A New Species of Szeptyckitheca (Collembola, Symphypleona, Sphyrothecinae) from Brazil.

A new species of the genus Szeptyckitheca is described from the Biological Reserve of Serra do Japi, São Paulo State, Brazil. All species of the genus present trochanteral spine on the first and third legs, cephalic chaeta A1 often absent. The presence of spine in all trochanters, chaetal row F in head, and abdominal and antennal segments with long bristles with capitate apex are relevant features that distinguishes the new species from all known species of the genus. A key to the identification of the species of Szeptyckitheca is presented.

A New Species of Pararrhopalites Bonet & Tellez (Collembola, Symphypleona, Sminthuridae) from Iron Caves in Brazil.

A second species of the genus Pararrhopalites is described from caves inserted in iron ore lithology. Both species present a particular sensory organ in the interantennal region. The new species, Pararrhopalites ubiquum n.sp., has a wider distribution and it is not restricted to a single cave, as it is the case of Pararrhopalites sideroicus Zeppelini & Brito, in Fla Entomol 97(4):1733-1744, 2014, being found even in the Mesovoid Shallow Substratum. An update to the previously published identification key is presented.

Adsorption of anti-inflammatory nimesulide by graphene materials: a combined theoretical and experimental study.

Interactions of anti-inflammatory nimesulide (NM) with different graphene material species were explored employing both ab initio calculations, based on Density Functional Theory (DFT), and a batch adsorption process. The adsorption of NM onto graphene, with and without a vacancy, reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and functionalized graphene nanoribbons was simulated, providing a good understanding of the adsorption process of the NM molecule onto graphene material surfaces. The theoretical results indicate a physisorption interaction between NM and all of the evaluated adsorbents. Based on batch adsorption experiments, it was found that rGO, obtained via a modified Hummers method, is a good nanoadsorbent for the removal of the anti-inflammatory NM from aqueous solutions. The general-order kinetic equation displays the best fit to the experimental data compared with pseudo-first order and pseudo-second order kinetics. The equilibrium data fitted well into the Liu isotherm equation, and the maximum sorption capacity for the adsorption of NM by rGO was 82.4 mg g-1 at 25 °C. Our results of the first principle calculations and the batch adsorption experiments point out that graphene materials are promising nanomaterials for extracting NM from aqueous solutions.

Morphology and muscle gene expression in GIFT and Supreme Nile tilapia varieties reared in two cultivation systems.

Tissue growth in most fishes occurs by muscular hyperplasia and hypertrophy, which are influenced by different regulatory factors, such as myostatin. The current study evaluated the influence of cultivation in hapas and earthen ponds on the diameter of white muscle fibers and on the myostatin (MSTN-1) gene in GIFT and Supreme varieties of tilapia. Fish of both varieties were reared for 204 days and then divided into four developmental stages. White muscle samples, corresponding to 100 fibers per slide, were collected from the middle region of fish of each variety and cultivation system, and were measured and divided into two classes representing hyperplasia and hypertrophy. Samples were subjected to real-time PCR to analyze gene expression. Hyperplasia decreased during the developing stages, coupled with increased hypertrophy. There was a higher rate of hypertrophy in fish raised in earthen ponds when compared to those raised in hapas, during juvenile and developing phases, and greater hypertrophic growth was observed in GIFT specimens when compared to Supreme specimens in earthen ponds. Since increased MSTN-1 gene expression was observed in GIFT specimens during the developing phase in pond cultivations, and in Supreme tilapia in hapas, MSTN-1 expression is related to greater hypertrophy. These results demonstrate the capacity for increased muscle growth in earthen pond cultivation in which the GIFT variety developed best. How the environment affects the growth of different tilapia varieties may be employed to optimize culture management and genetic improvement programs. Further investigations should aim to describe mechanisms affecting muscle growth and development.

Adsorption of sodium diclofenac on graphene: a combined experimental and theoretical study.

The interactions of sodium diclofenac drug (s-DCF) with different graphene species were investigated using both first principles calculations based on Density Functional Theory (DFT) and adsorption experiments. Through batch adsorption experiments, it was found that rGO was a good adsorbent for removing the s-DCF drug from aqueous solutions. The general-order kinetic model shows the best fit to the experimental data compared with pseudo-first order and pseudo-second order kinetic adsorption models. The equilibrium data (at 25 °C) were fitted to the Liu isotherm model. The maximum sorption capacity for adsorption of the s-DCF drug was 59.67 mg g(-1) for rGO. The s-DCF adsorption onto pristine graphene, graphene with a vacancy, reduced oxide graphene (rGO) and functionalized graphene nanoribbons were simulated providing a good understanding of the adsorption process of this molecule on graphene-family surfaces. The results predict a physisorption regime in all cases. Based on these results, the ab initio calculations and the adsorption experiments point out that the graphene-family are promising materials for extracting s-DCF from wastewater effluents.

Adsorption of Methylene Blue by ultrasonic surface modified chitin.

HYPOTHESIS: Chitin is a biopolymer which can be used as a low-cost and eco-friendly material for dyes adsorption. The use of chitin for dyes removal is little investigated, due its low surface area, porosity and high crystallinity. So, an ultrasonic surface modified chitin (USM-chitin) was prepared and used for Methylene Blue (MB) adsorption. EXPERIMENTS: Chitin was obtained from shrimp wastes and its surface was modified by an ultrasound-assisted treatment. USM-chitin was characterized by N2 adsorption/desorption isotherms (BET surface area, total pore volume), infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The adsorption of MB on USM-chitin was studied by kinetic, equilibrium, thermodynamic, interactions analysis, desorption and mass transfer aspects. FINDINGS: USM-chitin presented surface area 25 times higher than raw chitin. The porosity was increased and the crystallinity was decreased. The general order model was suitable to represent the adsorption kinetics and the Langmuir model was adequate for the equilibrium. The maximum adsorption capacity was 26.69 mg g(-1). The adsorption was spontaneous, favorable and exothermic. USM-chitin can be used seven times maintaining the same adsorption capacity.

The effect of paramagnetic contrast in choline peak in patients with glioblastoma multiforme might not be significant.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: (1)H-MR spectroscopy is a useful tool in brain tumor evaluation. A critical point in obtaining representative spectra is the correct voxel positioning, which can be more accurate after Gd administration. Some experimental data suggested that Gd could cause Cho signal loss. Our aim was to evaluate the effect of Gd in the Cho peak area and width in patients with GBM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed multivoxel (1)H-MR spectroscopy before and after Gd administration in 18 patients with GBM. Quantification of Cho peak area and width in each voxel was completed, and the Cho mean and maximum values before and after Gd injection were calculated in the tumor and contralateral hemisphere. Choline peak area and width values obtained before and after contrast were compared, considering as separate entities enhancing and nonenhancing tumoral voxels and the contralateral hemisphere. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were found for the Cho peak area mean values in the tumoral voxels or contralaterally (P > .05). A tendency for an increase in the Cho peak width mean value was found in the tumoral enhancing voxels (P = .055). A statistically significant decrease was found for the mean value of the maximum Cho peak area in enhancing tumoral voxels (P = .020). No significant differences were found in the nonenhancing tumoral voxels or contralaterally (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: The injection of Gd before performing (1)H-MR spectroscopy might not significantly affect the Cho peak area in patients with GBM. The paramagnetic contrast seems to cause a different effect, depending on Gd enhancement.

Biosorption of food dyes onto Spirulina platensis nanoparticles: equilibrium isotherm and thermodynamic analysis.

The biosorption of food dyes FD&C red no. 40 and acid blue 9 onto Spirulina platensis nanoparticles was studied at different conditions of pH and temperature. Four isotherm models were used to evaluate the biosorption equilibrium and the thermodynamic parameters were estimated. Infra red analysis (FT-IR) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) were used to verify the biosorption behavior. The maximum biosorption capacities of FD&C red no. 40 and acid blue 9 were found at pH 4 and 298 K, and the values were 468.7 mg g(-1) and 1619.4 mg g(-1), respectively. The Sips model was more adequate to fit the equilibrium experimental data (R2>0.99 and ARE<5%). Thermodynamic study showed that the biosorption was exothermic, spontaneous and favorable. FT-IR and EDS analysis suggested that at pH 4 and 298 K, the biosorption of both dyes onto nanoparticles occurred by chemisorption.

Evaluation of the binding properties of maghemite nanoparticle surface-coated with meso-2-3-dimercaptosuccinic acid to serum albumin.

In this study the interaction between magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) surface-coated with meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) with both bovine serum albumin (BSA) and human serum albumin (HSA) was investigated. The binding of the MNP-DMSA was probed by the fluorescence quenching of the BSA and HSA tryptophan residue. Magnetic resonance and light microscopy analyses were carried out in in vivo tests using female Swiss mice. The binding constants (Kb) and the complex stoichiometries (n) indicate that MNP-DMSA/BSA and MNP-DMSA/HSA complexes have low association profiles. After five minutes following intravenous injection of MNP-DMSA into mice's blood stream we found the lung firstly target by the MNP-DMSA, followed by the liver in a latter stage. This finding suggests that the nanoparticle's DMSA-coating process probably hides the thiol group, through which albumin usually binds. This indicates that biocompatible MNP-DMSA is a very promising material system to be used as a drug delivery system (DDS), primarily for lung cancer treatment.

Cell toxicity studies of albumin-based nanosized magnetic beads.

The aim of this study was to prepare bovine serum albumin-based beads containing maghemite nanoparticles incorporated via ionic magnetic fluid and to evaluate the cell toxicity of this biocompatible system using the J774-A1 cell line. Transmission electron micrographs obtained from the magnetic fluid sample were used to estimate the average particle diameter around 7.6 nm and diameter dispersion of 0.22. The BSA-based magnetic beads were prepared using the heat protein denaturation route. The nanoparticle concentration in the magnetic fluid sample used for the synthesis of the magnetic beads was in the range of 1.2 x 10(16) to 2.3 x 10(17) particle/ml. The methodology used to investigate the cell toxicity of the magnetic beads was the classical MTT assay. Our observation showed that the toxicity against the J774-A1 cell line depends upon the amount of magnetic material incorporated into the magnetic nanobeads and was found to be 14, 11, 9, 5, and 3% for 2.3 x 10(17), 1.2 x 10(17), 4.6 x 10(16), 2.3 x 10(16), and 1.2 x 10(16) particle/ml, respectively.

Eficácia no tratamento de disfunção temporomandibular com integração interdisciplinar (caso clínico) / Effectiveness in the treatment of temporomandibular disfunction with interdisciplinar integration (clinical case)

O objetivo deste trabalho foi demonstrar por meio de um caso clínico as possibilidades de tratamento e eliminação de sintomas de Disfunção Temporomandibular utilizando-se de recursos fisioterapêuticos e treino de postura; com tratamento interdisciplinar entre o fisioterapeuta e o odontólogo. Paciente, sexo feminino, 19 anos, portadora de Disfunção Temporomandibular sob tratamento odontológico com splint interoclusal, foi submetida a tratamento fisioterapêutico. Foi realizado exame clínico odontológico, sendo avaliados os seguintes itens: queixa principal; presença de doença sistêmica; máxima abertura bucal; estalido da ATM; presença de desgaste dental; presença de um quadro de estresse do paciente; tratamento ortodôntico prévio; palpação da musculatura mastigatória e região retrocondilar. Classificação da intensidade da dor. A coleta de dados para a avaliação fisioterap~eutica foi realizada mediante exame clínico da paciente, que constou de anamnese, avaliação física e análise funcional. A dor na ATM e região cervical foram eliminadas, os trigger points foram desativados, a cabeça melhor posicionada com diminuição da protusão cervical, o ombro esquerdo sofreu leve elevação, aumento da flexibilidade da coluna cervical, a assimetria dos olhos e mandíbula não ofreram influência com o tratamento proposto. Os resultados sugerem que o uso de placa como forma única de tratamento não é suficiente para manter a coordenação muscular; é imprescindível um tratamento interdisciplinar entre o fisioterapeuta e o odontólogo, a fim de que o paciente seja analisado visando o equilíbrio de sua biomecânica, sua relação com a coluna cervical e postura, para a obtenção de resultados mais satisfatórios quando essas alterações apresentarem diante desses profissionaisa.

Serotypes of carriage and invasive isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae in Brazilian children in the era of pneumococcal vaccines.

Nasopharyngeal carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae is a key factor in the development of invasive disease and the spread of resistant strains within the community. A single nasopharyngeal swab was obtained from 648 unvaccinated children aged <5 years, either healthy or with acute respiratory tract infection or meningitis, during the winters of 2000 and 2001. The overall pneumococcal carriage rate was 35.8% (95% CI 32.1-39.6). The pneumococcal serotypes found most frequently in the nasopharynx were 14, 6B, 6A, 19F, 10A, 23F and 18C, which included five of the seven serotypes in the currently licensed seven-valent conjugate vaccine (PCV7); serotypes 4 and 9V were less common. Serotypes 1 and 5 were isolated rarely from the nasopharynx. A comparison of 222 nasopharyngeal isolates with 125 invasive isolates, matched for age and time to the carrier isolates, showed a similar prevalence of penicillin non-susceptible pneumococci (PNSp) (19.8% and 19.2%, respectively). PNSp serotypes were similar (6B, 14, 19F, 19 A, 23B and 23F) for carriage and invasive disease isolates. The coverage of PCV7 for carriage isolates (52.2%) and invasive isolates (62.4%) did not differ significantly (p 0.06); similarly, there was no significant difference in PCV7 coverage for carriage isolates (34.5%) and invasive isolates (28.2%) of PNSp. These data suggest that PCV7 has the potential to reduce pneumococcal carriage and the number of carriers of PNSp belonging to vaccine serotypes.

Correlação da dislipidemia nos pacientes com isquemia crítica do Hospital Barão de Lucena - Recife/PE / Correlation of dyslipidemia in patients with critical ischemia in Hospital Barão de Lucena - Recife/PE

PURPOSE: There are studies that confirm the association between dyslipidaemia and the genesis of atherosclerosis process in world literature. The goal of this study is to evaluate the incidence of the dyslipidaemia in patients with critical limb ischemia. METHODS: The analysis was made in fifty in-patients from Vascular Surgery Service from Barão de Lucena Hospital from September 2003 to August 2004. We analyzed the laboratorial tests and seen the frequency the lipids abnormalities in fifty patients. RESULTS: Among the patients evaluated 62.2% was women and 37.8% was men. The incidence of abnormalities in the lipids levels was 39.2% in women and 31.5% in the men. It was not possible to determinate the relationship between the lipids levels and the intensity of atherosclerotic lesions. CONCLUSIONS: There is a significant incidence of dyslipidaemia in the patients evaluated. All data are similar to the ones observed in the in the literature.

Lead determination in slurries of biological materials by ETAAS using a W-Rh permanent modifier.

A tungsten-rhodium coating on the integrated platform of a transversely heated graphite atomiser (THGA) was used as a permanent chemical modifier for the determination of lead in biological materials by slurry sampling in electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS). Slurries were sonicated during 20 s before being delivered to the previously W-Rh treated platform. The number of particles of biological materials introduced into the atomiser for delivering 20 microL slurry aliquot ranged from 5,100 to 39,000. The permanent W-Rh modifier remained stable during approximately 300 analytical measurements when 20 microL of slurries containing up to 1.5% m/v were delivered into the atomiser. In addition, the permanent modifier increases the tube lifetime by approximately 100% when compared to untreated integrated platforms. Also, there is less decrease of sensitivity during the atomiser lifetime when compared with the conventional modifiers, resulting in a decreased need of re-calibration during routine analysis and consequently increasing the sample throughput. The atomiser lifetime was limited to the THGA wall durability, because the W-Rh treated platform was intact after more than 650 analytical firings in a medium containing up to 1.5% m/v slurry of biological material. The detection limit based on integrated absorbance was 20 ng g(-1) Pb for 1.50% m/v slurries. Results from the determination of lead in slurries of biological materials using the W-Rh permanent modifier were in agreement with those obtained with digested solutions using Pd + Mg(NO3)2.

Significant association between the skewed natural antibody repertoire of Xid mice and resistance to Trypanosoma cruzi infection.

The Xid mutation predominantly affects the development of B cells and consequently the levels and composition of natural antibodies in sera. In contrast to the congenic and susceptible BALB/c strain, immunodeficient BALB.Xid mice display a resistant phenotype both to acute Trypanosoma cruzi infection and to the development of severe cardiopathy. Because natural antibodies are known to be basically self-antigen driven, IgM and IgG natural antibody repertoires (NAR) were compared before and during infection in these two strains. The analysis revealed fundamental alterations of IgM and IgG NAR in pre- and post-infected Xid mice. In particular, relatively increased natural (pre-existing) autoreactive IgG, dominated by the unique recognition of a single band in autologous heart extracts, was typical for uninfected Xid mice. This natural autoreactive IgG directed to heart antigens disappeared early after infection not only in Xid, but also in individual BALB/c mice that survived the acute infection. Conversely, the subgroup of BALB/c mice that died early after infection presented the most pronounced instances of the rapid, relative increase of IgM reactivities to self and non-self proteins. These results suggest that self-reactive NAR may play a role in an immunoregulatory mechanism relevant for the determination of susceptibility/resistance to infections. This may act either by influencing specific responses, or by modulating the self-aggressive components responsible for pathology.

Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella sp. e coliformes em queijos de "coalho" comercializados em Recife / Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella sp and coliformes in coagulum's cheeses marketed in the city of Recife

Avaliou-se a qualidade bacteriológica de 105 amostras de queijos de "coalho" comercializados no Recife, procedentes de 15 municípios pernambucanos, denominados de A a P, no tocante a Salmonella sp., Staphylococcus aureus e coliformes. Os resultados obtidos demonstraram que a maioria dos queijos comercializados em Recife näo se encontram aptos para o consumo, sendo os produzidos no município A os mais contaminados por Staphylococcus aureus, com aproximadamente 90 por cento das amostras se apresentando fora do padräo. As amostras provenientes do município C também apresentaram elevadas contagens de Stapylococcus aureus, com índices superiores ao limite máximo permitido de 1.000 ufc/g, além de serem os mais contaminados por Salmonella sp. Todas as amostras apresentaram elevadas cargas de coliformes, tanto totais como fecais, estando apenas os produzidos no município A com menor contaminaçäo. De uma maneira geral, a maioria dos queijos coalhos comercializados no Recife se encontram inadequados para o consumo humano, sendo o hábito alimentar um ponto de fundamental importância na saúde pública, visto que geralmente é consumido de forma crua.

X-linked immunodeficiency affects the outcome of Schistosoma mansoni infection in the murine model.

The incidence of the X-linked immunodeficiency (Xid) on the outcome of Schistosoma mansoni infection has been evaluated through a comparative analysis of parasitological and immune parameters in two different mouse strains: control BALB/c and BALB. Xid mice which carry the Xid mutation and lack B1 (CD5+ B) cells. This study clearly demonstrates that infected B1 cell-deficient animals display a higher susceptibility to S. mansoni infection as revealed by an increase in the tissue egg loads and a significantly elevated mortality, as well as an increase in the granuloma densities. The analysis of the humoral and the cellular responses, conducted in the same experimental conditions, indicates differences in terms of cytokine production after specific antigenic stimulation of splenocytes. Larger amounts of IFN-gamma and IL-4 are observed in BALB. Xid mice while IL-10 production is reduced. In parallel, the study of the specific antibody isotype profiles shows higher amounts of specific IgE and IgG1 antibodies and lower amounts of IgM and IgA in BALB. Xid mice. Taken together, these observations support the idea that B cells are playing a role in the ability of mice to tolerate infection with Schistosoma mansoni.

Role of co-stimulation in CD8+ T cell activation.

The two-signal model states that activation of naive T cells requires a signal 1 stimulus through the TCR and a co-stimulatory signal 2. By contrast, signal 1 alone is sufficient for pre-activated T cells. Recently, however, it has been shown that under certain conditions T cells can bypass the requirement for co-stimulation. For example, CD28-deficient mice, when immunized with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, mount a vigorous cytotoxic T lymphocyte response and clear the virus. As a continuous effort to unravel the mechanisms of T cell activation, we previously reported activation of hybridoma T cells by recombinant single-chain MHC molecules in the absence of antigen-presenting cells. In such reconstitution experiments, since the signals delivered to the T cells are well controlled, the contribution of any known or unknown signals can be ruled out. In the present study, we analyzed the requirements for activation of naive T cells by using splenocytes from TCR transgenic mice as a source of responding cells. We observed that naive CD8+ T cells are fully activated by signal 1 alone, but that co-stimulation lowers their activation threshold. Previously activated T cells are fully responsive, even when the first stimulation was performed in the absence of co-stimulation. They display a low activation threshold and are insensitive to co-stimulation. The physiological relevance of this finding and its consequences for immunotherapy as well as for our understanding of self-tolerance are discussed.

Determination of ytterbium in animal faeces by tungsten coil electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry.

A method for ytterbium determination in animal faeces by tungsten coil electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (TCAAS) was developed. Faeces were dry-ashed in a muffle furnace, the ashes were treated with hydrochloric acid, and 10 mul of sample solution were delivered into 150-W tungsten coil atomizer. A matrix-matching procedure employing a 66-s heating program proved to be efficient for obtaining accurate results. Characteristic mass and detection limit were 7.1 pg and 0.35 mug g(-1) Yb, respectively. The tungsten coil atomizer lifetime exceeded 300 firings with digested solutions and R.S.D. of measurements was 1.9% after ten consecutive injections of 10.0 mug l(-1) Yb. Accuracy of the proposed method was assessed by employing a graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometric procedure. Application of the paired t-test did not reveal any significant difference for ytterbium contents determined by both methods at 95% confidence level. It was demonstrated that the proposed procedure can successfully be used for evaluation of kinetic passage rate of feed through digestive tract of animals.

Evidence for a protective role of tumor necrosis factor in the acute phase of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in mice.

A possible role for tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha during Trypanosoma cruzi infection was explored by using transgenic mice expressing in blood high levels of a soluble TNFR1-FcIgG3 fusion protein, which neutralizes the effects of TNF in vivo. Nontransgenic littermates were used as controls. The transgenic mice showed high susceptibility to T. cruzi infection. Inocula sublethal for control mice resulted in over 80% mortality associated with higher levels of parasites in the blood. In histological sections of the hearts of transgenic mice, large parasitic clusters without inflammatory cell infiltrates around the parasites were seen, while smaller parasitic clusters associated with leukocytes were seen in control mice. No difference in specific antibody response or lymphocyte composition of the spleen was found between transgenic and control mice, although the unresponsiveness of spleen cells to concanavalin A stimulation in vitro, typical of the acute phase of T. cruzi infection, was less pronounced in transgenic mice. Infected transgenic mice produced higher levels of gamma interferon than did control mice. These results confirm that TNF is involved in mechanisms leading to parasite clearance and protection from death in the acute phase of T. cruzi infection. More importantly, the data reveal that TNF is necessary for the establishment of effective tissue inflammation and parasite load control in acute experimental Chagas' disease myocarditis.