RegBR: A novel Brazilian government framework to classify and analyze industry-specific regulations.

Government transparency and openness are key factors to bring forth the modernization of the state. The combination of transparency and digital information has given rise to the concept of Open Government, that increases citizen understanding and monitoring of government actions, which in turn improves the quality of public services and of the government decision making process. With the goal of improving legislative transparency and the understanding of the Brazilian regulatory process and its characteristics, this paper introduces RegBR, the first national framework to centralize, classify and analyze regulations from the Brazilian government. A centralized database of Brazilian federal legislation built from automated ETL routines and processed with data mining and machine learning techniques was created. Our framework evaluates different NLP models in a text classification task on our novel Portuguese legal corpus and performs regulatory analysis based on metrics that concern linguistic complexity, restrictiveness, law interest, and industry-specific citation relevance. Our results were examined over time and validated by correlating them with known episodes of regulatory changes in Brazilian history, such as the implementation of new economic plans or the emergence of an energy crisis. Methods and metrics proposed by this framework can be used by policy makers to measure their own work and serve as inputs for future studies that could analyze government changes and their relationship with federal regulations.

Walking Clinic in ambulatory surgery--A patient based concept: A Portuguese pioneer project.

INTRODUCTION: Walking Clinic is an innovative, efficient and easily reproducible concept adapted to ambulatory surgery. It consists of a preoperative single day work-up, with a surgeon, an anesthetist and a nurse. The aim of this study was to evaluate patient satisfaction and its determinants. METHODS: A survey was applied to 171 patients (101 of the Walking Clinic group and 70 not engaged in this new concept). Patient satisfaction was assessed evaluating five major questionnaire items: secretariat (quality of the information and support given), physical space (overall comfort and cleanliness), nurses and medical staff (willingness and expertise), and patients (waiting time until pre-operative consults and exams, waiting time until being scheduled for surgery, surgery day waiting time and postoperative pain control). Furthermore, overall assessment of the received treatment, and probability of patient recommending or returning to our ambulatory unit were also analyzed. RESULTS: Walking Clinic group had overall better results in the five major questionnaire items assessed, with statistical significance, except for the physical space. It also showed better results regarding the sub-items postoperative pain control, waiting time until being scheduled for surgery and surgery day waiting time. DISCUSSION: The results confirm better patient satisfaction with this new concept. CONCLUSION: The Walking Clinic concept complements all the tenets of ambulatory surgery, in a more efficient manner.

Radon as a natural tracer for gas transport within uranium waste rock piles.

Acid mine drainage (AMD) has been identified as the main cause for outflow of acid water and radioactive/non-radioactive contaminants. AMD encompasses pyrites oxidation when water and oxygen are available. AMD was identified in uranium waste rock piles (WRPs) of Indústrias Nucleares do Brasil-Caldas facility (Brazilian uranium mine), resulting in high costs for water treatment. AMD reduction is the main challenge, and scientific investigation has been conducted to understand oxygen and water transportation within WRPs, where 222Rn is used as natural tracer for oxygen transportation. The study consists of soil radon gas mapping in the top layer of WRP4 using active soil gas pumping, radon adsorption in active charcoal and 222Rn determination using high-resolution gamma-ray spectrometry. A sampling network of 71 points was built where samples were collected at a depth of 40 cm. Soil radon gas concentration ranged from 33.7 to 1484.2 kBq m(-3) with mean concentration of 320.7±263.3 kBq m(-3).

Anti-inflammatory activity and effect on gastric acid secretion of dehydroleucodine isolated from Artemisia douglasiana.

The effect of Dehydroleucodine (DhL) on gastric acid secretion in rats was investigated at a dose of 40 mg/kg, while its anti-inflammatory effect was investigated in two experimental models: arthritis induced by Freund's adjuvant carrageenan- and cotton pellet-induced granuloma. DhL did not inhibit gastric acid secretion, suggesting that its anti-ulcerogenic effect can be attributed to its action on the mucosa defense factors. On the other hand, DhL inhibited both chronic and acute adjuvant carrageenan-induced inflammation phases, being most effective in the chronic phase. In the granuloma test, DhL also inhibited inflammation. It is suggested that the anti-inflammatory activity of DhL may be attributed to interference with multiple targets on the level of transcription factors, such as NF-kappaB, and cytokines.

The sesquiterpene lactone dehydroleucodine reversibly inhibits Allium cepa L. root growth.

Here, we prove that dehydroleucodine, a sesquiterpene lactone, at low concentrations (25-100 microM) slowed down the Allium cepa L root growth by 22-70% respectively neither affecting cell viability nor cell size. Removal of the drug after 24 h incubation restored the normal growth rate of the roots. Higher concentrations (200 microM) of dehydroleucodine were deleterious for the roots. As cell size did not change, it is most likely that dehydroleucodine affected some event of cell division cycle making it longer. Thus, dehydroleucodine could be a useful tool to slow down cell proliferation.

The sesquiterpene lactone dehydroleucodine reversibly inhibits Allium cepa L. root growth.

Here, we prove that dehydroleucodine, a sesquiterpene lactone, at low concentrations (25-100 microM) slowed down the Allium cepa L root growth by 22-70

respectively neither affecting cell viability nor cell size. Removal of the drug after 24 h incubation restored the normal growth rate of the roots. Higher concentrations (200 microM) of dehydroleucodine were deleterious for the roots. As cell size did not change, it is most likely that dehydroleucodine affected some event of cell division cycle making it longer. Thus, dehydroleucodine could be a useful tool to slow down cell proliferation.

Antioxidant activity of Artemisia douglasiana besser extract and dehydroleucodine.

The charge (relative concentration) of antioxidants in aqueous extract and dehydroleucodine (DhL) from Artemisia douglasiana Besser was determined employing a procedure based on the quenching of luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence. Total reactive antioxidant potential (TRAP) and total antioxidant reactivity (TAR) values were determined. The data reported in the present work indicate that the extract of Artemisia douglasiana Besser and DhL showed antioxidant capacity. This activity is more pronounced in the extract, suggesting the presence of several antioxidants in Artemisia douglasiana.

Gastric anti-ulcer activity of several alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds in rats.

The gastric cytoprotective activity of several molecules containing an alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl system is reported. We attributed this gastroprotective activity to the presence of a non-hindered Michael acceptor in the molecules assayed and suggested that the mechanism of protection would involve, at least in part, a nucleophilic attack of the sulphydryl group of the gastric mucosa to the beta carbon of the Michael acceptors of the compounds assayed.

The sesquiterpene lactone dehydroleucodine (DhL) affects the growth of cultured epimastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi.

Here, we report an inhibitory effect of a sesquiterpene lactone dehydroleucodine (DhL) on the growth of Trypanosoma cruzi in culture. At concentrations of the drug between 5 and 10 microg/ml in the medium,the parasites remained alive for at least 4 days. Higher concentrations of DhL were lethal for the parasites within a few hours. The effect of DhL is irreversible. Morphological changes induced by DhL were also observed in the parasites. The effect of DhL was blocked by the presence of reducing substrates such as glutathione or dithiothreitol, but these agents were not able to reverse the effect of DhL if added 2 days after the start of drug exposure.

Enhancement of tessaric acid production in Tessaria absinthioides cell suspension cultures.

The total production of the sesquiterpene tessaric acid (TA) by cell cultures of Tessaria absinthioides at day 25 of the culture period reached 0.086 mg g-1 DW, with intracellular accumulation accounting for 0.059 mg g-1 DW. Dimethylsulfoxide-induced permeabilization of the cells effected both total production and extracellular accumulation of the sesquiterpene to reach levels of 148% and 271%, respectively. Cultures treated with elicitor preparations of Verticillum sp., Monodyctis cataneae, Acremonium sp., and Aspergillus niger produced TA at levels of 281%, 197%, 149%, and 139%, respectively. Treatment of cell suspension cultures with cis-(-)-jasmonic acid (5 µM) increased production to 267%, whereas jasmonic acid pretreatment and subsequent elicitation raised external tessaric acid to 702%.

Effect of dehydroleucodine in experimental colitis in rats and mice.

Dehydroleucodine (DhL), a sesquiterpene lactone (SQL) of the guaianolide type isolated from Artemisia douglasiana Besser, shows a pharmacological cytoprotective effect and significantly prevents the formation of gastric and duodenal lesions induced by various necrotising agents in rodents. The effects of DhL, on two models of experimental colitis were examined. Colitis was produced in male Wistar rats by rectal instillation of 5 and 10% acetic acid, following the methods of Eliakim et al. and Le Duc et al., respectively. In mice colitis was produced by rectal instillation of 0.1 ml of 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid (5 mg in 50% ethanol) (TNB) as previously described by Chin et al. In this study, the administration of DhL 40 mg kg(-1)(1 h before the induction of colitis) significantly decreased mucosal damage. This effect was consistent in both models. The protection provided by DhL was accompanied by significant decreases in diarrhoea and colon weight; and histologically normal mucosa without ulceration and mucus production were observed. This study shows that both TNB and acetic acid colitis can be pharmacologically controlled by DhL. Our results suggest that the protective activity of DhL in experimental colitis is mediated, at least in part, through the increase of glycoprotein synthesis, anti-inflammatory effect and inhibition of COX-2 induction, and by inhibiting the degranulation of cells containing monoamines.

Anti-inflammatory activity of acetophenones from Ophryosporus axilliflorus.

Seven acetophenone derivatives were isolated from the aerial parts of Ophryosporus axilliflorus (Griseb.) Hieron. These compounds were subjected to the carrageenan-induced mouse paw edema test where tremetone (7) showed extremely anti-inflammatory activity. Furthermore, the non-benzofuran acetophenones 5 and 6, showed a significant response.

Growth-inhibitory activities of benzofuran and chromene derivatives toward Tenebrio molitor.

Growth-inhibitory activities of selected natural benzofurans (4-9), trans-cinnamic acid derivatives (10-13), chromene compounds (14 and 16), and some semisynthetic derivatives were determined in last instar larvae of Tenebrio molitor via topical administration in Me2CO. The most inhibitory of the tested compounds were 3-gamma, gamma-dimethylallyl-p-coumaric acid (10) and the benzofuran derivative 12-(p-cumaroyloxy)-tremetone (5), the former compound acting on the pupae and the latter on the last instar larvae. Several developmental deficiencies were observed, and some structure-activity relationships are discussed.

Acute and chronic antiinflammatory effects of plant flavonoids.

The antiinflammatory activities of 30 flavonoids isolated from several plants of the Compositae family were investigated using carrageenan-induced mouse paw edema and cotton pellet-induced rat granuloma. Compounds were administered with a unique dose of 75 mg/kg i.p. in the acute test with carrageenan and 25 mg/kg/day in the chronic granuloma test. Flavonoids inhibit the development of the induced granuloma, mostly when a catechol or guaiacol-like B ring is contained in the compound structure, jaceosidin being the most active flavonoid screened. Flavonoids significantly inhibited the maximum edema response in the acute test. We conclude that several of the isolated flavonoids tested here showed antiinflammatory effects, depending on the experimental model used.

Gastric cytoprotective activity of dehydroleucodine in rats. Role of nitric oxide.

Previously we reported that dehydroleucodine (DhL), a sesquiterpene lactone, shows gastric and duodenal cytoprotective activity. The mechanism is not mediated by antiacid secretory action; DhL stimulated mucus production and indomethacin pretreatment reduced cytoprotective action. In the present study we demonstrated that the gastric cytoprotective effect is antagonized by the nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor, NG-nitro-L-arginine. The inhibitory action of NG-nitro-L-arginine is reversed by L-arginine, but not D-arginine. The findings suggest that NO is involved in the gastroprotection induced by DhL.

Gastric cytoprotective activity of dehydroleucodine in rats. Role of prostaglandins.

Previously, we reported that dehydroleucodine (DhL), a sesquiterpene lactone, protected the gastric mucosa of rats from absolute ethanol-induced lesions in a dose-dependent fashion. The mechanism is not mediated by an antiacid secretory action and DhL stimulated mucous production. In the present study, we report the effect of DhL on the mucosal production of prostaglandin E (PGE) and the mucosal release of PGE2 in rats stomach. DhL in acute treatment does not modify these values decreased by previous treatment with indomethacin or absolute ethanol. However, DhL in subchronic treatment significantly enhanced the mucosal production of PGE and the mucosal release of PGE2. Also, indomethacin pretreatment resulted in a significant reduction of the cytoprotective action of DhL. These results indicate the participation of endogenous prostaglandins in DhL protection against ethanol damage. Moreover, we suggest that the gastric protective activity of DhL against ethanol induced gastric mucosal damage is mediated, at least in part, through PGE and PGE2 in subchronic treatment.

Gastric cytoprotective activity of 2-cyclopenten-1-one and related compounds.

The cytoprotective activity of the isolated functional groups of several sesquiterpene lactones is reported. Among them the highest activity is shown by alpha-methylen-gamma-butyrolactone and 2-cyclopenten-1-one. The activity shown by those Michael acceptors with a beta carbon hindered by an alkyl substituent was always lower or almost null. A three-way mechanism of action is proposed: a) reduced glutathione synthesis, b) prostaglandin synthesis and c) mucosal glycoprotein synthesis.