Potential tuberculostatic agents. Topliss application on benzoic acid [(5-nitro-thiophen-2-yl)-methylene]-hydrazide series

Nitroaromatic compounds such as nifuroxazide are used in many human enteropathogenic bacteria infections without causing an increase in the plasmidial antibiotic resistance of the aerobic Gram-negative intestinal Enterobacteriaceae. For these reasons, these compounds have been synthesized using the rational approach of Topliss' decision tree. Generally. this approach allows us to obtain the most active derivative from the series in a few steps. These compounds were tested against Mycobacterium tuberculosis in vitro and the most active of the series identified. A new lead for potential tuberculostatic activity has been predicted and will be used in further QSAR studies. (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. Ltd. All rights reserved.

Low protein diet confers resistance to the inhibitory effects of interleukin1 beta on insulin secretion in pancreatic islets

High protein content in the diet during childhood and adolescence has been associated to the onset insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. We investigated the effect of interleukin-1 beta (IL-I beta) on insulin secretion, glucose metabolism, and nitrite formation by islets isolated from rats fed with normal protein (NP, 17%) or low protein (LP, 6%) after weaning. Pretreatment of islets with IL-1 beta for 1 h or 34 h inhibited the insulin secretion induced by glucose in both groups, but it was less marked in LP than in NP group. Islets from LP rats exhibited a decreased IL-1 beta -induced nitric oxide (NO) production, lower inhibition of D-[(UC)-C-14]-glucose oxidation to (CO2)-C-14, and less pronounced effect of IL-1 beta on alpha -ketoisocaproic acid-induced insulin secretion than NP islets. However, when the islets were stimulated by high concentrations of K+ the inhibitory effect of IL-1 beta on insulin secretion was not different between groups. In conclusion, protein restriction protects beta -cells of the deleterious effect of IL-1 beta, apparently, by decreasing NO production. The lower NO generation in islets from protein deprived rats may be due to increased free fatty acids oxidation and consequent alteration in Ca2+ homeostasis. (C) 2001 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Influence of voids on the flexural resistance of the NCF/RTM6 composites

A major difficulty to achieve maximum weight savings in the manufacture of composite structural components, is the tendency of these materials have the formation of voids and cracks in the interior and surface components. In aeronautical applications, controlling the volume fraction of fibers, resins and empty the components of composite is very hard. In this work, composites of epoxy matrix RTM6 reinforced with NCF (non crimp fabric carbon) processed by resin transfer molding (RTM) were characterized for porosity (P-ap) and density (rho(ad)). We used a method based on Archimedes' principle (ASTM C830) and the technique of helium pycnometer. The porosity values were compared with those determined by acid digestion (ASTM D3171). The mechanical properties of processed composites was evaluated by testing on the performing flexural and the results were correlated with the porosity value. All techniques tested to determine void content are satisfactory. The differents results can be justified for heterogeneous void distribution on laminate and differences among techniques characteristics. (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and/or peer-review under responsibility of ICM11

A first case of protease codon 35 amino acid insertion in a HIV-1 subtype B sequence detected in the Bauru region, state of São Paulo, Brazil: case report

Inserções de aminoácidos na protease têm sido raramente descritas em pacientes infectados pelo HIV. Uma destas inserções foi, recentemente, descrita no codon 35, embora seu impacto na resistência mantém-se pouco conhecido. Este trabalho apresenta um caso de uma variante viral com inserção no codon 35 da protease, descrita pela primeira vez em Bauru, São Paulo, Brasil, circulante em um homem, caucasiano, com 38 anos, o qual apresenta infecção assintomática pelo HIV desde 1997. A variante isolada mostrou uma inserção no codon 35 da protease de dois aminoácidos: uma treonina e um ácido aspártico, resultando na sequência de aminoácidos E35E_TD.

Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA): molecular background, virulence, and relevance for public health

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

MUSCLE MASS GAIN AFTER RESISTANCE TRAINING IS INVERSELY CORRELATED WITH TRUNK ADIPOSITY GAIN IN POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

High plasma uric acid concentration: causes and consequences

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Antibiotic treatment schemes for very severe community-acquired pneumonia in children: a randomized clinical study

Objective. To compare clinical response to initial empiric treatment with oxacillin plus ceftriaxone and amoxicillin plus clavulanic acid in hospitalized children diagnosed with very severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).Methods. A prospective randomized clinical study was conducted among children 2 months to 5 years old with a diagnosis of very severe CAP in the pediatric ward of São Paulo State University Hospital in Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil, from April 2007 to May 2008. Patients were randomly divided into two groups by type of treatment: an oxacillin/ceftriaxone group (OCG, n = 48) and an amoxicillin/clavulanic acid group (ACG, n = 56). Analyzed outcomes were: time to clinical improvement (fever and tachypnea), time on oxygen therapy, length of stay in hospital, need to widen antimicrobial spectrum, and complications (including pleural effusion).Results. The two groups did not differ statistically for age, sex, symptom duration before admission, or previous antibiotic treatment. Time to improve tachypnea was less among ACG patients than OCG patients (4.8 +/- 2.2 versus 5.8 +/- 2.4 days respectively; P = 0.028), as was length of hospital stay (11.0 +/- 6.2 versus 14.4 +/- 4.5 days respectively; P = 0.002). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups for fever improvement time, time on oxygen therapy, need to widen antimicrobial spectrum, or frequency of pleural effusion.Conclusions. Both treatment plans are effective in treating very severe CAP in 2-monthto 5-year-old hospitalized children. The only analyzed outcome that favored amoxicillin/clavulanic acid treatment was time required to improve tachypnea.

Use of anaerobic cecal microflora, lactose and acetic acid for the protection of broiler chicks against experimental infection with Salmonella Typhimurium and Salmonella enteritidis

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

Haematological response and growth performance of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.) fed diets containing folic acid

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

Antimicrobial resistance of aerobes and facultative anaerobes isolated from the oral cavity

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

Oxacillin Resistance and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profile of Staphylococcus saprophyticus and Other Staphylococci Isolated from Patients with Urinary Tract Infection

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

Comparison of naturally acquired parasite burdens among Florida Native, Rambouillet and crossbreed ewes

The response to natural infection by gastrointestinal nematodes was evaluated in three groups of lambing mature ewes: 16 Florida Native; 21 Rambouillet; and 18 1/2 Florida Native x 1/2 Rambouillet (F1 generation). Fecal egg counts (FEC),packed cell volume (PCV) and plasma protein levels were determined periodically through a one-year period. The highest FEC was recorded in Rambouillet ewes, with most of the means higher than 1000 eggs per gram (EPG). Florida Native and Fl ewes showed similar trends in FEC, with most of the means below 500 EPG. The highest mean PCV values were recorded in Florida Native ewes, followed in decreasing order by Fl and Rambouillet ewes. Fl ewes showed the lowest plasma protein levels and Florida Natives the highest. Fecal cultures revealed the highest percentages of Haemonchus larvae in Rambouillet ewes (>64%) and the lowest percentages in Florida Native ewes. Florida Native and Fl ewes were more resistant to gastrointestinal nematode infections than were Rambouillet ewes. High negative correlation coefficients between FEC x PCV and FEC x plasma protein levels coincided with peaks in mean FEC of Rambouillet (May and July), Florida Native and Fl ewes (October). This study showed that crossbreeding Rambouillet and Florida Native sheep resulted in the production of Fl ewes resistant against gastrointestinal nematode infections. (C) 1999 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Ultrastructural changes in the ovary cells of engorged Rhipicephalus sanguineus female ticks treated with esters of ricinoleic acid from castor oil (Ricinus communis)

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

Evaluation of the addition of ascorbic acid to the ration of cultivated Piaractus mesopotamicus (Characidae) on the infrapopulation of Anacanthorus penilabiatus (Monogenea)

Sixty Piaractus mesopotamicus Holmberg, 1887 (pacu) fry fed a diet containing 0, 50, 100 and 200 mg ascorbic acid/kg dry feed were studied to evaluate the effect on parasitic infestation by the monogenean Anacanthorus penilabiatus Boeger, Husak and Martins, 1995 (Monogenea: Dactylogyridae) for a period of 24 weeks. The temperature of the aquaria was measured daily and remained between 28 and 31oC. At the beginning of the experiment, fish showed 6.15 ± 0.33 cm standard length and 8.64 ± 1.62 g average body weight. A sample of fish was examined and showed 43 ± 17 monogeneans per fish. At the end of the experiment, the gills of control and vitamin C-treated fish were collected for parasite counts. Control fish had 42.5 parasites per fish, a significantly higher number (P<0.05) when compared with fish fed vitamin C, that showed 16.5 parasites per fish. Ascorbic acid fortification in the food promoted an increase in fish resistance to parasites. It is suggested that an optimum level of 139 mg/kg vitamin C supplementation either elicited better nutritional conditions by stimulating the appetite of the fish or improved the immune response.