Protein detection by fluorescence of manually cleaned high-speed dental handpieces.

We analyzed the effectiveness of manual cleaning protocols performed on high-speed dental handpieces, using protein identification by fluorescence. Although one protocol was able to able to lower the amount of protein, >40% of the handpieces showed amounts of residual protein at unacceptable levels.

Mutational data and population profiling of 23 Y-STRs in three Brazilian populations.

Y-chromosomal STRs are important markers in forensic genetics, due to some peculiar characteristics. The absence of recombination makes them a useful tool to infer kinship in complex cases involving distant paternal relatives, or to infer paternal bio-geographic ancestry. The presence of a single copy, being transmitted from father to son, allow tracing mutational events in Y-STRs without ambiguity.

Paternal and maternal mutations in X-STRs: A GHEP-ISFG collaborative study.

The GHEP-ISFG organized a collaborative study to estimate mutation rates for the markers included in the Investigator Argus X-12 QS kit Qiagen. A total of 16 laboratories gathered data from 1,612 father/mother/daughter trios, which were used to estimate both maternal and paternal mutation rates, when pooled together with other already published data. Data on fathers and mothers' age at the time of birth of the daughter were also available for ∼93 % of the cases.

Male lineages in Brazilian populations and performance of haplogroup prediction tools.

The use of Y-chromosomal genetic markers in forensic investigations demands the establishment of reliable and representative DNA databases of different reference populations. The genetic characterization of the Y chromosome variation in human populations requires the analyses of haplotype frequencies allied to haplogroup determination. The present study aimed to contribute to the Brazilian database by providing 1,382 Yfiler Plus individual profiles, from 11 Brazilian states.

Chemical composition and antiproliferative, antioxidant and trypanocidal activities of the fruits from (Mart.) O. Berg (Myrtaceae).

Chemical investigation of the extracts of the fruits from resulted in the isolation of six known compounds identified by NMR and comparison with literature data (2',4'-dihydroxy-5'-methyl-6'-methoxychalcone (), 2',4'-dihydroxy-3',5'-dimethyl-6'-methoxychalcone (), 2'-hydroxy-3'-methyl-4',6'-dimethoxychalcone (), 2',6'-dihydroxy-3'-methyl-4'-methoxychalcone (), 5-hydroxy-7-methoxy-8-methylflavanone () and 7-hydroxy-5-methoxy-6-methylflavanone ()). The considerable antioxidant capacity of the extracts was demonstrated by ORAC-FL and DPPH tests. The antiproliferative assay of the extracts and was done , against many different cancer cell lines besides a healthy one.

Genetic characterization of 32 X-InDels in a population sample from São Paulo State (Brazil).

X-chromosomal markers can be useful in some forensic cases, where the analysis of the autosomal markers is not conclusive. In this study, a population sample of 500 unrelated individuals born in São Paulo State was characterized for 32 X-InDel markers. No deviations from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were detected, except for MID1361.

Trypanosoma cruzi: analysis of two different strains after piplartine treatment.

The hemoflagellate protozoan, Trypanosoma cruzi, mainly transmitted by triatomine insects through blood transfusion or from mother-to-child, causes Chagas' disease. This is a serious parasitic disease that occurs in Latin America, with considerable social and economic impact. Nifurtimox and benznidazole, drugs indicated for treating infected persons, are effective in the acute phase, but poorly effective during the chronic phase.

Green coffee seed residue: A sustainable source of antioxidant compounds.

Oil extraction from green coffee seeds generates residual mass that is discarded by agribusiness and has not been previously studied. Bioactive secondary metabolites in coffee include antioxidant phenolic compounds, such as chlorogenic acids. Coffee seeds also contain caffeine, a pharmaceutically important methylxanthine.

A GHEP-ISFG collaborative study on the genetic variation of 38 autosomal indels for human identification in different continental populations.

A collaborative effort was carried out by the Spanish and Portuguese Speaking Working Group of the International Society for Forensic Genetics (GHEP-ISFG) to promote knowledge exchange between associate laboratories interested in the implementation of indel-based methodologies and build allele frequency databases of 38 indels for forensic applications. These databases include populations from different countries that are relevant for identification and kinship investigations undertaken by the participating laboratories. Before compiling population data, participants were asked to type the 38 indels in blind samples from annual GHEP-ISFG proficiency tests, using an amplification protocol previously described.

Mutation rates for 20 STR loci in a population from São Paulo state, Southeast, Brazil.

Short tandem repeats (STRs) are genetic markers largely employed in forensic analysis and paternity investigation cases. When an inconsistency between the parent and child is considered as a possible mutation, the mutation rate should be incorporated into paternity index calculations to give a robust result and to reduce the chance of misinterpretation. The aim of this study was to estimate the mutation rates of 20 autosomal STRs loci used for paternity tests.

Genetic characterization of an X-STR decaplex system in the State of Mato Grosso, Brazil: distribution, forensic efficiency and population structure.

Studies with X-STR loci show population genetic substructure, which makes necessary the characterization of such markers in the different geographical and/or ethnic populations. Therefore, this study assessed the distribution and forensic efficiency of an X-STR decaplex system in the population of the State of Mato Grosso, as well as analysed the population structure of this State based on the aforementioned system. All X-STR markers were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and linkage equilibrium, and the DXS6809 was the most informative marker.

Differential expression on mitochondrial tryparedoxin peroxidase (mTcTXNPx) in Trypanosoma cruzi after ferrocenyl diamine hydrochlorides treatments.

Resistance to benznidazole in certain strains of Trypanosoma cruzi may be caused by the increased production of enzymes that act on the oxidative metabolism, such as mitochondrial tryparedoxin peroxidase which catalyses the reduction of peroxides. This work presents cytotoxicity assays performed with ferrocenyl diamine hydrochlorides in six different strains of T. cruzi epimastigote forms (Y, Bolivia, SI1, SI8, QMII, and SIGR3).

Trypanocidal Activity of Flavokawin B, a Component of Polygonum ferrugineum Wedd.

The trypanocidal potential of the natural chalcone flavokawin B, which was isolated from the hexanic extract of Wedd., is reported here. Although flavokawin B is widespread, this is the first report about its trypanocidal properties on both (IC = 9.

Analysis of SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) multiplex markers related to sudden cardiac death in Brazilian families.

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is a major public health concern worldwide, and genetic analysis may be useful in identifying the cause of death as well as in determining the possible genetic risk factors for SCD. This study analyzed eight SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) highly correlated with cardiac sudden death in samples (blood and bone) from six Brazilian families with a history of cardiovascular diseases. Individuals with no family history of cardiovascular diseases were recruited as controls.

Male-specific contributions to the Brazilian population of Espirito Santo.

Y chromosome markers have been widely studied due to their various applications in the fields of forensic and evolutionary genetics. In this study, 35 Y-SNPs and 17 Y-STRs were genotyped in 253 males from the State of Espirito Santo, Brazil. A total of 18 haplogroups and 243 haplotypes were detected; the haplogroup and haplotype diversities were 0.

Toxicity and Loss of Mitochondrial Membrane Potential Induced by Alkyl Gallates in Trypanosoma cruzi.

American trypanosomiasis or Chagas disease is a debilitating disease representing an important social problem that affects, approximately, 10 million people in the world. The main aggravating factor of this situation is the lack of an effective drug to treat the different stages of this disease. In this context, the search for trypanocidal substances isolated from plants, synthetic or semi synthetic molecules, is an important strategy.

Mitochondrial DNA control region diversity in a population from Espirito Santo state, Brazil.

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis has proved to be useful for forensic identification, especially in cases which nuclear DNA markers fail, as in degraded samples or in cases where the biological material has few traces or no nuclear DNA. Moreover, it can be applied in population genetics, inferring the origin of a population. In this work, the entire mtDNA control region of 97 individuals from the state of Espirito Santo, Brazil, was analyzed.

Synthesis and tripanocidal activity of ferrocenyl and benzyl diamines against Trypanosoma brucei and Trypanosoma cruzi.

Trypanosoma brucei and Trypanosoma cruzi are the etiologic agents of sleeping sickness and Chagas disease, respectively, two of the 17 preventable tropical infectious diseases (NTD) which have been neglected by governments and organizations working in the health sector, as well as pharmaceutical industries. High toxicity and resistance are problems of the conventional drugs employed against trypanosomiasis, hence the need for the development of new drugs with trypanocidal activity. In this work we have evaluated the trypanocidal activity of a series of N1,N2-dibenzylethane-1,2-diamine hydrochlorides (benzyl diamines) and N1-benzyl,N2-methyferrocenylethane-1,2-diamine hydrochlorides (ferrocenyl diamines) against T.

Brazilian genetic database of chromosome X.

The X chromosome is a singular source of information in population genetics, anthropological research and in forensic cases. Thus, many researchers have been interested in characterizing X chromosome markers in different populations. The Brazilian Genetic Database of Chromosome X (BGBX--Banco Genético Brasileiro do Cromossomo X) website is freely available in Portuguese and English versions and was developed with the main purpose of compiling all Brazilian population genetic data for X chromosome short tandem repeats (X-STRs) markers published in scientific journals searchable via PubMed.

Multiple mitochondrial genes of some sylvatic Brazilian Triatoma: non-monophyly of the T. brasiliensis subcomplex and the need for a generic revision in the Triatomini.

Multiple fragments of mitochondrial DNA genes (cytochrome b, cytochrome oxidase I, and 16S rDNA) were used to evaluate the phylogenetic relationships among Triatoma melanocephala, Triatoma tibiamaculata, Triatoma vitticeps, and other members of Triatoma brasiliensis subcomplex under a Bayesian framework and maximum parsimony criterion. With the addition of new sequences of T. tibiamaculata and T.

In vitro trypanocidal activity of solamargine and extracts from Solanum palinacanthum and Solanum lycocarpum of Brazilian cerrado.

The present investigation was to evaluate the potential trypanocidal activity of crude ethanolic extract of the fruits of Solanum palinacanthum, Solanum lycocarpum and the glycoalcaloid, solamargine. S. palinacanthum and S.

Evolutionary relationships of the Triatoma matogrossensis subcomplex, the endemic triatoma in Central-Western Brazil, based on mitochondrial DNA sequences.

The phylogenetic relationships among species of Triatoma matogrossensis subcomplex (T. baratai, T. guazu, T.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of new aryl thiosemicarbazone as antichagasic candidates.

The present work reports on the synthesis, biological assaying and docking studies of a series of 12 aryl thiosemicarbazones, which were planned to act over two main enzymes, cruzain and trypanothione reductase. These enzymes are used as targets of trypanocidal activity in Chagas disease control with a minimal mutagenic profile. Three p-nitroaromatic thiosemicarbazones showed high activity against Trypanosoma cruzi in in vitro assays (IC50 < 57 μM), and no mutagenic profile was observed in micronucleous tests.

Development and validation of a D-loop mtDNA SNP assay for the screening of specimens in forensic casework.

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis is usually a last resort in routine forensic DNA casework. However, it has become a powerful tool for the analysis of highly degraded samples or samples containing too little or no nuclear DNA, such as old bones and hair shafts. The gold standard methodology still constitutes the direct sequencing of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products or cloned amplicons from the HVS-1 and HVS-2 (hypervariable segment) control region segments.

Antiprotozoal activity of quinonemethide triterpenes from Maytenus ilicifolia (Celastraceae).

The present study describes the leishmanicidal and trypanocidal activities of two quinonemethide triterpenes, maytenin (1) and pristimerin (2), isolated from Maytenus ilicifolia root barks (Celastraceae). The compounds were effective against the Trypanosomatidae Leishmania amazonensis and Leishmania chagasi and Trypanosoma cruzi, etiologic agents of leishmaniasis and Chagas' disease, respectively. The quinonemethide triterpenes 1 and 2 exhibited a marked in vitro leishmanicidal activity against promastigotes and amastigotes with 50% inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) values of less than 0.