Benzocaine loaded biodegradable poly-(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) nanocapsules: factorial design and characterization

Local anesthetics are able to induce pain relief since they bind to the sodium channel of excitable membranes, blocking the influx of sodium ions and the propagation of the nervous impulse. Benzocaine (BZC) is a local anesthetic that presents limited application in topical formulations due to its low water-solubility. This study aimed to develop polymeric nanocapsules as a drug delivery system for the local anesthetic benzocaine (BZC). To do so, BZC loaded poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanocapsules were prepared using the nanoprecipitation method and were characterized. The factorial experimental design was used to study the influence of four different independent variables oil response to nanocapsules drug loading. The physical characteristics of PLGA nanocapsules were evaluated by analyzing the particle size, the polydispersion index and the zeta potential, using a particle size analyzer. The results of the optimized formulation showed a size distribution with a polydispersity index of 0.12. an average diameter of 123 nm, zeta potential of -33.6 mV and a drug loading of more than 69%. The release profiles showed a significant difference in the release behavior for the pure drug in solution when compared with that containing benzocaine loaded PLGA nanocapsules. Thus, the prepared nonocapsules described here may be of clinical importance in both the processes of stabilization and delivery of benzocaine for pain treatment. (c) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Ceramic raw materials from the State of Maranhao, Brazil. Part 1: chemical and mineralogical characterization and technological properties of clays from Sao Luis, Rosario, Pinheiro and Mirinzal

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Palladium(II) Complexes with Thiosemicarbazones. Syntheses, Characterization and Cytotoxicity against Breast Cancer Cells and Anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis Activity

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Rabies in southeast Brazil: a change in the epidemiological pattern

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Viabilidade de crescimento micelial de Coprinus comatus em meio de cultura à base de resíduos orgânicos

The objective of this work was to evaluate the mycelial growth of the Coprinus comatus strain CCO 01/01 in culture based on organic residues of Saccharum officinarum (sugarcane bagasse), Citrus sinensis (orange bagasse), Ananas comosus (pineapple residues) and Musa sp. (banana leaf), supplemented with wheat bran in the proportions of 0, 10 and 20%, kept at 27 degrees C. The mycelial growth of C. comatus was evaluated daily by measurement of the diameter of the colony during seven days of incubation. The banana leaf was considered the best residue for the cultivation of the C. comatus even without supplementation, meaning lower production costs. The supplementation of pineapple residues with 10% of wheat bran favored fungi growth. Sugar-cane bagasse was suitable for the growth of the C. comatus provided it is enriched with wheat bran. The orange bagasse, without pH correction, was not appropriate for the mycelial growth of C. comatus.

Fetal and maternal lesions of cyanide dosing to pregnant goats

The present work evaluated the pathological effects in both dams and their fetuses of cyanide ingestion during pregnancy using goat as animal model. From the Day 24 of pregnancy, three pregnant goats were dosed by gavage with 3.0 mg KCN/kg bw/day, and two others received only tap water. All dams were euthanized and necropsied at Day 120 of pregnancy. The fetuses were examined carefully for gross abnormalities. Determinations of cyanide and thiocyanate were performed in maternal and fetal blood and in amniotic fluid. Samples of several organs were collected for histopathologic evaluation. No clinical changes were seen in any animal throughout the pregnancy. No malformations or dead fetuses were observed: however, placenta from one treated goat presented increased cotyledon surface area occupied by vascular lumina. Histological lesions in KCN-treated dams consisted of vacuolation of hepatocytes and thyroid follicular cells, increased number of vacuoles on thyroid follicular colloid. and spongiosis of cerebral, internal capsule, and cerebellar peduncles tracts. Fetuses from these mothers showed vacuolation of hepatocytes and thyroid follicular cells, and spheroids in the cerebellar white matter. Levels of cyanide and thiocyanate were higher in maternal than fetal blood, which suggests that these substances were largely but not freely transferred from mothers to fetuses. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Caracterização da fusão caruncular em gestações naturais e de conceptos bovinos clonados

Barreto R.S.N., Miglino M.A., Meirelles F.V., Visintin J.A., Silva S.M., Burioli K.C., Fonseca R., Bertan C., Assis Neto A.C. & Pereira F.T.V. 2009. [Characterization of the caruncular fusion in gestations of natural and cloned bovine conceptuses.] Caracterizacao da fusao caruncular ern gestacoes naturais e de conceptos bovinos clonados. Pesquisa Veterinaria Brasileira 29(10):779-787. Laboratorio de Morfofisiologia da Placenta e Embriao, Faculdade de Zootecnia, Universidade Estadual Paulista, SP294 Km 651, Dracena, SP 17900-000, Brazil. E-mail: fverechia@dracena.unesp.brThe objective of the study was to compare the characteristics of the caruncular fusion in gestations of non-cloned and cloned conceptuses. The non-cloned conceptuses were divided according to the gestation period: Group 1 (2 to 3 months; n=9),II (4 to 6; n=9); III (7 to 8; n=10) and IV (9 n=7). The cloned conceptuses formed the Group V: 9 months; n=4. The caruncles were observed macroscopically (number and dimensions: length, width and height), microscopically and submitted to statistical analysis (5% of significance). We observed three types of macroscopic caruncular fusions: oval (morphologically normal); two united adjacent caruncles and the lobulated type, characterized by regions with several united caruncles presenting a false fusion or deformation of the caruncular parenchyma. The length of the caruncles was 1.55 +/- 0.57; 2.45 +/- 0.55; 4.66 +/- 2.0 and 5.72 +/- 1.90cm for the groups 1, 11, 111, IV respectively. As for the height, the caruncles presented a lineal growth during the gestation: 0.40 +/- 0.15; 0.57 +/- 0.21; 1.0 +/- 0.48 and 1.80 +/- 0.91cm, for the respective groups 1, 11, 111 and IV. The width of the caruncles was similar between the groups I and 11 (0.97 +/- 0.30 e 1.42 +/- 0.71 cm) and the groups III and IV (2.68 +/- 1.22 and 3.52 +/- 1.16cm). When the group V was compared to the IV, the caruncles of the group V presented a larger length (5.72 +/- 1.90 vs. 7.88 +/-.13cm) and width (3.52 +/- 1.16 vs. 4.93 +/- 1.46cm), however they were similar in height (1.80 +/- 0.91 and 2.25 +/- 0.67cm). We verified that in gestations of cloned conceptuses the caruncles presented a larger development than in gestations of non-cloned conceptuses. The fusioned caruncles presented measurements statistically similar to the isolated ones in all the parameters and groups. Under light microscopy, we observed the formation of a stromal axis from the basis of the caruncle to the apex of the fusional fissure, with the histological constitution similar to the endometrial stroma. Three microscopic shapes were also unpublished defined: true fusion with a single axis evident below the fusional fissure; pseudofusion with a double axis in H shape and false fusion with absence of the axis. The first two formats were associated to the oval and lobulated caruncles and the last one to the false fusion with deformation of the caruncle parenchyma. The fusional axis increased in size along the gestation among the groups I, II, III and IV. The group V presented a larger length and width of the axis when compared to the group IV. Thus, in gestations of cloned conceptuses a destruction of the lateral epithelium of the caruncles is associated to an incompetence in the maternal-fetal interdigitation, that compromises the cotyledonary fusion. We suggest that, in gestations derived of cloned conceptuses, the increase of the size of the caruncular fusions is possibly associated to a compensatory mechanism for the metabolic exchanges between mother and fetus, in reason of the smallest number of isolated caruncles.

Distribution and habitat preference of Carabidae and Staphylinidae (Coleoptera) in an orange orchard and a forest fragment

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Cytogenetic and molecular characterization of Speothos venaticus specimens.

The bush dog (Speothos venaticus) is a South American canid, included in the IBAMA (Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources) official list of animals threatened with extinction, in the vulnerable category. As a preservation and conservation strategy, specimens kept in captivity by Brazilian Institutions are monitored by a management plan. In order to characterize and analyze the genetic variability of bush dog specimens, a cytogenetic analysts was carried out, and microsatellite data were also obtained through the use of 15 primers, originally developed for the domestic dog (Canis familiaris). All tested primers showed transferability and amplified fragment sizes similar to those described for the canine genome. From the total number of primers, eight were tested, and presented two polymorphic regions. Regarding cytogenetic analysis, one of the animals had chromosomal mosaicism,-disqualifying it as a reproducer to form stocks. Thus, we concluded that the genetic evaluation of wild animals kept in captivity provides data that can help with the practice of exchange between different institutions, avoiding problems in the reproductive capacity of the breeding stock.