Novas propriedades do SKTI (Inibidor de tripsina de soja): inibição para elastase neutrofílica humana e efeitos no processo de injúria pulmonar aguda

Seeds from legumes including the Glycine max are known to be a rich source of protease inhibitors. The soybean Kunitz trypsin inhibitor (SKTI) has been well characterised and has been found to exhibit many biological activities. However its effects on inflammatory diseases have not been studied to date. In this study, SKTI was purified from a commercial soy fraction, enriched with this inhibitor, using anion exchange chromatography Resource Q column. The purified protein was able to inhibit human neutrophil elastase (HNE) and bovine trypsin. . Purified SKTI inhibited HNE with an IC50 value of 8 µg (0.3 nM). At this concentration SKTI showed neither cytotoxic nor haemolytic effects on human blood cell populations. SKTI showed no deleterious effects on organs, blood cells or the hepatic enzymes alanine amine transferase (ALT) and aspartate amino transferase (AST) in mice model of acute systemic toxicity. Human neutrophils incubated with SKTI released less HNE than control neutrophils when stimulated with PAF or fMLP (83.1% and 70% respectively). These results showed that SKTI affected both pathways of elastase release by PAF and fMLP stimuli, suggesting that SKTI is an antagonist of PAF/fMLP receptors. In an in vivo mouse model of acute lung injury, induced by LPS from E. coli, SKTI significantly suppressed the inflammatory effects caused by elastase in a dose dependent manner. Histological sections stained by hematoxylin/eosin confirmed this reduction in inflammation process. These results showed that SKTI could be used as a potential pharmacological agent for the therapy of many inflammatory diseases

Simulador radiográfico antropomórfico de mama humana

Mammography is a diagnostic imaging method in which interpretation depends on knowledge of radiological aspects as well as the clinical exam and pathophysiology of breast diseases. In this work a mammography phantom was developed to be used for training in the operation of mammographic x-ray equipment, image quality evaluation, self-examination and clinical examination of palpation. Polyurethane was used for the production of the phantoms for its physical and chemical properties and because it is one of the components normally used in prostheses. According to the range of flexibility of the polyurethane, it was possible to simulate breasts with higher or lower amount of adipose tissue. Pathologies such as areolar necrosis and tissue rejection due to surgery reconstruction after partial mastectomy were also simulated. Calcifications and nodules were simulated using the following materials: polyethylene, poly (methyl methacrylate), polyamide, polyurethane and poly (dimethyl silicone). Among these, polyethylene was able to simulate characteristics of calcification as well as breast nodules. The results from mammographic techniques used in this paper for the evaluation of the phantoms are in agreement with data found in the literature. The image analyses of four phantoms indicated significant similarities with the human skin texture and the female breast parenchyma. It was possible to detect in the radiographic images produced regions of high and low radiographic optical density, which are characteristic of breasts with regions of different amount of adipose tissue. The stiffnesses of breast phantoms were adjusted according to the formulation of the polyurethane which enabled the production of phantoms with distinct radiographic features and texture similar to human female breast parenchyma. Clinical palpation exam of the phantoms developed in this work indicated characteristics similar to human breast in skin texture, areolar region and parenchyma

Efeito da tecnologia de microondas nas propriedades tecnológicas dos componentes de cerâmica estrutural

O processamento térmico de materiais cerâmicos via energia de microondas, no estágio atual, vem ganhando cada dia mais importância, tendo em vista suas inúmeras aplicações, como por exemplo: aplicação de microondas na área de processamento mineral (aquecimento de minérios antes da moagem, secagem, redução carbotérmica de óxidos minerais, lixiviação, fusão, pré-tratamento de minérios e concentrados de ouro refratário, regeneração de carvão, etc. de acordo com Kigman & Rowson, 1998). Em virtude de uma série de vantagens em potencial, frente aos métodos convencionais de aquecimento, como redução no tempo de processamento; economia de energia; diminuição do diâmetro médio das partículas e melhoramento nas propriedades tecnológicas em geral, esta tecnologia vem se destacando. Neste contexto, o objetivo geral deste trabalho, é desenvolver uma pesquisa visando identificar e caracterizar novas opções de matérias-primas cerâmicas como argilas, feldspatos e caulins que sejam eficazes para definir a formulação de uma ou mais massas para produção de componentes de cerâmica estrutural com propriedades físicas, mecânicas e estéticas adequadas após passarem por sinterização convencional e por energia de microondas destacando as vantagens desta última. Além dos requisitos técnicos e de processo, as formulações apresentadas deverão atender às expectativas de preço e de logística de fornecimento. No estudo foram conformados corpos-de-prova por extrusão e prensagem, sinterizados em fornos microondas e convencional, sob ciclos de queima mais rápidos que os atualmente praticados. As matérias-primas foram caracterizadas e analisadas, utilizando as técnicas de fluorescência por raios X (FRX), difração por raios X (DRX), análise térmica diferencial (DTA), análise térmica gravimétrica (DTG), análise granulométrica (AG), microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV), absorção d agua (AA), massa especifica aparente (MEA), porosidade aparente (PA), retração linear (RL) e tensão de ruptura e flexão (TRF). Os resultados obtidos indicaram que as propriedades tecnológicas de Absorção de água (AA) e Tensão de Ruptura e flexão (TRF), proposto no trabalho foram adquiridos com sucesso e estão bem além do limite exigido pelas especificações das normas da ABNT NBR 15.270/05 e 15.310/09

Aquisição e construção de modelos estáticos análogos a reservatórios petrolíferos com tecnologia lidar e georadar

The present work develops a methodology to establish a 3D digital static models petroleum reservoir analogue using LIDAR and GEORADAR technologies. Therefore, this work introduce The methodolgy as a new paradigm in the outcrop study, to purpose a consistent way to integrate plani-altimetric data, geophysics data, and remote sensing products, allowing 2D interpretation validation in contrast with 3D, complexes depositional geometry visualization, including in environmental immersive virtual reality. For that reason, it exposes the relevant questions of the theory of two technologies, and developed a case study using TerraSIRch SIR System-3000 made for Geophysical Survey Systems, and HDS3000 Leica Geosystems, using the two technologies, integrating them GOCAD software. The studied outcrop is plain to the view, and it s located at southeast Bacia do Parnaíba, in the Parque Nacional da Serra das Confusões. The methodology embraces every steps of the building process shows a 3D digital static models petroleum reservoir analogue, provide depositional geometry data, in several scales for Simulation petroleum reservoir

Diagnóstico da possível influência da atividade petrolífera em sedimentos de fundo da Bacia Piranhas-Açu, região Baixo Açu/RN

It is located in an area of increasing oil exploration, the region of the Lower Açu is at the mercy of a possible pollution generated by this economic activity, which includes various chemical substances harmful to health, such as metals. This thesis aims to, diagnose the areas of River Piranhas-Açu, a region of the Lower Açu, which are polluted by traces factors and more. In this study, it was determined the concentration of the chemica elements Al, CD, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, P, Pb, V and Zn, through the technique of ICP-OES analysis and the size of sediments and their contents organic matter. Were mapped by GPS, 12 points from collections. The interpretations of the results, together associating that allowed pollution to a possible contamination by oil activity. The results showed tha some regions have low concentrations of cadmium, lead, copper, manganese and zinc unable to promote damage to human health. However, there are places where the concentrations of certain metals chromium, iron and zinc are moderately polluted compared to the results with the reference values of literature and others that are highly polluted by iron. However, due to a greater number of wells in production in those locations, those higher concentrations, it can be suggested a possible influence of oi production in some areas with concentrations of chromium and lead are higher than the rest of the points of monitoring. Moreover, it is observed that the highest levels of metals found in sediment of finer texture and more organic matter content

Determinantes envolvidos na resposta imune celular humana à infecção por Leishmania infantum chagasi

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a disease caused by protozoa of the Leishmania donovani complex, whose infection has clinical spectrum ranging from asymptomatic infection to active disease characterized by fever, cachexia, hepatosplenomegaly, and immunosuppression. The healing or protective immunity require an antigen-specific type 1. The Montenegro skin test (DTH) has been interpreted as a marker of protective immunity. However, there is no known correlation between the DTH response to type 1 and DTH and immunity of type 1 are maintained in the long term. Thus, a longitudinal study of 8 years, nested in a cohort family held in Brazil, documented the status of DTH and cytokine production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in response to antigen-specific stimulation. This study was the interdisciplinary approach of physicians, biochemists, nutritionists, veterinary medicine, biology and statistics. The results show that 46.2% of subjects were analyzed DTH positive at baseline. The prevalence of positive and DTH induration size increased with age (p = 0.0021). 15.7% of individuals positive DTH "retro-converted" the negative and 50.4% (64) of individuals negative DTH became positive. The size of DTH induration was correlated significantly with the antigen-induced production of IFN-γ (r = 0.6186, p = 0.0001). IL-6 was secreted at higher levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of individuals who "retro-converted" DTH positive to negative than individuals who remained stable DTH status (p = 0.005). Thus, IFN-γ produced by peripheral blood mononuclear cells, may be a surrogate marker for protective immunity instead of the DTH response. In addition, differences in innate immune response may determine whether individuals maintain or eliminate the infection by Leishmania infantum chagasi in asymptomatic patients

Tecnologia para banho no leito de idosos e usuários acamados: uma contribuição para o cuidar humanizado

This study aimed to validate the technology at Bed Bath System, in view of bedridden elderly and their caregivers, with a view to transforming the conventional paradigm regarding the practice of bodily hygiene held in bath chairs adapted in long-stay institutions for the elderly. This is an experimental study involving 51 (fifty one) elderly and 17 (seventeen) caregivers of three long-stay institutions for the elderly of the city of João Pessoa. For data collection, applied initially to cognitive assessment scale Mini Mental State Examination, with the aim of tracking the subject group of elderly cognitively able to participate in the study. In the second phase, to measure the percentage of agreement and disagreement about the attributes of the subjects of the shower chair and adapted the system for bed bath, used a questionnaire with closed questions, Likert scale model of four (4) points, with a good reliability index (0.728), estimated by alpha conbrach, evidenced by the Wilcoxon test a significant difference (P<0.05) between the responses of seniors and caregivers about the attributes involving technology system in bath bed and bath chair adapted, confirming the perspective of the subjects that the two systems differ significantly. However, the system bed bath got greater degree of agreement for their use, characterizing this system is a technology that makes the differential bed bath pleasurable action, quality and humanized

A (bio)ética e a Odontologia: os (des)caminhos de uma formação humana

The present research carried out from three national dentistry magazines published in the period between 1990 and 2004, has as a goal to analyze how bioethics has been approached in this area, not only identifying the main concerns and tendencies, but also aiming to learn how this knowledge is produced and divulged in the dentistry circuit. We have articulated a quantitative-qualitative approach, studying 2995 articles. The articles were selected and assorted in twenty thematic categories, through their titles and key words. The analysis of the empiric material shows that, although there is a growth tendency of this discussion, little has been published about this theme (1,9%). Besides, it seems that there is an arrhythmia between the present bioethic approach in dentistry and the present life demands, where the deontology and legalist focuses are predominant, seeming to correspond to the inner aspects of the profession alone. In spite of this, through the qualitative approach it was possible to identify ways to build a more complex and integral odontological formation and practice. Within the conclusions, we still point out, that, this investigation, even face to its limitations, seems to offer subsidies for reflection and further studies about the theme, working as a parameter to keep up with the evolution of the bioethic thinking in the Odontology