Potencial alelopático de duas neolignanas isoladas de folhas de Virola surinamensis (Myristicaceae)

Este trabalho teve por objetivos isolar, identificar e caracterizar a atividade alelopática de substâncias químicas presentes nas folhas de Virola surinamensis. O processo de isolamento e identificação das substâncias químicas envolveu o uso de solventes orgânicos e de Ressonância Magnética Nuclear (RMN ¹H, RMN ¹³C e RMN ¹³C-DEPT), espectro de COSY e de HETCOR. A avaliação da atividade alelopática foi realizada em bioensaios de germinação de sementes, em condições de 25 ºC de temperatura constante e fotoperíodo de 12 horas, e de desenvolvimento da radícula e do hipocótilo, com 25 ºC de temperatura constante e fotoperíodo de 24 horas, empregando-se concentrações variando de 1,0 a 8,0 mg L^-1. Como plantas receptoras, foram utilizadas as espécies daninhas Mimosa pudica, Senna obtusifolia e Senna occidentalis. Foram isoladas e identificadas duas neolignanas: a surinamensina e a virolina. A tendência geral observada nos resultados foi de aumento da intensidade dos efeitos alelopáticos inibitórios em função do aumento da concentração, com inibições máximas obtidas, sempre, na concentração de 8,0 mg L^-1. A surinamensina apresentou maior potencial para inibir a germinação e o desenvolvimento da radícula e do hipocótilo do que a virolina, independentemente da espécie receptora e do fator da planta analisado. Considerando-se as intensidades dos efeitos promovidos sobre os três fatores das plantas, o desenvolvimento da radícula e o do hipocótilo foram mais intensamente inibidos pelas duas substâncias do que a germinação das sementes. À exceção dos efeitos verificados sobre o desenvolvimento do hipocótilo, malícia foi a espécie de maior sensibilidade aos efeitos alelopáticos das duas neolignanas, enquanto mata-pasto foi aquela que evidenciou inibições de menor magnitude.

Incorporação de tiofosfatos em vidros calcogenetos: estrutura e fenômenos fotoinduzidos

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Perfil de pacientes portadores de gastrostomia e o papel dos cuidadores no domicílio

Pós-graduação em Enfermagem (mestrado profissional) - FMB

Preparation and Characterization of Chitosan Nanoparticles for Zidovudine Nasal Delivery

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

Necrose Asséptica da cabeça do fêmur

Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease is a non-inflammatory aseptic necrosis of the head of the femur that is found in both young animals and humans before the gap in the femur head closes. In the fields of both human and veterinary medicine the cause of this condition is not known for certain. Various factors have been put forward in the literature as being responsible for the incidence of this condition such as: abnormalities in coagulation, changes in blood flow in the arteries, a septic obstruction in the draining of the epiphysis or the upper parts of the femur, trauma, growth cycle, hyperactivity in a child, genetic influences and dietary factors. Case histories in dogs show that the first stages of the condition progress slowly but that limping or putting weight on the limb worsens at 6 to 8 weeks. Some owners talk about a sharp onset in clinical lameness. Other clinical symptoms may include irritability, loss of appetite and knawing at the hair surrounding the affected hip. In the course of physical examination manipulating the hip joint will cause pain to the animal. The advanced stages of the disease may result in restricted amplitude of movement, muscular atrophy and fracturing. In humans the clinical signs are similar, although progression of the disease is slower so that it can be diagnosed at an earlier stage. In veterinary medicine the diagnosis is, in the main, based on case history, clinical symptoms, physical examination and certain related procedures such as radiography. The various diagnoses include physical trauma and dislocation of the medial patella. In human medicine many people have been correctly diagnosed. Whatsmore, there is a range of related procedures that are virtually not available to veterinary medicine such as magnetic nuclear resonance, that show up necroses with great clarity before radiography and cintilography do, and is considered... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Confecção e caracterização de filmes finos de boro para a medida da taxa de reação 10B(N, a)7LI na terapia por captura de nêutrons pelo boro

The Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT), based on the 10B(n,α)7Li reaction, represents a promising modality for the treatment of cancers that are resistents to conventional treatments. So, it is necessary to find drugs (boron compounds) with high selectivity for each type of cancer, the neutrons source should be well characterized and the rate of 10B(n,α)7Li reaction should be measured with great accuracy as possible. This study aimed to develop a method for manufacturing thin films of boron, for measure the 10B(n,α)7Li reaction, and analyze the uniformity of the films. Five thin films of boron were manufactured with three different concentrations of boric acid, heated to transform the acid in boron, irradiated with thermic neutrons coupled to CR-39 detectors, in BNCT line at the reactor IEA-R1 IPEN/CNEN, São Paulo. After the irradiation, the detectors were chemically attacked with NaOH to reveal the tracks. The methodology presented is effective because it resulted in deposition of boron as thin film enabling the quantitative analysis of 10B(n,α)7Li reaction. The analysis of the uniformity of density of the induced tracks in CR-39 shows that, in most of the films, there is no uniformity in surface distribution of boron, but when the film is divided, we obtain some uniform sectors

Synthesis and preliminary characterization of Poly(Propylene)Imine hexadecylamine dendrimer (DAB-Am-16) modified with methyl acrylate

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

Revisão dos principais radiofármacos utilizados no Brasil e suas aplicações na detecção e terapia de patologias

Radiopharmaceuticals are substances marked with radionuclides that can be used for detection and treatment of cancer, infections and inflammatory diseases. They emit several types of radiation through different decay routes, each radioisotope with its specific properties and uses. They can usually be produced from several different materials, by bombardment with particle beams in a nuclear research reactor or cyclotron, depending on their characteristics. Brazil has four public institutions which produce - or import - and distribute radiopharmaceuticals to hospitals and clinics throughout its territory. The largest such institution, Ipen, distributes 97% of radiopharmaceuticals used in the country. Some radiopharmaceuticals decay very quickly, meaning they must be produced and quickly administered to the patient in the same location, presenting a logistical challenge. Nuclear medicine in Brazil is a promising field and has been steadily growing, although rigid laws and a lack of qualified work force hinder Research and Development efforts for new radiopharmaceuticals. The construction of a new nuclear research reactor, in 2016, should generate self-sufficiency and economy in radiopharmaceutical production and avoid a future crisis in the supply of technetium-99m, the most important radioisotope, used in over 80% of procedures with radiopharmaceuticals.

First identification of interspecies hybridization in the freshwater stingrays Potamotrygon motoro and P-falkneri (Myliobatiformes, Potamotrygonidae)

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

Decompressive craniectomy and cerebral blood flow regulation in head injured patients: A case studied by perfusion CT

Previous studies have reported increased cerebral blood flow (CBF) velocity after decompressive craniectomy in traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients. A 27-year-old man presented with clinical and tomographic signs of cerebral herniation secondary to TBI. Prior to decompressive craniectomy, hemodynamic study by perfusion computed tomography (CT) indicated diffuse cerebral hyperperfusion. Following surgical decompression, the patient recovered neurologically and perfusion CT disclosed a decrease in the intensity of cerebral perfusion. The patient's blood pressure levels were similar at both pre- and postoperative perfusion CT examinations. This finding provides indirect evidence that decompressive craniectomy may improve mechanisms of CBF regulation in TBI, providing pathophysiological insights in the cerebral hemodynamics of TBI patients. This is the first report analyzing the hemodynamic changes through perfusion CT (PCT) in a patient with decompressive craniotomy due to TBI. (C) 2012 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Influence of effective number of pulses on the morphological structure of teeth and bovine femur after femtosecond laser ablation

Femtosecond lasers have been widely used in laser surgery as an instrument for contact-free tissue removal of hard dental, restorative materials, and osseous tissues, complementing conventional drilling or cutting tools. In order to obtain a laser system that provides an ablation efficiency comparable to mechanical instruments, the laser pulse rate must be maximal without causing thermal damage. The aim of this study was to compare the different morphological characteristics of the hard tissue after exposure to lasers operating in the femtosecond pulse regime. Two different kinds of samples were irradiated: dentin from human extracted teeth and bovine femur samples. Different procedures were applied, while paying special care to preserving the structures. The incubation factor S was calculated to be 0.788 +/- 0.004 for the bovine femur bone. These results indicate that the incubation effect is still substantial during the femtosecond laser ablation of hard tissues. The plasma-induced ablation has reduced side effects, i.e., we observe less thermal and mechanical damage when using a superficial femtosecond laser irradiation close to the threshold conditions. In the femtosecond regime, the morphology characteristics of the cavity were strongly influenced by the change of the effective number of pulses. (C) 2012 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). [DOI: 10.1117/1.JBO.17.4.048001]

Study of electron densities of normal and neoplastic human breast tissues by Compton scattering using synchrotron radiation

Electron densities of 33 samples of normal (adipose and fibroglangular) and neoplastic (benign and malignant) human breast tissues were determined through Compton scattering data using a mono-chromatic synchrotron radiation source and an energy dispersive detector. The area of Compton peaks was used to determine the electron densities of the samples. Adipose tissue exhibits the lowest values of electron density whereas malignant tissue the highest. The relationship with their histology was discussed. Comparison with previous results showed differences smaller than 4%. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Response functions of Si(Li), SDD and CdTe detectors for mammographic x-ray spectroscopy

In this work, the energy response functions of Si(Li), SDD and CdTe detectors were studied in the mammographic energy range through Monte Carlo simulation. The code was modified to take into account carrier transport effects and the finite detector energy resolution. The results obtained show that all detectors exhibit good energy response at low energies. The most important corrections for each detector were discussed, and the corrected mammographic x-ray spectra obtained with each one were compared. Results showed that all detectors provided similar corrected spectra, and, therefore, they could be used to accurate mammographic x-ray spectroscopy. Nevertheless, the SDD is particularly suitable for clinic mammographic x-ray spectroscopy due to the easier correction procedure and portability. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Characterization of an extrapolation chamber for low-energy X-rays: Experimental and Monte Carlo preliminary results

The extrapolation chamber is a parallel-plate ionization chamber that allows variation of its air-cavity volume. In this work, an experimental study and MCNP-4C Monte Carlo code simulations of an ionization chamber designed and constructed at the Calibration Laboratory at IFEN to be used as a secondary dosimetry standard for low-energy X-rays are reported. The results obtained were within the international recommendations, and the simulations showed that the components of the extrapolation chamber may influence its response up to 11.0%. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

REALISTIC IVUS IMAGE GENERATION IN DIFFERENT INTRALUMINAL PRESSURES

Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) phantoms are important to calibrate and evaluate many IVUS imaging processing tasks. However, phantom generation is never the primary focus of related works; hence, it cannot be well covered, and is usually based on more than one platform, which may not be accessible to investigators. Therefore, we present a framework for creating representative IVUS phantoms, for different intraluminal pressures, based on the finite element method and Field II. First, a coronary cross-section model is selected. Second, the coronary regions are identified to apply the properties. Third, the corresponding mesh is generated. Fourth, the intraluminal force is applied and the deformation computed. Finally, the speckle noise is incorporated. The framework was tested taking into account IVUS contrast, noise and strains. The outcomes are in line with related studies and expected values. Moreover, the framework toolbox is freely accessible and fully implemented in a single platform. (E-mail: fernando.okara@gmail.com) (c) 2012 World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology.