Laboratory Studies about Microplastic Aging and Its Effects on the Adsorption of Chlorpyrifos.

The constant change in microplastics (MP) due to exposure to environmental conditions leads to physical and chemical changes that enhance their ability to transport other pollutants, increasing the concern about their widespread presence in the environment. This work aimed to simulate the aging process of six MP (polyamide 6, unplasticized polyvinyl chloride, low-density polyethylene, polystyrene, polyethylene-co-vinyl acetate, polypropylene) in freshwater and seawater ecosystems at laboratory scale and evaluate its effects through optical microscope observation, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy-Attenuated Total Reflectance (FTIR-ATR), Raman spectroscopy, and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). Through a combined experimental study of aged MP, the degradation by UV interaction was evidenced by the appearance of new infrared bands in the FTIR spectra assigned to ketones and hydroxyl groups.

Cork barriers for the remediation of soils polluted with lindane.

The in-situ removal of lindane from spiked soil was studied using cork barriers combined with electrokinetic and ohmic heating soil remediation processes. Both vertical and horizontal cork barriers have been evaluated to retain pollutants mobilized by electro-osmotic flow or volatilized by ohmic heating. Moreover, the addition of surfactant solutions in electrolyte wells has been evaluated to promote the dragging of lindane by electrokinetic fluxes.

Photochemoprevention of topical formulation containing purified fraction of Inga edulis leaves extract.

Natural antioxidants have attracted attention for their therapeutic use as photochemopreventive agents. Inga edulis leaves extract and its purified fraction have high polyphenolic content and high antioxidant capacity. In addition, they presented UV photostability and low citotoxicity in fibroblast cells.

Nanoemulsions Based on Sunflower and Rosehip Oils: The Impact of Natural and Synthetic Stabilizers on Skin Penetration and an Ex Vivo Wound Healing Model.

Vegetable oils offer excellent biological properties, but their high lipophilicity limits their bioavailability. This work aimed to develop nanoemulsions based on sunflower and rosehip oils and to evaluate their wound-healing activity. The influence of phospholipids of plant origin on nanoemulsions' characteristics was investigated.

Topical formulation containing chitosan-chamomile microparticles in cutaneous wound healing in rats.

The aim of this research was to evaluate the efficacy of a topical formulation containing chitosan-chamomile microparticles in cutaneous healing in rats. Male Wistar rats (n=57) were randomly distributed into three groups: treatment; vehicle; and control. Evaluations were performed on days 2, 7 and 14 after the surgical procedure using skin lesion photography, and histological and biochemical analyses.

Study of the Potential Accumulation of the Pesticide Alpha-Endosulfan by Microplastics in Water Systems.

Microplastics (MP) are spread into all ecosystems and represent a threat to the equilibrium of the environment and human health, not only due to their intrinsic characteristics but also to their action as effective carriers of contaminants, such as pesticides, pharmaceuticals, polychlorinated biphenyls and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The pesticide α-endosulfan is persistent and spread in the environment. The MP are another possible way of dissemination to be considered in the fate of this pesticide.

Microplastic Pollution Focused on Sources, Distribution, Contaminant Interactions, Analytical Methods, and Wastewater Removal Strategies: A Review.

Plastics have been one of the most useful materials in the world, due to their distinguishing characteristics: light weight, strength, flexibility, and good durability. In recent years, the growing consumption of plastics in industries and domestic applications has revealed a serious problem in plastic waste treatments. Pollution by microplastics has been recognized as a serious threat since it may contaminate all ecosystems, including oceans, terrestrial compartments, and the atmosphere.

Fluoxetine Removal from Aqueous Solutions Using a Lignocellulosic Substrate Colonized by the White-Rot Fungus .

One of the main challenges in both the design of new wastewater treatment plants and the expansion and improvement of existing ones is the removal of emerging pollutants. Therefore, the search for economic and sustainable treatments is needed to enhance the removal of pharmaceuticals. The potential of a lignocellulosic substrate colonized by , a waste from mushroom production, to remove fluoxetine from aqueous solutions was studied.

Soybean extract modified by Aspergillus awamori stimulates a greater collagen-I synthesis in the intracellular matrix of human fibroblasts.

Aglycone isoflavones are estrogen-like bioactive compounds found in low amounts in soybean, which are increased by biotransformation processes. This study investigated two biotransformation processes of soybean extracts with Aspergillus awamori fungus, evaluating aglycone content and capability of stimulation of collagen-I deposition. Isoflavones were quantified via HPLC; cytotoxicity of biotransformed extracts toward mouse and human fibroblasts was evaluated via NRU and apoptosis/necrosis assays; and collagen-I deposition was measured through Western blot, immunofluorescence, and immunoassay.

Protective effect of flavonoids from Passiflora edulis Sims on diabetic complications in rats.

Objectives: This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of flavonoids present in leaves of Passiflora edulis fruit on complications induced by diabetes in rats.

Methods: The extract of P. edulis leaf was obtained by 70% ethanol maceration.

Liquid crystalline nanodispersion functionalized with cell-penetrating peptides improves skin penetration and anti-inflammatory effect of lipoic acid after in vivo skin exposure to UVB radiation.

In this study, the development and the performance of a new targeted liquid crystalline nanodispersion (LCN) by the attachment of cell-penetrating peptides (CPP) onto their surfaces to improve skin delivery of lipoic acid (LA) were evaluated. For that, the synthesis and characterization of this new platform as well as its spatiotemporal analysis from in vitro and in vivo topical application were explored and extensively discussed in this paper. The TAT or D4 peptides were chosen as CPP due to specific target strategies by the charge grouping on the skin surface or target the overexpressed epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) of cell membrane of keratinocytes, respectively.

Green Microalgae Utilization for the Adsorptive Removal of Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) from Water Samples.

In view of the valorisation of the green microalga biomass, it was used for the biosorption of two nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, namely salicylic acid and ibuprofen, from water. Microalgae biomass was characterized, namely by the determination of the point of zero charge (pH), by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) analysis, simultaneous thermal analysis (STA) and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS). Kinetic and equilibrium batch experiments were carried out and results were found to fit the pseudo-second order equation and the Langmuir isotherm model, respectively.

Yangambin and Epi-yangambin Isomers: New Purification Method from Ocotea fasciculata and First Cytotoxic Aspects Focusing on In Vivo Safety.

presents yangambin (YAN) and its isomer epi-yangambin (EPI-YAN) as major lignans, which are employed as the plant markers for quality control purposes and as potential pharmacological compounds. However, a gap between the pure isomers and safety and efficacy protocols is faced by the scientific community. In this context, this work aimed to report (i) a new and advantageous purifying process in a semi-preparative scale for YAN and EPI-YAN isolation from , and (ii) an cytotoxicity study to estimate, for the first time, the LD values of the isolated epimers, as well as the influence of albumin concentration in cell culture medium.

A novel research model for evaluating sunscreen protection in the UV-A1.

The use of a broad spectrum sunscreen is considered one of the main and most popular measures for preventing the damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) on the skin. In this study we have developed a novel in vitro method to assess sunscreens efficacy to protect calcineurin enzyme activity, a skin cell marker. The photoprotective efficacy of sunscreen products was assessed by measuring the UV-A1 radiation-induced depletion of calcineurin (Cn) enzyme activity in primary neonatal human dermal fibroblast (HDFn) cell lysates.

Impact of excipients in the chronic toxicity of fluoxetine on the alga Chlorella vulgaris.

Fluoxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) widely used in the treatment of major depression. It has been detected in surface and wastewaters, being able to negatively affect aquatic organisms. Most of the ecotoxicity studies focused only in pharmaceuticals, though excipients can also pose a risk to non-target organisms.

Multiple linear and principal component regressions for modelling ecotoxicity bioassay response.

The ecotoxicological response of the living organisms in an aquatic system depends on the physical, chemical and bacteriological variables, as well as the interactions between them. An important challenge to scientists is to understand the interaction and behaviour of factors involved in a multidimensional process such as the ecotoxicological response. With this aim, multiple linear regression (MLR) and principal component regression were applied to the ecotoxicity bioassay response of Chlorella vulgaris and Vibrio fischeri in water collected at seven sites of Leça river during five monitoring campaigns (February, May, June, August and September of 2006).

In vitro and in vivo photoprotective/photochemopreventive potential of Garcinia brasiliensis epicarp extract.

The damaging effects of sunlight to the skin has triggered studies that involve the synthesis and extraction of organic compounds from natural sources that can absorb UV radiation, and studies on polyphenolic compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can be used as photochemopreventive agents for reducing skin damage. We investigated the in vitro and in vivo photoprotective/photochemopreventive potential of Garcinia brasiliensis epicarp extract (GbEE). We evaluated the cell viability of L929 fibroblasts after UVB exposure using a quartz plate containing the extract solution or the GbEE formulation.

The Kimberley Hospital Rule (KHR) for urgent computed tomography of the brain in a resource-limited environment.

Background: The indications for urgent computed tomography of the brain (CTB) in the acute setting are controversial. While guidelines have been proposed for CTB in well-resourced countries, these are not always appropriate for resource-limited environments. Furthermore, no unifying guideline exists for trauma-related and non-trauma-related acute intracranial pathology.

Ecotoxicity tests using the green algae Chlorella vulgaris--a useful tool in hazardous effluents management.

The treatment efficiency of laboratory wastewaters was evaluated and ecotoxicity tests with Chlorella vulgaris were performed on them to assess the safety of their environmental discharge. For chemical oxygen demand wastewaters, chromium (VI), mercury (II) and silver were efficiently removed by chemical treatments. A reduction of ecotoxicity was achieved; nevertheless, an EC50 (effective concentration that causes a 50% inhibition in the algae growth) of 1.