In vitro assessment of the cytotoxic, apoptotic, and mutagenic potentials of Isatin

Isatin (1H-indole-2,3-dione) is a chemical found in various medicinal plant species and responsible for a broad spectrum of pharmacological and biological properties that may be beneficial to human health, as an anticonvulsant, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and anticancer agent. The aim of the present study was to determine in vitro the cytotoxic, mutagenic, and apoptotic effects of isatin on CHO-K1 and HeLa cells using the MTT viability assay (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide), micronucleus (MN) test, apoptosis index, and nuclear division index (NDI). The 5 isatin concentrations evaluated in the mutagenicity and apoptosis tests were 0.5, 1, 5, 10, and 50 μM, selected through a preliminary MTT assay. Positive (doxorubicin, DXR) and negative (phosphate buffered saline, PBS) control groups were also included in the analysis. Isatin did not exert a mutagenic effect on CHO-K1 after 3 and 24 h of treatment or on HeLa cells after 24 h. However, 10 and 50 μM concentrations inhibited cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis in both CHO-K1 and HeLa cells. Data indicate that the cytotoxic, apoptotic, and antiproliferative effects of isatin were concentration independent and cell line independent. The authors thank Profa Dra Eiko Nakagawa Itano for the use the spectrophotometer and the Conselho Nacional para o Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico for master's scholarships to P. M. Cândido-Bacani and grants to T. R. Calvo, W. Vilegas, E. A. Varanda and I. M. S. Cólus. The Conselho Nacional para o Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico provided funding for this study. © 2013 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Spin and pseudospin symmetries of the Dirac equation with confining central potentials

We derive the node structure of the radial functions which are solutions of the Dirac equation with scalar S and vector V confining central potentials, in the conditions of exact spin or pseudospin symmetry, i.e., when one has V=±S+C, where C is a constant. We show that the node structure for exact spin symmetry is the same as the one for central potentials which go to zero at infinity but for exact pseudospin symmetry the structure is reversed. We obtain the important result that it is possible to have positive energy bound solutions in exact pseudospin symmetry conditions for confining potentials of any shape, including naturally those used in hadron physics, from nuclear to quark models. Since this does not occur for potentials going to zero at large distances, which are used in nuclear relativistic mean-field potentials or in the atomic nucleus, this shows the decisive importance of the asymptotic behavior of the scalar and vector central potentials on the onset of pseudospin symmetry and on the node structure of the radial functions. Finally, we show that these results are still valid for negative energy bound solutions for antifermions. © 2013 American Physical Society.

Normative study and evaluation of age influence on Brainstem auditory evoked potentials in mixed breed dogs]

The aim of this paper was to obtain normative data of auditory evoked potentials from 34 mixed breed dogs and evaluate the age influence. The animals were divided in two groups of different ages and auditory evoked potential was performed with a 85dB stimulus intensity. Group 1 included 16 dogs between 1 and 8 years of age, and group 2 included 18 dogs with over 8 years of age. The length and head diameter were measured and there was no statistical difference between the two groups. In group 1, mean latencies of waves I, III, and V were 1.13; 2.64, and 3.45ms, and the intervals I-III, III-V, and I-V were 1.51; 0.81, and 2.32 ms, respectively. In group 2, the mean latencies of waves I, III and V were 1.15, 2.62, and 3.55ms, and the intervals I-III, III-V, and I-V were 1.47, 0.93, and 2.40ms, respectively. The latencies observed in this study were similar to previous studies conducted by other authors. It was observed that significant differences were present for wave V and intervals III-V and I-V latencies when comparing groups with different ages, consequently this characteristic must be considered during BAEP result interpretation.

Potentials of e-Health in the social and epidemiological context of Latin America and the Caribbean

Includes bibliography

Contrast sensitivity of pattern transient VEP components: contribution from M and P pathways

The purpose of this study was to compare contrast sensitivity estimated from transient visual evoked potentials (VEPs) elicited by achromatic pattern-reversal and pattern-onset/offset modes. The stimuli were 2-cpd, achromatic horizontal gratings presented either as a 1 Hz pattern reversal or a 300 ms onset/700 ms offset stimulus. Contrast thresholds were estimated by linear regression to amplitudes of VEP components vs. the logarithm of the stimulus contrasts, and these regressions were extrapolated to the zero amplitude level. Contrast sensitivity was defined as the inverse of contrast threshold. For pattern reversal, the relation between the P100 amplitude and log of the stimulus contrast was best described by two separate linear regressions. For the N135 component, a single straight line was sufficient. In the case of pattern onset/offset for both the C1 and C2 components, single straight lines described their amplitude vs. log contrast relations in the medium-to-low contrast range. Some saturation was observed for C2 components. The contrast sensitivity estimated from the low-contrast limb of the P100, from the N135, and from the C2 were all similar but higher than those obtained from the high-contrast limb of the P100 and C1 data, which were also similar to each other. With 2 cpd stimuli, a mechanism possibly driven by the M pathway appeared to contribute to the P100 component at medium-to-low contrasts and to the N135 and C2 components at all contrast levels, whereas another mechanism, possibly driven by the P and M pathways, appeared to contribute to the P100 component at high contrast and C1 component at all contrast levels.

Comparison of the reliability of multifocal visual evoked cortical potentials generated by pattern reversal and pattern pulse stimulation

This study compared the effectiveness of the multifocal visual evoked cortical potentials (mfVEP) elicited by pattern pulse stimulation with that of pattern reversal in producing reliable responses (signal-to-noise ratio >1.359). Participants were 14 healthy subjects. Visual stimulation was obtained using a 60-sector dartboard display consisting of 6 concentric rings presented in either pulse or reversal mode. Each sector, consisting of 16 checks at 99% Michelson contrast and 80 cd/m2 mean luminance, was controlled by a binary m-sequence in the time domain. The signal-to-noise ratio was generally larger in the pattern reversal than in the pattern pulse mode. The number of reliable responses was similar in the central sectors for the two stimulation modes. At the periphery, pattern reversal showed a larger number of reliable responses. Pattern pulse stimuli performed similarly to pattern reversal stimuli to generate reliable waveforms in R1 and R2. The advantage of using both protocols to study mfVEP responses is their complementarity: in some patients, reliable waveforms in specific sectors may be obtained with only one of the two methods. The joint analysis of pattern reversal and pattern pulse stimuli increased the rate of reliability for central sectors by 7.14% in R1, 5.35% in R2, 4.76% in R3, 3.57% in R4, 2.97% in R5, and 1.78% in R6. From R1 to R4 the reliability to generate mfVEPs was above 70% when using both protocols. Thus, for a very high reliability and thorough examination of visual performance, it is recommended to use both stimulation protocols.

Potentials of biogas production from young bulls manure fed with different diets

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Existence of solutions for a class of degenerate quasilinear elliptic equation in R-N with vanishing potentials

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Fractional fermion charges induced by axial-vector and vector gauge potentials and parity anomaly in planar graphenelike structures

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

The plant ionome revisited by the nutrient balance concept

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

Temperature charts of Hevea brasiliensis during log steaming and its effect on the board cracks

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Analytical multikinks in smooth potentials

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

N=2 supersymmetric QCD and elliptic potentials

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

Surface potentials of corona-charged ferroelectric P(VDF-TrFE) copolymer samples

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Estudo de caso do conforto térmico de dois modelos construtivos em madeira: wood frame e log home

O presente trabalho consiste em demonstrar valores referentes ao conforto ambiental de dois modelos construtivos, sendo o primeiro um edifício já executado e o outro em fase de implantação, ambos no Campus Experimental de Itapeva, aplicando alguns conceitos em habitação mais sustentáveis de madeira na região de Itapeva, estado de São Paulo, Brasil. A edificação construída sedia duas salas de aula a partir da tipologia construtiva wood frame, constituída basicamente de paredes autoportantes compostas de ossatura de madeira tratada de pinus.sp, chapas estruturais em OSB, manta de isolamento térmico/acústico e fechamento interno e externo, respectivamente em gesso e sidding (lambris de madeira). A habitação em fase de início de implantação foi idealizada a partir da tipologia construtiva log-home, e atenderá a necessidade de espaço físico para abrigar o Centro Acadêmico e a empresa-júnior “PROMAD”, ambos do curso de Engenharia Industrial Madeireira do Campus Experimental da UNESP/Itapeva. Esta construção foi elaborada a partir de técnicas de baixo impacto ambiental, levando em consideração os resultados de análise térmica obtidos na edificação anterior. Em ambos modelos construtivos foram empregados recursos renováveis abundantes na região, como a madeira de reflorestamento de Pinus e de Eucalipto. Foi acrescentado ainda ao segundo modelo a utilização de resíduos industriais lignocelulósicos, como rolete de laminação e outros materiais locais disponíveis. A metodologia básica empregada para a obtenção de dados sobre o conforto térmico em relação as edificações foi, para o primeiro caso, a coleta de dados de temperatura e umidade utilizando um termo-higrômetro, a sistematização e análise de dados reais obtidos no interior da edificação. No segundo caso, o dimensionamento do conforto térmico... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo)