ABSTRACT Among the neglected diseases, American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) still remains highly endemic in some tropical regions. The currently available drugs for treatment are highly toxic, prompting the search for new therapeutic options. The aim of this study was to evaluate the toxic potential of dillapiole n-butyl ether (DBE) against Leishmania amazonensis and L. guyanensis, as well as its toxicity on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in vitro. For cell cytotoxicity, concentrations of DBE that ranged from 7.8 to 500 µM were used for 48 and 72 h. For the evaluation of the antileishmanial activity, DBE was tested at concentrations of 0.28 to 18 µM for 24, 48, and 72 h. A value of 36 µM was used for the amastigote assay. The selectivity index (SI) was determined by dividing the CC50/IC50 (macrophages/promastigotes). DBE exhibited a CC50 of 203.9 ± 0.5 µM in 72 h. DBE inhibited promastigote forms with an IC50 of 3.0 µM for both Leishmania species for 72 h. The standard, Pentacarinat®, showed an IC50 of 2.9 µM and 0.3 µM, respectively. The SI of DBE for both species was 67.9 for 72 h. DBE inhibited intracellular forms of L. amazonensis by 65.5% after 48 h. In molecular modeling, DLpOl-F showed two hydrogen bonds (SER418 and 421). DBE demonstrated promising in vitro antileishmanial potential.

RESUMO Dentre as doenças negligenciadas, a leishmaniose cutânea americana (LCA) continua sendo altamente endêmica em algumas regiões tropicais. Os medicamentos disponíveis atualmente para o tratamento apresentam elevada toxicidade, o que torna a busca de novas opções terapêuticas necessária. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar o potencial tóxico do éter n-butil dilapiol (EBD) contra Leishmania amazonensis e L. guyanensis e a sua toxicidade em células mononucleares do sangue periférico humano (CMSP) in vitro. Para a citotoxicidade celular, utilizou-se concentrações de 7,8 a 500 µM por 48 e 72 h. A atividade antileishmania do EBD foi testada em concentrações de 0,28 a 18 µM, por 24, 48 e 72 h. Para o ensaio em amastigotas usou-se um valor de 36 µM. O índice de seletividade (IS) foi determinado pela divisão CC50/CI50 (macrófagos/promastigotas). O EBD mostrou em células uma CC50 de 203,9 ± 0,5 µM em 72 h. O EBD inibiu as formas promastigotas com uma CI50 de 3,0 µM para ambas espécies de Leishmania por 72 h, já o padrão Pentacarinat® apresentou uma CI50 de 2,9 µM e 0,3 µM, respectivamente. O IS do EBD para as duas espécies foi de 67,9 por 72 h. O EBD inibiu as formas intracelulares de L. amazonensis com 65,5% por 48 h. Na modelagem molecular, o DLpOl-F aparece com duas ligações de hidrogênio (SER418 e 421). O EBD demostrou um potencial antileishmania promissor in vitro.

Abstract Changes in the population's eating habits have expanded the French fries market. However, the need for refrigerated storage to supply sprouts and maintain a constant supply to the industry has led to a reduced number of cultivars suitable for processing due to the accumulation of sugars and browning after frying. Because of this, the objective of this study was to evaluate the suitability of the Donata and BRS F132 cultivars for use in the pre-fried potato processing industry. The tubers were stored at 6 and 8 °C for up to 180 days and the analysis of sprouting, total soluble sugar (TSS), reducing sugar (RS), non-reducing sugar (NRS), post-frying color by scale visual color used by the industry and L* and b* parameters. The sprouting was higher at 8 °C and in the BRS F 132 cultivar. The sugar content was high in both cultivars, however, the color remained adequate. It is concluded that the Donata and BRS F132 cultivars are suitable for the potato processing industry, and Donata presented better quality parameters. Conditioning at 8 °C is recommended in both cultivars that maintained the quality for 180 days.

Resumo O estudo analisa o “boom” demográfico das populações escravas de origem africana nas áreas de plantation a partir dos Mapas Estatísticos do Maranhão. Em especial, focalizamos a freguesia do Rosário do Itapecuru utilizando outras fontes documentais – inventários post mortem e registros paroquiais de batismo. Os Mapas de 1798 e 1821 possibilitaram evidenciar o perfil sexual, etário, étnico e a condição jurídica da população, mostrando a importância da população escrava nas áreas de cultivo do algodão e arroz, que chegava a quase 80% dos residentes. Essas populações, por sua vez, guardavam algumas particularidades em relação a outras áreas de plantation do Estado do Brasil, como, por exemplo, a razão de sexo marcada pela quase paridade entre homens e mulheres.

Abstract The study analyzes the demographic boom of African slave populations in the plantation areas from the Mapas de População of Maranhão. In particular, we focus on the parish of Rosário do Itapecuru using other sources - post-mortem inventories and parish baptismal records. The maps from 1798 and 1821 made it possible to evidence the gender, age, ethnicity and legal status of the resident population as well as show the importance of slave population in cotton and rice crop areas, reaching almost 80% of residents. These populations, in turn, presented certain peculiarities in relation to other plantation areas in the State of Brazil, such as the sex ratio marked by the almost parity between men and women.

Resumen El estudio analiza el boom de las poblaciones esclavas de origen africano en las áreas de plantación a partir de los Mapas Estadísticos de Maranhão. En particular, nos centramos en la parroquia Rosario del Itapecurú utilizando otras fuentes documentales: inventarios post mortem y registros parroquiales de bautismo. Los mapas de 1798 y 1821 posibilitaron evidenciar el perfil sexual, la edad, la condición étnica y jurídica de la población residente y muestran la importancia de la población esclava en las áreas de cultivo de algodón y de arroz, que llega a casi 80% de los residentes. Estas poblaciones mantenían a su vez algunas peculiaridades en relación con otras áreas de plantación del Estado de Brasil, por ejemplo, la proporción de sexos marcada por la casi paridad entre hombres y mujeres.

Resumo O artigo examina as estruturas da posse de escravos dos principais espaços de economia agrícola do Maranhão e agroextrativista do Grão-Pará, entre os anos de 1785 e 1850. A partir da análise serial de inventários post-mortem, reconstroem-se os padrões de distribuição e os graus de concentração da propriedade escrava, assim como as características dos cativos desses espaços segundo a origem africana ou crioula, o sexo e a idade.

Abstract In this article, we analyze the slaveholding patterns in the leading economic agricultural regions of Maranhão and Grão-Pará, between 1785 and 1850. Through a serial analysis of probate inventories, we examine slaveholding concentration levels and patterns as well as the characteristics of the enslaved population in Maranhão and Pará according to their origin - Africa or Brazil -, gender and age.

BACKGROUND: DNA methylation is commonly linked with the silencing of the gene expression for many tumor suppressor genes. As such, determining DNA methylation patterns should aid, in times to come, in the diagnosis and personal treatment for various types of cancers. Here, we analyzed the methylation pattern from five colorectal cancer patients from the Amazon state in Brazil for four tumor suppressor genes, viz.: DAPK, CDH1, CDKN2A, and TIMP2 by employing a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) specific to methylation. Efforts in the study of colorectal cancer are fundamental as it is the third most of highest incidence in the world. RESULTS: Tumor biopsies were methylated in 1/5 (20 %), 2/5 (40 %), 4/5 (80 %), and 4/5 (80 %) for CDH1, CDKN2A, DAPK, and TIMP2 genes, respectively. The margin biopsies were methylated in 3/7 (43 %), 2/7 (28 %), 7/7 (100 %), and 6/7 (86 %) for CDH1, CDKN2A, DAPK, and TIMP2, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings showed DAPK and TIMP2 to be methylated in most samples from both tumor tissues and adjacent non-neoplastic margins; thus presenting distinct methylation patterns. This emphasizes the importance of better understanding of the relation of these patterns with cancer in the context of different populations.