Chemical composition and biological activities of the essential oils from Vitex-agnus castus, Ocimum campechianum and Ocimum carnosum.

The essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation from fresh leaves of Vitex agnus-castus and Ocimum campechianum, and from fresh inflorescences of Ocimum carnosum were analysed by GC-FID and GC-MS. The major components of V. agnus-castus essential oil were identified as 1,8-cineole (47.9%), terpinyl α-acetate (11.6%), sabinene (11.2%) and caryophyllene oxide (9.7%), while in the O. campechianum essential oil were eugenol (72.1%), ß-elemene (6.8%), (E)-caryophyllene (6.4%) and bicyclogermacrene (5.2%). Linalool (79.0%), α-epi-cadinol (5.4%), terpinen-4-ol (3.2%) and 1,8-cineole (2.8%) were the major constituents in the O. carnosum essential oil. The essential oils were subsequently evaluated for their larvicidal and cytotoxic activities. Larval bioassay against Aedes aegypti of V. agnus-castus, O. campechianum and O. carnosum essential oils showed LC50 values of 97.55 ± 0.35, 81.45 ± 0.35 and 109.49 ± 0.35 µg/mL, respectively. The in vitro cytotoxic activities of the essential oils has been evaluated on breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7), lung carcinoma (NCI-H292), pro-myelocytic leukemia (HL-60), and cervical adenocarcinoma (HEP-2) human cell lines, and pro-myelocytic leukemia cells lines (HL-60) were found to be the most sensitive to all the essential oils tested than the others. This is the first report on larvicidal and cytotoxic activities of these essential oils.

Modulation of Isometric Quadriceps Strength in Soccer Players With Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation: A Crossover Study.

Vargas, VZ, Baptista, AF, Pereira, GOC, Pochini, AC, Ejnisman, B, Santos, MB, João, SMA, and Hazime, FA. Modulation of isometric quadriceps strength in soccer players with transcranial direct current stimulation: a crossover study. J Strength Cond Res 32(5): 1336-1341, 2018-The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on the maximum isometric muscle contraction (MVIC) of the knee extensors in soccer players at the preprofessional level. Twenty female soccer players aged 15-17 years (mean = 16.1; SD = 0.9) with 5.2 ± 2.6 years of training were randomly divided into 2 groups to receive either active or sham tDCS in a single session (2 mA; 0.057 mA·cm). The MVIC of the knee extensors was evaluated in both lower limbs by manual dynamometry in 5 sets of contractions divided into 4 blocks: (a) prestimulation, (b) during tDCS, (c) 30 minutes after tDCS, and (d) 60 minutes after tDCS. After an interval of 7 days, the groups were evaluated again, and the type of initial stimulation was inverted between participants. The MVIC of the knee extensors increased significantly during active tDCS (dominant limb (DL) = 0.4; IC = 0.1-0.8 N·Kg), 30 minutes after active tDCS (DL = 0.9; IC 0.4-1.4 N·Kg), and 60 minutes after active tDCS (DL = 1.0; IC 0.3-1.6 N·Kg) but not for sham tDCS. Our conclusion was that tDCS temporarily increases isometric quadriceps strength in adolescent female soccer players, which may be useful for both strength training and rehabilitation.

Transcolonic Perirectal NOTES Access (PNA): A feasibility study with survival in swine model.

Transrectal access still has some unsolved issues such as spatial orientation, infection, access and site closure. This study presents a simple technique to perform transcolonic access with survival in a swine model series. A new technique for NOTES perirectal access to perform retroperitoneoscopy, peritoneoscopy, liver and lymphnode biopsies was performed in 6 pigs, using Totally NOTES technique. The specimens were extracted transanally. The flexible endoscope was inserted through a posterior transmural incision and the retrorectal space. Cultures of bacteria were documented for the retroperitoneal space and intra abdominal cavity after 14 days. Rectal site was closed using non-absorbable sutures. There was no bowel cleansing, nor preoperative fasting. The procedures were performed in 6 pigs through transcolonic natural orifice access using available endoscopic flexible instruments. All animals survived 14 days without complications, and cultures were negative. Histopathologic examination of the rectal closure site showed adequate healing of suture line and no micro abscesses. The results of feasibility and safety of experimental Transcolonic NOTES potentially brings new frontiers and future wider applications for minimally invasive surgery. The treatment of colorectal, abdominal and retroperitoneal diseases through a flexible Perirectal NOTES Access (PNA) is a promising new approach.

Identification and assembly of genomes and genetic elements in complex metagenomic samples without using reference genomes.

Most current approaches for analyzing metagenomic data rely on comparisons to reference genomes, but the microbial diversity of many environments extends far beyond what is covered by reference databases. De novo segregation of complex metagenomic data into specific biological entities, such as particular bacterial strains or viruses, remains a largely unsolved problem. Here we present a method, based on binning co-abundant genes across a series of metagenomic samples, that enables comprehensive discovery of new microbial organisms, viruses and co-inherited genetic entities and aids assembly of microbial genomes without the need for reference sequences. We demonstrate the method on data from 396 human gut microbiome samples and identify 7,381 co-abundance gene groups (CAGs), including 741 metagenomic species (MGS). We use these to assemble 238 high-quality microbial genomes and identify affiliations between MGS and hundreds of viruses or genetic entities. Our method provides the means for comprehensive profiling of the diversity within complex metagenomic samples.

Synthesis, in vitro evaluation, and SAR studies of a potential antichagasic 1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine series.

The development of new drugs against Trypanosoma cruzi is still required since the only two drugs currently used cause severe side effects. In this work we described the synthesis, the in vitro biological evaluation, and the SAR results of 1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine derivatives, a new antichagasic agent series. The presence of fluorine, hydroxyl or nitro group at Y position resulted in at least one or two promising compounds in each set of derivatives (6f, 6g, 6i, 6l, and 6m). The SAR study showed that trypanocidal activity observed depends on both geometric and stereoelectronic parameters (MEP and frontier molecular orbitals HOMO and LUMO). We also used the Osiris program for calculating and comparing the fragment based druglikeness of the most active derivative (6g) (IC(50)=1.9microg/mL), the inactive compound (6o), and the current toxic antichagasic drugs (nifurtimox and benznidazole). Interestingly 6g presented a potential druglikeness higher than nifurtimox and benznidazole while 6o presented the lowest value among them.

Aneurisma de aorta abdominal investigação na população de risco / Abdominal aortic aneurysm research in the population at risk

O aneurisma de aorta abdominal é conceituado como uma dilatação permanente e localizada, maior ou igual a uma vez e meia o diâmetro esperado da aorta. A doença é observada predominantemente após a sexta década de vida e está associada a alterações degenerativas e ateroscleróticas na parede aórtica, na maioria dos pacientes. De acordo com estudos populacionais, esta entidade está presente em cerca de 2 a 5% dos homens com mais de 60 anos. Tem-se notado um aumento progressivo do número de caos de aneurisma de aorta abdominal devido, em parte, ao aprimoramento dos exames de imagem como o ultra-som e a tomografia computadorizada. A importância do reconhecimento precoce desta enfermidade está na prevenção da rotura

Aneurisma de aorta abdominal investigação na população de risco

O aneurisma de aorta abdominal é conceituado como uma dilatação permanente e localizada, maior ou igual a uma vez e meia o diâmetro esperado da aorta. A doença é observada predominantemente após a sexta década de vida e está associada a alterações degenerativas e ateroscleróticas na parede aórtica, na maioria dos pacientes. De acordo com estudos populacionais, esta entidade está presente em cerca de 2 a 5% dos homens com mais de 60 anos. Tem-se notado um aumento progressivo do número de caos de aneurisma de aorta abdominal devido, em parte, ao aprimoramento dos exames de imagem como o ultra-som e a tomografia computadorizada. A importância do reconhecimento precoce desta enfermidade está na prevenção da rotura

Aneurisma de aorta abdominal investigação na população de risco / Abdominal aortic aneurysm research in the population at risk

O aneurisma de aorta abdominal é conceituado como uma dilatação permanente e localizada, maior ou igual a uma vez e meia o diâmetro esperado da aorta. A doença é observada predominantemente após a sexta década de vida e está associada a alterações degenerativas e ateroscleróticas na parede aórtica, na maioria dos pacientes. De acordo com estudos populacionais, esta entidade está presente em cerca de 2 a 5% dos homens com mais de 60 anos. Tem-se notado um aumento progressivo do número de caos de aneurisma de aorta abdominal devido, em parte, ao aprimoramento dos exames de imagem como o ultra-som e a tomografia computadorizada. A importância do reconhecimento precoce desta enfermidade está na prevenção da rotura

Doenças cerebrovasculares em Uberlândia: II. Epidemiologia e clínica / Cerebrovascular disorders in Uberlândia: II. Epidemiology and clinics

Estudou-se prospectivamente as características clínicas e epidemiológicas de 157 pacientes com doenças cerebrovasculares em Uberlândia, MG. A incidência de novos casos foi 0,8/1000hab/ano. O prognóstico revelou-se sombrio: 40% de óbitos; apenas 30% retornam ao trabalho; quase 30% dos demais ficam inválidos. Os principais fatores de risco para as DCV em nossa regiäo foram hipertensäo arterial, a doença de Chagas, o ataque isquêmico transitório (este para os infartes completos) e hipercolesterolemia