Initial Development and Characterization of PLGA Nanospheres Containing Ropivacaine

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

Oral paracoccidioidomycosis: a study of 36 South American patients

Paracoccidioidomycosis (South American blastomycosis) is an uncommon, progressive systemic mycosis, virtually only seen in persons who have visited Latin America. Reports of oral lesions are extremely rare in the English-language literature. Thirty-six adults with oral lesions as the first sign of paracoccidioidomycosis are described; this appears to be the largest series in the dental literature. All had chronic proliferative mulberry-like ulcerated oral lesions; the diagnosis was confirmed histologically. The gingiva or alveolar process was the typical site, but lesions were also seen particularly on the palate and lip. Most of the patients proved to have detectable pulmonary involvement. Patients with lesions in the oropharynx, tongue, or floor of mouth all had confirmed pulmonary lesions.

Effect of high hydrostatic pressure processing on rheological and textural properties of probiotic low-fat yogurt fermented by different starter cultures

The effect of milk processing on rheological and textural properties of probiotic low-fat yogurt (fermented by two different starter cultures) was studied. Skim milk fortified with skim milk powder was subjected to three treatments: (1) thermal treatment at 85C for 30 min; (2) high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) at 676 MPa for 5 min; and (3) combined treatments of HHP (676 MPa for 5 min) and heat (85C for 30 min). The processed milk was fermented using two different starter cultures containing Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium longum at inoculation rates of 0.1 and 0.2%. Rheological parameters were determined and a texture profile analysis was carried out. Yogurts presented different rheological behaviors according to the treatment used, which could be attributed to structural phenomena. The combined HHP and heat treatment of milks resulted in yogurt gels with higher consistency index values than gels obtained from thermally treated milk. The type of starter culture and inoculation rate, providing different fermentation pathways, also affected the consistency index and textural properties significantly. The combined HHP and heat treatment of milks before fermentation, and an inoculation rate of 0.1% (for both cultures), led to desirable rheological and textural properties in yogurt, which presented a creamy and thick consistency that does not require the addition of stabilizers.

Development and cytology of pollen in Dahlstedtia Malme (Leguminosae : Papilionoideae)

Microsporogenesis, chromosome number, meiotic behaviour and meiotic index were investigated in Dahlstedtia pinnata and D. pentaphylla, two legume species occurring largely in Brazil, in order to ascertain whether the pollen could limit fertilization events. Archesporial cells originate primary sporogenous and anther wall precursor cells, the tapetum is uniseriate, uninucleate and glandular. Tetrads are tetrahedric or decussate, and cytokinesis is of the simultaneous type. Mature pollen grains are tricolpate and bicellular. No abnormalities in microsporogenesis were found. In both species the chromosome number is n = 11, a number not reported previously. The base number for Dahlstedtia is also 11, because cytological observations include both species of Dahlstedtia. D. pentaphylla has a higher meiotic index and lower individual variation values, and it is considered meiotically stable. Its pollen grains do not limit fertilization. D. pinnata has a lower meiotic index, and the pollen is one of the factors which limit fertilization. Furthermore, D. pinnata has numerous adventitious shoots, which suggest that vegetative propagation is important in its reproductive process. (C) 2002 the Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2002, 138, 461-471.

Polysiloxane-poly(propylene oxide) hybrid discs as solid phase in anti-HCV detection using a recombinant core protein

In this work, siloxane-poly(propylene oxide) discs (PPO disc) prepared using the sol-gel process were used as solid phase in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) for the detection of anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies. The HCV RNA from serum (genotype 1b) was submitted to the RT-PCR technique and subsequent amplification of the HCV core 408 pb. This fragment was cloned into expression vector pET42a and expressed in Escherichia coli as recombinant protein with glutathione S-transferase (GST). Cell cultures were grown and induced having a final concentration of 0.4 x 10(-3) mol L-1 of IPTG. After induction, the cells were harvested and the soluble fraction was analyzed using polyacrilamide gel 15% showing a band with an approximate molecular weight of 44 kDa, the expected size for this GST-fused recombinant protein. The recombinant protein was purified and continued by immunological detection using HCV-positive serum and showed no cross-reactivity with positive samples for other infectious diseases. An ELISA was established using 1.25 ng of recombinant protein per PPO disc, a dilution of 1: 10,000 and 1:40 for a peroxidase conjugate and serum, respectively, and solutions of hydrogen peroxide and 3,3',5,5'-tetra-methylbenzidine in a ratio of 1: 1. The proposed methodology was compared with the ELISA conventional polystyrene-plate procedure and the performance of the PPO discs as a matrix for immunodetection gave an easy synthesis, good performance and reproducibility for commercial application. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media in Cleft Palate: Microorganism Etiology and Susceptibilities

Objective: To investigate the microbial etiology of suppurative chronic otitis media (SCOM) in patients with complete cleft lip and palate and isolated cleft palate and to determine the sensitivity of isolated microorganisms to antibiotics by drug diffusion from impregnated discs in agar and the minimum inhibitory concentration of each drug to these microorganisms by drug dilution in agar.Design/Patients: Effusion samples of SCOM obtained from 40 patients with cleft lip and palate registered at the Hospital for Rehabilitation of Craniofacial Anomalies, University of São Paulo, at Bauru, Brazil, were bacteriologically analyzed by cultures. The isolated bacteria were submitted to an in vitro susceptibility test to clinically used drugs.Results: Positive cultures were obtained in 100% of studied cases. Among the 57 strains observed, the most frequent were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (35%), Staphylococcus aureus (15.5%), Enterococcus faecalis (14%), and Proteus mirabilis (12%). The frequency of Gram-negative bacilli (enterobacteriaceae and nonfermentative bacilli) was 67%. Pseudomonas aeruginosa presented the highest sensitivity to ciprofloxacin, and enterobacteriaceae exhibited the highest sensitivity to gentamicin. The strains of S. aureus and E. faecalis presented the highest sensitivity to imipenem and sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim, respectively.Conclusion: Patients with cleft lip and palate presenting with SCOM exhibited 100% positive cultures, with the highest frequency of Pseudomonas and enterobacteriaceae. With regard to the action of antibiotics, imipenem was effective against the four species of isolated microorganisms, followed by ciprofloxacin, which was effective against 75% of isolated species.

Microcystin-producing genotypes from cyanobacteria in Brazilian reservoirs

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

Crystallization of nordstrandite in ethylene glycol water solutions: electron microscopic studies

The present work shows the growth of nordstrandile microcrystals observed by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. Nordstrandite was synthesised from non-crystalline aluminium hydroxide reacted in 20% ethylene glycol/water solution, at room temperature. This material was characterized by TEM, SEM, SAED, XRD and EDS/TEM, during six month and revealed the formation and growth of nordstrandite. Fibrillar pseudoboehmite is the only aluminium hydroxide which could be identified during the first two weeks. The nuclei grow, from complete dissolution/recrystallization of pseudoboehmite fibrils, into platy rectangular microscrystals of nordstrandite. Some tabular microcrystals recrystallise, forming after six months only the mufti-point nordstrandite stars. This electron-optical study suggest that the star shape results from the overlapping of rectangular plates, and pseudoboehmite fibrils act as the precursor of nordstrandite crystallisation in ethylene glycol/water solution.

The effect of TiO(2) on the microstructural and electrical properties of low voltage varistor based on (Sn,Ti)O(2) ceramics

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Oriented enstatite inclusions in natural diamond.

Six crystal inclusions in a twinned diamond from the Tibagi River deposits near Telemaco Borba, Parana State, Brazil, were identified as forsterite (prismatic crystals) and enstatite (tabular crystals, with a 18.17, b 8.81, c 5.17 A). The prismatic forsterite inclusions are oriented along the <110> directions of the host diamond; the main direction of the tabular enstatite crystals is in the same orientation. The identity and orientation of the inclusions were obtained by X-ray precession camera. Enstatite (210) is nearly parallel with the (111) octahedral layer of diamond; a possible epitaxial relationship is discussed.-R.A.H.

Historico da vacinacao antivariolica no Brasil

A historical chronology of smallpox vaccination in Brazil is presented, with emphasis on the State of Sao Paulo. We also present the scientific and philosophical concepts that influenced the regulation and practice of vaccination in Sao Paulo based on the historiographic bibliography, legislation about vaccination, and the debates in the state legislative body. Discovered by Jenner in 1796, the vaccine reached in Brazil in 1804 and was only used in the colonial capital, the city of Rio de Janeiro. In the 1890 decade, smallpox, side by side with yellow fever, typhoid fever and other pestilential diseases, was the major health problem in the State of Sao Paulo. There was also the fear that the vaccine might transmit syphilis, an Unfounded attitude since the product used in Sao Paulo (the 'animal vaccine') was elaborated from bovine serum. The immediate necessity to fight a highly lethal disease that threatened the State population and the coffee-growing business led to the abandonment of the fears and of the liberal principles in favor of the sanitary needs. The vaccine became compulsory in 1891 in the State of Sao Paulo and its application met no resistance on the part of the population, in contrast to the so-called 'Vaccine Revolt' that would occur in Rio de Janeiro in 1904.

Results of prostate cancer screening in non-symptomatic men

Objectives: To verify prostate cancer prevalence in non-symptomatic men between 50 and 70 years old as well as cancer characteristics. Material and Methods: 2815 non-symptomatic men had total PSA and digital rectal examination performed between March 1998 and April 1998. Racial distribution was: 2331 Caucasians (83.9%), 373 Blacks (13.4%) and 75 Asiatic (2.7%). PSA was normal in 2554 (91.4%), 4 to 10 in 177 (6.3%) and greater than 10 in 64 (2.3%). DRE was normal in 2419 (86.3%), suspicious in 347 (12.4%) and characteristic for cancer in 37 (1.3%). Men with abnormal DRE and/or PSA had transrectal prostate biopsy indicated. Results: 461 biopsies were done and 78 tumors was detected (prevalence = 2.8%). Prevalence was progressively higher with age (p < 0.001), PSA level (p < 0.0001) and DRE findings (p = 0.0216). Cancer prevalence in Blacks was 1.65 times higher than in Caucasians (p > 0.05) and 94.9% of detected tumors were moderately or poorly differentiated. Sensibility, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and total accuracy for PSA were respectively: 66.6%; 89.7%; 51.7%; 94.2% and 86.5%. For DRE, the respective values were: 49.1%; 79.4%; 50.9%; 78.3% and 70.3%. Conclusions: prostate cancer prevalence in the studied population (2.8%) was similar to that of other countries populations. Cancer prevalence in blacks was 1.65 times higher than in Caucasians (difference was not statistically significant). Cancer prevalence becomes higher with aging. The association of DRE and PSA is of paramount importance for cancer diagnosis. The great majority of detected tumors (94.9%) was moderately and poorly differentiated. Brazil probably needs regional studies to better characterize prostate cancer epidemiology due to population heterogeneity.