Estudo sorológico de infecções experimentais por Trypanosoma evansi, em cobaias

Comparamos os métodos de Imunofluorescência Indireta (IFI), Imunodifusão Radial Dupla e Aglutinação, para a pesquisa de anticorpos em soros, na tripanossomíase experimental por Trypanosoma evansi, em cobaias. Foram obtidas 20 amostras de soro correspondentes às 4 primeiras semanas de infecção. A IFI foi positiva em apenas 6 animais, com títulos variando de 1:4 a 1:16. Os títulos mais altos foram observados na 3ª semana pós-infecção. Anticorpos aglutinantes foram observados a partir da 1ª semana pós-infecção e, após a 2ª semana, todos os animais apresentaram reação de aglutinação positiva, com títulos variando de 1:8.000 a 1:250.000. O tratamento dos soros com 2-Mercapto-etanol inibiu a reação de aglutinação, sugerindo ser IgM a principal classe dos anticorpos presentes no soro dos animais infectados. Não se constatou a presença de anticorpos precipitantes durante todo o curso da infecção.

Estudos hematológico e hormonal de frangos de corte tratados com contaminantes do milho: Crotalaria spectabilis e Senna occidentalis

Crotalaria spectabilis (crotalária) e a Senna occidentalis (fedegoso) podem crescer em plantações de milho e, durante a colheita, este cereal pode ser contaminado com as sementes dessas plantas, que apresenta toxicidade para os animais. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar os parâmetros morfométricos dos eritrócitos, as variáveis hematológicas e a concentração plasmática hormonal dos frangos de corte tratados com ração de dois níveis de energia, que foi adicionada de 0,1% e 0,5% de sementes de Crotalaria spectabilis e Senna occidentalis, respectivamente. Cento e oitenta frangos de corte foram divididos em seis grupos, de acordo com uma análise fatorial 3 x 2 (controle, crotalária e fedegoso como tratamentos principais e dois níveis de energia, 2.900 e 3.200 kcal ME/kg de ração). Os resultados deste experimento mostraram que o efeito tóxico da crotalária determinou uma redução no número de hemácias, no valor do hematócrito e do VCM, não influenciando os parâmetros morfométricos avaliados. A semente de crotalária induziu, também, aumento na incidência de ascite, em função de sua toxicidade hepática. Já a semente de fedegoso não mostrou toxicidade suficiente para induzir ascite nos frangos.

Estudos de expressão gênica utilizando-se microarrays: delineamento, análise, e aplicações na pesquisa zootécnica

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Utilização do colágeno cromatado como indicador em estudos de digestão com caprinos

The objective of this research was to study the feasibility of utilizing chromated collagen as an external indicator of digestibility by comparing it to acid insoluble ash (AIA) and indigestible acid detergent fiber (IADF) as internal markers, and to the total collection method. Six castrated Alpine breed kid goats with an average weight of 33,4 kg were used. They were housed in metabolism cages. Feeding was based on 60 g/kg PV 0,75 of a pelleted ration per animal, supplied daily in two meals (7 am and 4 pm). The experimental design was completely randomized with four treatments and six replications. The results permitted the conclusion that the chromated collagen was the best of the indicators studied, and therefore, is one more indicator which can be used. The AIA and IADF were less efficient and underestimated the digestibility of the feed.

Estudos hídricos com substratos vegetais para cultivo de orquídeas epífitas

Different growing media were compared as to water adsorption and water loss, at Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil, through a three-year period. The objective was to recommend substrates other than tree fern fiber for cultivation of epiphytic orchids. Two treatments of each substrate were used in each sampling: materials stored in laboratory (without use) and materials exposed to conditions of orchid cultivation under laths (used). Generally, the substrates without use adsorbed less water than used substrates. When materials without use were compared, the tree fern fiber retained initially the greatest quantity of water and the blocks of pressed coconut bark, the smallest. However, these blocks gained a great capacity of water adsorption after being used. Charcoal added to the growing media did not cause significant alterations in the studied characteristics. In terms of water relations, the best growing media to substitute the tree fern fiber were composed by blocks of pressed coconut bark or by mixtures of this material with charcoal or Eucalyptus grandis bark. Bark of E grandis alone or in mixture with charcoal did not give good results.

Lesões intestinais decorrentes de isquemia e reperfusão: Fisiopatologia e modelos experimentais

The intestinal ischemia is unusual in vascular surgery emergency. Its main causes are embolisms and arterial thrombosis. In addition to severe ischemia, reperfusion of the ischemic tissues can lead to several complications that may worsen the ischemic lesion and produce a life threatening situation caused by systemic alterations. Intestinal tissue injuries due to ischemia and reperfusion have been demonstrated in clinical and experimental studies, in which pathophysiology and adequate treatment were also studied. The great variety of experimental models used and results achieved reflect the need for an intestinal ischemia and reperfusion experimental model that is simple, reproducible and consistent, in order to search for treatments that can reduce the damage caused by this situation. In this review, the main pathophysiologic aspects and the most used experimental models will be reviewed. Copyright © 2005 by Sociedade Brasileira de Angiologia e Cirurgia Vascular.

Estudos sobre liberação controlada e vetorização de drogas através de lipossomas

The text highlights the state of research related with the application of liposomes in the control of drug delivery and drug target to infectious diseases. Liposomes have several pharmaceutical applications and this manuscript is primarily focused on the potential of this colloidal system as an antibiotic carrier system and of administration through several accesses via to organism. Numerous case studies in which liposomes have successfully been used to improve pharmacological drug effect are presented. Mechanisms involved in drug delivery, application possibilities, research and development and efforts to reach these objectives are discussed. © Copyright Moreira Jr. Editora. Todos os direitos reservados.

Estudos ecológicos em taxocenoses helmínticas de Chaunus ictericus (Spix, 1824) e C. schneideri (Werner, 1894) (Anura: Bufonidae) simpátricos, capturados no distrito de São Cristóvão, Município de Três Barras, Santa Catarina.

Fifty eight Chaunus ictericus and 42 C. schneideri specimens were collected on São Cristóvão district, Três Barras, SC for helminthological studies. Fourteen helminth species were diagnosed, from which only five species were found on both hosts. Chaunus ictericus showed higher values of species richness (2,8448+/-1,1516) and diversity (H = 1,374), with mild dominance (1-D = 0,642, J = 0,5528), in comparison with C. schneideri (0,6428+/-1,007; H = 1,165; 1-D = 0,5822 e J = 0,5985). Also, descriptors of helminthic infection were superior in the former host. Little number of shared species between the analyzed toad species suggests parasitic host-specificity.

Protocolo para ensaios físico-químicos de estabilidade de fitocosméticos

The growing demand for stable, safe and effective cosmetics has required increasingly complex studies by the scientific community and the use of more efficient techniques to determine the stability of these products. The use of active principles from the Brazilian flora has led to the development of numerous products, in the most varied pharmaceutical forms, making it, even more difficult to standardize experimental protocols to certify the stability of cosmetic preparations. While in Brazil there is no one protocol that standardizes the tests that should be carried out to determine product stability, several studies have been conducted in academic laboratories to determine the stability of specific raw materials. The rheological properties of topical use products have to be taken into account in their manufacture, storage and application. The determination of the rheological behavior of a formulation helps in evaluating the physicochemical nature of the vehicle, allowing early signs of physical instability to be detected and thus enabling quality control of the constituents, test formulations and final products. Thermal analysis has also been used to assist in the study of cosmetic stability and differential scanning calorimetry to guide the development of new products. Other tools, such as fluorimetry and laser granulometry can be used to help the study and development of both emulsified and non-emulsified systems. The aim of the present study is to develop a protocol for the investigation of the physical and chemical stability of phytocosmetics - systems containing active compounds extracted from the Brazilian biodiversity.