Distribution and Endemism Areas of Bonamia Thouars (Convolvulacea) in Brazil.

Brazil harbors the highest richness of Convolvulaceae with 424 species recognized mainly distributed in the Amazon, Atlantic Forest, Caatinga and Cerrado phytogeographic domains. Seventeen of these species are representatives of Bonamia, with ten endemic to the country. The aim of the study was to map the distribution of this group to understand its richness, its sampling and detecting areas of endemism, valuable information for conservation. We collected data gathered from herbaria and from the online database. The data were refined (1) excluding of records not at the species level; (2) records with no identification of collection site or with only the identification of the state of collection. There was calculated the richness, the number of records and an estimate of richness per cell. We conducted a parsimony analysis of endemism for distribution analysis. Finally, the knowledge of richness for the species was analyzed. There were gathered 420 occurrence records, in 87 grid cells. Most grid cells observed in the study presented one species. Two endemic areas were found for the genus. The results contribute to the understanding of the distribution of the group in Brazil, highlighting shortfalls in collections.

Endogenous cholinergic system involved in peripheral analgesic control in mice is activated by TNF-α, CXCL-1 and IL-1 ß.

INTRODUCTION: Tissue injury results in the release of inflammatory mediators, including a cascade of algogenic substances, which contribute to the development of hyperalgesia. During this process, endogenous analgesic substances are peripherally released to counterbalance hyperalgesia. The present study aimed to investigate whether inflammatory mediators TNF-α, IL-1ß, CXCL1, norepinephrine (NE) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) may be involved in the deflagration of peripheral endogenous modulation of inflammatory pain by activation of the cholinergic system. METHODS: Male Swiss mice were subjected to paw withdrawal test. All the substances were injected via the intraplantar route. RESULTS: The main findings of this study were as follows: (1) carrageenan (Cg), TNF-α, CXCL-1, IL1-ß, NE, and PGE2 induced hyperalgesia; (2) the acetylcholinesterase enzyme inhibitor, neostigmine, reversed the hyperalgesia observed after Cg, TNF-α, CXCL-1, and IL1-ß injection; (3) The non-selective muscarinic receptor antagonist, atropine, and the selective muscarinic type 1 receptor (m1AChr) antagonist, telenzepine, potentiated the hyperalgesia induced by Cg and CXCL-1; (4) mecamylamine, a non-selective nicotinic receptor antagonist, potentiated the hyperalgesia induced by Cg, TNF-α, CXCL-1, and IL1-ß; (5) Cg, CXCL-1, and PGE2 increased the expression of the m1AChr and nicotinic receptor subunit α4protein. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the cholinergic system may modulate the inflammatory pain induced by Cg, PGE2, TNF-α, CXCL-1, and IL1-ß.

Influence of anti-sclerostin monoclonal antibody in the repair of post-extraction sockets of ovariectomized rats.

OBJECTIVE: This study assessed the impact of an anti-sclerostin monoclonal antibody (Scl-Ab)-based osteoporosis drug on the post-extraction alveolar repair of ovariectomized rats. DESIGN: Fifteen female rats were randomly distributed into three groups: CTR (healthy animals), OST (osteoporosis induced by ovariectomy), and OST+Scl-Ab (osteoporosis induction followed by Scl-Ab treatment). Ovariectomy or sham surgery was performed 30 days before baseline, and Scl-Ab or a vehicle was administered accordingly in the groups. After seven days, all rats underwent the first lower molar extraction and were euthanized 15 days later. Computed microtomography, histological analysis, and collagen content measurement were performed on post-extraction sockets and intact mandibular and maxillary bone areas. RESULTS: Microtomographic analyses of the sockets and mandibles did not reveal significant differences between groups on bone morphometric parameters (p > 0.05), while maxillary bone analyses resulted in better maintenance of bone architecture in OST+Scl-Ab, compared to OST (p < 0.05). Descriptive histological analysis and polarization microscopy indicated better post-extraction socket repair characteristics and collagen content in OST+Scl-Ab compared to OST (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Scl-Ab-based medication did not accelerate alveolar bone formation but exhibited better post-extraction repair characteristics, and collagen content compared to ovariectomized animals only.

Trichoderma koningiopsis fermentation in airlift bioreactor for bioherbicide production.

During scaling of fermentations, choosing a bioreactor is fundamental to ensure the product's quality. This study aims to produce bioherbicides using Trichoderma koningiopsis fermentation, evaluating process parameters in an Airlift bioreactor. As a response, we quantified the production of enzymes involved in the bioherbicide activity (amylase, cellulase, laccase, lipase, and peroxidase). In addition, it evaluated the agronomic efficiency of the fermented extract optimized through tests that promoted soybean growth and nodulation, soybean seed germination, and in vitro phytopathogen control. As a result of optimizing the scaling bioprocess, it was possible to obtain an adequate fermentation condition, which, when applied to soybean seeds, had beneficial effects on their growth. It allowed the production of an enzyme cocktail. These results add a crucial biotechnological potential factor for the success of the optimized formulation in the Airlift bioreactor, in addition to presenting relevant results for the scientific community.

4'-fluorocannabidiol associated with capsazepine restrains L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia in hemiparkinsonian mice: Contribution of anti-inflammatory and anti-glutamatergic mechanisms.

We tested the efficacy of 4'-fluorocannabidiol (4'-F-CBD), a semisynthetic cannabidiol derivative, and HU-910, a cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2) agonist in resolving l-DOPA-induced dyskinesia (LID). Specifically, we were interested in studying whether these compounds could restrain striatal inflammatory responses and rescue glutamatergic disturbances characteristic of the dyskinetic state. C57BL/6 mice were rendered hemiparkinsonian by unilateral striatal lesioning with 6-OHDA. Abnormal involuntary movements were then induced by repeated i.p. injections of l-DOPA + benserazide. After LID was installed, the effects of a 3-day treatment with 4'-F-CBD or HU-910 in combination or not with the TRPV1 antagonist capsazepine (CPZ) or CB2 agonists HU-308 and JWH015 were assessed. Immunostaining was conducted to investigate the impacts of 4'-F-CBD and HU-910 (with CPZ) on inflammation and glutamatergic synapses. Our results showed that the combination of 4'-F-CBD + CPZ, but not when administered alone, decreased LID. Neither HU-910 alone nor HU-910+CPZ were effective. The CB2 agonists HU-308 and JWH015 were also ineffective in decreasing LID. Both combination treatments efficiently reduced microglial and astrocyte activation in the dorsal striatum of dyskinetic mice. However, only 4'-F-CBD + CPZ normalized the density of glutamate vesicular transporter-1 (vGluT1) puncta colocalized with the postsynaptic density marker PSD95. These findings suggest that 4'-F-CBD + CPZ normalizes dysregulated cortico-striatal glutamatergic inputs, which could be involved in their anti-dyskinetic effects. Although it is not possible to rule out the involvement of anti-inflammatory mechanisms, the decrease in striatal neuroinflammation markers by 4'-F-CBD and HU-910 without an associated reduction in LID indicates that they are insufficient per se to prevent LID manifestations.

Study and characterization of a product based on a vegetable extract of quinoa fermented with water kefir grains.

This work aimed to study and characterize a product based on vegetable extract of quinoa (WVEQ) fermented with water kefir grains. The effect of sucrose concentration (SC), inulin concentration (IC), and xanthan gum (XG) concentration were evaluated using a central composite design (CCD) 23. They were subsequently characterized regarding cellular growth of the grains, beverage yield, pH, soluble solids, carbon dioxide (CO2) production, lactic acid, and ethanol production. Therefore, for the final stage, two formulations (F1 and F8) of the CCD were chosen to be characterized in terms of proximate composition, microbiological composition of the kefir culture, analysis of organic compounds, sensory analysis, and enzymatic and microbiological characterization before and after simulation of in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. In the two chosen products, one can see that fermentation optimized the bioavailability of proteins due to the high proteolytic activity of the microorganisms in kefir and the increase in lipid content. In identifying microorganisms, there was a prevalence of Saccharomyces sp. yeasts. In the sensory analysis, the F8 formulation showed better results than the F1 formulation. In vitro, gastrointestinal digestion showed reduced lactic acid bacteria and yeast and increased acetic acid bacteria in the liquid phase for both formulations. In the enzymatic profile, there was a reduction in all enzymes analyzed for both formulations, except for amylase in F1, which went from 14.05 U/mL to 39.41 U/mL. Therefore, it is concluded that using WVEQ as a substrate for the product appears to be a viable alternative with nutritional and technological advantages for serving a specific market niche.

The Impact of Probiotic Bifidobacterium on Liver Diseases and the Microbiota.

Recent studies have shown the promising potential of probiotics, especially the bacterial genus Bifidobacterium, in the treatment of liver diseases. In this work, a systematic review was conducted, with a focus on studies that employed advanced Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technologies to explore the potential of Bifidobacterium as a probiotic for treating liver pathologies such as Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH), Alcoholic Liver Disease (ALD), Cirrhosis, and Hepatocelullar Carcinoma (HCC) and its impact on the microbiota. Our results indicate that Bifidobacterium is a safe and effective probiotic for treating liver lesions. It successfully restored balance to the intestinal microbiota and improved biochemical and clinical parameters in NAFLD, ALD, and Cirrhosis. No significant adverse effects were identified. While more research is needed to establish its efficacy in treating NASH and HCC, the evidence suggests that Bifidobacterium is a promising probiotic for managing liver lesions.

Activity of a Recombinant Chitinase of the Atta sexdens Ant on Different Forms of Chitin and Its Fungicidal Effect against Lasiodiplodia theobromae.

This study evaluates the activity of a recombinant chitinase from the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens (AsChtII-C4B1) against colloidal and solid α- and ß-chitin substrates. 1H NMR analyses of the reaction media showed the formation of N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) as the hydrolysis product. Viscometry analyses revealed a reduction in the viscosity of chitin solutions, indicating that the enzyme decreases their molecular masses. Both solid state 13C NMR and XRD analyses showed minor differences in chitin crystallinity pre- and post-reaction, indicative of partial hydrolysis under the studied conditions, resulting in the formation of GlcNAc and a reduction in molecular mass. However, the enzyme was unable to completely degrade the chitin samples, as they retained most of their solid-state structure. It was also observed that the enzyme acts progressively and with a greater activity on α-chitin than on ß-chitin. AsChtII-C4B1 significantly changed the hyphae of the phytopathogenic fungus Lasiodiplodia theobromae, hindering its growth in both solid and liquid media and reducing its dry biomass by approximately 61%. The results demonstrate that AsChtII-C4B1 could be applied as an agent for the bioproduction of chitin derivatives and as a potential antifungal agent.

Solid epithelioid peritoneal mesothelioma with pulmonary metastasis in feline.

Mesothelioma is a rare malignant neoplasm that affects the mesothelial cells lining the thoracic and abdominal cavities, such as the pleura, peritoneum, and pericardium. It is most prevalent in dogs and cattle, but the causes of this disease in animals are uncertain. In felines, it mainly affects the pleura, with an unfavorable prognosis. This paper explores a rare case of metastatic peritoneal mesothelioma in a 2-year-old female mixed breed cat, emphasizing its uniqueness due to the feline's age. The patient, previously treated at a private clinic, presented moderate abdominal distension as the only clinical sign. Abdominal ultrasound and peritoneal fluid cytology led to the provisional diagnosis of mesothelioma/carcinomatosis. One day after exploratory laparotomy, the animal died and was subsequently sent for necropsy. During macroscopic analysis, nodules were observed in the peritoneum, diaphragm, omentum, stomach serosa, and large intestine, and the diagnosis of solid epithelioid peritoneal mesothelioma with lung metastasis was confirmed after microscopic analysis. The diagnosis of mesothelioma is challenging, and the importance of immunohistochemical panels with specific markers such as cytokeratin AE1/AE3 and calretinin is highlighted. Considering that mesothelioma is a pathology with a poor prognosis, it is essential to include this disease in the list of differential diagnoses within veterinary oncology.

O mesotelioma é uma neoplasia maligna rara que afeta as células mesoteliais que revestem as cavidades torácica e abdominal, como a pleura, o peritônio e o pericárdio. É mais prevalente em cães e bovinos, mas as causas desta doença em animais são incertas. Nos felinos acomete principalmente a pleura, com prognóstico desfavorável. Este artigo explora um caso raro de mesotelioma peritoneal metastático em uma gata sem raça definida de 2 anos de idade, enfatizando sua singularidade devido à idade do felino. O paciente, previamente atendido em clínica particular, apresentava distensão abdominal moderado como único sinal clínico. A ultrassonografia abdominal e a citologia do líquido peritoneal levaram ao diagnóstico provisório de mesotelioma/carcinomatose. Um dia após a laparotomia exploratória, o animal veio a óbito e posteriormente encaminhado para necropsia. Durante a análise macroscópica, foram observados nódulos no peritônio, diafragma, omento, serosa estomacal e intestino grosso e o diagnóstico de mesotelioma peritoneal epitelioide sólido com metástase pulmonar foi confirmado após análise microscópica. O diagnóstico do mesotelioma é desafiador, sendo destacada a importância de painéis imunohistoquímicos com marcadores específicos como citoqueratina AE1/AE3 e calretinina. Considerando que o mesotelioma é uma patologia de prognóstico ruim, é fundamental incluir esta doença na lista de diagnósticos diferenciais dentro da oncologia veterinária.

Early growth response 1 (EGR1) is downregulated in peripheral blood from patients with major psychiatric disorders.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate relative expression of genes with the potential to translate environmental stimuli into long-term alterations in the brain - namely Early Growth Response (EGR)1, EGR3, and Cryptochrome Circadian Regulator 2 (CRY2) - in peripheral blood from patients with Bipolar Disorder (BD), Schizophrenia (SZ), Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and healthy controls (HC). METHODS: Thirty individuals ranging from 18 to 60 years were recruited for each group (BD, SZ, MDD or HC) from a Brazilian public hospital. Therefore, individuals' peripheral blood was collected and EGR1, EGR3 and CRY2 gene expression analyzed by PCR Real Time. RESULTS: EGR1 mRNA levels are significantly lower in psychiatric patients when compared to HC, but there is no difference for EGR3 and CRY2. Exploring the findings for each diagnosis, there is a significant difference between each diagnosis group only for EGR1, which was lower in BD, MDD and SZ as compared to HC. No significant correlations were found between gene expression and clinical features. CONCLUSIONS: EGR1 is downregulated in psychiatric patients, regardless of the diagnosis and may be a potential common target in major psychiatric disorders. EGR1, as a transcription factor, modulates many other genes and participates in crucial neuronal and synaptic processes, such as plasticity, neurotransmitters metabolism, vesicular transport and signaling pathways. The study of EGR1 and its upstream regulators in psychiatry might lead to potential new therapeutic targets.

Epigenetic control of adamantinomatous craniopharyngiomas.

INTRODUCTION: Studies addressing the methylation pattern in adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma (ACP) are lacking. OBJECTIVE: To identify methylation signatures in ACPs regarding clinical presentation and outcome. METHODS: Clinical and pathology data were collected from 35 ACP patients (54% male; 18.1 years [2-68]). CTNNB1 mutations and methylation profile (MethylationEPIC/Array-Illumina) were analyzed in tumoral DNA. Unsupervised machine learning analysis of this comprehensive methylome sample was achieved using hierarchical clustering and multi-dimensional scaling. Statistical associations between clusters and clinical features were achieved using Fisher's test and global biological process interpretations were aided by Gene Ontology enrichment analyses. RESULTS: Two clusters were revealed consistently by all unsupervised methods (ACP-1: n = 18; ACP-2: n = 17) with strong bootstrap statistical support. ACP-2 was enriched by CTNNB1 mutations (100% vs 56%, P = 0.0006), hypomethylated in CpG Island (CGI), non-CGI sites, and globally (P < 0.001), and associated with greater tumor size (24.1 vs 9.5cm3, P = 0.04). Enrichment analysis highlighted pathways on signaling transduction, transmembrane receptor, development of anatomical structures, cell-adhesion, cytoskeleton organization, and cytokine binding, and also cell-type specific biological processes as regulation of oligodendrocytes, keratinocyte, and epithelial cells differentiation. CONCLUSION: Two clusters of ACP patients were consistently revealed by unsupervised machine learning methods, being one of them significantly hypomethylated, enriched by CTNNB1 mutated ACPs, and associated with increased tumor size. Enrichment analysis reinforced pathways involved in tumor proliferation and in cell-specific tumoral microenvironment.

Cannabidiol as an Adjunctive Treatment for Acute Bipolar Depression: A Pilot Study: Le cannabidiol comme traitement d'appoint de la dépression bipolaire aiguë : une étude pilote.

OBJECTIVE: The treatment of bipolar depression remains challenging due to the limited effective and safe therapeutic options available; thus, developing newer treatments that are effective and well tolerable is an urgent unmet need. The objective of the present trial was to test 150 to 300 mg/day of cannabidiol as an adjunctive treatment for bipolar depression. METHOD: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study to assess the efficacy of adjunctive cannabidiol in bipolar depression was used. Efficacy parameters were changes in the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) from baseline to week 8. Secondary outcomes included response and remission rates, changes in anxiety and psychotic symptoms, and changes in functioning. Patients continued double-blind treatment until week 12 to monitor for adverse effects, laboratory analysis, and manic symptoms. Study registry: NCT03310593. RESULTS: A total of 35 participants were included. MADRS scores significantly decreased from baseline to the endpoint (placebo, -14.56; cannabidiol, -15.38), but there was no significant difference between the groups. Similarly, there were no other significant effects on the secondary outcomes. However, an exploratory analysis showed a significant effect of cannabidiol 300 mg/day in reducing MADRS scores from week 2 to week 8 (placebo, -6.64; cannabidiol, -13.72). There were no significant differences in the development of manic symptoms or any other adverse effects. CONCLUSION: Cannabidiol did not show significantly higher adverse effects than placebo. Despite the negative finding on the primary outcome, an exploratory analysis suggested that cannabidiol should be further studied in bipolar depression in higher doses of at least 300 mg/day and under research designs that could better control for high placebo response.

Relationship between Femoroacetabular Impingement and Pubalgia in Professional Soccer Players.

Objective To analyze the relationship between pubalgia and femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) in professional athletes of a soccer club, defining the prevalence of these conditions in the sample studied. Methods It is an epidemiological, cross-sectional, and analytical study including 90 professional soccer players active from 2019 to 2021. We accessed the medical records of the subjects to retrieve information from the modified Pre-Competition Medical Assessment (PCMA) protocol, orthopedic physical examination, and anteroposterior pelvic radiographs to assess pubalgia and FAI, respectively. Inclusion criteria were athletes playing in the professional soccer club in the 2019 to 2021 season, who underwent a modified PCMA upon admission, and who signed an informed consent form. Results FAI was highly prevalent (85.6%) in the sample. This prevalence may occur because, in Brazil, people start playing sports early, not always in suitable fields, or with no proper equipment and supervision. In addition, the CAM-type impingement was the most frequent (62.2%). These injuries are related to high-intensity movements, including those associated with soccer. Furthermore, there is no dependency correlation between pubalgia and FAI. FAI was present in only 20% of athletes with pubalgia complaints. Conclusion There was a high prevalence of FAI in professional soccer players in the studied population (85.6%) but with no relationship between FAI and pubalgia.

The Role of Bifidobacterium in Liver Diseases: A Systematic Review of Next-Generation Sequencing Studies.

The physiopathology of liver diseases is complex and can be caused by various factors. Bifidobacterium is a bacterial genus commonly found in the human gut microbiome and has been shown to influence the development of different stages of liver diseases significantly. This study investigated the relationship between the Bifidobacterium genus and liver injury. In this work, we performed a systematic review in major databases using the key terms "Bifidobacterium", "ALD", "NAFLD", "NASH", "cirrhosis", and "HCC" to achieve our purpose. In total, 31 articles were selected for analysis. In particular, we focused on studies that used next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies. The studies focused on assessing Bifidobacterium levels in the diseases and interventional aimed at examining the therapeutic potential of Bifidobacterium in the mentioned conditions. Overall, the abundance of Bifidobacterium was reduced in hepatic pathologies. Low levels of Bifidobacterium were associated with harmful biochemical and physiological parameters, as well as an adverse clinical outcome. However, interventional studies using different drugs and treatments were able to increase the abundance of the genus and improve clinical outcomes. These results strongly support the hypothesis that changes in the abundance of Bifidobacterium significantly influence both the pathophysiology of hepatic diseases and the related clinical outcomes. In addition, our critical assessment of the NGS methods and related statistical analyses employed in each study highlights concerns with the methods used to define the differential abundance of Bifidobacterium, including potential biases and the omission of relevant information.

Long-term LPS systemic administration leads to memory impairment and disturbance in astrocytic homeostasis.

Dementia is the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by progressive loss of memory and cognitive function. Inflammation is a major aspect in the progression of brain disorders, and inflammatory events have been associated with accelerated deterioration of cognitive function. In the present work, we investigated the impact of low-grade repeated inflammation stimuli induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in hippocampal function and spatial memory. Adult male Wistar rats received a weekly injection of LPS (500 ug/kg) for sixteen weeks, eliciting systemic inflammation. Animals submitted to LPS presented impaired spatial memory and neuroinflammation. While neuronal synaptic markers such as synaptophysin and PSD-95 were unaltered, critical aspects of astrocyte homeostatic functions, such as glutamate uptake and glutathione content, were reduced. Also, glucose uptake and astrocyte lactate transporters were altered, suggesting a disturbance in the astrocyte-neuron coupling. Our present work demonstrates that long-term repeated systemic inflammation can lead to memory impairment and hippocampal metabolic disorders, especially regarding astrocyte function.

Aplicabilidade da Classificação Internacional de Funcionalidade e Incapacidade e Saúde em unidades de emergência e cuidados intensivos: uma revisão sistemática / Applicability of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health in emergency and intensive care units: a systematic review

A Classificação Internacional de Funcionalidade e Incapacidade e Saúde (CIF), surgiu para proporcionar uma linguagem estruturada e padronizada para descrever os diferentes estados relacionados à saúde dos indivíduos. Objetivo: Realizar uma revisão da literatura nacional e internacional acerca da aplicabilidade e uso da CIF no ambiente de emergência e cuidados intensivos. Método: Trata-se de uma revisão sistemática, realizada nas bases de dados PUBMED, LILACS e MEDLINE, com artigos publicados nos últimos 10 anos (período de 2011 a 2021), que utilizaram a CIF, Core sets ou conceitos da CIF como medida de desfecho em ambiente de cuidados agudos: emergências e Unidade de Terapia Intensiva (UTI), em indivíduos adultos. Resultados: Foram identificados 11.373 estudos dos quais foram selecionados 14 estudos. Ao todo a amostra foi de 5.046 indivíduos, sendo 406 profissionais da saúde e 4.640 pacientes em diferentes condições de saúde. A maioria dos estudos (50%) foram realizados exclusivamente em UTI. Foi observado que 11 estudos utilizaram versões curtas e resumidas da CIF em Core sets e 5 deles contemplaram todos os 4 domínios da CIF (função e estrutura do corpo, atividade e participação e fatores ambientais). Conclusão: Devido a sua extensão e complexidade, o uso da CIF na emergência e cuidados intensivos tem sido adaptada e aplicada em versões curtas. Os core sets da CIF se mostraram uma ferramenta útil, aplicável em diferentes perfis de paciente críticos e permitiu fornecer informações de funcionalidade e incapacidade durante a internação e para a tomada de decisão das metas de reabilitação.

The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) emerged to provide a structured and standardized language to describe the different states related to the health of individuals. Objective: To propose a review of the national and international literature about the applicability and use of the ICF in the emergency and intensive care environment. Method: A systematic review was performed on the PUBMED, LILACS and MEDLINE databases, with articles published in the last 10 years (from 2011 to 2021), which used the ICF, Core sets ICF or ICF concepts as a measure of outcome in an acute care environment: emergencies and Intensive Care Unit (ICU), in adult individuals. Results: 11,373 studies were identified, of which 14 studies were selected. In all, the sample comprised 5,046 individuals, including 406 health professionals and 4,640 patients with different health conditions. Most studies (50%) were performed exclusively in the ICU. It was observed that 11 studies used short and summarized versions of the ICF in Core sets and in 5 studies all four domains of the ICF were used (body function and structure, activity and participation and environmental factors). Conclusion: Because it is extensive and complex, the use of the ICF in emergency and intensive care has been adapted to short versions. The ICF core sets proved to be a useful tool, applicable to different profiles of critically ill patients and allowed providing information on functionality and disability during hospitalization and when deciding on rehabilitation goals.

ERK5 Cooperates With MEF2C to Regulate Nr4a1 Transcription in MA-10 and MLTC-1 Leydig Cells.

Leydig cells produce hormones required for the development and maintenance of sex characteristics and fertility in males. MEF2 transcription factors are important regulators of Leydig cell gene expression and steroidogenesis. ERK5 is an atypical member of the MAP kinase family that modulates transcription factor activity, either by direct phosphorylation or by acting as a transcriptional coactivator. While MEF2 and ERK5 are known to cooperate transcriptionally, the presence and role of ERK5 in Leydig cells remained unknown. Our goal was to determine whether ERK5 is present in Leydig cells and whether it cooperates with MEF2 to regulate gene expression. We found that ERK5 is present in Leydig cells in testicular tissue and immortalized cell lines. ERK5 knockdown in human chorionic gonadotrophin-treated MA-10 Leydig cells reduced steroidogenesis and decreased Star and Nr4a1 expression. Luciferase assays using a synthetic reporter plasmid containing 3 MEF2 elements revealed that ERK5 enhances MEF2-dependent promoter activation. Although ERK5 did not cooperate with MEF2 on the Star promoter in Leydig cell lines, we found that ERK5 and MEF2C do cooperate on the Nr4a1 promoter, which contains 2 adjacent MEF2 elements. Mutation of each MEF2 element in a short version of the Nr4a1 promoter significantly decreased the ERK5/MEF2C cooperation, indicating that both MEF2 elements need to be intact. The ERK5/MEF2C cooperation did not require phosphorylation of MEF2C on Ser387. Taken together, our data identify ERK5 as a new regulator of MEF2 activity in Leydig cells and provide potential new insights into mechanisms that regulate Leydig cell gene expression and function.

Consumption of cashew nut induced anxiolytic-like behavior in dyslipidemic rats consuming a high fat diet.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of cashew nut consumption on anxiety-like behavior in dyslipidemic rats. The groups formed were: Control (CONT), Dyslipidemic (DL) and Dyslipidemic cashew nuts (DLCN). Tests to assess anxiety parameters were performed after the treatment period. Brain fatty acid profiles were analyzed. The animals in the DLCN group showed more rearing than DL, without differing from the CONT and less grooming than either the DL and CONT in the Open Field. In the Elevated Plus Maze, DLCN spent more time on the open arms and in the central area compared to the other groups. As for brain fatty acids, there was a reduction in polyunsaturated fatty acids for the DLCN compared to the other groups. The cashew nut, rich in fatty acids, phenolic and flavonoid compounds, reduced the anxiogenic-like behavior caused by dyslipidemia in rats without altering brain fatty acids.