POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL ADDITION DOES NOT IMPROVE EXOGENOUS SURFACTANT FUNCTION IN AN EXPERIMENTAL MODEL of MECONIUM ASPIRATION SYNDROME

Meconium (MEC) is a potent inactivator of pulmonary surfactant. The authors studied the effects of polyethylene glycol addition to the exogenous surfactant over the lung mechanics and volumes. Human meconium was administrated to newborn rabbits. Animals were ventilated for 20 minutes and dynamic compliance, ventilatory pressure, and tidal volume were recorded. Animals were randomized into 3 study groups: MEC group (without surfactant therapy); S100 group (100 mg/kg surfactant); and PEG group (100 mg/kg porcine surfactant plus 5% PEG). After ventilation, a pulmonary pressure-volume curve was built. Histological analysis was carried out to calculate the mean alveolar size (Lm) and the distortion index (DI). Both groups treated with surfactant showed higher values of dynamic pulmonary compliance and lower ventilatory pressure, compared with the MEC group (P .05). S100 group had a larger maximum lung volume, V30, compared with the MEC group (P .05). Lm and DI values were smaller in the groups treated with surfactant than in the MEC group (P .05). No differences were observed between the S100 and PEG groups. Animals treated with surfactant showed significant improvement in pulmonary function as compared to nontreated animals. PEG added to exogenous surfactant did not improve lung mechanics or volumes.

Addition of propolis or monensin in the diet: Behavior and productivity of lambs in feedlot

This study assessed the behavior and the productive performance of lambs finished in feedlot receiving diets added with green propolis, brown propolis or monensin sodium. The experiment used a randomized block design that compared weight gain of 32 male lambs aged four months among four dietary treatments: (1) control, non-enriched diet; (2) with green propolis; (3) with brown propolis; and (4) with monensin sodium. The basic diet provided to all the groups was a total mixed ration (TMR) with a forage:concentrate ratio of 50:50, in which Tifton 85 (Cynodon spp.) grass was used as roughage feed and the concentrate was based on soybean meal, corn meal and minerals. The green propolis diet decreased rumination and increased resting time. The diets provided similar feeding rate (g/min). DM and aNDF intake (g/kg of body weight and g/kg of metabolic weight) were higher in the control treatment. Although the control group had the highest weight gain, the highest feed conversion and feed efficiency were found in lambs fed brown propolis and monensin sodium. Technically, brown propolis can substitute monensin sodium as a dietary additive for feedlot lambs. However, complementary studies are needed to identify the best levels of brown propolis to add to these diets. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effect of addition of pigments and opacifier on the hardness, absorption, solubility and surface degradation of facial silicone after artificial ageing

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

Peel bond strength of resilient liner modified by the addition of antimicrobial agents to denture base acrylic resin

In order to prolong the clinical longevity of resilient denture relining materials and reduce plaque accumulation, incorporation of antimicrobial agents into these materials has been proposed. However, this addition may affect their properties. Objective: This study evaluated the effect of the addition of antimicrobial agents into one soft liner (Soft Confort, Dencril) on its peel bond strength to one denture base (QC 20, Dentsply). Material and Methods: Acrylic specimens (n=9) were made (75x10x3 mm) and stored in distilled water at 37 degrees C for 48 h. The drug powder concentrations (nystatin 500,000U - G2; nystatin 1,000,000U - G3; miconazole 125 mg - G4; miconazole 250 mg - G5; ketoconazole 100 mg - G6; ketoconazole 200 mg - G7; chlorhexidine diacetate 5% - G8; and 10% chlorhexidine diacetate - G9) were blended with the soft liner powder before the addition of the soft liner liquid. A group (G1) without any drug incorporation was used as control. Specimens (n=9) (75x10x6 mm) were plasticized according to the manufacturers' instructions and stored in distilled water at 37 degrees C for 24 h. Relined specimens were then submitted to a 180-degree peel test at a crosshead speed of 10 mm/min. Data (MPa) were analyzed by analysis of variance (alpha=0.05) and the failure modes were visually classified. Results: No significant difference was found among experimental groups (p=0.148). Cohesive failure located within the resilient material was predominantly observed in all tested groups. Conclusions: Peel bond strength between the denture base and the modified soft liner was not affected by the addition of antimicrobial agents.

In vitro growth of Brassocattleya orchid hybrid in different concentrations of KNO3, NH4NO3 and benzylaminopurine

Entre as maiores aplicações da cultura de tecidos de plantas está a propagação massal de mudas de plantas ornamentais. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o cultivo in vitro de um híbrido de orquídea Brassocattleya em diferentes concentrações de NH4NO3, KNO3 e BAP. Foram utilizadas sementes do híbrido de orquídea Brassocattleya 'Pastoral' e as plantas foram cultivadas em meio MS com redução pela metade das fontes de P, Mg e Ca e adição de 25 g L-1 de sacarose, 100 mg L-1 de mio-inositol, 1,5 g L-1 de carvão ativo e 6,5 g L-1 de ágar-ágar, sendo o pH ajustado para 5,8. Como tratamentos foram usados quatro concentrações dos sais NH4NO3 e KNO3 (2x; 1x; ½ e ¼ do meio MS) e três concentrações de BAP (0,0; 0,5 e 1,0 mg L-1). Avaliou-se a multiplicação, o crescimento em altura, massa fresca e seca, além dos teores de açucares redutores na massa seca das mudas. Observou-se grande influência das doses de NH4NO3 e KNO3 sobre o crescimento em altura das mudas, massa fresca e seca e teores de açucares redutores em Bc. ('Pastoral' x Auto). A dose de ¼ da utilizada no meio MS promoveu aumento significativo do crescimento das plantas. Para multiplicação, houve melhor resultado com a dose de ½ dos sais NH4NO3 e KNO3 utilizados no meio MS e 1,0 mg L-1 de BAP.

Hypoglycaemic and antioxidant effects of onion, Allium cepa: dietary onion addition, antioxidant activity and hypoglycaemic effects on diabetic rats

The purpose of the present study was to discover the relative potency of onion, Allium cepa, with respect to its hypoglycaemic and hypolipidaemic effects on the diabetic situation, and the association of these effects with the potential against oxidative stress. Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups. A normal control ( group A), and a non-diabetic group ( group B) were treated daily with 1 ml A. cepa solution (0.4 g A. cepa/rat). Groups C and D were made diabetic by an intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) ( 60 mg/kg body weight) in citrate buffer ( pH 6.3). These animals ( groups C and D) were the STZ diabetic control and STZ diabetic rats with onion intake, respectively. Onion increased the fasting serum high-density lipoprotein levels, and demonstrated alleviation of hyperglycaemia in STZ diabetic rats. The hypoglycaemic and hypolipidaemic actions of A. cepa were associated with antioxidant activity, since onion decreased superoxide dismutase activities while no increased lipid hydroperoxide and lipoperoxide concentrations were observed in diabetic rats treated with A. cepa.

Effects of the polysaccharide beta-glucan on clastogenicity and teratogenicity caused by acute exposure to cyclophosphamide in mice

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Temperature effect on dextransucrase production by Leuconostoc mesenteroides FT 045 B isolated from Alcohol and Sugar Mill Plant

Temperature (23 to 31 degrees C) and sucrose concentration ( 3 and 4%) effects on dextransucrase production by Leuconostoc mesenteroides NRRL B 512 ( F) and Leuconostoc mesenteroides FT 045 B were studied. The conditions in all fermentations were: total reaction volume 2 L, 132 rev. min-1, 0.5 vvm and pH 6.0. The optimum temperature for enzyme yield for strain NRRL B 512 ( F) was 23 degrees C, where at 8-h fermentation was possible to achieve 49.3 DSU/mL. When FT 045 B strain was utilized, 3.2 DSU/mL was obtained at temperature 23 to 25 degrees C.

The Allium cepa bioassay to evaluate landfarming soil, before and after the addition of rice hulls to accelerate organic pollutants biodegradation

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

Improvement of L(+)-lactic acid production from cassava wastewater by Lactobacillus rhamnosus B 103

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

Osmotic dehydration of apples in sugar/salt solutions: Concentration profiles and effective diffusion coefficients

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

The effects of extrusion conditions and the addition of volatile compounds and flavour enhancers to corn grits on the retention of the volatile compounds and texture of the extrudates

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