In vitro assessment of the genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of clarified açai (Euterpe oleracea MART) extract in a gastric cancer cell line (AGP01 cells).

Açaí (Euterpe oleracea MART) is a fruit of great importance for the Amazon region in nutritional, cultural and socioeconomic terms. In recent years, açaí has been the subject of several studies due to its beneficial properties for health, including effects against tumor cells. Therefore, the present work aimed to evaluate in vitro the genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of the clarified extract of açaí juice in a human metastatic gastric cancer cell line (AGP01 cells). For comparison purposes, a non-transformed cell line of African green monkey renal epithelial cells (VERO cells) was used. The viability assay by resazurin reduction, the comet assay, the determination of cell death by differential fluorescent dyes and the wound healing migration assay were performed. A reduction in viability was observed only in the AGP01 line within 72 h. There was no genotoxic damage or cell death (through apoptosis or necrosis) in any of the cell lines. However, açaí extract induced motility reduction in both cell lines. The reduction in cell viability and the induction of the anti-migratory effect in the AGP01 cell line opens perspectives for exploring the potential of açaí as an adjuvant in the treatment of gastric cancer.

Salmonella and other Enterobacteriaceae in conventional and organic vegetables grown in Brazilian farms.

This study aimed to assess the microbiological profile of conventional and organic vegetables grown in Brazilian farms through the detection of Salmonella and other Enterobacteriaceae. A total of 200 samples (100 conventional and 100 organic), including leafy greens, spices/herbs, and other unusual vegetables, were submitted to the enumeration of Enterobacteriaceae by plating on VRBG agar. Moreover, colonies of Enterobacteriaceae were randomly selected and submitted to identification by MALDI-TOF MS. Samples were also tested for Salmonella, using culture-based and PCR-based enrichment methods. The mean counts of Enterobacteriaceae in conventional and organic vegetables were 5.1 ± 1.5 and 5.4 ± 1.4 log CFU/g, respectively (P > 0.05). A total of 18 genera (including 38 species) of Enterobacteriaceae were identified, and the most frequent ones found in samples from both farming systems were Enterobacter (76%) and Pantoea (68%). Salmonella was identified in 17 samples (8.5%): nine (4.5%) in conventional and eight (4.0%) in organic vegetables. These results indicate that the farming system had no impact on the Enterobacteriaceae populations and rates of Salmonella and revealed unsatisfactory microbiological safety of some samples, mainly due to the presence of Salmonella. These findings highlight the need for control measures during vegetable production, regardless of the farming system, to reduce microbial contamination and the risks of foodborne illnesses.

Discrimination of soils managed with different sources of fertilization and plant species in organic and conventional farming through near-infrared spectroscopy and chemometrics.

BACKGROUND: The combination of near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy and chemometrics can be used to group or discriminate soils based on spectral response. In this study, we conducted discrimination and classification analyses on soils managed with different sources of fertilization and plant species grown in organic and conventional farming systems. RESULTS: Principal component analysis explained 96% (PC1) and 3% (PC2) of the data variability and separated the soil samples of organic and conventional management systems. The wavenumbers that contributed most to the separation of the management systems were in the range of 3600 and 7300 cm-1 , especially the absorption peaks of 3700 and 4600 cm-1 (characteristic of CH and NH combinations), and 5200 and 7000 cm-1 (typical of OH combinations). Machine learning analysis using k-nearest neighbor and random forest algorithms was efficient in classifying soil samples according to management system with an accuracy of 97.8% and can therefore be used for future classification studies. CONCLUSION: Based on the results, we strongly recommend the use of NIR spectroscopy associated with chemometrics for discriminating soils grown with Malus domestica, Musa spp., Oryza sativa and Solanum tuberosum L. under organic and conventional management systems through spectral response. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Mesenchymal Stem Cells Repress Osteoblast Differentiation Under Osteogenic-Inducing Conditions.

This study was designed to investigate the influence of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on osteoblast (OB) differentiation. Rat bone marrow MSCs were cultured either in growth medium that maintained a MSC phenotype or in osteogenic medium that induced differentiation into OBs. Then, cells were grown in two different culture conditions: indirect co-culture of MSCs and OBs and OBs cultured in MSC-conditioned medium. As a control culture condition, OBs were grown in osteogenic medium without the influence of MSCs. We evaluated cell proliferation, the gene expression of key bone markers, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, bone sialoprotein (BSP) expression, and extracellular matrix mineralization. The results showed that, regardless of whether OBs were indirectly co-cultured with MSCs or cultured in MSC-conditioned medium, MSCs repressed OB differentiation, as evidenced by the downregulation of all evaluated bone marker genes, decreased ALP activity, inhibition of BSP protein expression, and reduced extracellular matrix mineralization. Taken together, these results indicate that despite the key role of both MSCs and OBs in the osteogenic process, the repressive effect of MSCs on OB differentiation in an osteogenic environment may represent a barrier to the strategy of using them together in cell-based therapies to induce bone repair.

Evaluation of the agreement by examiners accordingto classifications of third molars

Objectives. This study recorded and evaluated the intra- and inter-group agreement degree by different examiners for the classification of lower third molars according to both the Winter’s and Pell & Gregory’s systems. Study Design. An observational and cross-sectional study was realized with forty lower third molars analyzed from twenty digital panoramic radiographs. Four examiner groups (undergraduates, maxillofacial surgeons, oral radiologists and clinical dentists) from Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil, classified them in relation to angulation, class and position. The variance test (ANOVA) was applied in the examiner findings with significance level of p<0.05and confidence intervals of 95%.Results. Intra- and inter-group agreement was observed in Winter’s classification system among all examiners. Pell& Gregory’s classification system showed an average intra-group agreement and a statistical significant difference to position variable in inter-group analysis with greater disagreement to the clinical dentists group (p<0.05).Conclusions. High reproducibility was associated to Winter’s classification, whereas the system proposed by Pell& Gregory did not demonstrate appropriate levels of reliability (AU)

Oral and maxillofacial myiasis associated with epidermoid carcinoma: a case report.

Myiasis is a term derived from the Greek word "myia", meaning invasion of vital tissue of humans or other mammals by fly larvae. The deposited eggs develop into larvae, which penetrate deep structures causing adjacent tissue destruction. It is an uncommon clinical condition, being more frequent in underdeveloped countries and hot climate regions, and is associated with poor hygiene, suppurative oral lesions, alcoholism and senility. Its diagnosis is made basically by the presence of larvae. This paper reports a case of oral and maxillofacial myiasis involving 273 larvae in a patient with epidermoid carcinoma without physical or neurological deficiency. The patient's management was antisepsis, larval removal and general care, before death after three months.