Nitrogênio total de grãos de café verde de diferentes tipos de bebidas

Vinte e oito amostras de grãos de café verde pertencente à variedade Mundo Novo e separadas em quatro tipos de bebidas (MOLE, DURA, RIADA e RIO) foram analisadas quanto ao teor de nitrogênio peso seco. Não foram detectadas diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre 00 tipos de bebidas e portanto não foi considerado total. Esse teor variou de 2,53% para as amostras de bebidas DURA e RIO, 2,55% para as MOLES e 2,59% para as RIADAS, expressas sobre o peso seco. Não foram detectadas diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre os tipos de bebidas e portanto não foi considerado possível utilizar os resultados para caracterizar o tipo da bebida.

Determinação colorimétrica do silício em solo.: II - aplicação do método do sílico-molibdato amarelo e do azul de molibdênio na determinação da sílica total e solúvel em solos

O presente trabalho tem por objetivo a aplicação do método colorimétrico de determinação do silício na análise da silica total e solúvel em solos. Para a realização de tais objetivos foram focalizados, entre outros, dois aspectos principais: o estudo sobre os interferentes e a solubilização da silica, mediante ataque de amostra, a quente, com um ácido mineral e ácido fluorídrico, seguido da adição de ácido bórico. Uma vez estabelecidas as condições adequadas à solubilização, os procedimentos estudados tiveram sua precisão e exatidão avaliadas através de sua aplicação em amostras de areia cuidadosamente lavada. À seguir, procedeu-se à aplicação das técnicas preconizadas na análise de solos, associando-se ao método colorimétrico de determinação do silício, e, com a finalidade de comparação, as amostras foram analisadas também pelo método gravimétrico. Os dados obtidos permitem considerar as técnicas colorimétricas, bem como aquelas de solubilização da silica, satisfatoriamente exatas. Os teores de silica solúvel foram determinados a partir de extração por soluções aquosas de CaCI2 0,0025M, H3C-COONa 0,01 M, H2SO4 0,025M, e por água destilada, com o emprego do método do azul de molibdênio.

Contagem total de bactérias e enumeração de coliformes em cortes de varejo de carne bovina e em equipamentos de supermercados

No presente trabalho foi determinada a contagem total de bactérias (incubação a 32°C e a 5°C) existentes na superfície de alguns cortes de varejo de carne bovina comercializada por tres supermercados de Piracicaba, SP, bem como da superfície de diversos tipos de equipamento utilizado nas salas de desossa desses estabelecimentos. Foi determinado também o número mais provável (NMP) de coliformes totais e, para um grupo de amostras de carne, o NMP de Escherichia coli. Para um dos supermercados (o mais antigo e menos adequado sob o aspecto sanitário) foi possível constatar uma diferença significativa entre as contagens totais em cortes recebidos já desossados pelo estabelecimento, a favor destes, e as contagens em cortes preparados na sala de desossa. O equipamento, tanto no estado considerado limpo (após o dia de trabalho) e aquele em uso apresentaram contagens totais excessivas; não houve diferença significativa entre um e outro caso, e, em ambos, a temperatura de incubação 32°C resultou em valores estatisticamente superiores aos obtidos com a incubação a 5°C. As contagens provenientes de análises de superfícies de madeira foram significativamente mais elevadas que as verificadas em superfícies metálicas (serra elétrica, facas, afiadores). A ocorrência de coliformes totais foi geral, tanto na carne como no equipamento, muitas vezes em números elevados. Em amostras de carne, analisadas quanto à presença e ao número de coliformes totais e de Escherichia coli, verificou-se que 96% daquelas positivas para coliformes totais também o eram para esta bactéria. Atras de material em uso foram positivas quanto à ocorrência de coliformes totais. Tal como ocorreu a carne, o número mais possível (NMP) assumiu, em vários casos, elevados valores. Embora não comprovado estatisticamente, os resultados sugerem uma maior ocorrência desse grupo de microrganismos nas superfícies de madeira (mesa e ou cepo).

Proteína total Sérica em bezerros da raça holandesa submetidos a diferentes regimes de aleitamento

A flutuação de proteína total sérica foi avaliada em 37 bezerros, machos e fêmeas, da raça Holandesa Preta e Branca, apresentando grupos genéticos 15/16 Holandês: Guzerá, puro por cruza e puro de origem. O período experimental abrangeu os primeiros 70 dias de vida do bezerro. Os tratamentos foram os seguintes: A1 - leite integral, colostro e sucedâneo (1 :1 :2) , com desmama aos 30 dias de idade; A2 leite integral, colostro e sucedâneo (1:1:2), com desmama aos 45 dias de idade; A3 - leite integral, colostro e sucedâneo (1:1:2), com desmama aos 60 dias de idade; B - leite integral, com desmama aos 45 dias de idade; C -sucedâneo, com desmama aos 45 dias de idade. Em todos os tratamentos os bezerros receberam colostro até 72 horas após o nascimento. O sucedâneo empregado foi leite em pó comercial, cuja fonte protéica é subproduto do leite. O concentrado utilizado foi uma ração comercial para desmama precoce. A coleta de sangue dos bezerros obedeceu ao seguinte esquema: imediatamente pós-natal (antes de qualquer ingestão de colostro) e 1, 2, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 e 70 dias de vida. Para análise da proteína foi utilizado o método de biureto. Para interpretação dos resultados, os dados foram submetidos às seguintes análises estatísticas: análise da variância, teste Tukey, correlação e regressão linear e análise da variância sob modelo fatorial, envolvendo os efeitos de tratamentos, coletas e interações. A concentração média de proteína total sérica apresentou o valor mais baixo por ocasião do nascimento (5,02 ± 0,51 g/100 ml) e o mais elevado (8,09 ± 0,51 g/100 ml) 24 horas pós-parto. No período de 1 a 30 dias, o tratamento A (A1 + A2 + A3) apresentou uma concentração de proteína total sérica significativamente mais elevada do que o tratamento C, não diferindo do tratamento B. Foi verificada uma redução linear e quadrática do teor de proteína total sérica nos primeiros 30 dias, seguida de elevação linear no período de 50 a 70 dias.

Effect of cAMP on macromolecule synthesis in the pathogenic protozoa Trypanosoma cruzi

Macromolecule synthesis of Trypanosoma cruzi in culture was monitored using radioactive tracers. Cells of different days in culture displayed a preferential incorporation of precursors as follows: 1 day for (³H)-thymidine cells; 3 days for (³H)-uridine cells, and 4 days for (³H)-leucine cells. Autoradiographic studies showed that (³H)-thymidine was incorporated in the DNA of both kinetoplast and nucleus in this order. Shifts in the intracellular content of cAMP either by addition of dibutyryl-cAMP or by stimulation of the adenylcyclase by isoproterenol, caused an inhibition in the synthesis of DNA, RNA and proteins. Addition to the T. cruzi cultures of these agents which elevate the intracellular content ofcAMP provoked an interruption of cell proliferation as a result of the impairment of macromolecule synthesis. A discrimination was observed among the stereoisomers of isoproterenol, the L configuration showing to be most active.

Advances in pharmacological studies of silymarin

Silymarin is the flavonoids extracted from the seeds of Silybum marianum (L) Gearth as a mixture of three structural isomers: silybin, silydianin and silychristin, the former being the most active component. Silymarin protects liver cell membrane against hepatotoxic agents and improves liver function in experimental animals and humans. It is generally accepted that silymarin exerts a membrane-stabilizing action preventing or inhibiting membrane peroxidation. The experiments with soybean lipoxygenase showed that the three components of silymarin brought about a concentration-dependent non-competitive inhibition of the lipoxygenase. The experiments also showed an analogous interaction with animal lipoxygenase, thus showing that an inhibition of the peroxidation of the fatty acid in vivo was self-evident. Silybin almost completely suppressed the formation of PG at the highest concentration (0.3 mM) and proved to be an inhibitor of PG synthesis in vitro. In our experiments, silybin at lower dose (65 mg/Kg) decreased liver lipoperoxide content and microsomal lipoperoxidation to 84.5% and 68.55% of those of the scalded control rats respectively, and prevented the decrease of liver microsomal cytochrome p-450 content and p-nitroanisole-0-demethylase activity 24 h post-scalding. Effects of silymarin on cardiovascular systen have been studied in this university since 1980. O. O silymarin 800 mg/Kg/d or silybin 600 mg/Kg/d reduced plasma total cholesterol, LDL-C and VLDL-C. They however, enhanced HDL-C in hyperlipenic rats. Further studies showed that silymarin enhanced HDL-C in hyperlipemic rats. Further studies showed that silymarin enhanced HDL-C but didn't affect HDL-C, a property of this component which is beneficial to treatment of atherosclerosis. The results showed silymarin 80 mg or silybin 60 mg decreased in vitro platelet aggregation (porcentagem) in rats. The maximal platelet aggregation induced by ADP declined significantly, and time to reach maximal platelet aggregation and five-minute disaggregation didn't change. In our experiments, iv silybin 22,4 mg/kg lowered the amplitude and duration of diastolic blood pressure (DBP) more than those of systolic (SBP), but the descending aortic blood flow, cardiac contractility and ECG did not change significantly in anesthetized open-chest cats. The results indicated a reduction of peripheral resistance and dilatatory action on the resistant blood vessels. These effects are beneficial to coronary heart disease. We also observed the effects of silybin on morphological change, the release of glutamic oxaloacetate aminotrasferase (GOT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) as well as the radioactivity of 3H-TdR incorporated into DNA in normal cardiac cells and cells infected by coxsackie B5, virus os newborn rats. The results showed that silynin did not affect the morphology of normal cell, and that the pathological change of cells infected by virus was delayed and reduced as compared to control. We have investigated the effect of silybin on synthesis and release of LTs in the cultured porcine cerebral basilar arteries (PCBA). Silybin 100 and 500 µmol/L declined the amounts of LTs released from the PCBA incubsated in the presence of A 23187, AA and indomenthacin. The result suggests that silybin can inhibit the activity of 5-lipoxygenase of cerebral blood vessel and may protect the brain from ischemia.

Methodology in structural determination and synthesis of insect pheromone

By means of ethereal washing of insect pheromone glands of female moths, GC-MS detection along with microchemical reactions and electroantennogram (EAG) survey, six economically important insect species were targeted for pheromone identification. The discovery of a natural pheromone inhibitor, chemo-selectivity and species isolation by pheromone will be described. The modified triple bond migration and triethylamine liganded vinyl cuprate were applied for achiral pheromone synthesis in double bond formation. Some optically active pheromones and their stereoisomers were synthesized through chiral pool or asymmetric synthesis. Some examples of chiral recognition of insects towards their chiral pheromones will be discussed. A CaH2 and silica gel catalyzed Sharpless Expoxidation Reaction was found in shortening the reaction time.

Basic biochemical investigations as rationale for the design of original antimalarial drugs. An example of phospholipid metabolism

The future of antimalarial chemotherapy is particulary alarming in view of the spread of parasite cross-resistances to drugs that are not even structurally related. Only the availability of new pharmacological models will make it possible to select molecules with novel mechanisms of action, thus delaving resistance and allowing the development of new chemotherapeutic strategies. We reached this objective in mice. Our approach is hunged on fundamental and applied research begun in 1980 to investigate to phospholipid (PL) metabolism of intraerythrocytic Plasmodium. This metabolism is abundant, specific and indispensable for the production of Plasmodium membranes. Any drug to interfere with this metabolism blocks parasitic development. The most effective interference yet found involves blockage of the choline transporter, which supplies Plasmodium with choline for the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine, its major PL, this is a limiting step in the pathway. The drug sensitivity thereshold is much lower for the parasite, which is more dependent on this metabolism than host cells. The compounds show in vitro activity against P. falciparum at 1 to 10 nM. They show a very low toxicity against a lymphblastoid cell line, demonstrating a total abscence of correlation between growth inhibition of parasites and lymphoblastoid cells. They show antimalarial activity in vivo, in the P. berghei or P. chabaudi/mouse system, at doses 20-to 100-fold lower than their in acute toxicity limit. The bioavailability of a radiolabeled form of the product seemed to be advantageous (slow blood clearance and no significant concentration in tissues). Lastly, the compounds are inexpensive to produce. They are stable and water-soluble.

Induction of synthesis of the rat cystatin S protein by the submandibular gland during the acute phase of experimental Chagas disease

Rats experimentally infected with Trypanosoma cruzi Y strain exhibited hypertrophy of the submandibular gland at 18 days after infection.SDS-PAGE of infected rats saliva revealed the presence of an additional band with an apparent molecular weight of about 13KDa. Electrophoresis of protein salivaand immunochemical analysis with antibody against rat cystatin S confirmed that the protein was identical to that induced by beta adrenergic stimulation.

Eokines: synthesis, storage and release from human eosinophils

Eosinophils are prominent inflammatory cells in asthma and other allergic disorders, as well as in helminthic parasite infections. Recently, eosinophils have been reported to synthesize and store a range of regulatory proteins within their secretory granules (eokines). Eokines comprise a group of cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors which are elaborated by eosinophils. These proteins, and the messages which encode them, appear to be identical to those produced by lymphocytes and other tissues. Interestingly, immunoreactivity to many of these eokines has been found to co-localize to the eosinophil´s secretory granules. In this review, we have discussed the repertoire of 18 eokines so far identified in eosinophils, and focused on four of these, namely, interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-4, granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and RANTES. These four eokines co-localize to the crystalloid granules in eosinophils, as shown in studies using subcellular fractionation and immunogold labeling in electron microscopy. During stimulation by physiological triggers, for example, with serum-coated particles, eosinophils release these mediators into the surrounding supernatant. In addition, eokines are likely to be synthesized within eosinophils rather than taken up by endocytosis, as show in detection of mRNA for each of these proteins using in situ hybridization, RT-PCR, and in the case of RANTES, in situ RT-PCR. Eokines synthesis and release from eosinophils challenges the commonly held notion that these cells act downstream of key elements in immune system, and indicate that they may instead belong to the afferent arm of immunity.

The Growth of Brown Adipose Tissue in Cold-acclimatized Rats after Depletion of Mast Cell Histamine by Compound 48/80

Cold acclimatization (4-5°C) is accompanied by 2-3 fold increase of brown adipose tissue (BAT). This rapid growth of interscapular BAT was studied after histamine depletion. In control rats maintained at room temperature (28 ± 2°C) the BAT histamine content was 23.4 ± 5.9 (mean ± SD) µg/g of tissue and cold acclimatization (5±1°C) produced a significant increase of BAT weight, but reduced the histamine content to 8.4 ± 1.9 µg/g. The total weight of BAT after 20 days of acclimatization was unaffected by depletion of histamine due to compound 48/80. The low level of histamine in BAT of cold acclimatized rats could be due to a fast rate of amine utilization; alternatively an altered synthesis or storage process may occur during acclimatization.

Effect of Antimalarial Drugs on Plasmodia Cell-Free Protein Synthesis

A cell-free system from Plasmodium falciparum able to translate endogenous mRNA was used to determine the effect of artemisinin, chloroquine and primaquine on the protein synthesis mechanism of the parasite. The antimalarial drugs did not inhibit the incorporation of [³H] methionine into parasite proteins even at concentrations higher than the ones found to strongly inhibit the parasite growth. Results clearly indicate that these compounds do not have a direct effect on protein synthesis activity of P. falciparum coded by endogenous mRNA.