Efetividade dos florais de Bach no bem estar espiritual de estudantes universitários: ensaio clínico randonizado duplo cego

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Spliceosomal factors are recognized by Chagasic sera

We investigated the possibility that Chagas' patients develop an autoimmune response to human UsnRNPs or Sm epitopes. Using purified human UsnRNPs we detected anti-human UsnRNPs antibodies in sera from patients with Chagas' disease. The antibodies were also detected using peptide-ELISA containing the Sm-motif 1 domain, showing that 61% (31/51) of the Chagas sera contained antibodies against the Sm-motif 1. Our preliminary results obtained by immunoprecipitation using Chagas chronically infected Balb/C sera and HeLa nuclear extracts showed that some autoantibodies could also be found during the course of the disease. Groups of 20 mice tone-month-old) were infected i.p. with Y strain 30 bloodstream trypomastigotes and killed at 60 days post-infection and sera were used for immunoprecipitation analysis as mentioned, These antibodies cross-reacted with U2 snRNP in HeLa nuclear extract and revealed many different bands in T. cruzi nuclear extract. These results suggest that the autoantibodies may have a role in the pathogenesis of the disease,

Presence of autoantibodies against small nuclear ribonucleoprotein epitopes in Chagas' patients' sera

We investigated the possibility that Chagas' patients develop an autoimmune response to human UsnRNPs (small nuclear ribonucleoprotein) or Sm epitopes. Using purified human UsnRNPs, we detected anti-human UsnRNPs antibodies in sera from patients suffering from Chagas' disease. The antibodies it-ere also detected using peptide enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays containing the Sm-motif 1 domain. The latter technique showed that 61% (31/51) of the Chagas' patients' sera contained antibodies against Sm-motif I. The detection of anti-UsnRNPs autoantibodies in Chagas patients' sera strongly encourages further studies using animal models to determine how these autoantibodies appear.

Antibodies to yeast Sm motif 1 cross-react with human Sm core polypeptides

Two regions common to all UsnRNP core polypeptides have been described: Sm motif 1 and Sm motif 2. Rabbits were immunized with a 22 amino-acid peptide containing one segment of Sm motif 1 (YRGTLVSTDNYFNLQL-NEAEEF, corresponding to residues 11-32) from yeast F protein. After immunization, the rabbit sera contained antibodies that not only reacted specifically with the peptide from yeast F protein but also cross-reacted with Sm polypeptides from mammals; that is, with purified human U1snRNPs. The results suggest that the peptide used and human Sm polypeptides contain a common feature recognized by the polyclonal antibodies. A large collection of human systemic lupus erythematosus sera was assayed using the yeast peptide as an antigen source. Seventy per cent of systemic lupus erythematosus sera contain an antibody specificity that cross-reacts with the yeast peptide.

Agrupamentos Sonoros Plenos na Música de Simultaneidades Acústicas e Estruturais

The present article reflects about the concepts of linearity, space and acoustic complexity in the definition of sound grouping as a criticism to the linear concept of phraseology mainly when applied to the music of imitative texture or of complex simultaneities. It takes as examples works by Bach, Josquin des Prez and a fragment of "Lontano" by Ligeti, to study them in two distinct dimensions, simultaneous and interconnected: the acoustic dimension with its entire spectral complexity and the relational dimension which establishes the interaction among the figures in voices and texture layers with some kind of acoustic and structural simultaneity.

Pectin methylesterase activity and ascorbic acid content from guava fruit, cv. Predilecta, in different phases of development

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

Increased production of beta-1,3 glucanase and proteins in Bipolaris sorokiniana pathosystem treated using commercial xanthan gum

Barley plants (cultivars Embrapa 127, 128 and 129) treated with xanthan gum, and with different time intervals between the administration of the inducer and the pathogen, demonstrated induction of resistance against Bipolaris sorokiniana. Induction was shown to have local and systemic action. In order to prove the resistance effect, biochemical analyses were performed to quantify proteins and the enzymatic activity of beta-1,3 glucanase. Results demonstrated that barley plants treated with the inducer, showed an increase in the concentration of proteins, as well as in the activity of the enzyme beta-1,3 glucanase, when compared with the extract from healthy plants. In infected plants, protein concentrations decreased and enzymatic activity was lower than in healthy plants. Results suggest that barley plants treated with xanthan gum developed mechanisms responsible for induced resistance, which are still unknown. The most important macromolecule in the defense mechanism was demonstrated to be PR-protein, due to its accumulation and concentration of proteins. However, it may not be the only macromolecule responsible for the resistance effect. (C) 2004 Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.

An investigation of cadmium(II) and nickel(II) adsorption by chitin graft covolymer

Chitin hydrogels of poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (VP) were prepared by means of the hydrogen peroxide graft copolymerization process. The effect of the VP grafted chain on water diffusion through the biopolymer was studied. Fourier transform infrared spectra of the VP-g-Ch showed an increase in the intensities of the hydroxyl and carbonyl stretching bands indicating a reduction in the hydrogen bonding of chitin. An investigation was undertaken regarding the adsorption of nickel(II) and cadmium(II) ions from aqueous solutions by the VP grafted chitin and the effects of the grafting degree on the Cd2+ and Ni2+ sorption were studied. The Cd2+ and Ni2+ adsorption equilibrium data correlate well with the Freundlich equation. The results indicate that the Ch-g-VP graft copolymer under investigation is a potentially powerful chelating material that can be employed for Ni2+ and Cd2+ ion removal from wastewater effluents. (C) 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Preparation of N2, N2,7-trimethylguanosine affinity columns

2,2,7-trimethylguanosine (TMG) binding proteins from human cells were purified through TMG-affinity columns. TMG synthesis was improved and the TMG obtained was shown to be similar to the TMG in the 5' cap of the UsnRNAs. The eluates obtained with TMG-affinity chromatographies were very different from those isolated with m7G-affinity columns, thus suggesting that specific TMG- binding proteins were obtained. The fraction may be enriched with factors associated with import and/or hypermethylation of UsnRNPs.

O vestuário do negro na fotografia e na pintura: Brasil, 1850-1890

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Efeitos da adição de açúcar na qualidade sensorial de amostras de cachaça obtida tradicionalmente e redestilada

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Inter-relações entre Performance e Musicologia Histórica: perspectivas para a interpretação musical

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)