Hidrogenação eletrocatalítica de substratos orgânicos utilizando eletrodos modificados poliméricos contendo partículas de Ni/Pd e Ni/Pt

Novel modified electrodes bearing dispersed Pd and Pt particles have been prepared from poly (allyl ether of the p-benzenesulfonic acid) films with incorporated nickel particles making use of galvanic displacement reactions. The SEM analysis of the new modified electrodes revealed efficient deposition of Pd but weak up-take of Pt. Electrocatalytic hydrogenation of several classes of organic substrates were carried out using the MEs Ni, Ni/Pd and Ni/Pt. The Ni/Pd ME showed to be the best of them for the hydrogenation of double, triple and carbonyl bonds. The complete hydrogenation of the aromatic rings for the well-adsorbed substrates acetophenone and benzophenone is noteworthy.

Characterization of the major nutritional components of Caryocar brasiliense fruit pulp by nmr spectroscopy

Pequi (Caryocar brasiliense Camb.), a typical fruit of Brazilian Cerrado, is well known in regional cookery and used in folk medicine to treat various illnesses. Mass spectrometry and chromatographic methods have identified the organic composition of pequi fruit pulp; however, NMR spectroscopy is used for the first time to characterize the nutritional components of organic and aqueous-ethanolic extracts. This spectroscopic technique determined the triacylglycerols in the pequi organic fraction, which is constituted mainly by oleate and palmitate esters, and detected the carbohydrate mixtures as the major components of aqueous and ethanolic fractions, respectively. In this study, presence of phenolic compounds was only evidenced in the ethanolic fraction.

Avaliação de biocombustível derivado do bio-óleo obtido por pirólise rápida de biomassa lignocelulósica como aditivo para gasolina

A biofuel was prepared from acid aqueous fraction (pH = 2) of bio-oil produced by fast pyrolysis (Bioware Technology) of lignocellulosic biomass (sugar cane residue) and tested in blends (2, 5, 10 e 20% v/v) with gasoline type C (common) marketed in Brazil. The specification tests made in the Refinery President Getúlio Vargas (PETROBRAS) showed increasing in the octane number (MON) and antiknock index (AKI) with reduction in the residue generation during the combustion. The physicochemical characteristics of the biofuel were similar that combustible alcohol allowing its use as gasoline additive.

Utilização de eletrodos sólidos de amálgama para a determinação analítica de compostos orgânicos e inorgânicos

This review reports the use of solid amalgam electrodes in the electroanalytical determination of organic and inorganic compounds. The different types of amalgam electrodes are presented, and attention is paid to solid amalgam electrode, and here is presented details about the pre-treatment for activation and renovation and also possible modifications in its surface. The wide potential range, higher signal-to-noise ratio, mechanical stability enabling their application in flowing systems, and principally their resistance toward passivation, indicate that the solid amalgam electrodes are environmentally friendly alternatives to mercury electrodes, without loss in the sensitivity and reproducibility in voltammetric responses.

Nanoemulsões como sistemas de liberação parenteral de fármacos

Lipid nanoemulsions have recently been proposed as parenteral delivery systems for poorly-soluble drugs. These systems consist of nanoscale oil/water dispersions stabilized by an appropriate surfactant system in which the drug is incorporated into the oil core and/or adsorbed at the interface. This article reviews technological aspects of such nanosystems, including their composition, preparation methods, and physicochemical properties. From this review, it was possible to identify five groups of nanoemulsions based on their composition. Biopharmaceutical aspects of formulations containing some commercially available drugs (diazepam, propofol, dexamethasone, etomidate, flurbiprofen and prostaglandin E1) were then discussed.

APPLICATION OF PARAFAC AND OPLS-DA ANALYSES ON HPLC FINGERPRINTS FOR THE CHARACTERIZATION OF Hibiscus sabdariffaCALYXES

The calyxes of Hibiscus sabdariffa are used in traditional medicine around the world. However, quality assurance protocols and chemical variability have not been previously analyzed. In the present study, chemical characterization of a set of samples of H. sabdariffa calyxes commercialized in Colombia was accomplished with the aim to explore the chemical variability among them. Chemometrics-based analyses on the data obtained from the HPLC-UV-DAD-derived profiles were then performed. Thus, the pre-processed single-wavelength data were subjected to principal component analysis (PCA). The PCA-derived results evidenced different groups which were well-correlated to the corresponding total phenolic and total anthocyanin contents. Multi-wavelength chromatographic (HPLC-UV-DAD surfaces) data were additionally examined via parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) as data reduction method and the obtained loadings were subsequently submitted to PCA and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA). Results were thus consistent with those from single-wavelength data. PCA loadings were employed to determine those chemical components responsible for the data variance and OPLS-DA model, constructed from PARAFAC loadings, and indicated differentiation according total anthocyanin contents among samples. The present chemometric analysis therefore demonstrated to be an excellent tool for differentiation of H. sabdariffacalyxes according to their chemical composition.

Citrus exocortis viroid and Hop Stunt viroid Doubly infecting grapevines in Brazil

Viroids, non-protein-coding small (246-401 nt) circular single-stranded RNAs with autonomous replication, are currently classified into two families. Within the family Pospiviroidae, Citrus exocortis viroid (CEVd) belongs to the genus Pospiviroid while Hop stunt viroid (HSVd) is the single member of the genus Hostuviroid. These pathogens are distributed worldwide and infect a large number of hosts. In Brazil, isolates of CEVd and HSVd have been detected in both citrus and grapevine. To characterize and study the genetic variability of these viroids, total RNA from leaves of grapevine Vitis vinifera 'Cabernet Sauvignon' and V. labrusca 'Niagara Rosada' from Bento Gonçalves, RS, was used as a template for RT-PCR amplification with specific primers for the five viroids described infecting grapevines [HSVd, CEVd, Grapevine yellow speckle viroid 1 (GYSVd-1), Grapevine yellow speckle viroid 2 (GYSVd-2) and Australian grapevine viroid (AGVd)]. Leaf samples of Citrus medica infected with CEVd from São Paulo were also analyzed. The resulting products were separated by agarose gel electrophoresis and DNA fragments of the expected size were eluted, cloned and sequenced. The grapevine samples analyzed were doubly infected by CEVd and HSVd. A phylogenetic analysis showed that the Brazilian grapevine HSVd variants clustered with other grapevine HSVd variants, forming a specific group separated from citrus variants, whereas the Brazilian CEVd variants clustered with other citrus and grapevine variants.

Diversidade de Phytophthora parasitica isolados de Citrus usando seqüências de nucleotídeos da região ITS-5.8S rDNA

Realizou-se estudo para caracterização e verificação da diversidade genética de Phytophthora parasitica, agente causador da gomose dos citros. Quatorze isolados de Phytophthora parasitica, provenientes do Estado de São Paulo, foram seqüenciados a partir das regiões internas transcritas (ITS1 e ITS2) do gene 5.8S. Obtiveram-se seqüências de 812 pb a 860 pb que foram comparadas com seqüências de outras espécies de Phytophthora spp depositadas no NCBI. Foram feitos estudos filogenéticos, utilizando-se o método "neighbor-joining" com 1000 "bootstrap" e construído o dendrograma mais representativo. Obtiveram-se os resultados de 98,88% a 100% de similaridade genética entre os 14 isolados paulistas, e 99,5% a 98,8% entre estes e a seqüência de P. nicotianae (gi| 8927482) obtida do GenBank NCBI.

Reflexão discente sobre a futura prática médica através da integração com a equipe de saúde da família na graduação

Metodologias ativas de ensino-aprendizagem apontam a necessidade de colocar o aluno em contato com o paciente e suas necessidades desde o início do curso médico. A reflexão sobre a realidade por meio da problematização assume papel fundamental, juntamente com uma visão humanística do paciente, conhecendo, entendendo e respeitando a complexidade deste. Assim, este trabalho teve por objetivo investigar como a inserção longitudinal de estudantes de Medicina em cenários comunitários de Atenção Básica à saúde poderia influenciar sua formação. Mediante entrevistas, observou-se que o contato com a comunidade - particularmente em visitas domiciliárias, acompanhando agentes comunitários de saúde - resultou em profundas reflexões sobre a inserção social dos sujeitos como alunos e futuros profissionais.

Contexto de formação e sofrimento psíquico de estudantes de medicina

A formação em Medicina é densa e com grandes responsabilidades. Contato com a morte, ambiente competitivo, privação de lazer e sensação de insegurança técnica funcionam como um retrato da formação. Objetiva-se descrever os diferentes processos que interferem no sofrimento psíquico discente em todas as escolas médicas do Ceará. O estudo acompanhou, do segundo ao sexto ano, 40 alunos da Universidade Estadual do Ceará (Uece) e 20% dos demais estudantes com ingresso comum em todas as outras escolas cearenses. Utilizou-se o Self-Report Questionnaire-20 para avaliar transtornos mentais leves (TML) . A maior prevalência de suspeitos de portar TML foi de 53,3% na Uece, com 20% dos alunos procurando ajuda psicológica. Nas outras escolas, 48,5% foram suspeitos e 18,2% procuraram ajuda. Depressão, insônia, problema pessoal, privação de lazer e insegurança técnica atuaram sobre o sofrimento. A formação médica representa um período de dúvidas, receios e tensões. Os currículos p recisam considerar como os estudantes lidam com a formação. As escolas devem tornar seus serviços de apoio mais integrados à execução dos currículos, focando os dois últimos anos, oferecendo suporte às tensões pessoais e familiares.

Percepções dos estudantes de medicina da ufop sobre sua qualidade de vida

Assim como em qualquer comunidade, fatores estressantes estão presentes no dia a dia dos acadêmicos de Medicina, impactando sua qualidade de vida. Como um desdobramento da experiência pedagógica na disciplina Saúde e Sociedade, do curso de Medicina da Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto (Ufop), um grupo de alunos decidiu investigar o tema, a fim de conhecer a própria percepção sobre o assunto. A partir de um grupo focal e com base em parâmetros adotados pelo Grupo de Qualidade de Vida da OMS, foram analisados fatores que têm determinado a qualidade de vida dos acadêmicos de Medicina. O principal elemento considerado na qualidade de vida do estudante de Medicina da Ufop é uma extensa carga horária curricular, frequentemente associada a uma carga excessiva de atividades extracurriculares, que limitam práticas de esporte, lazer e qualidade de sono. Outro ponto considerável é a precária relação dos alunos com a infraestrutura da cidade. Considera-se o grande desafio que se apresenta à adequação do programa do curso às diretrizes curriculares nacionais sem prejuízo das condições necessárias à saúde física e mental dos graduandos.

Colelitíase e câncer de vesícula biliar

OBJETIVO: O presente estudo tem por objetivo analisar os achados histológicos da vesícula biliar de pacientes submetidos à colecistectomia eletiva no Hospital Universitário Presidente Dutra, São Luís-MA. MÉTODO: Foram avaliados 2.008 pacientes, 359 do sexo masculino (17,9%) e 1.649 do sexo feminino (82,1%), com média de idade de 46,3 anos, operados no período de janeiro de 1990 a dezembro de 1998. A vesícula biliar, imediatamente após a colecitectoma era aberta e examinada macroscopicamente pelo cirurgião e em seguida enviada para exame histopatológico. RESULTADOS: A prevalência de câncer da vesícula biliar foi de 2,3 % (46 pacientes). Trinta e três pacientes (71,7%) apresentavam idade superior a 60 anos. CONCLUSÕES: Os autores concluem que a colecistectomia profilática eletiva deve ser realizada em pacientes assintomáticos com colelitíase, com idade superior a 60 anos e em boas condições cirúrgicas.

Fratura de pênis com trauma uretra

We reported a case of a twenty-nine-year-old male who presented a penile fracture associated with urethral injury caused by a sexual intercourse. An ideal anamnesis and a special physical examination were determinant to correct diagnostics. Ultrasonography and uretrocistography must be performed for confirmation. The treatment is based on the presence of associated urethral injury. The surgical repair of cavernous body and urethra can produce good results, with a favorable prognosis and minimal rate of complications.

Use of alcohol before and after bariatric surgery

OBJECTIVE: to assess alcohol intake in the bariatric surgery pre and postoperative periods. METHODS: Patients were interviewed atSurgery Clinic of the Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Pernambuco - HC/UFPE (Brazil) from July 2011 to March 2012. We analyzed socioeconomic, anthropometric and clinical variables. We used the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT C). RESULTS: One hundred nineteen patients were enrolled (mean age: 41.23+11.30 years), with a predominance of the female gender (83.2%), non-Caucasian race (55%), married individuals or in a stable union (65.5%), with a high school education (40.3%)and active in the job market (37%). Weight and body mass index (BMI) were 128.77+25.28Kg and 49.09+9.26Kg/m2,respectively in the preoperative period (class II obesity) and 87.19+19.16Kg and 33.04+6.21Kg/m2, respectively in the postoperative period (class I obesity) (p<0.001). Hypertension was the most frequent disease in the pre (66.6%) and postoperative (36.5%) periods. The prevalence of alcohol use was 26.6% in the preoperative period, of which 2.2% of high risk, and 35.1% in the postoperative period, of which 1.4% of probable dependence; this difference did not achieve statistical significance (p=0.337). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of abusive alcohol intake and/or probable dependence was low in both the pre and postoperative periods, with little evidence of risky consumption among the patients submitted to bariatric surgery.