Neuroprotective effects of green coffee bean extract against Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease: a mini review

Renalison Farias-Pereira(Renalison Farias-Pereira ),Lynnea Young(Lynnea Young),Yeonhwa Park(Yeonhwa Park) 한국축산식품학회 2021 Food and Life Vol.2021 No.1

Green coffee bean extract (GCBE) is known as an anti-obesity dietary supplement, but its neuroprotective effects have been recently reported. Since GCBE and its main phenolic acids, chlorogenic acids (CGA), share similar physiological effects, this mini review summarizes the most current research of the neurobiological effects of GCBE and CGA. GCBE and/or CGA act on acetylcholine, glutamate, and insulin signaling pathways to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease by reducing amyloid-β proteins (Aβ) and tau proteins in the brain of rodents. Clinical trials, although limited, further suggest that CGA improves cognition, which was associated with changes in blood Aβ levels. In addition, CGA modulates the dopamine metabolism to reduce neurotoxicity in animal models of Parkinson’s disease, although there is no direct association between GCBE and Parkinson’s disease in humans. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of GCBE and CGA are suggested to be the underlying mechanisms that help to protect from the development of these diseases. GCBE and CGA have potential benefits to prevent the development of neurodegenerative diseases, but there is still a great need to further investigate their effects on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

On the Macroeconomic and Distributional Effects of the Regulated Closure of Coal-Operated Power Plants

Alfredo Marvão Pereira,Rui Manuel Pereira 중앙대학교 경제연구소 2021 Journal of Economic Development Vol.46 No.4

This article examines the economic, distributional and environmental impacts of the regulated early closure of coal-fired power plants in Portugal using a multi-sector and multi-household dynamic computable general equilibrium model. The closure of the power plants has positive and significant environmental effects. It results, however, in an increase in electricity prices, which, in turn, leads to detrimental macroeconomic and distributional effects. We argue that a carbon tax with the same environmental impact would have substantial conceptual, pragmatic and pedagogical advantages over regulated early plant closures. It would generate the tax revenues necessary to mitigate or reverse the adverse macroeconomic and distributional effects. Regulated early closures could be a good second best alternative if there is no political will for or consensus on the implementation of a proper carbon tax with adequate revenue recycling. In any case, these plant closures are far from leading to the reductions in emissions established by the IPCC and adopted by the Portuguese authorities.

Infrastructure Investment, Labor Productivity, and International Competitiveness: The Case of Portugal

Alfredo Marvão Pereira,Rui Manuel Pereira 중앙대학교 경제연구소 2020 Journal of Economic Development Vol.45 No.2

This study analyzes the effects of infrastructure investment on labor productivity at the industry level using a new data set for Portugal. We consider twenty-two sectors and twelve infrastructure assets. We focus on the differential effects on traded and non-traded sectors. We find, first, that investment in national roads have positive effects, particularly large for public services, while the effects of investments in municipal roads are mixed, and investments in highways have mostly benefited non-traded sectors. Second, we find that railroad investments, and, to a lesser extent, airports have gains clearly biased toward non-traded sectors, while the effects of port investments are more muted and mixed. Third, for social infrastructures, the effects tend to be large and again particularly favorable to non-traded sectors. Fourth, for public utilities the effects are in general small, with the exception of telecommunications, which have large positive effects mainly on non-traded sectors. We conclude that infrastructure investments have contributed to the growth of labor productivity but have done so in a way that has benefited mostly non-traded goods sectors. This may be a matter of concern for a small open economy in a currency union and with a development model greatly reliant on exports.

RAILROAD INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE ANTEBELLUM UNITED STATES

RUI MANUEL PEREIRA,ALFREDO MARVÃO PEREIRA,WILLIAM J. HAUSMAN 중앙대학교 경제연구소 2017 Journal of Economic Development Vol.42 No.3

We measure the overall impact of railroad investment on economic development in the antebellum period in the United States using a vector autoregressive approach. Our results can be summarized as follows. First, we find bidirectional causality between railroad infrastructure investment and GDP. Second, we estimate a marginal product of $4.2 for railroad investment which corresponds to a 15.5% rate of return when considering a 10–year lifetime for railroad capital. While about two-thirds of this effect stems from the supply side, short run demand side effects also are substantial. Third, given the low effective tax rates practiced in the 1830s and the magnitude of the effects of railroad investment we estimate, it is very likely that these investments were not self-financing and may, therefore, have contributed to the high levels of public indebtedness observed in the period.

Clinical Implementation of Cardiovascular Pharmacogenomics

Pereira, N.L.,Stewart, A.K. Mayo Medical Ventures [etc.] 2015 Mayo Clinic proceedings Vol.90 No.6

Functional Genomics for Resistance Mechanism

Pereira, Andy 영남대학교 마늘연구소 2001 의성군 ·영남대학교 관 ·학협동, 협약 조인식 및 심포지움 Vol.2001 No.-

Genomics can provide new tools and information that are applicable for breeding of crop resistance to various biotic and abiotic stresses. The genome sequence of the model plant Arabidopsis reveals the structure of about 25,000 genes, most of unknown function. The sequence of the model monocot plant rice is also progressing rapidly, with about one-third available in public databases and for many important crop plants EST sequence resources are available. Functional genomics strategies are being employed to discover gene functions using mutants, expression analysis, and metabolic profiling. As genome redundancy limits a mutation approach to studying gene functions we employ a novel method of gene function discovery using Activation tagging that generates overexpression phenotypes that help to define gene function. Specific screens for gain-of-function mutants are being used to select plants differing in stress and biotic interactions. This will uncover gene functions involved in various general resistance mechanisms so that resistance management using different mechanisms can be done. To identify specific genes involved in resistance to pathogens, map based cloning approaches are being followed. Genes discovered can be employed through a transgenic approach or using molecular markers for selection using sequence polymorphisms like SNPs.

siRNA Inhibition of Endocytic Pathways to Characterize the Cellular Uptake Mechanisms of Folate-Functionalized Glycol Chitosan Nanogels

Pereira, Paula,Pedrosa, Sí,lvia S.,Wymant, Jennifer M.,Sayers, Edward,Correia, Alexandra,Vilanova, Manuel,Jones, Arwyn T.,Gama, Francisco M. American Chemical Society 2015 MOLECULAR PHARMACEUTICS Vol.12 No.6

<P>Glycol chitosan nanogels have been widely used in gene, drug, and contrast agent delivery in an effort to improve disease diagnosis and treatment. Herein, we evaluate the internalization mechanisms and intracellular fate of previously described glycol chitosan nanogels decorated with folate to target the folate receptor. Uptake of the folate-decorated nanogel was impaired by free folate, suggesting competitive inhibition and shared internalization mechanisms via the folate receptor. Nanogel uptake was shown to occur mainly through flotillin-1 and Cdc42-dependent endocytosis. This was determined by inhibition of uptake reduction observed upon siRNA depletion of these two proteins and the pathways that they regulate. The data also suggest the involvement of the actin cytoskeleton in nanogel uptake via macropinocytosis. After 7 h of incubation with HeLa cells, approximately half of the nanogel population was localized in endolysosomal compartments, whereas the remaining 50% of the material was in undefined regions of the cytoplasm. Glycol chitosan nanogels may thus have potential as drug delivery vectors for targeting different intracellular compartments.</P><P><B>Graphic Abstract</B> <IMG SRC='http://pubs.acs.org/appl/literatum/publisher/achs/journals/content/mpohbp/2015/mpohbp.2015.12.issue-6/mp500785t/production/images/medium/mp-2014-00785t_0009.gif'></P><P><A href='http://pubs.acs.org/doi/suppl/10.1021/mp500785t'>ACS Electronic Supporting Info</A></P>

Immunohistochemical Evaluation of Glucose Transporter Type 1 in Epithelial Dysplasia and Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Pereira, Karuza Maria Alves,Feitosa, Sthefane Gomes,Lima, Ana Thayssa Tomaz,Luna, Ealber Carvalho Macedo,Cavalcante, Roberta Barroso,Lima, Kenio Costa de,Chaves, Filipe Nobre,Costa, Fabio Wildson Gurg Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2016 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.17 No.1

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common malignancy of the oral cavity and some of these have been documented in association or preceded by oral epithelial dysplasia (OED). Aggressive cancers with fast growth have demonstrated overexpression of some glucose transporters (GLUTs). Thus, the aim of this study was to analyze the immunohistochemical expression of the glucose transporter, GLUT-1, in OEDs and OSCCs, seeking to better elucidate the biological behavior of neoplasias. Fifteen cases were selected this research of both lesions. Five areas were analyzed from each case by counting the percentage of positive cells at 400x magnification. Immunoreactivity of GLUT-1 was observed in 100% of the samples ranging from 54.2% to 86.2% for the OSCC and 73.9% to 97.4% for the OED. Statistical test revealed that there was greater overexpression of GLUT-1 in OED than the OSCC (p=0.01). It is believed the high expression of GLUT-1 may reflect the involvement of GLUT-1 in early stages of oral carcinogenesis.

Infrastructure Sharing Between Electric Utilities and Telecommunications Operators in Developing Countries

Pereira Beloward Edson,유송희,김영진,김윤선 연세대학교(미래캠퍼스) 빈곤문제국제개발연구원 2021 地域發展硏究 Vol.30 No.1

This research aims to build a theory for Cross-Sector Infrastructure Sharing (CIS), chiefly between electric utilities and telecommunications operators. The study is to develop a framework that can be used as a guideline in selecting or assessing a CIS business model between electric utilities and telecommunications operators, or as an overview to understand CIS. A literature review was conducted to identify main concepts and categorize them structure a framework. The resulting framework is divided into three sections: the CIS environment that induces the CIS, the electric sector reform, financial and other incentives, and regulation, law, and policy; the infrastructure subject sharing such as corridors, conduits, ducts, towers, and poles, dark fiber, and land and facilities; and last, the business models that vary from joint planning and construction to provision of space and ancillary services. The framework was validated with CIS case studies, and can be used by practitioners in assessing the CIS business model.

Hypertension and the Risk of Breast Cancer in Chilean Women: a Case-control Study

Pereira, Ana,Garmendia, Maria Luisa,Alvarado, Maria Elena,Albala, Cecilia Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.11

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide. Although different metabolic factors have been implicated in breast cancer development, the relationship between hypertension and breast cancer has not been elucidated. Aim: To evaluate hypertension as a risk factor for breast cancer in Chilean women of low and middle socio-economic status. Methods: We conducted an age-matched (1:1) case-control study in 3 hospitals in Santiago, Chile. Breast cancer cases (n=170) were histopathologically confirmed. Controls had been classified as Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System I (negative) or II (benign findings) within 6 months of recruitment. Blood pressure was measured using a mercury sphygmomanometer and standardized procedures. We used 2 hypertension cut-off points: blood pressures of ${\geq}140/90$ mmHg and ${\geq}130/85$ mmHg. Fasting insulin and glucose levels were assessed, and anthropometric, sociodemographic, and behavioral information were collected. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated for the entire sample and restricted to postmenopausal women using multivariable conditional logistic regression models. Results: Hypertension (${\geq}140/90$ mmHg) was significantly higher in cases (37.1%) than controls (17.1%) for the entire sample and in postmenopausal pairs (44.0% compared to 23.8%). In crude and adjusted models, hypertensive women had a 4-fold increased risk of breast cancer (adjusted odds ratio: 4.2; 95% confidence interval: 1.8; 9.6) compared to non-hypertensive women in the entire sample. We found a similar association in the postmenopausal group (adjusted odds ratio: 2.8; 95% confidence interval: 1.1; 7.4). A significant effect was also observed when hypertension was defined as blood pressure of ${\geq}130/85$ mmHg. Conclusion: A significant association was found between hypertension and breast cancer over the entire sample and when restricted to postmenopausal women. Hypertension is highly prevalent in Latin America and may be a modifiable risk factor for breast cancer; therefore, a small association between hypertension and breast cancer may have broad implications.