Use of immunoblotting assay improves the sensitivity of paracoccidioidomycosis diagnosis

The purpose of this work was to evaluate two serological assays: double immunodiffusion (DI) and immunoblotting (IB) in immunodiagnosis of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM). We evaluated by IB assay 23 sera samples from patients with clinical confirmation of PCM, all of them with negative DI results against culture filtrate from Paracoccidioides brasiliensis isolate 113. For IB, as well as for comparative DI assay, we employed soluble components of the cell wall outer surface (SCCWOS) from P. brasiliensis isolate 113 cultivated at 36°C in Fava-Neto's agar medium for 5 and 10 days. Among the 20 sera samples analyzed by DI, 13 (65 percent) were negative and 7 (35 percent) were positive against SCCWOS obtained on the 5th and 10th days. By IB assay, 95.4 percent and 100 percent of sera reacted against gp43 and gp70 present in SCCWOS from the 5th day and 95.6 percent recognized these fractions when evaluated against SCCWOS from the 10th day. Our results demonstrated that the use of an immunoenzymatic assay significantly improves the sensitivity of PCM immunodiagnosis and also suggests that at least two serological tests for antibody detection should be adopted in cases of questionable diagnosis.

Utilização de ciclodextrinas na formação de complexos de inclusão de interesse farmacêutico / Use of cyclodextrins to form inclusion complexes of pharmaceutical interest

As ciclodextrinas (CDs) constituem uma nova classe de excipientes farmacêuticos com capacidade para formar complexos de inclusão reversíveis com moléculas apolares. A habilidade das CDs em encapsular fármacos tem conseguido melhoras na biodisponibilidade, estabilidade e segurança de inúmeras fórmulas farmacêuticas atualmente comercializadas. Esta revisão bibliográfica compila os principais procedimentos empregados para a obtenção de complexos de inclusão em solução e em estado sólido utilizando CDs, discutindo seus diferentes aspectos. As técnicas utilizadas para caracterização e controle são analisadas criticamente quanto a suas aportações e limitações. Os aspectos relacionados à sua utilização pela indústria farmacêutica também são abordados

Cyclodextrins (CDs) have found application in a new family of pharmaceutical excipients with the ability to form reversible inclusion complexes with non-polar molecules. CDs capable of encapsulating drugs have led to improvements in the bioavailability, stability and safety of several dosage forms on the market. The main procedures employed to produce CD inclusion complexes, both in dissolved and solid forms, are brought together in this review of the literature and several aspects of these methods are examined. The techniques used in research and quality control of CD formulations are analysed critically with respect to their particular features and limitations. Aspects of their use in the drugs industry are also discussed.

Ecdisteróide e iridóide glicosilado de Vitex gardneriana Schauer (Verbenaceae) / Ecdysteroid and iridoid glycoside from Vitex gardneriana Schauer (Verbenaceae)

O extrato metanólico das cascas do caule de Vitex gardneriana Schauer forneceu o ecdisteróide, 20-hidroxi-ecdisona e o iridóide glicosilado, aucubina. As estruturas foram caracterizadas por métodos químicos e espectroscópicos.

The methanolic extract of the stem bark of Vitex gardneriana Schauer afforded the ecdysteroid, 20-hydroxy-ecdysone and the iridoid glycoside, aucubin. Their structures were established on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic studies.