The Paraíba State University (Portuguese: Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, UEPB) is a public university in the Brazilian state of Paraíba. The university has eight campuses throughout the state, and its main campus is located in the city of Campina Grande.It was founded by local ordinance n. 23, on March 15, 1966, as Regional University of Northeastern Brazil (Portuguese: Universidade Regional do Nordeste - URNe) as a local autarky. On October 11, 1987 by State Law n. 4.977, which was sanctioned by Governor Tarcísio Burity, the URNe became the State University of Paraíba..
Landscape modifications, such as habitat fragmentation, significantly impact wildlife, particularly through edge effects (EE) that alter environmental conditions. Social insects like termites are susceptible to these changes. Furthermore, their nests often harbor unique associated fauna, including specialized termitophilous beetles, which may also be impacted. This study investigates the impact of anthropogenic fragmentation on the abundance of Aleocharinae termitophiles of two distinct morphologies, associated with Constrictotermes cyphergaster nests in a deciduous dry forest, and their responses to EE. Using data from 38 termite nests sampled in a forest fragment, we found that termitophile abundance (Corotoca and Termitocola) was significantly influenced by both morphology and distance from the fragment edge, with more termitophiles found in nests further away from the edge. This suggests that both Corotoca and Termitocola termitophiles are negatively affected by edge effects, despite the protective characteristics of their host nests. Our findings highlight the vulnerability of specialized, obligate symbionts to habitat fragmentation and underscore the importance of considering external factors and the specificity of cohabitants in ecological studies of edge effects.
Food biodiversity is vital for human health and the development of sustainable food systems. However, research on neglected and underutilized species is limited by funding, uneven research capacity, and the challenge of balancing ecological, cultural, and public health considerations, requiring innovative prioritization approaches. Using Brazil as a model, this study inventories 369 neglected food species across algae, aquatic fauna, wild terrestrial vertebrates, insects, mushrooms, and plants. A mixed-methods approach, combining expert knowledge and explainable AI (LightGBM and SHAP value analysis), identified key factors for prioritizing species for food composition and consumption studies. The inventory is dominated by plants (29.5%) and wild vertebrates (24.4%), with significant gaps in nutritional data, particularly for algae, insects, and wild vertebrates. Over 36,000 recipes using neglected species were identified. In both food composition (R2: 0.677) and consumption studies (R2: 0.782), recipe number and species occurrence across different states were the most influential features in predicting prioritization. These findings emphasize the role of cultural uses and local accessibility in shaping nutritional research priorities. We urge increased research on neglected species to bridge data gaps and integrate them into food systems, promoting sustainable diets in Brazil and other tropical regions.
Extracellular matrix remodeling and angiogenesis are important events in the evolution of cystic and neoplastic lesions. This study aimed to assess and compare the differential expression of extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN) and angiogenic index in radicular cysts (RCs), dentigerous cysts (DCs), and odontogenic keratocysts (OKCs). Twenty RCs, 20 DCs, and 20 OKCs were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. The expression of EMMPRIN was evaluated in the epithelial component and in endothelial cells of vessels in the fibrous capsule of the lesions. The angiogenic index was determined by microvessel count (MVC) using anti-CD105 immunoexpression. Immunoexpression of EMMPRIN was observed in most RCs (95%) and in all DCs and OKCs. Compared with RCs and DCs, OKCs revealed lower immunopositivity for EMMPRIN in the epithelial component ( P <0.001). In endothelial cells, EMMPRIN expression was higher in OKCs than in RCs ( P =0.010) and DCs ( P =0.007). RCs had the highest angiogenic index, with a statistically significant difference compared with OKCs ( P =0.018). A positive correlation was observed between MVC and immunoexpression of EMMPRIN in endothelial cells of vessels in RCs ( r =0.654; P =0.002). The results suggest an important role for EMMPRIN in the development of RCs, DCs, and OKCs. The higher expression of this metalloproteinase inducer in endothelial cells of vessels in the fibrous capsule of OKCs could be related to the aggressive biological behavior of these lesions. In RCs, EMMPRIN seems to act as a proangiogenic factor.
Nature has always inspired the discovery of novel compounds to treat human inflammatory processes, which are related to many diseases in acute and chronic conditions. Found in some Apocynaceae species, pregnane glycosides (PGs) have been attracting attention due to their promising anti-inflammatory potential. is a neotropical genus endemic to arid regions and, in Brazil, the Caatinga serves as a major hotspot for its occurrence. However, no in-depth chemical or pharmacological investigations have yet been conducted on species. Based on this, the present work sought to isolate, characterize, and investigate the potential anti-inflammatory activity of PGs obtained from the roots of . To achieve this goal, classical and instrumental chromatographic techniques were applied, followed by 1D and 2D NMR experiments, as well as IR and HR-ESI-MS analyses to assist structural elucidation. To assess potential anti-inflammatory activity, murine macrophage-like J774.A1 cells, stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), were used. As a result, 18 previously undescribed PGs were obtained, named ruehssiosides A-R (1-18). Among them, ruehssioside J (compound 10) stood out as the most potent of the series, exhibiting a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 17.5 mu M for nitric oxide inhibition and significantly reducing IL-6 and IL-1 beta production. Additionally, structure-activity relationship (SAR) analysis was carried out, highlighting the structural elements contributing to the observed anti-inflammatory effects. This work encourages the continued study of Apocynaceae species, especially from underinvestigated environments, as sources of substances with anti-inflammatory potential.
Abstract Rationale Asthma is a highly prevalent disease worldwide, affecting a significant proportion of adults in Brazil. Effective asthma self-management contributes to adequate disease control, reducing exacerbations, hospital admissions, and public healthcare costs. However, mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression have been associated with poorer clinical outcomes, impaired self-care, and increased use of emergency services related to asthma. This study aimed to analyze the association between the presence of mental health disorders and asthma self-management among Brazilian adults. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted as part of a project previously approved by the Research Ethics Committee (no. 7.568.013). The sample included adults with asthma and self-reported depression and/or anxiety from all regions of the country. Data collection was performed using a structured electronic questionnaire administered either in person or remotely. Sociodemographic data, comorbidities, hospitalizations in the past 12 months, as well as the use and adherence to controller medication were recorded. Associations between categorical variables were assessed using the chi-square test of independence, with a significance level of p < 0.05. Analyses were performed using Jamovi software, version 2.6.44. Results The sample consisted of 229 adults with asthma, of whom 124 (54%) reported depression, anxiety, or both. Among the participants, 78 (62.9%) reported anxiety only, 8 (6.5%) reported depression only, and 38 (30.6%) reported both disorders. The mean age was 38.0 ± 13.9 years, and 81.8% of participants were female. Regarding the use of controller medication, only 43 (34.7%) of participants reported regular use of their prescribed medication. In the past 12 months, 66 (28.8%) participants had been hospitalized due to asthma. The chi-square test of independence revealed a significant association between the presence of mental health disorders and irregular use of asthma controller medication (χ² = 5.12; df = 1; p = 0.024). Conclusion The presence of mental health disorders was associated with poor adherence to maintenance treatment for asthma, indicating that psychological factors may compromise self-management and appropriate disease control. These findings highlight the need to incorporate mental health assessment and management as an integral part of asthma care to improve treatment adherence and disease control. Public health policies and interdisciplinary care strategies should prioritize educational and psychosocial support initiatives targeting these patients, thereby contributing to the reduction of exacerbations, hospitalizations, and asthma-related costs within the public healthcare system. This abstract is funded by: This research was supported by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development - CNPq, the Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovation, and Communications, and the National Fund for Scientific and Technological Development - FNDCT – (Grant CNPq 16/2024; Grant CNPq/MCTI/FNDCT 18/2021 – UNIVERSAL). This study was also financed in part by the Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior - Brasil (CAPES) - Finance code 001 and by the Empresa Brasileira de Serviços Hospitalares (Ebserh).
