Prevalência de alterações fundoscópicas em estudantes na cidade de Natal/Brasil

Objetivo: Determinar a prevalência de alterações fundoscópicas em estudantes de escolas das redes pública e privada de Natal-RN. Métodos: Avaliação oftalmológica foi realizada em 990 alunos, de 5 a 21 anos, matriculados nas escolas das redes públicas e privada do município de Natal- RN, que estiveram cursando alguma série do ensino fundamental ou médio, no período de 03 a 06 de 2001. Resultados: Alterações fundoscópicas foram observadas em 5,3% dos estudantes. As anormalidades encontradas, por ordem de freqüência, foram: branco sem pressão, 1,0%; cicatriz de retinocoroidite sugestiva de toxoplasmose, 1,0%; atrofia do epitélio pigmentado da retina, 0,8%; nevos da coróide, 0,4%; escavação da cabeça do nervo óptico aumentada, 0,4%; degeneração em treliça, 0,3%; buraco operculado, 0,2%; fundus miópico, 0,2%; tortuosidade vascular aumentada, 0,2%; granuloma sugestivo de toxocaríase, 0,2%; hipoplasia da cabeça do nervo óptico, 0,1%; persistência da artéria hialoidea, 0,1%; persistência de fibras de mielina, 0,1%; retina sal e pimenta, 0,1%; retinosquise, 0,1%. Conclusão: Houve uma baixa prevalência de alterações fundoscópicas na população estudada

Prevalência de alterações fundoscópicas em estudantes na cidade de Natal-Brasil

Objetivo: Determinar a prevalência de alterações fundoscópicas em estudantes de escolas das redes pública e privada de Natal-RN. Métodos: Avaliação oftalmológica foi realizada em 990 alunos, de 5 a 21 anos, matriculados nas escolas das redes públicas e privada do município de Natal-RN, que estiveram cursando alguma série do ensino fundamental ou médio, no período de 03 a 06 de 2001. Resultados: Alterações fundoscópicas foram observadas em 5,3% dos estudantes. As anormalidades encontradas, por ordem de freqüência, foram: branco sem pressão, 1,0%; cicatriz de retinocoroidite sugestiva de toxoplasmose, 1,0%; atrofia do epitélio pigmentado da retina, 0,8%; nevos da coróide, 0,4%; escavação da cabeça do nervo óptico aumentada, 0,4%; degeneração em treliça, 0,3%; buraco operculado, 0,2%; fundus miópico, 0,2%; tortuosidade vascular aumentada, 0,2%; granuloma sugestivo de toxocaríase, 0,2%; hipoplasia da cabeça do nervo óptico, 0,1%; persistência da artéria hialoidea, 0,1%; persistência de fibras de mielina, 0,1%; retina sal e pimenta, 0,1%; retinosquise, 0,1%. Conclusão: Houve uma baixa prevalência de alterações fundoscópicas na população estudada

A nicotina atua como fator deletério na reparação da parede abdominal

Objetivo: Avaliar o efeito da nicotina na cicatrização da camada musculoaponeurótica da parede abdominal. Métodos: Estudo experimental em que foram usados 16 ratos da raça Wistar pesando em média 210±8g, separados aleatoriamente em 2 grupos de 8. Nos animais do grupo A foi implantado disco de nicotina (Nicotinel Ò) na dose de 5mg/Kg de peso/dia no subcutâneo da região dorsal, trocado a cada dois dias, a partir do 5º dia antes da operação em que foi feita laparotomia mediana de 5 cm, até o 10o dia de observação. No grupo B (controle) foram usados discos de celulose com o mesmo diâmetro. Tubo de silicone multiperfurado foi implantado no subcutâneo a 1cm da lesão da parede abdominal. A camada musculoaponeurótica e a pele foram suturadas com fio de nylon 5-0. No 10º dia pós-operatório foi colhido 1ml de líquido seroso do tubo de silicone por punção percutânea para dosagem de pO2 e os animais receberam dose letal de anestésico. Foi ressecado um segmento da camada musculoaponeurótica com 2cm de largura para tensiometria, em seguida processado e corado em HE e tricrômico de Masson para análise quantitativa dos dados histopatológicos em sistema digitalizado. A análise estatística foi feita pelo ANOVA e teste Newman-Keuls, com significância 0,05. Resultados: No grupo A a pO2 do líquido tecidual atingiu o valor 17,75±3,4 mmHg e no grupo B (controle) a pO2 = 40,75±6,4 mmHg (p<0,01). A resistência à tensão apresentou o valor de 728,5±161,75gf no grupo A e 1241,6±232gf no grupo de controle (p<0,01), coincidindo com os achados da pO2. A densidade média dos elementos histopatológicos estudados foi de 105±17,1 nos animais do grupo A e 146,2±8,8 no grupo B (p<0,01). Conclusão: após avaliação da pO2 tecidual, tensiometria e histopatologia, concluiu-se que a nicotina por via subcutânea exerce efeito deletério sobre a cicatrização de lesões da parede abdominal de ratos

Eutrofização do reservatório Engenheiro Armando Ribeiro Gonçalves, no Rio Grande do Norte: implicações para o abastecimento público e para a piscicultura intensiva em tanques-rede

This study aimed to describe the spatial and temporal patterns of variation in trophic state and its relation with the structure and dynamics of planktonic community of a large reservoir located in semi-arid tropical region of Northeast Brazil. The reservoir Armando Ribeiro Gonçalves is the biggest reservoir of the Rio Grande do Norte State and is responsible for about 53% of all surface water accumulated in the State. The samples of water and plankton were taken monthly in 10 points distributed throughout the longitudinal axis of the reservoir and over a full hydrological cycle. The samples were collected to determine concentrations of total phosphorus, total nitrogen, chlorophyll a and suspended solids (fixed and volatile) and for determining the composition and abundance of phytoplanktonic and zooplanktonic species. During the study period, the reservoir was characterized as eutrophic and there was no trend of increasing the trophic state of the reservoir in the period of drought. The concentrations of total phosphorus and suspended fixed solids decreased towards the dam while the N:P ratios increased in the same direction due to the reduction in the phosphorus concentrations and relative constancy in the nitrogen concentrations. The N:P ratios observed were indicative of greater limitation by phosphorus than by nitrogen. However, as concentrations of both nutrients were high and the water transparency was very low, with secchi depth usually lower than one meter, it seems likely that the planktonic primary production of the reservoir is more limited by the availability of light than the availability of nutrients. High nutrient concentrations coupled with low availability of light may explain the continuing dominance of filamentous cyanobacteria such as Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii in the plankton of the reservoir.These cyanobacteria are potentially toxic and pose a serious environmental problem because it compromises the water quality for public supply, recreation and fishing when present in high densities as in this study. The mesozooplankton of the reservoir was dominated by the calanoid Notodiaptomus cearensis and the cladoceran Diaphanosoma spinulosum. In general, the structure of zooplankton community seems to be particularly influenced by the spatial variation of cyanobacteria. The results of the regression analyses show that both the chlorophyll a concentrations and the cyanobacteria biovolume were more strongly correlated with the nitrogen than with phosphorus and that the water transparency was more strongly correlated with algal biomass than with other sources of turbidity. The maximum load of phosphorus to attain the maximum permissible concentration of total P in the reservoir was estimated in 63.2 tonnes P/ year. The current external P load to the reservoir is estimated in 324 tonnes P / year and must be severely reduced to improve the water quality for water supply and allow the implementation of aquaculture projects that could contribute to the socio-economic development of the region

Efeitos da tilápia do Nilo (Oreochromis niloticus) e do enriquecimento por nutrientes sobre a comunidade planctônica em um lago artificial no semi-árido brasileiro

The major aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that the introduction of the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and the enrichment with nutrients (N and P) interact synergistically to change the structure of plankton communities, increase phytoplankton biomass and decrease water transparency of a semi-arid tropical reservoir. One field experiment was performed during five weeks in twenty enclosures (8m3) to where four treatments were randomly allocated: with tilapia addition (T), with nutrients addition (NP), with tilapia and nutrients addition (T+NP) and a control treatment with no tilapia or nutrients addition (C). A two-way repeated measures ANOVA was done to test for time (t), tilapia (T) and nutrient (NP) effects and their interaction on water transparency, total phosphorus, total nitrogen, phytoplankton and zooplankton. The results show that there was no effect of nutrient addition on these variables but significant fish effects on the biomass of total zooplankton, nauplii, rotifers, cladocerans and calanoid copepods, on the biovolume of Bacillariophyta, Zygnemaphyceae and large algae (GALD ≥ 50 μm) and on Secchi depth. In addition, we found significant interaction effects between tilapia and nutrients on Secchi depth and rotifers. Overall, tilapia decreased the biomass of most zooplankton taxa and large algae (diatoms) and decreased the water transparency while nutrient enrichment increased the biomass of zooplankton (rotifers) but only in the absence of tilapia. In conclusion, the influence of fish on the reservoir plankton community and water transparency was greater than that of nutrient loading. This finding suggests that biomanipulation should be a greater priority in the restoration of eutrophic reservoirs in tropical semi-arid regions

Efeitos de manipulações ascendentes e descendentes sobre a comunidade fitoplanctônica em um reservatório eutrófico no semi-árido brasileiro

Top-down (grazing) and bottom-up (nutrient, light) controls are important in freshwater ecosystems regulation. Relative importance of these factors could change in space and time, but in tropical lakes bottom-up regulation has to been appointed as more influent. Present study aimed to test the hypothesis that phytoplankton growths rate in Armando Ribeiro reservoir, a huge eutrophic reservoir in semi-arid region of Rio Grande do Norte state, is more limited by nutrient available then zooplankton grazing pressure. Bioassay was conduced monthly from September (2008) to August (2009) manipulating two levels of nutrients (with/without addition) and two level of grazers (with/without removal). Experimental design was factorial 2X2 with four treatments (X5), (i) control with water and zooplankton from natural spot ( C ), (ii) with nutrient addition ( +NP ), (iii) with zooplankton remove ( -Z ) and (iv) with zooplankton remove and nutrient addition ( -Z+NP ). For bioassay confection transparent plastic bottles (500ml) was incubate for 4 or 5 days in two different depths, Secchi`s depth (high luminosity) and 3 times Secchi`s depth (low luminosity). Water samples were collected from each bottle in begins and after incubates period for chlorophyll a concentration analysis and zoopalnktonic organisms density. Phytoplankton growths rates were calculated. Bifactorial ANOVA was performance to test if had a significant effect (p<0,005) of nutrient addition and grazers remove as well a significant interaction between factors on phytoplankton growths rates. Effect magnitude was calculated the relative importance of each process. Results show that phytoplankton growth was in generally stimulated by nutrient addition, as while zooplankton remove rarely stimulated phytoplankton growth. Some significant interactions happening between nutrient additions and grazers remove on phytoplankton growth. In conclusion this study suggests that in studied reservoir phytoplankton growth is more controlled by ascendent factors than descendent

Diagnóstico das espécies ativas do plasma usado em tratamentos termoquímicos do titânio

Plasma diagnostics by Optical Emission Spectroscopy were performed for electrical discharge in three gas mixture respecting the combinations z N2 y Ar x H2, z N2 y Ar x O2 e z N2 y Ar x CH4, in which the indexes z and y systematically vary from 1 to 4 and x varies from 0 to 4, every one has dimension SCCM, resulting in 80 combinations. From the all obtained spectrums, the species CH (387,1 nm), N2+ (391,4 nm), Hβ (486,1 nm), Hα (656,3 nm), Ar (750,4 nm), O (777,4 nm) e O (842,6 nm) were analyzed because of their abundance and importance on the kinetic of reaction from the plasma to surface, besides their high dependences on the gases flows. Particularly interesting z, y and x combinations were chosen in order to study the influence of active species on the surface modification during the thermochemical treatment. From the mixtures N2 Ar O2 e N2 Ar CH4 were chosen three peculiar proportions which presented luminous intensity profile with unexpected maximum or minimum values, denominated as plasma anomaly. Those plasma concentrations were utilized as atmosphere of titanium treatment maintaining constant the control parameters pressure and temperature. It has been verified a relation among luminous intensity associated to N2+ and roughness, nanohardness and O atoms diffusion into the crystalline lattice of treated titanium and it has been seen which those properties becomes more intense precisely in the higher points found in the optical profile associated to the N2+ specie. Those parameters were verified for the mixture which involved O2 gas. For the mixture which involves CH4 gas, the relation was determinate by roughness, number of nitrogen and carbon atoms diffused into the titanium structure which presented direct proportionality with the luminous intensity referent to the N2+ and CH. It has been yet studied the formation of TiCN phases on the surface which presented to be essentially directly proportional to the increasing of the CH specie and inversely proportional to the increasing of the specie N2+

Ecologia do fitoplâncton impactado por cultivo de tilápia do Nilo, oreochromis niloticus, em tanques-rede no açude Ministro João Alves, Parelhas, Rio Grande do Norte

The dams are limnic ecosystems of great importance for its multiple uses, among them, water supply for the public and to culture of artisanal fish are most relevant. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the physical-chemical characteristics and the phytoplankton community in two chosen sites (Point 1 littoral zone of point source; Point 2 pelagic zone of non-point source) of the Minister João Alves dam, which is also known as Boqueirão de Parelhas/RN. This represents the spatial distribution of the phytoplankton species in order to understand any possible alterations of the water quality and the phytoplankton composition in relation to the water quality originating from the impact of the tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, culture. The study period also encompasses temporal variations exhibited in two seasons of an annual cycle, one during the dry season (Oct, Nov and Dec of 2008 and Jan of 2009), and the other rainy season (Mar, Apr, May and June of 2008) to extend the observation. The physicalchemical parameters, such as pH, temperature, electrical conductivity, concentration of dissolved oxygen were measured in situ and the values of the inorganic nutrients (nitrate, ammonium and orto-phosfato) and chlorophyll in the laboratory. The quali-quantitative analyses of the phytoplankton had been carried through sedimentation technique and the enumeration of the random of 400 cells, colonies and filaments counted using Sedgwick-Rafter counting chamber. The results of pH varied widely from the acidic to alkaline range with the minimum of 5.8 (± 0.8) and the maximum of 9.2 (± 0.7-0.8), at point 1 and 2. The dissolved oxygen content was higher in the rainy period than that in the dry period. The maximum electrical conductivity was of 1409 μScm-1 in point 1 and 431 minim of μScm-1, in point 2. There was a considerable alteration in the levels of inorganic nutrients such as nitrate-nitrogen, ammoniacal nitrogen and orthophosphate during the two cycles of study period. Phytoplankton assemblages presented a picture of alternate dominance among species Cyanobacteria, Bacillariophyceae and Chlorophyceae. The trophic state index diagnosed to the category of mesotrophic, which is based on the values of chlorophyll, total phosphorus and Secchi-disc measurements. The wind driven turbulence of the water column and the fresh inflow of water (flushing and dilution) during rainy season acted as constraint and did-not allow an exaggerated growth of the species of cyanobacteria. On the basis of the present we conclude that the culture of tilapias in cage-culture fails to produce pollution load that could compromise the quality of the water of the dam, probably be due to small dimension of the culture in relation to the size, volume of the water and the reservoir capacity support its own environment

Avaliação do potencial de formigas (Hymenoptera: formicidae) como vetores mecânicos de bactérias do gêneroSstaphylococcus no ambiente hospitalar.

In a hospital environment, these bacteria can be spread by insects such as ants, which are characterized by high adaptability to the urban environment. Staphylococcus is a leading cause of hospital infection. In Europe, Latin America, USA and Canada, the group of coagulase negative staphylococci (CoNS) is the second leading cause of these infections, according to SENTRY (antimicrobial surveillance program- EUA). In this study, we investigated the potential of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) as vehicle mechanics of Staphylococcus bacteria in a public hospital, in Natal-RN. The ants were collected, day and night, from June 2007 to may 2008, in the following sectors: hospitals, laundry, kitchen, blood bank. The ants were identified according to the identification key of Bolton, 1997. For the analysis of staphylococci, the ants were incubated in broth Tryptic Soy Broth (TSB) for 24 hours at 35 º C and then incubated on Mannitol Salt Agar. The typical colonies of staphylococci incubated for 24 hours at 35 ° C in Tryptic Soy Agar for the characterization tests (Gram stain, catalase, susceptibility to bacitracin and free coagulase). The identification of CoNS was performed through biochemical tests: susceptibility to novobiocin, growth under anaerobic conditions, presence of urease, the ornithine decarboxylation and acid production from the sugars mannose, maltose, trehalose, mannitol and xylose. The antimicrobial susceptibility examined by disk-diffusion technique. The technique of Polymerase Chain Reaction was used to confirm the presence of mecA gene and the ability to produce biofilm was verified by testing in vitro using polystyrene inert surface, in samples of resistant staphylococci. Among 440 ants, 85 (19.1%) were carrying coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) of the species Staphylococcus saprophyticus (17), Staphylococcus epidermidis (15), Staphylococcus xylosus (13), Staphylococcus hominis hominis (10), Staphylococcus lugdunensis (10), Staphylococcus warneri (6), Staphylococcus cohnii urealyticum (5), Staphylococcus haemolyticus (3), Staphylococcus simulans (3), Staphylococcus cohnii cohnii (2), and Staphylococcus capitis (1). No Staphylococcus aureus was found. Among the isolates, 30.58% showed resistance to erythromycin. Two samples of CoNS (2.35%), obtained from the ant Tapinoma melanocephalum collected in the post-surgical female ward, S. Hominis hominis and S. lugdunensis harbored the mecA gene and were resistant to multiple antibiotics, and the specie S. hominis hominis even showed to be a biofilm producer. This study proves that ants act as carriers of multidrug-resistant coagulase-negative Staphylococci and biofilm producers and points to the risk of the spreading of pathogenic microorganisms by this insect in the hospital environment

Description of a new species of skate of the genus Malacoraja Stehmann, 1970: the first species from the southwestern Atlantic Ocean, with notes on generic monophyly and composition (Chondrichthyes: Rajidae)

O primeiro registro para o Atlântico Sul ocidental de uma espécie do gênero Malacoraja Stehmann, 1970 é feita com base na descrição de Malacoraja obscura, espécie nova, proveniente do talude continental do Sudeste brasileiro dos estados do Espírito Santo e Rio de Janeiro em profundidades de 808-1105 m. A espécie nova é conhecida através de cinco exemplares e é distinta de seus congêneres pela sua coloração dorsal composta por numerosas manchas esbranquiçadas e pequenas na região do disco e nadadeiras pélvicas, por apresentar uma fileira irregular de espinhos ao longo da superfície dorsal mediana da cauda a qual persiste em espécimes maiores (desde a base da cauda até dois-terços do seu comprimento numa fêmea de 680 mm de comprimento total, CT) e uma região pequena desprovida de dentículos na base ventral da cauda (estendendo somente até a margem distal da nadadeira pélvica). Outros caracteres diagnósticos em combinação incluem a ausência de espinhos escapulares em indivíduos maiores, número elevado de fileiras dentárias (64/62 fileiras num macho subadulto de 505 mm de CT e 76/74 numa fêmea de 680 mm de CT) e de vértebras (27-28 Vtr, 68-75 Vprd), coloração ventral do disco uniformemente castanha escura, duas fenestras pós-ventrais na cintura escapular, fenestra pós-ventral posterior grande, forame magno circular e dois forames para a carótida interna na placa basal ventral do neurocrânio. Machos adultos não são conhecidos, porém uma descrição anatômica de M. obscura, sp. nov., é fornecida. Comparações são realizadas com todo o material conhecido de M. kreffti, com a literatura sobre M. senta e com material abundante de M. spinacidermis da África do Sul; M. obscura, sp. nov., assemelha-se mais a M. spinacidermis do Atlântico Sul oriental em esqueleto dérmico, coloração e tamanho. Malacoraja é monofilético devido à sua espinulação e apêndices rostrais conspícuos e é aparentemente composta por dois grupos de espécies, um para M. obscura e M. spinacidermis e outro para M. kreffti e M. senta, porém a elucidação das relações filogenéticas entre as espécies necessita de mais informações anatômicas, principalmente das duas últimas espécies.

Novo sistema de aplicação de drogas em cirurgias oftalmológicas

The topical corneal application of antimitotic mitomycin-C (MMC) during refractive surgery is still characterized by a lack of standardization and considerable empirism. For this reason the creation of a system capable of reliable drug delivery represents a beneficial innovation for patients submitted to these procedures. Objective: Elaborate a new MMC delivery system during the transoperatory period of photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) followed by patent application. Methods: The project consists of an in vitro experimental study to create an MMC (0.02%) release system. The drug was impregnated in sterile Whatman® 41 paper filter discs with a diameter of 8 mm. After drying, the discs were applied to antibiogram plates seeded with Staphylococcus epidermidis (American Type Culture Collection ATCC 12228), followed by the addition of a drop of sterile water. At the end of 1 minute, the discs were removed and the plates incubated for 48 hours at 35oC. Mean drop volume in the collyrium flasks was measured using analytical balance weighing. The inhibition halo (mm) was correlated with the MMC impregnated into the disc. After completion of the invention design a patent application was lodged at the National Institute of Industrial Property. Results: The correspondence between MMC-produced inhibition halos indicated that a dose of 16μg was ideal for impregnating into the discs. The mean drop volume obtained from the collyrium flasks was 37.7 μL. A minute after the application of one drop of balanced saline solution, the system released an adequate concentration for PRK surgery. Conclusion: A new MMC delivery system was created for transoperatory application in photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). Publication of the patent application (number PI 0704739-8) gives the authors exclusive intellectual property rights. The study was sponsored by Ophthalmos Indústria e Comércio de Produtos Farmacêuticos S.A. (São Paulo-SP, Brazil) and received the indispensable scientific contribution of researchers from the fields of Pharmacy, Medicine, Biology, Statistics and Law, characterizing the work as multidisciplinary, in accordance with norms established by the Postgraduate Health Sciences Program of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN)

Caracterização fenotípica e genotípica de Staphylococcus aureus resistentes à meticilina isolados na cidade do Natal/RN

Staphylococcus aureus resistente à meticilina (MRSA) é um dos principais agentes de infecções associadas a serviços de saúde em todo o mundo. No Brasil, há a predominância de um clone de MRSA multirresistente denominando clone epidêmico brasileiro (CEB). Entretanto, novos clones nãomultirresistentes com alta virulência têm sido descritos em infecções comunitárias e hospitalares. O objetivo desse estudo foi realizar a caracterização fenotípica e genotípica de cepas de MRSA isoladas na cidade do Natal/RN. Inicialmente avaliamos 60 amostras de S. aureus quanto a resistência à meticilina através de diferentes técnicas fenotípicas, utilizando a detecção do gene mecA por PCR como padrão. O antibiograma de todas as cepas foi realizado utilizando 12 antimicrobianos conforme descrito pelo CLSI. As cepas de MRSA foram caracterizadas geneticamente através da tipagem do cassete cromossômico estafilocócico mec (SCCmec) e da eletroforese em campo elétrico alternado (PFGE). Dos 60 S. aureus estudados, 45 foram resistentes à meticilina. Observamos que para algumas cepas de MRSA os testes de triagem em ágar com 6μg/mL de oxacilina e difusão em meio sólido com oxacilina-1μg apresentaram dificuldades na sua interpretação. No entanto, todas as 45 amostras de MRSA, foram facilmente detectadas pelos testes com o disco de cefoxitina-30μg e pesquisa da PBP2a. A análise molecular das cepas de MRSA mostrou 8 padrões distintos de PFGE (A-H), com predominância do padrão A (73%), relacionado ao CEB. Estas carreavam o SCCmec tipo IIIA, e apresentaram uma considerável variedade de subtipos (A1-A16). Cinco cepas de MRSA portando SCCmec IV também foram xiv identificadas, três delas relacionadas geneticamente ao clone USA800 (Padrão B). Destas cinco, três (2 padrão F e 1 padrão B) foram altamente susceptíveis as drogas testadas, entretanto, dois outros isolados, padrão B, apresentaram multirresistência. As amostras restantes pertenciam a padrões de PFGE distintos dos clones internacionais predominantes em nosso continente. Para realização deste projeto de pesquisa, a metodologia exigiu a interação com pesquisadores de áreas como: infectologia, microbiologia e biologia molecular. Portanto, esta dissertação apresentou um caráter de multidisciplinaridade e transdiciplinaridade no seu desenvolvimento

Determinação de parâmetros de qualidade para formas farmacêuticas homeopáticas

All medicine, whether allopathic or homeopathic, must go through strict quality control, which must ratify their characteristics throughout the period of validity. During the time of preparation and storage, solutions of the drugs are in permanent contact with packaging materials that can release undesirable substances to the solution. Several factors may influence the release of packing materials, and factorial design (FD) is a useful tool for analyzing the phenomenon. The aim of this study was the determination of quality parameters for Homeopathic solid (globules) and liquid (drops) dosage forms. It was carried out analysis in homeopathic globules for weight variation, mechanical strength, and moisture content uniformity. For liquid preparations, standard solutions were prepared from natural rubber bulbs, which were subjected to exhaustive extraction with two ethanol solutions (30 and 70%) in the ultrasonic bath for 20 minutes at 25°C and 50°C in three successive cycles. Studies of transfer have been made within five days, by spectrophotometric analysis in the UV region at 312 nm with λmáx and 323 nm for samples in 70% ethanol and 30% respectively. PH values were analyzed. We also conducted two FD studies, where the first, the three-level variables were solvent (chloroform, ethanol and nhexane), sample mass (30, 60 and 90mg), particle size (large disk, small disk and powder sample). In the second study, the solvent level variables were different ethanolic degrees (EtOH 30%, 70% and pure). The percentage of lending in the solutions was 5.5%, 12.4%, 24.2% and 41% of the total estimated in the reference solution. The values of rate constants of transfer were determined in the order of 0.0134 days-1 and 0.0232 days-1 in absorbance values, the solutions in ethanol at 30% and 70% respectively. These results suggest that the speed of transfer of materials from rubber is affected both by the nature of the vehicle as by the temperature

Caracterização dos marcadores químicos e avaliação de atividades biológicas do extrato de Spondias mombim

Spondias mombin is a fruitful species dispersed in tropical regions of America, Africa and Asia. In Brazil, the species can be found mainly in the northern and northeastern regions. Scarce chemical and pharmacological studies have been reported for S. mombin and until this moment studies about chemical markers were not developed. In this context, the aims of this study were to characterize the chemical markers from S. mombin leaves and evaluate their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antiproliferative potentials. The chemical profile of the hydroethanolic extract from S. mombin leaves analyzed by HPLC-DAD, through a validated method, allowed the identification and quantification of ellagic acid and chlorogenic acid. This extract showed anti-inflammatory potential in acute peritonitis model induced by carrageenan. The hydroethanolic extract from S. mombin leaves was subjected to a liquid-liquid partition with the solvents: n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and n-butanol. Regarding the anti-inflammatory potential of the fractions obtained they were active; however, ethyl acetate fraction at 200 mg/kg showed highlighted results. The compounds ellagic acid and chlorogenic acid also inhibited the leukocyte migration to the site of inflammation at 2.5, 5 and 10 mg/kg. The hydroethanolic extract, fractions and the chemical markers showed significant antioxidant potential when evaluated in different assays: DPPH Free-Radical Scavenging, Superoxide Radical Scavenging, Hydroxyl Radicals Scavenging and Reducing Power. Taken together our results showed that hydroethanolic extract of S. mombin leaves has ellagic acid and chlorogenic acid as bioactive markers and it demonstrated antiinflammatory and antioxidant properties besides no cytotoxicity against 3T3 cells. It enables us to suggest S. mombin as an important species to develop herbal drugs

Sistema com aeração, decantação e filtragem para a melhoria da qualidade de água em irrigação localizada

A qualidade da água é muito importante para irrigação por gotejamento, pois ela escoa por pequenos bocais dos emissores, podendo ocorrer obstrução devido à deposição dos sólidos em suspensão. Portanto, antes da instalação do projeto, devem-se avaliar parâmetros de qualidade da água, para adotar medidas preventivas, evitando o risco de entupimento do sistema. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar um sistema composto por aeradores com aspersores, sobre leito de pedra, para a precipitação dos íons Fe+2e Mn+2 em tanque de decantação, e um conjunto de filtragem composto por três filtros de areia e um de disco, em sistema de irrigação localizada. O trabalho foi realizado na Fazenda Alvorada, no município de Nova Granada - SP, no período de março a outubro de 2008. Foram realizadas determinações de variáveis físicas e químicas da água, ao longo do sistema de aeração, decantação e filtragem, o qual foi eficiente para a melhoria da qualidade de água, reduzindo os níveis de risco de entupimento de severo para médio e de médio para baixo. Oxigênio dissolvido, condutividade elétrica, pH, Fe+2e Fe+3 não diferenciaram a qualidade de água entre os pontos do sistema de tratamento, porém a turbidez, sólidos dissolvidos, sólidos em suspensão, ferro total e manganês total reduziram-se significativamente pelo uso do sistema proposto, melhorando a qualidade da água.