Two Polyketides from a Co-culture of Two Marine-derived Fungal Strains

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

Mechanisms of SnO2 Nanoparticles Formation and Growth in Acid Ethanol Solution Derived from SAXS and Combined Raman-XAS Time-Resolved Studies

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Biotratamento de sacolas plásticas de supermercado

Supermarket plastic bags are produced by high density polyethylene (HDPE) and low density polyethylene (LDPE) resins. In Brazil, are produced annually around 150 plastic bags per capita. Disposed in landfills, the supermarket plastic bags prevent the passage of water by slowing the breakdown of biodegradable materials and hindering compaction of waste, according to their low degradability. This work investigated the biodegradation of PE bags containing additive oxo-biodegradable and bags without additives: buried in soil columns, exposed in a controlled environment and exposed to air. The analysis methods used to assess the changes brought in the bags with respect to microbial action and exposure time were weight loss, thickness measurement, infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and contact angle. The results showed that the use of prodegradant agents such as oxobiodegradable additives in polyethylene bags, buried in soil for 270 days, was not efficient to accelerate the biodegradation by microorganisms. It seems that these additives have been more efficient to degrade the colored pigmentation of printed bags, under the influence of light and heat.

Optical filters and resonant cavities based on di-ureasil organic–inorganic hybrids

Sol–gel derived poly(oxyethylene)/siloxane organic–inorganic di-ureasil hybrids containing different amounts (20–60% mol) of methacrylic acid (McOH) modified zirconium oxo-clusters (Zr-OMc) were processed as thin films and transparent and shape controlled monoliths. Laser direct writing was used to create channel waveguides, Bragg gratings, Fabry–Perot cavities and optical filters. The resulting Fabry–Perot optical cavity displays a free spectral range of 16.55 GHz and a fringe intensity contrast of 5.35 dB. Optical rejection values between 6.7 and 10.4 dB were obtained by varying the amount of the Zr-OMc oxo-clusters.

Synthesis and total 1H- and 13C-NMR assignment of cephem derivatives for use in ADEPT approaches

We report the synthesis and total NMR characterization of 5-thia-1-azabicyclo-[4.2.0]oct-2-ene-2-carboxylic acid-3-[[[(4″- nitrophenoxy)carbonyl]oxy]-methyl]-8-oxo-7-[(2-thienyloxoacetyl)amino] -diphenylmethyl ester-5-dioxide (5), a new cephalosporin derivative. This compound can be used as the carrier of a wide range of drugs containing an amino group. The preparation of the intermediate product, 5-thia-1-azabicyclo[4.2.0] oct-2-ene-2-carboxylic acid-3-[methyl 4-(6-methoxyquinolin-8-ylamino) pentylcarbamate]-8-oxo-7-[(2-thienyloxoacetyl)amino]-diphenylmethyl ester-5-dioxide (6), as well as the synthesis of the antimalarial primaquine prodrug 5-thia-1-azabicyclo[4.2.0]oct-2-ene-2-carboxylic acid-3-[methyl 4-(6-methoxyquinolin-8-ylamino)pentylcarbamate]-8-oxo-7-[(2-thienyloxoacetyl) amino]- 5-dioxide (7) are also described, together with their total 1H- and 13C-NMR assignments. © 2008 by MDPI.

Isoflurane and propofol contribute to increasing the antioxidant status of patients during minor elective surgery: a randomized clinical study

Isoflurane is a volatile halogenated anesthetic used especially for anesthesia maintenance whereas propofol is a venous anesthetic utilized for anesthesia induction and maintenance, and reportedly an antioxidant. However, there are still controversies related to isoflurane-induced oxidative stress and it remains unanswered whether the antioxidant effects occur in patients under propofol anesthesia.Taking into account the importance of better understanding the role of anesthetics on oxidative stress in anesthetized patients, the present study was designed to evaluate general anesthesia maintained with isoflurane or propofol on antioxidant status in patients who underwent minimally invasive surgeries.We conducted a prospective randomized trial in 30 adult patients without comorbidities who underwent elective minor surgery (septoplasty) lasting at least 2 h admitted to a Brazilian tertiary hospital.The patients were randomly allocated into 2 groups, according to anesthesia maintenance (isoflurane, n = 15 or propofol, n = 15). Peripheral blood samples were drawn before anesthesia (baseline) and 2-h after anesthesia induction.The primary outcomes were to investigate the effect of either isoflurane or propofol anesthesia on aqueous plasma oxidizability and total antioxidant performance (TAP) by fluorometry as well as several individual antioxidants by high-performance liquid chromatography. As secondary outcome, oxidized genetic damage (7,8-dihydro-8-oxoguanine, known as 8-oxo-Gua) was investigated by the comet assay.Both anesthesia techniques (isoflurane or propofol) for a 2-h period resulted in a significant decrease of plasma α-tocopherol, but not other antioxidants including uric acid, carotenoids, and retinol (P > 0.05). Propofol, in contrast to isoflurane anesthesia, significantly increased (P < 0.001) anti-inflammatory/antioxidant plasma γ-tocopherol concentration in patients. Both anesthesia types significantly enhanced hydrophilic antioxidant capacity and TAP, with no significant difference between them, and 8-oxo-Gua remained unchanged during anesthesia in both groups. In addition, both anesthetics showed antioxidant capacity in vitro.This study shows that anesthesia maintained with either propofol or isoflurane increase both hydrophilic and total antioxidant capacity in plasma, but only propofol anesthesia increases plasma γ-tocopherol concentration. Additionally, both types of anesthetics do not lead to oxidative DNA damage in patients without comorbidities undergoing minimally invasive surgery.

Vanadium complexes with hydrazone or thiosemicarbazone ligands as potential anti-mycobacterium tuberculosis agents

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Síntese e avaliação farmacológica de pró-fármacos derivados do ácido micofenólico úteis na prevenção e no tratamento da rejeição de transplantes

Pós-graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas - FCFAR