ABSTRACT. In Brazil, most cocoa bean production occurs in Southern Bahia. Witches' broom disease arrived in this area in 1989 and has since caused heavy losses in production. The disease is caused by the basidiomycete fungus Moniliophthora perniciosa, a hemibiotrophic fungus that produces the necrosis and ethylene-inducting protein (MpNEP2) during infection; this protein can activate cysteine proteases and induce programmed cell death. Cysteine proteases can be modulated by cystatin. In this study, we overexpressed TcCYS4, a cocoa cystatin, in tobacco plants and evaluated the effect on MpNEP2 in model plants. Tccys4 cDNA was cloned into the pCAMBIA 1390 vector and inserted into the tobacco plants via Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Transgene expression was analyzed by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and Western blot analysis. Transcript and protein levels in Tcccys4:tobacco lines were 8.9-and 1.5-fold higher than in wild-type plants (wt). Tcccys4:tobacco lines showed no change in growth compared to wt plants. CO 2 net assimilation (A) increased in Tcccys4:tobacco lines compared to wt plants. Only one line showed statistically significant stomatal conductance (gs) and transpiration rate (E) changes. MpNEP2 was infiltered into the foliar mesophyll of Tcccys4:tobacco lines and wt plants, and necrotic lesions were attenuated in lines highly expressing Tccys4. Our results suggest that cocoa cystatin TcCYS4 affects MpNEP2 activity related to the progression of programmed cell death in tobacco plants. This may occur through the action of cystatin to inhibit cysteine proteases activated by MpNEP2 in plant tissues. Further studies are necessary to examine cystatin in the Theobroma cacao-M. perniciosa pathosystem.
The chronic and indiscriminate use of benzodiazepines (BZD’s) can have many adverse effects, which can lead to tolerance, dependence and withdrawal crises. Thus, the objective is to identify which BZD’s are most used in Brazil, outlining the profile of users of this pharmacological class. A literature review was carried out with articles indexed in the scientific bases Scientific Electronic Library Online (Scielo), Virtual Health Library (VHL) and PubMed, in the time frame from 2010 to 2020, using the following descriptors: “Benzodiazepines”, “Use of medicines", "Disorder related to substance use", Abuse", "Intoxication". A total of 220 articles were found in the initial selection, with 97 articles from the Scielo database, 67 from the VHL and 56 from PubMed. Being listed 13 articles (Scielo: 05, VHL: 05, PubMed: 03) as relevant, which were selected for complete analysis and construction of this study. In the studies listed, the most consumed BZD’s was Lorazepam, however in cases of anxiety Clonazepam is the drug of first choice. Regarding the profile of users of BZD’s, the age group that most use these drugs is the elderly, concerning the use of high doses of BZD’s, it was observed that younger patients, male, single and less educated are more associated sensitive. We conclude then, a high prevalence of the use of BZD’s, mainly in developed countries, which can be characterized by stress, anxiety and insomnia experienced by people in their daily lives.
Objetive: Bone implants are increasingly used in clinical practice and, among the materials, Ti or its alloys are offer the best performance given their physicochemical properties. Alloys such as TiNbTa have been shown to improve the biomechanical characteristics of commercial pure Ti (c.p.), however, its osseointegration capacity needs to be evaluated. The objective of the present study was to assess the cytotoxicity and the adhesion, proliferation and differentiation capacity of osteoblastic cells in culture, influenced by discs of TiNbTa material versus Ti c.p. Material and methods: At 4 and 7 days after culture, we analyzed the MC3T3 cell line, cell viability (AlamarBlue Cell Viability Reagent. Invitrogen, Spain), as well as cell proliferation and differentiation (alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP) and scanning electron microscopy (Fixation for SEM) Student's t test was performed to determine statistically significant differences between the two groups of study discs. Results:The results obtained show very good cell viability during the study period, with no significant differences for both materials. Likewise, we detected a drop in ALP levels that was significant for both components between days 4 and 7 of the study (p <0.05). Electron microscopy images revealed good adhesion capacity to the material, as well as cell differentiation against both types of discs. Conclusions:The TiNbTa alloy as a material for bone implants offers good osseointegrative capacity, in addition to solving biomechanical problems that pure titanium presents as a component.
The prescription consists of a written order, directed to the pharmacist, which tells how the medicine should be given to the patient. Infectious diseases account for most of the morbidity leading to medical appointments and hospitalizations. In view of this, antibiotics are a widely prescribed group of drugs. The objective of the study is to analyze the profile of antibiotic prescriptions, listing the most prescribed ones, analyzing the most used classes and identifying the most frequent diseases. A retrospective, cross-sectional and quantitative study was carried out on the use of drugs from data collected in the CCIH system, from a private hospital in Teresina -I, with 77 beds. The information obtained was issued in the period from May to June of 2018, intended for all sectors of the hospital. Regarding the results, 81 prescriptions were analyzed, in which Cefepime 12.3 (n = 10) was analyzed; Vancomycin 11.1% (n = 9); Ceftriaxone 9.9% (n = 8); the most prevalent therapeutic class in the study was beta-lactams (47%), and the most prevalent diagnoses in the study were pulmonary diseases (28). Thus, it is concluded that beta-lactams are the most prescribed antibiotics, as well as it was possible to determine pulmonary diseases as the most affected in that period of time.
Arterial hypertension, consists of a pathology where there is an increase in the physiological levels of blood pressure, there is a therapeutic arsenal available for the treatment of hypertension. this pathology, they present indisputable efficacy, few adverse effects and low toxicity, however they are targets of drug interactions with drugs that present the same site of hepatic microsomal metabolism, which can decrease their therapeutic efficacy. The aim of this research was to analyze the drug interactions of angiotensin II receptor antagonists (ARA II). It is characterized as a documentary research, with a quantitative, retrospective, analytical-discussion approach that uses the Micromedex Solutions® database, to obtain drug interactions. The results show that the drugs that are substrates for the CYP pathway, especially the CYP3A4 and CYP2C9 isoforms are more likely to interact, the drug losartan with the highest number of interactions in this study, presents metabolism with the CYP3A4 and CYP2C9 isoforms, the drugs that have alternative metabolism pathways, tend to have as little interaction as possible. In view of this, ARA II is currently one of the best classes for its treatment, however the use of this class of drugs requires observation by the prescribers and accompanying pharmacists.
The present study was carried out with the aim of confirming the identity or the occurrence of falsification of samples marketed as Indian Nut (Aleurites moluccana). This is a prospective, experimental and qualitative study, carried out with two samples marketed as Indian nut, which were compared with an original sample of napoleon hat (Thevetia peruviana). The evaluation of botanical characteristics, Kedde's phytochemical reaction to identify cardiotonic glycosides, Thin Layer Chromatography (CCD), Classical Column Chromatography (CCC) and infrared spectrometric analysis were performed. The botanical similarity of the samples was confirmed by the visualization of histological structures characteristic of the species Thevetia peruviana. Kedde's reaction was positive for all samples, indicating the presence of cardiotonic glycosides, in accordance with the result obtained for a sample of 0.25mg digoxin tablets. The evaluated seeds and the digoxin tablets also showed similarity regarding the chromatographic profile; additionally, the chromatographic fractionation of the seeds resulted in chemically equivalent fractions; fraction 6 of each sample was subjected to analysis by infrared spectrometry, showing the same spectral pattern. The results obtained confirmed that seeds commercialized as Walnut (Aleurites moluccana) were from Napoleon Hat (Thevetia peruviana). The presence of cardiotonics in the evaluated samples calls attention to the potential risk of intoxication by users. This result highlights the occurrence of the sale of counterfeit plant drugs, which shows the need for inspection, stricter quality control for plant and herbal drugs, and, mainly, pharmaceutical guidance to promote the correct use of medicinal plants.
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