Ansiedade, qualidade do sono e sonolência diurna em estudantes de enfermagem de uma instituição privada / Ansiedad, calidad del sueño y somnolencia diurna en estudiantes de enfermería de un centro privado / Anxiety, sleep quality and daytime sleepiness in nursing students at a privateinstitution

Objetivo:Avaliar a correlação entre a ansiedade com qualidade do sono e sonolência diurna dos estudantes universitários em curso de graduação em enfermagem, assim como caracterizar o perfil sociodemográfico dos estudantes. Metodologia:Estudodescritivo transversalcom abordagem quantitativa envolvendo 255 acadêmicos do curso de Enfermagem de uma instituição privada. A coleta dos dados ocorreu em Outubro de 2022 em salas de aula. Os instrumentos utilizados na coleta dos dados foram o Inventário de Ansiedade de Beck,Índice de Qualidade do Sono de Pittsburgh, Escala de Sonolência de Epwort-th e um questionário sociodemográfico. Utilizou-se o software estatístico R versão 4.0.2 e foram feitas suas correlações. Resultados: Foram encontrados padrões de ansiedade grave, com níveis de sonolência diurna anormal. A correlação entre o Inventário de Ansiedade de Beckcom a Escala de Sonolência de Epworth e o Índice de Qualidade de sono de Pittsburgh, que embora tenha sido considerada fraca a moderada, por sua vez mostrou-se significativa (r=0,29; p=0,01). Ademais, temos que, a relação entre oinventário de Becke o Índice de qualidade de sono de Pittsburgh mostrou-se também com valor de significância (r=0,35; p=0,01). Conclusões:Foi possível compreender que a ansiedade pode interferir na qualidade do sono e sonolência diurna do público de estudantes de Enfermagem (AU).

Objective: To evaluate the correlation between anxiety and sleep quality and daytime sleepiness among undergraduate nursing students, as well as to characterize the students' sociodemographic profile. Methodology: A cross-sectional descriptive study with a quantitative approach involving 255 nursing students from a private institution. Data collection took place in October 2022 in classrooms. The instruments used to collect the data were the Beck Anxiety Inventory, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Epwort-Th Sleepiness Scale and a sociodemographic questionnaire. Statistical software R version 4.0.2 was used and correlations were made. Results:Patterns of severe anxiety were found, with abnormal levels of daytime sleepiness. The correlation between the Beck Anxiety Inventory, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, although considered weak to moderate, was significant (r=0.29; p=0.01). Furthermore, the relationship between the Beck Inventory and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was also found to be significant (r=0.35; p=0.01). Conclusions:It was possible to understand that anxiety can interfere with the quality of sleep and daytime sleepiness among nursing students (AU).

Objetivo:Evaluar la correlación entre la ansiedad y la calidad del sueño y la somnolencia diurna en estudiantes universitarios de enfermería, así como caracterizar el perfil sociodemográfico de los estudiantes. Metodología:Estudio descriptivo transversal con enfoque cuantitativo en el que participaron 255 estudiantes universitarios de enfermería de una institución privada. La recogida de datos tuvo lugar en octubre de 2022 en las aulas. Los instrumentos utilizados para la recogida de datos fueron el Inventario de Ansiedad de Beck, el Índice de Calidad del Sueño de Pittsburgh, la Escala de Somnolencia de Epwort-Th y un cuestionario sociodemográfico. Se utilizó el software estadístico R versión 4.0.2 y se realizaron correlaciones. Resultados:Se encontraron patrones de ansiedad severa, con niveles anormales de somnolencia diurna. La correlación entre el Inventario de Ansiedad de Beck con la Escala de Somnolencia de Epworth y el Índice de Calidad del Sueño de Pittsburgh, aunque se consideró de débil a moderada, fue significativa (r=0,29; p=0,01). Además, la relación entre el Inventario de Beck y el Índice de Calidad del Sueño de Pittsburgh también resultó significativa (r=0,35; p=0,01). Conclusiones: Se pudo comprender que la ansiedad puede interferir en la calidad del sueño y en la somnolencia diurna de los estudiantes de enfermería (AU).

The secretome of macrophages has a differential impact on spinal cord injury recovery according to the polarization protocol.

Introduction: The inflammatory response after spinal cord injury (SCI) is an important contributor to secondary damage. Infiltrating macrophages can acquire a spectrum of activation states, however, the microenvironment at the SCI site favors macrophage polarization into a pro-inflammatory phenotype, which is one of the reasons why macrophage transplantation has failed. Methods: In this study, we investigated the therapeutic potential of the macrophage secretome for SCI recovery. We investigated the effect of the secretome in vitro using peripheral and CNS-derived neurons and human neural stem cells. Moreover, we perform a pre-clinical trial using a SCI compression mice model and analyzed the recovery of motor, sensory and autonomic functions. Instead of transplanting the cells, we injected the paracrine factors and extracellular vesicles that they secrete, avoiding the loss of the phenotype of the transplanted cells due to local environmental cues. Results: We demonstrated that different macrophage phenotypes have a distinct effect on neuronal growth and survival, namely, the alternative activation with IL-10 and TGF-ß1 (M(IL-10+TGF-ß1)) promotes significant axonal regeneration. We also observed that systemic injection of soluble factors and extracellular vesicles derived from M(IL-10+TGF-ß1) macrophages promotes significant functional recovery after compressive SCI and leads to higher survival of spinal cord neurons. Additionally, the M(IL-10+TGF-ß1) secretome supported the recovery of bladder function and decreased microglial activation, astrogliosis and fibrotic scar in the spinal cord. Proteomic analysis of the M(IL-10+TGF-ß1)-derived secretome identified clusters of proteins involved in axon extension, dendritic spine maintenance, cell polarity establishment, and regulation of astrocytic activation. Discussion: Overall, our results demonstrated that macrophages-derived soluble factors and extracellular vesicles might be a promising therapy for SCI with possible clinical applications.

Identification of volatile organic compounds in purple and white soybean flowers by HS-SPME/GC-MS.

This study aimed to establish a method for the extraction, enrichment, and identification of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released by the flowers of purple (BRS 399) and white (DONMARIO 6563) soybean varieties. We tested the Static Headspace (HS) and Solid Phase Microextraction (SPME) methods using various fibre types: PDMS (Polydimethylsiloxane), PDMS/DVB (Divinylbenzene), and PDMS/DVB/CAR (Carboxen). We employed gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to identify the VOCs. The SPME method with PDMS/DVB and PDMS/DVB/CAR fibres yielded the highest number of extracted compounds for both soybean cultivars. Notably, 67 compounds were detected in Glycine max. L for the first time. Using the developed method, we were able to detect 52 and 57 VOCs in the purple and white soybean varieties, respectively, including ketones, alcohols, aldehydes and benzenoids. In conclusion, the method we developed effectively identified VOCs in soybean flowers, thus enriching our understanding of the interactions between soybean flowers and their pollinators.

Intervenção Breve para uso de Substâncias Psicoativas no Brasil: revisão sistemática / Brief Intervention for Psychoactive Substance use in Brazil: a systematic review

RESUMO As Intervenções Breves têm sido preconizadas há mais de 20 anos pela Organização Mundial da Saúde como uma estratégia de prevenção aos problemas relacionados ao uso de Substâncias Psicoativas, tendo como prioridade a aplicação nos serviços de atenção primária à saúde visando a diminuição dos riscos relacionados a esse fenômeno. Diante disso, o objetivo do presente estudo foi mapear e descrever as evidências científicas existentes na literatura sobre o uso de Intervenção Breve para o uso de Substâncias Psicoativas desenvolvidas no Brasil. Trata-se de revisão sistemática. As buscas foram realizadas em sete fontes de informações, em agosto de 2021. Todos os estudos foram desenvolvidos com abordagem quantitativa. O álcool esteve presente na maioria dos estudos, seguido da maconha e nicotina. O cenário predominante foi a unidade básica de saúde, com público de adultos de ambos os sexos e universitários. A maioria apresentou como proposta a Intervenção Breve grupal presencial e somente dez indicaram o referencial norteador da Intervenção Breve utilizada. No Brasil, as Intervenções Breves são incipientes e os estudos apresentados não destacam com exatidão o referencial norteador da intervenção utilizada.

ABSTRACT Brief Interventions have been recommended for more than 20 years by the World Health Organization as a strategy to prevent problems related to the use of Psychoactive Substances, with priority being applied in primary health care services in order to reduce the risks related to this substance. phenomenon. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to map and describe the existing scientific evidence in the literature on the use of Brief Intervention for the use of Psychoactive Substances developed in Brazil. This is a systematic review. Searches were carried out in seven sources of information in August 2021. All studies were developed with a quantitative approach. Alcohol was present in most studies, followed by marijuana and nicotine. The predominant scenario was the basic health unit, with a public of adults of both sexes and university students. The majority presented a brief face-to-face group intervention as a proposal and only ten indicated the guiding reference of the Brief Intervention used. In Brazil, Brief Interventions are incipient and the studies presented do not accurately highlight the guiding reference for the intervention used.

COVID-19 vaccination challenges: from fake news to vaccine hesitancy. / Desafios da imunização contra COVID-19 na saúde pública: das fake news à hesitação vacinal.

This article aims to synthesize articles addressing fake news and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in the context of public health. We conducted an integrative review of articles published in any language between 2019 and 2022 in journals indexed in the following databases: Latin American and the Caribbean Literature on Health Sciences, Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase. A critical analysis was performed, guided by the research question and objective of the review. Eleven articles were selected, the overwhelming majority of which were cross-sectional studies. The main factors related to vaccine take-up highlighted by the studies were gender, age, education level, political leanings, religion, trust in health authorities, and perceptions of side-effects and vaccine efficacy. The main obstacles to attaining optimal vaccination coverage were vaccine hesitancy and disinformation. All studies addressed the relationship between low vaccination intention and the use of social media as a source of information about SARS-CoV-2. It is necessary to build public trust in vaccine safety and efficacy. Promoting a better understanding of the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination is essential to combat vaccine hesitancy and improve vaccine take-up.

O objetivo deste artigo é sintetizar artigos que abordam fake news e hesitação vacinal contra a COVID-19 no contexto de saúde pública. Revisão integrativa que incluiu estudos originais indexados nas bases de dados Literatura Latino Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde; Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online; Scopus; Web of Science e Embase, publicados em qualquer idioma, entre 2019 e 2022. A análise crítica foi realizada na forma descritiva, consoante à pergunta de pesquisa e ao objetivo da revisão. Foram selecionados 11 artigos, com predomínio de estudos transversais. Relacionaram-se ao processo de adesão à vacinação: gênero, idade, estado civil, escolaridade, posicionamento político, religião, confiança em autoridades de saúde, percepção de efeitos colaterais e eficácia das vacinas, entre outros. Hesitação e desinformação são os principais entraves para se alcançar a cobertura vacinal em muitos países. Todos os estudos abordam a relação entre baixa intenção de imunização e uso de mídias sociais como fonte de informação sobre o SARS-CoV-2. É necessário aumentar a confiança na segurança e eficácia das vacinas. A melhor compreensão dos benefícios da vacinação para COVID-19 é imprescindível para combater a hesitação e ampliar a adesão vacinal.

Desafios da imunização contra COVID-19 na saúde pública: das fake news à hesitação vacinal / COVID-19 vaccination challenges: from fake news to vaccine hesitancy

Resumo O objetivo deste artigo é sintetizar artigos que abordam fake news e hesitação vacinal contra a COVID-19 no contexto de saúde pública. Revisão integrativa que incluiu estudos originais indexados nas bases de dados Literatura Latino Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde; Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online; Scopus; Web of Science e Embase, publicados em qualquer idioma, entre 2019 e 2022. A análise crítica foi realizada na forma descritiva, consoante à pergunta de pesquisa e ao objetivo da revisão. Foram selecionados 11 artigos, com predomínio de estudos transversais. Relacionaram-se ao processo de adesão à vacinação: gênero, idade, estado civil, escolaridade, posicionamento político, religião, confiança em autoridades de saúde, percepção de efeitos colaterais e eficácia das vacinas, entre outros. Hesitação e desinformação são os principais entraves para se alcançar a cobertura vacinal em muitos países. Todos os estudos abordam a relação entre baixa intenção de imunização e uso de mídias sociais como fonte de informação sobre o SARS-CoV-2. É necessário aumentar a confiança na segurança e eficácia das vacinas. A melhor compreensão dos benefícios da vacinação para COVID-19 é imprescindível para combater a hesitação e ampliar a adesão vacinal.

Abstract This article aims to synthesize articles addressing fake news and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in the context of public health. We conducted an integrative review of articles published in any language between 2019 and 2022 in journals indexed in the following databases: Latin American and the Caribbean Literature on Health Sciences, Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase. A critical analysis was performed, guided by the research question and objective of the review. Eleven articles were selected, the overwhelming majority of which were cross-sectional studies. The main factors related to vaccine take-up highlighted by the studies were gender, age, education level, political leanings, religion, trust in health authorities, and perceptions of side-effects and vaccine efficacy. The main obstacles to attaining optimal vaccination coverage were vaccine hesitancy and disinformation. All studies addressed the relationship between low vaccination intention and the use of social media as a source of information about SARS-CoV-2. It is necessary to build public trust in vaccine safety and efficacy. Promoting a better understanding of the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination is essential to combat vaccine hesitancy and improve vaccine take-up.

Glycine max (L.) Merr. (Soybean) metabolome responses to potassium availability.

Potassium (K+) has vital physiological and metabolic functions in plants and its availability can impact tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress conditions. Limited studies have investigated the effect of K+ fertilization on soybean metabolism. Using integrated omics, ionomics and metabolomics, we investigated the field-grown Glycine max (soybean) response, after four K+ soil fertilization rates. Soybean leaf and pod tissue (valves and immature seeds) extracts were analysed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-HRMS) and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Multivariate analyses (PCA-X&Y e O2PLS-DA) showed that 51 compounds of 19 metabolic pathways were regulated in response to K+ availability. Under very low potassium availability, soybean plants accumulated of Ca2+, Mg2+, Fe2+, Cu2+, and B in young and old leaves. Potassium fertilization upregulated carbohydrate, galactolipid, and flavonol glycoside biosynthesis in leaves and pod valves, while K+ deficient pod tissues showed increasing amino acids, oligosaccharides, benzoic acid derivatives, and isoflavones contents. Severely K+ deficient soils elicited isoflavones, coumestans, pterocarpans, and soyasaponins in trifoliate leaves, likely associated to oxidative and photodynamic stress status. Additionally, results demonstrate that L-asparagine content is higher in potassium deficient tissues, suggesting this compound as a biomarker of K+ deficiency in soybean plants. These results demonstrate that potassium soil fertilization did not linearly contribute to changes in specialised constitutive metabolites of soybean. Altogether, this work provides a reference for improving the understanding of soybean metabolism as dependent on K+ availability.

Beyond width and density: stable carbon and oxygen isotopes in cork-rings provide insights of physiological responses to water stress in Quercus suber L.

As climate change increasingly affects forest ecosystems, detailed understanding of major effects is important to anticipate their consequences under future climate scenarios. The Mediterranean region is a prominent climate change hotspot, and evergreen cork oak (Quercus suber L.) woodlands are particularly climatically sensitive due to cork (bark) harvesting. Cork oak's drought avoidance strategy is well-known and includes structural and physiological adaptations that maximise soil water uptake and transport and limit water use, potentially leading to reduced stem and cork growth. Trees' responses to cope with water-limited conditions have been extensively described based on cork-rings width and, more recently, on cork-rings density, in dendroecological studies. However, so far, tree functional attributes and physiological strategies, namely photosynthetic metabolism adjustments affecting cork formation, have never been addressed and/or integrated on these previous cork-rings-based studies. In this study, we address the relation between carbon and oxygen stable isotopes of cork rings and precipitation and temperature, in two distinct locations of southwestern Portugal-the (wetter) Tagus basin peneplain and the (drier) Grândola mountains. We aimed at assessing whether the two climatic factors affect cork-ring isotopic composition under contrasting conditions of water availability, and, therefore, if carbon and oxygen signatures in cork can reflect tree functional (physiological and structural) responses to stressful conditions, which might be aggravated by climate change. Our results indicate differences between the study areas. At the drier site, the stronger statistically significant negative cork δ 13C correlations were found with mean temperature, whereas strong positive cork δ 18O correlations were fewer and found only with precipitation. Moreover, at the wetter site, cork rings are enriched in 18O and depleted in 13C, indicating, respectively, shallow groundwater as the water source for physiological processes related with biosynthesis of non-photosynthetic secondary tissues, such as suberin, and a weak stomatal regulation under high water availability, consistent with non-existent water availability constrains. In contrast, at the drier site, trees use water from deeper ground layers, depleted in 18O, and strongly regulate stomatal conductance under water stress, thus reducing photosynthetic carbon uptake and probably relying on stored carbon reserves for cork ring formation. These results suggest that although stable isotopes signatures in cork rings are not proxies for net growth, they may be (fairly) robust indicators of trees' physiological and structural adjustments to climate and environmental changes in Mediterranean environments.

Epigenetics at the crossroads of secondary growth regulation.

The development of plant tissues and organs during post-embryonic growth occurs through the activity of both primary and secondary meristems. While primary meristems (root and shoot apical meristems) promote axial plant growth, secondary meristems (vascular and cork cambium or phellogen) promote radial thickening and plant axes strengthening. The vascular cambium forms the secondary xylem and phloem, whereas the cork cambium gives rise to the periderm that envelops stems and roots. Periderm takes on an increasingly important role in plant survival under climate change scenarios, but it is also a forest product with unique features, constituting the basis of a sustainable and profitable cork industry. There is established evidence that epigenetic mechanisms involving histone post-translational modifications, DNA methylation, and small RNAs play important roles in the activity of primary meristem cells, their maintenance, and differentiation of progeny cells. Here, we review the current knowledge on the epigenetic regulation of secondary meristems, particularly focusing on the phellogen activity. We also discuss the possible involvement of DNA methylation in the regulation of periderm contrasting phenotypes, given the potential impact of translating this knowledge into innovative breeding programs.

Immunomodulatory and regenerative effects of the full and fractioned adipose tissue derived stem cells secretome in spinal cord injury.

Adipose tissue derived stem cells (ASCs) are recognized to secret a myriad of molecules (secretome) know to modulate inflammatory response, promote axonal growth as well vascular remodeling and cellular survival. In previous works we have reported the benefit effects of ASCs transplanted to the injury site in a rat model of spinal cord injury (SCI). Emerging evidence have shown that the therapeutic actions of these cells are a consequence of their intense paracrine activity mediated by their secretome, which includes soluble bioactive molecules and vesicles. In this study, we intended to dissect the vesicular and protein individual function, comparing with whole secretome therapeutic effect. Therefore, we identified a beneficial effect of the whole secretome on neurite growth compared with protein or vesicular fraction alone and characterized their impact on microglia in vitro. Moreover, in a compression SCI mice model, from the motor tests performed, a statistical difference was found on beam balance test revealing differences in motor recovery between the use of the whole the secretome or their protein fraction. Finally, two different delivery methods, local or peripheral (IV), of ASC secretome were tested in vivo. Results indicate that when injected intravenously the secretome of ASCs has a beneficial effect on motor recovery of spinal cord injury animals compared with a single local injection and respective controls. Overall, our results showed that the whole secretome performed better than the fractions individually, raising ASC secretome mode of action as a synergy of proteic and vesicular fraction on SCI context. Also, when intravenously delivered, ASC secretome can promote SCI animal's motor recovery highlighting their therapeutic potential.

Untargeted Metabolomics Analysis by UHPLC-MS/MS of Soybean Plant in a Compatible Response to Phakopsora pachyrhizi Infection.

Phakopsora pachyrhizi is a biotrophic fungus, causer of the disease Asian Soybean Rust, a severe crop disease of soybean and one that demands greater investment from producers. Thus, research efforts to control this disease are still needed. We investigated the expression of metabolites in soybean plants presenting a resistant genotype inoculated with P. pachyrhizi through the untargeted metabolomics approach. The analysis was performed in control and inoculated plants with P. pachyrhizi using UHPLC-MS/MS. Principal component analysis (PCA) and the partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), was applied to the data analysis. PCA and PLS-DA resulted in a clear separation and classification of groups between control and inoculated plants. The metabolites were putative classified and identified using the Global Natural Products Social Molecular Networking platform in flavonoids, isoflavonoids, lipids, fatty acyls, terpenes, and carboxylic acids. Flavonoids and isoflavonoids were up-regulation, while terpenes were down-regulated in response to the soybean-P. pachyrhizi interaction. Our data provide insights into the potential role of some metabolites as flavonoids and isoflavonoids in the plant resistance to ASR. This information could result in the development of resistant genotypes of soybean to P. pachyrhizi, and effective and specific products against the pathogen.

Cork cells in cork oak periderms undergo programmed cell death and proanthocyanidin deposition.

Vascular plants with secondary growth develop a periderm mostly composed of dead suberized cork cells to face environmental hostile conditions. Cork oak has a highly active and long-living phellogen forming a remarkably thick periderm that is periodically debarked for industrial purposes. This wounding originates the quick formation of a new traumatic periderm, making cork oak an exceptional model to study the first periderm differentiation during normal development in young sprigs and traumatic (wound) periderm formation after debarking. Here, we studied the poorly known first periderm differentiation steps that involve cell wall suberization, polyphenolic accumulation and programmed cell death (PCD) by combining transmission electron microscopy, histochemical and molecular methods in periderms from young sprigs. These processes were further compared with traumatic periderms formed after wounding using molecular and histochemical techniques, such as the polyphenolic accumulation. In the first periderms from young sprigs, four distinct differentiation stages were defined according to the presence of PCD morphological features. First young and traumatic periderms showed an upregulation of genes related to suberin biosynthesis, proanthocyanidins biosynthesis and transport, autophagy, and PCD. Traumatic periderms revealed an overall upregulation of these genes, likely resulting from ontogeny differences and distinct phellogen origin associated with a faster metabolism, highlighting the impact of wounding on phellogen activity after debarking. First periderms from young sprigs showed gradual accumulation of proanthocyanidins in the vacuoles throughout PCD stages until total filled lumens, whereas in traumatic periderms, these compounds were found cell wall linked in already empty cells. This work enabled a comprehensive overview of the cork cells differentiation processes contributing to deepening the knowledge of the fundamental ontogenic program of this protective tissue, which is also a unique forest product, constituting the basis of a sustainable and profitable industry.

STRUCTURAL BASES OF GASTROINTESTINAL MOTILITY CHANGES IN PARKINSON'S DISEASE: STUDY IN RATS.

BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal disorders are frequently reported in patients with Parkinson's disease whose disorders reduce the absorption of nutrients and drugs, worsening the clinical condition of patients. However, the mechanisms involved in modifying gastrointestinal pathophysiology have not yet been fully explained. AIM: To evaluate its effects on gastrointestinal motility and the involvement of the vagal and splanchnic pathways. METHODS: Male Wistar rats (250-300 g, n = 84) were used and divided into two groups. Group I (6-OHDA) received an intrastriatal injection of 6-hydroxydopamine (21 µg/animal). Group II (control) received a saline solution (NaCl, 0.9%) under the same conditions. The study of gastric emptying, intestinal transit, gastric compliance and operations (vagotomy and splanchnotomy) were performed 14 days after inducing neurodegeneration. Test meal (phenol red 5% glucose) was used to assess the rate of gastric emptying and intestinal transit. RESULTS: Parkinson's disease delayed gastric emptying and intestinal transit at all time periods studied; however, changes in gastric compliance were not observed. The delay in gastric emptying was reversed by pretreatment with vagotomy and splanchnotomy+celiac gangliectomy, thus suggesting the involvement of such pathways in the observed motor disorders. CONCLUSION: Parkinson's disease compromises gastric emptying, as well as intestinal transit, but does not alter gastric compliance. The delay in gastric emptying was reversed by truncal vagotomy, splanchnotomy and celiac ganglionectomy, suggesting the involvement of such pathways in delaying gastric emptying.

Splenic sympathetic signaling contributes to acute neutrophil infiltration of the injured spinal cord.

BACKGROUND: Alterations in the immune system are a complication of spinal cord injury (SCI) and have been linked to an excessive sympathetic outflow to lymphoid organs. Still unknown is whether these peripheral immune changes also contribute for the deleterious inflammatory response mounted at the injured spinal cord. METHODS: We analyzed different molecular outputs of the splenic sympathetic signaling for the first 24 h after a thoracic compression SCI. We also analyzed the effect of ablating the splenic sympathetic signaling to the innate immune and inflammatory response at the spleen and spinal cord 24 h after injury. RESULTS: We found that norepinephrine (NE) levels were already raised at this time-point. Low doses of NE stimulation of splenocytes in vitro mainly affected the neutrophils' population promoting an increase in both frequency and numbers. Interestingly, the interruption of the sympathetic communication to the spleen, by ablating the splenic nerve, resulted in reduced frequencies and numbers of neutrophils both at the spleen and spinal cord 1 day post-injury. CONCLUSION: Collectively, our data demonstrates that the splenic sympathetic signaling is involved in the infiltration of neutrophils after spinal cord injury. Our findings give new mechanistic insights into the dysfunctional regulation of the inflammatory response mounted at the injured spinal cord.

Unraveling Asian Soybean Rust metabolomics using mass spectrometry and Molecular Networking approach.

Asian Soybean Rust (ASR), caused by the biotrophic fungus Phakopsora pachyrhizi, is a devastating disease with an estimated crop yield loss of up to 90%. Yet, there is a nerf of information on the metabolic response of soybean plants to the pathogen Untargeted metabolomics and Global Natural Products Social Molecular Networking platform approach was used to explore soybean metabolome modulation to P. pachyrhizi infection. Soybean plants susceptible to ASR was inoculated with P. pachyrhizi spore suspension and non-inoculated plants were used as controls. Leaves from both groups were collected 14 days post-inoculation and extracted using different extractor solvent mixtures. The extracts were analyzed on an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography system coupled to high-definition electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry. There was a significant production of defense secondary metabolites (phenylpropanoids, terpenoids and flavonoids) when P. pachyrhizi infected soybean plants, such as putatively identified liquiritigenin, coumestrol, formononetin, pisatin, medicarpin, biochanin A, glyoceollidin I, glyoceollidin II, glyoceollin I, glyoceolidin II, glyoceolidin III, glyoceolidin IV, glyoceolidin VI. Primary metabolites (amino acids, peptides and lipids) also were putatively identified. This is the first report using untargeted metabolomics and GNPS-Molecular Networking approach to explore ASR in soybean plants. Our data provide insights into the potential role of some metabolites in the plant resistance to ASR, which could result in the development of resistant genotypes of soybean to P. pachyrhizi, and effective and specific products against the pathogen.

Structural bases of gastrointestinal motility changes in parkinson's disease: study in rats / Bases estruturais das alterações da motilidade gastrintestinal na doença de parkinson: estudo em ratos

ABSTRACT Background: Gastrointestinal disorders are frequently reported in patients with Parkinson's disease whose disorders reduce the absorption of nutrients and drugs, worsening the clinical condition of patients. However, the mechanisms involved in modifying gastrointestinal pathophysiology have not yet been fully explained. Aim: To evaluate its effects on gastrointestinal motility and the involvement of the vagal and splanchnic pathways. Methods: Male Wistar rats (250-300 g, n = 84) were used and divided into two groups. Group I (6-OHDA) received an intrastriatal injection of 6-hydroxydopamine (21 µg/animal). Group II (control) received a saline solution (NaCl, 0.9%) under the same conditions. The study of gastric emptying, intestinal transit, gastric compliance and operations (vagotomy and splanchnotomy) were performed 14 days after inducing neurodegeneration. Test meal (phenol red 5% glucose) was used to assess the rate of gastric emptying and intestinal transit. Results: Parkinson's disease delayed gastric emptying and intestinal transit at all time periods studied; however, changes in gastric compliance were not observed. The delay in gastric emptying was reversed by pretreatment with vagotomy and splanchnotomy+celiac gangliectomy, thus suggesting the involvement of such pathways in the observed motor disorders. Conclusion: Parkinson's disease compromises gastric emptying, as well as intestinal transit, but does not alter gastric compliance. The delay in gastric emptying was reversed by truncal vagotomy, splanchnotomy and celiac ganglionectomy, suggesting the involvement of such pathways in delaying gastric emptying.

RESUMO Racional: Distúrbios gastrintestinais são frequentemente relatados em pacientes com doença de Parkinson cujos distúrbios reduzem a absorção de nutrientes e fármacos, agravando o quadro clínico dos pacientes. No entanto, os mecanismos envolvidos na alteração da fisiopatologia gastrintestinal ainda não foram totalmente elucidados. Objetivo: Avaliar os seus efeitos sobre a motilidade gastrintestinal e o envolvimento das vias vagal e esplâncnica. Métodos: Ratos Wistar machos (250-300 g, n=84) foram utilizados e divididos em dois grupos. O grupo I (6-OHDA) recebeu injeção intraestriatal de 6-hidroxidopamina (21 µg/animal). O grupo II (controle) recebeu solução salina (NaCl, 0,9%) nas mesmas condições. O estudo do esvaziamento gástrico, trânsito intestinal, complacência gástrica e operações (vagotomia e esplancnotomia) foram realizadas 14 dias após a indução da neurodegeneração. Refeição teste (vermelho de fenol+glicose 5%) foi utilizada para avaliar a taxa de esvaziamento gástrico e o trânsito intestinal. Resultados: A doença de Parkinson retardou o esvaziamento gástrico e o trânsito intestinal em todos os tempos estudados; porém, alterações da complacência gástrica não foram observadas. O retardo do esvaziamento gástrico foi revertido por pré-tratamento com vagotomia e esplancnotomia+gangliectomia celíaca, sugerindo assim, o envolvimento de tais vias nos distúrbios motores observados. Conclusão: A doença de Parkinson compromete o esvaziamento gástrico, bem como o trânsito intestinal, mas não altera a complacência gástrica. O retardo do esvaziamento gástrico foi revertido pela vagotomia troncular, esplancnotomia e gangliectomia celíaca, sugerindo o envolvimento de tais vias no retardo do esvaziamento gástrico.

EFFECT OF CHRONIC RENAL DYSFUNCTION ON THE PERMEABILITY OF THE COLON TO WATER AND ELECTROLYTES: EXPERIMENTAL STUDY IN RATS.

BACKGROUND: Renal insufficiency is a disease that affects several organs by provoking hypervolemia and uremia. The disease reaches more than 500 million people worldwide and few studies bring their influence on the gastrointestinal tract. AIM: To evaluate the influence of 5/6 nephrectomy-induced hypervolemia on colonic permeability to water and electrolytes. METHOD: Sixty male Wistar rats weighing between 280-300 g were divided into three groups: 3, 7 and 14 days after nephrectomy, each one having a false-operated/control and partially nephrectomized. For colonic permeability they were submitted to colonic perfusion with a solution of Tyroad containing phenolphthalein. Differences among the concentrations of Na+, K+ and Cl- were used to calculate the rate of colonic permeability for the electrolytes. Phenolphthalein concentrations were used to evaluate the rate of secretion and water absorption. RESULTS: The colonic secretion of water and electrolytes occurred expressively in the group seven days after nephrectomy. Hemodynamic and biochemical assessments determined the progression of renal failure in all three groups and polyethylene glycol was shown to be effective in reversing the secretory capacity of the colon. CONCLUSION: Hypervolemia established after 7 days post-nephrectomy 5/6 caused marked colonic secretion for water and electrolytes. The organism presents progressive colonic secretion as the blood volume increases; on the other hand, polyethylene glycol was able to revert this secretory framework of the colon to water and electrolytes by reversing the hypervolemia.

Effect of chronic renal dysfunction on the permeability of the colon to water and electrolytes: experimental study in rats / Efeito da disfunção renal crônica sobre a permeabilidade do cólon para água e eletrólitos: estudo experimental em ratos

ABSTRACT Background: Renal insufficiency is a disease that affects several organs by provoking hypervolemia and uremia. The disease reaches more than 500 million people worldwide and few studies bring their influence on the gastrointestinal tract. Aim: To evaluate the influence of 5/6 nephrectomy-induced hypervolemia on colonic permeability to water and electrolytes. Method: Sixty male Wistar rats weighing between 280-300 g were divided into three groups: 3, 7 and 14 days after nephrectomy, each one having a false-operated/control and partially nephrectomized. For colonic permeability they were submitted to colonic perfusion with a solution of Tyroad containing phenolphthalein. Differences among the concentrations of Na+, K+ and Cl- were used to calculate the rate of colonic permeability for the electrolytes. Phenolphthalein concentrations were used to evaluate the rate of secretion and water absorption. Results: The colonic secretion of water and electrolytes occurred expressively in the group seven days after nephrectomy. Hemodynamic and biochemical assessments determined the progression of renal failure in all three groups and polyethylene glycol was shown to be effective in reversing the secretory capacity of the colon. Conclusion: Hypervolemia established after 7 days post-nephrectomy 5/6 caused marked colonic secretion for water and electrolytes. The organism presents progressive colonic secretion as the blood volume increases; on the other hand, polyethylene glycol was able to revert this secretory framework of the colon to water and electrolytes by reversing the hypervolemia.

RESUMO Racional: A insuficiência renal é doença que afeta diversos órgãos por provocar hipervolemia e quadro urêmico ao organismo. A doença atinge mais de 500 milhões de pessoas em todo o mundo, e poucos estudos trazem sua influência sobre o trato gastrointestinal. Objetivo: Avaliar a influência da hipervolemia induzida pela nefrectomia 5/6 sobre a permeabilidade colônica para água e eletrólitos. Método: Foram utilizados 60 ratos machos Wistar, pesando entre 280-300 g divididos em três grupos: 3, 7 e 14 dias de pós-nefrectomia. Cada grupo foi formado por um controle e outro parcialmente nefrectomizado. Para os estudos de permeabilidade colônica, os animais foram submetidos à perfusão colônica com solução de Tyroad contendo fenolftaleína por 60 min. Diferenças entre as concentrações de Na+, K+, e Cl- foram utilizadas para calcular a taxa de permeabilidade colônica para os eletrólitos e as de fenolftaleína para avaliar a taxa de secreção e absorção de água. Resultados: A secreção colônica de água e eletrólitos ocorreu de forma expressiva no grupo 7 dias pós-nefrectomia. Avaliações hemodinâmicas e bioquímicas determinaram a evolução da insuficiência renal nos três grupos e o polietilenoglicol mostrou-se eficaz na reversão da capacidade secretora do cólon. Conclusão: O quadro de hipervolemia estabelecido a partir dos sete dias pós-nefrectomia 5/6 provocou acentuada secreção colônica para água e eletrólitos. O organismo apresenta secreção colônica progressiva a medida que aumenta a volemia sanguínea; por outro lado, o polietilenoglicol foi capaz de reverter esse quadro secretor do cólon para água e eletrólitos por reverter o quadro hipervolêmico.

Cork Oak Young and Traumatic Periderms Show PCD Typical Chromatin Patterns but Different Chromatin-Modifying Genes Expression.

Plants are subjected to adverse conditions being outer protective tissues fundamental to their survival. Tree stems are enveloped by a periderm made of cork cells, resulting from the activity of the meristem phellogen. DNA methylation and histone modifications have important roles in the regulation of plant cell differentiation. However, studies on its involvement in cork differentiation are scarce despite periderm importance. Cork oak periderm development was used as a model to study the formation and differentiation of secondary protective tissues, and their behavior after traumatic wounding (traumatic periderm). Nuclei structural changes, dynamics of DNA methylation, and posttranslational histone modifications were assessed in young and traumatic periderms, after cork harvesting. Lenticular phellogen producing atypical non-suberized cells that disaggregate and form pores was also studied, due to high impact for cork industrial uses. Immunolocalization of active and repressive marks, transcription analysis of the corresponding genes, and correlations between gene expression and cork porosity were investigated. During young periderm development, a reduction in nuclei area along with high levels of DNA methylation occurred throughout epidermis disruption. As cork cells became more differentiated, whole nuclei progressive chromatin condensation with accumulation in the nuclear periphery and increasing DNA methylation was observed. Lenticular cells nuclei were highly fragmented with faint 5-mC labeling. Phellogen nuclei were less methylated than in cork cells, and in lenticular phellogen were even lower. No significant differences were detected in H3K4me3 and H3K18ac signals between cork cells layers, although an increase in H3K4me3 signals was found from the phellogen to cork cells. Distinct gene expression patterns in young and traumatic periderms suggest that cork differentiation might be under specific silencing regulatory pathways. Significant correlations were found between QsMET1, QsMET2, and QsSUVH4 gene expression and cork porosity. This work evidences that DNA methylation and histone modifications play a role in cork differentiation and epidermis induced tension-stress. It also provides the first insights into chromatin dynamics during cork and lenticular cells differentiation pointing to a distinct type of remodeling associated with cell death.

Klebsiella pneumoniae Invasive Syndrome.

Klebsiella pneumoniae invasive syndrome (KPIS) is a rare clinical condition characterized by primary liver abscess associated with metastatic infection. Most case reports are from Southeast Asia, with only one case described in Portugal. The Authors present the case of a 44-year-old man with a history of fever, dry cough and cervicalgia. A thoracic computed tomography (CT) scan showed multiple pulmonary and hepatic nodules, suggestive of metastatic malignancy. Both blood cultures and bronchoalveolar lavage were positive for Klebsiella pneumoniae. Imaging studies were repeated during his hospital stay, showing a reduction in both number and volume of identified lesions, thus revealing their infectious nature. This case illustrates how much this entity can mimic other illnesses. LEARNING POINTS: Klebsiella pneumoniae invasive syndrome is emerging as a global disease.The imaging-led diagnosis of neoplasia was proved incorrect and could have been deleterious for the patient.The lack of diagnostic suspicion can lead to shorter antibiotic treatment regimens, therefore compromising the patient's full recovery.