Spermatogenesis and nucleolar activity in Triatoma klugi (Triatomine, Heteroptera)

Triatoma klugi is a Chagas disease vector in the Rio Grande do Sul State. Triatominae chromosomes are holocentric and sex chromosomes segregation is post-reductional. In this paper we describe the karyotype of male T. klugi and a meiotic analysis including the nucleolar behavior during spermatogenesis. Testis cells were analyzed after lacto-acetic orcein and silver nitrate staining. Two autosomes and the heterochromosomes presented nucleolar activity (Ag-NORs) during diplotene-diakinesis. The analysis of metaphase I and II revealed a karyotype with 2n = 20+XY. In metaphase I a prominent nucleolar mass was observed in the cell periphery and small silver grains were detected in metaphase II. During anaphase, the chromosomes segregated in parallel and a typical holocentric late migration behavior was observed. The restoration of the nucleolus was an important feature in this phase. During telophase nucleolar masses persisted and in early spermiogenesis the spermatids presented a small peripheral mass until elongation. The present study is a contribution to the study of chromatin behavior and nucleolar persistence in meiosis.

Cytochemical characterization of Triatoma infestans and Panstrongylus megistus salivary gland cells (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Lactic Acid Bacteria Antimicrobial Compounds: Characteristics and Applications

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Homogenous amniotic membrane as a biological dressing for oral mucositis in rats: Histomorphometric analysis

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

Scanning electron microscope evaluation of chlorhexidine gel and liquid associated with sodium hypochlorite cleaning on the root canal walls

Objective. The aim of this study was to evaluate, by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), the cleaning of the root canal walls after instrumentation and irrigation with 2.5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) associated with 2% chlorhexidine (CHX) gel or liquid, combined or not with 17% ethylenediamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA).Study design. Sixty single-root human teeth were subjected to standardized root canal instrumentation with different irrigants (n = 10): G1) NaOCl + CHX liquid; G2) NaOCl + CHX liquid + EDTA + saline solution; G3) NaOCl + CHX gel; G4) NaOCl + CHX gel + EDTA + saline solution; G5) saline solution; G6) saline solution + EDTA. After instrumentation, the teeth were prepared for SEM analysis (x500 and x2,000) to evaluate the cleaning of the cervical, middle, and apical thirds. The area analyzed was quantified according to the percentage of open and closed tubules, and data were statistically analyzed by analysis of variance and Tukey tests (P = .05).Results. The number of open tubules was highest in G4 in all root thirds, showing statistically significant difference from G1, G2, and G5 (P < .05). G1 presented higher quantity of closed tubules significant than G2.Conclusion. Irrigation with NaOCl and CHX gel followed by EDTA and saline solution produced greater cleaning of the root canal walls. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2010;110:e82-e87)

Indole ring oxidation by activated leukocytes prevents the production of hypochlorous acid

Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) released by activated leukocytes has been implicated in the tissue damage that characterizes chronic inflammatory diseases. In this investigation, 14 indole derivatives, including metabolites such as melatonin, tryptophan and indole-3-acetic acid, were screened for their ability to inhibit the generation of this endogenous oxidant by stimulated leukocytes. The release of HOCl was measured by the production of taurine-chloramine when the leukocytes (2 x 10(6) cells/mL) were incubated at 37ºC in 10 mM phosphate-buffered saline, pH 7.4, for 30 min with 5 mM taurine and stimulated with 100 nM phorbol-12-myristate acetate. Irrespective of the group substituted in the indole ring, all the compounds tested including indole, 2-methylindole, 3-methylindole, 2,3-dimethylindole, 2,5-dimethylindole, 2-phenylindole, 5-methoxyindole, 6-methoxyindole, 5-methoxy-2-methylindole, melatonin, tryptophan, indole-3-acetic acid, 5-methoxy-2-methyl-3-indole-acetic acid, and indomethacin (10 µM) inhibited the chlorinating activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO) in the 23-72% range. The compounds 3-methylindole and indole-3-acetic acid were chosen as representative of indole derivatives in a dose-response study using purified MPO. The IC50 obtained were 0.10 ± 0.03 and 5.0 ± 1.0 µM (N = 13), respectively. These compounds did not affect the peroxidation activity of MPO or the production of superoxide anion by stimulated leukocytes. By following the spectral change of MPO during the enzyme turnover, the inhibition of HOCl production can be explained on the basis of the accumulation of the redox form compound-II (MPO-II), which is an inactive chlorinating species. These results show that indole derivatives are effective and selective inhibitors of MPO-chlorinating activity.

Effects of organic and inorganic additives on flotation recovery of washed cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae resuspended in water

Separation of microbial cells by flotation recovery is usually carried out in industrial reactors or wastewater treatment systems, which contain a complex mixture of microbial nutrients and excretion products. In the present study, the separation of yeast cells by flotation recovery was carried out using a simple flotation recovery systems containing washed yeast cells resuspended in water in order to elucidate the effects of additives (defined amounts of organic and inorganic acids, ethanol, surfactants and sodium chloride) on the cellular interactions at interfaces (cell/aqueous phase and cell/air bubble). When sodium chloride, organic acids (notably propionic, succinic and acetic acids) and organic surfactants (sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and Nonidet P40) were added to the flotation recovery system, significant increases in the cell recovery of yeast hydrophobic cells (Saccharomyces cerevisiae, strain FLT-01) were observed. The association of ethanol to acetic acid solution (a minor by-product of alcoholic fermentation) in the flotation recovery system, containing washed cells of strain FLT-01 resuspended in water, leading to an increased flotation recovery at pH 5.5. Thus, the association among products of the cellular metabolism (e.g., ethanol and acetic acid) can improve yeast cell recovery by flotation recovery. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Fluoride uptake and acid resistance of enamel irradiated with Er : YAG laser

This study evaluated the resistance to demineralization and fluoride incorporation of enamel irradiated with Er:YAG. A total of 110 bovine teeth were selected and divided into eight groups: unlased, 37% phosphoric acid, and samples irradiated with the Er:YAG laser at several fluences (31.84 J/cm(2), 25.47 J/cm(2), 19.10 J/cm(2), 2.08 J/cm(2), 1.8 J/cm(2), and 0.9 J/cm(2)). The application of acidulated phosphate fluoride was performed after treatments. All samples were immersed in 2 ml of 2.0 M acetic-acetate acid solution at pH 4.5 for 8 h, and fluoride, calcium, and phosphorus ions dissolved were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry and spectrophotometry. The phosphoric acid and 31.84 J/cm(2) groups presented the lowest dissolution of calcium and phosphorus ions. Higher fluoride incorporation was observed on 1.8 J/cm(2) and 0.9 J/cm(2) groups. Based on these results, Er:YAG laser was able to decrease acid dissolution and increase fluoride uptake and can be a promissory alternative for preventive dentistry.

Synthesis of chitosan/hydroxyapatite membranes coated with hydroxycarbonate apatite for guided tissue regeneration purposes

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Synthesis and characterization of mesoporous TiO2 nanostructured films prepared by a modified sol-gel method for application in dye solar cells

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

Determinação do íon ferro em preparações farmacêuticas através da cromatografia planar e espectrofotometria

Os autores estudaram o comportamento cromatográfico de preparações farmacêuticas comerciais contendo o íon Fe (II). Utilizando celulose microcristalina/Propanol: ácido clorídrico 4 N: ácido acético concentrado: ácido nítrico concentrado: clorofórmio (40: 5: 5: 10: 10), como sistema cromatográfico e alizarina como reagente de detecção, Fe (II), Mn (II), Mg (II), Cu (II), Zn (II) e Ca (II) foram separados e identificados pela Cromatografia Planar. O Fe (II) foi determinado pela reação com a ortofenantrolina, resultando em solução adequada para quantificação colorimétrica.

Kinetic parameters for thermal decomposition of microcrystalline, vegetal, and bacterial cellulose

Cellulose can be obtained from innumerable sources such as cotton, trees, sugar cane bagasse, wood, bacteria, and others. The bacterial cellulose (BC) produced by the Gram-negative acetic-acid bacterium Acetobacter xylinum has several unique properties. This BC is produced as highly hydrated membranes free of lignin and hemicelluloses and has a higher molecular weight and higher crystallinity. Here, the thermal behavior of BC, was compared with those of microcrystalline (MMC) and vegetal cellulose (VC). The kinetic parameters for the thermal decomposition step of the celluloses were determined by the Capela-Ribeiro non-linear isoconversional method. From data for the TG curves in nitrogen atmosphere and at heating rates of 5, 10, and 20 A degrees C/min, the E(alpha) and B(alpha) terms could be determined and consequently the pre-exponential factor A(alpha) as well as the kinetic model g(alpha). The pyrolysis of celluloses followed kinetic model g(alpha) = [-ln(1 - alpha)](1.63) on average, characteristic for Avrami-Erofeev with only small differences in activation energy. The fractional value of n may be related to diffusion-controlled growth, or may arise from the distributions of sizes or shapes of the reactant particles.

Determination of sulfur compounds in gasoline using mercury film electrode by square wave voltammetry

A sensitive method based on square wave voltammetry is described for the quantitative determination of elemental sulfur, disulfide and mercaptan in gasoline using a mercury film electrode. These sulfur compounds can be quantified by direct dissolution of gasoline in a supporting electrolyte followed by subsequent voltammetric measurement. The supporting electrolyte is 1.4 mol L-1 sodium acetate and No acetic acid in methanol. Chemical and optimum operational conditions for the formation of the mercury film were analyzed in this study. The values obtained were a 4.3 mu m thickness for the mercury film, a 1000 rpm rotation frequency, -0.9 V applied potential and 600 s depositing time. Voltammetric measurements were obtained using square wave voltammetry with detection limits of the 3.0 x 10(-9), 1.6 x 10(-7) and 4.9 x 10(-7) mol L-1 for elemental sulfur, disulfide and mercaptan, respectively. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Determinação de ácidos carboxílicos em composto de resíduos sólidos urbanos por cromatografia gasosa com detector de ionização em chama

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Antinociceptive profile of 2,3,6-trisubstituted piperidine alkaloids: 3-O-acetyl-spectaline and semi-synthetic derivatives of (-)-spectaline

In early studies, we have reported the antinociceptive profile of (-)-spectaline, a piperidine alkaloid from Cassia spectabilis. The present study describes the synthesis, the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of a series of 2,3,6-trialkyl-piperidine alkaloids: the natural (-)-3-O-acetyl-spectaline (LASSBio-755) and ten semi-synthetic spectaline derivatives. Structure-activity relationship (SARs) studies were performed. The structures of all synthesized derivatives were confirmed by means of nuclear magnetic resonance. Compounds were evaluated for their analgesic (acetic acid-induced mouse abdominal constrictions, hot-plate test, formalin-induced pain test) and some of them for the anti-inflammatory activities (carrageenan-induced rat paw edema test). The pharmacological results showed that several of the new compounds given orally at a dose of 100 mu mol/kg significantly inhibited the acetic acid-induced abdominal constrictions, but they were less active than (-)-spectaline. LASSBio-755 and LASSBio-776 were the most actives with 37% and 31.7% of inhibition. In the formalin-induced pain only LASSBio-776 was able to inhibit by 34.4% the paw licking response of the inflammatory phase, (-)-spectaline and LASSBio-755 did show any activity. In the carrageenan-induced rat paw edema, only (-)-spectaline exhibited an anti-inflammatory profile, showing an ED(50) value of 56.6 mu mol/kg. Our results suggest different mechanisms of action for the analgesic activity observed for LASSBio-776 (3-O-Bocspectaline), LASSBio-755 (3-O-acetyl-spectaline) and (-)-spectaline (LASSBio-754). The antinociceptive profile of some of the semi-synthetic spectaline derivatives extends our research concerning the chemical and pharmacological optimization of isolated natural products in the search of new drug candidates from brazilian biodiversity.