Searching for gallium bioactive compounds: Gallium(III) complexes of tridentate salicylaldehyde semicarbazone derivatives

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

Improved laboratory safety by decontamination of unstained sputum smears for acid-fast microscopy

Tubercle bacilli may survive in unstained heat-fixed sputum smears and may be an infection risk to laboratory staff. We compared the effectiveness of 1% and 5% sodium hypochlorite, 5% phenol, 2% glutaraldehyde, and 3.7% formalin in killing Mycobacterium tuberculosis present in smears prepared from 51 sputum samples. The smears were decontaminated by the tube and slide techniques. Phenol at 5%, glutaraldehyde at 2%, and buffered formalin at 3.7% for 1 min (tube technique) or for 10 min (slide technique) were effective in decontaminating sputum smears and preserved cell morphology and quantitative acid-fast microscopy results.

Stability study of azithromycin in ophthalmic preparations

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Cytotoxicity of chlorhexidine digluconate to murine macrophages and its effect on hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide induction

Chlorhexidine, even at low concentrations, is toxic for a variety of eukaryotic cells; however, its effects on host immune cells are not well known. We evaluated in vitro chlorhexidine-induced cytotoxicity and its effects on reactive oxygen/nitrogen intermediate induction by murine peritoneal macrophages. Thioglycollate-induced cells were obtained from Swiss mice by peritoneal lavage with 5 ml of 10 mM phosphate-buffered saline, washed twice and resuspended (10(6) cells/ml) in appropriate medium for each test. Cell preparations contained more than 95% macrophages. The cytotoxicity was determined by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide assay and the presence of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and nitric oxide (NO) by the horseradish peroxidase-dependent oxidation of phenol red and Griess reaction, respectively. The midpoint cytotoxicity values for 1- and 24-h exposures were 61.12 ± 2.46 and 21.22 ± 2.44 µg/ml, respectively. Chlorhexidine did not induce synthesis or liberation of reactive oxygen/nitrogen intermediates. When macrophages were treated with various sub-toxic doses for 1 h (1, 5, 10, and 20 µg/ml) and 24 h (0.5, 1, and 5 µg/ml) and stimulated with 200 nM phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) solution, the H2O2 production was not altered; however, the NO production induced by 10 µg/ml lipopolysaccharide (LPS) solution varied from 14.47 ± 1.46 to 22.35 ± 1.94 µmol/l and 13.50 ± 1.42 to 20.44 ± 1.40 µmol/l (N = 5). The results showed that chlorhexidine has no immunostimulating activity and sub-toxic concentrations did not affect the response of macrophages to the soluble stimulus PMA but can interfere with the receptor-dependent stimulus LPS.

Extração de DNA de materiais de arquivo e fontes escassas para utilização em reação de polimerização em cadeia (PCR)

Este trabalho visou a comparação de cinco métodos diferentes de extração de DNA de materiais de arquivo (tecidos incluídos em parafina, esfregaços de sangue periférico - corados e não corados com Leishman, lâminas com mielogramas, gotas de sangue em Guthrie Card) e de fontes escassas (células bucais, um e três bulbos capilares e 2 mL de urina), para que fossem avaliadas a facilidade de aplicação e a facilidade de amplificação deste DNA pela técnica da reação de polimerização em cadeia (PCR). Os métodos incluíram digestão por proteinase K, seguida ou não por purificação com fenol/clorofórmio; Chelex 100® (BioRad); Insta Gene® (BioRad) e fervura em água estéril. O DNA obtido foi testado para amplificação de três fragmentos gênicos: Brain-derived neutrophic factor (764 pb), Factor V Leiden (220 pb) e Abelson (106 pb). de acordo com o comprimento do fragmento gênico estudado, da fonte potencial de DNA e do método de extração utilizado, os resultados caracterizaram o melhor caminho para padronização de procedimentos técnicos a serem incluídos no manual de Procedimentos Operacionais Padrão do Laboratório de Biologia Molecular do Hemocentro - HC - Unesp - Botucatu.

Lipid peroxidation and generation of hydrogen peroxide in frozen-thawed ram semen cryopreserved in extenders with antioxidants

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

Fecal specimens preparation methods for PCR diagnosis of human taeniosis

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

Detection of the single nucleotide polymorphism (rs2227307) in the human interleukin 8 gene using a pcr-rflp assay

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

Non-destructive genetic sampling in fish. An improved method for DNA extraction from fish fins and scales

DNA-based studies have been one of the major interests in conservation biology of endangered species and in population genetics. As species and population genetic assessment requires a source of biological material, the sampling strategy can be overcome by non-destructive procedures for DNA isolation. An improved method for obtaining DNA from fish fins and scales with the use of an extraction buffer containing urea and further DNA purification with phenol-chloroform is described. The methodology combines the benefits of a non-destructive DNA sampling and its high efficiency. In addition, comparisons with other methodologies for isolating DNA from fish demonstrated that the present procedure also becomes a very attractive alternative to obtain large amounts of high-quality DNA for use in different molecular analyses. The DNA samples, isolated from different fish species, have been successfully used on random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) experiments, as well as on amplification of specific ribosomal and mitochondrial DNA sequences. The present DNA extraction procedure represents an alternative for population approaches and genetic studies on rare or endangered taxa.

Photoelectrocatalytic treatment of p-nitrophenol using Ti/TiO2 thin-film electrode

The photoelectrochemical degradation of p-nitrophenol (PNP) was investigated using titanium dioxide thin-film photoelectrode. The effects of different supporting electrolytes, pH, applied potential and PNP concentration were examined and discussed. Complete photodegradation was obtained in perchlorate medium at pH 2 when the photoanode was biased at +1.0 V (versus SCE) during a 3-h experiment. Under these conditions, carbon removal of approximately 60% was achieved. (C) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Nutritional composition, phenolic compounds, nitrate content in eatable vegetables obtained by conventional and certified organic grown culture subject to thermal treatment

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

The influence of UV-C irradiation on the properties of thermoplastic starch and polycaprolactone biocomposite with sisal bleached fibers

The effect of UV-C irradiation of the TPS and PCL biocomposites with sisal bleached fibers was investigated. The biocomposite was UV-C irradiated at room temperature under air atmosphere. The structural and morphological changes produced when the films were exposed to UV irradiation for 142 h, were monitored using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Mechanical Tensile Tests, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction, Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and Fourier transform infra-red analysis (FTIR). Addition of 5-10% fibers in composites exhibited improved mechanical and thermal properties attributed to more efficient dispersibility of fiber in the matrix and good compatibility between fibers and the matrix polymer, however, after irradiated, the tensile properties decreased due to chain scission. The samples of irradiated PCL and IFS showed crystallinity increase, whereas the blend and composites showed a decrease in crystallinity. The DSC and X-ray diffraction studies suggested interaction between polymers in the blend via carboxyl groups in thermoplastic starch-PCL and hydroxyl groups in fibers. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Molecular screening of Plasmodium sp. asymptomatic carriers among transfusion centers from Brazilian Amazon region

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Major Aspects of the Mercury Cycle in the Negro River Basin, Amazon

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

Detection of phenolic compounds using impedance spectroscopy measurements

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