C.G. Ferreira

Essential oils are a promising alternative to insecticides. We investigated the LD50 of oils extracted from Piper corcovadensis, P. marginatum, and P. arboreum after 48 h topical contact with Spodoptera frugiperda larvae using morphometry, histochemistry and immunohistochemistry of the midgut and fat body. Chromatography revealed that E-caryophyllene was the principal compound common to the Piper species. The essential oils of P. corcovadensis, P. marginatum and P. arboreum caused deleterious changes in the midgut of S. frugiperda larvae. P. corcovadensis oil produced the lowest LD50 and significant histopathological alterations including elongation of the columnar cells, formation of cytoplasmic protrusions, reduction in carbohydrate, increased apoptotic index and decreased cell proliferation. P. arboreum oil caused histopathological alterations similar to P. corcovadensis, but caused the highest rate of cell proliferation and increased regenerative cells, which indicated rapid regeneration of the epithelium. Our findings demonstrated the insecticidal potential of P. corcovadensis for control of S. frugiperda owing to the significant damage it inflicted on S. frugiperda midgut.

ABSTRACT: The central nervous system is vulnerable to complications caused by diabetes. These complications lead to increased oxidative stress in the brain, resulting in damage to the cerebral cortex, among other regions. Insulin and hypoglycemic agents are still the most widely used treatments. However, current research with an experimental model of diabetes suggests the use of antioxidants, such as melatonin. Thus, we tested the hypothesis that exogenous melatonin may decrease or prevent the effects of diabetes in the frontal cortex of the rat brain. Fifty albino rats were allocated into five groups: GC = rats without diabetes induction, GD = diabetic rats induced by streptozotocin, GDM = streptozotocin-induced and melatonin-treated diabetic rats, GDI = diabetic rats induced by streptozotocin and treated with insulin, GDMI = diabetic rats induced by streptozotocin and treated with melatonin and insulin simultaneously. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal administration of streptozotocin (60mg/kg). Insulin (5U/day) was administered subcutaneously and melatonin (10mg/kg) by drinking water; both treatments last days after. We analyzed animals’ weight, the cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α, apoptosis, glycogen, and did morphometry and histopathology of the frontal cortex were analyzed. The results showed that the cerebral cortex of the diabetic animals presented axonal degeneration, reduced number of neurons in the cortex, reduced glycogen, increased IL-6 and TNF-α expression, high apoptotic index, and reduced animal weight and the brain. Treatment with melatonin associated or not with insulin prevented such effects. Thus, we conclude that melatonin associated with insulin may be an alternative for avoiding the impact of diabetes in the brain’s frontal cortex.

Cervical carcinomas are almost universally associated with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infections, and are a leading cause of cancer death in women worldwide. Since the late 1990s, when a spate of studies reported the benefit of cisplatin-based chemotherapy, there had been a dearth of clinical trials in cervical cancer (CC). More effective therapies in locally advanced and recurrent or metastatic CC are an urgent clinical need. In the era of molecular oncology one should look beyond conventional chemoradiation and chemotherapy for locally advanced and advanced CC. The fact that the initiating oncogenic insult, infection with a high-risk HPV and viral oncoprotein expression is common to almost all CC offers unique opportunities for disease control. Diverse biologic pathways with an implication in the development and progression of CC are being explored. For the first time, increase in overall survival has recently been obtained for advanced CC patients with a target drug, the antiangiogenic agent bevacizumab, and durable complete responses after HPV-targeted adoptive T cell therapy in metastatic CC patients were achieved. In this review, we will summarize molecular aspects of HPV infection focusing on potential targets to stop the carcinogenic process, present updated drug development data, and discuss challenges and prospects for the future.

A produção brasileira de suínos traz retornos positivos ao agronegócio, mesmo com fatores prejudiciais ao meio ambiente que ocorrem devido ao potencial poluidor dessa atividade, em razão do manuseio inadequado do esterco suíno. Reduzir esses impactos requer o uso de sistemas eficientes e sustentáveis de tratamento de resíduos. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar a viabilidade econômica da implantação de um sistema de biodigestor para o tratamento de resíduos de uma planta de criação de 1.500 porcas, possibilitando a produção de biogás como fonte alternativa de energia elétrica limpa. Para tanto, utilizou-se de pesquisa bibliográfica sobre a temática e do desenvolvimento de cenários possivelmente realísticos. Dois cenários de investimento foram comparados: I) 20% de patrimônio e 80% de financiamento; e II) 100% do patrimônio líquido. Concluiu-se que os investimentos também são sustentáveis e economicamente viáveis nas duas situações, sendo o II o mais vantajoso, que apresentou menor risco com base na TIR, VPN e IL calculadas.