Biópsias de lesões pulmonares com agulha grossa guiadas por tomografia computadorizada: a experiência de um centro oncológico

OBJETIVO: O objetivo deste estudo é apresentar a experiência de um centro oncológico com o procedimento de biópsia por agulha grossa de lesões pulmonares guiadas por tomografia computadorizada. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Trata-se de um estudo retrospectivo de 97 biópsias por agulha grossa de lesões pulmonares guiadas por tomografia computadorizada em um centro oncológico, referência no Brasil (Hospital do Câncer - A.C. Camargo), entre os anos de 1996 e 2004. As informações a respeito de material adequado e diagnóstico específico foram coletadas e analisadas. RESULTADOS: Das 97 biópsias pulmonares, 94 (96,9%) forneceram material suficiente para análise histológica, e destas, 71 (73,2%) corresponderam a lesões malignas e 23 (23,7%) corresponderam a lesões benignas. Em três biópsias o material obtido não foi suficiente para análise. A frequência de diagnóstico específico foi de 83 (85,6%) casos, demonstrando elevadas taxas, tanto nas lesões malignas, com 63 (88,7%) casos, como nas lesões benignas, com 20 (86,7%) casos. Considerando as complicações, ocorreram 12 (12,4%) casos no total, divididos em 7 (7,2%) casos de hematoma, 3 (3,1%) casos de pneumotórax e 2 (2,1%) casos de hemoptise. CONCLUSÃO: A biópsia percutânea com agulha grossa de lesões pulmonares guiada por tomografia computadorizada demonstrou elevadas taxas de material adequado e diagnóstico específico e reduzidas taxas de complicações no presente estudo.

Metabolic and nutritional support of critically ill patients: consensus and controversies.

The results of recent large-scale clinical trials have led us to review our understanding of the metabolic response to stress and the most appropriate means of managing nutrition in critically ill patients. This review presents an update in this field, identifying and discussing a number of areas for which consensus has been reached and others where controversy remains and presenting areas for future research. We discuss optimal calorie and protein intake, the incidence and management of re-feeding syndrome, the role of gastric residual volume monitoring, the place of supplemental parenteral nutrition when enteral feeding is deemed insufficient, the role of indirect calorimetry, and potential indications for several pharmaconutrients.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging in oncology: state of the art

In the investigation of tumors with conventional magnetic resonance imaging, both quantitative characteristics, such as size, edema, necrosis, and presence of metastases, and qualitative characteristics, such as contrast enhancement degree, are taken into consideration. However, changes in cell metabolism and tissue physiology which precede morphological changes cannot be detected by the conventional technique. The development of new magnetic resonance imaging techniques has enabled the functional assessment of the structures in order to obtain information on the different physiological processes of the tumor microenvironment, such as oxygenation levels, cellularity and vascularity. The detailed morphological study in association with the new functional imaging techniques allows for an appropriate approach to cancer patients, including the phases of diagnosis, staging, response evaluation and follow-up, with a positive impact on their quality of life and survival rate.

Ésteres triterpênicos de Himatanthus sucuuba (Spruce) Woodson

Bioactivity-guided fractionation from hexane extract of Himatanthus sucuuba barks utilizing Cladosporium sphaerospermum led to the isolation of iridoids plumericin and isoplumericin, which showed higher inhibition against C. sphaerospermum than the antibiotic nistatin. Besides bioactive iridoids were isolated the inactive triterpenes lupeol cinnamate, alpha-amyrin cinnamate and lupeol acetate.

Síntese e atividade citotóxica de alguns azido-ciclopaladados estabilizados com ligantes bifosfínicos

Some cyclopalladated compounds containing the azido group ligand and the (C-N) ring of N,N-dimethylbenzylamine have been prepared by bridge opening reactions of dimmer azide complex precursor with some diphosphines in different stoichiometric quantities. The neutral or ionic, mono or binuclear complexes synthesized were characterized by elemental analyses, I. R. spectroscopy and NMR techniques. The series of complexes was screened for cytotoxicity against a panel three human tumour cells lines(C6,Hep-2,HeLa). All complexes were found to be cytotoxic (IC50) at µM concentrations while one complex having the coordination bond N-Pd ruptured also displayed some differential cytotoxicity.

Reciclagem de cobre proveniente de analisador automático de carbono e nitrogênio

Isotopic and elemental analysis of N, C and S in liquid and solid samples has been simplified with the advent of automated systems. The simplest method of automation for this kind of analysis involves an elemental analyzer interfaced directly to the ion source of an IRMS (Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry). In the analyzer reduction system, an expressive amount of oxidized copper is generated as solid residue. This material is normally imported and the price is very high. A methodology was proposed for the recovery of metallic copper in order to recycle this reagent in the reduction system of a GC-IRMS, using the hydrogen gas in the vacuum line. Results show that it is possible to obtain a recycle of about 95 % of the initial metallic copper used in the reduction system.

Avaliação de contaminação ambiental causada por poluentes orgânicos persistentes utilizando simulação computacional

Environmental concern is growing in the current days and there is global agreement to banish production and use of persistent organic pollutants (POP). The synthetic insecticides chlordecone and mirex, classified as POPs, have similar structures and they are potentially toxic. This work uses properties and physicochemical constants related to the pesticides and computational simulation to evaluate the leach phenomenon and persistency in soil. The largest tendency of persistence of the compound is found to be in the surface of soil, but even low concentration in water represents a high risk due to bioaccumulation in adipose tissue.

Ácido 15-desmetilisoplumierídeo, um novo iridóide isolado das cascas de Plumeria rubra e do látex de Himatanthus sucuuba

Himatanthus sucuuba and Plumeria rubra are used in folk medicine in Brazil to treat various ailments. The isolation of the new iridoid 15-demethylisoplumieride from the bark of Plumeria rubra L. var. acutifolia (Ait) Woodson and latex of Himatanthus sucuuba (Spruce) Woodson is reported. Other iridoid glycosides were obtained from both plants. The structures of these substances were elucidated by spectral analysis and comparison with data already reported.

Antimicrobial and antileishmanial activity of essential oil from the leaves of Annona foetida (Annonaceae)

bicyclogermacrene (35.12%), (E)-caryophyllene (14.19%) and α-copaene (8.19%). The antimicrobial and antileishmanial activities were investigated. The oil showed potent antimicrobial activity against Candida albicans and Rhodococcus equi. The oil also showed significant antileishmanial activity, giving the best results against Leishmania guyanensis. A preliminary cytotoxicity assay for this oil was carried out on hamster and mice (Balb/c) peritoneal macrophages. The results obtained were similar to pentamidine and considered not to be cytotoxic to macrophages.

Constituintes químicos de Sebastiania macrocarpa Muell. Arg. (Euphorbiaceae)

The chemical investigation of the methanolic extract of the aerial part of Sebastiania macrocarpa allowed the isolation of the mixture of steroids β-sitosterol and stigmasterol, gallic acid, and scopoletin. The hexane extract of the roots allowed the isolation of the triterpene lupeol and of the macrociclic diterpene (+)-tonantzitlolone. The structures of all compounds isolated were identified on the basis of their spectral data and by comparison of their spectral data with values described in the literature. This is the first report involving the chemical investigation of this species.

Estudo químico e biológico de Tephrosia toxicaria Pers.

The ethanol extracts from leaves, stems, pods and roots were assayed against the 3rd instar Aedes aegypti larvae and the highest activity was observed in the roots extracts (LC50 47.86 ppm). This extract was submitted to partition with hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol. The respective fractions were bioassayed and the best larvicidal activities were identified in the hexane (LC50 23.99 ppm) and chloroform (LC50 13.80 ppm) fractions. Antioxidant activity (DDPH method) was observed in the ethanol extract (IC50 276 µg/mL) from roots of T. toxicaria. Fractions from this extract were also tested and the highest antioxidant activity (IC50 89 µg/mL) was found in the methanol fraction. The flavonoids iso-obovatin (1), obovatin (2), 6a,12a-dehydro-β-toxicarol (3), 6a,12a-dehydro-α-toxicarol (4) and α-toxicarol (5) were isolated and bioassayed against A. aegypti. The flavonoid 5 showed the best larvicidal activity (LC50 24.55 ppm). The antioxidant activity of 2 was investigated and showed IC50 3.370 µg/mL. The antioxidant and larvicidal activities of Tephrosia toxicaria are reported for the first time.

Preparação, caracterização e propriedades de filmes poliméricos com potencial aplicação no recobrimento de sementes

Films of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, sodium alginate and their mixture were evaluated in terms of interactions between the polymers, morphology, water absorption and application as seed coatings. FTIR analysis suggested that only hydrophobic interactions occurred between the polymers. The coating of bean seeds was confirmed by microscopy, indicating the formation of dense and homogeneous films with 7 μm thickness. The obtained films did not affect the germination capacity of the seeds. In summary, the characteristics and properties of the films formed and the water absorption capacity, indicate that these systems are viable for use in seed coating processes.

Removal of phenol and conventional pollutants from aqueous effluent by chitosan and chitin

The present study deals with phenol adsorption on chitin and chitosan and removal of contaminants from wastewater of a petroleum refinery. The adsorption kinetic data were best fitted to first- and second-order models for chitosan and chitin, respectively. The results of adsorption isotherms showed Langmuir model more appropriately described than a Freundlich model for both adsorbents. The adsorption capacity was 1.96 and 1.26 mg/g for chitin and chitosan, respectively. Maximum removal of phenol was about 70-80% (flow rate: 1.5 mL/min, bed height: 18.5 cm, and 30 mg/L of phenol. Wastewater treatment with chitin in a fixed-bed system showed reductions of about 52 and 92% for COD and oil and greases, and for chitosan 65 and 67%, respectively. The results show improvement of the effluent quality after treatment with chitin and chitosan.

Comparação interlaboratorial para análise de dureza total e cloreto em água

Interlaboratorial comparison of the determination of hardness and chloride in water had been performed by 38 and 37 laboratories, respectively. In all cases the participating laboratories used its routine methods. Homogeneity and stability testing were performed on the samples sent to the laboratories. The codified results are graphically reported and compared to assigned value, determined by the consensus of the laboratories. Satisfactory results were obtained for 71 and 73% of the laboratories, considering hardness and chloride determination, respectively.

Constituintes químicos e atividade Leishmanicida de Gustavia elliptica (Lecythidaceae)

The phytochemical investigation of the stem bark and leaves of G. elliptica provided a mixture of the norisoprenoids blumenol B and 6-epiblumenol B along with the triterpenes friedelin, as the major constituent, friedelanol, ursa-9(11),12-dien-3-ol, a-amyrin, β-amyrin, morentenol, epifriedelanol, as well as the sesquiterpenes trans-caryophyllene, α-humulene, ethyl hydnocarpate and other fatty acid esters. The identification of the compounds was performed on basis of spectrometric methods such as GC-MS, IR, MS and 1D and 2D NMR. Stem bark extracts showed significant leishmanicidal activity against promastigote forms of Leishmania braziliensis, with the best results for the chloroform extract.