Uranium determination using atomic spectrometric techniques: an overview.

This review focuses on the determination of uranium using spectroanalytical techniques that are aimed at total determination such as flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS), electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES); and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) that also enables the determination of uranium isotopes. The advantages and shortcomings related to interferences, precision, accuracy, sample type and equipment employed in the analysis are taken into account, as well as the complexity and costs (i.e.

[Endomyocardial fibrosis with massive calcification of the left ventricle].

Endomyocardial fibrosis is a rare disease, endemic in tropical countries. It is characterized by fibrosis of the endocardium that can extend to myocardium. Important calcification of the endocardium is rare with only a few cases reported in the literature.

The compound cis-(dichloro)tetrammineruthenium(III) chloride induces caspase-mediated apoptosis in K562 cells.

Ruthenium(III) complexes are increasingly attracting the interest of researchers due to their promising pharmacological properties. In the present study, we investigated the ability of cis-(dichloro)tetrammineruthenium(III) chloride to produce lethal effects in human chronic myelogenous leukemia K562 cells. The MTT tetrazolium reduction test and the trypan blue exclusion assay revealed that the IC(50) for the compound after 48 h of incubation with K562 cells was approximately 10.

In vivo anti-angiogenic effects further support the promise of the antineoplasic activity of methyl jasmonate.

Molecular plant components have long been aimed at the angiogenesis and anti-angiogenesis pathways, and have been tested as sources for antineoplasic drugs with promising success. The present work deals with the anti-angiogenic effects of Methyl Jasmonate. Jasmonate derivatives were demonstrated to selectively damage the mitochondria of cancer cells.

N-Terminal peptidic boronic acids selectively inhibit human ClpXP.

The synthesis and development of N-terminal peptidic boronic acids as protease inhibitors is reported. N-Terminal peptidic boronic acids interrogate the S' sites of the target protein for selectivity and provide a new strategy that complements the currently known peptidic alpha-amino boronic acids (C-terminal boronic acids). After screening a series of N-terminal peptidic boronic acids, the first selective inhibitor of human ClpXP, an ATP-dependent serine protease present in the mitochondrial matrix, was discovered.

Plasma lipoproteins in visceral leishmaniasis and their effect on Leishmania-infected macrophages.

This work aimed at investigating the lipid profile of zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis (VL) patients' sera and the effect of lipoproteins on the in vitro production of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10 and IL-12 by Leishmania infantum-infected and uninfected macrophages. Lipids were quantified in 26 VL patients' sera and 26 healthy controls from a VL endemic area. The patients' sera had higher triglyceride and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) levels, and much lower apolipoprotein A1, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels than the control sera.

Research needs for Chagas disease prevention.

We present an overview of the two main strategies for the primary (vector control) and secondary (patient care) prevention of Chagas disease (CD). We identify major advances, knowledge gaps, and key research needs in both areas. Improved specific chemotherapy, including more practical formulations (e.

Mammographic images segmentation using texture descriptors.

Tissue classification in mammography can help the diagnosis of breast cancer by separating healthy tissue from lesions. We present herein the use of three texture descriptors for breast tissue segmentation purposes: the Sum Histogram, the Gray Level Co-Occurrence Matrix (GLCM) and the Local Binary Pattern (LBP). A modification of the LBP is also proposed for a better distinction of the tissues.

MRI segmentation using dialectical optimization.

Biology, Psychology and Social Sciences are intrinsically connected to the very roots of the development of algorithms and methods in Computational Intelligence, as it is easily seen in approaches like genetic algorithms, evolutionary programming and particle swarm optimization. In this work we propose a new optimization method based on dialectics using fuzzy membership functions to model the influence of interactions between integrating poles in the status of each pole. Poles are the basic units composing dialectical systems.

[Therapeutic factors in a group of people with diabetes].

The objective of the present research was to analyze the therapeutic factors identified in the accounts of the participants of a group of people with diabetes. An exploratory, assessing research carried out by means of semi-structured interviews pinpointed the following therapeutic factors: information availability (100%); cohesion (100%); universality (86%); interpersonal learning (57%); development of socialization techniques (57%); altruism (28.5%); imitative behavior (28.

The ruthenium complex cis-(dichloro)tetraammineruthenium(III) chloride presents selective cytotoxicity against murine B cell lymphoma (A-20), murine ascitic sarcoma 180 (S-180), human breast adenocarcinoma (SK-BR-3), and human T cell leukemia (Jurkat) tumor cell lines.

The aim of present study was to verify the in vitro antitumor activity of a ruthenium complex, cis-(dichloro)tetraammineruthenium(III) chloride (cis-[RuCl(2)(NH(3))(4)]Cl) toward different tumor cell lines. The antitumor studies showed that ruthenium(III) complex presents a relevant cytotoxic activity against murine B cell lymphoma (A-20), murine ascitic sarcoma 180 (S-180), human breast adenocarcinoma (SK-BR-3), and human T cell leukemia (Jurkat) cell lines and a very low cytotoxicity toward human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The ruthenium(III) complex decreased the fraction of tumor cells in G0/G1 and/or G2-M phases, indicating that this compound may act on resting/early entering G0/G1 cells and/or precycling G2-M cells.

First isolation of Cryptococcus gattii molecular type VGII and Cryptococcus neoformans molecular type VNI from environmental sources in the city of Belém, Pará, Brazil.

Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii are important agents of meningoencephalitis in humans in the city of Belém. This clinical data suggests that the region may be a highly endemic area for the pathogenic Cryptococcus species within the state of Pará (PA), Northern Brazil. Preliminary analysis of 11 environmental samples from the city of Belém showed two positive locations, including a hollow of a kassod tree (Senna siamea) colonized simultaneously by C.

Screening of a branched peptide library with HIV-1 TAR RNA.

The recognition that RNA is more than just an intermediate in the information transfer from genetic code to fully functional protein has placed it at the forefront of chemical research. RNA is important because of its vital role in regulating transcription, translation, splicing, replication and catalysis. Consequently, molecules that can bind to RNA and control its function have potential as powerful tools in biology and medicine.

Recoarctation after fracture of stent implanted for native aortic coarctation: case report.

We report the case of a 20-year-old patient with severe arterial hypertension in whom coarctation of the aorta was diagnosed. She underwent cardiac catheterization with balloon dilation and stent implantation, with a good initial result. After this procedure she improved and her blood pressure was under control for six months.

A case of rare longevity of tetralogy Fallot.

Tetralogy of Fallot is one of the most common forms of cyanotic congenital heart disease. In the absence of surgical correction it has high early mortality, with most patients dying in childhood. Survival beyond the seventh decade of life is extremely rare.

sp2-sp3 hybridized mixed diboron: synthesis, characterization, and copper-catalyzed beta-boration of alpha,beta-unsaturated conjugated compounds.

A novel sp(2)-sp(3) hybridized mixed diboron and its reactivity on the copper-catalyzed beta-boration of alpha,beta-unsaturated conjugated compounds to afford the corresponding beta-borated compounds is reported. The presence of sp(3)-hybridized boron provides a mild beta-boration condition in the absence of phosphine and base additives. Finally, our investigations demonstrate that the sp(2)-hybridized boron of the mixed diboron is selectively transferred to the beta-carbon of conjugated substrates.

The ruthenium complex cis-(Dichloro)Tetraammineruthenium(III) chloride presents immune stimulatory activity on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Ruthenium compounds in general are well suited for medicinal applications. They have been investigated as immunosuppressants, nitric oxide scavengers, antimicrobial agents, and antimalarials. The aim of this study is to evaluate the immunomodulatory activity of cis-(dichloro)tetraammineruthenium(III) chloride (cis-[RuCl(2)(NH(3))(4)]Cl) on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC).

Activity of physalins purified from Physalis angulata in in vitro and in vivo models of cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Objectives: We have previously demonstrated the immunomodulatory effects of physalins, secosteroids purified from Physalis angulata. Here we investigate the antileishmanial activity of physalins in vitro and in vivo in a model of cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Methods: The antileishmanial activity of physalins B, D and F was tested in Leishmania-infected macrophage cultures.

Dialectical multispectral classification of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance images as an alternative to apparent diffusion coefficients maps to perform anatomical analysis.

Multispectral image analysis is a relatively promising field of research with applications in several areas, such as medical imaging and satellite monitoring. A considerable number of current methods of analysis are based on parametric statistics. Alternatively, some methods in computational intelligence are inspired by biology and other sciences.

Use of transgenic (knockout) mice reveals a site distinct from the alpha2A-adrenoceptors for agmatine in the vas deferens.

The inhibitory effect of agmatine on electrically induced contractions was studied in vas deferens of Adra 2a transgenic mice lacking alpha(2A)-adrenoceptors. Agmatine and clonidine caused a concentration-dependent inhibition of twitches. However, while agmatine showed a similar pIC(50) value in control and transgenic mice, the pIC(50) value for clonidine was about 30-fold lower in knockout mice.

Bilateral horizontal gaze palsy with unilateral peripheral facial paralysis caused by pontine tegmentum infarction.

Clinical features of pontine infarction depend on the topography of vascular lesion and most remarkably sometimes the same topographic region can lead to different clinical syndromes (e.g., dorsal pontine tegmentum).

Speciation of Sb(III) and Sb(V) in meglumine antimoniate pharmaceutical formulations by PSA using carbon nanotube electrode.

A new and simple electroanalytical method for speciation of Sb(III) and Sb(V) in pharmaceutical formulation by potentiometric stripping analysis (PSA) using a multiwall carbon nanotube paste electrode was developed. All instrumental and chemical parameters influencing the performance of the method were carefully assessed and optimized. Trivalent antimony was determined in acid medium (pH 3.