Assessing the toxicity on [C3mim][Tf2N] to aquatic organisms of different trophic levels.

Ionic liquids (ILs) are an exciting class of neoteric solvents that are being object of great attention as a potential replacement to conventional environmental damaging solvents in industrial applications. Despite some progress concerning ILs' toxicity and their environmental impact, the information about these compounds is still scarce. In this work, biological tests were performed to establish the toxicity of 1-methyl-3-propylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, [C3mim][Tf2N], in five aquatic species at different trophic levels.

[Recommendations for diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of chronic myeloid leukemia].

Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) is a clonal stem cell disease characterized by the expression of the fusion protein bcr-abl1, which has deregulated tirosine-kinase activity. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), and in particular imatinib, introduced fundamental changes in the treatment of CML, becoming, in most cases, the first-line treatment of choice in the chronic phase of this disease. Compared to other available therapies imatinib results in a marked increase in overall survival, tolerability and quality of life.

Influence of soil fertility on dye flavonoids production in weld (Reseda luteola L.) accessions from Portugal.

A HPLC-diode array detector (DAD) methodology was developed to allow the simultaneous identification and quantification of Reseda luteola L. (weld) dye flavonoids, luteolin, apigenin, luteolin 7-O-glucoside, apigenin 7-O-glucoside, luteolin 3',7-O-diglucoside and luteolin 4'-O-glucoside. The method was validated with excellent results in linearity, sensibility, accuracy and precision.

Characterization of new biosurfactant produced by Trichosporon montevideense CLOA 72 isolated from dairy industry effluents.

The yeast strain CLOA 72 isolated from the effluent of a dairy industry in Brazil and identified as Trichosporon montevideense, was able to grow and produce a glycolipid biosurfactant when cultured on a mineral medium (MM) with sunflower oil as the carbon source. Biosurfactant production was partially growth-associated and maximal emulsification activity was observed at 144 h of cultivation (78.92%).

On the interactions between amino acids and ionic liquids in aqueous media.

The understanding of the molecular-level interactions between biomolecules and ionic liquids (ILs) in aqueous media is crucial for the optimization of a number of relevant biotechnological processes. In this work, the influence of a series of amino acids on the liquid-liquid equilibria between 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tricyanomethane and water was studied to evaluate the preferential interactions between these three compounds. The solubility effects observed are dependent on the polarity, size, and charge distribution of the amino acid side chains and are explained in terms of a refined version of the model proposed earlier (Freire et al.

Towards an understanding of the mutual solubilities of water and hydrophobic ionic liquids in the presence of salts: the anion effect.

The understanding of the specific interactions between salt ions and ionic liquids (ILs) in aqueous solutions is relevant in multiple applications. The influence of a series of anions on the solubility of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tricyanomethane in aqueous environment was here studied. This study aims at gathering further information to evaluate the recently proposed mechanisms of salting-in- and salting-out-inducing ions in aqueous solutions of ILs and to provide insights at the molecular-level on the phenomena occurring in these systems.

[Biosimilars in oncology].

The development of biotechnology drugs represents one of the great advances in medical therapy and it was observed an exponential growth in its use. The resource to these drugs in Oncology and Hematology is no exception and it soon became an essential element of an integrated and directed therapy strategy. The expiry of the first biotechnology drugs patents has opened the door for the development and marketing of biosimilars, which entry in the Portuguese market was recently approved.

Palmitoylation of ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 is essential for its trafficking and function.

ATP-binding cassette transporter (ABC)A1 lipidates apolipoprotein A-I both directly at the plasma membrane and also uses lipids from the late endosomal or lysosomal compartment in the internal lipidation of apolipoprotein A-I. However, how ABCA1 targeting to these specific membranes is regulated remains unknown. Palmitoylation is a dynamically regulated lipid modification that targets many proteins to specific membrane domains.

The solid-liquid phase diagrams of binary mixtures of consecutive, even saturated fatty acids.

For the first time, the solid-liquid phase diagrams of five binary mixtures of saturated fatty acids are here presented. These mixtures are formed of caprylic acid (C(8:0))+capric acid (C(10:0)), capric acid (C(10:0))+lauric acid (C(12:0)), lauric acid (C(12:0))+myristic acid (C(14:0)), myristic acid (C(14:0))+palmitic acid (C(16:0)) and palmitic acid (C(16:0))+stearic acid (C(18:0)). The information used in these phase diagrams was obtained by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), FT-Raman spectrometry and polarized light microscopy, aiming at a complete understanding of the phase diagrams of the fatty acid mixtures.

Evaluation of anion influence on the formation and extraction capacity of ionic-liquid-based aqueous biphasic systems.

Extractive fermentation using aqueous biphasic systems (ABS) is a promising separation process since it provides a nondenaturing environment for biomolecules and improves the stability of cells. Due to environmental concerns and toxicity issues related with common volatile organic solvents, ionic liquids (ILs), a new class of nonvolatile alternative solvents, are being currently investigated for extraction purposes. In this work, a wide range of imidazolium-based ILs was studied aiming at obtaining new insights regarding their ability toward the formation of ABS and their capacity to the extraction of biomolecules.

Cerebral venous and sinus thrombosis in women.

Background And Purpose: Little is known about the gender-specific manifestations of cerebral venous and sinus thrombosis, a disease that is much more common in women than men.

Methods: We used data of the International Study on Cerebral Vein and Dural sinus Thrombosis (ISCVT), a multicenter prospective observational study, to analyze gender-specific differences in clinical presentation, etiology, and outcome of cerebral venous thrombosis.

Results: Four hundred sixty-five of a total of 624 patients were women (75%).

Treatment by acidification followed by solid-liquid separation affects slurry and slurry fractions composition and their potential of N mineralization.

The aim of the present work was to assess the effect of treatments by acidification, solid-liquid separation or acidification followed by solid-liquid separation on the physical and chemical composition of pig slurry (S) and pig slurry fractions (non acidified and acidified solid (SF and ASF) and liquid (LF and ALF) fractions), as well as on the potential of N mineralization of these pig slurry derived materials. Acidification strongly decrease the inorganic carbon content of S, SF and LF and it also affects the distribution of P, Ca and Mg between the solid and liquid fraction leading to an ALF more equilibrated than LF in terms of nutrients. Acidification increases the potential of organic N mineralization in SF and decreases the potential of N immobilization in S and LF.

Specific solvation interactions of CO2 on acetate and trifluoroacetate imidazolium based ionic liquids at high pressures.

New classes of acidic or basic ionic liquids (ILs) are gaining special attention, since the efficiency of many processes can be enhanced by the judicious manipulation of these properties. The absorption of sour gases can be enhanced by the basic character of the IL. The fluorination of the cation or the anion can also contribute to enhance the gas solubility.

Decompressive hemicraniectomy in cerebral sinus thrombosis: consecutive case series and review of the literature.

Background And Purpose: Thirteen percent of patients with cerebral venous and sinus thrombosis (CVST) has a poor clinical outcome. In patients with a poor prognosis, endovascular thrombolysis can be considered, but this procedure does not appear to be beneficial in patients with impending transtentorial herniation because of large hemorrhagic venous infarcts. Therefore, halfway through 2006, we changed our policy to decompressive hemicraniectomy in these patients.

Implementation of a systematic approach to diabetes in primary care in Bahia, Brazil improves metabolic outcomes: PRODIBA-Programa de Interiorização da Assistência ao Diabetes na Bahia (Project for Dissemination of Diabetes Care in the State of Bahia).

Background: Staged Diabetes Management (SDM) improves glycaemic control and reduces diabetes-related complications in primary care.

Methods: An 18-month randomized controlled cohort study was conducted in two municipalities in the state of Bahia, Brazil, involving 100 patients with Type 2 diabetes in each municipality. In one municipality, healthcare professionals were trained to use SDM customized protocols for clinical decisions and, in the other municipality, no protocols for diabetes care were implemented.

Evaluation of cation influence on the formation and extraction capability of ionic-liquid-based aqueous biphasic systems.

In addition to the large range of applications proposed in literature, ionic liquids (ILs) have been recently reported to be able to form aqueous biphasic systems (ABS). They could thus be interesting media in biotechnological applications for the separation and purification of vital biomolecules. Therefore, in this work, a systematic study involving a large number of imidazolium-based ILs was conducted to provide new information related to ILs' ABS-promoting capability and extraction ability.

Ion specific effects on the mutual solubilities of water and hydrophobic ionic liquids.

Ion specific effects on the mutual solubilities between hydrophobic ionic liquids (ILs) and water are complex and not fully understood. The aim of this work is to obtain further evidence about the molecular mechanism behind this phenomenon by evaluating the effect of a large series of inorganic and organic salts on the mutual solubilities of water and the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, [C(4)mim][Tf(2)N]. The magnitudes of the salting-in and salting-out effects were assessed by changing either the cation or the anion, in a series of salts, as well as the salt concentration.

Gas-phase dissociation of ionic liquid aggregates studied by electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry and energy-variable collision induced dissociation.

Positive singly charged ionic liquid aggregates [(C(n)mim)(m+1)(BF(4))(m)](+) (mim = 3-methylimidazolium; n = 2, 4, 8 and 10) and [(C(4)mim)(m+1)(A)(m)](+) (A = Cl(-), BF(4) (-), PF(6) (-), CF(3)SO(3) (-) and (CF(3)SO(2))(2)N(-)) were investigated by electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry and energy-variable collision induced dissociation. The electrospray ionisation mass spectra (ESI-MS) showed the formation of an aggregate with extra stability for m = 4 for all the ionic liquids with the exception of [C(4)mim][CF(3)SO(3)]. ESI-MS-MS and breakdown curves of aggregate ions showed that their dissociation occurred by loss of neutral species ([C(n)mim][A])(a) with a >or= 1.

The solid-liquid phase diagrams of binary mixtures of consecutive, even saturated fatty acids: differing by four carbon atoms.

The complete solid-liquid phase diagrams for four binary mixtures of saturated fatty acids are presented, for the first time, in this work. These mixtures are formed by caprylic acid (C(8:0))+lauric acid (C(12:0)), capric acid (C(10:0))+myristic acid (C(14:0)), lauric acid (C(12:0))+palmitic acid (C(16:0)) and myristic acid (C(14:0))+stearic acid (C(18:0)). The phase diagrams were obtained by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD).

Clinical epidemiological profile of American tegumentary leishmaniasis at the Pinto Sugar Mill in Moreno Municipality, Greater Metropolitan Recife, Pernambuco State, Brazil.

American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL) is present in all regions of Pernambuco State, Brazil, where it is spreading, with the emergence of foci in new areas like the Municipality (County) of Moreno in Greater Metropolitan Recife. The objective of the current study was to assess the prevalence of infection and identify autochthonous cases of ATL. In April 2006 a population survey was performed using a questionnaire and the Montenegro skin test (MST) in 481 individuals from the Pinto Sugar Mill, of whom 47% were males and 74% were younger than 30 years.

Effect of cattle slurry separation on greenhouse gas and ammonia emissions during storage.

Storage of cattle slurry leads to emissions of methane (CH(4)), nitrous oxide (N(2)O), ammonia (NH(3)), and carbon dioxide (CO(2)). On dairy farms, winter is the most critical period in terms of slurry storage due to cattle housing and slurry field application prohibition. Slurry treatment by separation results in reduced slurry dry matter content and has considerable potential to reduce gaseous emissions.

Histopathology findings in common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus Linnaeus, 1758) with chronic weight loss associated with bile tract obstruction by infestation with Platynosomum (Loos, 1907).

Chronic weight loss in marmosets is often associated with wasting marmoset syndrome (WMS), an important disease that occurs in callitrichid colonies around the world. Even though its etiology is very difficult to determine, particular variables, such as weight loss, diarrhea and alopecia, associated or not with infestation in the pancreatic ducts with Trichospirura leptossoma (Nematoda: Thelazioidea), seem to be linked with the syndrome. This study investigated the histopathology of the lungs, duodenum, liver, gallbladder, extrahepatic bile ducts and pancreatic ducts of six common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) suffering from severe non-diarrheic weight loss.

[Malnutrition and obesity in Brazil: dealing with the problem through a unified nutritional agenda].

Brazil, like other developing countries, is currently experiencing a nutritional transition that is often determined by poor eating. Population-based surveys have shown a continuing downward trend in undernutrition in this country, together with increases in excess weight at different stages of life. Monitoring the nutritional profile helps generate an attitude of surveillance and orientation of health promotion activities.

Methods to improve the composting process of the solid fraction of dairy cattle slurry.

Cattle slurry solid fraction (SF) with different dry matter (DM) contents was collected from two dairy farms and composted in static and turned piles, with different sizes and cover types, to investigate the effects of pile conditions on the physical and chemical changes in SF during composting and to identify approaches to improve final compost quality. Thermophilic temperatures were attained soon after separation of SF, but the temperature of piles covered with polyethylene did not increase above 60 degrees C. The rate of organic matter (OM) mineralisation increased for turned piles in comparison to static piles, but the maximum amount of mineralisable OM (630-675gkg(-1)) was similar for all pile treatments.

Thermodynamic studies of ionic interactions in aqueous solutions of imidazolium-based ionic liquids [Emim][Br] and [Bmim][Cl].

Experimental measurements of density at different temperatures ranging from 293.15 to 313.15 K, the speed of sound and osmotic coefficients at 298.