Carotenoid production in sugarcane juice and synthetic media supplemented with nutrients by Rhodotorula rubra l02

ABSTRACT In order for the use of biological carotenoids to become feasible, it is necessary to have adequate low cost sources and improved methods of cultivation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of supplementation with nitrogen, phosphorus, zinc, and magnesium, on the biomass and carotenoid volumetric production by yeast Rhodotorula rubra L02 using a complex medium (sugarcane juice) and synthetic media (sucrose and maltose) as substrates. The experimental design used for each substrate was randomized in blocks with 16 treatments and 3 repetitions. The treatments were compound for 15 different combinations of nutrients (N; Mg; Zn; P, N + Mg; N + Zn; N + P; Mg + Zn; Mg + P; Zn + P; N + P + Zn; N + P + Mg; N + Zn + Mg; P + Zn + Mg; N + Zn + Mg + P) alone and combined, and a control. The results were submitted to analysis of variance and Tukey test at 5% significance level. Among the treatments evaluated, the highest production of dry biomass, with both maltose and sucrose, was observed for Mg (1.60 g/L and 1.94 g/L, respectively). Additionally, another treatment that stood out in terms of biomass production was the control treatment with maltose (1.54 g/L). After the incubation time, killer activity was not observed since there was no formation of inhibition halo around the L02 yeast.

10-1 Effect of forest environments on human health: An introduction to Forest Medicine / 日本温泉気候物理医学会雑誌

  Humans have enjoyed forest environments for ages because of the quiet atmosphere, beautiful scenery, mild climate, pleasant aromas, and fresh, clean air.   In Japan, since 2004, serial studies have been conducted to investigate the effects of forest environments on human health (1-13).   We have established a new science called Forest Medicine. Forest Medicine is a new interdisciplinary science, falling under the categories of alternative medicine, environmental medicine, and preventive medicine, which encompasses the effects of forest environments on human health (11).   It has been reported that forest environments have the following beneficial effects on human health:   1. Increase human natural killer (NK) activity, the number of NK cells, and the intracellular levels of anti-cancer proteins in NK cells, suggesting a preventive effect on cancers (1-9, 11).   2. Reduce blood pressure (Fig. 1), heart rate, and stress hormones, such as urinary adrenaline and noradrenaline and salivary cortisol (3, 4, 7, 10-13). Decreases of urinary adrenaline and noradrenaline contributed to the lower blood pressure (10, 11).   3. Increase the activity of parasympathetic nerves and reduce the activity of sympathetic nerves (12-13). These effects indirectly influence the endocrine and immune systems via the psycho-neuro-endocrino-immune network (11).   4. Increase the levels of serum adiponectin and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S). Adiponectin is a serum protein hormone specifi cally produced by adipose tissue. Studies have shown that lower than normal blood adiponectin concentrations are associated with several metabolic disorders, including obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic syndrome. Epidemiological evidence in humans suggests that DHEA-S has cardioprotective, anti-obesity, and anti-diabetic properties (10, 11).   5. In the Profile of Mood States (POMS) test, reduce the scores for anxiety, depression, anger, fatigue, and confusion, and increase the score for vigor, showing psychological effects as well (2, 4, 7, 10, 11).   These findings suggest that forest environments may have preventive effects on lifestyle-related diseases (9-11).

10-1Effect of forest environments on human health: An introduction to Forest Medicine / 日本温泉気候物理医学会雑誌

  Humans have enjoyed forest environments for ages because of the quiet atmosphere, beautiful scenery, mild climate, pleasant aromas, and fresh, clean air.<BR>  In Japan, since 2004, serial studies have been conducted to investigate the effects of forest environments on human health (1-13).<BR>  We have established a new science called Forest Medicine. Forest Medicine is a new interdisciplinary science, falling under the categories of alternative medicine, environmental medicine, and preventive medicine, which encompasses the effects of forest environments on human health (11).<BR>  It has been reported that forest environments have the following beneficial effects on human health:<BR>  1.Increase human natural killer (NK) activity, the number of NK cells, and the intracellular levels of anti-cancer proteins in NK cells, suggesting a preventive effect on cancers (1-9, 11).<BR>  2.Reduce blood pressure (Fig. 1), heart rate, and stress hormones, such as urinary adrenaline and noradrenaline and salivary cortisol (3, 4, 7, 10-13). Decreases of urinary adrenaline and noradrenaline contributed to the lower blood pressure (10, 11).<BR>  3.Increase the activity of parasympathetic nerves and reduce the activity of sympathetic nerves (12-13). These effects indirectly influence the endocrine and immune systems via the psycho-neuro-endocrino-immune network (11).<BR>  4.Increase the levels of serum adiponectin and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S). Adiponectin is a serum protein hormone specifi cally produced by adipose tissue. Studies have shown that lower than normal blood adiponectin concentrations are associated with several metabolic disorders, including obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic syndrome. Epidemiological evidence in humans suggests that DHEA-S has cardioprotective, anti-obesity, and anti-diabetic properties (10, 11).<BR>  5.In the Profile of Mood States (POMS) test, reduce the scores for anxiety, depression, anger, fatigue, and confusion, and increase the score for vigor, showing psychological effects as well (2, 4, 7, 10, 11).<BR>  These findings suggest that forest environments may have preventive effects on lifestyle-related diseases (9-11).

On the Fatigue-Reducing Effects of Green Tea / 日本補完代替医療学会誌

<b>Objective</b>: On the psychological, physiological and immunological parameters, the effects of green tea drink were comprehensively investigated.<br> <b>Design</b>: This study used a randomized cross-over design.<br> <b>Methods</b>: After a 120-minute computer fatigue task, participants were randomized into two groups: one tasked to drink green tea and the other water. Blood collection, measurement of the P300 event related potential and questionnaire were executed three times: before and after the computer fatigue task and then, 30 minute after drinking green tea or water. These data were then compared. High Frequency (HF) and average Low Frequency/High Frequency Ratio (LF/HF) were calculated.<br> <b>Result</b>: In a state of fatigue, drinking green tea showed dominance of the parasympathetic nervous system, an improvement in their attentiveness, and elevation of NK activity; thereby, reducing fatigue, particularly, mental fatigue.<br> <b>Conclusion</b>: This study comprehensively showed the fatigue-reducing eggect of green tea in psychological, physiological and immunological parameters. It is hereby, suggested that green tea is indeed, helpful in reducing fatigue.<br>

Occurrence of killer Candida glabrata clinical isolates

In this work we characterized the occurrence of killer activity in 64 Candida glabrata clinical isolates under different conditions. We found that only 6.25 % of the clinical isolates tested were positive for killer activity against a Saccharomyces cerevisiae W303 sensitive strain. Sensitivity of killer activity to different values of pH and temperatures was analyzed. We found that the killer activity presented by all isolates was resistant to every pH and temperature tested, although optimal activity was found at a range of pH values from 4 to 7 and at 37ºC. We did not observe extrachromosomal genetic elements associated with killer activity in any of the positive C. glabrata isolates. The killer effect was due to a decrease in viability and DNA fragmentation in sensitive yeast.

Bioprospection of yeasts as biocontrol agents against phytopathogenic molds

Yeasts isolated from sugar cane and maize rhizosphere, leaves and stalks were screened against the phytopathogenic molds Colletotrichum sublineolum and Colletotrichum graminicola, both causal agents of the anthracnose disease in sorghum and maize, respectively. Strains identified as Torulaspora globosa and Candida intermedia were able to inhibit the mold growth, with the first species also exhibiting killer activity. No previous report on the application and potentiality of these yeasts as biocontrol agents were found neither the killer phenotype in Torulaspora globosa.

Bupropion and paraxetine do not affect natural killer cell activity in vitro / Antidepressivos inibidores seletivos de recaptação da serotonina e inibidores da recaptação de noradrenalina e dopamina não afetam a atividade celular natural killer in vitro

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o efeito citotóxico de dois antidepressivos comumente utilizados na prática, a paroxetina e a bupropriona. Além disso, buscou-se avaliar a atividade natural killer (ANK) após a incubação dos linfócitos com esses fármacos. MÉTODOS: Sangue venoso de 15 participantes foi coletado e as células mononucleares (PBMCs) foram separadas e incubadas por 24h com (ou sem = grupo-controle) concentrações de paroxetina e bupropiona em 30, 100 e 1.000 ng/ml. Após a incubação, a quantidade das células mortas foi contada utilizando-se o método trypan blue. Posteriormente foi avaliada a ANK por meio do ensaio clássico de liberação do Cr51. CONCLUSÕES: Ocorreu morte celular de PBMCs proporcionais às doses dos fármacos, no entanto, a ANK não foi afetada, mesmo com a redução do número de células efetoras.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the citotoxic activity of two commonly used anti-depressants: paroxetine and bupropion. We also evaluated the in vitro natural killer activity (NKA) afterincubating the blood samples with the antidepressants. Methods: Peripheral blood samples from 15 healthy volunteers were collected and the mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated and incubated for 24h with (or without = control cells) paroxetine and bupropion, in concentrations of 30, 100 and 1000 ng/ml. After the incubation period in both groups, the amount of dead cells was calculated using trypam blue technique. NKA was evaluated using the classic51Cr release assay. Conclusions: PBMCs dead cells occurred in both groups and in proportion to all pharmacological concentrations. Nevertheless, the NKA was not affected, even with the reduction in the number of effective cells.

Natural killer activity and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity in patients with primary lung cancer

The NK activity and ADCC of peripheral blood mononuclear cell were examined to evaluate the contribution of ADCC and NK activity to host immune response against lung cancer. The NK activity and ADCC were examined in 58 patients with primary lung cancer and 40 healthy volunteers as normal controls. The NK activity of patients with lung cancer was significantly subnormal, but ADCC was at a normal level. The NK activity was decreased in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but not in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) compared to normal controls. According to stage, the NK activity in stage II, III-M0 and III-M1 NSCLC showed low levels compared to that of stage I NSCLC, but there was no difference of NK activity in patients with SCLC. The NK activity was not affected by performance status. There was no significant difference of ADCC in patients with lung cancer according to cell type, stage and performance compared with that of normal controls. The NK activity and ADCC were not changed after chemotherapy and operation respectively.

A MODIFIED METHOD OF DETERMINING NK ACTIVITY IN HUMAN PERIPHERAL BLOOD:WHOLE BLOOD ASSAY / 中国免疫学杂志

With use of ~(125)I-udR release test,a significant natural killer activityagainst K_(562) target cells has been determined in human peripheral wholeblood(WB).r There was a gradual decrease in NK activity as rise inthe dilution or WB.In comparison with peripheral monouclear cells(PBMC)oneself,the NK activity lowered distinctly at both 1:4 and 1:8 dilution ofWB(p0.4).It seems that neither the red blood cells nor thePlasma ffeect on NK activity of WB,The NK activity in WB as well as inPBMO was improved by incubation with human leukocyte interferon.TheNK activity of WB and PBMC in patients with hepatocellular carcinomawas signiticantly lower than in normal controls.The results showed tahtNK activity may be determined by using properly diluted WB instead orPBMC,and the assay can be easily performed in clinical practice.