Conjugation of Ctx(Ile21)-Ha Antimicrobial Peptides to Chitosan Ultrathin Films by N-Acetylcysteine Improves Peptide Physicochemical Properties and Enhances Biological Activity.

The importance of obtaining new compounds with improved antimicrobial activity is a current trend and challenge. Some polymers such as chitosan have shown promising bactericidal properties when they are structurally modified, which is due to the binding versatility provided by their free amines. Likewise, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have received attention in recent years because of their bactericidal activity that is similar to or even better than that of conventional drugs, and they exhibit a low induction rate of antimicrobial resistance. Herein, the modified AMP Ctx(Ile21)-Ha-Ahx-Cys was conjugated to chitosan using N-acetylcysteine as an intermediate by the carbodiimide method. Films were prepared using protonated chitosan in 1% acetic acid and Ctx(Ile21)-Ha-Ahx-Cys AMP dissolved in N-acetylcysteine-chitosan; 1.6 mmol of ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride, 1.2 mmol of N-hydroxysulfosucchimide, and 0.1 mol L -1of N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid buffer at pH 6.5 by continuous stirring at 100 × g for 10 min at 37 °C. Physicochemical properties were evaluated by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry/thermogravimetric analysis, and X-ray diffraction to determine the mechanical properties, solubility, morphology, and thickness. Furthermore, the antimicrobial activities of chitosan-based conjugated films were evaluated againstStaphylococcus aureus,Pseudomonas aeruginosa,SalmonellaTyphimurium, andEscherichia coli. The results showed that the conjugation of a potent AMP could further increase its antibacterial activity and maintain its stable physicochemical properties. Therefore, the developed peptide-chitosan conjugate could be applied as an additive in surgical procedures to prevent and combat bacterial infection.

Unraveling Immune-Related lncRNAs in Breast Cancer Molecular Subtypes.

Breast cancer (BRCA) is the most leading cause of cancer worldwide. It is a heterogeneous disease with at least five molecular subtypes including luminal A, luminal B, basal-like, HER2-enriched, and normal-like. These five molecular subtypes are usually stratified according to their mRNA profile patterns; however, ncRNAs are increasingly being used for this purpose. Among the ncRNAs class, the long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are molecules with more than 200 nucleotides with versatile regulatory roles; and high tissue-specific expression profiles. The heterogeneity of BRCA can also be reflected regarding tumor microenvironment immune cells composition, which can directly impact a patient's prognosis and therapy response. Using BRCA immunogenomics data from a previous study, we propose here a bioinformatics approach to include lncRNAs complexity in BRCA molecular and immune subtype. RNA-seq data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) BRCA cohort was analyzed, and signal-to-noise ratio metrics were applied to create these subtype-specific signatures. Five immune-related signatures were generated with approximately ten specific lncRNAs, which were then functionally analyzed using GSEA enrichment and survival analysis. We highlighted here some lncRNAs in each subtype. LINC01871 is related to immune response activation and favorable overall survival in basal-like samples; EBLN3P is related to immune response suppression and progression in luminal B, MEG3, XXYLT1-AS2, and LINC02613 were related with immune response activation in luminal A, HER2-enriched and normal-like subtypes, respectively. In this way, we emphasize the need to know better the role of lncRNAs as regulators of immune response to provide new perspectives regarding diagnosis, prognosis and therapeutical targets in BRCA molecular subtypes.

Metabolic profile of olive leaves of different cultivars and collection times.

Due to the appreciable amounts of bioactive compounds in olive leaves and the effect of abiotic stresses on their synthesis, this study evaluated the metabolic profile of leaves of olive cultivars (Arbequina, Manzanilla and Picual) collected in four periods of the year (autumn, winter, spring and summer). The determination of the profile of bioactive compounds (phenolic compounds, flavonoids, tannins, carotenoids and chlorophylls) by spectrophotometry and the individual compounds by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrum, as well as antioxidant potential tests were performed. As results it was possible to observe that the leaves of the cultivar Manzanilla presented the highest levels of phenolic compounds and that the leaves collected in the summer presented a number of compounds much more relevant than the others. Thus, it was possible to conclude that the cultivar and the collection season significantly affect the bioactive content and the antioxidant potential of olive leaves.

Bioactive compounds in fruits from different regions of Brazil / Compuestos bioactivos en frutas de diferentes regiones del Brasil

It is important to determine the chemical composition of fruits in order to establish their potential health benefits for human nutrition and thus stimulate their cultivation and consumption. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the physical and chemical parameters, vitamin C content, phenolic compounds, flavonoids and carotenoids, fatty acid profile and antioxidant activity of fruits from different regions of Brazil. We observed that the different regions and fruits studied presented very distinct characteristics. For example, the cupuaçu pit is rich in unsaturated fatty acids, while the genipap and java plum presented high flavonoid content and the butia had a high concentration of carotenoids. Guava was the fruit with the highest antioxidant activity through the ABTS radical, while the yellow mombim presented the best response when the activity was determined by FRAP.

Es importante determinar la composición química de las frutas para establecer sus potenciales beneficios para la salud humana y, por lo tanto, estimular su cultivo y consumo. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar parámetros físicos y químicos, el contenido de vitamina C, los compuestos fenólicos, los flavonoides y los carotenoides, el perfil de ácidos grasos y la actividad antioxidante de las frutas de diferentes regiones de Brasil. De los resultados obtenidos en este estudio se pudo observar que las diferentes regiones y frutas estudiadas presentaban características muy distintas, ya que la semilla de cupuaçu es rica en ácidos grasos insaturados, mientras que el genipapo y la ciruela java presentaron un alto contenido de flavonoides y el butia presentó alta concentración de carotenoides. La guayaba fue la fruta con la mayor actividad antioxidante determinada por el radical ABTS, mientras que el mombim amarillo presentó la mejor respuesta cuando la actividad fue determinada por FRAP

Laminados Cerâmicos pelo Sistema CEREC: do Planejamento à Cimentação / Porcelain Laminate Venners with CEREC System: from Planning to Cementation

A Odontologia tem evoluído de acordo com os padrões estéticos impostos pela sociedade. Alterações de anatomia e coloração são cada vez mais requisitadas pelos pacientes, a fim de se enquadrarem nesses parâmetros. Um dos protocolos mais utilizados atualmente pelo cirurgião-dentista para alcançar a exigência estética de seus pacientes é o de laminados cerâmicos. Os principais motivos para o uso desse material são: compatibilidade biológica, estaurações ultraconservadoras, estética e estabilidade de cor. Portanto, este relato de caso tem como objetivo descrever o processo da reabilitação dos elementos 13, 12, 11, 21, 22 e 23 com material cerâmico dissilicato de lítio, com o sistema CAD/CAM Cerec.

Dentistry has been evolving according to the aesthetic standards imposed by society. Anatomy and coloring changes are increasingly required by patients in order to fit into those standards. One of the protocols currently used by the dentist to achieve the aesthetic requirement of his patients is the porcelain laminates veener. The main reasons using this material are: biocompatibility, ultraconservative restorations, aesthetics and color stability. This case report, therefore, aims to describe the process of a rehabilitation of the elements 13, 12, 11, 21, 22, 23 using a ceramic lithium dissilicate material with the CAD / CAM system Cerec.

Mulher e trabalho: visibilizando o tecido e a trama que engendram o assédio moral / Women and work: viewing the tissue and the trap around mobbing / Mujeres y trabajo: haciendo visible el tejido y las tramas del asedio moral

O artigo tem como objetivo desvelar as múltiplas formas de influência na vida de mulheres que vivenciaram o assédio moral em seu contexto de trabalho. Participaram do estudo seis mulheres. Trata-se de um delineamento qualitativo, com coleta dos dados realizada por meio de entrevistas individuais e submetidas à análise de discurso. A produção discursiva em torno do assédio moral revelou significações perpassadas pelos discursos psicológicos, acadêmicos e midiáticos produzidos sobre assédio moral. Esses discursos, na maioria das vezes, deslocam o foco de análise do coletivo para o individual e tendem a adentrar no território normativo da patologização dos sujeitos. O assédio moral pode ser compreendido como uma tecnologia contemporânea de exclusão social, ao ser utilizado como mecanismo gerencial. As condições de constante hostilidade, perseguição, difamação, o desgaste psicoemocional e a inexistência de regulação trouxeram implicações negativas às trabalhadoras, tanto na rotina ocupacional quanto na saúde física e psicológica.(AU)

The text aims at unveiling multiple ways on how bullying affects women lives who have experience this inside their workplace. The participants of this study are 6 women over 25 years old who live in Porto Alegre city. Data collection was conducted by means of deep individual interviews. After they were submitted to Discourse Analysis. The discursive production around bullying showed deriving from psychological, academic, and media meanings. Most of these lectures focused on the analysis from collective to individual and tended to get into normative territory of the subjects pathologization. We showed that such lectures directly affect victim (s) and society as a whole, in the way they subjectivate and mean the experience of such humiliations. Bullying can be understood as a contemporary technology of social exclusion. The conditions of constant hostility brought negative implications to these workers.(AU)

El artículo tiene como objetivo tornar visible las distintas maneras como el asedio moral en el trabajo influencian en la vida de las mujeres. Participaron en este estudio cualitativo seis mujeres, que fueron entrevistadas individualmente. Los datos fueron sometidos a un análisis de discurso. La producción discursiva sobre el asedio moral ha revelado significados atravesados por los discursos psicológicos, académicos y de los medios de comunicación producidos por el asedio moral. Casi todos eses discursos dislocan el foco del análisis del colectivo para el individual, tendiendo adentrar en el territorio normativo de la patología de los sujetos. El asedio moral puede ser comprendido como una tecnología contemporánea de exclusión social cuando es utilizado como mecanismo gerencial. Las condiciones de constante hostilidad, persecución y desgaste psicoemocional y la inexistencia de regulación han traído implicaciones negativas a las mujeres trabajadoras, en rutina ocupacional y en la salud física y psicológica.(AU)

Mulher e trabalho: visibilizando o tecido e a trama que engendram o assédio moral / Women and work: viewing the tissue and the trap around mobbing / Mujeres y trabajo: haciendo visible el tejido y las tramas del asedio moral

O artigo tem como objetivo desvelar as múltiplas formas de influência na vida de mulheres que vivenciaram o assédio moral em seu contexto de trabalho. Participaram do estudo seis mulheres. Trata-se de um delineamento qualitativo, com coleta dos dados realizada por meio de entrevistas individuais e submetidas à análise de discurso. A produção discursiva em torno do assédio moral revelou significações perpassadas pelos discursos psicológicos, acadêmicos e midiáticos produzidos sobre assédio moral. Esses discursos, na maioria das vezes, deslocam o foco de análise do coletivo para o individual e tendem a adentrar no território normativo da patologização dos sujeitos. O assédio moral pode ser compreendido como uma tecnologia contemporânea de exclusão social, ao ser utilizado como mecanismo gerencial. As condições de constante hostilidade, perseguição, difamação, o desgaste psicoemocional e a inexistência de regulação trouxeram implicações negativas às trabalhadoras, tanto na rotina ocupacional quanto na saúde física e psicológica.

The text aims at unveiling multiple ways on how bullying affects women lives who have experience this inside their workplace. The participants of this study are 6 women over 25 years old who live in Porto Alegre city. Data collection was conducted by means of deep individual interviews. After they were submitted to Discourse Analysis. The discursive production around bullying showed deriving from psychological, academic, and media meanings. Most of these lectures focused on the analysis from collective to individual and tended to get into normative territory of the subjects pathologization. We showed that such lectures directly affect victim (s) and society as a whole, in the way they subjectivate and mean the experience of such humiliations. Bullying can be understood as a contemporary technology of social exclusion. The conditions of constant hostility brought negative implications to these workers.

El artículo tiene como objetivo tornar visible las distintas maneras como el asedio moral en el trabajo influencian en la vida de las mujeres. Participaron en este estudio cualitativo seis mujeres, que fueron entrevistadas individualmente. Los datos fueron sometidos a un análisis de discurso. La producción discursiva sobre el asedio moral ha revelado significados atravesados por los discursos psicológicos, académicos y de los medios de comunicación producidos por el asedio moral. Casi todos eses discursos dislocan el foco del análisis del colectivo para el individual, tendiendo adentrar en el territorio normativo de la patología de los sujetos. El asedio moral puede ser comprendido como una tecnología contemporánea de exclusión social cuando es utilizado como mecanismo gerencial. Las condiciones de constante hostilidad, persecución y desgaste psicoemocional y la inexistencia de regulación han traído implicaciones negativas a las mujeres trabajadoras, en rutina ocupacional y en la salud física y psicológica.