Exploratory Study Of The Effect Of Lifestyle Counselling On Bone Mineral Density And Body Composition In Users Of The Contraceptive Depot-medroxyprogesterone Acetate.

To compare variations in bone mineral density (BMD) and body composition (BC) in depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) users and nonusers after providing counselling on healthy lifestyle habits. An exploratory study in which women aged 18 to 40 years participated: 29 new DMPA users and 25 new non-hormonal contraceptive users. All participants were advised on healthy lifestyle habits: sun exposure, walking and calcium intake. BMD and BC were assessed at baseline and 12 months later. Statistical analysis included the Mann-Whitney test or Student's t-test followed by multiple linear regression analysis. Compared to the controls, DMPA users had lower BMD at vertebrae L1 and L4 after 12 months of use. They also had a mean increase of 2 kg in total fat mass and an increase of 2.2% in body fat compared to the non-hormonal contraceptive users. BMD loss at L1 was less pronounced in DMPA users with a calcium intake ≥ 1 g/day compared to DMPA users with a lower calcium intake. DMPA use was apparently associated with lower BMD and an increase in fat mass at 12 months of use. Calcium intake ≥ 1 g/day attenuates BMD loss in DMPA users. Counselling on healthy lifestyle habits failed to achieve its aims.

In Vitro Biological Screening Of The Anticholinesterase And Antiproliferative Activities Of Medicinal Plants Belonging To Annonaceae.

The aim of this research was to investigate the antiproliferative and anticholinesterase activities of 11 extracts from 5 Annonaceae species in vitro. Antiproliferative activity was assessed using 10 human cancer cell lines. Thin-layer chromatography and a microplate assay were used to screen the extracts for acetylcholinesterase (AchE) inhibitors using Ellman's reagent. The chemical compositions of the active extracts were investigated using high performance liquid chromatography. Eleven extracts obtained from five Annonaceae plant species were active and were particularly effective against the UA251, NCI-470 lung, HT-29, NCI/ADR, and K-562 cell lines with growth inhibition (GI50) values of 0.04-0.06, 0.02-0.50, 0.01-0.12, 0.10-0.27, and 0.02-0.04 µg/mL, respectively. In addition, the Annona crassiflora and A. coriacea seed extracts were the most active among the tested extracts and the most effective against the tumor cell lines, with GI50 values below 8.90 µg/mL. The A. cacans extract displayed the lowest activity. Based on the microplate assay, the percent AchE inhibition of the extracts ranged from 12 to 52%, and the A. coriacea seed extract resulted in the greatest inhibition (52%). Caffeic acid, sinapic acid, and rutin were present at higher concentrations in the A. crassiflora seed samples. The A. coriacea seeds contained ferulic and sinapic acid. Overall, the results indicated that A. crassiflora and A. coriacea extracts have antiproliferative and anticholinesterase properties, which opens up new possibilities for alternative pharmacotherapy drugs.

Rootstocks induce contrasting photosynthetic responses of orange plants to low night temperature without affecting the antioxidant metabolism

Low temperatures negatively impact the metabolism of orange trees, and the extent of damage can be influenced by the rootstock. We evaluated the effects of low nocturnal temperatures on Valencia orange scions grafted on Rangpur lime or Swingle citrumelo rootstocks. We exposed six-month-old plants to night temperatures of 20ºC and 8ºC under controlled conditions. After decreasing the temperature to 8ºC, there were decreases in leaf CO2 assimilation, stomatal conductance, mesophyll conductance and CO2 concentration in the chloroplasts, in plant hydraulic conductivity and in the maximum electron transport rate driven ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) regeneration in plants grafted on both rootstocks. However, the effects of low night temperature were more severe in plants grafted on Rangpur rootstock, which also presented reduction in the maximum rate of RuBP carboxylation and in the maximum quantum efficiency of the PSII. In general, irreversible damage due to night chilling was found in the photosynthetic apparatus of plants grafted on Rangpur lime. Low night temperatures induced similar changes in the antioxidant metabolism, preventing oxidative damage in citrus leaves on both rootstocks. As photosynthesis is linked to plant growth, our findings indicate that the rootstock may improve the performance of citrus trees in environments with low night temperatures, with Swingle rootstock improving the photosynthetic acclimation in leaves of orange plants.