First report of Lasiodiplodia brasiliensis causing crown rot on banana in Brazil.

Postharvest diseases compromise banana quality and cause high economic losses in Brazil. Among them, the crown rot prevails and its causal agents belong to distinct fungal species such as Colletotrichum musae (Berk. & Curt.) von Arx, Fusarium spp., and Lasiodiplodia theobromae (Pat.) Griff. & Maubl. (Griffee and Burden 1976; Ploetz et al. 2003). Symptoms of crown rot were observed on banana fruits of cv. Williams in a commercial area in Assu, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil (04°54'0.06"S, 37°22'6.02"W) in 2017. The samples were collected, superficially disinfected with NaClO (2%), and incubated in a wet chamber at 25 °C, with a 12 h photoperiod, for approximately 3 days. After the appearance of disease symptoms and pathogen signs, mycelia were transferred from the lesions to obtain pure cultures on a potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium. Thus, a monosporic culture was obtained (isolate BAN82). The fungus produced pycnidia with conidia on potato carrot agar (PCA) culture medium containing pine needles, after four weeks of incubation at 28 °C. The conidia were hyaline when immature and brown with central transverse septum when mature. The presence of conidiogenous cells, paraphyses, and conidiophores also were observed. The conidia present ovoid format measuring 20-28 x 11-14 µm (n=50). The fungal colony produced abundant aerial mycelia of mouse grey coloration, progressing to dark mouse grey (Rayner 1970), on PDA for 15 days to 28 °C. The growth rate was 29.3 mm/day on PDA. The genomic DNA was extracted and amplified PCR with primers TEF1-688F/TEF1-1251R, ITS1/ITS4, and Bt2a/Bt2b and sequenced in both directions. The TEF1 and TUB2 sequences showed 100%, and the ITS showed 93.06% identity with the sequences of Lasiodiplodia brasiliensis (GenBank accession numbers: ON623895, TEF1, ON623896, TUB2, and ON599012, ITS. Multiple alignments of the combined dataset of the isolate and representative sequences obtained from GenBank were submitted phylogenetic analyses to bayesian inference (IB) with posterior probabilities of 10,000,000 generations. The morphological characteristics together with multigenic analysis of the three genomic regions made it possible to identify the BAN82 isolate as Lasiodiplodia brasiliensis, showing bootstrap support of posterior probabilities of 0,98 in the IB analysis. The pathogenicity was evaluated on 16 banana fruits from cv. Prata Catarina, at the point of harvest. For inoculation, the bananas were disinfected with water, soap, and, NaClO (2%). Posteriorly, the fruits were wounded on both ends, followed by the deposition of 5mm diameter mycelial plugs from the fungal culture, within 7 days of the growth. After the inoculation, the fruits were incubated in plastic boxes in a wet chamber at 25 °C, with 12 h photoperiod, for 3 days. To complete Koch's postulates, the isolate was inoculated again into 16 other banana fruits from cv. Prata Catarina. The negative control fruits were not inoculated with the pathogen, only with PDA discs. The BAN82 isolate was pathogenic to the banana cv. Prata Catarina. In the Brazilian Northeast, L. brasiliensis was described in 2014 as being associated with papaya stem rot. Up to the moment, there are no reports of L. brasiliensis as the causal agent of crown rot on bananas from Brazil (Netto et al. 2014; Farr and Rossman 2022). Thus, our work is the first to report L. brasiliensis causing crown rot on banana fruits cv. Prata Catarina in Brazil.

Metabolomic Profile of Volatile Organic Compounds from Leaves of Cashew Clones by HS-SPME/GC-MS for the Identification of Candidates for Anthracnose Resistance Markers.

Anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides affects the leaves, inflorescences, nuts, and peduncles of cashew trees (Anacardium occidentale). The use of genetically improved plants and the insertion of dwarf cashew clones that are more resistant to phytopathogens are strategies to minimize the impact of anthracnose on cashew production. However, resistance mechanisms related to the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites remain unknown. Thus, this study promoted the investigation of the profile of volatile organic compounds of resistant cashew clone leaves ('CCP 76', 'BRS 226' and 'BRS 189') and susceptible ('BRS 265') to C. gloeosporioides, in the periods of non-infection and infection of the pathogen in the field (July-December 2019 - Brazil). Seventy-eight compounds were provisionally identified. Chemometric analyses, such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Discriminating Partial Least Squares Analysis (PLS-DA), Discriminating Analysis of Orthogonal Partial Least Squares (OPLS-DA), and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA), separated the samples into different groups, highlighting hexanal, (E)-hex-2-enal, (Z)-hex-2-en-1-ol, (E)-hex-3-en-1-ol, in addition to α-pinene, α-terpinene, γ-terpinene, ß-pinene, and δ-3-carene, in the samples of the resistant clones in comparison to the susceptible clone. According to the literature, these metabolites have antimicrobial activity and are therefore chemical marker candidates for resistance to C. gloeosporioides in cashew trees.

Effects of centipedic acid on acute lung injury: A dose-response study in a murine model.

Centipedic Acid (CPA), a natural diterpene from Egletes viscosa, an endemic species of the Caatinga biome, has shown antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. However, no report on the CPA on respiratory system mechanics has been so far advanced. We aimed to investigate the dose-response behavior of CPA on E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-triggered acute lung injury (ALI). Forty-eight C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into six groups: control (SS), induced to ALI (LPS), 4 groups induced to ALI pre-treated with 12.5, 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg of CPA (CPA12.5, CPA25, CPA50 and CPA100 groups). CPA 100 mg/kg could prevent inflammatory cell infiltration, alveolar collapse, changes in tissue micromechanics and lung function (airway resistance, tissue elastance, tissue resistance and Static compliance). These results indicate preventive potential of this compound in the installation of ALI.

Antagonism of volatile organic compounds of the Bacillus sp. against Fusarium kalimantanense.

Fusarium kalimantanense is a genetic lineage of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc) and belongs to the Fusarium oxysporum species complex (FOSC). This pathogen is a causative agent of Panama disease, an infection that has caused damage to the banana crop worldwide. Bacillus sp. (LPPC170) showed preliminary antagonist activity against F. kalimantanense (LPPC130) in vitro tests from the cultivation of axenic culture and co-culture with inhibition of mycelial growth of phytopathogen of 41.23%. According to these findings, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from Bacillus sp. were obtained by solid-phase microextraction and identified by gas chromatography coupled with a mass spectrometer (GC-MS). The multivariate data analysis tool (PLS-DA and Heatmap) identified short-chain organic acids as the main antagonistic VOCs responsible for inhibiting the mycelial growth of LPPC130. Acetic acid, propanoic acid, butanoic acid, valeric acid, and isovaleric acid exhibited a strong inhibitory effect on the mycelial growth of LPPC130, with inhibition of 20.68%, 33.30%, 26.87%, 43.71%, and 53.10%, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that VOCs caused damage to the vegetative and reproductive structures of the fungus. These results suggest Bacillus LPPC170 as an excellent biocontrol tool against the phytopathogen causative agents of Panama disease.

First report of Fusarium kalimantanense causing Fusarium wilt on banana tree in Brazil.

Banana (Musa spp.) is the second most-consumed fruit in Brazil, the fourth-largest producer globally, with 7 million tons in 2021 (IBGE 2021). Studies about the morphological and pathogenic characteristics revealed that the etiology of Fusarium wilt in banana cultivars in Brazil had been related to the Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc) (E.F. Smith) Snyder and Hansen species (Costa et al. 2015; Cordeiro et al. 2016; Araújo et al. 2017). Phylogenetic studies have shown the existence of distinct genetic lineages for Foc, which has come to be called the Fusarium oxysporum Species Complex (FOSC) (O'Donnell et al. 1998; Maryani et al. 2019). Symptoms of Fusarium wilt were observed in banana trees at the headquarters of Embrapa Roraima (02°45'26.89"N and 60°43'52.78"W), Roraima-Brazil, in 2016. Samples were collected and sterilized with 70% ethanol for 30 s, followed by 3% NaClO for 1 min, rinsed three times in sterile distilled water, seeded on potato dextrose agar (PDA), and incubated at 25 °C for three days. Two isolates obtained from a pure culture (LPPC130) were submitted to the morphological characterization by Leslie and Summerell (2006) protocol. The fungal colony showed vinaceous color, progressing to livid red (Rayner 1970), with a mean diameter of 41 mm (± 0.1) at three days of incubation in a PDA culture medium. The fungus produced abundant macroconidia in spezieller nährstoffarmer agar (SNA) culture medium containing clove leaf (CLA) after 14 days of incubation at 25 °C. The sporodochium conidia presented a falcate shape, moderately curved, with 3 to 5 septa and dimensions ranging from 38.8 (48.0) 56.2 x 3.5 (4.4) 6.0 µm (n=50). The conidia of the aerial mycelium presented ovoid to ellipsoid shape, slightly curved, aseptic, measuring 6.0 (12.0) 18.0 x 2.8 (3.3) 5.0 µm (n=50). The genomic DNA of the isolate was extracted (Murray and Thompson 1980), and fragments of the elongation factor 1-α (TEF1) and RNA Polymerase II (RPB2) gene regions were amplified and sequenced in both directions (O'Donnell et al. 1998; O'Donnell et al. 2010) (GenBank accession numbers: Seq1 OL802918 and Seq2 OL802919). Multiple alignments of the combined dataset of the isolates and representative sequences obtained from GenBank were submitted to phylogenetic analysis with 1,000 bootstrap replicates. The micromorphological characteristics together to phylogenetic inference on the TEF1 and RPB2 genes, allowed a robust analysis, generating 42 more parsimonious trees and making it possible to identify the LPPC130 isolate as Fusarium kalimantanense, a species belonging to the F. oxysporum species complex (FOSC), with 100% bootstrap support (Maryani et al. 2019). The pathogenicity of the isolate was evaluated in five micropropagated seedlings of banana cv. Silk 75 days old, grown in pots with 5 kg of sterile formulation of sand and soil, in 1:1. Seedlings were inoculated by wounding the roots and depositing a suspension of conidia and chlamydospores at 105 spores mL-1. The inoculating of the isolate in 35 micropropagated seedlings of banana was based on Koch's postulates. The seedlings were transplanted into plastic bags (2 kg of sterile formulation: sandy soil and substrate, in 2:1) and inoculated with 10 mL of the chlamydospore suspension (107 CFU mL-1) at transplanting, and after 30 days of transplanting. Seedlings treated only with water were used as control. Evaluation of the symptoms of the disease was carried out 90 days after inoculation, and revealed that the isolate (LPPC130) was pathogenic by inducing the same symptoms of Fusarium wilt. F. kalimantanense was first reported associated with the pseudostems of Musa acuminata var. Pisang Ambon, and proved to be non-pathogenic to cv. Gros Michel and the bananas of the Cavendish group (Maryani et al. 2019). In Brazil, this fungus was recently associated with the Fusarium rot on melon fruits (Araújo et al. 2021); however, this is the first report of its pathogenicity in banana trees cv. Silk.

Molecular docking study and antireabsorptive activity of a semi-synthetic coumarin derivative from Platymiscium floribundum in the ligature-induced periodontitis in rats: the involvement of heme oxygenase-1.

OBJETIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the anti-resorptive activity of a semi-synthetic coumarin derivative from Platymiscium floribundum, named 6,7-dimethoxy-3-nitrocoumarin. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Molecular docking studies were performed to test the binding performance of the derivative against targets associated with alveolar bone loss (TNF-α, IL-1ß, and catalase) and a target considered an antioxidant defense (HO-1) during periodontitis. Periodontitis was induced by placing a nylon ligature around the second molars. The rats received for 11 days 6,7-dimethoxy-3-nitrocoumarin (0.01, 0.1, or 1 mg/kg) or vehicle. We investigated by RT-qPCR analysis (TNF-α, IL-1ß, and HO-1 mRNA expression levels) and by colorimetric assay (catalase activity) the mechanism of action mediated by 6,7-dimethoxy-3-nitrocoumarin. The in vivo toxicity of 6,7-dimethoxy-3-nitrocoumarin was evaluated. RESULTS: 6,7-Dimethoxy-3-nitrocoumarin (0.1 or 1 mg/kg) reduced alveolar bone loss (1.05 ± 0.24), when compared to vehicle-treated group (3.05 ± 0.30). The interactions of 6,7-dimethoxy-3-nitrocoumarin and the four targets (TNF-α, IL-1ß, catalase, and HO-1) showed firm bonds above 6.0 kcal/mol. 6,7-dimethoxy-3-nitrocoumarin (1 mg/kg) lowered mRNA expression levels of TNF-α (2.33 ± 0.56) and IL-1ß (19.87 ± 2.9), while it increased both the mRNA expression levels of HO-1 (43.40 ± 1.05) and the catalase activity (46.42 ± 4.59), when compared to vehicle-treated group (46.29 ± 8.43; 37.83 ± 4.38; 1.58 ± 0.11; 8.93 ± 1.86, respectively). The animals did not show any signs of toxicity. CONCLUSION: 6,7-Dimethoxy-3-nitrocoumarin decreased inflammatory bone loss in the ligature-induced periodontitis in rats, and the activation of the HO-1 pathway may contribute, at least partially, to its protective effects by reducing TNF-α and IL-1ß mRNA levels and increasing catalase activity. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: 6,7-Dimethoxy-3-nitrocumarin could be used as an adjunct to subgingival instrumentation during active and supportive periodontal treatment.

Protective effect of Platymiscium floribundum Vog. in tree extract on periodontitis inflammation in rats.

Periodontitis is an immuno-inflammatory disease, which can lead to tooth loss. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of Platymiscium floribundum Vog., a Brazilian tree which has been used in folk medicine as an anti-inflammatory agent, in a pre-clinical trial of periodontitis in rats. Periodontitis was induced by placing a sterilized nylon (3.0) thread ligature around the cervix of the second left upper molar of the rats, which received (per os) P. floribundum extract (0.1, 1 or 10 mg/kg) or vehicle 1h before periodontitis-challenge and once daily during 11 days. Treatment with P. floribundum (10mg/kg) decreased alveolar bone loss, MPO activity nitrite/nitrate levels, oxidative stress, TNF-α, IL1-ß, IL-8/CINC-1, and PGE2 gingival levels, and transcription of TNF-α, IL1-ß, COX-2, iNOS, RANK, and RANKL genes, while elevated both BALP serum levels and IL-10 gingival levels. The animals did not show signs of toxicity throughout the experimental course. These findings show that P. floribundum has anti-inflammatory and anti-resorptive properties in a pre-clinical trial of periodontitis, representing an interesting biotechnological tool.

New flavone and other compounds from Tephrosia egregia: assessing the cytotoxic effect on human tumor cell lines

ABSTRACT The organic extracts from stems, roots and leaves of Tephrosia egregia Sandwith, Fabaceae, provided a new flavone, 5-hydroxy-8-(1",2"-epoxy-3"-hydroxy-3"-methylbutyl)-7-methoxyflavone (1), in addition to eleven known compounds: pongaflavone (2), praecansone B (3), 12a-hydroxyrotenone (4), praecansone A, 2',6'-dimethoxy-4',5'-(2",2"-dimethyl)-pyranochalcone, pongachalcone, maackiain, β-sistosterol and its glucoside, p-cumaric acid and cinnamic acid. The structures of all compounds were established on the basis of spectroscopic methods, mainly 1D and 2D NMR and HRESIMS, involving comparison with literature data. Cytotoxicity of compounds 1-4 was evaluated against AGP-01 (cancerous ascitic fluid), HCT-116 (colon adenocarcinoma), HL-60 (leukemia), PC-3 (prostate carcinoma), SF-295 (glioblastoma) and SKMEL 28 (melanoma) cell lines.

Chemical constituents from Bauhinia acuruana and their cytotoxicity

ABSTRACT Phytochemical investigation of Bauhinia acuruana Moric., Fabaceae, resulted in the isolation of sixteen constituents, including two new compounds 2'-hydroxy-2,3,5-trimethoxybibenzyl (1), (2R,3S)-2-(3,4'-dihydroxyphenyl)-5-methoxy-6-methylchroman-3,7-diol (2), together with fourteen known ones (3-16). The structures of the compounds were established by spectroscopic analysis including HR-ESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR data, followed by comparison with previously reported data from the literature. Compounds 1, 2, 6, 7, 8 and 9 were evaluated for their cytotoxicity, which turned out to be marginal in a panel of six human cancer cell lines.

New cytotoxic furan from the marine sediment-derived fungi Aspergillus niger.

A fungal strain of Aspergillus niger was recovered from sediments collected in the Northeast coast of Brazil (Pecém's offshore port terminal). Cultivation in different growth media yielded a new ester furan derivative, 1, along with malformin A1, malformin C, cyclo (trans-4-hydroxy-L-Pro-L-Leu), cyclo (trans-4-hydroxy-L-Pro-L-Phe), cyclo (L-Pro-L-Leu), cyclo (L-Pro-L-Phe), pseurotin D, pseurotin A, chlovalicin, cyclo (L-Pro-L-Tyr) and cyclo (L-Pro-L-Val). Compound 1 was cytotoxic against HCT-116 cell line, showing IC50 = 2.9 µg/mL (CI 95% from 1.8 to 4.7 µg/mL).

13C-NMR Spectral Data of Alkaloids Isolated from Psychotria Species (Rubiaceae).

The genus Psychotria (Rubiaceae) comprises more than 2000 species, mainly found in tropical and subtropical forests. Several studies have been conducted concerning their chemical compositions, showing that this genus is a potential source of alkaloids. At least 70 indole alkaloids have been identified from this genus so far. This review aimed to compile 13C-NMR data of alkaloids isolated from the genus Psychotria as well as describe the main spectral features of different skeletons.

Spirostanol glucosides from the leaves of Cestrum laevigatum L.

Two new steroidal saponins, (25R)-spirost-5-ene-3ß,26ß-diol 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-[(1 → 2)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl]-ß-D-glucopyranoside (1) and (25R)-spirost-6-ene-3ß,5ß-diol 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-[(1 → 2)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl]-ß-D-glucopyranoside (2), along with the known diosgenin 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-ß-D-glucopyranoside (3), chonglouoside SL-5 (4) and Paris saponin Pb (5) were isolated from the leaves of Cestrum laevigatum. The structures of the compounds were determined using spectroscopic analyses including HRESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR data, followed by comparison with data from the literature. Among them, two are particularly unique, compound 1 is the first (6)Δ-spirostanol saponin and compound 2 has an unusual C-26 hydroxyl in the (5)Δ-spirostanol skeleton. Antifungal testing showed a potent activity to formosanin C against Candida albicans and Candida parapsilosis. Evaluation of the cytotoxic activity indicated that compound 1 has a moderate activity against HL-60 and SF-295 cell lines, while compound 2 were active only against HL-60.

Stereo and regioselective microbial reduction of the clerodane diterpene 3,12-dioxo-15,16-epoxy-4-hydroxycleroda-13(16),14-diene.

The biotransformation of the clerodane diterpene, 3,12-dioxo-15,16-epoxy-4-hydroxy-cleroda-13(16),14-diene (1), obtained from Croton micans var. argyroglossum (Baill.) Mill., was investigated for the first time. Whole cells of Cunninghamella echinulata and Rhizopus stolonifer were used as enzymatic systems, and with both fungi the only biotransformation product obtained was the new ent-neo-clerodane diterpene (3R,4S,5S,8S,9R,10S)-3,4-dihydroxy-15,16-epoxy-12-oxo-cleroda-13(16),14-diene (2a). The absolute stereochemistry of 2a was inferred by comparison of its optical rotation with those of the chemical reduction product of 1 and its quasienantiomer 2c.

Pterocarpans induce tumor cell death through persistent mitotic arrest during prometaphase.

Pterocarpans, a family of isoflavonoids found in the diverse Fabaceae, display potent cytotoxic activity over a panel of tumor cell lines, and among those tested, 2,3,9- trimethoxypterocarpan displays the most potent activity. This study evaluates the effects of 2,3,9-trimethoxypterocarpan and its related derivatives on cell cycle progression and microtubule function in select breast cancer cell lines (MCF7, T47d and HS578T). The pterocarpans, with the exception of 3,4-dihydroxy-9-methoxipterocarpan, induced increased frequencies of mitotic cells by inducing arrest in prometaphase. While microtubule organization in interphase cells was not modified during treatment, mitotic cells exhibited high frequencies of monastral spindles surrounded by condensed chromosomes. Immunofluorescence staining with an anti-γ-tubulin antibody showed double-dot labeling in the spindle polar region, suggesting that pterocarpan treatment blocked centrosome segregation. We found that this mitotic arrest was reversible when the cells were treated for up to 24 h followed by recovery in drug-free medium, but not after 48-h treatment followed by incubation in drug-free medium. In that case, treated cells typically underwent cell multinucleation and apoptosis.

Quality of life of individuals with stroke and their caregivers in a city of Triângulo Mineiro.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the quality of life (QoL) of individuals with stroke and their caregivers. METHODS: This is an observational cross-sectional survey, involving 83 individuals who suffered a stroke. The participants were divided into four groups: group of individuals with stroke who have caregivers (44), group of individuals with stroke without caregivers (39), group of caregivers (44) and a reference group (83) in the period of March to May 2010. To assess QoL, the instrument used was the WHOQOL-bref. RESULTS: The highest scores for the four fields were observed increasingly for the group of individuals with stroke with caregivers, the stroke group without caregivers followed by the group of caregivers and the reference group. The comparison of scores between groups showed that the presence of stroke and the fact of being caregiver affect QoL in all domains of WHOQOL-bref. CONCLUSION: It was possible to understand the negative impact that stroke causes in the lives of the affected ones and their caregivers, in order to better target public health policies.

Quality of life of individuals with stroke and their caregivers in a city of Triângulo Mineiro / Qualidade de vida de indivíduos com acidente vascular encefálico e de seus cuidadores de um município do Triângulo Mineiro

Objective: To compare the quality of life (QoL) of individuals with stroke and their caregivers. Methods: This is an observational cross-sectional survey, involving 83 individuals who suffered a stroke. The participants were divided into four groups: group of individuals with stroke who have caregivers (44), group of individuals with stroke without caregivers (39), group of caregivers (44) and a reference group (83) in the period of March to May 2010. To assess QoL, the instrument used was the WHOQOL-bref. Results: The highest scores for the four fields were observed increasingly for the group of individuals with stroke with caregivers, the stroke group without caregivers followed by the group of caregivers and the reference group. The comparison of scores between groups showed that the presence of stroke and the fact of being caregiver affect QoL in all domains of WHOQOL-bref. Conclusion: It was possible to understand the negative impact that stroke causes in the lives of the affected ones and their caregivers, in order to better target public health policies. .

Objetivo: Descrever e comparar a qualidade de vida (QV) dos indivíduos com acidente vascular encefálico (AVE) e a de seus cuidadores. Métodos: Estudo observacional do tipo inquérito transversal, envolvendo 83 indivíduos que sofreram um AVE. Os indivíduos participantes foram separados em 4 grupos: grupo dos indivíduos com AVE que têm cuidadores (44), grupo dos indivíduos com AVE sem cuidadores (39), grupo dos cuidadores (44) e um grupo de referência (83) no período de março a maio de 2010. Para avaliação da QV, utilizou-se o instrumento WHOQOL-bref. Resultados: Os maiores escores para os quatro domínios foram observados de forma crescente no grupo dos indivíduos com AVE com cuidadores, grupo de AVE sem cuidadores seguido pelo grupo de cuidadores e pelo grupo de referência. A comparação dos escores entre os grupos evidenciou que a presença do AVE e o fato de ser cuidador afeta a QV em todos os domínios do WHOQOL-bref. Conclusão: Foi possível compreender o impacto negativo que o AVE causa na vida dos acometidos e na de seus cuidadores, para, com isso, melhor direcionar políticas públicas de saúde. .

New unusual alkaloids from the ascidian Eudistoma vannamei.

The MeOH extract of the ascidian Eudistoma vannamei was found to contain three novel compounds, the adenine alkaloid derivatives 9-[N-(leucyl)-isoleucyl]- adenine (1) and 8-hydroxy-8-isopentyl-7,8-dihydroadenine (2), and the phenylalanine peptide derivative N-[N-(leucyl)-isoleucyl]phenethylamine (3). Other previously related compounds isolated from this extract include thymidine, 2'-deoxyuridine and phenylalanine. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated through the use of NMR and mass spectrometry.

Identification of serpin determinants of specificity and selectivity for furin inhibition through studies of α1PDX (α1-protease inhibitor Portland)-serpin B8 and furin active-site loop chimeras.

α1-Protease inhibitor Portland (α1PDX) is an engineered serpin family inhibitor of the proprotein convertase (PC), furin, that exhibits high specificity but limited selectivity for inhibiting furin over other PC family proteases. Here, we characterize serpin B8, a natural inhibitor of furin, together with α1PDX-serpin B8 and furin-PC chimeras to identify determinants of serpin specificity and selectivity for furin inhibition. Replacing reactive center loop (RCL) sequences of α1PDX with those of serpin B8 demonstrated that both the P4-P1 RXXR recognition sequence as well as the P1'-P5' sequence are critical determinants of serpin specificity for furin. Alignments of PC catalytic domains revealed four variable active-site loops whose role in furin reactivity with serpin B8 was tested by engineering furin-PC loop chimeras. The furin(298-300) loop but not the other loops differentially affected furin reactivity with serpin B8 and α1PDX in a manner that depended on the serpin RCL-primed sequence. Modeling of the serpin B8-furin Michaelis complex identified serpin exosites in strand 3C close to the 298-300 loop whose substitution in α1PDX differentially affected furin reactivity depending on the furin loop and serpin RCL-primed sequences. These studies demonstrate that RCL-primed residues, strand 3C exosites, and the furin(298-300) loop are critical determinants of serpin reactivity with furin, which may be exploited in the design of specific and selective α1PDX inhibitors of PCs.

Preventive behavior for toxoplasmosis in pregnant adolescents in the state of Ceara, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: When toxoplasmosis is acquired during pregnancy, it can be transmitted to the fetus causing severe lesions in the first two gestational trimesters. This study analyzed the main factors associated with the preventive behavior for toxoplasmosis among pregnant adolescents in the city of Fortaleza in northeast Brazil. METHODS: It is a cross-sectional study conducted from March 2009 to November 2010, with a sample of 320 pregnant adolescents, ages ranging from 12 to 19 years old, receiving prenatal care in the Public Health Care System. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression model analyses were used to identify the association between preventive behavior for toxoplasmosis, and the independent variables and 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: We observed that 16.3% of the pregnant adolescents showed preventive behavior for toxoplasmosis. The factors positively associated to the preventive behavior for toxoplasmosis were: age group between 12 and 14 years old (OR = 2.75; 95%CI 1.23-6.12) and more than two prenatal consultations (OR = 2.19; 95%CI 1.17-4.09). CONCLUSIONS: Noteworthy is the importance of a serologic follow-up for pregnant adolescents with clearer and more precise information about risk factors and the importance of adopting preventive behaviors. Thus, it is necessary to establish educational measures for handling food and raising kittens during prenatal care.

Análise estrutural da atenção pré-natal e do serviço de farmácia em uma região do Município de Fortaleza ? CE / Structural analysis of the prenatal care and the pharmaceutical service in a region of the municipality of Fortaleza - CE

Objetivo: Analisar a estrutura da atenção pré-natal e do serviço de farmácia em dez Centros de Saúde da Família de uma região do município de Fortaleza - CE, Brasil. Métodos: Estudo descritivo com abordagem quantitativa, realizado no período de janeiro a dezembro de 2009. As variáveis estudadas foram: condições de estrutura da sala de atendimento; materiais e equipamentos disponíveis; instrumentos de registro e de acompanhamento das atividades; recursos humanos; gestão da assistência farmacêutica local, armazenamento e dispensação dos medicamentos. A coleta de dados consistiu de uma observação sistemática da estrutura da assistência pré-natal nos centros e de um formulário aplicado aos farmacêuticos sobre a gestão do serviço de farmácia. As variáveis relacionadas à estrutura dos centros de saúde da família e dos serviços de farmácia foram analisadas e mensuradas por escala: insuficiente (<49,9%); precário (50-74,9%); satisfatório (75-89,9%) e ótimo (90-100%). Resultados: Os Centros de Saúde da Família proporcionaram uma média geral de classificação das condições de estrutura de 48%, sendo classificadas como insuficientes. Em relação às condições de estrutura da sala de atendimento pré-natal, apresentaram uma média de 74%, sendo classificadas como precárias. A média de disponibilidade dos medicamentos essenciais na assistência pré-natal nos centros analisados foi de 41%. Conclusões: A estrutura dos Centros de Saúde da Família estudados e a disponibilidade de medicamentos foram consideradas insuficientes, enquanto a assistência pré-natal foi precária. Sugere-se incrementar atividades em que a farmácia se identifique e atue frente às atividades de atenção pré-natal.

Objective: To analyze the structure of prenatal assistance and pharmaceutical service in ten family health centers in the municipality of Fortaleza - CE, Brazil. Methods: A descriptive study with quantitative approach, conducted in the period from January to December, 2009. The studied variables were: health center and attendance room structure conditions; available materials and equipments; tools for registration and follow up of activities; human resources; local pharmaceutical assistance management; medicine storage and distribution. Data collection consisted of a systematic observation of the structure of the prenatal care in the centers and of a form applied to pharmacists about the pharmacy service management. The variables related to the structure of the family health centers and of the pharmacy services were analyzed and measured by scale: insufficient (<49.9%); precarious (50-74.9%); satisfactory (75-89.9%) and excellent (90-100%). Results: The family health centers provided, an average of 48% for the classification of structure conditions, classified as insufficient. Regarding the attendance room conditions, they showed and average of 74%, classified as precarious. The average of availability of medicines essential to prenatal care in the analyzed centers was 41%. Conclusions: The structure of the studied Family Health Centers and the availability of drugs were considered insufficient, while prenatal care was precarious. We suggest to increase activities in which the pharmacy can relate toand act towards the prenatal care activities.