Bioassay-guided Fractionation of Anti-Leishmania amazonensis Extracts from Ampelozizyphus amazonicus by High-speed Countercurrent Chromatography.

Ampelozizyphus amazonicus Ducke, known as "saracura-mirá" in the Amazon rainforest, is valued for its traditional use in malaria prevention and treatment. The plant's roots and bark are employed for these purposes, while the wood is often overlooked. Given the global importance of leishmaniasis, research focused on A. amazonicus anti-Leishmania amazonensis potential. The ethyl acetate extract from the bark (EAEB) exhibited the most effective inhibition of intracellular amastigote growth with IC50 7.0 µg.mL-1 but showed high toxicity (CC50 9.0 µg.mL-1). The wood ethanol (EW) and ethyl acetate (EAEW) extracts demonstrated promising results against L. amazonensis with IC50 15.8 µg.mL-1 and 10.0 µg.mL-1, CC50 50.5 µg.mL-1 and 22.7 µg.mL-1, respectively. High-speed countercurrent chromatography combined with mass spectrometry  off-line detection was employed for the bioassay-guided fractionation of EAEB and EAEW using HEMWat as solvent system. These extracts showed to be rich in saponins and triterpenes, besides minor glycosylated flavonoids. HSCCC was effective in obtaining high purity fractions, leading to the identification of a di-glycosylated triterpene saponin from EAEB, and melaleucic acid from EAEW. These findings highlight A. amazonicus as a potential source for developing new therapeutic alternatives for leishmaniasis and HSCCC as a technique enabling better separation efficiency of complex saponin matrices.

Saracura-Mirá, a Proposed Brazilian Amazonian Adaptogen from Ampelozizyphus amazonicus.

The Amazon Forest is known all over the world for its diversity and exuberance, and for sheltering several indigenous groups and other traditional communities. There, as well as in several other countries, in traditional medical systems, weakness, fatigue and debility are seen as limiting health conditions where medicinal plants are often used in a non-specific way to improve body functions. This review brings together literature data on Ampelozizyphus amazonicus, commonly known in Brazil as "saracura-mirá" and/or "cerveja de índio", as an Amazonian adaptogen, including some contributions from the authors based on their ethnographic and laboratory experiences. Topics such as botany, chemistry, ethnopharmacological and pharmacological aspects that support the adaptogen character of this plant, as well as cultivation, market status and supply chain aspects are discussed, and the gaps to establish "saracura-mirá" as an ingredient for the pharmaceutical purposes identified. The revised data presented good scientific evidence supporting the use of this Amazonian plant as a new adaptogen. Literature data also reveal that a detailed survey on natural populations of this plant is needed, as well as agronomical studies that could furnish A. amazonicus bark as a raw material. Another important issue is the lack of developed quality control methods to assure its quality assessment.

Mass spectrometry as a tool for the dereplication of saponins from Ampelozizyphus amazonicus Ducke bark and wood.

INTRODUCTION: Mass spectrometry in natural products research has been used as a first step to identify possible chemical structures and to guide subsequent efforts to isolate novel compounds. Preparations of Ampelozizyphus amazonicus Ducke (AA) are known for their high content of saponins, especially dammarane-type triterpenoid aglycones. In the Amazon, where it is known as "saracura-mirá", roots and bark are widely used for the treatment and prevention of malaria, while the wood is discarded. The extract prepared from the wood is also saponin-rich, but its exact chemical composition has not been described. OBJECTIVE: This study provides information on the chemical profiling and tentative structural identification of the major compounds (saponins) present in aqueous and ethanol extracts of bark and wood of AA by mass spectrometry. METHODS: The strategy used to identify compounds present in all samples was ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with an ultraviolet detector coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-UV-MS/MS) for the analysis of fragmentation patterns through product ion scan using MZmine 2 software. Also, direct sample injection and electrospray ionisation combined with high-resolution mass spectrometry (DI-ESI-HRMS) measurements were performed. RESULTS: The extracts showed chemical similarity, and 95 saponins were tentatively identified in AA wood and bark, including 73 which are described for the first time as tentative structures for this plant species. CONCLUSION: This research describes a useful method for the fast and simultaneous tentative identification of major saponins in AA, contributing to the study of the chemical properties of this genus and family. Furthermore, it demonstrates the importance of the qualitative dereplication process, allowing a straightforward way to propose the tentative identification of compounds.

Up-Regulation of Nfat5 mRNA and Fzd4 mRNA as a Marker of Poor Outcome in Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate umbilical cord messenger RNA (mRNA) expression as biomarkers for the grade of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and long-term neurodevelopment outcome. STUDY DESIGN: Infants were recruited from the BiHiVE1 study, Ireland (2009-2011), and the BiHiVE2 study, Ireland, and Sweden (2013-2015). Infants with HIE were assigned modified Sarnat scores at 24 hours and followed at 18-36 months. mRNA expression from cord blood was measured using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: We studied 124 infants (controls, n = 37; perinatal asphyxia, n = 43; and HIE, n = 44). Fzd4 mRNA increased in severe HIE (median relative quantification, 2.98; IQR, 2.23-3.68) vs mild HIE (0.88; IQR, 0.46-1.37; P = .004), and in severe HIE vs moderate HIE (1.06; IQR, 0.81-1.20; P = .003). Fzd4 mRNA also increased in infants eligible for therapeutic hypothermia (1.20; IQR, 0.92-2.37) vs those who were ineligible for therapeutic hypothermia group (0.81; IQR, 0.46-1.53; P = .017). Neurodevelopmental outcome was analyzed for 56 infants. Nfat5 mRNA increased in infants with severely abnormal (1.26; IQR, 1.17-1.39) vs normal outcomes (0.97; IQR, 0.83-1.24; P = .036), and also in infants with severely abnormal vs mildly abnormal outcomes (0.96; IQR, 0.80-1.06; P = .013). Fzd4 mRNA increased in infants with severely abnormal (2.51; IQR, 1.60-3.56) vs normal outcomes (0.74; IQR, 0.48-1.49; P = .004) and in infants with severely abnormal vs mildly abnormal outcomes (0.97; IQR, 0.75-1.34; P = .026). CONCLUSIONS: Increased Fzd4 mRNA expression was observed in cord blood of infants with severe HIE; Nfat5 mRNA and Fzd4 mRNA expression were increased in infants with severely abnormal long-term outcomes. These mRNA may augment current measures as early objective markers of HIE severity at delivery.

Anurans of a protected area from Mantiqueira Complex, Atlantic Forest of Minas Gerais state, Brazil / Anuros de uma Unidade de Conservação da Serra da Mantiqueira, Mata Atlântica do estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil

Abstract: The ecological domain of the Atlantic Forest holds a remarkable diversity of anurans with a great degree of endemism, most of which are distributed in high altitude areas, mostly represented by the mountains along the Mantiqueira Complex and Serra do Mar. Despite its biological importance, the region still shows a gap of sampling concerning the amphibians. Thus, we present the first systematic survey of the anuran fauna from Área de Proteção Ambiental Boqueirão da Mira (APABM), in the region of Zona da Mata, Minas Gerais state, Brazil. Two fieldwork expeditions were performed where fifteen sample points were inventoried through active night search and day audiovisual survey in breeding and foraging sites. The anuran fauna of the APABM presented 43 species distributed in 12 families, with the Hylidae family being the richest (17 species). Besides, four species had their distribution increased due to our findings (Hylodes perere, Physalaemus rupestris, Bokermannohyla ibitipoca and Ololygon cosenzai), all of them as endemic to the Mantiqueira Complex. This study revealed that the APABM has a great diversity of anuran species, more representative than adjacent regions such as the Parque Estadual Ibitipoca and close to the richness presented for the Parque Estadual Serra Negra da Mantiqueira. This work demonstrates the great importance of the APABM for conservation, highlighting it as an area of high diversity of the regional anuran species.

Resumo: O domínio ecológico da Mata Atlântica possui uma notável diversidade de anuros com grande grau de endemismo, a maioria distribuídos em áreas de alta altitude, representadas principalmente pelas montanhas ao longo da Serra da Mantiqueira e Serra do Mar. Apesar de sua importância biológica, a região ainda mostra uma lacuna de amostragem em relação aos anfíbios. Assim, apresentamos o primeiro levantamento sistemático da anurofauna da Área de Proteção Ambiental Boqueirão da Mira (APABM), na região da Zona da Mata, Minas Gerais, Brasil. Foram realizadas duas expedições de campo, onde quinze pontos amostrais foram inventariados por meio de procura ativa noturna e diurna audiovisual em locais de reprodução e forrageio. A anurofauna da APABM apresentou 43 espécies distribuídas em 12 famílias, sendo a família Hylidae a mais rica (17 espécies). Além disso, quatro espécies tiveram sua distribuição ampliada devido aos nossos achados (Hylodes perere, Physalaemus rupestris, Bokermannohyla ibitipoca e Ololygon cosenzai), todas elas sendo endêmicas do Complexo da Mantiqueira. Este estudo revelou que a APABM possui uma grande diversidade de espécies de anuros, mais representativas do que regiões adjacentes como o Parque Estadual do Ibitipoca e próximas à riqueza apresentada pelo Parque Estadual da Serra Negra da Mantiqueira. Este trabalho demonstra a grande importância da APABM para a conservação, destacando-a como uma área de alta diversidade de espécies de anuros regionais.

Uma história da psicologia em revista: retomando Mira y López / A history of psychology in review: resuming Mira y Lopez / Una historia de la psicología en revista: retomando a Mira y López

O artigo pretende discutir a obra de Emilio Mira y López e analisar sua importância para a história da psicologia no Brasil. Analisar a trajetória pessoal e profissional desse autor nos auxilia na compreensão do surgimento de certas estratégias de difusão do saber e da prática em psicologia em várias décadas do século XX (1930-1960). Pretende-se, a partir de análise documental e revisão bibliográfica, discutir a atuação de Mira y López na montagem de certos meios de difusão da ciência psicológica: criação de recursos técnicos e teóricos para a atuação profissional (PMK), formação de psicotécnicos, organização do periódico Arquivos Brasileiros de Psicotécnica (ABP) e fundação e direção do Instituto de Seleção e Orientação Profissional (ISOP). O objetivo é demonstrar como essa produção está marcada pelo debate existente na época sobre o papel do especialista nos rumos da sociedade brasileira...

This article intends to discuss the work of Emílio Mira y López and to analyze its importance for the history of Psychology in Brazil. The analysis of the personal and professional trajectory of such author helps to understand the emergence of certain strategies of diffusion of knowledge and practice in Psychology in the first decades of the twentieth century (1930-1960). It is intended, from a documentary analysis and a literature review, to discuss the role of Mira y López when it comes to the dissemination of psychological science: creation of technical and theoretical resources for professional performance (PMK or Mira's test), psychometric training, organization of the Brazilian journal named Brazilian Arquives of Psychometric, in Portuguese: Arquivos Brasileiros de Psicotécnica (ABP) and the foundation and direction of the Professional Selection and Guidance Institute - Instituto de Seleção e Orientação Profissional (ISOP).The goal is to demonstrate how such production is marked by the current debate about the role of this specialist in the course of Brazilian society...

El artículo pretende examinar la obra de Emilio Mira y López y analizar su importancia para la historia de la psicología en Brasil. Analizar la trayectoria personal y profesional de este autor nos ayuda a entender cómo surgieron ciertas estrategias de difusión del conocimiento y la práctica de la psicología en varias décadas del siglo XX (1930-1960). Desde el análisis documental y la revisión de la literatura, se pretende analizar el papel de Mira y López en el montaje de ciertos medios de difusión de la ciencia psicológica: la creación de recursos técnicos y teóricos para la práctica profesional, como el Psicodiagnóstico Miokinético (PMK), la formación de psicotécnicos, la organización de la revista Arquivos Brasileiros de Psicotécnica (ABP) y la fundación y dirección del Instituto de Seleção e Orientação Profissional (ISOP). El objetivo es demostrar cómo esta producción está marcada por el debate existente en esa época sobre el papel del especialista en el curso de la sociedad brasileña...

A redução ao gesto: Mira Schendel encontra Walter Benjamin / The reduction to the gesture: Mira Schendel meets Walter Benjamin

O artigo analisa o trabalho da artista plástica suíço-brasileira Mira Schendel a partir de um conceito proposto por Walter Benjamin. Em Schendel, a busca por uma experiência primordial - um núcleo não representável que habita toda representação - se expressa pela redução a um gesto fundante, gesto este que costuma estar encoberto, nas artes em geral, por um excesso de adornos, metáforas e sentidos figurados. Este procedimento, descrito por Benjamin em seu ensaio sobre Kafka, foi por ele nomeado como redução ao gesto. O artigo procura explorar a potência deste conceito, trabalhando o modo como Schendel foi capaz de formalizá-lo plasticamente em sua obra.

The article uses a concept proposed by Walter Benjamin for understanding the artwork of Swiss-Brazilian painter Mira Schendel. In Schendel, the search for a primordial experience - a non representable core that inhabits each representation - is expressed by the reduction to a foundational gesture which is usually concealed by an excess of ornamentation, metaphors and figurative meanings. This procedure was described in Benjamin's essay on Kafka, where he calls it reduction to the gesture. The article tries to explore the power of this concept, working the way Schendel coul formalize it in her artwork.

Uma história da psicologia em revista: retomando Mira y López / A history of psychology in review: resuming Mira y Lopez / Una historia de la psicología en revista: retomando a Mira y López

O artigo pretende discutir a obra de Emilio Mira y López e analisar sua importância para a história da psicologia no Brasil. Analisar a trajetória pessoal e profissional desse autor nos auxilia na compreensão do surgimento de certas estratégias de difusão do saber e da prática em psicologia em várias décadas do século XX (1930-1960). Pretende-se, a partir de análise documental e revisão bibliográfica, discutir a atuação de Mira y López na montagem de certos meios de difusão da ciência psicológica: criação de recursos técnicos e teóricos para a atuação profissional (PMK), formação de psicotécnicos, organização do periódico Arquivos Brasileiros de Psicotécnica (ABP) e fundação e direção do Instituto de Seleção e Orientação Profissional (ISOP). O objetivo é demonstrar como essa produção está marcada pelo debate existente na época sobre o papel do especialista nos rumos da sociedade brasileira(AU)

This article intends to discuss the work of Emílio Mira y López and to analyze its importance for the history of Psychology in Brazil. The analysis of the personal and professional trajectory of such author helps to understand the emergence of certain strategies of diffusion of knowledge and practice in Psychology in the first decades of the twentieth century (1930-1960). It is intended, from a documentary analysis and a literature review, to discuss the role of Mira y López when it comes to the dissemination of psychological science: creation of technical and theoretical resources for professional performance (PMK or Mira's test), psychometric training, organization of the Brazilian journal named Brazilian Arquives of Psychometric, in Portuguese: Arquivos Brasileiros de Psicotécnica (ABP) and the foundation and direction of the Professional Selection and Guidance Institute - Instituto de Seleção e Orientação Profissional (ISOP).The goal is to demonstrate how such production is marked by the current debate about the role of this specialist in the course of Brazilian society(AU)

El artículo pretende examinar la obra de Emilio Mira y López y analizar su importancia para la historia de la psicología en Brasil. Analizar la trayectoria personal y profesional de este autor nos ayuda a entender cómo surgieron ciertas estrategias de difusión del conocimiento y la práctica de la psicología en varias décadas del siglo XX (1930-1960). Desde el análisis documental y la revisión de la literatura, se pretende analizar el papel de Mira y López en el montaje de ciertos medios de difusión de la ciencia psicológica: la creación de recursos técnicos y teóricos para la práctica profesional, como el Psicodiagnóstico Miokinético (PMK), la formación de psicotécnicos, la organización de la revista Arquivos Brasileiros de Psicotécnica (ABP) y la fundación y dirección del Instituto de Seleção e Orientação Profissional (ISOP). El objetivo es demostrar cómo esta producción está marcada por el debate existente en esa época sobre el papel del especialista en el curso de la sociedad brasileña(AU)

A redução ao gesto: Mira Schendel encontra Walter Benjamin / The reduction to the gesture: Mira Schendel meets Walter Benjamin

O artigo analisa o trabalho da artista plástica suíço-brasileira Mira Schendel a partir de um conceito proposto por Walter Benjamin. Em Schendel, a busca por uma experiência primordial - um núcleo não representável que habita toda representação - se expressa pela redução a um gesto fundante, gesto este que costuma estar encoberto, nas artes em geral, por um excesso de adornos, metáforas e sentidos figurados. Este procedimento, descrito por Benjamin em seu ensaio sobre Kafka, foi por ele nomeado como redução ao gesto. O artigo procura explorar a potência deste conceito, trabalhando o modo como Schendel foi capaz de formalizá-lo plasticamente em sua obra.(AU)

The article uses a concept proposed by Walter Benjamin for understanding the artwork of Swiss-Brazilian painter Mira Schendel. In Schendel, the search for a primordial experience - a non representable core that inhabits each representation - is expressed by the reduction to a foundational gesture which is usually concealed by an excess of ornamentation, metaphors and figurative meanings. This procedure was described in Benjamin's essay on Kafka, where he calls it reduction to the gesture. The article tries to explore the power of this concept, working the way Schendel coul formalize it in her artwork.(AU)

Mira Schendel e psicanálise: sussurrar do invisível / Mira Schendel and psychoanalysis: the whisper of the invisible / Mira Schendel y el psicoanálisis: susurro de lo invisible

O artigo tece aproximações entre o trabalho de Mira Schendel e a psicanálise lacaniana, principalmente em torno da noção de vazio. Esta se desdobra tanto nas obras de Schendel como na clínica psicanalítica lacaniana, e seus contornos ganham diferentes formas e corpos. Tal preocupação os conduz ao zen-budismo, interesse pouco explorado, mas presente em passagens da obra de Jacques Lacan. Um recorte de um caso clínico e a análise de algumas monotipias de Mira Schendel mostram os encontros entre clínica psicanalítica e artes visuais.

The paper presents similarities between Mira Schendel's work and Lacanian psychoanalysis, particularly concerning the notion of emptiness. This notion unfolds itself in Schendel's works, as well as in the Lacanian psychoanalytic practice, and its outlines gain different shapes and bodies. This concern leads to an interest in Zen Buddhism, little explored, but present in passages of Jacques Lacans work. A part of a clinical case and the analysis of some of Schendel's monotypes show a relation between psychoanalytic practice and visual arts.

El artículo presenta las similitudes entre la obra de Mira Schendel y el psicoanálisis lacaniano, en particular alrededor de la noción de vacío. Esta se desdobla tanto en las obras de Schendel como en la clínica psicoanalítica lacaniana, y sus contornos adquieren diferentes formas y cuerpos. Esta preocupación les lleva al budismo zen, un interés poco explorado pero presente en algunos pasajes de la obra de Jacques Lacan. Un recorte de un caso clínico y la revisión de algunos monotipos de Mira Schendel muestran los encuentros entre la clínica psicoanalítica y las artes visuales.