Behavioral and biological correlates of medicine use in type 2 diabetic patients attended by Brazilian public healthcare system

A relação entre atividade física e consumo de medicamentos não é clara. Assim, o objetivo do estudo foi investigar a relação entre nível de atividade física e uso de medicamentosem diabéticos tipo 2 atendidos pelo Sistema Único de Saúde. A amostra foi composta por 121 diabéticos do tipo 2 de ambos os sexos atendidos pelos sistema público de saúde. Gordura corporal (antropometria e bioimpedância elétrica), atividade física (Questionário de Baecke) e uso de medicamentos (15 dias prévios a avaliação) foram avaliados. Houve relação entre uso de medicamentos e sexo (r = 0.18; p = 0.045), índice de massa corporal (r = 0.22; p = 0.012), circunferência de cintura (r = 0.19; p = 0.029), percentual de gordura (r = 0.21; p = 0.016), idade (r = 0.23; p = 0.009) e atividade física (r = -0.22; p = 0.012). A regressão linear incluiu no modelo apenas idade (β = 0.718; p = 0.057), IMC BMI (β = 0.057; p = 0.022) e atividade física (β = -0.176; p = 0.044) no modelo multivariado. Conclui-se que a prática de atividade física diminui uso de medicamentos independente da idade e obesidade.

Biological Activity of Quinoline Alkaloids from Raulinoa echinata and X-ray Structure of Flindersiamine

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

Biological aspects of the leafminer Liriomyza sativae (Diptera: Agromyzidae) on melon (Cucumis melo L.)

A mosca-minadora Liriomyza sativae Blanchard é uma praga importante em cultivos de meloeiro (Cucumis melo L.) no Brasil. No entanto, as suas informações sobre biologia, em meloeiro, são escassas. Portanto, o objetivo deste trabalho foi conhecer alguns aspectos biológicos dessa praga, criada em plantas de meloeiro, em condições de laboratório a 25°C. As informações obtidas mostram que o ciclo biológico de L. sativae é de 15,9±0,04 dias (ovo-adulto), sendo: ovo (2,7±0,01 dias), larva (4,1±0,03 dias) e pupa (9,1±0,03 dias). A razão sexual é de 0,51 e as fêmeas vivem mais tempo (19,3±1,09 dias) que os machos (16,2±0,96 dias). Essas informações podem auxiliar na adoção de medidas de manejo integrado de L. sativae em cultivos de meloeiro e melhorar os sistemas de criação da mosca minadora em laboratório.

The influence of soil and landfill leachate microorganisms in the degradation of PVC/PCL films cast from DMF

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

Effects of caffeine and used coffee grounds on biological features of Aedes aegypti (Diptera, Culicidae) and their possible use in alternative control

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Distribution and biological role of the oligopeptide-binding protein (OppA) in Xanthomonas species

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

FACTORS THAT AFFECT THE ENZYMATIC DEGRADATION OF NATURAL STARCH GRANULES - EFFECT OF THE SIZE OF THE GRANULES

In this study the relationship between the enzymatic susceptibility and the size of the com and cassava starch granules was studied. The starch granules were separated by size and classified according to their average diameter in: a) larger than 16 mum; b) between 15 and 10 mum and c) smaller than 10 mum. The starch granules of various sizes were hydrolyzed by bacterial alpha-amylase and fungal amyloglucosidase. The results showed a relationship between the enzymatic susceptibility and the size of the starch granules; smaller size of the starch granules resulted in a higher percentage of hydrolysis. A basic difference in the mode of action of enzymes on small and large granules was observed. Enzymatic attack on the large granules was characterized by considerable surface corrosion, mainly at the radial axis. For small granules, the enzymatic action occurred on the surface of the granules and was characterized by an erosion with solubilization of the granules. Chemical and physical analysis of the starches suggested that hydrolysis should occur mainly at the amorphous areas of the granules.

TiO2 films organofunctionalized with 2-aminothiazole ligand and adsorbed Pd(II) ions applied in the photocatalytic degradation of phenol in an aqueous medium

This paper describes the preparation of thin titanium films via sol-gel route and their subsequent chemical modification by anchoring with 2-aminothiazole ligand and Pd(II) ion sorption, aiming to maximize the photocatalytic activity. The material was characterized by diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy, ultraviolet and visible spectrometry, X-ray diffractometry, and scanning electronic microscopy. The amount of palladium adsorbed on the film's surface, determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry, showed a value of 2.69 x 10(16) atoms CM-2. The photocatalytic tests indicated that the functionalization with 2-aminothiazole and the adsorption of palladium (II) were determinants in the semiconductor's enhanced photocatalytic activity. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Synthesis, spectroscopic characterization and biological analysis of a new palladium(II) complex with methionine sulfoxide

A new palladium(II) complex with methionine sulfoxide was synthesized and characterized by a set of chemical and spectroscopic techniques. Elemental and mass spectrometry analyses of the solid complex fit to the composition [Pd(C5H10NO3S)(2)]center dot H2O. C-13 NMR, [H-1-N-15] NMR and infrared spectra indicate coordination of the amino acid to Pd(II) through the carboxylate and amino groups in a square planar geometry. The complex is soluble in water.Biological activity was evaluated by cytotoxic analysis using HeLa cells. Determination of cell death was assessed using a tetrazolium salt colorimetric assay, which reflects the cells viability. After incubation for 48 h, 20% of cell death was achieved at a concentration of 200 mu mol L-1 of the complex. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of different electrochemical methods on the oxidation and degradation of Reactive Blue 4 in aqueous solution

The oxidation of a reactive dye, Reactive Blue 4, RB4, (C.I. 61205), widely used in the textile industries to color natural fibers, was studied by electrochemical techniques. The oxidation on glassy carbon electrode and reticulated vitreous carbon electrode occurs in only one step at 2.0 < PH < 12 involving a two-electron transfer to the amine group leading to the imide derivative. Dye solution was not decolorized effectively in this electrolysis process. Nevertheless, the oxidation of this dye on Ti/SnO2/SbOx (3% mol)/RuO2 (1% mol) electrode showed 100% of decolorization and 60% of total organic carbon removal in Na2SO4 0.2 M at PH 2.2 and potential of +2.4 V. Experiments on degradation photoelectrocatalytic were also carried out for RB4 degradation in Na2SO4 0.1 K PH 12, using a Ti/TiO2 photoanode biased at +1.0 V and UV light. After 1 h of electrolysis the results indicated total color removal and 37% of mineralization. (c) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Thermal degradation of a composite solid propellant examined by DSC - Kinetic study

The thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP)/hydroxyl-terminated-polybutadiene (HTPB), the AP/HTPB solid propellant, was studied at different heating rates in dynamic nitrogen atmosphere. The exothermic reaction kinetics was studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) in non-isothermal conditions. The Arrhenius Parameters were estimated according to the Ozawa method. The calculated activation energy was 134.5 W mol(-1), the pre-exponential factor, A, was 2.04.10(10) min(-1) and the reaction order for the global composite decomposition was estimated in 0.7 by the kinetic Shimadzu software based on the Ozawa method. The Kissinger method for obtaining the activation energy value was also used for comparison. These results are discussed here.

Biological leaching of Mn, Al, Zn, Cu and Ti in an anaerobic sewage sludge effectuated by Thiobacillus ferrooxidans and its effect on metal partitioning

The chemical fractionation and bioleaching of Mn, At, Zn, Cu and Ti in municipal sewage sludge were investigated using Thiobacillus ferrooxidans as leaching microorganism. As a result of the bacterial activity, ORP increase and pH reduction were observed. Metal solubilization was accomplished only in experimental systems supplemented with energy source (Fe(II)). The solubilization efficiency approached similar to80% for Mn and Zn, 24% for Cu, 10% for At and 0.2% for Ti. The chemical fractionation of Mn, At, Zn, Cu and Ti was investigated using a five-step sequential extraction procedure employing KNO3. KF, Na4P2O7, EDTA and HNO3. The results show that the bioleaching process affected the partitioning of Mn and Zn, increasing its percentage of elution in the KNO3 fraction while reducing it in the KF, Na4P2O7 and EDTA fractions. No significant effect was detected on the partitioning of Cu and Al. However, quantitatively the metals Mn, Zn, Cu and At were extracted with higher efficiency after the bacterial activity. Titanium was unaffected by the bioleaching process in both qualitative and quantitative aspects. (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. Ltd. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of color removal and degradation of a reactive textile azo dye on nanoporous TiO2 thin-film electrodes

The feasibility of the photobleaching of a textile azo dye, reactive orange 16 (C.I. 17757), in aqueous solution using titanium dioxide thin-film electrodes prepared by the sol-gel method was investigated. The best conditions for maximum photoelectrocatalytic degradation were found to be pH > 10 for Na2SO4 medium and pH < 6 for NaCl. In both situations, an applied potential of +1.0 V and low dye concentration are recommended, when 100% of color removal is obtained after 20 min of photoelectrocatalysis. The effects of side reaction pathway on the degradation rate of dye in sulfate and chloride medium were presented and the best performance are optimized to situations closed to that verified in the textile effluent. The influence of variables as applied potential, pH, supporting electrolyte and dye concentration on the kinetics of photoelectrochemical degradation also were investigated. Oxalic acid is identified by HPLC and UV-Vis spectrophotometric methods as the main degradation product generated after 180 min of photoelectrocatalysis of 4 x 10(-5) mol l(-1) dye in sodium sulphate pH 12 and NaCl pH 4.0 and a maximum reduction of 56 and 62% TOC was obtained, respectively. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Rapid degradation of propanil in rice crop fields

Propanil and its major degradation product, 3,4-dichloroaniline (DCA), were monitored in surface water and soil samples from two rice fields of the Ebre Delta area (Tarragona, Spain) following agricultural application. On-line solid-phase extraction (SPE) (water) and Soxhlet extraction (soil) followed by liquid chromatography/diode array detection (LC/DAD) were used for the trace determination of both compounds. Unequivocal confirmation/identification was conducted by using liquid chromatography/atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-mass spectrometry, LC/APCI/MS (using negative and positive ionization modes). Concentrations of the herbicide propanil in water samples varied from 1.9 to 55.9 mu g/L. Propanil degraded very rapidly to DCA, and high concentrations of this product were found, varying from 16.5 to 470 mu g/L in water and 119 +/- 22 mu g/kg in soil samples. No detectable DCA (<0.001%) was found in the applied pesticide formulation, indicating that DCA formation took place after propanil application. These field results compared favorably with laboratory experiments showing that humic interactions had a strong influence on the pesticide degradation. The half-lifes under real conditions for propanil and DCA, calculated using a first-order decay, were 1.2 and 1.6 days, respectively.

Degradation of the herbicide tebuthiuron using solar photo-Fenton process and ferric citrate complex at circumneutral pH

The influence of pH on the degradation of the herbicide tebuthiuron (TBH) was investigated using in situ generated Fe(III)-citrate complexes (Fe:cit) submitted to the photo-Fenton process under solar irradiation. Using Fe:cit in a wide pH range (2.5-7.5), 100-78% TBH oxidation was achieved respectively from a UV dose of 2.0 J cm(-2) (15 min). Moreover, the oxidation of TBH obtained in the presence of Fe:cit at pH 6.0 was higher than that obtained using Fe(NO3)3 at pH 2.5. A similar behavior is observed for the removal of total organic carbon (TOC) in TBH solutions. In the presence of Fe:cit, 20% and 85% of TOC was removed at pH 7.5 and 2.5, respectively, after 7.5 J cm-2 irradiation, while no mineralization was observed employing Fe(NO3)(3) for the same UV dose. Using Fe(NO3)(3), mineralization was observed only after 11 J cm-2 (8%). A higher mineralization rate was obtained with Fe(NO3)(3) only when a concentration three times higher was employed at pH 2.5. Besides the high efficiency of TBH degradation observed using the ferric citrate complex in the solar photo-Fenton process, it also offers the advantage of application at a pH of up to 7.5. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.