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Patterns of floral nectar standing crops allow plants to manipulate their pollinators
No full text'Pollination syndromes' involving floral nectar have eluded satisfactory evolutionary explanation. For example, floral nectars for vertebrate-pollinated plants average low sugar concentrations, while such animals prefer high concentrations, perplexing pollination biologists and arousing recent controversy. Such relationships should result from evolutionary games, with plants and pollinators adopting Evolutionarily Stable Strategies, and nectar manipulating rather than attracting pollinators. Plant potential to manipulate pollinators depends on relationships between neighbouring flowers within plants, for all nectar attributes, but this has not been investigated. We measured nectar volume, concentration and sugar composition for open flowers on naturally-growing Blandfordia grandiflora plants, presenting classic bird-pollinated plant syndrome. To evaluate potential pollinator manipulation through nectar, we analysed relationships between neighbouring flowers for nectar volume, concentration, proportion sucrose, log(fructose/glucose), and sugar weight. To evaluate potential attraction of repeat-visits to flowers or plants through nectar, we compared attributes between successive days. Nearby flowers were positively correlated for all attributes, except log(fructose/glucose) as fructose≈glucose. Most relationships between nectar attributes for flowers and plants on successive days were non-significant. Nectar-feeding pollinators should therefore decide whether to visit another flower on a plant, based on all attributes of nectar just-obtained, enabling plants to manipulate pollinators through adjusting nectar. Plants are unlikely to attract repeat pollinator-visits through nectar production. Floral nectar evolution is conceptually straightforward but empirically challenging. A mutant plant deviating from the population in attributes of nectar-production per flower would manipulate, rather than attract, nectar-feeding pollinators, altering pollen transfer, hence reproduction. However, links between floral nectar and plant fitness present empirical difficulties
Integrative Review of Managed Entry Agreements: Chances and Limitations
No full textBackground and objective: Managed entry agreements (MEAs) consist of a set of instruments to reduce the uncertainty and the budget impact of new high-priced medicines; however, there are concerns. There is a need to critically appraise MEAs with their planned introduction in Brazil. Accordingly, the objective of this article is to identify and appraise key attributes and concerns with MEAs among payers and their advisers, with the findings providing critical considerations for Brazil and other high- and middle-income countries. Methods: An integrative review approach was adopted. This involved a review of MEAs across countries. The review question was 'What are the health technology MEAs that have been applied around the world?' This review was supplemented with studies not retrieved in the search known to the senior-level co-authors including key South American markets. It also involved senior-level decision makers and advisers providing guidance on the potential advantages and disadvantages of MEAs and ways forward. Results: Twenty-five studies were included in the review. Most MEAs included medicines (96.8%), focused on financial arrangements (43%) and included mostly antineoplastic medicines. Most countries kept key information confidential including discounts or had not published such data. Few details were found in the literature regarding South America. Our findings and inputs resulted in both advantages including reimbursement and disadvantages including concerns with data collection for outcome-based schemes. Conclusions: We are likely to see a growth in MEAs with the continual launch of new high-priced and often complex treatments, coupled with increasing demands on resources. Whilst outcome-based MEAs could be an important tool to improve access to new innovative medicines, there are critical issues to address. Comparing knowledge, experiences, and practices across countries is crucial to guide high- and middle-income countries when designing their future MEAs
Uso da Escala de Insegurança Alimentar (EBIA) nos serviços de atenção básica de saúde
No full textInformativo elaborado pelo Observatório Brasileiro de Hábitos Alimentares (OBHA) com o propósito de compartilhar reflexões sobre este momento com o propósito de afirmar, construir e reconstruir ações de promoção a alimentação adequada e saudável para durante e após a pandemia do COVID-19
Orientações de alimentação e exercício físico diante à pandemia da Covid-19
No full textO material deste e-book estimula o leitor a saborear e exercitar uma das coisas mais importante da vida: o estar vivo. Em meio a uma pandemia de alcance mundial, circunstância estranha, inesperada e que traz tanto medo, perdas e incertezas, pessoas
comprometidas, sensíveis e competentes puseram mãos à obra para ajudar a tornar a vida de outros, mais gostosa, leve e saudável durante esse longo período de distanciamento social. Com o desejo de comunicar de todas as formas, a equipe do Nasa/CST/Cogepe usou o conhecimento, a arte e o afeto para nos dizer que mesmo em meio ao desconhecido é preciso saber viver. E ainda, que é preciso usar toda a nossa vontade em fazer aquilo que sabemos e devemos! Até tudo isso passar.
Delicie-se. Exercite-se. Cuide-se e viva
Non-medical use of opioid analgesics in contemporary Brazil: Findings from the 2015 Brazilian National Household Survey on Substance Use
No full textThe current study was funded by the Brazilian National Office Against Drugs (Secreteria Nacional Antidrogas
(SENAD)). Noa Krawczyk was supported by the National Institute On Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health
under [award number F31DA047021]. Raquel B. De Boni acknowledges the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development – CNPq [grant number # 310541/2017-4] and Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo à
Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro –FAPERJ [grant number # E-26/203.154/2017]. Francisco I. Bastos acknowledges
funding by CNPq [Universal 2012 no 056626560009452] and FAPERJ [2015/2014, E-26/010.001755]Prior studies on substance use in Brazil have not focused on opioid misuse, previously thought to be nearly non-existent. This paper presents new findings on heroin and non-medical use of opioid analgesics. Data come from the 2015 Brazilian Household Survey on Substance Use (BHSU-3), a nationally representative survey estimating epidemiological parameters related to substance use by residents across Brazil. BHSU-3 used stratified multi-stage probability sampling across multiple geographic domains of interest, resulting in 16,273 interviews with household residents. Lifetime heroin use among Brazilians was 0.3 (95% C.I:0.2-0.4). Lifetime, past-year, and past-month non-medical use of opioid analgesics were respectively 2.9 (95%C.I.:2.3-3.4), 1.4 (95%C.I.:1.1-1.7) and 0.6 (95%C.I.:0.4-0.8). Past-year prevalence of non-medical opioid analgesics use was lower among males [Prevalence Ratio (PR): 0.54 (95% C.I.:0.36-0.78)], those aged 12-24 [0.56 (95% C.I.:0.34-0.92)], persons with monthly family incomes between R3,000 [0.64 (95% C.I.:0.42-0.98)], and persons who were unemployed [0.65 (95% C.I.:0.46-0.92)]. Non-medical use of opioids in Brazil may be more prevalent than previously recognised. Proper measurement and evaluation of opioid misuse across Brazil and other Latin American countries is critical to understand and prevent opioid-related harms
Non-cytotoxic 1,2,3-triazole tethered fused heterocyclic ring derivatives display Tax protein inhibition and impair HTLV-1 infected cells
No full textFundação de Amparo à
Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP, n. 2015/11566-0 and n.
2016/17301-1) and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e
Tecnológico (CNPq, n. 462290/2014-0).Human T cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is a human retrovirus that infects approximately 10–20
million people worldwide and causes an aggressive neoplasia (adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma - ATL).
Therapeutic approaches for the treatment of ATL have variable effectiveness and poor prognosis, thus requiring
strategies to identify novel compounds with activity on infected cells. In this sense, we initially screened a small
series of 25 1,2,3-triazole derivatives to discover cell proliferation inhibitors and apoptosis inducers in HTLV-1-
infected T-cell line (MT-2) for further assessment of their effect on viral tax activity through inducible-tax reporter
cell line (Jurkat LTR-GFP). Eight promising compounds (02, 05, 06, 13, 15, 21, 22 and 25) with activity
≥70% were initially selected, based on a suitable cell-based assay using resazurin reduction method, and
evaluated towards cell cycle, apoptosis and Tax/GFP expression analyses through flow cytometry. Compound 02
induced S phase cell cycle arrest and compounds 05, 06, 22 and 25 promoted apoptosis. Remarkably, compounds
22 and 25 also reduced GFP expression in an inducible-tax reporter cell, which suggests an effect on Tax
viral protein. More importantly, compounds 02, 22 and 25 were not cytotoxic in human hepatoma cell line
(Huh-7). Therefore, the discovery of 3 active and non-cytotoxic compounds against HTLV-1-infected cells can
potentially contribute, as an initial promising strategy, to the development process of new drugs against ATL
Fake news sobre salud en el nuevo régimen de verdad y (des)información
No full textSilvio Waisbord da George Washington University, do Columbian College of Arts & Sciences, da School of Media & Public Affairs teve seu artigo submetido e aprovado na edição da RECIIS - Dossiê Fake News e Saúde v. 14 n.1 (2020)O fenômeno de fake news na saúde pública mundial reflete mudanças significativas no regime de informações sobre saúde, particularmente no Oeste. Esse fenômeno revela uma transição de um cenário em que a comunidade médica possivelmente dominava o fluxo de informação sobre saúde – com base no modelo biomédico – para um cenário mais sobrecarregado, competitivo e caótico. A revolução digital inverteu o regime antigo através da transformação da produção, distribuição e consumo de informações sobre saúde em larga escala. Consequentemente, informações incorretas e desinformação se tornaram generalizadas, já que o público é capaz de obter informações sobre assuntos de saúde de todo um conjunto de fontes e plataformas, e atores desonestos inundam a internet com informação factualmente incorreta, boatos e teorias de conspiração.The phenomenon of fake news in public health worldwide reflects significant changes in the regime of health information, particularly in the West. It reveals a transition from a scenario in which the medical community arguably dominated the flow of health information — grounded in the biomedical model — to a more crowded, competitive and chaotic scenario. The digital revolution has upended the old regime by transforming the large-scale production, distribution and consumption of health information. Consequently, misinformation and disinformation have become widespread, as the public is able to obtain information about health issues from an array of sources and platforms, and rogue actors flood the internet with factually incorrect information, hearsay and conspiracy theories.El fenómeno de fake news en la salud pública mundial refleja importantes cambios en el régimen de información sobre salud, principalmente en Occidente. Revela una transición de una situación de presumible dominio de la comunidad médica del flujo de información sobre salud – basada en un modelo biomédico, a otro escenario más saturado, competitivo y caótico. La revolución digital ha invertido el antiguo régimen transformando en gran escala la producción, distribución y consumo de la información sobre salud. Consecuentemente, ha habido una generalización de desinformación y datos falsos debido a la capacidad del público de adquirir conocimientos sobre asuntos de salud de diversas fuentes y plataformas. Y así actores deshonestos inundan Internet con información factualmente incorrecta, rumores y teorías conspiratorias
Microbiology in comics: an afternoon with Escherichia coli
No full textObjetivo: Histórias em quadrinhos (HQs) são constituídas de narrativas ou descrições con tadas por meio de uma linguagem específica em desenhos dentro de quadros com falas em balões, ou apenas com imagens, ou símbolos. Dentro do processo de ensino-aprendiza gem, a imagem é extremamente importante, já que pode tornar visíveis fatos e detalhes muitas vezes invisíveis. Em biologia, para não especialistas, estruturas microbianas e rea ções químicas podem ser mais facilmente compreendidas visualmente que por meio de linguagem textual. Desta forma, apresentamos a história em quadrinhos "Microbiologia em quadrinhos: uma tarde com a Escherichia coli", através de uma narrativa simples de uma jovem em um laboratório, se comunicando com a representação lúdica da bactéria E. coli. Nesta história são apresentadas características desta bactéria e alguns equipamentos e processos laboratoriais relacionados à microbiologia, como as partes de um microscópio óptico e o método de coloração de Gram. Métodos: A HQ foi criada produzindo-se modela gem 3D dos personagens e dos cenários utilizando-se o software Blender, pintura digital pelo software Krita e o aplicativo Strip Design para a construção dos quadrinhos, onde inserimos cada figura e balões de falas nos respectivos quadros. Resultados: O resultado gerou uma HQ de fácil leitura e visualização agradável dentro do conteúdo da microbiologia. Conclusão: Esse tipo de ferramenta lúdica pode facilitar o entendimento de assuntos com plexos relacionados à bactéria Escherichia coli de forma prazerosa pelos leitores
(E)-2-Cyano-3-(1H-Indol-3-yl)-N-Phenylacrylamide, a Hybrid Compound Derived from Indomethacin and Paracetamol: Design, Synthesis and Evaluation of the Anti-Inflammatory Potential
No full textFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado da
Paraiba (FAPESQ), Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (Capes) with collaboration
from the Universidade Federal da Bahia (UFBA).The compound (E)-2-cyano-3-(1H-indol-3-yl)-N-phenylacrylamide (ICMD-01) was designed and developed based on the structures of clinically relevant drugs indomethacin and paracetamol through the molecular hybridization strategy. This derivative was obtained by an amidation reaction between substituted anilines and ethyl 2-cyanoacetate followed by a Knoevenagel-type condensation reaction with indole aldehyde that resulted in both a viable synthesis and satisfactory yield. In order to assess the immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory activity, in vitro assays were performed in J774 macrophages, and significant inhibitions (p < 0.05) of the production of nitrite and the production of cytokines (IL-1β and TNFα) in noncytotoxic concentrations were observed. The anti-inflammatory effect was also studied via CFA-induced paw edema in vivo tests and zymosan-induced peritonitis. In the paw edema assay, ICMD01 (50 mg kg-1) showed satisfactory activity, as did the group treated with dexamethasone, reducing edema in 2-6 h. In addition, there was no significant inhibition of PGE2, IL-1β or TNFα in vivo. Moreover, in the peritonitis assay that assesses leukocyte migration, ICMD-01 exhibited promising results. Therefore, these preliminary studies demonstrate this compound to be a strong candidate for an anti-inflammatory drug together with an improved gastrointestinal safety profile when compared to the conventional anti-inflammatory drugs
Caracterização molecular das recidivas de Plasmodium vivax após tratamento com ACT: Estudo de polimorfismos relacionados à resistência do parasito e metabolismo alterado de CYP2D6
No full textCloroquina (CQ) e primaquina (PQ) permanecem há décadas como o esquema terapêutico recomendado para tratamento radical de infecções por P. vivax, visto que PQ é a única droga comercialmente disponível para atuar contra os hipnozoítos, prevenindo as recaídas. Relatos de falha terapêutica após tratamento com CQ e PQ têm levantado questionamentos a respeito da eficácia desse regime, levando o Ministério da Saúde a uma nova recomendação: terapias combinadas com derivados de artemisinina (ACT) em associação com a PQ. As falhas terapêuticas têm sido associadas tanto a fatores genéticos do hospedeiro, como polimorfismos em CYP2D6 (importante enzima para biotransformação da PQ), quanto a fatores do parasito, como polimorfismos relacionados à redução da suscetibilidade ao tratamento. Nesse contexto, o objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar se polimorfismos genéticos em CYP2D6 e nos genes pvcrt-o e pvmdr-1 (ortólogos de genes de Plasmodium falciparum associados à resistência aos antimaláricos) influenciaram a recidiva de indivíduos tratados com diferentes esquemas de antimaláricos. Pacientes recrutados entre 2012 e 2015 para participarem de um estudo de segurança e eficácia de diferentes esquemas terapêuticos realizado em Manaus/AM e Porto Velho/RO foram randomizados em três grupos de tratamento: CQ+PQ; Artesunato, Mefloquina e PQ (AM+PQ); e Arteméter, Lumefantrina e PQ (AL+PQ). Entre 264 pacientes randomizados que atenderam aos critérios de inclusão, 35 apresentaram recidiva (8 em Manaus e 27 em Porto Velho) durante um período de acompanhamento de 63 dias, sendo 10 do grupo CQ+PQ, 12 em AM+PQ e 13 em AL+PQ. Todos os 35 pacientes foram incluídos nas nossas análises. Durante os anos de recrutamento, os municípios em questão foram avaliados como baixo (Manaus) e médio risco de infecção (Porto Velho), sugerindo baixa probabilidade de reinfecção durante o período de acompanhamento. O tempo de recidiva clínica foi similar entre os grupos de tratamento (mediana de 49 dias em CQ+PQ, 56 dias em AL+PQ e 58 dias em AM+PQ, p-value = 0,495). Dez entre 27 pacientes testados apresentaram DNA de P. vivax detectável por PCR em tempo real antes do reaparecimento dos sintomas (3 em 9 do grupo CQ+PQ, 4 em 8 tratados em AM+PQ e 3 em 10 tratados com AL+PQ). Episódios de recrudescência (recidiva até 42 dias) foram identificadas em 6 episódios (60%) no grupo CQ+PQ e 4 (33%) no grupo AM+PQ. Em média, 85% das recidivas sintomáticas em todos os grupos de tratamento foram classificadas como idênticas ou similares à infecção inicial, o que diverge dos dados da literatura que apontam elevada frequência de recaídas heterólogas em indivíduos de área endêmica. Além disso, infecções múltiplas foram mais frequentes entre os episódios de recidiva (40% vs 17% das infecções iniciais, p-value = 0,013), corroborando trabalhos que demonstram alta diversidade genética das infecções. Nesse estudo, o fenótipo de CYP2D6 não influenciou o intervalo entre o episódio inicial e a recidiva dos pacientes, no entanto, de 9 indivíduos (25,7%) preditos como metabolizadores nulos/lentos, 6 foram tratados com AM+PQ, indicando que a mutação em CYP2D6 deve influenciar principalmente o tratamento com a combinação AM+PQ. Por fim, amplificações de número de cópias gênicas (CNV) de pvmdr-1 e pvcrto não foram observadas, com exceção de um isolado de P. vivax, cuja amplificação de pvcrt-o foi observada na infecção inicial de paciente do grupo AM+PQ. Em suma, polimorfismos na CYP2D6 e sua implicação no tratamento com AM+PQ para P. vivax, que será administrado nos próximos anos no Brasil, merecem ser investigados. A elevada frequência de recidivas homólogas levanta a hipótese de uma resposta imune individual dos pacientes ineficaz na modulação da susceptibilidade dos parasitos presentes na infecção. Essas investigações precisam ser consideradas para monitoramento dos novos esquemas recomendados no Brasil, bem como de otimizações futuras que possam ser implementadas.Chloroquine (CQ) and primaquine (PQ) have remained for decades as the recommended therapeutic regimen for radical treatment of P. vivax infections, since PQ is the only commercially available drug to act against hypnozoites, preventing relapses. Reports of therapeutic failure after treatment with CQ and PQ raise questions about the efficacy of this regimen, leading the Brazilian Ministry of Health to a new recommendation: artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACT) with PQ. Therapeutic failures have been associated with both host genetic factors, such as polymorphisms in CYP2D6 (an important enzyme for PQ biotransformation), as well as parasite factors, such as polymorphisms related to reduced susceptibility to treatment. In this context, the aim of this study was to evaluate whether genetic polymorphisms in CYP2D6 and in pvcrt-o and pvmdr-1 genes (Plasmodium falciparum orthologous genes related with antimalarials resistance) influenced the recurrence of individuals treated with different antimalarial regimens. Patients recruited between 2012 and 2015 to participate in a safety and efficacy study of different therapeutic regimens conducted in Manaus/AM and Porto Velho/RO were randomized into three treatment groups: CQ+PQ; Artesunate, Mefloquine and PQ (AM+PQ); and Artemether, Lumefantrine and PQ (AL+PQ). Among 264 randomized patients who met the inclusion criteria, 35 presented recurrence (8 in Manaus and 27 in Porto Velho) during a follow-up period of 63 days, 10 of the CQ+PQ group, 12 in AM+PQ and 13 in AL+PQ. All 35 patients were included in our analyses. During the recruitment years, the municipalities were evaluated as low (Manaus) and medium risk of infection (Porto Velho), suggesting low probability of reinfection during the follow-up period. The time of clinical recurrence was similar between the treatment groups (median of 49 days in CQ+PQ, 56 days in AL+PQ and 58 days in AM+PQ, p-value = 0.495). Among 27 patients from Porto Velho, ten of them had P. vivax DNA detectable by real-time PCR before the reappearance of symptoms (3 in 9 in the CQ+PQ group, 4 in 8 treated using AM+PQ and 3 in 10 treated with AL+PQ). Recrudescence episodes (relapse up to 42 days) were identified in 6 episodes (60%) in the CQ+PQ group and 4 (33%) in the AM+PQ group. On average, 85% of symptomatic recurrence in all treatment groups were classified as identical or similar to the initial infection, which differs from the literature data that indicate a high frequency of heterologous relapses in individuals from endemic areas. In addition, multiple infections were more frequent among recurrence episodes (40% vs. 17% of initial infections, p-value = 0.013), corroborating studies that demonstrate high genetic diversity of P. vivax infections. In this study, the CYP2D6 phenotype did not influence the interval between the initial episode and the recurrence of patients, however, among 9 patients (25.7%) predicted as null/slow metabolisers, 6 were treated with AM+PQ, indicating that the CYP2D6 mutation should mainly influence treatment with the AM+PQ. Finally, copy number variation (CNV) of pvmdr-1 and pvcrt-o genes were not observed, except for an isolate of P. vivax, whose amplification of pvcrt-o was observed in the initial infection of a patient treated in AM+PQ group. In conclusion, polymorphisms in CYP2D6 and its implication in the treatment with AM+PQ for P. vivax, which will be administered in the coming years in Brazil, deserve to be investigated. The high frequency of homologous recurrences raises the hypothesis of an individual immune response of patients ineffective in modulating the susceptibility of parasites present in infection. These investigations need to be considered for monitoring the new schemes recommended in Brazil, as well as future optimizations that can be implemented