Effect of a novel soy fermented product enriched with isoflavones and calcium on bone tissue of rats.

The objective was to evaluate the effect of soy fermented product intake on the corporal weight and bone tissue of ovariectomized mature rats. This product was fermented with Enterococcusfaecium and Lactobacillus jugurti and enriched with isoflavones and calcium. The animals were divided in 5 groups: sham-ovariectomized; ovariectomized; ovariectomized treated with soy fermented product enriched with isoflavones and calcium; ovariectomized treated with soy fermented product enriched with calcium and ovariectomized treated with nonfermented product enriched only with calcium. In order to evaluate the effect of the tested product on bone tissue (femur and tibia), the following parameters were analyzed: length; mechanical assay of three points; density (Archimedes principle); mineral content; calcium content; measure of the trabecular widths. The corporal weight of group treated with soy fermented product containing isoflavones and calcium showed no statistical difference from sham-ovariectomized group and trabecular widths tended to have larger than ovariectomized group. However, there was no significant difference to the other evaluated parameters in result of the diverse treatments. Thus, soy fermented product enriched with isoflavones and calcium inhibited the increasing of corporal weight caused by ovariectomy and revealed a tendency to trabecular protection after castration.

Amphotericin B Microemulsion Reduces Toxicity and Maintains the Efficacy as an Antifungal Product

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

The Styracaceae

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

Hydrogen production utilizing glycerol from renewable feedstocks-The case of Brazil

Various reports concerning catalytic reaction of glycerol for hydrogen production is available. However, economic analyses of this activity are not found yet. The objective of this work is to evaluate the process of hydrogen production via steam reforming of glycerol obtained through transesterification process of bio-oils. The thermochemical process of steam reforming process was determined due to high efficiency, feasibility and lower cost of design, development, operation and maintenance. These bio-oils come from feedstocks largely encountered in Brazil such as soybean, palm, castor bean, peanut and cotton seed as also come from residues such as defective coffee, tallow beef, wastewater (scum) and others. Various findings were obtained such as potential of production of glycerol utilizing residues (considering available amounts in the Brazilian states) and some vegetable feedstocks (considering production of harvested feedstock per hectare). Subsequently, production of hydrogen via steam reforming of generated glycerol, and foreseen electricity production via fuel cells were also determined. An additional estimation was paid for production of H-BIO, an innovative fuel developed by PETROBRAS (Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.), where hydrogen and bio-fuel are utilized and generates propane as co-product. About this work, it was concluded that high amounts of hydrogen and electricity could be produced considering an enormous potential from each cited feedstock being an attractive alternative as distributed electricity source and as an additional source for some activities, inclusively those that produce their own feedstocks such as abattoirs (beef tallow), and wastewater treatment plants. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The six-minute walk test and body weight-walk distance product in healthy Brazilian subjects

We assessed the 6-min walk distance (6MWD) and body weight x distance product (6MWw) in healthy Brazilian subjects and compared measured 6MWD with values predicted in five reference equations developed for other populations. Anthropometry, spirometry, reported physical activity, and two walk tests in a 30-m corridor were evaluated in 134 subjects (73 females, 13-84 years). Mean 6MWD and 6MWw were significantly greater in males than in females (622 ± 80 m, 46,322 ± 10,539 kg.m vs 551 ± 71 m, 36,356 ± 8,289 kg.m, P < 0.05). Four equations significantly overestimated measured 6MWD (range, 32 ± 71 to 137 ± 74 m; P < 0.001), and one significantly underestimated it (-36 ± 86 m; P < 0.001). 6MWD significantly correlated with age (r = -0.39), height (r = 0.44), body mass index (r = -0.24), and reported physical activity (r = 0.25). 6MWw significantly correlated with age (r = -0.21), height (r = 0.66) and reported physical activity (r = 0.25). The reference equation devised for walk distance was 6MWDm = 622.461 - (1.846 x Ageyears) + (61.503 x Gendermales = 1; females = 0); r2 = 0.300. In an additional group of 85 subjects prospectively studied, the difference between measured and the 6MWD predicted with the equation proposed here was not significant (-3 ± 68 m; P = 0.938). The measured 6MWD represented 99.6 ± 11.9% of the predicted value. We conclude that 6MWD and 6MWw variances were adequately explained by demographic and anthropometric attributes. This reference equation is probably most appropriate for evaluating the exercise capacity of Brazilian patients with chronic diseases.

A NEW FIBRIN SEALANT FROM Crotalus durissus terrificus VENOM: APPLICATIONS IN MEDICINE

Fibrin sealant, a widely available tissue adhesive, has been used since 1940 in a variety of clinical applications. Commercially available fibrin sealant products are synthesized from bovine thrombin and human fibrinogen, which may transmit infectious diseases, and recipients may also develop antibodies against bovine thrombin. Bearing these disadvantages in mind, a new fibrin sealant was developed in 1989 by a group of researchers from the Center for the Study of Venoms and Venomous Animals, in São Paulo State, Brazil. The main purpose was to produce an adhesive fibrin without using human blood, to avoid transmitting infectious diseases. The components of this novel sealant were extracted from large animals and a serine proteinase extracted from Crotalus durissus terrificus snake venom. The applicability of this sealant was tested in animals and humans with beneficial results. The new fibrin sealant can be a useful tool clinically due to its flexibility and diversity of applications. This sealant is a biological and biodegradable product that ( 1) does not produce adverse reactions, ( 1) contains no human blood, ( 3) has a good adhesive capacity, ( 4) gives no transmission of infectious diseases, and ( 5) may be used as an adjuvant in conventional suture procedures. The effectiveness of this new fibrin sealant is reviewed and its development and employment are described.

Traceability of animal by product meals in broilers fed sugarcane yeast using stable isotopes

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Lactic Acid Bacteria Antimicrobial Compounds: Characteristics and Applications

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Crystal structure of isotibolone: a major degradation product of tibolone

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

Casearin X, Its Degradation Product and Other Clerodane Diterpenes from Leaves of Casearia sylvestris: Evaluation of Cytotoxicity against Normal and Tumor Human Cells

An EtOH extract of the leaves of Casearia sylvestris afforded new clerodane diterpene, casearin X, together with the known compounds casearins B, D, L, and O, and caseargrewiin F Casearin X degraded to the corresponding dialdehyde when stored in CDCl(3). The diterpenes isolated were cytotoxic to human cancer cell lines, with caseargrewiin F being the most active and the new clerodane, casearin X, the second active compound with IC(50) values comparable to the positive control doxorubicin. All isolated diterpenes showed lower activities against normal human cells than against cancer cell lines, which might indicate a possible selective action on cancer cells. Casearin X dialdehyde was not cytotoxic to cancer cells indicating that the occurrence of these CO groups at C(18) and C(19) is incompatible with the cytotoxic activity.

VCD to determine absolute configuration of natural product molecules: secolignans from Peperomia blanda

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

Determination of solubility product of mercurous acetate at various ionic strengths in aqueous medium

The conditionals (K-ps) and thermodynamics (K-ps(o)) solubility products of mercurous acetate have been determined, in aqueous solution, at 25 degrees C and ionic strength (I) comprised between 0.300 and 3.000 mol/L (NaClO4). The investigation was carried out potentiometrically by using a second class electrodes which responds to acetate ions. The values obtained for [pK(ps) (I)] were: 9.49+/-0.08 (0.000); 9.51+/-0.08 (0.300); 9.53+/-0.08 (0.500); 9.54+/-0.08 (0.700); 9.55+/-0.09 (0.900), 9.57+/-0.09 (1.200); 9.59+/-0.10(1.500); 9.61+/-0.10 (1.800); 9.63+/-0.10 (2.100); 9.65+/-0.11 (2.400); 9.67+/-0.11 (2.700) e 9.69+/-0.12 (3.000).

NATURAL PRODUCT SUBSTITUTION PATTERN AND SKELETAL RECOGNITION METHOD

This work describes a methodology for identification of skeletal types of diterpenes based on data base with 1500 compounds isolated from Asteraceae. One program named BOTOCSYS was built with the codification of the compounds and their botanical sources. An example of identification of a new substance is given.