Plant-parasitic Nematodes Associated with Commercial Orchards of Passion Fruit and Adjacent Cerrado Vegetation in the Brazilian Federal District

Castro, Ana Paula Gomes De,Goulart, Alexandre Moura Cintra,Andrade, Ednalva Patricia De,Cares, Juvenil Enrique,Carvalho, Daniel Diego Costa The Korean Society of Plant Pathology 2012 Plant Pathology Journal Vol.28 No.3

Populations of plant-parasitic nematodes were evaluated in soil and root samples from areas planted with passion fruit, or covered with adjacent native cerrado vegetation, in five different cropping regions of the Brazilian Federal District. From July 2007 to January 2008, twenty samples had been collected in five Rural Centers (N$\acute{u}$cleo Rural-NR) planted with passion fruit. In five sites, samples were also collected in native cerrado vegetation. Specimens of nine genera of plant-parasitic nematodes (Meloidogyne, Helicotylenchus, Rotylenchulus, Scutellonema, Pratylenchus, Paratylenchus, Hemicycliophora, Xiphinema and Criconemoides) were found in the present survey. Important nematode pathogens, such as Rotylenchulus reniformis and Meloidogyne spp. were observed in the passion fruit plantations throughout five major producing regions of the Brazilian Federal District.

<i>Entamoeba</i> lysyl-tRNA Synthetase Contains a Cytokine-Like Domain with Chemokine Activity towards Human Endothelial Cells

Castro de Moura, Manuel,Miro, Francesc,Han, Jung Min,Kim, Sunghoon,Celada, Antonio,Ribas de Pouplana, Lluí,s Public Library of Science 2011 PLoS neglected tropical diseases Vol.5 No.11

<▼1><P>Immunological pressure encountered by protozoan parasites drives the selection of strategies to modulate or avoid the immune responses of their hosts. Here we show that the parasite <I>Entamoeba histolytica</I> has evolved a chemokine that mimics the sequence, structure, and function of the human cytokine HsEMAPII (<I>Homo sapiens</I> endothelial monocyte activating polypeptide II). This <I>Entamoeba</I> EMAPII-like polypeptide (EELP) is translated as a domain attached to two different aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRS) that are overexpressed when parasites are exposed to inflammatory signals. EELP is dispensable for the tRNA aminoacylation activity of the enzymes that harbor it, and it is cleaved from them by <I>Entamoeba</I> proteases to generate a standalone cytokine. Isolated EELP acts as a chemoattractant for human cells, but its cell specificity is different from that of HsEMAPII. We show that cell specificity differences between HsEMAPII and EELP can be swapped by site directed mutagenesis of only two residues in the cytokines' signal sequence. Thus, <I>Entamoeba</I> has evolved a functional mimic of an aaRS-associated human cytokine with modified cell specificity.</P></▼1><▼2><P><B>Author Summary</B></P><P>Amebiasis caused by the parasite <I>Entamoeba histolytica</I> is one of the leading causes of dysentery worldwide, with an estimated annual mortality of 100.000. In 10% of patients, the intestinal infection can spread to internal organs causing hepatic, lung, and brain abscesses. Little is known about the strategies used by the parasite to evade or minimize the inflammatory and immune responses of its host. In this manuscript we report the discovery that <I>Entamoeba</I> has evolved a polypeptide that functionally mimics the activity of a human cytokine (EMAPII) involved in the regulation of inflammation. This polypeptide termed EELP (<I>Entamoeba</I> EMAPII-Like Polypeptide) is capable of attracting human cells, just like its human counterpart but, unlike EMAPII, EELP does not act on inflammatory cells. We have characterized the dynamics of gene expression that regulate EELP synthesis, and we demonstrate that the protein is produced when <I>Entamoeba</I> encounter inflammation signals produced by their human host. Our working hypothesis is that EELP is used by the parasite to shield itself from human inflammation. In general, the discovery of EELP opens a new avenue of research into the mechanisms used by <I>Entamoeba</I> to survive their host's environment.</P></▼2>

Effect of Ear Acupuncture plus Dry Cupping on Activities and Quality of Life in the Adults with Chronic Back Pain: a Randomized Trial

Caroline de Castro Moura,Chaves Erika de Cássia Lopes,Nogueira Denismar Alves,Iunes Denise Hollanda,Azevedo Cissa,Corrêa Hérica Pinheiro,Pereira Gabriela Aparecida,Silvano Higor Magalhães,Macieira Tam 사단법인약침학회 2022 Journal of Acupuncture & Meridian Studies Vol.15 No.2

Background: Chronic pain is a complex phenomenon that brings physical and emotional impairments negatively impacting people’s quality of life. The adoption of interventions such as ear acupuncture and dry cupping can represent a treatment option for people with chronic back pain. Objectives: To investigate the effects of ear acupuncture combined with dry cupping therapy on the interference of pain with the daily activities and quality of life of adults with chronic back pain. Methods: An open-label, randomized, parallel-group controlled clinical trial. One hundred and ninety-eight adults were randomized into control (CG - ear acupuncture) or experimental (EG - ear acupuncture combined with dry cupping) groups. Interventions were performed in five sessions, once a week, lasting five weeks. Evaluations were performed before the first session, after the last session, and seven days after the second evaluation, using the Brief Pain Inventory to assess the impact of pain on daily activities and the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) to assess the quality of life. Results: Between the initial and final sessions, there were significant changes in daily activities , activity, work, mood, relationships, sleep, and in the physical, psychological and social relationships domains for both the control and experimental groups. Improved perception of quality of life and satisfaction with health were observed for the participants in the experimental group. Conclusion: Ear acupuncture combined with dry cupping showed better results in terms of perception of quality of life and satisfaction with health when compared to ear acupuncture by itself.

In vivo Antigenotoxic and Anticlastogenic Effects of Fresh and Processed Cashew (Anacardium occidentale) Apple Juices

Ana Amélia de Carvalho Melo-Cavalcante,Sandra Maria Mendes de Moura Dantas,Aracelli de Sousa Leite,Leomá Albuquerque Matos,João Marcelo de Castro e Sousa,Jaqueline Nascimento Picada,Juliana da Silva 한국식품영양과학회 2011 Journal of medicinal food Vol.14 No.7

Cashew apple juice and cajuina (processed juice) are drinks widely consumed in northeast Brazil. In vitro studies have shown that both juices have antimutagenic activity as well as antioxidant effects. These juices contain vitamins, carotenoids, and phenolic compounds. This in vivo study assessed the antigenotoxic and anticlastogenic effects of both drinks against genotoxicity and mutagenicity induced by cyclophosphamide. The comet, micronucleus, and chromosome aberrations tests were used. Male Swiss mice were divided into 6 groups (5 animals per group) and received the following by gavage, 0.15 mL/10 g body weight: group 1, water; group 2, cashew apple juice; group 3, cajuina juice; group 4, cashew apple juice and cyclophosphamide (50 mg/kg); group 5, cajuina juice and cyclophosphamide; group 6: cyclophosphamide. Both drinks significantly reduced DNA damage of peripheral blood cells (P<.001), with modulation percentages of 60.82% (cashew apple juice) and 82.19% (cajuina) when compared with the cyclophosphamide group. Cashew apple juice and cajuina modulated cyclophosphamide-induced micronucleus frequency, with up to 80.0% inhibition. Cashew apple juice and cajuina decreased the average number of cells with chromosome aberrations in bone marrow of mice by 53% and 65%, respectively. These findings demonstrate the high antigenotoxic and anticlastogenic potential of cashew apple juice and cajuina in vivo, which can be related to the antioxidant compounds found in both drinks.

Plant-parasitic Nematodes Associated with Commercial Orchards of Passion Fruit and Adjacent Cerrado Vegetation in the Brazilian Federal District

Ana Paula Gomes de Castro,Alexandre Moura Cintra Goulart,Ednalva Patrícia de Andrade,Juvenil Enrique Cares,Daniel Diego Costa Carvalho1 한국식물병리학회 2012 Plant Pathology Journal Vol.28 No.3

Populations of plant-parasitic nematodes were evaluated in soil and root samples from areas planted with passion fruit, or covered with adjacent native cerrado vegetation, in five different cropping regions of the Brazilian Federal District. From July 2007 to January 2008, twenty samples had been collected in five Rural Centers (Núcleo Rural–NR) planted with passion fruit. In five sites, samples were also collected in native cerrado vegetation. Specimens of nine genera of plant-parasitic nematodes (Meloidogyne, Helicotylenchus, Rotylenchulus,Scutellonema, Pratylenchus, Paratylenchus, Hemicycliophora,Xiphinema and Criconemoides) were found in the present survey. Important nematode pathogens, such as Rotylenchulus reniformis and Meloidogyne spp. were observed in the passion fruit plantations throughout five major producing regions of the Brazilian Federal District.

Establishment of bounds for the statistical moments of the crack size, for the collipriest model, using the fast crack bounds method

Lucas Gimenis de Moura,Claudio R. Ávila da S. Jr.,Thiago Castro Bezerra,Waldir Mariano Machado Jr. 대한기계학회 2019 JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Vol.33 No.6

There are several mathematical models that describe the propagation of cracks. For many engineering applications, up to a certain point, it is not necessary to have great accuracy in predictions about the behavior of the evolution of a crack, but a reliable prediction, within certain limits, of such behavior. This work presents theoretical results consisting in obtaining lower and upper bounds that "envelop" the first and second order statistical moment estimators of the crack size function based on the fast crack bounds method. These bounds are polynomials defined in the variable “number of cycles” that consider the uncertainties of the parameters that describe the crack propagation models. The performance of the bounds for the statistical moments of the crack size is evaluated through the relative deviation between the bounds and the approximate numerical solutions of the initial value problems (IVP) that describe the crack evolution laws. For this work, the Collipriest model is used. The Monte Carlo simulation method is used to create samples of the selected parameters to obtain the crack size for both the bounds and the Runge-Kutta method.

Single Cupping Thearpy Session Improves Pain, Sleep, and Disability in Patients with Nonspecific Chronic Low Back Pain

Maria P. Volpato,Izabela C.A. Breda,Ravena C. de Carvalho,Caroline de Castro Moura,Laís L. Ferreira,Marcelo L. Silva,Josie R.T. Silva 사단법인약침학회 2020 Journal of Acupuncture & Meridian Studies Vol.13 No.2

The objective of this study was to evaluate if a single session of real or placebo cupping therapy in patients with chronic low back pain would be enough to temporarily reduce pain intensity and functional disability, enhancing their mechanical threshold and reducing local skin temperature. The outcome measures were Brief Pain Inventory, pressure pain threshold, RolandeMorris disability questionnaire and low back skin temperature. This is an experimental clinical trial; after examination (AV0), patients were submitted to real or placebo cupping therapy (15 minutes, bilaterally at the points BL23 (Shenshu), BL24 (Qihaishu) and BL25 (Dachangshu) and were revaluated immediately after the session (AV1) and after one week (AV2). The patients showeda significant improvement in all pain severity items and sleep in the Brief Pain Inventory (p < 0.05) and a decrease in disability in RolandeMorris disability questionnaire (p < 0.001). No significant differences were found in pressure pain threshold or skin temperature. No significant differences were found in any outcome of the placebo cupping therapy group. Thus, thecupping therapy is effective in reducing low back pain and decreasing disability after one single session but not in changing skin mechanical threshold or temperature.

Vitis vinifera L. Grape Skin Extract Prevents Development of Hypertension and Altered Lipid Profile in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats: Role of Oxidative Stress.

Giselle Franca da Costa,Dayane Teixeira Ognibene,Cristiane Aguiar da Costa,Michelle Teixeira Teixeira,Viviane da Silva Cristino Cord,Graziele Freitas de Bem,Anibal Sanchez Moura,Angela de Castro Resen 한국식품영양과학회 2020 Preventive Nutrition and Food Science Vol.25 No.1

This study investigated the protective effect of a Vitis vinifera L. grape skin extract (ACH09) on blood pressure, lipid profile, and oxidative status in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Systolic blood pressure (SBP), total cholesterol, triglyceride, and glucose levels, as well as oxidative damage and antioxidant activity in the plasma and kidney, were evaluated in four experimental groups: control Wistar rats (W-C) and SHR-C that received water, and Wistar rats and SHR treated with ACH09 (200 mg/kg/d) in drinking water for 12 weeks (W-ACH09 and SHR-ACH09, respectively). SBP increased in the SHR group compared with the W groups and the treatment with ACH09 prevented the development of hypertension. Plasma triglyceride and total cholesterol levels increased in SHR compared with W-C rats; these changes prevented by treatment with ACH09. Glucose levels did not differ between the groups. The SHR group had increased oxidative damage in plasma, as expressed by 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels, and this prevented by ACH09. Levels of TBARS in the kidneys were lower in the SHR-ACH09 group than in the SHR-C group. Further, ACH09 increased the superoxide dismutase activity in both the plasma and kidneys of both SHR and Wistar rats. These results suggest that ACH09 is protective against disruption of blood pressures, oxidant status, and lipid profile in SHR, and provide important evidence on the benefits of ACH09 on hypertension and associated cardiovascular complications.