Beneficial effects of diclofenac therapy on serum lipids, oxidized low-density lipoprotein and antioxidant defenses in rats

To study the effects of diclofenac, a nonselective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), on lipid profile, oxidized low-density-lipoprotein (Ox-LDL), serum antioxidant defenses and markers of oxidative stress, male Wistar rats were divided into two groups (n = 10): (C) receiving intramuscularly a single daily dose of saline (NaCl 0.9%), and (AI) receiving intramuscularly a single daily dose of 10 mg/kg diclofenac sodium (C14H10C12NNaO2). After 28 days diclofenac-treated rats had lower Ox-LDL, apoprotein B (apo-B), apo-B/LDL-cholesterol and lipid hydroperoxide than C. Total antioxidant substances and superoxide dismutase were increased in diclofenac-treated rats, while no significant changes were observed in catalase, glutathione peroxidase and nitric oxide. A perincubation test done to examine the possibility of mechanism-based activation showed that diclofenac had no effect on maximal superoxide dismutase velocity, but significantly reduced the Michaelis-Menten (K-M) constant, indicating that diclofenac induced SOD activation increasing substrate linkage affinity to the enzyme-catalytic site. In conclusion, diclofenac had beneficial effects decreasing Ox-LDL and improving antioxidant defense. It appears that the application of this agent may be feasible and beneficial for serum antioxidant protection, which certainly would bring new insights on dyslipidemia control. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Pituitary Apoplexy After a Single Dose of Long-Acting Octreotide

Pituitary apoplexy (PA) is a rare and potentially life-threatening syndrome resulting from an acute infarction or hemorrhage of the pituitary gland. Although the pathogenesis is not fully understood, some predisposing factors such as pituitary stimulation tests, diabetes mellitus, anticoagulant or antiplatelet aggregation therapy, head trauma, and high blood pressure may play a role in its pathophysiology. Octreotide is the mainstay of medical treatment for acromegaly. The majority of reported complications of octreotide therapy are gastrointestinal. We report the case of a 51-year-old acromegalic woman who developed pituitary apoplexy within the context of high blood pressure and a single dose of long-acting octreotide. Our data suggest that the combination of hypertension and octreotide therapy enhances the risk of pituitary apoplexy.

Evaluation of water beef buffalo from birth to two years using different growth curves

The buffalo is a domestic animal species of growing world-wide importance. Research to improve genetic improvement programs is important to maintain the productivity of buffalo. The objective this research was to evaluate the growth of Brazilian buffalo to two years of age with different growth curves. Growth curves consolidate the information contained in the weight-age data into three or four biologically meaningful parameters. The data included 31,452 weights at birth and 120, 205, 365, 550 and 730 days of buffalo (n = 5,178) raised on pasture without supplementation. Logistic, Gompertz, quadratic logarithmic, and linear hyperbolic curves (designated L, G, QL, and LH, respectively) were fitted to the data by using proc NUN of SAS (SAS Institute, Inc., Cary, NC, USA). The parameters estimates for L [WT= A * (((1 + exp (-k * AGE)))**-m)] were A = 865.1 +/- 5.42; k= 0.0028 +/- 0.00002; M= 3.808 +/- 0.007; R(2) = 0.95. For G [WT= A * exp (-b * exp (-k * age)] the parameters estimates were A= 967.6 +/- 7.23; k = 0.00217 +/- 0.000015; b = -2.8152 +/- 0.00532. For QL [WT= A + b*age + k*(age*age) + m*log (age)] parameters estimates were A= 37.41 +/- 0.48; k= 0.00019 +/- 6.4E(-6); b= 0.539 +/- 0.006; m= 2.32 +/- 0.23; R(2)=0.96. For LH [WT= A + b*AGE + k*(1/AGE)] the parameters estimates were A= 23.15 +/- 0.44; k=15.16 +/- 0.66; b= 0.707 +/- 0.001; R(2)= 0.96. Each of these curves fit these data equally well and could be used for characterizing growth to two years in beef buffalo.

Anurans of a seasonally dry tropical forest: Morro do Diabo State Park, São Paulo state, Brazil

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

ZnO architectures synthesized by a microwave-assisted hydrothermal method and their photoluminescence properties

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Características agronómicas de la soya en función de las densidades de siembra y profundidad de deposición de abono

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar as características agronómicas da soja semeada em Sistema de Plantio Direto, em função das densidades de semeadura (15, 16 e 20 plantas por metro) e da profundidade de colocação do adubo (11, 14 e 17 cm). O experimento foi realizado no Departamento de Engenharia Rural, UNESP/Jaboticabal, utilizando, no delineamento, parcelas subdivididas em blocos ao acaso, com quatro repetições. Características agronômicas da soja analisadas: número de días para emergência, índice de emergência, porcentagem de danos, altura de plantas, altura de inserção da primeira vagem, número de vagens por planta, grãos por vagem, porcentagem de plantas sobreviventes e produtividade. Os resultados indicaram que o número de días para emergencia, índice de emergencia e porcentagem de danos não foram influenciados pelas densidades de plantio e profundidade de aplicação dos adubos. Os danos por insetos e aves atingiram valores de 30% de plantas atacadas. A altura das plantas, altura de inserção da primeira vagem, número de vagens por planta e de grãos por vagem não variaram em função da densidade de plantio e profundidade de aplicação do adubo. A produtividade da soja (5.146 kg ha-1) foi similar nas densidades de plantio e profundidade de deposição do adubo.

Essential oil of the Pothomorphe peltata (L.) Miq.

The essential oils of leaves of the Pothomorphe peltata (L.) Miq., collected in vegetative and reproductive periods, showed yields of 0.10-0.20%. Analysis of the oil by GC/MS revealed that the predominant components were those of the sesquiterpene class. The major constituents were beta-caryophyllene (39.5-68.0%), germacrene D (6.2-13.3%), (E)-nerolidol (4.8-11.1%) and alpha-humulene (2.1-6.5%).

Modelling and optimization of the cephalosporin C production bioprocess in a fed-batch bioreactor with invert sugar as substrate

Cephalosporin C production process optimization was studied based on four experiments carried out in an agitated and aerated tank fermenter operated as a fed-batch reactor. The microorganism Cephalosporium acremonium ATCC 48272 (C-10) was cultivated in a synthetic medium containing glucose as major carbon and energy source. The additional medium contained a hydrolyzed sucrose solution as the main carbon and energy source and it was added after the glucose depletion. By manipulating the supplementary feed rate, it was possible to increase antibiotic production. A mathematical model to represent the fed-batch production process was developed. It was observed that the model was applicable under different operation conditions, showing that optimization studies can be made based on this model. (C) 1999 Elsevier B.V. Ltd. All rights reserved.

Inhibition of hydrogen peroxide, nitric oxide and TNF-alpha production in peritoneal macrophages by ethyl acetate fraction from Alchornea glandulosa

The effects of Alchornea glandulosa ethyl acetate fraction (AGF) on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) production in peritoneal macrophages activated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) were investigated. Analysis by thin layer chromatography (TLC) of AGF showed several constituents, including flavonoids, which may have anti-inflammatory activity. Inhibitory effects of the fraction in H2O2 and NO production ranged from 8.59 +/- 7.84% to 70.56 +/- 4.16% and from 16.06 +/- 3.65% to 38.73 +/- 3.90%, respectively. The TNF-alpha production was only partially inhibited in the tested concentrations (12.21 +/- 6.23%-15.16 +/- 0.96%). According to these results, it is suggested that AGF has anti-inflammatory activity. This medicinal plant may have therapeutic potential in the control of inflammatory disorders.

The effect of timing of thermal conditioning during incubation on embryo physiological parameters and its relationship to thermotolerance in adult broiler chickens

Previously, we reported that thermal conditioning at 39degreesC on days 13-17 of incubation of broiler eggs enabled thermotolerance during post-hatch growth (J. Therm. Biol. 28 (2003) 133). Tolerance to a temperature of 30degreesC was accompanied by changes in thyroid hormones and metabolic parameters. In the current study, we determined the mechanism of epigenetic heat adaptation during embryonic age by measuring blood physiological parameters that may be associated with the ultimate effects of thermal conditioning. Hatching eggs from Ross breeders were subjected to heat treatment of 39degreesC at days 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 of incubation for 2 h per day. Control eggs were incubated at 37.6degreesC. Samples of eggs were withdrawn on each day of thermal conditioning and at internal pipping (IP) to obtain blood samples from embryos. The remaining eggs were weighed at day 18 and transferred to hatchers. The timing of IP, external pipping (EP) and hatching were monitored every 2 h. At hatch, chicks were weighed and hatchability was determined. Blood samples were obtained from samples of day-old chicks. T3, T4, corticosterone, pCO(2), pO(2) levels were determined in the blood. Blood pH was measured and T3/T4 ratios were calculated. Heat conditioning significantly increased corticosterone and pO(2) levels and blood pH but depressed pCO(2) at day 14. These were followed by a significant depression of T4 level on day 15. Remarkably, at day 16, all these parameters were back to normal as in the control embryos. Hatching was delayed by thermal conditioning probably as a result of the depressed corticosterone levels at IP. Hatchability was also lower in the heat-treated group but 1-day old chick weights were comparable to those of the controls. The result suggests that epigenetic thermal conditioning involves changes in these physiological parameters and probably serve as a method for epigenetic temperature adaptation since the same mechanisms are employed for coping with heat during post-embryonic growth. It also suggests that days 14-15 may be the optimal and most sensitive timing for evoking this mechanism during embryonic development. The adverse effects of heat treatment observed in this study may have been due to the continued exposure to heat until day 17. Fine-tuning thermal conditioning to days 14-15 only may improve these production parameters. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Photo-induced effects in Ge25Ga10S65 glasses studied by XPS and XAS

The present paper focuses on the structural, electronic, and compositional properties of Ge25Ga10S65 glasses before and after UV illumination in air using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) techniques. The XPS Ge 3d spectra reveal the existence of Ge-O bonds in the surface region of illuminated glass. In the case of this sample, XAS O K-edge spectra showed the formation of an enriched region of oxygen atoms in the glass bulk, indicating a different bonding structure of oxygen at the surface and in the bulk of the glass. Moreover, the structural changes that occur after UV illumination in the glass sample are identified as the formation of a homogeneous germanium oxide surface layer followed by an intermediary Ge25Ga10S65-yOz subsurface region. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Comparative in vitro study of the shear bond strength of brackets bonded with restorative and orthodontic resins

The aim of this study was to evaluate the shear bond strength of brackets bonded with different restorative systems and compare it with that afforded by an established orthodontic bonding system. Seventy human bicuspids were used, divided into five different groups with 14 teeth each. Whereas a specific orthodontic bonding resin (Transbond (TM) XT) was used in the control group, the restorative systems Charisma, Tetric Ceram, TPH Spectrum and Z100 were used in the other four groups. Seven days after bonding the brackets to the samples, shear forces were applied under pressure in a universal testing machine. The data collected was evaluated using the ANOVA test and, when a difference was identified, the Tukey test was applied. A 5% level of significance was adopted. The mean results of the shear bond strength tests were as follows: Group 1 (Charisma), 14.98 MPa; Group 2 (Tetric Ceram), 15.16 MPa; Group 3 (TPH), 17.70 MPa; Group 4 (Z100), 13.91 MPa; and Group 5 or control group (Transbond (TM) XT), 17.15 MPa. No statistically significant difference was found among the groups. It was concluded that all tested resins have sufficient bond strength to be recommended for bonding orthodontic brackets.

Tin oxide nanoparticle formation using a surface modifying agent

This work presents results concerning the preparation of redispersible tin oxide nanoparticles achieved by using Tiron molecule ((OH)(2)C(6)H(2) (SO(3)Na)(2)) as surface modifying agent. The adsorption isotherm measurements show that an amount of 10 wt.% of Tiron is need to recover the SnO(2) nanoparticles surface with a monolayer. These nanoparticles can be easily redispersed in tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide at pH greater than or equal to11 until a powder concentration of 12 vol.% of tin. Under these conditions, hydrodynamic particle size is about 7 nm and increases until 52 nm at pH 6 due to the aggregation phenomenon. The time evolution of the viscoelastic properties indicates that the suspensions at pH 12.5, containing 12 vol.% tin oxide and 10 wt.% of surface modifier are kinetically stable. After thermal treatment at different temperature the powder characterisation evidences that the presence of Tiron monolayer at the nanoparticles surface increases the thermal stability of the porous texture and prevent the micropore size growth. This set of results contributes to satisfy the demand for more controlled synthesis of nanoparticles with high thermal stability as required for fabrication of ultrafiltration ceramic membranes. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Gas concentration and temperature excited Delft turbulent jet in acoustically flames

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Avaliação da silagem de grãos úmidos de milho

This work had the objective of evaluating the effects of different percentages of corn (Zea mays L.) cob on the quality of the silage of high-moisture corn grains. The following treatments were studied: percentages of corn cob in the silage (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20%); period of sampling after opening the silos (zero, two, four and six days). The factorial arrangement 5 × 4 was studied according to a completely randomized block design with three replications. The variables studied were not affected by the sampling period. The buffering capacity and the pH were not affected by the cob, while the percent soluble carbohydrates and amoniacal nitrogen increasing until 1.2 and 1.89 unit percent, respectively. Increasing the amount of corn cobs reduced the contents of DM (from 63.9% to 58.6%), CP (from 10.0% to 7.3%), EE (from 4.87% to 3.92%) and the values of DMIVD (from 90.5% to 79.1%) in the silages and increasing the contents of acid detergente fiber (ADF) (from 3.3% to 12.9%) and neutral detergente fiber (NDF) (from 15.16% to 26.1%). The values of brute energy (BE) were not affected (P>0.01) by the cob corn in the silage.