Benznidazole-Loaded Polymeric Nanoparticles for Oral Chemotherapeutic Treatment of Chagas Disease.

Chagas disease (CD) is a worldwide public health problem. Benznidazole (BZ) is the drug used to treat it. However, in its commercial formulation, it has significant side effects and is less effective in the chronic phase of the infection.

Novel FeO Nanoparticles with Bioactive Glass-Naproxen Coating: Synthesis, Characterization, and In Vitro Evaluation of Bioactivity.

Immune response to biomaterials, which is intimately related to their surface properties, can produce chronic inflammation and fibrosis, leading to implant failure. This study investigated the development of magnetic nanoparticles coated with silica and incorporating the anti-inflammatory drug naproxen, aimed at multifunctional biomedical applications. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using various techniques that confirmed the presence of magnetite and the formation of a silica-rich bioactive glass (BG) layer.

Folk medicine, biological activity, and chemical profiles of Brazilian Acanthaceae (Lamiales) - A review.

Introduction: The botanical family Acanthaceae (order Lamiales) potentially comprises 4900 species in 191 genera with extensive morphological, habit and habitat diversity. The family is widely distributed throughout the world but is especially rich in tropical and subtropical regions. Many of its species have great ornamental importance and are broadly used for medicinal purposes in several countries of Asia and Africa.

Changes in the skin characteristics of Nellore steers during the rearing phase in hot climate pasture supplemented with protein sources.

We hypothesized that the protein source in supplements and the insolation and ambient temperature changes in different seasons could cause changes in the skin of Nellore steers during the rearing phase on warm-climate pasture. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of replacing true protein (soybean meal) with NPN (extruded urea) in the supplement on the skin characteristics of steers grazing on Marandu grass pastures. Thirty-six Nellore steers with an average initial weight of 250.

Controlled Release and Cell Viability of Ketoconazole Incorporated in PEG 4000 Derivatives.

In recent years, polymeric materials have been gaining prominence in studies of controlled release systems to obtain improvements in drug administration. These systems present several advantages compared with conventional release systems, such as constant maintenance in the blood concentration of a given drug, greater bioavailability, reduction of adverse effects, and fewer dosages required, thus providing a higher patient compliance to treatment. Given the above, the present work aimed to synthesize polymeric matrices derived from polyethylene glycol (PEG) capable of promoting the controlled release of the drug ketoconazole in order to minimize its adverse effects.

Foot-and-mouth disease virus: DNA aptamer selection for the 3ABC protein.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a devastating livestock disease caused by foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV), a member of the Picornaviridae family. The 3ABC is a non-structural protein of FMDV, produced during viral replication and absent from inactivated FMD vaccines. Nucleic acid aptamers are DNA or RNA oligonucleotides capable of binding with high specificity and affinity to a molecular target.

Phosphate solubilization by Antarctic yeasts isolated from lichens.

Antarctica has a great diversity of microorganisms with biotechnological potential but is not very well Known about yeasts with phosphate solubilization activity. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of yeasts from Antarctica lichens to solubilize phosphate in vitro. In the screening, 147 yeasts were tested and 43 (29%) showed P solubilization in solid NBRIP medium at 15.

Bromine Substitution Effect on Structure, Reactivity, and Linear and Third-Order Nonlinear Optical Properties of 2,3-Dimethoxybenzaldehyde.

The structural and electronic properties of 2,3-dimethoxybenzaldehyde (2,3-DMB), 5-bromo-2,3-dimethoxybenzaldehyde (5-BRB), and 6-bromo-2,3-dimethoxybenzaldehyde (6-BRB) were extensively discussed with emphasis on linear and nonlinear optical responses. The intermolecular interactions were comparatively studied by Hirshfeld surfaces, quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM), and natural bond orbitals (NBOs), indicating that bromine substitution decreases the H···H and C···H contacts and increases H···Br and Br···Br closed-shell interactions on crystalline arrangements. The frontier molecular orbitals and molecular electrostatic potential map, carried out at the CAM-B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level of theory, showed that the kinetic stability occurs in the increasing order 6-BRB < 5-BRB < 2.

Cultured and uncultured microbial community associated with biogas production in anaerobic digestion processes.

The search for sustainable development has increased interest in the improvement of technologies that use renewable energy sources. One of the alternatives in the production of renewable energy comes from the use of waste including urban solids, animal excrement from livestock, and biomass residues from agro-industrial plants. These materials may be used in the production of biogas, making its production highly sustainable and environmentally friendly.

Extracellular hydrolytic enzymes produced by yeasts from Antarctic lichens.

In the Antarctic environment, yeasts are versatile eukaryotes that have shown wide dispersion in different substrates, producing active enzymes in extreme conditions, but their relevance in biotechnological applications is largely unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the production of extracellular hydrolases by yeasts isolated from Antarctic lichens and molecularly identify these isolates. From a total of 144 isolates on the screening, 109 (76%) produced at least one of the hydrolases tested, with most activities for proteases 59 (41%), cellulases 58 (40%), esterases 57 (39%), lipases 29 (20%), amylases 23 (16%) and pectinases 20 (14%).

Pharmaceutical biotechnological potential of filamentous fungi isolated from textile industry.

The need for more effective drugs for the treatment of infectious diseases as well as for general applications including wound healing and burn surgery, has guided efforts for the discovery of new compounds of medical interest. Microorganisms found in textile industrial waste have the ability to produce a variety of enzymes and/or secondary metabolites including molecules of pharmaceutical interest. The present work investigated the biotechnological potential of filamentous fungi isolated from textile industry wastewater for the production of collagenase and antimicrobial metabolites.

Preparation of glass-ionomer cement containing ethanolic Brazilian pepper extract (Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi) fruits: chemical and biological assays.

Plants may contain beneficial or potentially dangerous substances to humans. This study aimed to prepare and evaluate a new drug delivery system based on a glass-ionomer-Brazilian pepper extract composite, to check for its activity against pathogenic microorganisms of the oral cavity, along with its in vitro biocompatibility. The ethanolic Brazilian pepper extract (BPE), the glass-ionomer cement (GIC) and the composite GIC-BPE were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), and thermal analysis.

Optimization and dust emissions analysis of the air jigging technology applied to the recycling of construction and demolition waste.

This work aims to evaluate the use of the air jigging technique, a density-based separation technology commonly applied in mineral processing, to upgrade the quality of mixtures (density and geometric properties) that represents the typical composition of construction and demolition waste (CDW) produced in Brazil. In this sense, tests involving the variation of the main operational parameters of jigging (bed expansion rate, pulsation frequency and jigging time) were carried out aiming to find those which provided the best recycled aggregates quality after processing. Also, fines and dust emissions generation during jigging were measured in order to estimate their potential impacts on human health and environment.

Demolished concretes recycling by the use of pneumatic jigs.

Large quantities of construction and demolition waste is generated annually around the world. Part of this material is processed in recycling plants. After removing metals, fines and lights, the construction and demolition waste is crushed and sized and can be used as aggregates for low resistance concrete, for road sub-base, city landfill and other low value-added applications.

Trypanocidal Activity of Flavanone Derivatives.

Chagas disease, also known as American trypanosomiasis, is classified as a neglected disease by the World Health Organization. For clinical treatment, only two drugs have been on the market, Benznidazole and Nifurtimox, both of which are recommended for use in the acute phase but present low cure rates in the chronic phase. Furthermore, strong side effects may result in discontinuation of this treatment.

Real-time PCR for direct aptamer quantification on functionalized graphene surfaces.

In this study, we develop a real-time PCR strategy to directly detect and quantify DNA aptamers on functionalized graphene surfaces using a Staphylococcus aureus aptamer (SA20) as demonstration case. We show that real-time PCR allowed aptamer quantification in the range of 0.05 fg to 2.

Environmental change and predator diversity drive alpha and beta diversity in freshwater macro and microorganisms.

Global biodiversity is eroding due to anthropogenic causes, such as climate change, habitat loss, and trophic simplification of biological communities. Most studies address only isolated causes within a single group of organisms; however, biological groups of different trophic levels may respond in particular ways to different environmental impacts. Our study used natural microcosms to investigate the predicted individual and interactive effects of warming, changes in top predator diversity, and habitat size on the alpha and beta diversity of macrofauna, microfauna, and bacteria.

Soluble CD40L is associated with increased oxidative burst and neutrophil extracellular trap release in Behçet's disease.

Background: Studies have suggested that soluble factors in plasma from patients with active (aBD) and inactive (iBD) Behçet's disease (BD) stimulate neutrophil function. Soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) is an important mediator of inflammation in BD. Its expression and effect on neutrophil oxidative burst and neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) release have not been characterized.

Sm29, but not Sm22.6 retains its ability to induce a protective immune response in mice previously exposed to a Schistosoma mansoni infection.

Background: A vaccine against schistosomiasis would have a great impact in disease elimination. Sm29 and Sm22.6 are two parasite tegument proteins which represent promising antigens to compose a vaccine.

[Reaction time of a health care team to monitoring alarms in the intensive care unit: implications for the safety of seriously ill patients].

Objective: To define the characteristics and measure the reaction time of a health care team monitoring alarms in the intensive care unit.

Methods: A quantitative, observational, and descriptive study developed at the coronary care unit of a cardiology public hospital in Rio de Janeiro state (RJ). Data were obtained from the information collected on the patients, the monitoring used, and the measurement of the team's reaction time to the alarms of multi-parameter monitors during a non-participatory field observation.

Evaluation of mutagenic and genotoxic activities of lobeline and its modulation on genomic instability induced by ethanol.

Aim: Lobeline is a natural alkaloid derived from Lobelia inflata that has been investigated as a clinical candidate for the treatment of alcoholism. In a pre-clinical trial, lobeline decreased the preference for and consumption of ethanol, due to the modulation of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. However, the interaction between lobeline and ethanol is poorly known and thus there are safety concerns.

Effect of alternate and simultaneous grazing on endoparasite infection in sheep and cattle.

This experiment was carried out on 8 ha of Panicum maximum cv. Tanzania pastures, with rotational grazing consisting of 7 days of occupation and 21 days of rest. Four treatments were evaluated: cattle grazing alone (BOV), sheep grazing alone (OVI), cattle and sheep grazing simultaneously (SIM) and cattle grazing followed by sheep (alternate - ALT).

FAS/FASL expression profile as a prognostic marker in squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity.

FAS/FASL altered expression may cause tumor protecting immunomodulation, with a direct impact on patient prognosis. FAS expression was studied in 60 squamous cell carcinomas of the oral cavity. FAS expression did not show a significant association with tumor histopathological characteristics, but was significantly associated with lymph node positivity.

Community structure of helminth parasites of the "Cururu" toad, Rhinella icterica (Anura: Bufonidae) from southern Brazil.

Sixty specimens of the "cururu" toad, Rhinella icterica (Spix 1824) (Bufonidae), were collected in Campo Belo do Sul, State of Santa Catarina, Brazil, between May 2009 and January 2011, and were examined for the presence of helminth parasites. Nine species of adult helminths were found: Catadiscus cohni, Rudolphitrema rudolphii, Cylindrotaenia sp., Rhabdias fuelleborni, Strongyloides sp.