Metabólitos secundários das esponjas Aplysina fistularis e Dysidea sp. e atividade antituberculose da 11-cetofistularina-3

The present investigation reports the isolation of aeroplysinin-2, 2-(3,5-dibromo-4-methoxyphenyl)-N,N,N-trimethyletanamonium, 7,9-dibromo-10-hydroxy-8-methoxy-1-oxa-2-azaspiro[4.5]deca-2,6,8-trien-3-carboxylic acid and its methyl ester, 11-oxoaerothionin, aerothionin, 11-keto-12-hydroxyaerothionin, 11-ketofistularin-3 and fistularin-3 from Aplysina fistularis, as well as of furodysinin lactone and 9α,11α-epoxicholest-7-en-3β,5α,6α,10-tetrol-6-acetate from Dysidea sp. Although the extracts of both sponges displayed antituberculosis activity, only 11-ketofistularin-3 isolated from A. fistularis displayed antimycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H34Rv, with MIC at 16 μg/mL and SI of 40, a result that reinforce that fistularin-3 derivatives are interesting leads for the development of antituberculosis drugs.

Population structure of the lancelet Branchiostoma caribaeum (Cephalochordata: Branchiostomidae) in the Baía de Guanabara, Rio de Janeiro, southeastern Brazil

Population structure of the lancelet Branchiostoma caribaeum Sandevall, 1853 was studied in four surveys, corresponding to austral seasons, in a tropical bay, southeast of Brazil. Abundance was higher in the spring and was positively correlated to coarse sediments, limiting its occurrence to some sectors of the sampling area. Body length and biomass differed seasonally but not between sexes. Sexually mature individuals occurred in all seasons, suggesting continuous breeding that is typical of tropical species. Variation in the frequency of small specimens indicates temporal differences in the intensity of breeding. The body length of recruits differed from other population of lancelets and the small length which B. caribaeum attained sexual maturity in Guanabara Bay may be related to local environmental stress or the great availability of food.

A primeira planta cartográfica da cidade de São Paulo

The first known plan of the city of Sao Paulo, made in 1810 by Rufino Felizardo e Costa, is analyzed with emphasis on the cartographic and astronomical details: the precision, scale, magnetic declination, and orientation in relation to the north, the prime meridian, the precision of the coordinates (latitude and longitude) and others. An analytic methodology is followed, observing the plan and formulating questions. To answer then, resources of modern technologies are employed (digital cartography, GPS) as well as knowledge of the history of cartography. The work is justified by the fact that there are no cartographic studies about this important document.

Screening of lipases for the synthesis of xylitol monoesters by chemoenzymatic esterification and the potential of microwave and ultrasound irradiations to enhance the reaction rate

Lipases from different sources, Pseudomonas fluorescens (AK lipase), Burkholderia cepacia (PS lipase), Penicillium camembertii (lipase G) and Porcine pancreas lipase (PPL), previously immobilized on epoxy SiO(2)-PVA, were screened for the synthesis of xylitol monoesters by esterification of the protected xylitol using oleic acid as acyl donor group. Among all immobilized derivatives, the highest esterification yield was achieved by P. camembertii lipase, showing to be attractive alternative to bulk chemical routes to satisfy increasing commercial demands. Further experiments were performed to determine the influence of fatty acids chain size on the reaction yield and the feasibility of using non-conventional heating systems (microwave and ultrasound irradiations) to enhance the reaction rate. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Chemoenzymatic synthesis: a strategy to obtain xylitol monoesters

BACKGROUND: Fatty acid sugar esters are used as non-ionic surfactants in cosmetics, foodstuffs and pharmaceuticals. In particular, monoesters of xylitol have attracted industrial interest due to their outstanding biological activities. In this work, xylitol monoesters were obtained by chemoenzymatic synthesis, in which, first, xylitol was made soluble in organic solvent by chemo-protecting reaction, followed by enzymatic esterification reaction using different acyl donors. A commercial immobilized Candida antartica lipase was used as catalyst, and reactions with pure xylitol were carried out to generate data for comparison. RESULTS: t-BuOH was found to be the most suitable solvent to carry out esterification reactions with both pure and protected xylitol. The highest yields were obtained for reactions carried out with pure xylitol, but in this case by-products, such as di- and tri-esters isomers were formed, which required a multi-step purification process. For the systems with protected xylitol, conversions of 86%, 58% and 24% were achieved using oleic, lauric and butyric acids, respectively. The structures of the monoesters were confirmed by (13)C- and (1)H-NMR and microanalysis. CONCLUSION: The chemoenzymatic synthesis of xylitol monoesters avoided laborious downstream processing when compared with reactions performed with pure xylitol. Monoesters production from protected xylitol was shown to be a practical, economical, and clean route for this process, allowing a simple separation, because there are no other products formed besides xylitol monoesters and residual xylitol. (C) 2009 Society of Chemical Industry

Analysis of the emissions of volatile organic compounds from the compression ignition engine fueled by diesel-biodiesel blend and diesel oil using gas chromatography

This paper describes the procedures of the analysis Of Pollutant gases, as volatile organic compounds (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, o-xylene, m-xylene and p-xylene) emitted by engines, using high-resolution gas chromatography (HRGC). In a broad sense, CI engine burning diesel was compared with B10 and a drastic reduction was observed in the emissions of the aromatic compounds by using B10. Especially for benzene, the reduction of concentrations occurs on the level of about 19.5%. Although a concentration value below 1 mu g ml(-1) has been obtained, this reduction is extremely significant since benzene is a carcinogenic compound. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacities of 18 non-traditional tropical fruits from Brazil

The bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacities of polyphenolic extracts of 18 fresh and dry native non-traditional fruits from Brazil were determined using ABTS, DDPH, FRAP and beta-carotene bleaching methods. The study provides an adaptation of these methods, along with an evaluation of the compounds related to antioxidant potential. The results show promising perspectives for the exploitation of non-traditional tropical fruit species with considerable levels of nutrients and antioxidant capacity. Although evaluation methods and results reported have not yet been sufficiently standardised, making comparisons difficult, our data add valuable information to current knowledge of the nutritional properties of tropical fruits, such as the considerable antioxidant capacity found for acerola - Malpighia emarginata and camu-camu - Myrciaria dubia (ABTS, DPPH and FRAP) and for puca-preto - Mouriri pusa (all methods). (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Electronegative LDL induction of apoptosis in macrophages: Involvement of Nrf2

The aim of this study was to determine the apoptotic pathways and mechanisms involved in electronegative LDL [LDL(-)]-induced apoptosis in RAW 264.7 macrophages and the role of Nrf2 in this process. Incubation of RAW 264 7 macrophages with LDL(-) for 24 11 resulted in dose-dependent cell death. Activated caspases were shown to be involved in the apoptosis induced by LDL(-): incubation with the broad caspase inhibitor z-VAD prevented apoptosis in LDL(-)-treated cells CD95 (Fas), CD95 ligand (FasL). CD36 and the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) ligand Tnfsf10 were overexpressed in LDL(-)-treated cells However, Bax, Bcl-2 and Mcl-1 protein levels remained unchanged after LDL(-) treatment. LDL(-) promoted hyperpolarization of the mitochondrial membrane, elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and translocation of Nrf2 to the nucleus, a process absent in cells treated with native LDL Elicited peritoneal macrophages from Nrf2-deficient mice exhibited an elevated apoptotic response after challenge with LDL(-), together with an increase in the production of ROS in the absence of alterations in CD36 expression These results provide evidence that CD36 expression induced by LDL(-) is Nrf2-dependent. Also, it was demonstrated that Nrf2 acts as a compensatory mechanism of LDL(-)-induced apoptosis in macrophages. (C) 2009 Elsevier B V. All rights reserved

The effect of methanol on the stability of Pt/C and Pt-RuO(x)/C catalysts

The behavior of Pt/C and Pt-RuO(x)/C electrodes subjected to a larger number of potential scans and constant potential for prolonged time periods was investigated in the absence and presence of methanol. The structural changes were analyzed on the basis of the modifications observed in the X-ray diffraction pattern of the catalysts. Carbon monoxide stripping experiments were performed before and after the potential scans, thus enabling analysis of the behavior of the electrochemically active surface area. The resulting solutions were examined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). There was reduction in the electrochemically active surface area, as well as increase in crystallite size and dissolution of catalyst components after the potential scan tests. Catalyst degradation was more pronounced in the presence of methanol, and cyclic potential conditions accelerate the degradation mechanisms. (C) 2010 Professor T. Nejat Veziroglu. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Er(3+)-doped silica-hafnia films for optical waveguides and spherical resonators

In this paper we present some result on sol-gel derived silica-hafnia systems. In particular we focus on fabrication, morphological and spectroscopic assessment of Er(3+)-activated thin films. Two examples of silica-hafnia-derived waveguiding glass ceramics, prepared by top-down and bottom-up techniques are reported, and the main optical properties are discussed. Finally, some properties of activated microspherical resonators, having a silica core, obtained by melting the end of a telecom fiber, coated with an Er(3+)-doped 70SiO(2)-30HfO(2) film, are presented. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Protective effect of carbon dioxide against bacterial peritonitis induced in rats

Carbon dioxide (CO(2)) has been used in the food industry as an antimicrobial agent. This study aimed to investigate whether CO(2) pneumoperitoneum might act similarly as an antimicrobial agent in the infected peritoneal cavity. Peritonitis was induced in 58 rats by intraabdominal injection of an Escherichia coli inoculum (6 x 105 colony-forming units [CFU]/ml). Control rats were injected with saline solution. The rats were randomly divided into four groups: rat control (RC, n = 15), bacterial inoculation control (BIC, n = 10), bacterial inoculation and laparotomy (BIL, n = 17), and bacterial inoculation and CO(2) pneumoperitoneum (BIP, n = 16). The survival rates and histopathologic changes in the abdominal wall muscles, spleen, liver, intestines, and omentum were evaluated, and the samples were classified as ""preserved"" or ""inflamed"" (acute inflammation or tissue regeneration). The survival rates for the four groups were as follows: RC (100%), BIP (75%), BIL (53%), and BIC (30%). With regard to survival rates, statistically significant differences were observed between the following groups: RC and BIC (p = 0.0009), RC and BIL (p = 0.0045), BIP and BIC (p = 0.0332), and RC and BIP (p = 0.0470). No significant differences regarding survival rates were observed between the BIL and BIC groups or between the BIP and BIL groups. With regard to the number of inflamed samples per group, a statistically significant difference was observed between the BIC and RC groups and the BIL and RC groups (p = 0.05). Carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum has a protective effect against bacterial peritonitis induced in rats.

Use of Acoustic Doppler Sonography to Ascertain the Feasibility of the Pedicled Nasoseptal Flap After Prior Bilateral Sphenoidotomy

Objectives/Hypothesis: Blood supply to the Hadad-Bassagasteguy pedicled nasoseptal flap may be interrupted by surgery of the pterygopalatine fossa, posterior septectomy, or large sphenoidotomies. This would preclude its use for reconstruction of skull base defects after expanded endonasal approaches (EEA). We present a novel method to ascertain the patency of the nasoseptal artery after prior surgery, and consequently the availability of the nasoseptal flap, using acoustic Doppler sonography. Study Design: Retrospective clinical review. Methods: Four patients who underwent EEAs were evaluated intraoperatively with acoustic Doppler sonography. The mucosa that covers the inferior aspect of the rostrum of the sphenoid sinus was scanned with the tip of the probe. Reflection of sound waves representing intravascular blood flow was assessed. Results: In three patients, the artery was identified in at least one side. One remaining patient showed no acoustic signal suggesting loss of the nasoseptal artery bilaterally, therefore necessitating the use of a fat graft for the reconstruction. Conclusions: Acoustic Doppler sonography seems to be a feasible and effective way to ascertain the availability of the nasoseptal artery. It is a relatively inexpensive and simple technique that can be performed by any endoscopic surgeon.

Inflammation and Remodeling in Infantile, Juvenile, and Adult Allergic Sensitized Mice

Background: Airway structural changes occur early in childhood asthma, but it is unknown whether the development of airway alterations in children is similar to that of adults. We compared inflammation and remodeling parameters in allergic sensitized infantile, juvenile, and adult mice. Methods: Infantile mice (18D) were sensitized with three intraperitoneal injections (i.p.) of ovalbumin (OVA) at days 5 and 7 and challenged with OVA at days 14-16. The 18D1 group received an additional challenge at days 9-11. The juvenile mice (40D) received challenges at days 22-24 and 36-38. Adult mice (100D) were sensitized at days 60-62 and received three inhalations at days 77-79 and 96-98. Animals were submitted to whole body plethysmography. Airway eosinophils, CD3+ T-lymphocytes, IL-5+ cells, mucus content, collagen and reticular fibers density, and smooth muscle thickness were quantified. Results: All sensitized animals presented with airway hyperresponsiveness, without differences in eosinophil cell density The density of CD3+ T-cells was higher in the 100D and 1801 groups than in the 18D and 40D groups. Infantile sensitized groups demonstrated increased interleukin-5 expression in the airways. Infantile mice demonstrated more mucus in the bronchiolar epithelium than the 40D and 100D mice. The 18D animals demonstrated less collagen than the 18D1 group. Juvenile and adult mice had increased airway smooth muscle thickness when compared to age-matched controls, but no differences were observed in the infantile groups. Conclusion: We have shown that infantile mice develop inflammatory and structural alterations in the airways that are partially different from those developed in older animals. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2011;46:650-665. (C) 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.