Fatty Acids,CD36, Thrombospondin-1, and CD47 in Glioblastoma: Together and/or Separately?

Glioblastoma (GBM) is one of the most aggressive tumors of the central nervous system, characterized by a wide range of inter- and intratumor heterogeneity. Accumulation of fatty acids (FA) metabolites was associated with a low survival rate in high-grade glioma patients. The diversity of brain lipids, especially polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), is greater than in all other organs and several classes of proteins, such as FA transport proteins (FATPs), and FA translocases are considered principal candidates for PUFAs transport through BBB and delivery of PUFAs to brain cells. Among these, the CD36 FA translocase promotes long-chain FA uptake as well as oxidated lipoproteins. Moreover, CD36 binds and recognizes thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1), an extracellular matrix protein that was shown to play a multifaceted role in cancer as part of the tumor microenvironment. Effects on tumor cells are mediated by TSP-1 through the interaction with CD36 as well as CD47, a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily. TSP-1/CD47 interactions have an important role in the modulation of glioma cell invasion and angiogenesis in GBM. Separately, FA, the two membrane receptors CD36, CD47, and their joint ligand TSP-1 all play a part in GBM pathogenesis. The last research has put in light their interconnection/interrelationship in order to exert a cumulative effect in the modulation of the GBM molecular network.     

CircRNAs as Potential Blood Biomarkers and Key Elements in Regulatory Networks in Gastric Cancer

Gastric cancer (GC) is the fifth most common type of cancer and the third leading cause of cancer death in the world. It is a disease that encompasses a variety of molecular alterations, including in non-coding RNAs such as circular RNAs (circRNAs). In the present study, we investigated hsa_circ_0000211, hsa_circ_0000284, hsa_circ_0000524, hsa_circ_0001136 and hsa_circ_0004771 expression profiles using RT-qPCR in 71 gastric tissue samples from GC patients (tumor and tumor-adjacent samples) and volunteers without cancer. In order to investigate the suitability of circRNAs as minimally invasive biomarkers, we also evaluated their expression profile through RT-qPCR in peripheral blood samples from patients with and without GC (n = 41). We also investigated the predicted interactions between circRNA-miRNA-mRNA and circRNA-RBP using the KEGG and Reactome databases. Overall, our results showed that hsa_circ_0000211, hsa_circ_0000284 and hsa_circ_0004771 presented equivalent expression profiles when analyzed by different methods (RNA-Seq and RT-qPCR) and different types of samples (tissue and blood). Further, functional enrichment results identified important signaling pathways related to GC. Thus, our data support the consideration of circRNAs as new, minimally invasive biomarkers capable of aiding in the diagnosis of GC and with great potential to be applied in clinical practice.     

Adsorption onto fluidized powdered activated carbon flocs-pACF

This work presents a new adsorption technique where the adsorbent (powdered activated carbon-PAC) is in the form of suspended flocs formed with water-soluble polymer flocculants. Thus, the adsorption of a typical dye, methylene blue (MB), was studied onto polyacrylamide flocs of PAC (PACF) in a fluidized bed reactor. The technique is based on the fact that the adsorption capacity of PAC does not decrease after flocculation because the adsorbed polymer occupies only a few surface sites, in the form of trains, loops, and tails. Moreover, the adsorption was found to proceed through a rapid mass transfer of MB to the adsorbing PAC flocs, in the same extent as onto PAC. Because of the rapid settling characteristics of the aggregates formed, the two phase separations, loaded PAC and solution, become easier. Thus, the technique offers the advantages of conducting simultaneously both adsorption and solid/liquid separation all in one single stage. Results obtained showed that high MB removal values can be attained in a fluidized bed reactor (>90%) and that PACF presents a much higher adsorption capacity (breakthrough points) than granulated activated carbon (GAC) in the same adsorbing bed. It is believed that this technique highly broadens the potential of the use of powdered activated carbon or other similar ultrafine adsorbents.     

Physico-chemical and sensory properties of yogurt from ultrafiltreted soy milk concentrate added with inulin

The total solids required for yogurt preparation were obtained by soy milk microfiltration and ultrafiltration. Inulin was incorporated at the level of 20–70 g/L, and the soy milk containing inulin was fermented using conventional microorganisms. The chemical, physical and sensory properties of the products were evaluated. The membrane concentration of soy proteins leads to yogurts with an increase of 59 g/L of proteins and 15 g/L of vegetable fats, reducing ash and anti-nutrients content. The clot had high stability and protein concentration generated a buffer effect smoothing the acidity and the flavor obtained is more agreeable. In addition, the proteins were concentrated without thermal treatment. As the inulin content increased, creaminess and viscosity increased as well. The products prepared presented nice smell, flavor and color, being the sample with higher global acceptability the yogurt with 50 g/L of inulin (P < 0.05).     

Antioxidant activity, ascorbic acid, phenolic compounds and sugars of wild and commercial Tuberaria lignosa samples: Effects of drying and oral preparation methods

The antioxidant activity and phytochemical composition (ascorbic acid, free sugars and phenolic compounds) of decoctions and infusions of wild and commercial samples of Tuberaria lignosa (Sweet) Samp. Aerial parts were evaluated and compared. Among wild samples, the effects of the drying method (freeze or shade-drying) on those parameters were studied. Infusion of the freeze-dried wild sample gave the highest levels of sugars, while infusion of shade-dried wild sample and decoction of the freeze-dried sample presented higher ascorbic acid and phenolic compounds content (including ellagitannins and flavonoids) than the other samples. The last two samples also revealed higher antioxidant activity, in some cases even higher than Trolox. Decoctions gave lower amounts of disaccharides than infusions, which seemed to be hydrolysed, increasing the content of monosaccharides. Commercial samples showed the lowest content in phenolic compounds, mainly in ellagitannins and flavonoids, and also the lowest antioxidant activity. This work gives scientific evidence to the traditional medicinal uses of wild Tuberaria lignosa, highlighting the interest of its decoctions and infusions as a source of bioactive compounds and functional beverages.     

Effects of Sedentarism and Treadmill Training in Mechanical Properties of Muscles of Ovariectomized Rats with High-Fat Diet

The aim of this study is to evaluate the ability of physical training in the maintenance of muscle strength in rats with HFD （high-fat diet） after OVX （ovariectomy）. Eighty Wistar rats are at eight weeks of age and weight 200 g which divided into 8 groups （n = 10） and treated for 12 weeks： GA： OVX ＋ ND （normal diet）, GB： OVX ＋ ND ＋ training, GC： sham ＋ ND, GD： sham ＋ ND ＋ training, GE： OVX ＋ HFD, GF： OVX ＋ HFD ＋ training, GG： sham ＋ HFD and GH： sham ＋ HFD ＋ training. HFD consists of standard ration for rats with addition of 30% lipids. In training groups, physical training five training/week was conducted on a treadmill with adaptation period of three weeks up to 18 m/s for one hour, training were performed for 12 weeks. The sedentary animals remained in individual box. To analyze the effects of training and diet, tensile strength tests of the gastrocnemius muscles were conducted： the speed of 0.1 mm/min. Analysis of variance was performed to compare groups. The mean （SD） obtained for the maximum load （N） were： GA 57.77 （6.89）, GB 62.74 （5.07）, GC 49.45 （6.06）, GD 59.42 （5.26） and GE 55.58 （4.72）, GF 62.50 （4.56）, GG 58.35 （4.54） and GH 56.67 （5.87）, respectively. There were no differences for maximum load between surgeries （p = 0.004） and between treatments （p = 0.000）. Differences were found also for the relationship surgery diet treatment （p = 0.007）. For the variable stiffness （N/mm）, there were not statistically significant differences： GA 5.03 （0.72）, GB 5.08 （1.09）, GC 5.17 （0.53）, GD 5.35 （0.80）, GE 5.52 （1.20）, GF 5.36 （1.07）, GG 4.83 （1.03） and GH 5.40 （0.73）. For the toughness （N/mm）, there were differences between treatments （p = 0.010） and the ratio diet treatment （p = 0.024）： GA 455.00 （107.21）, GB 541.96 （126.80）, GC 394.97 （84.67）, GD 566.90 （157.07）; GE 424.63 （113.03）, GF 478.07 （106.03）; GG 517.44 （98.65?     

Zimbro (Juniperus communis L.) as a Promising Source of Bioactive Compounds and Biomedical Activities: A Review on Recent Trends

Plant-derived products and their extracted compounds have been used in folk medicine since early times. Zimbro or common juniper (Juniperus communis) is traditionally used to treat renal suppression, acute and chronic cystitis, bladder catarrh, albuminuria, leucorrhea, and amenorrhea. These uses are mainly attributed to its bioactive composition, which is very rich in phenolics, terpenoids, organic acids, alkaloids, and volatile compounds. In the last few years, several studies have analyzed the huge potential of this evergreen shrub, describing a wide range of activities with relevance in different biomedical discipline areas, namely antimicrobial potential against human pathogens and foodborne microorganisms, notorious antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, antidiabetic, antihypercholesterolemic and antihyperlipidemic effects, and neuroprotective action, as well as antiproliferative ability against cancer cells and the ability to activate inductive hepato-, renal- and gastroprotective mechanisms. Owing to these promising activities, extracts and bioactive compounds of juniper could be useful for the development of new pharmacological applications in the treatment of several acute and chronic human diseases.     

Putrescine: A Key Metabolite Involved in Plant Development,Tolerance and Resistance Responses to Stress

Putrescine (Put) is the starting point of the polyamines (PAs) pathway and the most common PA in higher plants. It is synthesized by two main pathways (from ornithine and arginine), but recently a third pathway from citrulline was reported in sesame plants. There is strong evidence that Put may play a crucial role not only in plant growth and development but also in the tolerance responses to the major stresses affecting crop production. The main strategies to investigate the involvement of PA in plant systems are based on the application of competitive inhibitors, exogenous PAs treatments, and the most efficient approaches based on mutant and transgenic plants. Thus, in this article, the recent advances in understanding the role of this metabolite in plant growth promotion and protection against abiotic and biotic stresses will be discussed to provide an overview for future research.