Autonomic control of heart rate during orthostasis and the importance of orthostatic-tachycardia in the snake Python molurus

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Genotoxicity and cytotoxicity induced by municipal effluent in multiple organs of Wistar rats

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Ultrasonic sensor signals and optimum path forest classifier for the microstructural characterization of thermally-aged inconel 625 alloy

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Development and in vitro skin delivery of dexamethasone acetate-loaded surfactant-based systems

Topical corticosteroids, e.g., dexamethasone acetate (DMA), are extensively used to treat cutaneous inflammatory disorders even though their use is correlated with potential local and systemic side effects. The objective of this study was to develop and test the topical delivery of DMA-loaded surfactant based systems in vitro; these studies could guarantee a suitable delivery and therapeutic efficacy, as well as minimize DMA's side effects. A phase diagram was constructed using polyoxypropylene (5) polyoxyethylene (20) cetyl alcohol as the surfactant (S), isopropyl myristate as the oil phase (O) and water (W). The systems were characterized using polarization light microscopy (PLM), as well as rheological and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements. Depending on the concentration of the constituents, it was possible to obtain microemulsions (MEs) and liquid crystalline mesophases (lamellar and hexagonal). These types of arrangement were verified using PLM measurements. The SAXS results revealed that increasing the W/S ratio led to ME, as well as lamellar (LAM) and hexagonal (HEX) arrangements. The MEs displayed typical Newtonian behavior while the LAM and HEX phases exhibited pseudoplasticity and plasticity, respectively. The MEs displayed excellent drug solubilization that was approximately 10-fold higher than was observed with the individual components. The in vitro cutaneous permeation studies using pig ear skin and analysis of the mechanical parameters (hardness, compressibility, cohesiveness and adhesiveness) were carried out with a HEX phase and O/W emulsion. The HEX phase achieved better drug permeation and retention in the skin while its mechanical properties were suitable for skin administration. PPG-5-CETETH-20-based systems may be a promising platform delivering DMA and other topical corticosteroids through the skin.

Detection of dengue virus in sera of Brazilian blood donors

BACKGROUND: Dengue is the most important arboviral disease in the world. Dengue viruses (DENVs) have produced huge outbreaks in Brazil in the past 25 years with more than 5 million reported cases. During these epidemics, asymptomatic individuals infected with DENV could donate blood and serve as a source of virus dissemination in the community. Here, we studied the circulation of DENV in healthy individuals during an epidemic outbreak. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The study included 500 serum samples from healthy blood donors collected at the Hemotherapy Center of Ribeirao Preto, Brazil, during a dengue outbreak. The presence of DENV RNA in the serum samples was screened by real-time reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction (PCR). The virus serotype was determined by a heminested PCR procedure. A partial fragment of the NS5 gene sequence was used for phylogenetic analysis. RESULTS: DENV RNA was detected in the serum sample of 2 of 500 (0.4%) individuals. Both of them were infected with DENV-3 Genotype III, a virus that has been circulating in Brazil in the past decade. CONCLUSION: Individuals with asymptomatic DENV infection can be blood donors and serve as a source of virus dissemination in the community. Further studies are needed to determine the risk of recipient infection by DENV as a result of transfusion in Brazil, especially during epidemic periods.

Molecular and phylogenetic analyses of human Parvovirus B19 isolated from Brazilian patients with sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia major and healthy blood donors

Human Parvovirus B19 (B19V) is a recognized cause of life-threatening conditions among patients with hemoglobinopathies. This study investigates B19V infection in patients with sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia using different experimental approaches. A total of 183 individuals (144 with sickle cell disease and 39 with beta-thalassemia major) and 100 healthy blood donors were examined for B19V using anti-B19V IgG enzyme immunoassay, quantitative PCR, DNA sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis. Viremia was documented in 18.6% of patients and 1% of donors, and was generally characterized by low viral load (VL); however, acute infections were also observed. Anti-B19V IgG was detected in 65.9% of patients with sickle cell disease and in 60% of donors, whereas the patients with thalassemia exhibited relatively low seroreactivity. The seroprevalence varied among the different age groups. In patients, it progressively increased with age, whereas in donors it reached a plateau. Based on partial NS1 fragments, all isolates detected were classified as subgenotype 1A with a tendency to elicit genetically complex infections. Interestingly, quasispecies occurred in the plasma of not only patients but also donors with even higher heterogeneity. The partial NS1 sequence examined did not exhibit positive selection. Quantitation of B19V with a conservative probe is a technically and practically useful approach. The extensive spread of B19V subgenotype 1A in patients and donors and its recent introduction into the countryside of the Sao Paulo State, Brazil were demonstrated; however, it is difficult to establish a relationship between viral sequences and the clinical outcomes of the infection. J. Med. Virol. 84:16521665, 2012. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Preparation and characterization of chloroaluminum phthalocyanine-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles by thermal analysis and powder X-ray diffraction techniques

Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) without drug and SLN loaded with chloroaluminum phthalocyanine (AlClPc) were prepared by solvent diffusion method in aqueous system and characterized by thermal analyses and X-ray diffraction (XRD) in this study. Determination of particle size, zeta potential (ZP), and encapsulation efficiency were also evaluated. SLN containing AlClPc of nanometer size with high encapsulation efficiency and ZP were obtained. The results indicated that the size of SLN loaded with AlClPc is larger than that of the inert particle, but ZP is not changed significantly with incorporation of the drug. In differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) curves, it was observed that the melting point of stearic acid (SA) isolated and in SLN occurred at 55 and 64 degrees C, respectively, suggesting the presence of different polymorphs. DSC also shows that the crystallinity state of SLN was much less than that of SA isolated. The incorporation of drug in SLN may have been favored by this lower crystallinity degree of the samples. XRD techniques corroborated with the thermal analytic techniques, suggesting the polymorphic modifications of stearic acid.

Phylogenetic relationship of dengue virus type 3 isolated in Brazil and Paraguay and global evolutionary divergence dynamics

Background: Dengue is the most important mosquito-borne viral disease worldwide. Dengue virus comprises four antigenically related viruses named dengue virus type 1 to 4 (DENV1-4). DENV-3 was re-introduced into the Americas in 1994 causing outbreaks in Nicaragua and Panama. DENV-3 was introduced in Brazil in 2000 and then spread to most of the Brazilian States, reaching the neighboring country, Paraguay in 2002. In this study, we have analyzed the phylogenetic relationship of DENV-3 isolated in Brazil and Paraguay with viruses isolated worldwide. We have also analyzed the evolutionary divergence dynamics of DENV-3 viruses. Results: The entire open reading frame (ORF) of thirteen DENV-3 isolated in Brazil (n = 9) and Paraguay (n = 4) were sequenced for phylogenetic analysis. DENV-3 grouped into three main genotypes (I, II and III). Several internal clades were found within each genotype that we called lineage and sub-lineage. Viruses included in this study belong to genotype III and grouped together with viruses isolated in the Americas within the lineage III. The Brazilian viruses were further segregated into two different sub-lineage, A and B, and the Paraguayan into the sub-lineage B. All three genotypes showed internal grouping. The nucleotide divergence was in average 6.7% for genotypes, 2.7% for lineages and 1.5% for sub-lineages. Phylogenetic trees constructed with any of the protein gene sequences showed the same segregation of the DENV-3 in three genotypes. Conclusion: Our results showed that two groups of DENV-3 genotypes III circulated in Brazil during 2002-2009, suggesting different events of introduction of the virus through different regions of the country. In Paraguay, only one group DENV-3 genotype III is circulating that is very closely related to the Brazilian viruses of sub-lineage B. Different degree of grouping can be observed for DENV-3 and each group showed a characteristic evolutionary divergence. Finally, we have observed that any protein gene sequence can be used to identify the virus genotype.

Detection of DENV-4 genotype I from mosquitoes collected in the city of Manaus, Brazil

Background Dengue epidemics have been reported in Brazil since 1981. In Manaus, a large city in the Amazon region, dengue is endemic with all four-virus serotypes (DENV-1, -2, -3, and -4) simultaneously causing human disease. In 2008, during a surveillance of dengue virus in mosquitoes in the district of Tancredo Neves in Manaus, 260 mosquitoes of Aedes genus were captured, identified and grouped into pools of 10 mosquitoes. Findings RNA extracts of mosquito pools were tested by a RT-Hemi-Nested-PCR for detection of flaviviruses. One amplicon of 222 bp, compatible with dengue virus serotype 4, was obtained from a pool of Aedes aegypti. The nucleotide sequence of the amplicon indicated that the mosquitoes were infected with DENV-4 of genotype I. This virus of Asian origin has been described in Manaus in 2008 infecting acute febrile illness patients. Conclusion This is the first report of dengue virus serotype 4 genotype I infecting Aedes aegypti in the Americas.

The works of Voltaire : a contemporary version with notes /

Accompanied by: Voltaire, index to his works, genius, and character / by Oliver H.G. Leigh. 302 p.

Pieces that have won prizes; also many encore pieces.

Encore pieces: An old man's soliloquy / Roswell Field -- A n old sweetheart of mine / James Whitcomb Riley -- And the band played / Maurice E. McLaoughlin -- The ballad of the colors ; Ben Bolt / Thomas Dunn English -- A brave little girl ; Casey at the bat / Anon -- The cataract of Lodore / Robert Southey -- The countersign was Mary / Margaret Eytinge -- Dinnis Kilboo's sanatarium / Chas. T. Catlin -- A dude in a horse-car / G.W. Kyle -- Elsinore / Lucy H. Hooper -- Entertaining sister's beau / Bret Harte -- Family financiering ; Farmer John ; Father's voice ; A fly's cogitations / Anon -- Foreign views of the statue / Fred. Emerson Brooks -- Going to school / Anon -- Grandma -- The granger and the gambler / W.H. -- A great tune / John Habberton -- Hail fellow, well met / Albert Hardy -- Hans and Fritz -- How girls study / Belle McDonald -- Jack the evangelist / N.Y. Evangelist -- The kitchen clock / J.V. Cheney -- Life's magnet / Ella Wheeler Wilcox -- The little boy's prayer / S.M. Talbot -- Little Nan -- Little orphant Annie / James Whitcomb Riley -- A little woman / Eugene Field -- Maud Rosihue's choice / T. Edwin Leary -- The mischievous misses / James G. Small -- Miss Maloney on the Chinese question / Mary M. Dodge -- Mrs. Stuart learns how to skate / Clara Augusta -- My lover / Emma Mortimer White -- My garden / Anon -- Nancy / Arty Brace -- Now and then / Anon -- O captain, my captain / Walt Whitman -- The old man in a palace car / John H. Yates -- The orthod-ox team / Fred Emerson Brooks -- The porter's story / Maurice Edmunds -- The proposal -- Romeo and Juliet / The Poet-Scout -- Room enough for all / Anon -- The saint and the sinner / Madeline Bridges -- Sam / Albert Hardy -- A schoolroom idyl / Charles B. Going -- A telephone message -- The countersign / J. Hooker Hamersley -- Uncle Ned's defense / Anon -- Unforgiven / Frank McHale -- The valentine / Mary D. Brine -- Wash dolly up like that / Eleanor Kirk Ames -- What is a gentleman / N.L. O'D -- The witness / Anon -- Yellow roses / J. Hooker Hamersley.

Original journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, 1804-1806; printed from the original manuscripts in the library of the American Philosophical Society and by direction of its committee on historical documents, together with manuscript material of Lewis and Clark from other sources, including note-books, letters, maps, etc., and the journals of Charles Floyd and Joseph Whitehouse, now for the first time published in full and exactly as written.

Vol. 8 has title: Atlas accompanying the original journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, 1804-1806, being facsimile reproductions of maps, chiefly by William Clark ... Now for the first time published, from the original manuscripts ... together with a modern map of the route ...

The works of Voltaire : a contemporary version ; with notes by Tobias Smollett, rev. and modernized ; new translations by William F. Fleming and an introd. by Oliver H. G. Leigh. A critique and biography /

At head of title: Edition säns soucï.

Familiar studies of men and books /

Victor Hugo's romances.--Some aspects of Robert Burns.--Walt Whitman.--Henry David Thoreau: his character and opinions.--Yoshida-Torajiro.--François Villon, student, poet, and housebreaker.--Charles of Orleans.--Samuel Pepys.--John Knox and his relations to women.

French celebrities, as seen by their contemporaries. A series of brief biographies of the foremost Frenchmen of our day.

Vol. 2 has title: French celebrities. Part second. By Jules Claretie, and others.