Potential anti-inflammatory effect of LQFM-021 in carrageenan-induced inflammation: The role of nitric oxide.

The pyrazole compound LQFM-021 exhibits vasorelaxant, antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities. Furthermore, it has low toxicity, indicating that this compound may be considered to be a good prototype for the development of new analgesic/anti-inflammatory drugs. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the potential anti-inflammatory activity of LQFM-021 using a model of carrageenan-induced inflammation as well as the mechanism of action and role of nitric oxide in this effect.

Partially Hydrolyzed Guar Gum Increases Ferroportin Expression in the Colon of Anemic Growing Rats.

Studies have reported a positive effect of prebiotics on the bioavailability of iron. This study evaluated the effect of partially hydrolyzed guar gum (PHGG) on iron absorption mechanisms in anemic rats. Male Wistar rats were fed 75g American Institute of Nutrition Rodent Diets for growth, pregnancy and lactation (AIN93-G) without iron for three weeks in order to induce iron deficiency anemia.

Silkworm Sericin: Properties and Biomedical Applications.

Silk sericin is a natural polymer produced by silkworm, , which surrounds and keeps together two fibroin filaments in silk thread used in the cocoon. The recovery and reuse of sericin usually discarded by the textile industry not only minimizes environmental issues but also has a high scientific and commercial value. The physicochemical properties of the molecule are responsible for numerous applications in biomedicine and are influenced by the extraction method and silkworm lineage, which can lead to variations in molecular weight and amino acid concentration of sericin.

Fluoride affects bone repair differently in mice models with distinct bone densities.

We grouped mice [strains: C57BL/6J (n=32) and C3H/HeJ (n=32)] to address the influence of bone density on fluoride's (F's) biological effects. These animals received low-fluoride food and water containing 0 (control group) or 50ppm of F for up to 28days. The upper left central incisor was extracted, and the left maxilla was collected at 7, 14, 21, and 28days for histological and histomorphometric analysis to estimate bone neoformation.

Polydextrose: Physiological Function, and Effects on Health.

Polydextrose (PDX) is a non-digestible oligosaccharide used widely across most sectors of the food industry. It is a randomly linked glucose oligomer containing small amounts of sorbitol and citric acid. The random bonds in PDX prevent mammalian digestive enzymes from readily hydrolyzing the molecule and it has a reported energy value of 1 kcal/g.

Cholinergic agonist reverses H1-induced memory deficit in mice.

This study investigated the effects of bilateral intraamygdalar microinjections of PNU-282987, a nicotinic cholinergic agonist, on anxiety and the reversal of amnesia induced by chlorpheniramine (CPA), an H1 histaminergic antagonist, in mice subjected to the elevated plusmaze (EPM). Two experiments were performed with seventy-nine adult male Swiss mice. The isolated microinjections of PNU-282987 did not produce effects on emotional memory; however, the combined microinjections of PNU-282987 and CPA were able to reverse the deficit in memory induced by CPA (ANOVA, p<0.

Antimalarial potential of leaves of Chenopodium ambrosioides L.

In an effort to identify novel therapeutic alternatives for the treatment of malaria, the present study evaluated the antimalarial effect of the crude hydroalcoholic extract (HCE) from the leaves of Chenopodium ambrosioides L. For this purpose, the molecular affinity between the total proteins from erythrocytes infected with Plasmodium falciparum and HCE or chloroquine was evaluated by surface plasmon resonance (SPR). Subsequently, the plasmodicidal potential of HCE was assessed in a P.

Measures used for the evaluation of balance in individuals with Parkinson's disease: a systematic review.

[Purpose] The present literature review was conducted on the use of different measures for the evaluation of balance in patients with Parkinson's disease. [Materials and Methods] The PubMed, Bireme, SciELO, Lilacs, and PEDro electronic databases were searched for relevant studies. [Results] The searches initially led to the retrieval of 3,623 articles, 540 of which were potentially eligible after limiting the search to clinical trials published in the last five years.

Optical Flow Structure Effects in Children's Postural Control.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of distance and optic flow structure on visual information and body sway coupling in children and young adults. Thirty children (from 4 to 12 years of age) and 10 young adults stood upright inside of a moving room oscillating at 0.2 Hz, at 0.

Involvement of the monoamine system in antidepressant-like properties of 4-(1-phenyl-1h-pyrazol-4-ylmethyl)-piperazine-1-carboxylic acid ethyl ester.

Aims: Piperazinic derivatives have therapeutic potential by acting as analgesic, antidepressant-like, anticonvulsant and antipsychotic in preclinical studies. In order to develop new drugs to treat mental disorders, we designed and synthesized the 4-(1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-4-ylmethyl)-piperazine-1-carboxylic acid ethyl ester (PPMP), a new piperazine derivative with putative activities on central nervous system that seems to involve serotonergic system.

Materials And Methods: In order to investigate the antidepressant-like activity of PPMP, mice were treated acutely and tested in the forced swimming test (FST) and tail suspension test.

Endophytic bacterial diversity in the phyllosphere of Amazon Paullinia cupana associated with asymptomatic and symptomatic anthracnose.

Endophytes colonize an ecological niche similar to that of phytopathogens, which make them candidate for disease suppression. Anthracnose is a disease caused by Colletotrichum spp., a phytopathogen that can infect guarana (Paullinia cupana), an important commercial crop in the Brazilian Amazon.

Impairment in the aversive memory of mice in the inhibitory avoidance task but not in the elevated plus maze through intra-amygdala injections of histamine.

Rationale: Evidence indicates that histamine (HA) modulates learning and memory in different types of behavioral tasks; however, the exact nature of this modulation and its mechanisms are controversial. Furthermore, emotions are able to influence memory processing in a crucial way through the involvement of the amygdala. Our research aims to contribute to the neurobiological body of knowledge on acquisition and retrieval of emotional memory via the histaminergic amygdaloid system in mice.

Knowledge and use of wild edible plants in rural communities along Paraguay River, Pantanal, Brazil.

Background: Wild plants are used as food for human populations where people still depend on natural resources to survive. This study aimed at identifying wild plants and edible uses known in four rural communities of the Pantanal-Brazil, estimating the use value and understanding how distance to the urban areas, gender, age and number of different environments available in the vicinity can influence the knowledge and use of these plants by local people.

Methods: Data on edible plants with known uses by communities were obtained through semi-structured interviews.

Metabolic and pancreatic effects of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells transplantation in mice fed high-fat diet.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of multiple infusions of allogeneic MSCs on glucose homeostasis and morphometry of pancreatic islets in high- fat diet (HFD) fed mice. Swiss mice were fed standard diet (C group) or HFD (HFD group). After 8 weeks, animals of HFD group received sterile phosphate-buffered saline infusions (HFD-PBS) or four infusions of MSCs one week apart (HFD-MSCs).

Interferon regulatory factor (IRF)-1 is a master regulator of the cross talk between macrophages and L929 fibrosarcoma cells for nitric oxide dependent tumoricidal activity.

Macrophage tumoricidal activity relies, mainly, on the release of Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNFα) and/or on reactive oxygen or nitrogen intermediates. In the present work, we investigated the cytotoxic activity of resident peritoneal macrophages against L929 fibrosarcoma cell line in vitro and in vivo. Resident macrophages lysed L929 cells in a mechanism independent of TNFα and cell-to-cell contact.

Prostaglandin E2/leukotriene B4 balance induced by Lutzomyia longipalpis saliva favors Leishmania infantum infection.

Background: Eicosanoids and sand fly saliva have a critical role in the Leishmania infection. Here, we evaluated the effect of Lutzomyia longipalpis salivary gland sonicate (SGS) on neutrophil and monocyte recruitment and activation of eicosanoid production in a murine model of inflammation.

Methods: C57BL/6 mice were inoculated intraperitonealy with Lutzomyia longipalpis SGS or Leishmania infantum or both, followed by analyses of cell recruitment, parasite load and eicosanoid production.

Cerebellar vermis H₂ receptors mediate fear memory consolidation in mice.

Histaminergic fibers are present in the molecular and granular layers of the cerebellum and have a high density in the vermis and flocullus. Evidence supports that the cerebellar histaminergic system is involved in memory consolidation. Our recent study showed that histamine injections facilitate the retention of an inhibitory avoidance task, which was abolished by pretreatment with an H2 receptor antagonist.

Adaptive mechanisms of insect pests against plant protease inhibitors and future prospects related to crop protection: a review.

The overwhelming demand for food requires the application of technology on field. An important issue that limits the productivity of crops is related to insect attacks. Hence, several studies have evaluated the application of different compounds to reduce the field losses, especially insecticide compounds from plant sources.

Comparisons between low-intensity resistance training with blood flow restriction and high-intensity resistance training on quadriceps muscle mass and strength in elderly.

High-intensity resistance training (HRT) has been recommended to offset age-related loss in muscle strength and mass. However, part of the elderly population is often unable to exercise at high intensities. Alternatively, low-intensity resistance training with blood flow restriction (LRT-BFR) has emerged.

[Cultural adaptation of the scale Pain Assessment in Advanced Dementia - PAINAD to Brazil].

Objective: To translate and culturally adapt to Brazil the scale Pain Assessment in Advanced Dementia(PAINAD).

Method: The cultural adaptation process followed the methodology of a theorical reference, in five steps: translation to Brazilian Portuguese, consensual version of translations, back-translation to the original language, revision by a committee of specialists in the field and a equivalency pre-test. The instrument was assessed and applied by 27 health professionals in the last step.

Genotoxic effects of water from São Francisco River, Brazil, in Astyanax paranae.

Aquatic monitoring is an important tool for identifying potential compounds in rivers that may damage the environment. Here, we evaluate the potential genotoxic effects of water samples from São Francisco River (Brazil) using the micronuclei (MN) assay in resident species, Astyanax paranae. Four seasonal collections occurred between the years 2009 and 2010, at three locations between two nearby cities in the region.

Outreach hepatitis B vaccination of female sex workers in central-west Brazil: immunization status, compliance, and immune response.

Objectives: To evaluate the hepatitis B immunization status of female sex workers (FSWs) in Central-West Brazil and to evaluate their compliance with and immune response to hepatitis B vaccination delivered using outreach strategies.

Methods: A total of 721 FSWs recruited in 2 large cities in Central-West Brazil were interviewed and screened for the presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers. Hepatitis B vaccine was offered to all women susceptible to HBV, using outreach strategies.

Intra-cerebellar microinjection of histamine enhances memory consolidation of inhibitory avoidance learning in mice via H2 receptors.

Studies have demonstrated the relationship between the histaminergic system and the cerebellum, and we intend to investigate the role of the cerebellar histaminergic system on memory consolidation. This study investigated the effect of intra-cerebellar microinjection of histamine on memory retention of inhibitory avoidance in mice, and the role of H1 and H2 receptors in it. The cerebellar vermis of male mice were implanted with guide cannulae, and after three days of recovery, the inhibitory avoidance test was performed.

Exclusive breastfeeding and other foods in the first six months of life: effects on nutritional status and body composition of Brazilian children.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of exclusive breastfeeding and consumption of other foods in the first six months of life in the nutritional status and body composition of children.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study with 185 children aged from 4 to 7 years was monitored during the first months of life in a program of support to breastfeeding. We evaluated weight, height, waist circumference, and body composition by using DEXA.