Producción de nanopartículas de PLGA por el método de emulsión y evaporación para encapsular N-Acetilcisteína (NAC) / PLGA nanoparticles production by emulsion and evaporation to encapsulate N-acetylcysteine (NAC) / Produção de nanopartículas de PLGA pelo método de emulsão e evaporação para encapsular N-Acetilcisteína (NAC)

Se fabricaron nanopartículas de copolímero de ácido láctico y glicólico (PLGA) de tamaños inferiores a 200 nm que atraparan y transportaran N acetilcisteína (NAC) en futuras aplicaciones como sistema de liberación de fármacos. Para esto se eligió el método de emulsión sencilla con evaporación, empleándose acetato de etilo como solvente, Pluronic F127® como tensoactivo, ultrasonido como medio para generar la emulsión y agua. Se estudió el efecto de parámetros entre la fase orgánica y acuosa, amplitud y tiempo de sonicación. Se encontraron nanopartículas de 114 nm, estables coloidalmente y que atraparon un 15% de NAC. Las condiciones encontradas fueron: relación de fase orgánica a acuosa de 1 a 5, amplitud del 60% y 60 s como tiempo de ultrasonido.

Lactic and glycolic acid (PLGA) copolymer nanoparticles of less than 200 nm were produced to trap and transport N acetylcysteine (NAC) to be used in future applications, in the field of drug delivery systems. To do this, we selected the simple emulsion and evaporation method, using ethyl acetate as a solvent, Pluronic F127® as a surfactant, water and used ultrasound to generate the emulsion. The effect of the parameters during the organic to the aqueous phase was assessed as well as the amplitude and sonication. We found nanoparticles of 114 nm that trapped colloidally stable 15% NAC; the ratio of organic to the aqueous phase was 1 to 5, the amplitude 60% and the ultrasound period was 60 s.

Fabricaram-se nanopartículas e copolímero de ácido láctico e glicólico (PLGA) de tamanhos inferiores a 200 nm que capturaram e transportaram N acetilcisteína (NAC) em futuras aplicações como sistema de libertação de fármacos. Para isto se selecionou o método de emulsão simples com evaporação, empregando-se acetato de etilo como solvente, Pluronic F127® como tensioativos, ultrasons como meio para produzir a emulsão de água. Estudou-se o efeito de parâmetros entre a fase orgânica e aquosa, amplitude e tempo de sonicação. Encontraram-se nanoparticulas de 114nm, estáveis coloidamente e que capturaram cerca de 15% de NAC. As condições encontradas foram: relação da fase orgânica a aquosa de 1 a 5, amplitude de 60% e 60s como tempo de ultrasons.

Morphological and cytochemical characterization of spores and gills of Lepista sordida (Fungi: Basidiomycota) / Caracterização morfológica e citoquímica dos esporos e lamelas de Lepista sordida (Fungi: Basidiomycota)

Some ultrastructural and cytochemical aspects of Lepista sordida are described. Basidiospores with verruculose and irregular ornamentations were observed through scanning electron microscopy. Confocal microscopy indicated that most of them exhibited a single large lipid body, no acidic vesicles and nucleus localized in the cell periphery.

Este trabalho descreve aspectos ultraestruturais e citoquímicos de Lepista sordida. Basidiósporos recobertos com ornamentações verruculosas e irregulares foram observados através de microscopia eletrônica de varredura. Através de microscopia confocal verificou-se que a maioria apresentava um grande corpo lipídico, ausência de vesículas ácidas e núcleo localizado na periferia.

Molecular approaches to malaria and Babesisosis diagnosis

The development of additional methods for detecting and identifuing Babesia and Plasmodium infections may be useful in disease monitoring, management and control efforts. To preliminarily evaluate sunthetic peptide-based serodiagnosis, a hydrophilic sequence (DDESEFDKEK)was selected from published BabR gene of B. bovis. Immunization of rabbits and cattle with the hemocyanin-conjugated peptide elicited antibody responses that specifically detected both P. falciparum and B. bovis antigens by immunofluorescence and Western blots. Using a dot-ELISA with this peptide, antisera from immunized and naturally-infected cattle, and immunized rodents, were specifically detected. Reactivity was weak and correlated with peptide immunization or infection. DNA-based detection using repetitive DNA was species-specific in dot-blot formats for B. bovis DNA, and in both dot-blot and in situ formats for P. falciparum; a streamlined enzymelinked synthetic DNA assay for P. falciparum detected 30 parasites/mm(cúbicos) from patient blood using either colorimetric (2-15 h color development) or chemiluminescent detection (0.5-6-min. exposures). Serodiagnostic and DNA hybridization methods may be complementary in the respective detection of both chronic and acute infections. However, recent improvements in the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) make feasible a more sensitive and uniform approach to the diagnosis of these and other infectious disease complexes, with appropriate primers and processing methods. An analysis of ribosomal DNA genes of Plasmodium and Toxoplasma identified Apicomplexa-conserved sequence regions. Specific and distinctive PCR profiles were obtained for primers spanning the internal transcribed spacer locus for each of several Plasmodium and Babesia species