Objective: Women exhibit reduced ovarian sex hormones during the menopausal period that result in well-known physical and psychological symptoms. However, symptoms related to gastric motility (GM) have not been thoroughly investigated. We hypothesized that stress response gastric motility (SRGM) is lower in postmenopausal (PM) and perimenopausal (PERIM) women than in premenopausal (PREM) women. Estrogenic decline leads to neuroendocrine changes in different areas of the brain. These changes can result in hypothalamic vasomotor symptoms, disorders in eating behaviours, and altered blood pressure, in addition to psychological disorders such as stress, anxiety, depression, and irritability related to alterations in the limbic system. Methods: In this pilot study, 55 PREM, PERIM, and PM women were clinically evaluated using the Nowack stress profile (SP) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). GM was assessed via electrical bioimpedance using two psychological stress tests (Stroop and Raven tests). Results: Basal SP and STAI-anxiety test scores were similar among the three groups of women (P > 0.05). PERIM women had lower GM in the basal state (P < 0.05) than did other women. PREM and PM women had significantly decreased GM during the stress tests (P < 0.05). However, PERIM did not exhibit GM changes during stress tests (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Changes in sex hormones during PERIM may affect GM and SRGM.

Previously, our research group obtained a set of calibration equations for being used by an electricalimpedance tomograph (EIT). All equations transform the impedance changes into a measurable volumesignal in a group of healthy males. The performance of EIT, using these equations, was acceptable forrespiration monitoring. The EIT impedance changes were obtained from a set of 16-electrodes placedaround the thoracic box at level of the sixth intercostal space. Each cycle of impedance measurementsis ordered in a matrix (IEITM). Each IEITM’s element depicts a configuration of 4-electrodes. Now, ourmain challenge is to replace the EIT’s 16-electrodes by a 4-electrodes configuration. We analyzed theimpedance changes obtained from each element and the volume determinations obtained by a pneu-motachometer (gold standard) in order to determine the optimal 4-electrodes configuration. For eachselected configuration a set of 20 calibration equations were obtained. The best results were obtained byusing two 4-electrodes configurations. Both consisting in two adjacent electrodes for current injectionand two electrodes for voltage detection.The mean R2of the 20 equations determined by the 16-electrodes information, and for the best two 4-electrode configurations were 0.943 ± 0.010, 0.848 ± 0.062 and 0.690 ± 0.122, respectively. The error (%)of volume determinations obtained by the use of 16-electrodes, and by the use of the two best 4-electrodeconfiguration with regarding to the real volume obtained by pneumotachometer were of 15 ± 6%, 16 ± 4%and 43 ± 41%, respectively. The volume differences between the one obtained by the use of 16-electrodesand that for the best 4 electrode configuration were not significant. We conclude that although thedeterminations of impedance obtained by the best 4-electrode configuration has a lower sensitivity thanthose obtained by the 16-electrodes, it is possible to measure the respiratory pattern in healthy malesPeer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Background: Recently, extracts from natural sources have been tested for their antifungal properties. In this aspect, Flammulina velutipes extracts possess a significant amount of branch-chained carbohydrates with mannose moieties that, hypothetically, can reduce the adhesion. Objective: In this study, we assessed the capacity of extracts from F. velutipes (wild-type AQF-1 and ATCC 34574 as the reference strain) to inhibit the adhesion of S. schenkii and C. albicans to epithelial cells. Materials and Methods: The aqueous extracts from F. velutipes strains were obtained by sonication, total carbohydrate and protein was analyzed by Dubois and Lowry methods respectively. Effect of the extracts (50, 100 and 150 μg/mL) on the fungi adhesion to host cells was evaluated after 1 h interaction, and the percentage of inhibition of adhesion was measured. After of interaction the cytoskeleton from cell was analyzed with phalloidin-FITC. Results: The extract from strain AQF-1 (50, 100 and 150 μg/mL) inhibited the adhesion of: S. schenkii in a dose-dependent manner (4.9, 7.5 and 12.7%, respectively) and C. albicans in a dose-independent manner (5.2%). The percentage of inhibition by extracts from the strain ATCC34574 at the same concentrations, shown that are dose independent for both fungi: 3.9% for S. schenkii and 2.6% for C. albicans. Conclusion: The extracts from F. velutipes inhibit the adhesion of pathogenic fungi to host cells. The mechanism molecular is unknown; however, is probably an interaction between the polysaccharides from extracts with the fungi receptors. This aspect is currently analyzed.

Extracts from submerged cultured mycelium of two strains of Flammulina velutipes, a popular culinary mushroom, were obtained by ultrasound and tested in vitro to determine their activity in innate immunity (monocytes/ macrophages). In addition, polyclonal antibodies against the extracts were produced. Both extracts have similar glycoproteins that contain mannose and glucose but have different glycoproteins with galactoseamine units. Two novel immunogenic glycoproteins with molecular weights of 32 and 25 kDa have been revealed. It is thought that these proteins are produced only by submerged cultured mycelium. Both extracts show immune-enhancing activity based on the significant modification of various parameters such as cytokine production, phagocytosis, and reactive oxygen species production.