Search Results (4)

The Amapá margin, part of the Brazilian Equatorial Margin (BEM), is a key region that plays a strategic role in the global climate balance between the North and South Atlantic Ocean as it is strictly tied to equatorial heat conveyance and the fresh/salt water equilibrium with the Amazon River. We performed a new scientific expedition on the Amapá continental shelf (ACS, northern part of the Amazon continental platform) collecting sediment and using instrumental observation at an unstudied site. We show here the preliminary outcomes following the applied methodologies for investigation. Geophysical, geological, and biological surveys were carried out within the ACS to (1) perform bathymetric and sonographic mapping, high-resolution sub-surface geophysical characterization of the deep environment of the margin of the continental platform, (2) characterize the habitats and benthic communities through underwater images and biological sampling, (3) collect benthic organisms for ecological and taxonomic studies, (4) define the mineralogical and (5) elemental components of sediments from the study region, and (6) identify their provenance. The geophysical data collection included the use of bathymetry, a sub-bottom profiler, side scan sonar, bathythermograph acquisition, moving vessel profiler, and a thermosalinograph. The geological data were obtained through mineralogical, elemental, and grain size analysis. The biological investigation involved epifauna/infauna characterization, microbial analysis, and eDNA analysis. The preliminary results of the geophysical mapping, shallow seismic, and ultrasonographic surveys endorsed the identification of a hard substrate in a mesophotic environment. The preliminary geological data allowed the identification of amphibole, feldspar, biotite, as well as other minerals (e.g., calcite, quartz, goethite, ilmenite) present in the substrata of the Amapá continental shelf. Silicon, iron, calcium, and aluminum composes ~85% of sediments from the ACS. Sand and clay are the main fraction from these sediments. Within the sediments, Polychaeta (Annelida) dominated, followed by Crustacea (Arthropoda), and Ophiuroidea (Echinodermata). Through TowCam videos, 35 taxons with diverse epifauna were recorded, including polychaetes, hydroids, algae, gastropods, anemones, cephalopods, crustaceans, fishes, and sea stars. Full article

Dietary restriction (DR) reduces adiposity and improves metabolism in patients with one or more symptoms of metabolic syndrome. Nonetheless, it remains elusive whether the benefits of DR in humans are mediated by calorie or nutrient restriction. This study was conducted to determine whether isocaloric dietary protein restriction is sufficient to confer the beneficial effects of dietary restriction in patients with metabolic syndrome. We performed a prospective, randomized controlled dietary intervention under constant nutritional and medical supervision. Twenty-one individuals diagnosed with metabolic syndrome were randomly assigned for caloric restriction (CR; n = 11, diet of 5941 ± 686 KJ per day) or isocaloric dietary protein restriction (PR; n = 10, diet of 8409 ± 2360 KJ per day) and followed for 27 days. Like CR, PR promoted weight loss due to a reduction in adiposity, which was associated with reductions in blood glucose, lipid levels, and blood pressure. More strikingly, both CR and PR improved insulin sensitivity by 62.3% and 93.2%, respectively, after treatment. Fecal microbiome diversity was not affected by the interventions. Adipose tissue bulk RNA-Seq data revealed minor changes elicited by the interventions. After PR, terms related to leukocyte proliferation were enriched among the upregulated genes. Protein restriction is sufficient to confer almost the same clinical outcomes as calorie restriction without the need for a reduction in calorie intake. The isocaloric characteristic of the PR intervention makes this approach a more attractive and less drastic dietary strategy in clinical settings and has more significant potential to be used as adjuvant therapy for people with metabolic syndrome. Full article

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by irreversible airflow obstruction and inflammation. Natural products, such as monoterpenes, displayed anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activities and can be used as a source of new compounds to COPD treatment. Our aim was to evaluate, in an elastase-induced pulmonary emphysema in mice, the effects of and underlying mechanisms of three related natural monoterpenes (p-cymene, carvacrol and thymol) isolated from essential oil from leaves Lippia sidoides Cham. (Verbenaceae). Methods: Mices received porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE) and were treated with p-cymene, carvacrol, thymol or vehicle 30 min later and again on 7th, 14th and 28th days. Lung inflammatory profile and histological sections were evaluated. Results: In the elastase-instilled animals, the tested monoterpenes reduced alveolar enlargement, macrophages and the levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-17 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and collagen fibers, MMP-9 and p-65-NF-κB-positive cells in lung parenchyma (p < 0.05). All treatments attenuated levels of 8-iso-PGF2α but only thymol was able to reduced exhaled nitric oxide (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Monoterpenes p-cymene, carvacrol and thymol reduced lung emphysema and inflammation in mice. No significant differences among the three monoterpenes treatments were found, suggesting that the presence of hydroxyl group in the molecular structure of thymol and carvacrol do not play a central role in the anti-inflammatory effects. Full article

Flavonoids are polyphenolic compounds classified into flavonols, flavones, flavanones, isoflavones, catechins, anthocyanidins, and chalcones according to their chemical structures. They are abundantly found in Nature and over 8,000 flavonoids have from different sources, mainly plant materials, have been described. Recently reports have shown the valuable effects of flavonoids as antiviral, anti-allergic, antiplatelet, antitumor, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory agents and interest in these compounds has been increasing since they can be helpful to human health. Several mechanisms of action are involved in the biological properties of flavonoids such as free radical scavenging, transition metal ion chelation, activation of survival genes and signaling pathways, regulation of mitochondrial function and modulation of inflammatory responses. The anti-inflammatory effects of flavonoids have been described in a number of studies in the literature, but not frequently associated to respiratory disease. Thus, this review aims to discuss the effects of different flavonoids in the control of lung inflammation in some disorders such as asthma, lung emphysema and acute respiratory distress syndrome and the possible mechanisms of action, as well as establish some structure-activity relationships between this biological potential and chemical profile of these compounds. Full article