Improving photoprotection of Beauveria bassiana conidia for biological control of the cactus pest Dactylopius opuntiae in the semiarid region northeast of Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Survival of Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens in soil and bean crop debris

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

Productivity, biological efficiency, and number of Agaricus blazei mushrooms grown in compost in the presence of Trichoderma sp. and Chaetomium olivacearum contaminants

Foi avaliado o efeito dos fungos contaminantes Trichoderma sp. e C. olivacearum na produtividade, eficiência biológica e número de cogumelos da produção do A. blazei em composto (mistura de cana-de-açúcar, palha de capim coast-cross, farelo de soja, gesso e calcário calcítico). O delineanamento foi inteiramente casualizado com três tratamentos (Trichoderma sp., C. olivacearum e testemunha) e oito repetições (caixa com 12 kg de composto colonizado com A. blazei). Após a colonização do composto pelo A. blazei, adicionou-se 150g de inóculo à base de triticale de cada um dos fungos contaminantes na superfície do composto seguido da camada de cobertura. O experimento foi conduzido em estufa com cobertura plástica, umidade relativa entre 60-90% e temperatura de 20-34ºC. A produtividade foi determinada pela relação entre a massa fresca de basidiomas e a massa úmida do composto. A eficiência biológica foi determinada pela relação entre a massa fresca de basidiomas e a massa seca do composto ao final do período de colheita. de acordo com os resultados obtidos, os fungos contaminantes C. olivacearum e Trichoderma sp. não afetaram a produtividade, eficiência biológica e número de cogumelos da produção do A. blazei em compostos previamente colonizados.

Biomimetic biosensor based on lipidic layers containing tyrosinase and lutetium bisphthalocyanine for the detection of antioxidants

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

Evaluation of the spouted bed dried leaf extract of Bauhinia forficata for the treatment of experimental diabetes in rats

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

Thermal study and physico-chemical characterization of some functional properties of guava seeds protein isolate (Psidium guajava)

The guava seed protein isolate ( PI) was obtained from the protein precipitation belonging to the class of the gluteline (Ip 4.5). The conditions for the preparation of the PI were determined by both the solubility curve and simultaneous thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA): pH 11.5, absence of NaCl and whiteners and T=( 25 +/- 3) degrees C. Under these conditions a yield of 77.0 +/- 0.4%, protein content of 94.2 +/- 0.3, ashes 0.50 +/- 0.05% and thermal stability, T= 200 degrees C, were obtained. The TG-DTA curves and the PI emulsification capacity study showed the presence of hydrophobic microdomains at pH 11.5 and 3.0 suggesting a random coil protein conformation and, to pH 10.0, an open protein conformation. The capacity of emulsification (CE), in the absence of NaCl, was verified for: 1 - pH 3.0 and 8.5, using the IP extracted at pH 10.0 and 11.5, CE >= 343 +/- 5 g of emulsified oil/g of protein; 2 - pH 6.60 just for the PI obtained at pH 11.5, CE >= 140 +/- 8 g of emulsified oil/g of protein.

Alginate-chitosan systems: In vitro controlled release of triamcinolone and in vivo gastrointestinal transit

The aim of this study was to develop multiparticulate therapeutic systems of alginate (AL) and chitosan (CS) containing triamcinolone (TC) to colonic drug delivery. Multiparticulate systems of AL-CS, prepared by a complex coacervation/ionotropic gelation method, were characterized for morphological and size aspects, swelling degree, encapsulation content and efficiency, in vitro release profile in different environments simulating the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and in vivo gastrointestinal transit. The systems showed suitable morphological characteristics with particle diameters of approximately 1.6 mm. In simulated gastric environment, at pH 1.2, the capsules presented low degree of swelling and in vitro release of drug. A higher swelling degree was observed in simulated enteric environment, pH 7.5, followed by erosion. Practically all the drug was released after 6 h of in vitro assay. The in vivo analysis of gastrointestinal transit, carried out in rats, showed that the systems passed practically intact through the stomach and did not show the same profile of swelling observed in the in vitro tests. It was possible to verify the presence of capsules in the colonic region of GIT. The results indicate that AL-CS multiparticulate systems can be used as an adjuvant for the preparation of therapeutic systems to colonic delivery of drugs. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A new approach to the granulation of beta-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes

Cyclodextrins (CDs) are annular oligosaccharides containing 6-12 glucose unities joined together by alpha-1,4 bonds. They have a conical-truncated shape with a lipophilic cavity in which different molecules can be included resulting in a stable inclusion complex. The cyclodextrins have been widely applied in pharmaceutical technology with the objective of increasing the solubility, stability and bioavailability of drugs in different pharmaceutical dosage forms, such as tablets. In order to obtain beta-CD tablets, liquid dispersions of drug/beta-CD are usually submitted to different drying processes, like spray-drying, freeze-drying or slow evaporation, being this dry material added to a number of excipients. However, such drying processes can generate particulate materials showing problems of flow and compressibility, needing their conversion into granulates by means of wetting with granulation liquid followed by additional drying. In this work, the main objective was to evaluate the preparation of tablets without the need of this additional drying step. For this purpose an aqueous dispersion containing acetaminophen/beta-CD complex and cornstarch was dried using a spouted bed and the obtained granules were compressed in tablets. Acetaminophen was used as model drug due to its low water solubility and the inexpensive and widely available cornstarch was chosen as excipient. Acetaminophen powder was added into a beta-cyclodextrin solution prepared in distilled water at 70 degrees C. Stirring was kept until this dispersion cooled to room temperature. Then cornstarch was added and the resulting dispersion was dried in spouted bed equipment. This material was compressed into tablets using an Erweka Korsh EKO tablet machine. This innovative approach allowed the tablets preparation process to be carried out with fewer steps and represents a technological reliable strategy to produce beta-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes tablets. (C) 2010 Elsevier By. All rights reserved.

Antimicrobial, Cytotoxic and Antioxidant Activities and Determination of the Total Tannin Content of Bark Extracts Endopleura uchi

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Synthesis, characterization and thermal behaviour of solid-state compounds of benzoates with some bivalent transition metal ions

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

Optimized synthesis of the melatonin metabolite N(1)-acetyl-N(2)-formyl-5-methoxykynuramine (AFMK)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Influence of cassava starch content and sintering temperature on the alumina consolidation technique

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Thermal treatment of superconductor thin film of the BSCCO system using domestic microwave oven

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

Treatment of venous ulcers with fibrin sealant derived from snake venom

Venous ulcers of the lower limbs complicated by infection or chronicity represent a serious public health problem. The elevated number of those afflicted burdens the health services, interferes in quality of life and causes absenteeism. Although there are 2,500 items on the market, ranging from the simplest dressing up to the most complex types of dressing, treatment remains a challenge. Among the substances used, fibrin sealant is the one that promotes diminution of bacterial colonization and of edema, controls hemorrhaging, alters the pain threshold by protecting the nerve endings, hydrates the wound bed and forms granulation tissue that favors healing. Its disadvantages include higher cost and utilization of human fibrinogen that can transmit infectious diseases. The Center for the Study of Venoms and Venomous Animals (CEVAP) at São Paulo State University (UNESP) developed a new sealant made up of fibrinogen extracted from large animals and from an enzyme obtained from snake venom. The present study, developed in the Health Education Clinic (CEPS) of Sacred Heart University (USC) aimed to evaluate the effect of the new sealant on the healing process of venous ulcers in 24 adult patients, seven of whom were male and 17 female. Two study groups were formed as follows: Group 1 (G1) - control group of 11 patients treated with essential fatty acid (EFA) and Unna's boot, and Group 2 (G2) - 13 patients treated with essential fatty acid (EFA), fibrin sealant and Unna's boot. The follow-up lasted eight weeks and the sealant was applied at only the first and fourth weeks. The results showed that Group 2 presented worse lesion conditions as to healing, but, when comparing the two groups, it was noteworthy that the the sealant was effective in healing venous ulcers. There is evidence that the new sealant is recommended for leg ulcers with the following advantages: ease of application, preparation of the wound bed, diminution of pain and a higher number of discharges in the eighth week. More important, other positive characteristics are non-transmission of infectious diseases, absence of adverse reactions, and economic advantage of being produced by Brazilian technology. Finally, it is suggested that the weekly application of sealant, for at least eight weeks, could improve the healing process and consequently life quality.

Effect of calcium hydroxide-based materials on periapical tissue healing and orthodontic root resorption of endodontically treated teeth in dogs

This study evaluated periapical tissue healing and orthodontic root resorption of endodontically treated teeth sealed with calcium hydroxide in dogs. The sample consisted of three contralateral pairs of maxillary incisors and two contralateral pairs of mandibular incisors in each of two dogs using a split mouth design. After biomechanical preparation of the teeth in the first group (n = 10), a Ca(OH)(2) dressing was placed for 14 days before root canal filling with Ca(OH)(2)-based sealer (Sealapex) and gutta-percha points. In the second group (n = 10), root canals were obturated immediately after the mechanical preparation with gutta-percha points and zinc oxide and eugenol (ZOE)-based sealer (Endofill). After completion of endodontic treatment, the teeth were moved with an orthodontic appliance with a calibrated force of 200 g, reactivated every 21 days. After 105 days, the animals were killed and the teeth were removed upon completion of active treatment, without a period of recovery, and prepared for histomorphological analysis. All sections of each tooth were graded subjectively on a scale from one to four to obtain the average of the 16 histomorphological parameters analysed. Evaluation of the differences between the two treatment protocols was made with Mann-Whitney U-test. It was observed that the teeth treated with Ca(OH)(2)-based materials provided better outcomes (P = 5%), with complete repair of all root resorption areas, high rate of biological closure of the main canal and apical accessory canals by newly formed cementum, less intense and extensive chronic inflammatory infiltrate, and better organization of the periodontal ligament. Under the tested conditions, Ca(OH)(2)-based materials had a favourable action on periapical tissue healing and repair of orthodontic root resorption in endodontically treated dogs' teeth.