Avaliação da formação do biofilme de Candida albicans sobre superfície de titânio revestida com hidroxiapatita por meio de microscopia eletrônica de varredura

In this study Candida albicans biofilm formation on the surface of commercially pure titanium (cp-Ti) coated with hydroxyapatite was observed by means of scanning electron microscope. The biofilm was formed after 45 days of incubation of the samples in liquid culture medium inoculated with fungus cells in a tube of polystyrene with screw cap and sterilized. After the biofilm removal with 10% EDTA solution was observed pitting on the surface of cp-Ti coated.

Dispersão de bioaerossóis por aeradores em uma estação de tratamento de esgoto sanitário

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

Estudo biológico e morfométrico dos estádios ninfais de Rhodnius neglectus Lent, 1954 (Hemiptera, Reduviidae)

The following parameters of the biological cycle of the Rhodnius neglectus were determined under a temperature of 28°C and relative humidity of the air varying between 52-94%: a) average period of incubation: 13.67 days; b) rate of the eggs eclosion: 86.18%; c) average period of growth of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th instar nymphs: 18.91, 15.19, 21.38, 21.34, 30.43 days, respectively; d) percentage of death in the instar nymphs: 13.82, 18.26, 9.95, 8.78, 15.06% respectively; e) percentage of changes per instar nymphs: 86.18, 81.74, 90.05, 91.22, 84.94% respectively. The morphometric study with the stereoscopic microscope and Leica image analyses system, using the Qwin software, of the five instar nymphs showed that in the five instar nymphs a gradual growth of the head, thorax and abdomen occurs. In all the instars the abdomen is the largest segment. In the four first instars the head is larger than the thorax. In the fifth instar the head and the thorax present equivalent sizes.

Caracterização biométrica e química da folha de Mentha pulegium x spicata (Lamiaceae)

The hybrid Mentha pulegium x spicata, also well-known as poejo de praia, it is a perennial, low plant, with fields, violet stem and opposite leaves, with lance format and sawed board, presenting characteristic smell. The objective of the present work was accomplish a study of the leaf anatomy, including a biometric study of tissue and quantitative analysis of secretory trichomes/mm2 and of stomata/mm2 in both faces of the epidermis, besides a chemical analysis of the essential oil. Histological permanent laminas were made for anatomical analysis of the leaf surface and also sheets of the impression to foliate for the count of the trichomes number and stomatas. The chemical studies were made through the extraction of the essential oil by hydrodistillation and analyzed in GC-MS. The capitate and peltates trichomes are present on both sides of the leaf, even so they prevail in the abaxial surface. The variance analysis show that there are significant differences for the number of capitate trichomes and tectores between the adaxial and abaxial surfaces, but they are not significant for the peltate trichoma. The analyzed of essential oil shows the presence of a majority component, trans piperitone epoxide, being it responsible for more than 80% of the relative composition in the essential oil.

Citotoxicidade de Styrax camporum Pohl em macrófagos peritoneais e a liberação de H2O2

The immunological response includes wide contexts involving several cells, and the macrophage is crucial in the cellular immune response. Several stimuli to macrophage membrane may induce the liberation of H2O2, contributing to antibacterial and cytotoxicical actions. Nowadays, there is a tendency to study natural products to verify their capacity of acting in the immune system. This study evaluated the citotoxicity of the bulk extract and the hexanic and acetic fractions extracted from Styrax camporum Pohl (Styracaceae) and the production of H2O2, on murine peritonal macrophages cultures exposed to fractions extracted from this plant. The results showed that the fraction HX 2 mg/ml produced the liberation of H 2O2 in high concentrations and to 4 mg/ml was observed high citotoxicity. The fractions AC did not produce the liberation of H 2O2 and EB was produced in low levels. We conclude that this HX is a potent stimulator of macrophage.

Doença arterial coronariana: Um novo paradigma na AIDS

The HIV-infected individuals have been identified as a peculiar group whose propensity to the development of abnormalities in lipids metabolism supports the hypothesis that AIDS itself can be considered as an independent risk factor for the occlusive diseases development. The AIDS progression, as well as the therapy against HIV has been capable to show an array of metabolic disturbances that HIV-infected patients are prone to. These metabolic alterations affect the fate of plasmatic lipids and homocysteine as a result of three factor mainly: (i) the viral infection per se which triggers the development of hypertriglyceridemia and hipocholesterolemia; (ii) multiple vitamins and micronutrients deficiencies, that favors an onset of hyperhomocysteinemia; (iii) the state-of-the-art therapy for HIV infection, which is accompanied to idiosyncratic effects encompassing the lipid metabolism. In this context, a variety of risk factors to atherosclerosis can be identified in the HIV-infected individual. Of note, it must be considered that once life expectancy of these patients has been expanded due to the effective therapy, on the other hand they can accelerate atherosclerotic disease or its pathological appearance in the same extent.

Microbiota fúngica de um prédio com laboratórios da região de Araraquara-SP

From September 2000 to January 2001, airborne fungi were isolated from the building of the Clinical Analyses laboratories, including its didactic and research rooms, in Araraquara São Paulo State, Brazil, by using Andersen, MAS-100® (MERCK) machine, with Sabouraud chloramphenicol medium. After 5 days of incubation at 25°C, the colonies of the fungi were counted, resulting in the identification of 21 taxa. Cladophialophora spp. was the most isolated in internal and external environments as well, followed by Penicillium spp. and Mycelia spp. In accordance with the resolution n° 9, January 2003 (ANVISA), fungi considered unacceptable were found in nine internal environments and one of these presented the amount of fungi above of the acceptable limit. Among the obtained fungi, at least 16 taxa were reported as opportunistic, nine were related to plant diseases and seven were associated to allergy problems.

Epidemiologia das dermatofitoses em instituições públicas da região de Araraquara - SP

Dermatophytosis on skin, hair and nails are the most common infectious process in the world. A total of 94 individuals from Public Institutions from the city of Araraquara - Sao Paulo/Brazil, with suspected of dermatophytic lesions were examined in order to determine the incidence and etiology of dermatophytosis. 105 specimens were collected from August to December of 2001 in the Mycology Laboratory of the Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas. It was observed that 47 samples were positive for dermatophytes. Trichophyton rubrum was the prevalent specie (59.6%), followed by Microsporum canis (17%), T. tonsurans (10.6%), T. mentagrophytes (8.5%) and Epidermophyton floccosum (4.3%). T. rubrum was the most frequent in interdigital lesions (81.5%) and M. canis was the main dermatophyte involved in scalp lesions (58.3%). Therefore, it was observed a predominance of antropophilic and zoophilic species, respectively. These results are in agreement with statistical data from South and Southeast regions of Brazil, as well as from other parts of the world in which these fungi were the most frequently isolates from tinea pedis and tinea capitis. In this study, it was also observed a high percentage of T. tonsurans (41.7%) in tinea capitis and this result was different from the statistical data collected until now in our region.

Avaliação da eficiência dos métodos Direto, COPROTEST e Rugai no diagnóstico da estrongiloidíase

Strongyloidiasis, a relatively common parasitism in tropical and sub-tropical areas, is the result of the infection by the smaller nematode, the Strongyloides stercoralis. Humans can be infected by this parasite, which has in its vital cycle free-life forms of male and female individuals able to live in the ground, and with another step necessary parasitism in the intestinal wall. The diagnostic of the infection is routinely done by the microscopic observation of the larva in stool samples and the high sensibility of urn method over another one allows an trustable and efficient diagnostic. The efficiency of three methods (Direct, COPROTEST and Rugai) used in the Parasitology Sector of the NAC-LACAL in Araraquara (SP) to diagnosis the strongiloidiasis were evaluated. A number of 2346 samples of stool of patients from NAC-LACAL and Nestor Goulart Reis Hospital were analyzed in the period between August and December of 2002. The Rugai Method with an positivity index of 65 % was elected as the most efficient of thee ones.

Fator de crescimento derivado de plaquetas humanas obtido por uma metodologia rápida e de baixo custo

Human platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) was purified from lysates of clinically outdated human platelets by ionic exchange chromatography in CM-Sepharose. The eluated fraction was submitted to the Immunoblot/Slot Blot assay using anti-PDGF-AA and anti-PDGF-BB polyclonal antibodies and was evaluated as to its biological activity through the test of [H 3]-thymidine incorporation in NIH/3T3 cell line fibroblasts in culture. The Immunoblot/Slot Blot assay using anti-PDGF-AA and anti-PDGF-BB antibodies proved the presence of the PDGF in chromatographic cationic fraction. The comparison of biological activities between fiblobrast stimulation assay using recombinant PDGF-AB and partially purified PDGF was demonstrated in 165.796 and 157.567 cpm, respectively. This result, proved the potent mitogenic effect of partially purified PDGF and consequently their evidence about the wound healing activity.

Identificação de Enterobacter spp. através de técnicas convencionais e do sistema semi-automatizado Microscan (Autoscan-4)

A hundred and ninety-five (195) strains of Enterobacter spp., isolated from diverse clinical specimens - urine, feces, cateter, blood, wound, tracheal aspirate, vaginal fluid - were submitted to the conventional identification by biochemical tests, and were also submitted to the identification by panels NegCombo 20 of the system automated MicroScan - AutoScan- 4 (Dade Behring Inc., West Sacramento, CA, USA). The samples were from patients of the Clinical Laboratory from the School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry of UNOESTE, Presidente Prudente, SP, and from patients hospitalized at the University Hospital Domingos Leonardo Cerávolo, UNOESTE. Of the total of strains tested, 191 (97.9%) presented agreement between the two approaches utilized and 4 strains (2.1%) presented identification disagreement, that is, the genus identified was different in each approach. By this study, the conclusion is that both the approaches utilized for the identification presented advantages and disadvantages related to the cost, facility of execution, quickness, reliability and some other characteristics. Even so, our results showed that conventional methods represent a reliable tool for Enterobacter identification.

Reflexão sobre o ensino farmacêutico

This paper aims to discuss the directions of pharmaceutical education based on the new curriculum guidelines from MEC (Ministry of Education - Brazil). In the recent past, Brazilian pharmaceutical faculties prioritized the formation of professional resources in specific modalities in detriment of pharmacist's private field: the prescription filling and delivery at the drugstore. In order to avoid repeating the same mistake it is necessary to develop new competence, allowing the graduates to develop skills to connect the scientific and technological knowledge to Brazilian social context. The new curriculum guidelines are about to finish a time when the undergraduate studies seemed to split the pharmacist into two different professionals: one for the clinical analysis and other for the pharmaceutical industry. The previous educational model, which supposedly allows for pharmaceutical care without providing a broad integral knowledge of health sciences, cannot be repeated in the new curriculum. However, teaching subjects in a superficial and segmented manner, replete of predictable and repetitive technical practices and without a skilled teaching staff, will give no improvement in pharmacists education care. It is clear that the return of the formation of specific human resources in the field won't happen in short time.

Aderência e formação do biofilme por Staphylococcus aureus ao polietilenotereftalato (PET) usado como embalagem para acondionamento de medicamentos e cosméticos

The polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is used for package drugs and cosmetics. The aim of this research was examine by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) a Staphylococcus aureus attachment and biofilm formation on a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) surface and hydrophobicity of S. aureus by adherence to hydrocarbons. A suspension of S. aureus was prepared in Mueller-Hinton broth and, coupons of polyethylene terephthalate were incubated for 30 minutes, two, 24 and 48 hours, 15 and 30 days. Afteron the coupons were removed and prepared for scanning electron microscope analysis. The attachment and biofilm formation was observed on the surfaces of PET. The SEM revealed adhesion and biofilm formation on PET surfaces. The hydrophobicity test classified S. aureus as hydrophobic.

Determination of calcium by atomic absorption spectrophotometry applied to the preparation of alginate:chitosan complexes

Polysaccharicles, as alginate and chitosan, have been used to obtain modified release dosage forms. Alginate, due to its property of building gels during the complex formation with calcium ions, allows the building of capsules containing a core constituted by calcium alginate. This work had for objective to determine the appropriate calcium concentration for the preparation of alginate-chitosan capsules, by means of calcium quantification using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The methodology of calcium quantification was validated through analysis of the limit of detection, precision, accuracy and recovery of the method. The capsules, containing or not the drug, were prepared by the complex coacervation/ionotropic gelification method. Calcium was quantified after samples mineralization and dilution in lantanium solution. The results showed that the amount of calcium incorporated into the capsules depends on the amount of calcium added to the medium, and this ratio increases until the concentration of 1.5% of initial calcium chloride and above this concentration there is a decrease in the proportion of calcium bonded. It was observed that the proportion of calcium that links to the polymer is inversely proportional to the amount of calcium added. The calcium amount incorporated depends on the concentration of the polymeric dispersions used as well as on the ratio between the two polymers.

Effect of Brazilian propolis on experimental hepatotoxicity in rats

Propolis (bee glue) is one of the major hive products of bees and is rich in flavonoids, which are known for their antioxidant activities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the hepatoprotective effects of the ethanolic extract of propolis (EEP) against experimental carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4)-induced liver toxicity in rats by means of biochemical indices. The animals were divided into 4 groups: GI= received mineral oil; GII= CCl 4(4mL/kg; Lp., single dose) treated; GIII= CCl4 (4mL/kg; i.p., single dose) treatment followed by ethanolic extract of propolis (100mg/kg) for gavage from the species Tetragonisca angustula, daily for 3 days and GIV= CCl4 (4mL/kg; i.p., single dose) treatment followed by ethanolic extract of propolis (100mg/kg) for gavage from the species Nannotrigonea testaceicornes, daily, for 3 days. The serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), cholesterol and triacylglycerols were estimated after 3 days. CCl 4 caused a maximum increase (p<0,01) above biochemical parameters. As compared to CCl4 group (GII), the EEP (GIII and GIV) showed reduction in cholesterol, triacylglycerol, ALT, AST and alkaline phosphatase activity in the serum. In conclusion, these data indicate that EEP improved the dyslipidaemia, moreover, significantly attenuated increases in serum ALT and AST activities in rats with liver damage induced by carbon tetrachloride.