Biochemometrics-Based Identification of Gallic Acid and Gallic Acid Galloylglucosides From Kalanchoe fedtschenkoi With Cytotoxic Effects on Cultured Melanoma Cells.

Introduction: Kalanchoe Adans. (Crassulaceae) is a genus of widespread succulent plants extensively studied for their biological activities. Plants of the genus are considered a potential source of antitumor agents.

Fibroblasts' secretome from calcified and non-calcified dermis in Pseudoxanthoma elasticum differently contributes to elastin calcification.

Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) is a rare disease characterized by ectopic calcification, however, despite the widely spread effect of pro/anti-calcifying systemic factors associated with this genetic metabolic condition, it is not known why elastic fibers in the same patient are mainly fragmented or highly mineralized in clinically unaffected (CUS) and affected (CAS) skin, respectively. Cellular morphology and secretome are investigated in vitro in CUS and CAS fibroblasts. Here we show that, compared to CUS, CAS fibroblasts exhibit: a) differently distributed and organized focal adhesions and stress fibers; b) modified cell-matrix interactions (i.

Anti-hemostatic, antithrombotic, and chemical profiles of a curly-leaf variety of Petroselinum crispum (Apiaceae), a food and medicinal aromatic herb.

Thrombosis is currently among the major causes of morbidity and mortality in the World. New prevention and therapy alternatives have been increasingly sought in medicinal plants. In this context, we have been investigating parsley, Petroselinum crispum (Mill.

Fluctuations of antibody serum titers for and in naturally infected crossbred cows during gestation.

This study aimed to assess the fluctuations of antibody serum titers for and in naturally infected crossbred cows during gestation and to investigate transplacental transmission of ; 51 cows were monitored during pregnancy by monthly serologic testing by indirect fluorescent antibody test. 33 cows were seronegative for both and , 10 were seropositive only for , 5 were seropositive only for and 3 were seropositive for both and . In both protozoan infections, great variation in antibody levels in pregnant cows was observed, and there was significant increase (p<0.

Marine litter education: From awareness to action.

Marine litter is a global problem. Education has been acclaimed as a potential tool to tackle this issue, yet, integrative, student-centered, and over weeks studies to raise awareness on the theme that compares pre- with post-intervention results are limited in the literature. Furthermore, almost no studies rely on the basis of previous experience on the theme and local reality.

Bioactive Compounds from Genus Potentially Useful for the Development of New Drugs.

The genus Adans. (Crassulaceae) is native to Madagascar and comprises 145 species, being naturalized in the tropics and cultivated worldwide. In addition to having ornamental value, several species are commonly used in popular medicine for the treatment of inflammatory conditions, wounds, gastric ulcers, and other diseases.

Medicinal Plants in Peru as a Source of Immunomodulatory Drugs Potentially Useful Against COVID-19.

Unlabelled: The current COVID-19 pandemic, characterized by a highly contagious severe acute respiratory syndrome, led us to look for medicinal plants as an alternative to obtain new drugs, especially those with immunomodulatory abilities, capable of acting against the pulmonary infection caused by coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Despite medical advances with COVID-19 drugs and vaccines, plant-based compounds could provide an array of suitable candidates to test against this virus, or at the very least, to alleviate some symptoms. Therefore, this review explores some plants widely used in Peru that show immunomodulatory properties or, even more, contain phytoconstituents potentially useful to prevent or alleviate the COVID-19 infection.

Cognitive impairment and markers of optical neurodegeneration in early multiple sclerosis.

Introduction: Cognitive impairment and retinal atrophy have been proposed as two potential markers of neurodegeneration in multiple sclerosis (MS). We aimed at assessing the relation between peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) and macular ganglion cell layer (mGCL) atrophy and cognitive performance in early MS.

Methods: This is a multicenter cross-sectional study on patients with early MS (clinically isolated syndrome and relapsing-remitting MS), with an EDSS score ≤ 3.

Phenotypic Features and Genetic Findings in a Cohort of Italian Patients and Update of the Ophthalmologic Evaluation Score.

Background: (PXE) is a rare ectopic calcification genetic disease mainly caused by rare sequence variants. The clinical phenotype is characterized by typical dermatological, ophthalmological and cardiovascular manifestations, whose frequency and severity are differently reported in the literature.

Methods: A retrospective study was performed on 377 PXE patients of Italian origin, clinically evaluated according to the Phenodex Index, who underwent biomolecular analyses.

Sarcocystis neurona, seroprevalence of antibodies in equines and research of oocystis in opossum in Ilhéus - Itabuna microregion, Bahia, Brazil.

The aims of this study were to determine the seroprevalence of Sarcocystis neurona antibodies in equines in the Ilhéus-Itabuna microregion (BA), and identify possible factors associated with infection. The presence of sporocysts/oocysts of Sarcocystis spp. was also verified in Didelphis spp.

Oral treatment with a chemically characterized parsley ( var Danert) aqueous extract reduces thrombi formation in rats.

var Danert (Apiaceae) (PC), popularly known as parsley, is an herb native to the Mediterranean region widely cultivated around the world for culinary and ethnomedicinal purposes. The herb is traditionally used in various parts of the world to treat arterial hypertension, hemorrhoid, nose bleeding, hyperlipidemia, and pain, among other indications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antithrombotic activity of an aqueous extract PC in rats.

Marine litter: A review of educative interventions.

Marine litter is claimed to be one of the most meaningful environmental crises of the century. Education that supports behavior change is a tool to tackle this problem. However, there is a lack of research linking educational initiatives and marine litter issues.

Wound healing cream formulated with major flavonoid is as effective as the aqueous leaf extract cream in a rat model of excisional wound.

Leaves of are used worldwide for healing skin wounds. This study aimed to develop and compare two creams containing a leaf aqueous extract of (KP; 6%) and its major flavonoid [quercetin 3--α-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1→2)-α-L-rhamnopyranoside] (0.15%).

Differential Distribution of Flavonoids and Phenolic Acids in Leaves of Ecklon & Zeyher (Crassulaceae).

Kalanchoe delagoensis is adapted to intense solar irradiation, drought, and heat, partially due to the presence of phenols, important photo-protective compounds and antioxidants. This study aimed to evaluate the distribution of flavonoids and phenolic acid derivatives throughout the erect-tubular leaves of K. delagoensis.

Cerebral schistosomiasis in a patient travelling from São Tomé and Príncipe.

Aiming to raise awareness for the possibility of schistosomal involvement of the central nervous system in travellers returning from endemic areas and/or immigrants to nonendemic areas, the authors report a case of neuroschistosomiasis in a Portuguese patient coming from the Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe with good clinical outcome following praziquantel therapy. This is the first case of neuroschistosomiasis associated with São Tomé and Príncipe reported in literature and further studies are needed to confirm which species of this parasite are endemic of that region. We conclude that early diagnosis is key to reduce clinical severity and therefore validation of new diagnostic techniques and establishment of consensual treatment guidelines would be important.

Before and after a disease outbreak: Tracking a keystone species recovery from a mass mortality event.

Mass mortality events involving marine taxa are increasing worldwide. The long-spined sea urchin Diadema africanum is considered a keystone herbivore species in the northeastern Atlantic due to its control over the abundance and distribution of algae. After a first registered mass mortality in 2009, another event off the coasts of Madeira archipelago affected this ecologically important species in summer 2018.

Rare Co-occurrence of Beta-Thalassemia and : Novel Biomolecular Findings.

A number of beta-thalassemia patients, independently from the type of beta-thalassemia (β or β) and blood transfusion requirements, may develop, after puberty, dermal, cardiovascular, and ocular complications associated with an ectopic mineralization phenotype similar to that observed in another rare genetic disorder, namely, (PXE). To date, the causes of these alterations in beta-thalassemia patients are not known, but it has been suggested that they could be the consequence of oxidative stress-driven epigenetic regulatory mechanisms producing an down-regulation. Since, in the last years, several genes have been associated to the ectopic mineralization phenotype, this study, for the first time, applied, on beta-thalassemia patients with ectopic mineralization phenotype, a multigene testing strategy.

Polysaccharide composition of an anticoagulant fraction from the aqueous extract of Marsypianthes chamaedrys (Lamiaceae).

Marsypianthes chamaedrys (Lamiaceae) is a medicinal plant popularly used against envenomation by snakebite. Pharmacological studies have shown that extracts of M. chamaedrys have antiophidic, anti-inflammatory and anticoagulant properties, supporting the ethnopharmacological use.

Perspectives of remedial teaching for students with language disorders in Portugal.

Purpose: To analyze how students with Language Disorders receive remedial teaching in inclusive settings in Portugal.

Methods: We developed a questionnaire based on the literature review, and applied it to 123 elementary teachers in Portugal. We performed a descriptive and inferential statistical analysis of the dependent variables using parametric tests.

Factors associated with the distribution of natural Toxoplasma gondii infection among equids in Northeastern Brazil.

The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and factors associated with Toxoplasma gondii in naturally infected equids in northeastern Brazil. Serum samples from 569 equids (528 horses, 8 mules and 33 donkeys) were subjected to the indirect fluorescent antibody test. Generalized linear models were used to evaluate associated factors.

Frequency and factors associated with Theileria equi, Babesia caballi and Trypanosoma evansi in equids from Bahia (Northeast Brazil).

The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and factors associated to Babesia caballi, Theileria equi and Trypanosoma evansi in naturally infected equids from the northeast Brazil. Blood samples from 569 equids (528 horses, 8 mules, and 33 donkeys) were collected and tested for the presence of DNA of each of these protozoan parasites by PCR. Generalized linear models were used to evaluate risk factors associated with the infection.