Midade = 75,26; DP idade = 7,26) e grupo controle (n = 31; M idade = 74,03; DP idade = 6,95), com idade entre 61 e 93 anos. Os instrumentos utilizados foram: questionário de dados sociodemográficos, MEEM; GDS-15; BIS-11; tarefas de fluência verbal (FAS e animais); DEX; WCST-64 e FDT. Foram utilizadas análises descritivas e os testes t de Student e Qui-quadrado. O grupo com DP teve desempenho inferior nos testes WCST-64 e FDT em comparação aos controles, indicando pior desempenho nas tarefas que exigiam raciocínio, flexibilidade cognitiva e velocidade de processamento, além disso, mostraram dificuldades ao realizar tarefas que demandam FE (DEX). (AU)

El objetivo de este trabajo fue investigar las funciones ejecutivas (FE) en ancianos con enfermedad de Parkinson (EP). Se trató de un estudio transversal y comparativo, compuesto por 62 participantes, 50% mujeres, reclutados por conveniencia en cinco ciudades de la provincia de Rio Grande do Sul, y divididos en dos grupos: con EP (n = 31; M edad = 75,26; DS edad = 7,26) y grupo control (n = 31; M edad = 74,03; DS edad = 6,95). Fueron usados cuestionarios de datos sociodemográficos, MEEM, GDS-15; BIS-11; tareas de fluencia verbal (FAS y animales), DEX; WCST-64 y FDT. Se realizaron análisis descriptivos, prueba t de Student y chi-cuadrado. El grupo EP tuvo un rendimiento más bajo en las pruebas WCST-64 y FDT en comparación con el grupo control, lo que indica un peor rendimiento en tareas que requerían razonamiento, flexibilidad cognitiva y velocidad de procesamiento, además, mostró dificultades para realizar tareas que demandan FE (DEX). (AU)

Long-Term Biocide Efficacy and Its Effect on a Souring Microbial Community.

Reservoir souring, which is the production of H2S mainly by sulfate-reducing microorganisms (SRM) in oil reservoirs, has been a long-standing issue for the oil industry. While biocides have been frequently applied to control biogenic souring, the effects of biocide treatment are usually temporary, and biocides eventually fail. The reasons for biocide failure and the long-term response of the microbial community remain poorly understood. In this study, one-time biocide treatments with glutaraldehyde (GA) and an aldehyde-releasing biocide (ARB) at low (100 ppm) and high (750 ppm) doses were individually applied to a complex SRM community, followed by 1 year of monitoring of the chemical responses and the microbial community succession. The chemical results showed that souring control failed after 7 days at a dose of 100 ppm regardless of the biocide type and lasting souring control for the entire 1-year period was achieved only with ARB at 750 ppm. Microbial community analyses suggested that the high-dose biocide treatments resulted in 1 order of magnitude lower average total microbial abundance and average SRM abundance, compared to the low-dose treatments. The recurrence of souring was associated with reduction of alpha diversity and with long-term microbial community structure changes; therefore, monitoring changes in microbial community metrics may provide early warnings of the failure of a biocide-based souring control program in the field. Furthermore, spore-forming sulfate reducers (Desulfotomaculum and Desulfurispora) were enriched and became dominant in both GA-treated groups, which could cause challenges for the design of long-lasting remedial souring control strategies. IMPORTANCE Reservoir souring is a problem for the oil and gas industry, because H2S corrodes the steel infrastructure, downgrades oil quality, and poses substantial risks to field personnel and the environment. Biocides have been widely applied to remedy souring, but the long-term performance of biocide treatments is hard to predict or to optimize due to limited understanding of the microbial ecology affected by biocide treatment. This study investigates the long-term biocide performance and associated changes in the abundance, diversity, and structure of the souring microbial community, thus advancing the knowledge toward a deeper understanding of the microbial ecology of biocide-treated systems and contributing to the improvement of current biocide-based souring control practices. The study showcases the potential application of incorporating microbial community analyses to forecast souring, and it highlights the long-term consequences of biocide treatment in the microbial communities, with relevance to both operators and regulators.

Atividade antimicrobiana in vitro de extratos metanólicos de secreções cutâneas de anfíbios amazônicos sobre fitopatógenos de interesse agrícola / n vitro antimicrobial activity of methanolic extracts from cutaneous secretions of Amazonian amphibians against phytopathogens of agricultural interest

Os mecanismos de defesa bioquímica dos anfíbios envolvem secreções cutâneas de moléculas bioativas com atividade antimicrobiana. Este estudo avaliou a atividade in vitro de extratos metanólicos da secreção cutânea de duas espécies de anfíbios da família Bufonidae, Rhaebo guttatus e Rhinella marina, no controle dos patógenos Fusarium udum, Fusarium solani, Colletotrichum truncatum, Aspergillus flavus, Rhizoctonia solani, Macrophomina phaseolina e Calonectria pseudometrosideri. O extrato de R. guttatus inibiu o crescimento micelial de F. udum, F. solani, A. flavus e M. phaseolina em algumas concentrações testadas. O extrato de R. marina inibiu o crescimento micelial de C. truncatum na concentração de 0,5 mg mL- ¹, e inibiu o crescimento micelial de A. flavus nas concentrações de 0,1 e 0,5 mg mL- ¹, que foi semelhante à inibição pelo controle positivo. O extrato de R. marina também diminuiu a produção de microescleródios de R. solani nas concentrações de 0,2 e 0,3 mg mL- ¹. Além disso, os extratos inibiram a esporulação e germinação de conídios em graus variados. A inibição da formação de apressórios em C. truncatum pelos extratos de R. guttatus e R. marina foi de 85%­99% e 63%­100%, respectivamente. Nossos resultados demonstraram que o tratamento com extratos da secreção cutânea de R. guttatus e R. marina apresentou atividade antifúngica sobre os fitopatógenos estudados.(AU)

Antitumoral activity of micellar solutions containing allyl isothiocyanate: an in vitro study / Actividad antitumoral de soluciones micelares que contienen isotiocianato de alilo: un estudio in vitro

INTRODUCTION: Several natural products exhibit promising antineoplastic activity against bladder cancer cells, including allyl isothiocyanate (AITC). However, the AITC irritates the mucous membranes and induces eczematous or vesicular skin reactions. Thus, pharmaceutical formulations are necessary to overcome these problems. The aim was to develop micellar solutions containing AITC and investigate their antitumoral activity in bladder carcinoma cell lines. METHOD: The micellar solutions were prepared by cold dispersion method. Subsequently, we evaluated cytotoxicity, cell proliferation, cell cycle kinetics and long-term effects of micelles in bladder cancer cells. RESULTS: Cytotoxicity and cell proliferation assays showed there was an increase in AITC activity when it was encapsulated in micelles. We also observed cell cycle arrest in the S phase after treatment with AITC-micelles. Furthermore, the formulation was able to maintain the long-term effects of free AITC. CONCLUSIONS: The micellar solutions developed can become an interesting approach for administration of AITC in the treatment of bladder cancer

INTRODUCCIÓN: Varios productos naturales exhiben actividad antineoplásica prometedora contra las células can¬cerosas de vejiga, incluido el isotiocianato de alilo (AITC). Sin embargo, el AITC irrita las membranas mucosas e induce reacciones cutáneas vesiculares o eccematosas. Por tanto, las formulaciones farmacéuticas son necesarias para superar estos problemas. El objetivo era desarrollar soluciones micelares que contengan AITC e investigar su actividad antitumoral en líneas celulares de carcinoma de vejiga. MÉTODO: Las soluciones micelares se prepararon mediante el método de dispersión en frío. Posteriormente, eval¬uamos la citotoxicidad, la proliferación celular, la cinética del ciclo celular y los efectos a largo plazo de las micelas en las células del cáncer de vejiga. RESULTADOS: Los ensayos de citotoxicidad y proliferación celular mostraron que hubo un aumento en la actividad de AITC cuando se encapsuló en micelas. También observamos la detención del ciclo celular en la fase S después del tratamiento con micelas AITC. Además, la formulación pudo mantener los efectos a largo plazo del AITC libre. CONCLUSIONES: Las soluciones micelares desarrolladas pueden convertirse en un enfoque interesante para la ad¬ministración de AITC en el tratamiento del cáncer de vejiga

Liver lipidome signature and metabolic pathways in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease induced by a high-sugar diet.

Dietary sugar is an important determinant of the development and progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the deleterious effects of sugar intake on NAFLD under energy-balanced conditions are still poorly understood. Here, we provide a comprehensive analysis of the liver lipidome and mechanistic insights into the pathogenesis of NAFLD induced by the chronic consumption of high-sugar diet (HSD). Newly weaned male Wistar rats were fed either a standard chow diet or an isocaloric HSD for 18 weeks. Livers were harvested for histological, oxidative stress, gene expression, and lipidomic analyses. Intake of HSD increased oxidative stress and induced severe liver injury, microvesicular steatosis, and ballooning degeneration of hepatocytes. Using untargeted lipidomics, we identified and quantified 362 lipid species in the liver. Rats fed with HSD displayed increased hepatic levels of triacylglycerol enriched in saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, lipids related to mitochondrial function/structure (phosphatidylglycerol, cardiolipin, and ubiquinone), and acylcarnitine (an intermediate lipid of fatty acid beta-oxidation). HSD-fed animals also presented increased levels of some species of membrane lipids and a decreased content of phospholipids containing omega-6 fatty acids. These changes in the lipidome were associated with the downregulation of genes involved in fatty acid oxidation in the liver. In conclusion, our data suggest that the chronic intake of a HSD, even under isocaloric conditions, induces lipid overload, and inefficient/impaired fatty acid oxidation in the liver. Such events lead to marked disturbance in hepatic lipid metabolism and the development of NAFLD.

"Experiences marked by prejudice(s)?": nurses' representations on 'transvestite' people.

OBJECTIVES: to learn and analyze the structure of nurses' social representations about transvestite people. METHODS: a qualitative research based on the Theory of Social Representations, with 110 nurses enrolled in Graduate Nursing courses, who answered the Free-Association Test, with the stimulus 'transvestite'. Data were processed by the software Ensemble de Programmes Permettant I' Analysedes Évocations. RESULTS: in the central nucleus, the term "prejudice" was the most evoked, followed by "homosexual", "identity" and "female-make-up". Social representation is anchored in the social organization in which transvestite people are still seen and/or associated with homosexuals who make up and assume an identity, without being seen and/or understood as they really are. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: although prejudice is noteworthy as a central element, terms present in the peripheral system reveal that the group recognizes transvestites as a person with rights, which can translate into health care practices.

High-sugar diet intake, physical activity, and gut microbiota crosstalk: Implications for obesity in rats.

This study aims to evaluate the effect of long-term high-sugar diet (HSD) intake and regular physical activity on gut microbiota as well as its health impact. Weaned male Wistar rats were fed with standard chow diet (SSD) or HSD ad libitum and subjected or not to regular swimming training with a workload (2% of body weight) for 15 weeks. Feces samples were used on microbiome analysis using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. HSD increased body mass, adipose cushions, and the serum levels of triglycerides and VLDL, also changed the bacteria taxons associated with metabolic disorders (increase taxons belonging to Proteobacteria phylum and decrease Pediococcus genus); the swim training reverted these changes. SSD intake increased the abundance of bacteria associated with metabolization of dietary fiber. Training in association with SSD consumption beneficially modulated the microbiota, increasing the Bacteroidetes, Bacteroidaceae, Porphyromonadaceae, Parabacteroides, and Lactobacillaceae, and decreasing the Firmicute/Bacteroidetes ratio; training was not able to maintain this profile in animals SHD-fed. Physical training modulates the gut microbiota reversing the obesogenic response caused by SHD. However, training itself is not efficient for up-regulating the probiotic bacteria in comparison to its association with a balanced diet.

Uncovering epigenetic landscape: a new path for biomarkers identification and drug development.

Scientific advances in recent decades have revealed an incredible degree of plasticity in gene expression in response to various environmental, nutritional, physiological, pathological, and behavioral conditions. Epigenetics emerges in this sense, as the link between the internal (genetic) and external (environmental) factors underlying the expression of the phenotype. Methylation of DNA and histone post-translationa modifications are canonical epigenetic events. Additionally, noncoding RNAs molecules (microRNAs and lncRNAs) have also been proposed as another layer of epigenetic regulation. Together, these events are responsible for regulating gene expression throughout life, controlling cellular fate in both normal and pathological development. Despite being a relatively recent science, epigenetics has been arousing the interest of researchers from different segments of the life sciences and the general public. This review highlights the recent advances in the characterization of the epigenetic events and points promising use of these brands for the diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy of diseases. We also present several classes of epigenetic modifying compounds with therapeutic applications (so-call epidrugs) and their current status in clinical trials and approved by the FDA. In summary, hopefully, we provide the reader with theoretical bases for a better understanding of the epigenetic mechanisms and of the promising application of these marks and events in the medical clinic.

Poverty, hunger, and abandonment: representations of the nursing team about homeless persons.

OBJECTIVE: to know the structure of social representations of nursing team with regard to homeless persons. Method a qualitative research based on the structural approach of social representations. A total of 96 professionals from the nursing team working in the Psychosocial Care Network units of a Health District of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, who answered the test of free association of words and a questionnaire with socio-demographic data. The data obtained were processed in softwares that allowed the organization of the frame of four houses and maximum similarity tree. RESULTS: poverty, hunger, abandonment and unemployment are central elements of the image of homeless persons, living in a context permeated by drugs, dirt, neglect and vulnerability. Final considerations The social representation structure of homeless persons is anchored in stereotypes that can interfere both in the provision of care and in the access of the people to health services.

Combining geochemical and chemometric tools to assess the environmental impact of potentially toxic elements in surface sediment samples from an urban river.

This article investigates sediments collected from the banks of the Subaé River located in Todos os Santos Bay in the state of Bahia, Brazil, in 2018, twenty-five years after the closing of a former lead alloy processing plant. Ten sediment samples were collected at different points of the course of the river and its estuarine region. Chemometric tools were used to determine geochemical correlations between the organic matter content and concentration of sulfides and potentially toxic metals. The inorganic geochemical variables (enrichment factor [EF]) used in this evaluation were concentrations of the Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, and Ni. Chemical element analyses were performed using ICP-OES. To assess the interaction between metals and sulfide or metals and organic matter, concentrations of Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, Ni, sulfide, and the silt-clay fraction constituted the organic geochemical parameters selected to characterize the amount of organic matter present in Subaé River sediment samples, determining the carbon content (%TOC) to compose the matrix of the principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis. PCA showed that 88.3% of the samples were representative for assessing correlations between geochemical variables. A tendency toward binding was found among Cu, Cd, Ni, and sulfide, as well as the silt-clay fraction. The concentrations (mg kg-1) of lead, zinc, and copper were higher in both collection campaigns, ranging from 4.72 to 31.34, 12.76 to 54.24, and 5.34 to 31.37, respectively. Pb and Zn were presented in elemental form when assessed as a function of the pH and Eh of the environment. Except for Cd (EF: 0.51 to 5.49), the other elements exhibited little or no potential pollution in the aquatic environment of the Subaé River.

Avaliação de Bem-Estar Psicológico e Sintomas Depressivos em Idosos Saudáveis / Evaluation of Psychological Well-Being and Depressive Symptoms in Healthy Elderly People / Evaluación de Bienestar Psicológico y Sintomas Depresivos en Los Idosos Saludables

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a relação entre bem-estar psicológico e a presença de sintomas depressivos em idosos saudáveis. Os instrumentos utilizados foram: ficha de dados sociodemográficos, EDEP e BDI-II. Os dados foram analisados com o auxílio do SPSS, por meio de frequências, média, desvio padrão e correlações de Spearman. A amostra foi composta por 64 idosos, com média de idade de 69,61 (DP=7,58) e média de escolaridade de 4,59 anos de estudo (DP=2,61). Os resultados indicaram correlação inversa, moderada e significativa entre sintomatologia depressiva e os domínios autonomia, ambiente e relações positivas com os outros, encontrou-se ainda correlação inversa e fraca entre sintomatologia depressiva e crescimento pessoal. Acredita-se que escolaridade e atividade física podem ser fatores protetivos para depressão e bem-estar psicológico no envelhecimento. Por fim, levanta-se a hipótese de haver uma retroalimentação entre as variáveis que se correlacionaram entre si de forma significativa neste estudo. (AU)

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between psychological well-being and depressive symptoms in healthy elderly people. The instruments used were: sociodemographic data questionnaire, EDEP and BDI-II. The data were analyzed in the SPSS using mean and SD, and Spearman correlations. The sample consisted of 64 elderly, with a mean age of 69.61 years (SD=7.58) and a mean educational level of 4.59 years (SD=2.61). The results indicate an inverse, moderate and significant correlation between depressive symptomatology and the domains: autonomy, environment, and positive relationships with others. There was also an inverse and weak correlation between depressive symptomatology and personal growth domain. It is believed that education level can be a protective factor for depression and psychological well-being in aging. Finally, the hypothesis is that there is a feedback cycle between the significantly correlated variables in this study. (AU)

El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar la relación entre bienestar psicológico y la presencia de síntomas depresivos en ancianos sanos. Los instrumentos utilizados fueron: ficha de datos sociodemográficos, EDEP y BDI-II. Los datos fueron analizados con la ayuda del SPSS, por medio de frecuencias, media, desviación estándar y correlaciones de Spearman. La muestra fue compuesta por 64 ancianos, siendo la media de edad fue 69,61 (+7,58) y la media de escolaridad fue de 4,59 años de estudio (+2,61). Los resultados indicaron correlación inversa, moderada y significativa entre sintomatología depresiva y los dominios autonomía, ambiente y relaciones positivas con los demás, se encontró una correlación inversa y débil entre sintomatología depresiva y crecimiento personal. Se cree que la escolaridad y la actividad física son factores protectores para la depresión y el bienestar psicológico en el envejecimiento. Por último, se plantea la hipótesis de que hay una retroalimentación entre las variables que se correlacionaron entre sí de forma significativa en este estudio. (AU)