Introduction: The knowledge of the mode of action of an antimicrobial is essential for drug development and helps to fight against bacterial resistance. Thus, it is crucial to use analytical techniques to study the mechanism of action of substances that have potential to act as antibacterial agents OBJECTIVE: To use NMR-based metabolomics combined with chemometrics and molecular docking to identify the metabolic responses of Staphylococcus aureus following exposure to commercial antibiotics and some synthesized ω-aminoalkoxylxanthones.
Methods: Intracellular metabolites of S.
There are few studies related to the biological and ecological aspects of the glass snake, a limbless lizard and with a wide geographic distribution. The aim of this study was to analyze the locomotion mode of specimens of Ophiodes cf. fragilis in different substrates and to investigate the morphological adaptations associated with this type of behavior.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDiabetic retinopathy (DR), a leading cause of vision loss in working-age adults, induces mosaic patterns of vasculopathy that may be associated with spatial heterogeneity of intraretinal endothelial cells. We recently reported that secretogranin III (Scg3), a neuron-derived angiogenic and vascular leakage factor, selectively binds retinal vessels of diabetic but not healthy mice. Here, we investigated endothelial heterogeneity of three retinal vascular plexuses in DR pathogenesis and the therapeutic implications.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: Anxiety and depression are prevalent in the elderly and lead to loss of functionality and increased mortality. Although the use of antidepressants and face-to-face psychotherapies are indicated, the current context of telemedicine provides an alternative, with the advantage of facilitating access to care. The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of telemedicine interventions to reduce anxiety and depression in the elderly through a systematic review with meta-analysis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFis a potential chassis for microbial cell factories as this yeast can metabolise different substrates into a diverse range of natural products, but the lack of efficient synthetic biology tools hinders its applicability. In this study, the modular, versatile and efficient Golden Gate DNA assembly system (RtGGA) was adapted to the first basidiomycete, an oleaginous yeast . CCT 0783 was sequenced, and used for the GGA design.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLizards of the Ophiodes genus, popularly known as glass snakes, are exclusively Neotropical. Despite their wide geographic distribution, glass snakes are poorly studied and there are many knowledge gaps in their biology and ecology to be filled. In this context, the objective of this study was to analyze possible sexual and population morphological differences of Ophiodes striatus specimens collected from different municipalities in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Alzheimers Dis
May 2021
Background: The social isolation imposed by COVID-19 pandemic can have a major impact on the mental health of dementia patients and their caregivers.
Objective: We aim to evaluate the neurological decline of patients with dementia and the caregivers' burden during the pandemic.
Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study.
Intense agricultural activity in recent years has resulted in a greater use of pesticides in order to improve productivity. However, these pesticides may contain some pollutant component in their composition. Once present in the environment and/or in excess, they can cause damage to the local flora and fauna.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe kidneys in two viviparous species of Neotropical lizards, Notomabuya frenata and Aspronema dorsivittatum (Mabuyidae), were investigated by light and scanning electron microscopy in order to determine the presence of the sexual segment of the kidney (SSK) and to study its morphology. The individuals used in this study belong to the Herpetological Collection of the Herpetology Laboratory - Reptiles of the Federal University of Juiz de Fora (CHUFJF-Reptiles) and they were collected between the years 2008 and 2012 from the Cerrado region in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The SSK was present only in sexually mature males (with sperm in the testes / epididymis), whereas it was absent in sexually immature males.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a polyphenol-rich Açaí seed extract (ASE, 300 mg/kg-1d-1) on adiposity and hepatic steatosis in mice that were fed a high-fat (HF) diet and its underlying mechanisms based on hepatic lipid metabolism and oxidative stress. Four groups were studied: C57BL/6 mice that were fed with standard diet (10% fat, Control), 10% fat + ASE (ASE), 60% fat (HF), and 60% fat + ASE (HF + ASE) for 12 weeks. We evaluated the food intake, body weight gain, serum glucose and lipid profile, hepatic cholesterol and triacyglycerol (TG), hepatic expression of pAMPK, lipogenic proteins (SREBP-1c, pACC, ACC, HMG-CoA reductase) and cholesterol excretion transporters, ABCG5 and ABCG8.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Pharm Pharmacol
September 2014
Objectives: This study examined the effect of açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) seed extract (ASE) on cardiovascular and renal alterations in adult offspring, whose mothers were fed a low-protein (LP) diet during pregnancy.
Methods: Four groups of rats were fed: control diet (20% protein); ASE (200 mg/kg per day); and LP (6% protein); LP + ASE (6% protein + ASE) during pregnancy.
Maternal overnutrition during suckling period is associated with increased risk of metabolic disorders in the offspring. We aimed to assess the effect of Vitis vinifera L. grape skin extract (ACH09) on cardiovascular and metabolic disorders in adult male offspring of rats fed a high-fat (HF) diet during lactation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNaunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol
December 2012
The consumption of polyphenol-rich foods is associated with a decreased risk of mortality from cardiovascular diseases. Previously, we have demonstrated that the stone of Euterpe oleracea Mart. (açaí) from the Amazon region exerts vasodilator and antioxidant actions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Cardiovasc Pharmacol
September 2011
This study examined the effect of Vitis vinifera grape skin ACH09 extract (ACH09) on metabolic disorders and oxidative stress in adult offspring of rats fed a high-fat diet (HF) during lactation. Four groups of female rats were fed: control diet (7% fat); ACH09 (7% fat + 200 mg·kg·d ACH09 orally); HF (24% fat); HF+ ACH09 (24% fat + 200 mg·kg·d ACH09 orally) during lactation. From weaning onward, all female offspring were fed a control diet and killed when they were 90 or 180 days old.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Cardiovasc Pharmacol
December 2010
Previously, we have demonstrated that the seed of Euterpe oleracea Mart. (açaí) from the Amazon region exerts vasodilator and antihypertensive actions. The aim of our study was to assess the effects of oral chronic treatment with açaí seed extract (ASE, 300 mg · kg(-1) · d(-1)) on high-fat (HF) diet–induced metabolic syndrome (MS) in C57BL/6J mice.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHippuric acid is the primary metabolite of toluene, a solvent widely used in industrial processes with considerable toxic effects, a fact which justifies regularly monitoring individuals with occupational exposure to this solvent. This work aims at evaluating urinary hippuric acid levels found in workers subject to biological monitoring. A retrospective study was carried out with data referring from 2002 to 2005, in which exams results and employment status were analyzed (periodic, post-employment, and pre-employment exams).
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