Lychnoflora (Brazil)

Cervical cancer remains a significant global health concern, causing more than 300,000 deaths annually. Erythrina velutina, a tree native to north-eastern Brazil, contains bioactive alkaloids with potential anticancer properties. This study aimed to characterize the alkaloid-enriched fraction of Erythrina velutina leaves and investigate the effects of the alkaloid erythraline on apoptosis and cell cycle in SiHa cervical cancer cells. Using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), six alkaloids, including erythraline, were identified. Cytotoxicity was assessed through proliferation assays on SiHa cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Apoptosis and cell cycle analyses were performed using flow cytometry, and in silico virtual screening identified potential protein targets of erythraline. Erythraline showed time- and concentration-dependent inhibitory effects on SiHa cell proliferation, with significant cytotoxicity observed at 50 µg/mL. Morphological changes, chromatin condensation, and increased apoptotic cell percentages confirmed the induction of caspase-independent apoptosis. Erythraline also induced G2/M cell cycle arrest, with 22% of cells in the G2/M phase compared with 7.25% in the untreated controls. In silico analysis identified polyamine oxidase, pyruvate kinase M2, and tankyrase as potential targets that contribute to the antitumor activity of erythraline. These findings suggest that erythraline is a promising candidate for anticancer therapy, warranting further investigation.

O câncer de próstata é a terceira neoplasia mais comum, segundo a Organização Mundial de Saúde e representa 13,4% de óbitos em homens no Brasil por doenças malignas. O tratamento cirúrgico de escolha é a prostatectomia radical, onde existe possibilidade de vias cirúrgicas minimamente invasivas. Com o avanço das abordagens cirúrgicas, tem-se discutido a técnica com melhor aplicabilidade para o cirurgião e que, ao mesmo tempo, tenha mais benefícios para o paciente. Dentre as técnicas mais difundidas estão a videolaparoscópica e a robótica, as quais têm sido amplamente estudadas a fim de definir qual delas apresenta maiores vantagens. Este artigo trata-se de uma revisão literária a respeito das principais técnicas cirúrgicas utilizadas na prostatectomia radical e se existe superioridade entre elas.

Since ancient times, flowers and symbols blend and complement each other in a permanent harmony. Victory, love, arrivals and farewells. Flowers also indicates the harbinger of life, hope for preservation and continuity of the species. Its meanings and uses are recognized and diverse, and permeate generations all over the world. Perfumes, infusions, medicines and food make up the wide and varied spectrum of use in different cultures. The use of flowers in cooking is well known. Its beauty and nutritional properties provide different uses, from the aesthetic to the composition of the most differentiated menus. [...]

The reintroduction of threatened fish species in areas where wild populations have been depleted due to anthropogenic impacts is an increasingly popular conservation tool and mitigation policy. Despite the importance of fish reintroduction for conservation purposes, little is known about its efficiency. Here, we assessed the viability of reintroduction of the endangered migratory fish, Brycon orbignyanus, in an area of the Upper Uruguay River basin where the species has not been reported for more than 30 years. We released 4000 yearling juveniles in the Pelotas River in 2014 and maintained 400 juveniles in captivity as a control population. After three years, a total of 13 individuals was recaptured, of which, 10 were considered sexually mature with first maturation being recorded in animals larger than 42 cm in total body length. The age–length comparison with a control population growth curve showed that recaptured fish were slightly bigger than those in captivity. Furthermore, important ecological attributes as schooling behavior and dispersal capacity were recorded for all recaptured individuals. Combined, our results suggest that the re-establishment of a self-sustained population of locally extinct species B. orbignyanus in the Pelotas River may be successful if sustained over time and supported by conservation policies.

O trigo é amplamente utilizado na alimentação humana e ocupa o primeiro lugar em volume de produção mundial. Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo avaliar o consumo de derivados de trigo pela população de Maringá, Paraná, e sua correlação com fatores demográficos e estado nutricional. A pesquisa foi de natureza quantitativa com coleta de dados transversal. Foram avaliados 270 indivíduos adultos com idade entre 20 a 59 anos, de ambos os sexos. Os indivíduos foram abordados nos supermercados da cidade de Maringá, Paraná. Utilizaram-se dois questionários para coleta de dados. No primeiro continham perguntas sobre o perfil dos indivíduos entrevistados (sexo, idade, cor, escolaridade, renda familiar, peso, estatura e Índice de Massa Corporal – IMC). No segundo continha o Questionário de Frequência Alimentar Quantitativo (QFA), utilizado para avaliar o consumo de derivados de trigo. As informações de peso e estatura serviram para o cálculo do IMC: peso (kg)/estatura(m)2, e então se detectou o estado nutricional segundo os pontos de corte estabelecidos pela Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS). As associações entre o consumo de derivados de trigo e fatores demográficos e estado nutricional foram realizadas por meio de análise estatística, para a qual se utilizou o programa Epi Info versão 7.2.0.1. Os dados foram submetidos ao teste de Mann-Whitney (p

Lecythis marcgraaviana (Lecythidaceae), a species previously placed in synonymy of L. pisonis, is resurrected and described in detail for the first time. A neotype, discussion of the history of this species, taxonomic notes, images, and an identification key to the species of the Lecythis pisonis clade from eastern Brazil are provided. This tree or shrub occurs in coastal Atlantic Forest between the states of Espirito Santo and Rio Grande do Norte. Morphologically, L. marcgraaviana is most similar to L. lanceolata and L. pisonis.