Processamento e análise de imagens na caracterização da superfície do titânio submetido a um ensaio de cultura de células

This work aims to develop a methodology for analysis of images using overlapping, which assists in identification of microstructural features in areas of titanium, which may be associated with its biological response. That way, surfaces of titanium heat treated for 08 (eight) different ways have been subjected to a test culture of cells. It was a relationship between the grain, texture and shape of grains of surface of titanium (attacked) trying to relate to the process of proliferation and adhesion. We used an open source software for cell counting adhered to the surface of titanium. The juxtaposition of images before and after cell culture was obtained with the aid of micro-hardness of impressions made on the surface of samples. From this image where there is overlap, it is possible to study a possible relationship between cell growth with microstructural characteristics of the surface of titanium. This methodology was efficient to describe a set of procedures that are useful in the analysis of surfaces of titanium subjected to a culture of cells

Sinterização de Ce1-XEuXO2-(X/2) para aplicação como eletrólito sólido em células a combustível de temperaturas intermediárias

Given the environmental concern over global warming that occurs mainly by emission of CO2 from the combustion of petroleum, coal and natural gas research focused on alternative and clean energy generation has been intensified. Among these, the highlight the solid oxide fuel cell intermediate temperature (IT-SOFC). For application as electrolyte of the devices doped based CeO2 with rare earth ions (TR+ 3) have been quite promising because they have good ionic conductivity and operate at relatively low temperatures (500-800 ° C). In this work, studied the Ce1-xEuxO2-δ (x = 0,1, 0,2 and 0,3), solid solutions synthesized by the polymeric precursor method to be used as solid electrolyte. It was also studied the processing steps of these powders (milling, compaction and two step sintering) in order to obtain dense sintered pellets with reduced grain size and homogeneous microstructure. For this, the powders were characterized by thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction, particle size distribution and scanning electrons microscopy, since the sintered samples were characterized by dilatometry, scanning electrons microscopy, density and grain size measurements. By x-ray diffraction, it was verified the formation of the solid solution for all compositions. Crystallites in the nanometric scale were found for both sintering routes but the two step sintering presented significant reduction in the average grain size

Influência do método de síntese e caracterização de pós compósitos de NiO- Ce1-xEuxO2-δ para anodos catalíticos de células a combustível

Fuel cells are electrochemical devices that convert chemical energy into electricity. Due to the development of new materials, fuel cells are emerging as generating clean energy generator. Among the types of fuel cells, categorized according to the electrode type, the solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) stand out due to be the only device entirely made of solid particles. Beyond that, their operation temperature is relatively high (between 500 and 1000 °C), allowing them to operate with high efficiency. Another aspect that promotes the use of SOFC over other cells is their ability to operate with different fuels. The CeO2 based materials doped with rare earth (TR+3) may be used as alternatives to traditional NiO-YSZ anodes as they have higher ionic conductivity and smaller ohmic losses compared to YSZ, and can operate at lower temperatures (500-800°C). In the composition of the anode, the concentration of NiO, acting as a catalyst in YSZ provides high electrical conductivity and high electrochemical activity of reactions, providing internal reform in the cell. In this work compounds of NiO - Ce1-xEuxO2-δ (x = 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3) were synthesized from polymeric precursor, Pechini, method of combustion and also by microwave-assisted hydrothermal method. The materials were characterized by the techniques of TG, TPR, XRD and FEG-SEM. The refinement of data obtained by X-ray diffraction showed that all powders of NiO - Cex-1EuxO2-δ crystallized in a cubic phase with fluorite structure, and also the presence of Ni. Through the characterizations can be proved that all routes of preparation used were effective for producing ceramics with characteristics suitable for application as SOFC anodes, but the microwave-assisted hydrothermal method showed a significant reduction in the average grain size and improved control of the compositions of the phases

Preparação e caracterização de filmes cerâmicos para cátodos de células a combustível de óxido sólido

Alternative and clean energy generation research has been intensified in last decades. Among the alternatives, fuel cells are one of the most important. There are different types of fuel cells, among which stands out intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cell (IT-SOFC) matter of the present work. For application as cathode on this type of devices, the ceramic Ba0.5Sr0.5C0.8Fe0.2O3-δ doped with rare earth ions (Nd, Sm) have been quite promising because they show good ionic conductivity and operate at relatively low temperatures (500 - 800°C). In this work, Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3-δ, (BaSr)0.5Sm0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3-δ and (BaSr)0.5Nd0.5C0.8Fe0.2O3-δ were obtained by modified Pechini method, making use of gelatin as polymerizing agent. The powders were characterized by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Temperature Programmed Reduction (TPR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The perovskite phase was observed in all X-ray patterns for the materials Ba0.5Sr0.5C0.8Fe0.2O3-δ doped with rare earth ions (Nd, Sm). The SEM images showed that the materials have a characteristics porous, with very uniform pore distribution, which are favorable for application as cathodes. Subsequently, screen-printed assymmetrical cells were studied by impedance spectroscopy, to assess the kinetics of the cathode for the reduction reaction of oxygen. The best resistance to the specific area was found for the cathode BSSCF sintered at 1050 °C for 4 hours with around 0.15 Ω.cm2 at 750 °C as well as cathodes BSNCF and BSCF obtained resistances specific area of 0.2 and 0.73 Ω.cm2, respectively, for the same conditions. The polarization curves showed similar behavior to the best cathodes BSSCF and BSNCF, such combination of properties indicates that the film potentially depict good performance as IT-SOFC cathodes

Análise da Expressão de APE1 após Estresse Oxidativo Induzido em Células Proficientes e Deficientes na Via de Reparo por Excisão de Nucleotídeos

Riboflavin is a vitamin very important in aerobic organisms, as a precursor of many coenzymes involved in the electron transporter chain. However, after photosensitization of riboflavin with UV or visible light, it generates reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can oxidize the DNA. The repair of oxidative lesions on DNA occurs through the base excision repair pathway (BER), where APE1 endonuclease plays a central role. On the other hand, the nucleotide excision repair pathway (NER) repairs helix-distorting lesions. Recently, it was described the participation of NERproteins in the repair of oxidative damage and in stimulation of repair function fromAPE1. The aim of this research was to evaluate the cytotoxic effects of photosensitized riboflavin (RF*) in cells proficient and deficient in NER, correlating with APE1 expression. For this propose, the cells were treated with RF* and it was performed the cell viability assay, extraction of whole proteins, cells fractionation, immunoblotting, indirect immunofluorescence and analysis of polymorphisms of BER gens. The results evidenced that cells deficient in XPA and CSB proteins were more sensitive to RF*. However, XPC-deficient cells presented similar resistance to MRC5- SV cells, which is proficient in NER. These results indicate that XPA and CSB proteins have an important role on repair of oxidative lesions induced by RF*. Additionally, it was evidenced that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in BER enzymes may influence in sensitivity of NER-deficient cell lines. Concerning the APE1 expression, the results showed that expression of this protein after treatment with RF* only changed in XPC-deficient cells. Though, it was observed that APE1 is recruited and is bound to chromatin in MRC5-SV and XPA cells after treatment with RF*. The results also showed the induction of DNA damage after treatment with RF*, through the analysis of-H2AX, since the treatment promoted an increase of endogenous levels of this phosphorylated protein, which acts signaling double strand-break on DNA. On the other hand, in XPC-deficient cells, regardless of resistance of RF*, the endogenous levels of APE1 are extremely reduced when compared with other cell lines and APE1 is not bound to chromatin after treatment with RF*. These results conclude that RF* was able to induce cell death in NERdeficient cells, where XPA and CSB cells were more sensitive when compared with MRC5-SV and XPC-deficient cells. This last result is potentially very interesting, since XPC-deficient cell line presents low levels of APE1. Additionally, the results evidenced that APE1 protein can be involved in the repair of oxidative damage induced by RF*, because APE1 is recruited and bound strongly to chromatin after treatment.

Proteômica comparativa de linhagens celulares humanas expostas a estresse oxidativo induzido por riboflavina fotossensibilizada

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are continuously generated and can be derived from cellular metabolism or induced by exogenous factors, in addition, have the capacity to damage molecules like DNA and proteins. BER is considered the main route of DNA damage oxidative repair, however, several studies have demonstrated the importance of the proteins participation of other ways to correct these injuries. NER enzymes deficiency, such as CSB and XPC, acting in the damage recognition step in the two subways this system influences the effectiveness of oxidative damage repair. However, the mechanisms by which cells deficient in these enzymes respond to oxidative stress and its consequences still need to be better understood. Thus, the aim of this study was to perform a proteomic analysis of cell lines proficient and deficient in NER, exposed to oxidative stress, in order to identify proteins involved, directly or not, in response to oxidative stress and DNA repair. For this, three strains of human fibroblasts, MRC5-SV, CS1AN (CSBdeficient) and XP4PA (XPC-deficient) were treated with photosensitized riboflavin and then carried out the differentially expressed proteins identification by mass spectrometry. From the results, it was observed in MRC5-SV increase expression in most of the proteins involved in cellular defense, an expected response to a normal cell line subjected to stress. CS1AN showed a response disjointed, it is not possible to establish many interactions between the proteins identified, may be one explanation for their sensitivity to treatment with riboflavin and other oxidants and increased cell death probably by induction of pro-apoptotic pathways. Already XP4PA showed higher expression of apoptosis-blocking proteins, as there was inhibition or reduced expression of others involved with the activation of this process, suggesting the activation of an anti-apoptotic mechanism in this lineage, which may help explain the high susceptibility to develop cancers in XPC individuals. These results also contribute to elucidate action mechanisms of NER in oxidative damage and the understanding of important routes in the oxidative stress correlation, repair and malignant tumors formation

Quantificação de células dos túbulos seminíferos e rendimento da espermatogênese em cutias (Dasyprocta aguti) criadas em cativeiros

O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o rendimento da espermatogênese de cutias criadas em cativeiro, por intermédio das razões encontradas entre tipos celulares do epitélio seminífero. Os resultados apontaram que o rendimento da espermatogênese da cutia dos nove aos quatorze meses de idade não chegou a um ponto de estabilização. O coeficiente de eficiência de mitoses espermatogoniais não aumentou com a idade. O rendimento meiótico, o rendimento geral da espermatogênese e o índice de células de Sertoli mostraram variações numéricas em função da idade, entretanto, não detectadas estatisticamente.

Correlação entre o California Mastitis Test (CMT) e a Contagem de Células Somáticas (CCS) do leite de búfalas Murrah

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Prevalência da infecção por Chlamydia Trachomatis em mulheres atendidas no Programa de rastreamento do câncer de colo do útero

Genital infection with Chlamydia trachomatis is now recognized as one of the most prevalent sexually transmitted infections (STDs). Despite major advances in laboratory diagnosis techniques, primarily the character of asymptomatic chlamydial infection in both men and in women constitutes the basis for the formation of reservoirs that perpetuate transmission and acquisition of this and other STDs. The asymptomatic in women favors the rise of infection to the upper genital tract, causing injuries that can result in infertility. An examination of population screening for early detection and treatment of asymptomatic infections is the key step in combating this major public health problem. The present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of infection by C. trachomatis in sexually active women attended the screening program for cervical cancer of the uterus in health facilities in municipalities in different regions of the State of Rio Grande do Norte, and identify factors that may contribute to the spread of this pathogen and its relationship with the lesions of the uterine cervix. It is a cross-sectional study aimed at detecting the presence of genital tract infection by C. trachomatis either in isolated form or in association with human papilloma virus (HPV) infection in asymptomatic women. Were included in this study, a total sample of 1,134 women aged 13-76, mean 34.4 years, from March 2008 to September 2012. Specimens containing exfoliated cells of the epithelium of the uterine cervix were analyzed by examining Pap cytology for the detection of possible injuries, and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detection of plasmid DNA from C. trachomatis and HPV. Infection with C. trachomatis was detected with overall prevalence rate of 8.1% in the isolated form and 2.8% in co-infection with HPV. The infection was detected in 7.4% of women with normal cytology 11.5% of those with atypical cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US) and 16.7% of those with low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL). We observed an association between C. trachomatis and incidence of low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL). The genital tract infection by C. trachomatis alone was associated with education level, ethnicity and parity, revealing that women with higher education, those of non-white ethnicity and those who had three or more pregnancies were more likely to acquire infection. Levels very close to statistical significance were observed for chronological age, age at first sexual intercourse and first pregnancy. There was no association with marital status, number of sexual partners. Co-infection with C. trachomatis and HPV was detected in 2.3% of women with normal cytology, who had 5.1% in ASC-US and 10.4% in those with LSIL. No association was found between infection C. trachomatis and increased risk of HPV infection, but women with simultaneous infection by both pathogens showed greater risk for LSIL. Co-infection was more prevalent among single women, who had in the first sexual intercourse under 18 years and those who had two or more sexual partners over a lifetime

Efeito da natação e do basquetebol em cadeira de rodas sobre o colesterol HDL: uma investigação em indivíduos com lesão medular

Despite the observation of an increase in life expectancy in individuals with Spinal cord injury (SCI), it is lower than that of the general population. Studies have shown that affected individuals have a sedentary lifestyle that reflects negatively on health and quality of life. Studies have demonstrated that HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) levels, a high-density lipoprotein and important predictor of cardiovascular disease, are lower in this population exposing these people to a greater incidence of heart disease from atherosclerotic process In the general population, exercise increases HDL-C serum levels, but this phenomenon is not very clear in people with spinal cord injury (SCI). The present study examined the effect of both swimming and wheelchair basketball in the lipid profile of eleven men and seven women with SCI. The subjects included in regular exercise programs showed increases in HDL-C levels and decreases in CT/HDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C ratios. We found better results mainly in men with lower levels of SCI and in those that sustained exercise intensities above 60% of the heart rate reserve. The duration of training sessions can be an essential factor in these results. The results suggest that both the exercise prescription and the personal characteristics of people with SCI influence changes in the lipid profile mediated through exercise. The elaboration of this work is an attempt to clarify uncertainties about health and the longevity of people with SCI generated in discussion of all members of the interdisciplinary rehabilitation team, especially the physiotherapists, nutritionists, nurses and physicians that contributed considerably in all phases of the research

Efeito do sildenafil na lesão renal por isquemia-reperfusão em ratos

A lesão renal causada pelo processo isquemia-reperfusão ocorre em várias intervenções cirúrgicas, como transplantes de rins, cirurgias vasculares renais e na nefrectomia parcial. Devido ao processo isquêmico, ocorre disfunção do órgão e morte celular. Com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito do sildenafil, em ratos, administrado previamente à isquemia renal e reperfusão, em avaliações cintilográficas e histopatológicas, foram utilizados vinte e quatro ratos Wistar, aleatoriamente distribuídos em dois grupos. Os animais receberam 0,1 ml IV 99mTecnécio-Etilenodicisteína, realizando-se a cintilografia renal inicial e, em seguida, foram submetidos à laparotomia, provocando-se isquemia no rim esquerdo, com oclusão da artéria renal, durante 1 hora, com posterior reperfusão. Os animais do grupo sildenafil receberam previamente 1mg/kg de sildenafil via oral, 60 minutos antes da isquemia. O grupo controle recebeu somente solução salina. Após a isquemia e reperfusão, metade dos animais de cada grupo foi avaliada com 24 horas e a outra metade, com sete dias, com nova cintilografia renal. Após eutanásia, com superdose de anestésico, os rins foram retirados e submetidos a exame histopatológico. Empregou-se avaliação estatística com o teste t de Student e com teste não-paramétrico de Mann-Whitney. Foi observado no rim esquerdo do grupo controle um déficit funcional nas imagens cintilográficas, após sete dias, comparativamente ao respectivo estudo cintilográfico inicial (p<0,05). Nos rins esquerdos dos animais do grupo controle (24 horas pós-isquemia), ocorreu um maior grau de necrose celular quando comparados ao grupo tratado com o sildenafil (p<0,05). A cintilografia e a histopatologia demonstraram que o sildenafil exerceu ação protetora dos rins, após episódio de isquemia-reperfusão renal normotérmica. Deve ressaltar-se o x caráter interdisciplinar desta tese, que contou com a participação ativa de profissionais das áreas de cirurgia, medicina nuclear, urologia, patologia e estatística

Avaliação da expressão das moléculas HLA de classe I não clássicas HLA-G E HLA-E em espécimes gástricas de pacientes acometidos com a bactéria Helicobacter Pylori

The expression of human leukocyte antigen G (HLA-G) and human leukocyte antigen E (HLA-E) in physiological and pathological processes remains unknown, it is believed that these molecules play a fundamental role in the establishment and maintenance of immune tolerance by inhibiting the functions of immunocompetent cells. In literature we found no published study involving the bacterium Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) with expression of HLA-G and HLA-E. The objective this study is investigated the expression of this protein in gastric biopsies of patients with the bacterium H. pylori. Sixty-four biopsies of the patients with diagnosis of infection by H. pylori were evaluated to expression of HLA-G and HLA-E. The samples were stratified according to the presence of carcinoma or peptic ulcers. Patients without H. pylori were used to control. To investigate the expression of this protein were used immunohistochemistry technique with monoclonal antibody anti-HLA-G and anti-HLA-E. Other criteria such as analysis of the inflammatory infiltrate (hematoxylin-eosin) and identification of H. pylori (Giemsa) were analyzed. We detected HLA-G and HLA-E molecules in the most samples containing ulcer and gastric carcinoma. In negative control group was not detected the presence of HLA-G and HLA-E. The presence of H. pylori seems modulate the expression of HLA-G and HLA-E, favoring the evolution of infection, giving different degrees of gastric lesion in epithelium of these patients

Testosterona e gonadotrofina coriônica humana estimulam a esteroidogênese em células da granulosa de folículo pré-ovulatório de égua?

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

Estrutura econômica, mercado de trabalho e evolução sócio-ocupacional no Rio Grande do Norte 2001 a 2008: reflexo de uma condição mercantil e estruturalmente periférica

The aim of this thesis was to investigate the evolution of the socio-occupational status in Rio Grande do Norte from 2001 to 2008, based on the characterization of the socio-economic status of this State from the analysis of labor market norte-rio-grandense . The study, specifically, drew a comparison between the dynamics of the labor market in Rio Grande do Norte and the capital city, Natal. From this perspective, the purpose was to make a relationship between the social division of labor and its effects on the socio-spatial division, represented in the "macro scale" by the federal unit and the "micro level" for the capital; locus of economic and population concentration. The collection of data on the labor market had as a major source PNAD/IBGE, characterizing the labor market in many ways: people of working age, economically active population and employed and unemployed people, classified by age, sex, color, education, income and social protection condition. However, as for the socio-occupational division, we follow the methodology used by the research group on national television, based in IPPUR /UFRJ, called Monitoring of the Metropolis," which rallied twenty-four groups that aggregate the occupations found in the PNAD/IBGE, in eight groups of socio-occupational categories, according to the similarity between them. It was used in the socio-spatial cutting two relevant discussions, which are inter-related and were characterized as crucial points in developing the research problem: the former was related to the influence of the hegemony of merchant capital in the labor market in Rio Grande North and, the latter, it referred the socio-economic relations between the territory and the variable occupation. Lastly, the results all indicated that in Rio Grande do Norte, as a peripheral state, has suffered the devastating influence of the hegemony of capital purely commercial basis, where "wealth" of capitalism is generated through the sphere of mere movement of goods and services rather than a productive process due to the social relations of production more advanced. We have a little advanced economic structure, with a tertiary sector that has propagated under-employment or disguised unemployment. Similarly, the agricultural sector has been presented as an example of greater social degradation of working conditions in the state. The secondary sector, in turn, also was not behind this uncertainty; on the contrary, confirmed that condition, with poor levels of income, low education of the workforce and a high degree of social helplessness, even in the state capital, space full urban area, which although always appear with a favorable condition compared to Province, in practically most of the variables studied, was also reflected at the same time the author of a structurally underdeveloped condition