PERCEPTION, DEGRADATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION OF RIBEIRINHOS FROM IGARAÇU RIVER, PIAUÍ, BRAZIL / PERCEPCIÓN, DEGRADACIÓN Y EDUCACIÓN AMBIENTAL DE RIBEIRINHOS DE RIO IGARAÇU, PIAUÍ, BRASIL / PERCEPÇÃO, DEGRADAÇÃO E EDUCAÇÃO AMBIENTAL DE RIBEIRINHOS DO RIO IGARAÇU, PIAUÍ, BRASIL

Investigations approaching environmental perception clarify fundamental thoughts and attitudes for the development of assimilative environmental education. This study aimed to understand the environmental perception of riverside dwellers in the Igaraçu River, Parnaíba, Piauí, regarding the environmental damage that occurs in the river. One person responsible for each riverine family was selected. These were interviewed using semi-structured forms and asked about the environmental damage that occurs in the river, its causes and consequences. Results were evaluated by Loyalty Level (FL). Most of them perceive the existence of damage in the river (67.86%, n:38). Among the damages, the main causes are garbage (FL: 74.41) and sewage (FL: 11, 60). Although the community depends on the river for food and hydration, most of them do not feel prejudiced (56.9%). On the other hand, they perceive that fauna (FL: 55.35%) and flora (FL: 35.70) are being negatively affected. It is concluded that the informants are aware of the damage that occurs in the river, its causes and consequences, but they do not realize how these changes affect their lives. Thus, it is necessary to incorporate these data in the construction of the environmental education process in this community so that it is more assimilative and effective, to build changes in attitudes, values and mitigation of damage to health.

Investigaciones que abordan el percepción ambiental aclaran pensamientos y actitudes fundamentales para la elaboración de una educación ambiental asimilativa. El objetivo fue comprender la percepción ambiental de los habitantes de las riberas del río Igaraçu, Parnaíba, Piauí, sobre el daño ambiental que se produce en el río. Se seleccionó a una persona responsable de cada familia ribereña. Estos fueron entrevistados a través de formularios semiestructurados y se les preguntó sobre el daño ambiental que se produce en el río, sus causas y consecuencias. Los resultados fueron evaluados por nivel de lealtad (FL). La mayoría percibe la existencia de daños en el río (67,86%, n: 38). Entre los daños, las principales causas son basura (FL: 74.41) y eliminación de agua contaminada (FL: 11, 60). A pesar de la comunidad depende del río para su alimentación e hidratación, gran parte no se siente perjudicada (56,9%), por otro lado perciben que la fauna (FL: 55,35%) y la flora (FL: 35,70) están siendo afectadas. Se concluye que los informantes son conscientes del daño que se produce en el río, sus causas y consecuencias, pero no se dan cuenta de cómo esto afecta sus vidas. Por ello, es necesario incorporar estos datos en la construcción del proceso de Educación Ambiental de esta comunidad para que sea más asimilable y eficaz a fin de construir cambios de actitudes, valores y mitigación de daños a la salud.

Investigações abordando a percepção ambiental esclarecem pensamentos e atitudes fundamentais para a elaboração da educação ambiental assimilativa. Objetivou-se compreender a percepção ambiental de ribeirinhos do Rio Igaraçu, Parnaíba, Piauí sobre os danos ambientais ocorrentes nesse recurso hídrico. Foram selecionados um responsável por cada família ribeirinha. Estes foram entrevistados utilizando formulários semiestruturados e questionados sobre os danos ambientais que ocorrem, causa e consequências. Os resultados foram avaliados pelo Nível de Fidelidade (FL). A maioria deles percebem a existência de danos (67,86%, n:38). Dentre os danos, as principais causas são o lixo (FL: 74,41) e o esgoto (FL:11, 60). Apesar da comunidade depender do rio para alimentação e hidratação, grande parte deles não se sente prejudicada (56,9%). Por outro lado, percebem que a fauna (FL: 55,35%) e a flora (FL: 35,70) estão sendo negativamente afetadas. Conclui-se que os informantes estão cientes dos danos ocorrentes no rio, suas causas e consequências, mas não percebem como estas alterações afetam suas vidas. Desta maneira é necessário a incorporação destes dados na construção do processo da educação ambiental desta comunidade para que essa seja mais assimilativa e efetiva, a fim de construir mudanças de atitudes, valores e mitigação de danos à saúde.

Standardized production of a homogeneous latex enzyme source overcoming seasonality and microenvironmental variables.

Calotropis procera produces a milky sap containing proteolytic enzymes. At low concentrations, they induce milk-clotting (60 µg/ml) and to dehair hides (0.05 and 0.1%). A protocol for obtaining the enzymes is reported. The latex was mixed with distilled water and the mixture was cleaned through centrifugation. It was dialyzed with distilled water and centrifuged again to recover the soluble fraction [EP]. The dialyze is a key feature of the process. EP was characterized in terms of protein profile, chemical stability, among other criteria. Wild plants belonging to ten geographic regions and grown in different ecological conditions were used as latex source. Collections were carried out, spaced at three-month, according to the seasons at the site of the study. Proteolytic activity was measured as an internal marker and for determining stability of the samples. EP was also analyzed for metal content and microbiology. EP showed similar magnitude of proteolysis, chromatographic and electrophoretic profiles of proteins. Samples stored at 25 °C exhibited reduced solubility (11%) and proteolytic capacity (11%) after six months. Enzyme autolysis was negligible. Microbiological and metal analyses revealed standard quality of all the samples tested. EP induced milk clotting and hide dehairing after storage for up to six months.

Association of single nucleotide polymorphisms in TNF-α (-308G/A and -238G/A) to dengue: Case-control and meta-analysis study.

Dengue is an acute viral disease whose clinical condition is related to the interaction of factors related to the Dengue virus (DENV), environment and the host, with the immunity of the human host contributing a substantial role in the pathogenesis of DENV infection. Studies have demonstrated that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the promoter regions of cytokine genes such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) affect transcription and/or expression; and therefore, may influence the pathogenesis of infectious diseases, such as dengue. Consequently, the objective of this study was to assess through a case-control study whether there was an association between the presence of SNPs -308G/A and -238G/A in the TNF-α gene and 158 patients with dengue and 123 controls. No association was found between the SNPs and the dengue cases in the study population. We then performed a meta-analysis, retrieving data from case-control studies in the literature for the same polymorphisms. For SNP-308G/A, the GG genotype was associated with dengue fever (DF) risk (OR = 1.24, 1.00-1.53; p = 0.05; I2 = 0%), while the GA genotype (OR = 0.75, 0.60-0.93; p = 0.01; I2 = 0%) and allele A (OR = 0.75, 0.60-0.93; p = 0.01; I2 = 0%) were associated with protection. The genotype GG population in the Asian continent (OR = 1.81 [1.06, 3.09], p = 0.03, I2 = 0%) and American (OR = 1.29 [1.00, 1.65], p = 0.05, I2 = 0%) was also associated with protection in the comparison between the cases versus the control group. In each comparison, the dominant model AA + GA (p < 0.00001) conferred protection. For SNP-238G/A the GA genotype was associated with risk for dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF; OR = 2.17, 1.28-3.67; p = 0.004; I2 = 0%)), and the dominant AA + GA model (p < 0.00001) was associated with protection in each comparison. In summary, our results did not associate SNPs in the TNF-α gene to dengue in the Brazilian northeast population. However, combined literature data suggested the effect of the GG and GA genotypes of the SNP-308G/A on risk and protection, respectively, in Asian and American populations.

Proteins from Plumeria pudica latex exhibit protective effect in acetic acid induced colitis in mice by inhibition of pro-inflammatory mechanisms and oxidative stress.

Latex proteins from P. pudica (LPPp) have anti-inflammatory activity. In the present study, LPPp was evaluated to protect animals against inflammatory ulcerative colitis (UC). UC was induced by intracolonic instillation of a 6% acetic acid solution and the animals received LPPp (10, 20 or 40 mg/kg) by intraperitoneal route 1 h before and 17 h after acetic acid injection. Eighteen hours after instillation of acetic acid, the mice were euthanized and the colons were excised to determine the wet weight, macroscopic and microscopic lesion scores, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, IL1-ß levels, glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. The results revealed that LPPp treatment (40 mg/kg) had a protective effect on acetic acid-induced colitis by reducing the wet weight, macroscopic and microscopic scores of intestinal lesions and colonic MPO activity. Additionally, LPPp inhibited tissue oxidative stress, since decreases in GSH consumption, MDA concentration and SOD activity were observed. The treatment with LPPp reduced the levels of cytokine IL-1ß, contributing to the reduction of colon inflammation. Biochemical investigation showed that LPPp comprises a mixture of proteins containing proteinases, chitinases and proteinase inhibitors. These data suggest that LPPp has a protective effect against intestinal damage through mechanisms that involve the inhibition of inflammatory cell infiltration, cytokine release and oxidative stress.

One or two ligatures inducing periodontitis are sufficient to cause fatty liver

BACKGROUND: Periodontitis is a chronic disease that due to an intense inflammatory response triggers systemic changes such as hepatic alterations. This study aimed to compare hepatic damage in rats that received experimental periodontitis at one or two periodontal sites with ligatures. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eighteen rats were separated into three groups: control, without ligature; periodontitis 1, with one ligature; and periodontitis 2, with two ligatures. The following parameters were assessed: gingival bleeding index, probing pocket depth, tooth mobility, alveolar bone loss, malondialdehyde (MDA) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in periodontal tissue; histopathological evaluation of hepatic tissue (steatosis score); glutathione levels (GSH), MDA, MPO, cholesterol and triglycerides in the liver; and serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). RESULTS: Periodontal evaluation data showed that the periodontitis model worked well. The groups with periodontitis did not differ significantly in relation to MPO activity and MDA levels in the gingival samples, but they were significantly different when compared with the control group. Steatosis was observed in the histological analysis of the groups with periodontitis, but between the periodontitis groups, two ligatures did not cause increase in steatosis score. The levels of GSH, MDA, total cholesterol and triglycerides in the hepatic tissue were not altered between groups with periodontitis, but they showed significant differences in comparison with the control group. The activity of MPO in hepatic tissue and serum levels of AST and ALT did not present significant difference among the three groups. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, our results demonstrated that one or two ligatures inducing periodontitis were both sufficient to cause fatty liver. Steatosis caused by two ligatures did not present larger extension and severity than steatosis caused by one ligature

Antidiarrheal effects of water-soluble proteins from Plumeria pudica latex in mice.

The water-soluble protein fraction obtained from Plumeria pudica (LPPp) latex has previously been demonstrated to have anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects. In the present study, LPPp was tested for activity against diarrhea induced by castor oil, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) or cholera toxin. Different doses of LPPp (10, 20 or 40mg/kg) significantly inhibited the percentage of diarrheal stools (31.18%, 42.97% and 59.70%, respectively) induced by castor oil. This event was followed by significant reduction of both intestinal fluid accumulation (31.42%; LPPp 40mg/kg) and intestinal transit (68.4%; LPPp 40mg/kg). The pretreatment of animals with LPPp (40mg/kg) prevented glutathione and malondialdehyde alterations induced by castor oil. The effects of LPPp against diarrhea induced by castor oil were lost when the fraction was submitted to protein denaturing treatment with heat. LPPp (40mg/kg) also inhibited the average volume of intestinal fluid induced by PGE2 (inhibition of 46.0%). Furthermore, LPPp (40mg/kg) prevented intestinal fluid secretion accumulation (37.7%) and chloride ion concentration (50.2%) induced by cholera toxin. In parallel, colorimetric assays demonstrated that proteinases, chitinases and proteinase inhibitors were found in LPPp. Our data suggest that the antidiarrheal effect of LPPp is due to its protein content and is probably associated with its anti-inflammatory properties.

Proteins from the Rhinella schneideri parotoid gland secretion exhibit anti-nociceptive effect against nociception induced by inflammation.

As proteins isolated from the Rhinella schneideri parotoid gland secretion (RsPP) exhibit anti-inflammatory activity, the goal of this work was to investigate their anti-nociceptive effects using acetic acid-induced writhing, formalin, and hot-plate tests. The intraperitoneal administration of RsPP (2.5 or 5mg/kg) one hour prior to stimuli significantly reduced the abdominal constrictions induced by acetic acid (73.06 and 72.69% inhibition, respectively) and the inflammatory phase of paw licking time induced by formalin (69.3% inhibition, at 2.5mg/kg). However, RsPP (1, 2.5 or 5mg/kg) did not change the latency in response at the hot-plate test. The involvement of inflammatory mediators on the anti-nociceptive effect of RsPP was further demonstrated. RsPP (2.5mg/kg) significantly inhibited the inflammatory peak of paw edema induced by histamine (44.0%), bradykinin (51.3%), or prostaglandin E2 (53.7%). Our data indicate that RsPP may act on the pain process by inhibiting the effect of inflammatory mediators.