Phytochemical and bioactive potentials of African Annonaceae species.

This review aims to gather available information on the medicinal, nutritional, and bioactive profiles of Annonaceae species in the African continent, sponsoring their use worldwide and mainly in African communities, where access to food and medicines for basic health care is scarce. >60 medicinal taxa were compiled, belonging to 22 genera, namely Annickia, Annona, Anonidium, Artabotrys, Cleistochlamys, Cleistopholis, Dennettia, Duguetia, Greenwayodendron, Hexalobus, Isolona, Lettowianthus, Monanthotaxis, Monodora, Neostenanthera, Polyceratocarpus, Sphaerocoryne, Uvaria, Uvariastrum, Uvariodendron, Uvariopsis and Xylopia; the most diverse and economically important genera were the genera Annona, Uvaria and Xylopia with 7 species each. Annonaceae species hold a valuable nutritional profile, rich in proteins, fibers, and minerals, being also good sources of a wide range of bioactive compounds of high biological relevance. These compounds are especially important in developing countries, where most of these species are available for direct use as food and/or medicines by the most deprived populations.

Effect of different physical pre-treatments on physicochemical and techno-functional properties, and on the antinutritional factors of lentils (Lens culinaris spp).

Lentils have a valuable physicochemical profile, which can be affected by the presence of antinutrients that may impair the benefits arising from their consumption. Different treatments can be used to reduce these undesirable compounds, although they can also affect the general composition and behaviour of the lentils. Thus, the effect of different processing methods on the physicochemical and techno-functional properties, as well as on the antinutritional factors of different lentil varieties was studied. Phytic acid was eliminated during germination, while tannins and trypsin inhibitors are mostly affected by cooking. Functional properties were also altered by processing, these being dependent on the concentration of different nutrients in lentils. All the studied treatments affected the physicochemical profile of lentils and their functional properties. Cooking and germination appear to be the most effective in reducing antinutritional factors and improving the physicochemical profile of the lentils, meeting the current nutritional demands of today's society.

Food from the Wild-Roles and Values of Wild Edible Plants and Fungi.

Humans have used a multitude of wild species of plants, fungi, and animals for food and medicinal purposes [...].

Nutritional, chemical, and antioxidant screening of selected varieties of lentils (Lens culinaris spp.) from organic and conventional agriculture.

BACKGROUND: Lentils are an ancient legume established worldwide for direct consumption and with great potential for application in food processing. In addition, it is a sustainable crop owing to its ability to scavenge nitrogen and carbon, and it improves the nutrient status of the soil. A diet rich in lentils has been linked to significant health benefits. However, the composition of lentils can be influenced by both the lentil variety and the growing conditions. The aim of this work was to evaluate the nutritional profiles and antioxidant potential, as well as the impact that the type of cultivation (conventional or organic) and the variety could have on these parameters, in different lentil varieties. RESULTS: Overall, carbohydrates are the major macronutrients in all varieties, with notable amounts of fibre (11.62-27.36%) and starch (41.98-50.27%). High amounts of protein and ash were also identified, particularly in the Beluga variety, with 21.9-23.3 and 1.38-1.82 g 100 g-1 fresh weight, respectively. Fructose and sucrose were detected (high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with refraction index detection), along with oxalic, quinic, malic, and shikimic acids (ultra-fast liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection), and α- and γ-tocopherol isoforms (HPLC with fluorescence detection). Fatty acid methyl ester assessment showed the prevalence of polyunsaturated fatty acids (33.5-46.3%). Good antioxidant capacity (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and oxidative haemolysis inhibition assay) was also noted. CONCLUSION: The results obtained showed that all the varieties analysed are an excellent source of fibre and have a good antioxidant capacity. Lentil variety has a greater influence on its nutritional composition than the type of cultivation. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Does repeated exposure to hydrogen peroxide induce Candida auris resistance?

BACKGROUND: To minimize environmental colonization by microorganisms that may persist and thrive in healthcare settings, thus reducing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), new insights over already known biocides are certainly of relevance. Although the efficacy of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) against the emergent yeast Candida auris is moderately documented, concerns over the potential induction of resistance after repeated exposure do persist. The main objective of the present study was to evaluate the hypothetical induction of Candida auris resistance following 30 days of consecutive exposure to lethal and sublethal concentrations of H2O2. Furthermore, the authors aimed to elucidate about the rank of efficacy of H2O2 against C. auris comparing to other Candida species and whether different strains of C. auris may display different susceptibilities to H2O2. METHODS: During the induction of resistance assays, both type strains and clinical isolates of Candida auris, Candida albicans and Candida parapsilosis were exposed repeatedly to defined concentrations of H2O2, for 30 days. RESULTS: After that period, no significant differences were found when comparing the minimal inhibitory concentration values of H2O2 in case of the induced strains versus each respective positive control. Moreover, H2O2 displayed similar effectiveness against all the tested Candida species and no differences were demonstrated among the distinct strains of C. auris. CONCLUSIONS: The adoption of H2O2 solutions in routine protocols in order to promote disinfection standards against Candida auris, improving patient safety and reducing healthcare costs, is certainly welcomed.

Mannosylated glycans impair normal T-cell development by reprogramming commitment and repertoire diversity.

T-cell development ensures the formation of diverse repertoires of T-cell receptors (TCRs) that recognize a variety of antigens. Glycosylation is a major posttranslational modification present in virtually all cells, including T-lymphocytes, that regulates activity/functions. Although these structures are known to be involved in TCR-selection in DP thymocytes, it is unclear how glycans regulate other thymic development processes and how they influence susceptibility to disease. Here, we discovered stage-specific glycome compositions during T-cell development in human and murine thymocytes, as well as dynamic alterations. After restricting the N-glycosylation profile of thymocytes to high-mannose structures, using specific glycoengineered mice (Rag1CreMgat1fl/fl), we showed remarkable defects in key developmental checkpoints, including ß-selection, regulatory T-cell generation and γδT-cell development, associated with increased susceptibility to colon and kidney inflammation and infection. We further demonstrated that a single N-glycan antenna (modeled in Rag1CreMgat2fl/fl mice) is the sine-qua-non condition to ensure normal development. In conclusion, we revealed that mannosylated thymocytes lead to a dysregulation in T-cell development that is associated with inflammation susceptibility.

Impact of Human Papillomavirus Vaccination on Male Disease: A Systematic Review.

Human papillomavirus (HPV)-related diseases are highly prevalent in men worldwide, comprising external anogenital condyloma, anal intraepithelial neoplasia (AIN), penile intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN), and anogenital and oropharyngeal cancers. There is exceptionally low vaccine coverage in the male population. Only 4% of men were fully vaccinated, worldwide, as of 2019. The aim of this review is to assess the impact of HPV vaccination on male disease. Three databases (MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus) and Clinical Trials.gov were searched. We included thirteen studies, eight randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and five cohorts, comprising a total of 14,239 participants. Regarding anal disease, seven studies reported HPV vaccine efficacy ranging from 91.1% to 93.1% against AIN1, and ranging from 89.6% to 91.7% against AIN2|3 and anal cancer. Five studies showed an efficacy against genital condyloma of 89.9% in HPV-naïve males, varying between 66.7% and 67.2% in intention-to-treat populations. Studies reporting no efficacy have included older participants. These results support vaccination of young men previously infected, beyond HPV-naïve males. The evidence quality was moderate to low for most outcomes, namely genital diseases. RCTs are needed to assess the efficacy of HPV vaccination on male oropharyngeal cancer.

Effects of regulated deficit irrigation and foliar kaolin application on quality parameters of almond [Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D.A. Webb].

BACKGROUND: Water stress during the growing season of the almond tree is the factor that most limits its yield. Different strategies have been studied in recent years to reduce its negative effects, such as deficit irrigation and the application of reflective spray compounds. A 3-year experiment (2019-2021) was set in a factorial design in which the effect of regulated deficit irrigation and foliar kaolin spray was evaluated on morphological characteristics (weight, length, width, and thickness of the nut and kernel, shell thickness, kernel yield, double kernels, and damaged kernels), color properties, nutritional value (carbohydrates, fat, proteins and ash) and chemical parameters (free sugars and fatty acids profiles). RESULTS: In general, the significant differences between the treatments did not have a similar trend in the 3 years of the study. Regulated deficit irrigation and kaolin had no detrimental impact on almond morphological and color characteristics. The almond free sugars concentration was relatively stable under deficit irrigation and kaolin application. On the other hand, kaolin application positively affected the synthesis of linoleic acid. CONCLUSION: Reducing the amount of irrigation water applied to almonds contributes to the sustainability of production without negatively affecting quality and even improving some quality parameters. In general, the foliar application of kaolin did not show significant differences in the evaluated morphological parameters. However, in terms of chemical composition, kaolin led to an increase in the concentration of linoleic acid and sucrose. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Microbiota of Urine, Glans and Prostate Biopsies in Patients with Prostate Cancer Reveals a Dysbiosis in the Genitourinary System.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common malignant neoplasm with the highest worldwide incidence in men aged 50 years and older. Emerging evidence suggests that the microbial dysbiosis may promote chronic inflammation linked to the development of PCa. Therefore, this study aims to compare the microbiota composition and diversity in urine, glans swabs, and prostate biopsies between men with PCa and non-PCa men. Microbial communities profiling was assessed through 16S rRNA sequencing. The results indicated that α-diversity (number and abundance of genera) was lower in prostate and glans, and higher in urine from patients with PCa, compared to non-PCa patients. The different genera of the bacterial community found in urine was significantly different in PCa patients compared to non-PCa patients, but they did not differ in glans and prostate. Moreover, comparing the bacterial communities present in the three different samples, urine and glans show a similar genus composition. Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) effect size (LEfSe) analysis revealed significantly higher levels of the genera Streptococcus, Prevotella, Peptoniphilus, Negativicoccus, Actinomyces, Propionimicrobium, and Facklamia in urine of PCa patients, whereas Methylobacterium/Methylorubrum, Faecalibacterium, and Blautia were more abundant in the non-PCa patients. In glans, the genus Stenotrophomonas was enriched in PCa subjects, while Peptococcus was more abundant in non-PCa subjects. In prostate, Alishewanella, Paracoccus, Klebsiella, and Rothia were the overrepresented genera in the PCa group, while Actinomyces, Parabacteroides, Muribaculaceae sp., and Prevotella were overrepresented in the non-PCa group. These findings provide a strong background for the development of potential biomarkers with clinical interest.

Nutritional, chemical and antioxidant evaluation of Armuña lentil (Lens culinaris spp): Influence of season and soil.

Lentils (Lens culinaris spp.) are a type of edible pulse consumed and produced worldwide; they are known for their valuable nutritional assets. The nutritional and chemical profiles of 34 Armuña lentil samples were assessed together with their antioxidant capacity. In addition, the influence of both the climatic conditions during the growing season and the soil type in which they grow (Luvisol and Cambisol) on nutritional and chemical profiles was also evaluated. Our results showed large amounts of valuable nutrients, such as carbohydrates, of which approximately 47.06 % and 29.11 % consist of fibers and starch respectively and significant amounts of proteins (20.47 to 25.56 g/100 g fw) and ashes. Sucrose stood out as the main free sugar in this variety, and oxalic and γ-tocopherol as the main organic acid and tocopherol isoform respectively. Fatty acid assessment showed the prevalence of PUFAs (45.3 to 63.7 %). A high antioxidant capacity (TBARS and OxHLIA) was also observed. Our results indicate that the growing season has a significant impact on the major nutrients in lentils such as the concentration of fat, ashes, fibers, and fructose and to a lesser extent proteins and sucrose. In addition, the two different soil types in this study do not seem to affect any of the parameters analyzed.

The In Vitro Simulated Gastrointestinal Digestion Affects the Bioaccessibility and Bioactivity of Beta vulgaris Constituents.

Beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.) is an important root vegetable crop and a valuable food source of micronutrients and bioactive constituents. In this study, the bioaccessibility of minerals, organic acids, and betacyanins in beetroot powder during simulated gastrointestinal digestion was investigated, as well as the antioxidant activity of the final fractions of each phase of the process. Mineral elements were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), organic acids by ultra-fast liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection (UFLC-PDA), and betacyanins by liquid chromatography with diode-array detection and mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-ESI/MSn). The oxidative hemolysis inhibition assay was used to assess the ex vivo antioxidant activity. The bioaccessibility of minerals at the end of gastrointestinal digestion ranged from 43 to 65%, depending on the mineral element. Among these, Mg was the most bioaccessible, while Ca and Fe had the lowest bioaccessibility. For organic acids, a major release during digestion was observed for quinic acid. It was also found that betanin (the major betalain in beetroot) was highly unstable during the digestion process, probably due to its hydrophilic nature, which agreed with the significant (p < 0.05) decrease in antioxidant/antihemolytic activity. These results suggest that beetroot antioxidant compounds are unstable under gastrointestinal conditions, and could be useful for future development of novel and more stable beetroot food formulations.

Chemical Composition and Biological Activity of Commelina erecta: An Edible Wild Plant Consumed in Brazil.

In recent years, the interest in products of natural origin has boosted the exploitation and use of plants as food and sources of bioactive compounds, especially wild plants widely used in different cultures for several purposes. Commelina erecta is a wild edible plant (WEP) traditionally used as food and medicine, about which few studies exist. Thus, this study aimed at enhancing the knowledge about its nutritional, chemical and bioactive profile, considering different plant parts and development stages, in order to increase its inclusion in the diet of South American communities. The nutritional profile was found to be similar to other WEP frequently consumed in Brazil. Thirteen phenolic compounds (HPLC-DAD-ESI/MS) were tentatively identified, with apigenin, luteolin and quercetin derivatives being the most abundant. Fructose and oxalic acid were the major sugar and organic acid, respectively, in the aerial parts of C. erecta, and four isoforms of tocopherols were also identified. Regarding the plant's antioxidant activity, the EC50 values varied between 18.4 and 1060 µg/mL in the inhibition of lipid peroxidation assay (TBARS) and between 53 and 115 µg/mL in the oxidative haemolysis inhibition (OxHLIA) assay. The hydroethanolic extract obtained from stems at the flowering stage also presented anti-inflammatory activity. In general, all the extracts evidenced promising antimicrobial activity. Altogether, these results reinforce the traditional use of this plant species as food and medicine to support the diet of needier populations and also promote food sovereignty and sustainability.

A Comparative Study of Lactarius Mushrooms: Chemical Characterization, Antibacterial, Antibiofilm, Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Activity.

Mushrooms are valued worldwide for their nutritional, organoleptic and chemical properties. The aim of this study was to determine the chemical composition (free sugars, organic acids, fatty acids, tocopherols and phenolic compounds) and bioactivity of three wild mushrooms (Lactarius piperatus, Lactarius quietus and Lactarius vellereus) from Serbia. Chemical analysis was performed with HPLC-RI and UFLC-PDA (for hydrophilic compounds) and with GC-FID and HPLC-FP (for lipophilic compounds). The analysis of phenolic compounds was performed by UFLC-DAD. Biological activities were evaluated using three different assays (microdilution, TBARS and SRB assays). The results showed that the fruiting bodies were rich in mannitol and trehalose. The main organic acids were oxalic acid and citric acid. As for lipophilic components, stearic, oleic and linoleic acids and ß-tocopherol dominated in all the species studied. In addition, the methanolic and ethanolic extracts obtained showed antibacterial, antibiofilm and antioxidant properties. As for cytotoxicity, the extracts were not toxic or only moderately toxic toward different tumor cell lines. According to the results, the selected Serbian mushrooms are a rich source of bioactive compounds, and due to their good biological potential, they can be further exploited as functional ingredients beneficial to human health (antimicrobial agents, antioxidants).

Glycans as shapers of tumour microenvironment: A sweet driver of T-cell-mediated anti-tumour immune response.

Essentially all cells are covered with a dense coat of different glycan structures/sugar chains, giving rise to the so-called glycocalyx. Changes in cellular glycosylation are a hallmark of cancer, affecting most of the pathophysiological processes associated with malignant transformation, including tumour immune responses. Glycans are chief macromolecules that define T-cell development, differentiation, fate, activation and signalling. Thus, the diversity of glycans expressed at the surface of T cells constitutes a fundamental molecular interface with the microenvironment by regulating the bilateral interactions between T-cells and cancer cells, fine-tuning the anti-tumour immune response. In this review, we will introduce the power of glycans as orchestrators of T-cell-mediated immune response in physiological conditions and in cancer. We discuss how glycans modulate the glyco-metabolic landscape in the tumour microenvironment, and whether glycans can synergize with immunotherapy as a way of rewiring T-cell effector functions against cancer cells.

Light conditions affect the growth, chemical composition, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the white-rot fungus Lentinus crinitus mycelial biomass.

The mycelial biomass of basidiomycetes is a promising source of compounds and represents an alternative for industrial and biotechnological applications. Fungi use light as information and hold photoresponse mechanisms, in which sensors respond to light wavelengths and regulate various biological processes. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of blue, green, and red lights on the growth, chemical composition, and antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of Lentinus crinitus mycelial biomass. The chemical composition of the mycelial biomass was determined by chromatographic methods, antioxidant activity was analyzed by in vitro assays, and antimicrobial activity was investigated by the microdilution assay. The highest mycelial biomass yield was observed under blue-light cultivation. Many primordia arose under blue or green light, whereas the stroma was formed under red light. The presence of light altered the primary fungal metabolism, increasing the carbohydrate, tocopherol, fatty acid, and soluble sugar contents, mostly mannitol, and reducing the protein and organic acid concentrations. Cultivation under red light increased the phenol concentration. In contrast, cultivation under blue and green lights decreased phenol concentration. Benzoic and gallic acids were the main phenolic acids in the hydroalcoholic extracts, and the latter acids increased in all cultures under light, especially red light. Mycelial biomass cultivated under red light showed the highest antioxidant activity in the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. The ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) method showed that all light wavelengths increased the antioxidant activity of mycelial biomass, with the highest value under red light. Moreover, the ß-carotene/linoleic acid co-oxidation (BCLA) assay demonstrated that the antioxidant activity was affected by light cultivation. Mycelial biomass grown under all conditions exhibited antibacterial and antifungal activities. Thus, mycelial biomass cultivation of L. crinitus under light conditions may be a promising strategy for controlling the mycelial chemical composition and biomass yield.

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) versus Specific Learning Disorder-Reading Subtype (Dyslexia): performance in writing tasks / Transtorno do Déficit de Atenção e Hiperatividade (TDAH) versus Transtorno Específico de Aprendizagem - Subtipo Leitura (Dislexia): desempenho em tarefas de escrita

ABSTRACT Purpose: to analyze and compare the writing performance between students with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and students with dyslexia. Methods: altogether, 27 children participated in the study, divided into the groups G-ADHD and G-Dyslexia. Their writing was assessed with a test that uses word and pseudoword dictation. The analysis addressed their writing level, word/pseudoword writing performance, and misspelling types. The groups were compared with the two-proportion z-test between two samples and the Mann-Whitney test (α = 0.05). Results: only one child in G-Dyslexia out of the 27 participating children was classified at the syllabic-alphabetical level. The others were classified at the alphabetical level, with no statistical difference between the groups in this item. The analysis of word/pseudoword writing performance revealed a difference between mean total scores, in which G-ADHD performed better. This group also had a higher percentage of children whose performance was classified as adequate for their age. There was a difference in misspellings between the groups in the omission of syllables, omission/addition of letters in complex syllables, and total performance - G-dyslexia made such errors more often. Conclusion: children with ADHD performed better in writing than the ones with dyslexia. However, writing cannot be used as a diagnostic marker between these conditions.

RESUMO Objetivo: analisar e comparar o desempenho em escrita entre escolares com Transtorno do Déficit de Atenção e Hiperatividade (TDAH) ou escolares com Dislexia. Métodos: participaram 27 crianças, divididas nos grupos: G-TDAH; G-Dislexia. Para avaliação da escrita, utilizou-se um teste que se baseia no ditado de palavras/pseudopalavras e foram analisados o nível de escrita, o desempenho em escrever palavras/pseudopalavras e os tipos de erros ortográficos presentes. Para comparação entre os grupos foram utilizados os testes Igualdade de Proporções entre duas amostras e Mann-Whitney (α=0,05). Resultados: das 27 crianças participantes, apenas uma do G-Dislexia foi classificada no nível silábico-alfabético. Todas as outras foram classificadas no nível alfabético, não havendo diferença estatística deste item entre os grupos. Em relação à análise do desempenho em escrever palavras/pseudopalavras, observou-se diferença entre os valores médios totais, com melhor desempenho do G-TDAH. Neste mesmo grupo, há maior porcentagem de crianças classificadas com desempenho adequado para a idade. Em relação aos erros ortográficos, houve diferença entre os grupos em omissão de sílabas, omissão/adição de letras em sílabas complexas e no desempenho total, sendo o G-dislexia com maior número destes tipos de erros. Conclusão: crianças com TDAH apresentaram melhor desempenho em escrita do que crianças com dislexia, porém, a escrita não pode ser utilizada como um marcador diagnóstico entre essas condições.

Microbiome in Male Genital Mucosa (Prepuce, Glans, and Coronal Sulcus): A Systematic Review.

The human body represents a complex and diverse reservoir of microorganisms. Although the human microbiome remains poorly characterized and understood, it should not be underestimated, since recent studies have highlighted its importance in health. This is especially evident when considering microbiota in the male reproductive system, responsible for men's fertility and sexual behavior. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review is to provide an overview of the microbial communities of the healthy male genital mucosa and its role in disease. This study was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The search was limited to the English language and studies published until August 2022 that included culture-independent techniques for microbiome characterization in male genital mucosa. Ten articles were included. The bacterial composition of the male genital mucosa consists of several genera including Prevotella, Finegoldia, Peptoniphilus, Staphylococcus, Corynebacterium, and Anaerococcus, suggesting that the male genital microbiome composition shows similarities with the adjacent anatomical sites and is related with sexual intercourse. Moreover, male circumcision appears to influence the penile microbiome. Despite the lack of knowledge on the male genital mucosa microbiome in disease, it was reported that Staphylococcus warneri and Prevotella bivia were associated with balanoposthitis, whereas Enterobacteriaceae, Prevotella, and Fusobacterium were more abundant in male genital lichen sclerosus. The limited data and paucity of prospective controlled studies highlight the need for additional studies and established criteria for sampling methods and the microbiome assay procedure. Such a consensus would foster the knowledge about the composition of the genital microbiome of healthy males and its role in disease.

Vapor-Phase of Essential Oils as a Promising Solution to Prevent Candida Vaginal Biofilms Caused by Antifungal Resistant Strains.

BACKGROUND: Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a disease with high incidence, a huge impact on the quality of life and health of women, and which represents a great challenge to treat. The growing need to apply antifungal intensive therapies have contributed to an emergence of drug-resistant Candida strains. Thus, effective therapeutic options, to meet the antifungal-resistance challenge and to control high resilient biofilms, are urgently needed. This study aimed to investigate the antifungal activity of essentials oils (EOs) on drug-resistant Candida vaginal isolates. METHOD: Therefore, the antimicrobial effect of tea tree, niaouli, white thyme, and cajeput EOs on the planktonic growth of Candida isolates was initially evaluated by an agar disc diffusion method. Then, the vapor-phase effect of tea tree EO (VP-TTEO) on biofilm formation and on pre-formed biofilms was evaluated by crystal violet staining, XTT reduction assay, colony forming units' enumeration, and scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS: The results revealed high antifungal activity of EOs against drug-resistant Candida isolates. Additionally, the VP-TTEO showed a significant inhibitory effect on the biofilm formation of all tested isolates and was able to provoke an expressive reduction in mature Candida albicans biofilms. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, this study suggests that the VP-EO may be a promising solution that is able to prevent biofilm-related VVC caused by antifungal-resistant strains.

Evaluation of the Polyphenolic Composition and Bioactivities of Three Native Cabo Verde Medicinal Plants.

The use of medicinal plants in a variety of health conditions remains essential for the discovery of new treatments. The present study aimed to investigate the bioactive properties of three native plants from Cabo Verde Islands, namely Artemisia gorgonum Webb, Sideroxylon marginatum (Decne. ex Webb) Cout., and Tamarix senegalensis DC., contributing to the characterization of less-known medicinal plants and their potential benefits for human health. Known compounds, such as kaempferol, quercetin, caffeyolquinic, and apigenin derivatives, among others, were detected in the plant species under study. Overall, all species demonstrated good antioxidant capacity, especially the ethanolic extracts of A. gorgonum (EC50 = 0.149 mg/mL) in TBARS assay. Moreover, the ethanolic extracts of the studied plants showed cytotoxic properties against tumor cells, and again the A. gorgonum extract proved to be the most effective in inhibiting tumor growth, mainly in the CaCO2 (GI50 = 17.3 µg/mL) and AGS (GI50 = 18.2 µg/mL) cell lines. Only the ethanolic extracts of T. senegalensis and S. marginatum demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity, albeit weak (EC50 = 35 and 43 µg/mL, respectively). The present study contributed to increased knowledge about the bioactive properties of these plants commonly used in traditional medicine, some of which was discussed for the first time, opening new perspectives for their use in a wider range of health conditions, especially in African countries, where access to modern health care is more limited.

Coerência em narrativas escritas de crianças com dificuldades escolares ou quecoixas mportamentais: o papel das variáveis linguísticas e a influência da escolaridade / Coherence in written narratives of children with school difficulties or behavioral complaints: the role of linguistic variables and the influence of schooling / Coherencia en narrativas escritas de niños con dificultades escolares o quejas de conducta: el papel de las variables lingüísticas y la influencia de la educación

Introdução: A narrativa escrita deve articular a ideia principal através da relação entre tema, perso-nagens e desfecho, sendo responsabilidade de quem escreve relacionar esses componentes para levá-los à coerência. A coerência consiste de uma dependência de relações macro-linguísticas (associação do tema do texto às estruturas que o compõem) e micro-linguísticas (conectivos que trarão coesão à narrativa), a fim de proporcionar ao texto o poder de interpretação. Objetivo: analisar quais variáveis linguísticas estavam relacionadas ao melhor desempenho em coerência nas narrativas escritas de escolares do ensino fundamental. Métodos: a amostra foi composta por 37 crianças (idade entre 7 ­ 11 anos) sem deficiência intelectual e/ou deficiência auditiva. Cada criança teve sua elaboração escrita classificada em adequada (coerência nível III e IV segundo instrumento utilizado) ou inadequada (coerência nível I ou II). Poste-riormente, foi analisado um conjunto de variáveis que poderiam estar relacionadas ao desempenho da narrativa, a saber: compreensão oral, vocabulário, consciência fonológica, consciência morfossintática, memória de trabalho ­ alça fonológica, leitura e escrita. Todas essas variáveis foram avaliadas através de testes padronizados. Para a análise estatística utilizou-se modelo de regressão logística. Resultados:dentre todas as habilidades linguísticas avaliadas, consciência morfossintática (p = 0,02) foi a variável significativa. Somada a estas, temos também a escolaridade (p = 0,01), porém a consciência morfossin-tática apresentou coeficiente negativo enquanto a escolaridade apresentou coeficiente positivo. Conclu-são: crianças que apresentam alteração em consciência morfossintática apresentam maiores chances de elaborarem narrativas escritas incoerentes. Já as crianças com maior grau de escolaridade, são as que possuem textos mais adequados.

Introduction: The written narrative must articulate the main idea through the relation between theme, characters and outcome, being the responsibility of those who write to relate these components to bring them to coherence. Consistency consists of a dependence on macro-linguistic relations (association of the theme of the text with the structures that make it up) and micro-linguistic (connectives that will bring cohesion to the narrative), in order to provide the text with the power of interpretation. Objective: to analyze which linguistic variables are related to the best coherence performance in the written narrati-ves of elementary schoolchildren. Methods: the sample consisted of 37 children aged 7-11 years with no intellectual or hearing deficiency. The written elaboration of each child was classified as adequate (level III and IV coherence according to the instrument used) or inadequate (level I or II coherence). A set of variables that might be related to the performance of the narrative was then analyzed, such as oral comprehension, vocabulary, phonological awareness, morphosyntactic awareness, working memory ­ phonological loop, reading, and writing. All of these variables were evaluated using standardized tests and statistical analysis was performed using a logistic regression model. Results: among all the linguistic skills evaluated, morphosyntactic awareness (p = 0.02) was the significant variable. In addition to these there was also schooling (p = 0.01), although morphosyntacic awareness showed a negative coefficient while schooling showed a positive coefficient. Conclusion: children with changes in morphosyntactic awareness have a greater chance to elaborate incoherent written narratives, whereas children with higher schooling elaborate more adequate texts.

Introducción: La narrativa escrita debe articular la idea principal a través de la relación entre tema, personajes y desenlace, siendo responsabilidad de quienes escriben relacionar estos componentes para llevarlos a la coherencia. La coherencia consiste en una dependencia de relaciones macrolingüísticas y microlingüísticas, para dotar al texto de poder de interpretación. Objetivo: analizar qué variables lingüísticas se relacionaron con un mejor desempeño en coherencia en las narrativas escritas de estudiantes de primaria. Metodos: la muestra estuvo formada por 37 niños (de 7 a 11 años). Cada niño tenía su elabo-ración escrita clasificada como adecuada (nivel de coherencia III y IV, según el instrumento utilizado) o inadecuada (nivel de coherencia I o II). Posteriormente, se analizaron un conjunto de variables que podrían estar relacionadas con el desempeño de la narrativa, a saber: escucha, vocabulario, conciencia fonológica, conciencia morfosintáctica, memoria de trabajo - bucle fonológico, lectura y escritura. Todas estas variables se evaluaron mediante pruebas estandarizadas. Para el análisis estadístico se utilizó un modelo de regresión logística. Resultados: entre todas las habilidades lingüísticas evaluadas, la conciencia morfosintáctica (p = 0,02) fue la variable significativa. Sumado a estos, también tenemos la educación (p = 0.01), pero la conciencia morfosintáctica tuvo un coeficiente negativo mientras que la educación tuvo un coeficiente positivo. Conclusión: los niños con alteración de la conciencia morfosintáctica son más propensos a desarrollar narrativas escritas incoherentes. Los niños con mayor nivel educativo, en cambio, son los que tienen los textos más adecuados.