What We Know about Genus and Neuroprotection: A Scoping Review.

The genus (mainly Martius, Martius, and Martius) has recently gained commercial and scientific notoriety due to the high nutritional value of its fruits, which are rich in polyphenols (phenolic acids and anthocyanins) and have potent antioxidant activity. These characteristics have contributed to the increased number of neuropharmacological evaluations of the three species over the last 10 years, especially açaí of the species Martius. The fruits of the three species exert neuroprotective effects through the modulation of inflammatory and oxidative pathways and other mechanisms, including the inhibition of the mTOR pathway and protection of the blood-brain barrier, all of them intimately involved in several neuropathologies.

Gene variations related to the hepatocellular carcinoma: Results from a field synopsis and Bayesian revaluation.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is considered as the second cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Genetic variations are associated with HCC risk, an issue that has been the subject of several meta-analyses. However, meta-analyses have an important limitation on the likelihood of false positive data.

Polymorphisms in immune-mediator genes and the risk of dengue virus infection: Lights from a systematic revaluation by Bayesian approaches.

Dengue fever is a clinical manifestation of dengue virus (DENV) infection well defined by the intense host immune response with the development of high fever, anorexia, headache and muscle pain. Several immune mediators are involved in the pathophysiology of DENV infection, in which polymorphisms in immune molecule genes contribute with the susceptibility and severity of the infection. Several meta-analyses are available with significant findings in the association between genetic variants in immune-mediator genes and dengue, though the results may be false positive.

Living in the Southern Hemisphere: Metabolic Syndrome and Its Components in Amazonian Riverine Populations.

The metabolic syndrome (MetS) epidemic is a global challenge. Although developing countries (including Brazil, India, and South Africa) present a higher proportion of deaths by cardiovascular diseases than developed countries, most of our knowledge is from these developed countries. Amazonian riverine populations (ARP), as well as other vulnerable populations of the Southern Hemisphere, share low-income and traditional practices, among other features.

Eating in the Amazon: Nutritional Status of the Riverine Populations and Possible Nudge Interventions.

The Amazon is the largest tropical forest in the world and a source of healthy food, such as fruits and fish. Surprisingly, the Amazonian riverine population present an increased prevalence (as high as 58%) of non-communicable diseases, such as hypertension and insulin resistance, even higher than that described for the urban population of the Amazon. Therefore, this work aimed to analyze the nutritional status and associated risk of the riverine population.

Revisiting Astrocytic Roles in Methylmercury Intoxication.

Intoxication by heavy metals such as methylmercury (MeHg) is recognized as a global health problem, with strong implications in central nervous system pathologies. Most of these neuropathological conditions involve vascular, neurotransmitter recycling, and oxidative balance disruption leading to accelerated decline in fine balance, and learning, memory, and visual processes as main outcomes. Besides neurons, astrocytes are involved in virtually all the brain processes and perform important roles in neurological response following injuries.

Human neurotoxicity of mercury in the Amazon: A scoping review with insights and critical considerations.

Human exposure to mercury is a major public health concern, causing neurological outcomes such as motor and visual impairment and learning disabilities. Currently, human exposure in the Amazon is among the highest in the world. A recent systematic review (doi:10.

Towards Therapeutic Alternatives for Mercury Neurotoxicity in the Amazon: Unraveling the Pre-Clinical Effects of the Superfruit Açaí (, Mart.) as Juice for Human Consumption.

Methylmercury (MeHg) exposure is a serious problem of public health, especially in the Amazon. Exposure in riverine populations is responsible for neurobehavioral abnormalities. It was hypothesized that consumption of Amazonian fruits could protect by reducing mercury accumulation.

Antidepressant and Antiaging Effects of Açaí ( Mart.) in Mice.

Depression is a mental disorder that affects 300 million people of all ages worldwide, but fewer than half of those with the condition receive adequate treatment. In addition, the high pharmacological refractoriness (affecting 30%-50% of patients) and toxicity of some classical antidepressants support the pursuit of new therapies. People with this condition show depressed mood, loss of pleasure, high levels of oxidative stress, and accelerated biological aging (decreased telomere length and expression of the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT), the enzyme responsible for telomere maintenance).

In the Heart of the Amazon: Noncommunicable Diseases and Apolipoprotein E4 Genotype in the Riverine Population.

The Amazon River basin is the largest tropical forest in the world. Most of the Amazon belongs to Brazil, a developing country that currently faces huge challenges related to the consolidation of its universal healthcare system. Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of death in Brazil, accounting for 74% of all deaths, and NCDs are probably underestimated in Amazonian population because of their geographical isolation and the precariousness of riverine communities.

Assessing mercury intoxication in isolated/remote populations: Increased S100B mRNA in blood in exposed riverine inhabitants of the Amazon.

Mercury is a heavy metal responsible for human intoxication worldwide and especially in the Amazon, where both natural and anthropogenic sources are responsible for exposure in riverine populations. Methylmercury is the most toxic specie of mercury with recognized neurotoxicity due to its affinity for the central nervous system. S100B protein is a well-established biomarker of brain damage and it was recently associated with mercury-related neurotoxicity.

Selective effects of Euterpe oleracea (açai) on Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis and Leishmania infantum.

Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis and Leishmania infantum (=Leishmania chagasi) are protozoa that cause American cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis, respectively. These diseases show a high incidence in developing countries such as Brazil. The treatments used for leishmaniasis are still limited due to their high cost and toxicity.

Clarified Açaí () Juice as an Anticonvulsant Agent Mechanistic Study of GABAergic Targets.

Seizures affect about 50 million people around the world. Approximately 30% of seizures are refractory to the current pharmacological arsenal, so, the pursuit of new therapeutic alternatives is essential. Clarified (EO) juice showed anticonvulsant properties similar to diazepam in an model with pentylenetetrazol, a GABA receptor blocker.

Role for apolipoprotein E in neurodegeneration and mercury intoxication.

Mercury intoxication is a serious public health problem and a worldwide concern. The Minamata Convention on Mercury has been signed by 128 countries and endorsed by the World Health Organization with the recommendation of promoting the management of epidemiological information. The Central Nervous System is the main target organ for mercury.

Large-scale projects in the amazon and human exposure to mercury: The case-study of the Tucuruí Dam.

The Tucuruí Dam is one of the largest dams ever built in the Amazon. The area is not highly influenced by gold mining as a source of mercury contamination. Still, we recently noted that one of the most consumed fishes (Cichla sp.

Antidepressant drugs in convulsive seizures: Pre-clinical evaluation of duloxetine in mice.

Convulsive seizures (CS) are deleterious consequences of acute cerebral insults and prejudicial events in epilepsy, affecting more than 50 million people worldwide. Molecular mechanisms of depression and epilepsy include an imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission provoking oxidative stress (OS). OS is intimately linked to the origin and evolution of CS and is modulated by antidepressant and anticonvulsant drugs.

Anticonvulsant properties of Euterpe oleracea in mice.

Açai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.), a highly consumed fruit in Amazon, is from a common palm with remarkable antioxidant properties. Because oxidative stress and seizures are intimately linked, this study investigated the potential neuroprotective and anticonvulsant effects of commercial clarified açai juice (EO).