Topical effect of propolis in the repair of sulcoplasties by the modified Kazanjian technique. Cytological and clinical evaluation.

A study was conducted to analyze the effects of propolis mouth rinse on the repair of surgical wounds after sulcoplasty by the modified Kazanjian technique. Twenty-seven patients who underwent sulcoplasty were divided into three groups: C1--patients who did not use the mouth rinse C2--patients who used a mouth rinse containing 5% aqueous alcohol T--patients who used a mouth rinse containing 5% propolis in aqueous alcohol solution. The patients returned 7, 14, 30, and 45 days after surgery for cytological and clinical evaluation. It was concluded that: 1) the mouth rinse containing propolis in aqueous alcohol solution aids repair of intra-buccal surgical wounds and exerts a small pain-killing and anti-inflammatory effect; 2) the vehicle employed has a minor irritant effect on intra-buccal surgical wounds; 3) exfoliative cytology allows epithelization of intrabuccal surgical wounds.

Tetradentate schiff base copper(II) complexes

Ten copper(II) complexes of tetradentate Schiff bases obtained by condensing two moles of an o-hydroxyphenylcarbonyl compound with a diamine have been prepared and characterized by elemental analyses, melting points, IR and electronic spectra. The IR and electronic spectra of the free ligand and the complexes are compared and discussed. The deconvolution of the visible spectra of the complexes in CHCl3, approximately C2v or C1, yielded four peaks at ca. 15000, 17000, 18000-19000, and 20000-22000 cm-1, assigned to the four d-d transitions.

Toxicity of synthetic piperonyl compounds to leaf-cutting ants and their symbiotic fungus

The development of Leucoagaricus gongylophorus, the fungus cultured by the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens was inhibited in vitro by synthetic compounds containing the piperonyl group. In addition, worker ants that were fed daily on an artificial diet to which these compounds were added had a higher mortality rate than the controls. The inhibition of the fungal growth increased with the size of the carbon side chain ranging from C1 through C8 and decreasing thereafter. 1-(3,4-Methylenedioxybenzyloxy)octane (compound 5) was the most active compound and inhibited the fungal development by 80% at a concentration of 15 μg m1-1. With worker ants the toxic effects started with compound 5 and increased with the number of carbons in the side chain. Thus, for the same concentration (100 μg m1-1) the mortality rates observed after 8 days of diet ingestion were 82%, 66% and 42%, for 1-(3,4-methylenedioxybenzyloxy)decane, 1-(3,4-methylenedioxybenzyloxy)dodecane and compound 5, respectively, whereas with commercial piperonyl butoxide the mortality was 68%. The latter compound, which is known as a synergist insecticide, was as inhibitory to the symbiotic fungus as the synthetic compound 5. The possibility of controlling these insects in the future using compounds that can target simultaneously both organisms is discussed. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry.

Crystal structure of di-μ(N,S)-thiocyanato-bis[(N-benzylideneaniline-C 2,N)palladium(II)], [Pd(C6H4CH=NC 6H5)(μ-SCN)]2

C28H20N4Pd2S2, monoclinic, P121/c1 (No. 14), a = 11.325(1) Å, b = 13.530(1) Å, c = 17.925(1) Å, β = 106.23(1)°, V = 2637.1 Å 3, Z = 4, Rgt(F) = 0.052, wRref(F2) = 0.129, T = 293 K. © by Oldenbourg Wissenschaftsverlag.

GSTT1, GSTM1 and CYP2E1 genetic polymorphisms in gastric cancer and chronic gastritis in a Brazilian population

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Polymorphisms of DNA repair genes XRCC1 and XRCC3, interaction with environmental exposure and risk of chronic gastritis and grastic cancer

Aim: To evaluate the association between polymorphisms XRCC1 Arg194Trp and Arg399Gln and XRCC3 Thr241Met and the risk for chronic gastritis and gastric cancer, in a Southeastern Brazilian population. Methods: Genotyping by PCR-RFLP was carried out on 202 patients with chronic gastritis (CG) and 160 patients with gastric cancer (GC), matched to 202 (C1) and 150 (C2) controls, respectively. Results: No differences were observed among the studied groups with regard to the genotype distribution of XRCC1 codons 194 and 399 and of XRCC3 codon 241. However, the combined analyses of the three variant alleles (194Trp, 399Gln and 241Met) showed an increased risk for chronic gastritis when compared to the GC group. Moreover, an interaction between the polymorphic alleles and demographic and environmental factors was observed in the CG and GC groups. XRCC1 194Trp was associated with smoking in the CG group, while the variant alleles XRCC1 399Gln and XRCC3 241Met were related with gender, smoking, drinking and H pylori infection in the CG and GC groups. Conclusion: Our results showed no evidence of a rela-tionship between the polymorphisms XRCC1 Arg194Trp and Arg399Gln and XRCC3 Thr241Met and the risk of chronic gastritis and gastric cancer in the Brazilian population, but the combined effect of these variants may interact to increase the risk for chronic gastritis, considered a premalignant lesion. Our data also indicate a gene-environment interaction in the susceptibility to chronic gastritis and gastric cancer. © 2005 The WJG Press and Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Crystal structure of potassium trifluoro[1,3-dithiano]borate, K(C 4S2H7BF3)

C4H7BF3KS2, monoclinic, P121/c1 (no. 14), a = 14.7374(3) Å, b = 9.0612(1) Å, c = 13.5805(2) Å, β = 98.964(4)°, V = 1791.4 Å3, Z = 8, Rgt(F) = 0.029, wRref(F2) = 0.010, T = 296 K. © by Oldenbourg Wissenschaftsverlag.

Study of the potential of irregular shaped bodies and orbits around a non-spherical body

In the present work we show the expressions of the gravitational potential of homogeneous bodies with non-spherical three-dimensional shapes in order to study the trajectories around these bodies. The potentials of a prolate and an oblate ellipsoids with different values of semi-major axis are presented. Their results are validated with a test using a spherical body in order to guarantee the approximation of any body as a polyhedral model of the body. With these expressions we study trajectories of a point of mass around the three-dimensional bodies and the results indicated that there is a group of orbits around those bodies and the polyhedral form of the object does work very well. Copyright IAF/IAA. All rights reserved.

Metabolic syndrome signs in Wistar rats submitted to different high-fructose ingestion protocols

In search of an adequate model for the human metabolic syndrome, the metabolic characteristics of Wistar rats were analysed after being submitted to different protocols of high fructose ingestion. First, two adult rat groups (aged 90 d) were studied: a control group (C1; n 6) received regular rodent chow (Labina, Purina) and a fructose group (F1; n 6) was fed on regular rodent chow. Fructose was administered as a 10 % solution in drinking water. Second, two adult rat groups (aged 90 d) were evaluated: a control group (C2; n 6) was fed on a balanced diet (AIN-93G) and a fructose group (F2; n 6) was fed on a purified 60 % fructose diet. Finally, two young rat groups (aged 28 d) were analysed: a control group (C3; n 6) was fed on the AIN-93G diet and a fructose group (F3; n 6) was fed on a 60 % fructose diet. After 4-8 weeks, the animals were evaluated. Glucose tolerance, peripheral insulin sensitivity, blood lipid profile and body fat were analysed. In the fructose groups F2 and F3 glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity were lower, while triacylglycerolaemia was higher than the respective controls C2 and C3 (P < 0.05). Blood total cholesterol, HDL and LDL as well as body fat showed change only in the second protocol. In conclusion, high fructose intake is more effective at producing the signs of the metabolic syndrome in adult than in young Wistar rats. Additionally, diet seems to be a more effective way of fructose administration than drinking water.

A single multiplex SNaPshot reaction of 42 SNPs to classify admixture populations into mitochondrial DNA haplogroups

SNaPshot minisequencing reaction is in increasing use because of its fast detection of many polymorphisms in a single assay. In this work we described a highly sensitive single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) typing method with detection of 42 mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) SNPs in a single PCR and SNaPshot multiplex reaction in order to allow haplogroup classification in Latin American admixture population. We validated the panel typing 160 Brazilian individuals. DNA was extracted from blood spotted on filter paper using Chelex protocol. Forty SNPs were selected targeting haplogroup-specific mutations in Europeans, Africans and Asians (only precursors of Native Americans haplogroups A2, B2, C1, and D1) and two non-coding SNPs were chosen to increase the power of discrimination between individuals (SNPs positions 16,519 and 16,362). It was done using a modified version of a previously published multiplex SNaPshot minisequencing reaction established to resolve European haplogroups, adding SNPs targeting Africans (L0, L1, L2, L3, and L*) and Asians (A, B, C, and D) haplogroups based on SNPs described at PhyloTree.org build 2. PCR primers were designed using PerlPrimer software and checked with the Autodimer program. Thirty-three primer-pairs were used to amplify 42 SNPs. Using this panel, we were able to successfully classify 160 individuals into their correct haplogroups. Complete SNP profiles were obtained from 10. pg of total DNA. We conclude that it is possible to build and genotype more than 40 mtDNA SNPs in a single multiplex PCR and SNaPshot reaction, with sensitivity and reliability, resolving haplogroup classification in admixture populations. © 2011.

Avaliação do potencial antagônico de leveduras, visando biocontrole de deterioração por penicillium expansum

Considerable losses during apple fruit storage occur due to microbiological diseases, mainly caused by Penicillium expansum, which in addition to fruit pulp deterioration produces patulin, a mycotoxin with carcinogenic and teratogenic activity. Biological control of post-harvest disease by antagonist yeasts focused on killer toxins is an appreciable alternative to the chemical fungicides, due to the low possibility of toxic residues demonstrated during fermentative processes. Twenty out of 44 yeasts (16 isolated from fruits, 10 from corn silage and 18 from laboratory anthill), showed antagonism against spores of P. expansum. The assay in solid medium pointed the strongest nutrient competition antagonism by D. hansenii strain C1 (31 mm inhibition diameter), while D. hansenii strain C7 (15 mm) showed higher antibiosis and parasitism pattern. In the following step the extracellular activity was tested performing the assay with culture supernatant in Yeast Medium agar, where C. guilliermondii P3 was more effective against conidia germination (inhibition rate of 58.15%) while P. ohmeri showed better inhibition on micelial growth (66.17%). The antibiosis showed by both yeasts could suggest probable mechanism associated with killer phenomenon, once both strains were killer positive against sensitive reference strains (S. cerevisiae NCYC 1006 and P. kluyveri CAY-15). In order to enhance the production of antifungal substance, these yeasts were cultivated with P. expansum, but the difference between culture supernatant obtained from yeasts cultivated alone and with mould was not significant (P > 0.05). The results demonstrated that the yeasts application constitute a promising tool, enhancing the biological control of P. expansum in post-harvest diseases of apple fruit.

Influence of nonsphericity of planetary satellites and perturbation of the third-body on the artificial satellites motion

Some orbital characteristics of lunar artificial satellites is presented taking into account the perturbation of the third-body in elliptical orbit and the non-uniform distribution of mass of the Moon. We consider the development of the non-sphericity of the Moon in zonal spherical harmonics up to the ninth order and sectorial harmonic C 22 due to the lunar equatorial ellipticity. The motion of the artificial satellite is studied under the single-averaged analytical model. The average is applied to the mean anomaly of the satellite to analyze low-altitude orbits which are of highest importance for future lunar missions. We found families of frozen orbits with long lifetimes for the problem of an orbiter travelling around the Moon.

Optimal low cost transfer to L4 and L5 lagrangian points

Lagrangian points L4 and L5 lie at 60 degrees ahead of and behind Moon in its orbit with respect to the Earth. Each one of them is a third point of an equilateral triangle with the base of the line defined by those two bodies. These Lagrangian points are stable for the Earth-Moon mass ratio. Because of their distance electromagnetic radiations from the Earth arrive on them substantially attenuated. As so, these Lagrangian points represent remarkable positions to host astronomical observatories. However, this same distance characteristic may be a challenge for periodic servicing mission. In this work, we introduce a new low-cost orbital transfer strategy that opportunistically combine chaotic and swing-by transfers to get a very efficient strategy that can be used for servicing mission on astronomical mission placed on Lagrangian points L4 or L5. This strategy is not only efficient with respect to thrust requirement, but also its time transfer is comparable to others known transfer techniques based on time optimization. Copyright ©2010 by the International Astronautical Federation. All rights reserved.

Optimal low-cost transfer to L4 and L5 lagrangian points based on G-family of periodic orbits

An alternative transfer strategy to send spacecrafts to stable orbits around the Lagrangian equilibrium points L4 and L5 based in trajectories derived from the periodic orbits around LI is presented in this work. The trajectories derived, called Trajectories G, are described and studied in terms of the initial generation requirements and their energy variations relative to the Earth through the passage by the lunar sphere of influence. Missions for insertion of spacecrafts in elliptic orbits around L4 and L5 are analysed considering the Restricted Three-Body Problem Earth- Moon-particle and the results are discussed starting from the thrust, time of flight and energy variation relative to the Earth. Copyright© (2012) by the International Astronautical Federation.

Electrocatalytic activity under oscillatory regime: The electro-oxidation of formic acid on ordered Pt3Sn intermetallic phase

Despite the considerable progress in the understanding of the mechanistic aspects of the oscillatory electro-oxidation of C1 molecules, there are apparently no systematic studies concerning the impact of surface modifiers on the oscillation dynamics. Herein we communicate on the oscillatory electro-oxidation of formic acid on ordered Pt3Sn intermetallic phase, and compare the results with those obtained on a polycrystalline platinum electrode. Overall, the obtained results were very reproducible, robust and allowed a detailed analysis on the correlation between the catalytic activity and the oscillation dynamics. The presence of Sn in the intermetallic electrode promotes drastic effects on the oscillatory dynamics. The decrease in the mean electrode potential and in the oscillation frequency, as well as the pronounced increase in the number oscillations (and also in the oscillation time), was discussed in connection with the substantial catalytic enhancement of the Pt3Sn towards the electro-oxidation of formic acid. The self-organized potential oscillations were used to probe the electrocatalytic activity of the Pt3Sn electrode and compare it with that for polycrystalline Pt. The presence of Sn resulted in a significant decrease (2-11 times, depending on the applied current) of the rate of surface poisoning. © 2012 Elsevier B.V.