In Vitro and In Vivo Antiurolithic Effect of Betulinic Acid Obtained from .

The study aimed to investigate the potential antiurolithic effects of extracts, fractions, and betulinic acid (BA) from . In vitro analysis involved precipitating calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystals in urine. For in vivo studies, rats were divided into four groups: naive; vehicle; potassium citrate (KC); and BA.

Twenty Years of the National Protected Areas System: are Brazilian National Parks achieving their legal objectives?

Among the policies for the creation of protected areas, the "Park" category is the best known worldwide. In Brazil, the national parks are important areas for the conservation of biodiversity and for ecotourism, but twenty years after the enactment of the law that regulates the National System of Protected Areas, there is no clear scenario of the National Parks' current situation regarding the fulfillment of their legal objectives. Aiming to understand this scenario in the six main Brazilian biomes, we evaluated variables related to: level of land regularization, existence and updating of management plans, number of authorized scientific research studies, variation in the number of visitors, development of recreation activities, ecotourism, and existence of an Advisory Council.

Gis and fuzzy logic applied to modelling forest fire risk.

Fire risk mapping is a basic planning and protection element. This study presents the application of fuzzy logic in a geographic information system (GIS) as an alternative multi-criteria analysis for determining the areas of highest risk of forest fire in natural forest remnants in the Brazil. In the decision-making process, a set of factors that are relevant to fire safety were identified in the study area.

Maintenance of a reliable laboratory service for tuberculosis intervention in Papua New Guinea.

The reemergence of tuberculosis, including multidrug-resistant strains, in Papua New Guinea highlights the never ending nature of the antituberculosis (anti-TB) campaign in that country and warrants the need for constant vigilance against the condition. Through surveillance, early detection, and management, the spread and incidence of TB can be kept in check. To maintain successful TB control programs, the government and partners committed to this campaign need to overhaul essential aspects of laboratory services.

Viruses associated with influenza-like-illnesses in Papua New Guinea, 2010.

Influenza-like-illness can be caused by a wide range of respiratory viruses. The etiology of influenza-like-illness in developing countries such as Papua New Guinea is poorly understood. The etiological agents associated with influenza-like-illness were investigated retrospectively for 300 nasopharyngeal swabs received by the Papua New Guinea National Influenza Centre in 2010.