Ansiedade infantil em contexto cirúrgico: estudo experimental

Na infância, a hospitalização, em especial por circunstâncias cirúrgicas, constitui uma experiência potencialmente ameaçadora e causadora de ansiedade, medo e stress, que não se circunscreve apenas à criança, mas também aos pais e à família. A presença de níveis elevados de ansiedade infantil pode ter consequências nefastas e comprometedoras do desenvolvimento psicológico. A preparação psicológica da criança é crucial para a redução da ansiedade e das alterações do comportamento pós-hospitalização, razão porque considerámos fundamental colmatar a inexistência de um programa similar destinado ao utente pediátrico do HDESPDL. Desta forma, concebemos o Programa Infantil de Preparação para a Cirurgia (PIPCirurgia), um instrumento de preparação psicológica destinado a crianças entre os 6-11 anos propostas para cirurgia eletiva com internamento programado. O PIPCirurgia pretende preparar criança e pais, trabalhar estratégias de coping e reduzir a ansiedade e as alterações comportamentais pós-hospitalização. Validámos a sua utilidade através de um plano metodológico experimental aplicado a uma amostra de 60 crianças, equitativamente subdividida em Grupo Experimental (submetido ao PIPCirurgia) e Grupo de Controlo (recebeu o procedimento atualmente disponibilizado pela instituição). A investigação efetivou-se através de dois estudos, Estudo I: Ansiedade infantil e Caraterísticas Sociodemográficas e Estudo II: Efeitos do PIPCirurgia na redução da Ansiedade Infantil e das Alterações do Comportamento Pós-Hospitalização. Utilizaram-se métodos de recolha de dados quantitativos. Aplicou-se um Questionário de Caraterização Sociodemográfica, a versão traduzida e validada para a população portuguesa do State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children, e uma versão por nós traduzida e testada do Post-Hospitalization Behavior Questionnaire. Concluímos que, para as amostras em estudo, existiu uma relação entre a Ansiedade Infantil e a presença de antecedentes familiares de doença, assim como entre a Ansiedade-Estado pré-operatória e a situação de emprego materno. Confirmou-se a utilidade do PIPCirurgia para reduzir a Ansiedade Infantil relacionada com a cirurgia e minimizar as alterações comportamentais pós-hospitalização.

O processo de produção da obra "química e sociedade" como inovação pedagógica para a ensino da química

Esta tese resulta de uma investigação desenvolvida com um grupo de professores que adota o livro didático Química & Sociedade (Q&S) em uma escola pública de Ensino Médio em Brasília, no Distrito Federal, há mais de dez anos; com os estudantes e seus responsáveis. O objetivo principal foi identificar contribuições do uso desse livro na abordagem de temas sociocientíficos para a prática de inovação pedagógica dos professores de Química e a produção de uma Cultura Química junto aos estudantes. Explorou-se uma revisão de literatura partindo do ideário de educadores em Química, para oferecer subsídios teóricos, avanços conceituais ao tema. A lógica sócio-histórico-interacionista perpassou a mediação e incorporação da Cultura Química, construída com base no referencial e na avaliação dos dados coletados ao longo da pesquisa. Adotou-se como percurso metodológico um estudo qualitativo via observação participante e de caráter etnográfico, utilizando-se, como instrumentos: um diário de campo; dois questionários aplicados durante a observação; cinco entrevistas com professores; e aulas experimentais ministradas a estudantes do Ensino Médio. A análise buscou identificar por que, após anos de estudo na educação básica, os conhecimentos de Química não se constituem como parte da cultura de todos os cidadãos e cidadãs; e, ainda, se seria possível manter o ambiente de aculturação científica e continuar desconsiderando a ciência social e/ou popular que os estudantes já possuem antes de ir para as aulas. A pesquisa avança, em nível teórico, ao cunhar o conceito de Cultura Química a ser inicialmente desenvolvido durante a educação básica; em nível empírico, ao desenvolver uma Cultura Química aliando a inovadora práxis docente no uso do referido livro didático – com a abordagem sociocientífica de conteúdos químicos – aos conhecimentos primevos dos estudantes nas aulas práticas de Química, transformando-os em agentes de uma Cultura Química, pautada na educação humanística sustentável e articulada com uma educação cidadã.

Combater as secas e defender as florestas a natureza nos desafios da ciência e da técnica para modernizar o Brasil (1889 a 1934)

In the first decades of 20th century the just instituted Brazilian Republic faced the challenge to modernize the country. Considering that the progress was associated with the exhaustion of the forest reserves and with climatic changes, two big issues were seen as fundamental: To Fight the Droughts and To Defend the Forests; headed by professionals who were dedicated to these ideals. This research starts from the premise that these were the main challenges enforced by nature to the Brazilian development; the general objective was delimited in the search to understand the meaning and the conception of the natural world by this group of professionals who faced the shock between modernizing the country and conserving its natural resources. Aiming to contribute with the construction of the Brazilian environmental history and to bring historical elements to the debate about the environment in the country, the author concentrates his attention to the analyses, the discussions and the actions that preceded the regulation on the use of natural resources and the implementation of the environmental legislation in Brazil, occurred in 1934. The investigation uses as methodological basis the theoretical directions of environmental history, using sources of data still little explored and valued. In such way, it is taken as starting point some published papers about this subject during the period between 1889 and 1934 in two technical magazines the Revista Brazil Ferro-Carril and the Revista do Club de Engenharia. National engineering played a basic role in this process while arguing, projecting and constructing the development. The formulated proposals, after being divulged, had fomented the interchange with other professionals and had favored the advance of ambient questions in Brazil, in the sense to preserve natural resources, to construct more harmonic relations between the society and the nature and to equate the development with the environment preservation

Ribeira, técnica versus natureza: transformações em prol de um projeto de modernização (1860-1932)

The necessity of the insertion of the capital of Rio Grande do Norte in the world-wide commercial scene and its claim as the seat of political power, in ends of nineteenth and beginning of twentieth century, determined the direction of urban interventions undertaken by government to restructure the city. In that matter, there were several actions of improvements and embellishment in Natal, which had, as a starting point, the adequacy works of the port, located in the Ribeira quarter, with the aim of ending the physical isolation that reinforced its economic stagnation. Besides the problems faced in the opening bar of the Potengi River, and would complement the required improvements, other barriers demonstrate the tension established between the physic-geographic field and the man: the flooded and slope which connected Cidade Alta and Ribeira the first two quarters of the city.The execution of these works demanded knowledge whose domain and application it was for engineering. But, how the actions done for the engineers, in sense to transform natural areas into constructed spaces made possible the intentional conformation of the quarter of the Ribeira in a commercial and politician-administrative center, in the middle of the XIX century and beginning of the XX? Understand, therefore, the employment effects of technology on the physical-geographical Ribeira, is the objective of this work that uses theoretical and methodological procedures of Urban Environmental History, by analyzing the relationship between the environment and the man, mediated by knowledge and use of technologies. The documental research was used, as primary sources, the Messages of the Provincial Assembly Government that later became the Legislative Assembly of Rio Grande do Norte reports and articles on specialized publications, in addition to local newspapers. The work is structured in five chapters. First, some comments about Urban Environmental History (Chapter 1) supplemented with analysis of the conceptual construction of nature in the Contemporary Era and its application in the city (chapter 02), the following chapters (03 and 04) deal with the rise of engineers as a active group in the Brazilian government frameworks and their vision about the nature inside the urban environment and it is studied how the professional technicians dealt with the improvement work of the harbor and in the shock with the natural forces. Other works that would complement this "project" of modernization and had had natural obstacles to be removed the Ribeira flood and slope constitute the subject of the fifth chapter. Finally, some final considerations retake the initial discussions aiming an association between the technique and the nature as junction elements inside the process of constitution of a Modern Natal

Variação no conteúdo protéico e pigmentar em variantes cromáticas de Gracilaria domingensis nas populações naturais de Rio do Fogo-RN, BRASIL

The seaweed Gracilaria domingensis is a common species in the coast of Rio Grande do Norte. This species lives in the intertidal zone, where colour strains (red, green and brown) co-occur during the whole year. Seaweeds that live in this region are exposed to daily changes and to the rhythm of the tide. During the low tide they are exposed to dissection, hiper-or hipo-osmotic shock, high temperatures and high irradiance. The aim of this study was to analyze whether the pigment and protein content of the colour strains of G. domingensis is affected by some environmental parameters in a temporal scale. The seaweeds were collected during 10 months in the seashore of Rio do Fogo (RN). The total soluble proteins and the phycobiliprotein were extracted in phosphate buffer and the carotenoids were analyzed by a standardized method through HPLC-UV. The pigments analysis showed that phycoerithrin is the most abundant pigment in the three strains. This pigment was strongly correlated with nitrogen and the photosynthetically active radiation. Chlorophyll presented higher concentrations than carotenoids during the whole, but the ratio carotenoid/chlorophyll-a was modified by incident radiation. The most abundant carotenoid was ß-carotene and zeaxanthin, which had higher concentrations in the higher radiation months. The concentration increase of zeaxanthin in this period indicated a photoprotective response of the seaweed. The three strains presented a pigment profile that indicates different radiation tolerance profile. Our results pointed that the green strain is better adapted to high irradiance levels than the red and brown strains

Avaliação da toxicidade de florações naturais e de cultura de cianobactérias: efeitos sobre Ceriodaphnia silvestri (Crustacea, Cladocera)

The incidence of toxic cyanobacterial blooms is one of the important consequences of eutrophication in aquatic ecosystems. It is a very common phenomenon in reservoirs and shrimp ponds in the State of Rio Grande do Norte (RN), Brazil. Cyanobacterias produce toxins which can affect aquatic organisms and men trough the food chain. Aiming to contribute to the studies of cyanobacterias in RN, we propose: a) to evaluate the toxicity of isolated cyanobacterias in important fresh-water environments; and b) to verify the effects of both natural and cultured blooms occurred in reservoirs for human supply and in the cladoceran Ceriodaphnia silvestrii. This study was carried out using samples of natural blooms occurred between March and October of 2004 in Gargalheiras Dam (08º L e 39º W), in July of 2004 in Armando Ribeiro Gonçalves Dam (06o S e 37o W) and in commercial shrimp ponds (Litopenaeus vannamei) located in fresh-water environments. The samples were collected with plankton net (20µm.) for identification, isolation and obtaining of phytoplanktonic biomass for liophilization and later toxicity bioassays. The toxicity of cultured samples and natural blooms was investigated through bioassays in Swiss mice. Quantification of cyanobacteria in samples was conducted following the Ütermol method, with 300mL samples fixed with lugol. The toxicity test with Ceriodaphnia silvestrii followed ABNT, 2001 recommendations, and were accomplished with natural hepatotoxic bloom s samples and cultured samples of both non-toxic and neurotoxic C. raciborskii. In this test, five newborns, aged between 6 and 24 hours, were exposed to different concentrations (0 a 800 mg.L-1) of crude cyanobacterial extracts during 24 and 48 hours. Three replicates were used per treatment. The pH, temperature and dissolved oxygen at the beginning and after 24 and 48hours from the test were measured. We estimated the CL50 through the Trimmed Spearman-Karber method. The blooms were constituted by Microcystis panniformis, M. aeruginosa, Anabaena circinalis, Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii and Planktothrix agardhii, producers of mycrocistin-LR confirmed with HPLC analysis. Samples of hepatotoxic blooms registered toxinogenic potential for C. silvestrii, with CL50-24h value of 47.48 mg.L-1 and CL5048h of 38.15 mg.L-1 for GARG samples in march/2005; CL50-24h of 113,13 mg.L-1 and CL5048h of 88,24 mg.L-1 for ARG July/2004; CL50-24h of 300.39 mg.L-1 and CL50-48h of 149.89 mg.L-1 for GARG October/2005. For cultured samples, values of CL50-24h and CL50-48h for C. raciborskii toxic strains were 228.05 and 120.28 mg.L-1, respectively. There was no mortality of C. silvestrii during the tests with non-toxic C. raciborskii strain. The toxicity test with C. silvestrii presented good sensitivity degree to cyanotoxins. The toxicity of natural hepatotoxic blooms samples (microcystins) and cultured neurotoxic saxitoxins producer samples analyzed in this study give us strong indications of that toxin s influence on the zooplanktonic community structure in tropical aquatic environments. Eleven cyanobacteria strains were isolated, representing 6 species: Anabaenopsis sp., Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii, Chroococcus sp., Microcystis panniformis, Geitlerinema unigranulatum e Planktothrix agardhii. None presented toxicity in Swiss mice. The strains were catalogued and deposited in the Laboratório de Ecologia e Toxicologia de Organismos Aquáticos (LETMA), in UFRN, and will be utilized in ecotoxicológical and ecophysiological studies, aiming to clarify the causes and control of cyanobacterial blooms in aquatic environments in RN. This state s reservoirs must receive broader attention from the authorities, considering the constant blooms occurring in waters used for human consumption

Características limnológicas e estrutura trófica das comunidades de peixes de alguns lagos naturais e artificiais do Rio Grande do Norte

Artificial lakes must differ from natural lakes in important structural and functional aspects that need to be understood so that these ecosystems can be properly managed. The aim of this work was to test the hypothesis that the artificial lakes (impoundments) in the semi-arid region of the Rio Grande do Norte State are more eutrophic and turbid and have different trophic structure when compared to the natural coastal lakes that occur in the humid eastern coast of the State. To test this hypothesis, 10 natural lakes and 8 artificial lakes with about 100 ha were sampled between September and November 2005 for the determination of some limnological variables and the abundance of the main fish species, which were grouped in three trophic guilds: facultative piscivores, facultative planktivores and omnivores. The results show that the artificial lakes had significantly higher concentrations of total nitrogen, total phosphorus, chlorophyll a , total and volatile suspended solids than the natural lakes. Results also show that the values of pH, total alkalinity, electric conductivity, turbidity as well as the coefficient of vertical attenuation of light were significantly higher in the artificial lakes than in the natural lakes. In the artificial lakes, the abundance of facultative planktivores was significantly higher, while the abundance of facultative piscivores significantly lower than in the natural lakes. There was no significant difference in the abundance of omnivorous fish between the two types of lakes. These results suggest that the increase in turbidity together with the other changes in the water quality of the artificial lakes, modifies the trophic structure of the fish communities reducing the importance of piscivores and the length of the food chains

Análise da estabilidade genética de células-tronco mesenquimais humanas

Human multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), also known as mesenchymal stem cells, have become an important and attractive therapeutic tool since they are easily isolated and cultured, have in vitro expansion potential, substantial plasticity and secrete bioactive molecules that exert trophic effects. The human umbilical cord as a cell source for cell therapy will help to avoid several ethical, political, religious and technical issues. One of the main issues with SC lines from different sources, mainly those of embryonic origin, is the possibility of chromosomal alterations and genomic instability during in vitro expansion. Cells isolated from one umbilical cord exhibited a rare balanced paracentric inversion, likely a cytogenetic constitutional alteration, karyotype: 46,XY,inv(3)(p13p25~26). Important genes related to cancer predisposition and others involved in DNA repair are located in 3p25~26. Titanium is an excellent biomaterial for bone-implant integration; however, the use can result in the generation of particulate debris that can accumulate in the tissues adjacent to the prosthesis, in the local bone marrow, in the lymph nodes, liver and spleen. Subsequently may elicit important biological responses that aren´t well studied. In this work, we have studied the genetic stability of MSC isolated from the umbilical cord vein during in vitro expansion, after the cryopreservation, and under different concentrations and time of exposition to titanium microparticles. Cells were isolated, in vitro expanded, demonstrated capacity for osteogenic, adipogenic and chondrogenic differentiation and were evaluated using flow cytometry, so they met the minimum requirements for characterization as MSCs. The cells were expanded under different concentrations and time of exposition to titanium microparticles. The genetic stability of MSCs was assessed by cytogenetic analysis, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and analysis of micronucleus and other nuclear alterations (CBMN). The cells were able to internalize the titanium microparticles, but MSCs preserve their morphology, differentiation capacity and surface marker expression profiles. Furthermore, there was an increase in the genomic instability after long time of in vitro expansion, and this instability was greater when cells were exposed to high doses of titanium microparticles that induced oxidative stress. It is necessary always assess the risks/ benefits of using titanium in tissue therapy involving MSCs, considering the biosafety of the use of bone regeneration using titanium and MSCs. Even without using titanium, it is important that the therapeutic use of such cells is based on analyzes that ensure quality, security and cellular stability, with the standardization of quality control programs appropriate. In conclusion, it is suggested that cytogenetic analysis, FISH analysis and the micronucleus and other nuclear alterations are carried out in CTMH before implanting in a patient

Síntese de zeólitas e argilas ácidas pilarizadas a partir de matérias primas naturais

Structural changes in waste for zeolites synthesis are subject of many studies carried out in the synthesis of molecular sieves. These materials are named molecular sieves because they have well defined pore sizes and they have the capacity of select molecules by its size. In this work, it was studied the synthesis processes of two types of molecular sieves: pillared acid clays using as starting material one natural montmorillonite clay and the synthesis of zeolites from a silico-aluminous residue. This residue is a byproduct of the extraction of lithium -spodumene. The preparation of pillared acid clays was performed in two steps: 1° acid treatment of clay samples (time and temperature studies) and 2°pilarization of them with Al13 (Keggin ion). The temperature and acid concentration affect the removal of cations in the structure and porosity of the material obtained. The analysis of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and infrared spectroscopy (IR), showed that increasing the severity of the acid treatment compromises the structural material. Also the pore size distribution is approximately uniform. Despite presenting a structural disorganization, the samples were pillared. As evidenced by XRD increasing the basal spacing, specific area and uniform porosity by adsorption of N2. Regarding the microporous molecular sieves were synthesized zeolites A and NaP1 from a silico-aluminous residue, a byproduct of extracting lithium. The temperature and time of agitation during the synthesis were the most important factors for obtaining zeolite A. The aging of the gel and the highest crystallization time promoted the formation of zeolite NaP1 using a Si / Al ratio = 3.2

Mesoestruturas porosas a partir de materiais naturais

The MCM-41 mesoporous synthesis was done using rice hulls ash and chrysotile as natural alternative silica sources. For the using of these sources, chemical and thermic treatments were done in both materials. After chemical and thermic treatments, these materials were employed on the MCM-41 mesoctructures synthesis. The natural materials treated and employed in the synthesis were characterized by several techniques such as X-ray diffraction, N2 adsorption and desorption, scanning electronic microscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. MCM-41 standart samples synthetized with aerosil 200 commercial sílica were used to evaluation. The formed material from rice hulls ash showed values from BET specific area about 468 m².g-1, N2 adsorption and desorption isotherms and loss mass similar to reference materials. The silica from chrysotile calcined and leached was employed to mesoporous materials synthesis. The BET specific area showed values about 700 m².g-1, N2 adsorption and desorption isotherms type IV and loss mass similar to mesoporous materials. The formed material from calcined and leached chrysotile, without calcination, applied to phenol remotion carried high performance liquid chromatography and evaluated with organophilic clays with different treatments. By the characterization techniques were proved that mesoporous materials with lesser order that reference samples. The material formed from rice hulls ash without the calcination step achieved better adsorption results than organophilic clays

Estudo da substituição de agregados miúdos naturais por pó de pedra em concreto de cimento portland

The sharp consumption of natural resources by the construction industry has motivated numerous studies concerning the application of waste to replace partially or fully, some materials, such as aggregates, thereby reducing the environmental impact caused by the extraction of sand and crushing process. The application of stone dust from crushing process arising as an aggregate for the production of Portland cement concrete is a viable alternative in view of the high cost of natural sands, in addition to the environmental damage which causes its operation to the environment. The stone dust has reduced cost compared to natural sand because it is produced in the beds of their own quarries, which are usually located close to major urban centers. This study examined the feasibility of using stone dust from the crushing of rock gneisses in the state of Bahia, replacing natural quartz sand. In the development of scientific study was conducted to characterize physical and chemical raw materials applied and molded cylindrical specimens , using as reference values Fck 20, Fck 25 and Fck 30 MPa ( resistance characteristic of the concrete after 28 days) in following compositions stone powder: 10%, 30%, 50 %, 100% and 100% with additive. The specimens were cured and subjected to the tests of compressive strength and water absorption, then the samples were subjected to the tests of X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The results obtained showed that the composition with 10% stone powder showed the best results regarding the physical and mechanical tests performed, confirming the reduction in compressive strength and increased water uptake increased as the content of the powder stone in the concrete composition

Desenvolvimento de bioblendas poliméricas a partir de gelatina bovina e de tilápia com amido de milho

The natural raw materials acquired special importance beside the mineral raw materials with the need for using alternative sources to oil, because they can be used to produce biopolymers. Gelatin, produced from the denaturation of collagen, and starch, an abundant polysaccharide in various plants, are examples of biopolymers which have several technological applications, especially in films. The objective of this work is to produce polymeric bioblends with gelatin and corn starch using two types of gelatin: commercial bovine gelatin and gelatin produced from mechanically separated flesh of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). For the extraction of tilapia gelatin 3 distinct pretreatments, followed by extraction in distilled water under heating were performed. The properties of gelatin extracted were similar to bovine gelatin, and the differences can be explained by the difference in extraction processes and sources. Blends of commercial gelatin and starch were produced in an internal mixer from a Haake torque rheometer, to study the behavior of the gelatin mixture with starch, thus, the same compositions were processed by twin screw extrusion, to define the mixing parameters. Subsequently, the extrusion of blends of tilapia gelatin and corn starch was carried out in the same twin screw extruder. The physico-chemical, rheological and morphological properties of the blends with thermoplastic starch and gelatin were studied. It was found that various properties vary linearly with increasing concentration of the components. The blends produced are immiscible, and among the two gelatins, tilapia gelatin showed a better interfacial adhesion with the corn starch. Regarding the morphology, gelatins formed the dispersed phase in all compositions studied, even in compositions rich in starch. Can be concluded that the procedure for tilapia gelatin extraction is feasible and advantageous, and the increasing in its scale to a reactor of 30 liters is possible, with a satisfactory yield. The bioblends of bovine gelatin/corn starch and tilapia gelatin/corn starch were successfully produced, and the processing conditions were appropriate

Avaliação de produtos naturais no controle de biofilmes formados em sistema dinâmico

The biofilms microbial forms of association are responsible for generating, accelerating and / or induce the process of corrosion. The damage generated in the petroleum industry for this type of corrosion is significatives, representing major investment for your control. The aim of this study was to evaluate such tests antibiograms the effects of extracts of Jatropha curcas and essential oil of Lippia gracilis Schauer on microrganisms isolated from water samples and, thereafter, select the most effective natural product for further evaluation of biofilms formed in dynamic system. Extracts of J. curcas were not efficient on the complete inhibition of microbial growth in tests type antibiogram, and essential oil of L. gracilis Schauer most effective and determined for the other tests. A standard concentration of essential oil of 20 μL was chosen and established for the evaluation of the biofilms and the rate of corrosion. The biocide effect was determined by microbial counts of five types of microorganisms: aerobic bacteria, precipitating iron, total anaerobic, sulphate reducers (BRS) and fungi. The rate of corrosion was measured by loss of mass. Molecular identification and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were performed. The data showed reduction to zero of the most probable number (MPN) of bacteria precipitating iron and BRS from 115 and 113 minutes of contact, respectively. There was also inhibited in fungi, reducing to zero the rate of colony-forming units (CFU) from 74 minutes of exposure. However, for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria there was no significant difference in the time of exposure to the essential oil, remaining constant. The rate of corrosion was also influenced by the presence of oil. The essential oil of L. gracilis was shown to be potentially effective

Efeito de preparações de produtos naturais (cravo da índia e tomate) e de um produto sintético na marcação de constituintes sangüineos com tecnécio-99m e na morfologia de hemácias isoladas de sangue de ratos wistar

There are strong interests in the evaluation of the biological effects of natural and synthetic products. Blood constituents labeled with technetium-99m (99mTc) are used in nuclear medicine. The aim of this work was to study the effects of Clove (Caryophyllus aromaticas L.) and OZE (preparation used in the Health Sciences) on the labeling blood constituents with 99mTc and on the morphologic red blood cells (RBC) and the action of an extract of tomato (TO) on the labeling of blood constituents Blood samples were incubated with clove or OZE or TO, stannous chloride and 99mTc. Plasma (P), blood cells (BC), insoluble fractions (IF) of plasma and blood cells were separated. The radioactivity was counted and percentage of radioactivity (%ATI) to each blood fraction was calculated. The shape and morphometric parameter (perimeter/area ratio) were evaluated in the studies with clove and OZE. Clove extract and OZE altered significantly (p<0.05) the %ATI of blood constituents and the shape of red blood cells. However, clove extract not altered the red blood cells perimeter/area ratio. The tomato extract used at the highest concentrations reduced significantly (p<0.05) the %ATI in IF-P, although this extract did not modify the radiolabeling on BC, neither the radioactivity fixation on IFBC. The results indicate that these chemical compounds would have oxidative/chelating actions

Identificação e avaliação de propriedades de polissacarídeos sulfatados de diferentes fontes naturais que possibilitem sua aplicabilidade biotecnológica

Sulfated polysaccharides (SP) are widely distributed in animals and seaweeds tissues. These polymers have been studied in light of their important pharmacological activities, such as anticoagulant, antioxidant, antitumoral, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral properties. On other hand, SP potential to synthesize biomaterials like as nanoparticules has not yet been explored. In addition, to date, SP have only been found in six plants and all inhabit saline environments. However, the SP pharmacological plant activities have not been carrying out. Furthermore, there are no reports of SP in freshwater plants. Thus, do SP from marine plants show pharmacological activity? Do freshwater plants actually synthesize SP? Is it possible to synthesize nanoparticles using SP from seaweed? In order to understand this question, this Thesis was divided into tree chapters. In the first chapter a sulfated polysaccharide (SPSG) was successfully isolated from marine plant Halodule wrightii. The data presented here showed that the SPSG is a 11 kDa sulfated heterogalactan contains glucose and xylose. Several assays suggested that the SPSG possessed remarkable antioxidant properties in different in vitro assays and an outstanding anticoagulant activity 2.5-fold higher than that of heparin Clexane® in the aPTT test; in the next chapter using different tools such as chemical and histological analyses, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDXA), gel electrophoresis and infra-red spectroscopy we confirm the presence of sulfated polysaccharides in freshwater plants for the first time. Moreover, we also demonstrate that SP extracted from E. crassipes root has potential as an anticoagulant compound; and in last chapter a fucan, a sulfated polysaccharide, extracted from the brown seaweed was chemically modified by grafting hexadecylamine to the polymer hydrophilic backbone. The resulting modified material (SNFuc) formed nanosized particles. The degree of substitution for hydrophobic chains of 1H NMR was approximately 93%. SNFfuc-TBa125 in aqueous media had a mean diameter of 123 nm and zeta potential of -38.3 ± 0.74 mV, measured bydynamic light scattering. Tumor-cell (HepG2, 786, H-S5) proliferation was inhibited by 2.0 43.7% at SNFuc concentrations of 0.05 0.5 mg/ mL and RAEC non-tumor cell line proliferation displayed inhibition of 8.0 22.0%. On the other hand, nanogel improved CHO and RAW non-tumor cell line proliferation in the same concentration range. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that this fucan nanogel inhibited 786 cell proliferation through caspase and caspaseindependent mechanisms. In addition, SNFuc blocks 786 cell passages in the S and G2-M phases of the cell cycle