Nek5 Interacts With Mitochondrial Proteins And Interferes Negatively In Mitochondrial Mediated Cell Death And Respiration.

Mitochondria are involved in energy supply, signaling, cell death and cellular differentiation and have been implicated in several human diseases. Neks (NIMA-related kinases) represent a family of mammal protein kinases that play essential roles in cell-cycle progression, but other functions have recently been related. A yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) screen was performed to identify and characterize Nek5 interaction partners and the mitochondrial proteins Cox11, MTX-2 and BCLAF1 were retrieved. Apoptosis assay showed protective effects of stable hNek5 expression from Hek293-T's cell death after thapsigargin treatment (2μM). Nek5 silenced cells as well as cells expressing a kinase dead version of Nek5, displayed an increase in ROS formation after 4h of thapsigargin treatment. Mitochondrial respiratory chain activity was found decreased upon stable hNek5expression. Cells silenced for hNek5 on the other hand presented 1.7 fold increased basal rates of respiration, especially at the electrons transfer steps from TMPD to cytochrome c and at the complex II. In conclusion, our data suggest for the first time mitochondrial localization and functions for Nek5 and its participation in cell death and cell respiration regulation. Stable expression of hNek5 in Hek293T cells resulted in enhanced cell viability, decreased cell death and drug resistance, while depletion of hNek5by shRNA overcame cancer cell drug resistance and induced apoptosis in vitro. Stable expression of hNek5 also inhibits thapsigargin promoted apoptosis and the respiratory chain complex IV in HEK293T cells.

Photodynamic Antimicrobial Effects Of Bis-indole Alkaloid Indigo From Indigofera Truxillensis Kunth (leguminosae).

Multidrug-resistant microbial infections represent an exponentially growing problem affecting communities worldwide. Photodynamic therapy is a promising treatment based on the combination of light, oxygen, and a photosensitizer that leads to reactive oxygen species production, such as superoxide (type I mechanism) and singlet oxygen (type II mechanism) that cause massive oxidative damage and consequently the host cell death. Indigofera genus has gained considerable interest due its mutagenic, cytotoxic, and genotoxic activity. Therefore, this study was undertaken to investigate the effect of crude extracts, alkaloidal fraction, and isolated substance derived from Indigofera truxillensis in photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy on the viability of bacteria and yeast and evaluation of mechanisms involved. Our results showed that all samples resulted in microbial photoactivation in subinhibitory concentration, with indigo alkaloid presenting a predominant photodynamic action through type I mechanism. The use of CaCl2 and MgCl2 as cell permeabilizing additives also increased gram-negative bacteria susceptibility to indigo.

Effect Of Calendula Officinalis Cream On Achilles Tendon Healing.

In recent years, the scientific community has undertaken research on plant extracts, searching for compounds with pharmacological activities that can be used in diverse fields of medicine. Calendula officinalis L. is known to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and wound healing properties when used to treat skin burns. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of C. officinalis on the initial phase of Achilles tendon healing. Wistar rats were separated in three groups: Calendula (Cal)-rats with a transected tendon were treated with topical applications of C. officinalis cream and then euthanized 7 days after injury; Control (C)-rats were treated with only vehicle after transection; and Normal (N)-rats without tenotomy. Higher concentrations of hydroxyproline (an indicator of total collagen) and non-collagenous proteins were observed in the Cal group in relation to the C group. Zymography showed no difference in the amount of the isoforms of metalloproteinase-2 and of metalloproteinase-9, between C and Cal groups. Polarization microscopy images analysis showed that the Cal group presented a slightly higher birefringence compared with the C group. In sections of tendons stained with toluidine blue, the transected groups presented higher metachromasy as compared with the N group. Immunocytochemistry analysis for chondroitin-6-sulfate showed no difference between the C and Cal groups. In conclusion, the topical application of C. officinalis after tendon transection increases the concentrations of collagen and non-collagenous proteins, as well as the collagen organization in the initial phase of healing.

Factors Controlling The Deposition Of Silk Fibroin Nanofibrils During Layer-by-layer Assembly.

The layer-by-layer technique has been used as a powerful method to produce multilayer thin films with tunable properties. When natural polymers are employed, complicated phenomena such as self-aggregation and fibrilogenesis can occur, making it more difficult to obtain and characterize high-quality films. The weak acid and base character of such materials provides multilayer systems that may differ from those found with synthetic polymers due to strong self-organization effects. Specifically, LbL films prepared with chitosan and silk fibroin (SF) often involve the deposition of fibroin fibrils, which can influence the assembly process, surface properties, and overall film functionality. In this case, one has the intriguing possibility of realizing multilayer thin films with aligned nanofibers. In this article, we propose a strategy to control fibroin fibril formation by adjusting the assembly partner. Aligned fibroin fibrils were formed when chitosan was used as the counterpart, whereas no fibrils were observed when poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) was used. Charge density, which is higher in PAH, apparently stabilizes SF aggregates on the nanometer scale, thereby preventing their organization into fibrils. The drying step between the deposition of each layer was also crucial for film formation, as it stabilizes the SF molecules. Preliminary cell studies with optimized multilayers indicated that cell viability of NIH-3T3 fibroblasts remained between 90 and 100% after surface seeding, showing the potential application of the films in the biomedical field, as coatings and functional surfaces.

Titulação potenciométrica aplicada na determinação de ácidos graxos livres de óleos e gorduras comestíveis

Free fatty acids are a measure of evaluating fats and oils, submitted to abusive conditions, besides being a quality characteristic of edible vegetable oils. The official method of determination (AOCS Ca 5a-40, 2004) is based on titration, using phenolphthalein as an indicator. For crude and degummed oils, the titration end point is difficult to be observed due to the high level of pigments, resulting in dark solutions. In this case and others, such as self-life studies, in which sample quantities are limited, potentiometric titration may be a very good alternative.

Atividade de extratos de Arrabidaea chica (Humb. & Bonpl.) Verlot obtidos por processos biotecnológicos sobre a proliferação de fibroblastos e células tumorais humanas

Arrabidaea chica (H&B) Verlot is a plant popularly known as Pariri and this species is a known source of anthocyanins, flavonoids and tannins. This report describes an approach involving enzymatic treatment prior to extraction procedures to enhance A chica crude extract anticancer activity. Anticancer activity in human cancer cell lines in vitro using a 48 h SRB cell viability assay was performed to determine growth inhibition and cytotoxic properties. The final extraction yield without enzyme treatment was higher (24.28%) compared to the enzyme-treated material (19.03%), with an enhanced aglycones anthocyanin ratio as determined by HPLC- DAD and LC-MS with direct infusion.

Avaliação econômica da elaboração de banana-passa proveniente de cultivo orgânico e convencional

This work reports an economic evaluation of the dried banana production from an agroindustry located in Guaraqueçaba - PR State, Brazil. The conventional and the organic banana processings were evaluated by comparing the economic viability pointers. The dried organic banana is exported to the Europe and the dried conventional banana is commercialized in the region of Curitiba - PR. Both processings presented positive economic viability, however the dried organic banana presented better indices (TIR 94%, VPL R$ 486,009.39 and benefit cost relation of 2.11) than the conventional dried banana (TIR 14%, VPL R$ 34,668.00 and benefit cost relation of 1.17). The dried organic banana presented a cost of production of R$ 3.64, being 50.1% relative to the expense with insumos and 27% with labour. The dried conventional banana presented a cost of R$ 3.21, being 45.3% for insumos and 31.2% for labour.

Sistematização do dimensionamento técnico e econômico de sistemas fotovoltaicos isolados por meio de programa computacional

One of the main referring subjects to the solar energy is how to compare it economically with other sources of energy, as much alternatives as with conventionals (like the electric grid). The purpose of this work was to develop a software which congregates the technical and economic main data to identify, through methods of microeconomic analysis, the commercial viability in the sizing of photovoltaic systems, besides considering the benefits proceeding from the proper energy generation. Considering the period of useful life of the components of the generation system of photovoltaic electricity, the costs of the energy proceeding from the conventional grid had been identified. For the comparison of the conventional sources, electric grid and diesel generation, three scenes of costs of photovoltaic panels and two for the factor of availability of diesel generation had been used. The results have shown that if the cost of the panels is low and the place of installation is more distant of the electric grid, the photovoltaic system becomes the best option.

Modelos estatísticos indicadores de comportamentos associados a bem-estar térmico para matrizes pesadas

The study of female broiler breeders is of great importance for the country as poultry production is one of the largest export items, and Brazil is the second largest broiler meat exporter. Animal behavior is known as a response to the effect of several interaction factors among them the environment. In this way the internal housing environment is an element that gives hints regarding to the bird s thermal comfort. Female broiler breeder behavior, expresses in form of specific pattern the bird s health and welfare. This research had the objective of applying predictive statistical models through the use of simulation, presenting animal comfort scenarios facing distinct environmental conditions. The research was developed with data collected in a controlled environment using Hybro - PG® breeding submitted to distinct levels of temperature, three distinct types of standard ration and age. Descriptive and exploratory analysis were proceeded, and afterwards the modeling process using the Generalized Estimation Equation (GEE). The research allowed the development of the thermal comfort indicators by statistical model equations of predicting female broiler breeder behavior under distinct studied scenarios.

Variabilidade espacial de atributos físicos de um argissolo vermelho-amarelo sob pastagem e vegetação secundária em regeneração natural

This work was carried out with the objective of studying the spatial variability of the physical attributes of a Red-Yellow Ultisol under pasture and secondary vegetation in natural regeneration. Two areas were chosen in a hillside, with the soil sampling to the depth of 0-0.2 m, with the georeferenced points in a regular grid of 10x10 m, totalizing 64 points. In each point it was evaluated the total volume of porosity, macroporosity, microporosity, bulk density, soil penetration resistance and soil water content. The studied attributes in the pasture area present indicator of soil compaction for the animals' traffic, with moderate and strong structure of spatial dependence, except for the macroporosity and penetration resistance. In the area of secondary vegetation (VN) only the macroporosity does not present spatial dependence. The total volume of porosity and the bulk density present the same spatial standard in the area under pasture.

Is size structure a good measure of future trends of plant populations? an empirical approach using five woody species from the Cerrado (Brazilian savanna)

Size distributions in woody plant populations have been used to assess their regeneration status, assuming that size structures with reverse-J shapes represent stable populations. We present an empirical approach of this issue using five woody species from the Cerrado. Considering count data for all plants of these five species over a 12-year period, we analyzed size distribution by: a) plotting frequency distributions and their adjustment to the negative exponential curve and b) calculating the Gini coefficient. To look for a relationship between size structure and future trends, we considered the size structures from the first census year. We analyzed changes in number over time and performed a simple population viability analysis, which gives the mean population growth rate, its variance and the probability of extinction in a given time period. Frequency distributions and the Gini coefficient were not able to predict future trends in population numbers. We recommend that managers should not use measures of size structure as a basis for management decisions without applying more appropriate demographic studies.

Efeitos de diferentes frequencias semanais de treinamento com pesos sobre a composição corporal e capacidades motoras em homens idosos

Universidade Estadual de Campinas . Faculdade de Educação Física

Efeito de 24 semanas de treinamento com pesos sobre a composição corporal e indicadores de força muscular

Universidade Estadual de Campinas . Faculdade de Educação Física

Lazer, politica cultural e extensão universitaria no projeto de ensino, pesquisa e extensão : recreação comunitaria

Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Faculdade de Educação Física

Utilização da discriminação grafica de Fisher para indicação dos dermatoglifos como referencial de potencialidade de atletas de basquetebol

Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Faculdade de Educação Física