RESUMO
The aim of this study was to analyzing the impact of germination time on the morphology, crystallinity, gelatinization and viscosity properties on the starch of Esmeralda and Perla barley variety. The two barley were germinated for 1 to 8â¯days, at 26⯰C and 65% relative humidity. Micrographs showed the presence of pinholes and eroded surfaces. Starch in Esmeralda was hydrolyzed completely at 8â¯days of germination. Birefringence was reduced from day 4, losing molecular structuring of the crystalline area. Morphometric data: fractal dimension, area, perimeter, circularity, and roundness decreased significantly along germination time in both varieties. The entropy increased significantly, from 0.79 to 10.09 in Esmeralda and from 0.46 to 7.57 in Perla. Relative crystallinity decreased significantly in the Perla from 24.7% to 23.6%. Viscosity peaks were also significantly reduced, pasting temperature was constant in Esmeralda but in Perla was significantly reduced from 95.43 to 95.19⯰C with germination, the gelatinization temperature increased significantly in the Esmeralda while in Perla it remained constant. Enthalpy decreased significantly to 75.8% and 37% in Esmeralda and Perla respectively. The study of germination impact on structural and physicochemical properties is important to identify the use of hydrolyzed starches in the food industry or others.
Assuntos
Amilose/química , Hordeum/química , Amido/química , Termodinâmica , Amilose/ultraestrutura , Germinação/fisiologia , Hidrólise , Estrutura Molecular , Oryza/química , Oryza/ultraestrutura , Amido/ultraestrutura , Temperatura , ViscosidadeRESUMO
UNLABELLED: Antibiotic-resistant Salmonella strains were isolated from saladette and red round type tomatoes, and an analysis done of the antibacterial activity of roselle calyx extracts against any of the identified strains. One hundred saladette tomato samples and 100 red round tomato samples were collected from public markets. Each sample consisted of four whole tomatoes. Salmonella was isolated from the samples by conventional culture procedure. Susceptibility to 16 antibiotics was tested for the isolated Salmonella strains by standard test. The antibacterial effect of four roselle calyx extracts (water, methanol, acetone and ethyl acetate), sodium hypochlorite and acetic acid against antibiotic-resistant Salmonella isolates was evaluated on contaminated tomatoes. Twenty-four Salmonella strains were isolated from 12% of each tomato type. Identified Salmonella serotypes were Typhimurium and Typhi. All isolated strains exhibited resistance to at least three antibiotics and some to as many as 12. Over contaminated tomatoes, the roselle calyx extracts produced a greater reduction (2-2·6 log) in antibiotic-resistant Salmonella strain concentration than sodium hypochlorite and acetic acid. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The presence of multidrug-resistant Salmonella in vegetables is a significant public health concern. Multidrug-resistant Salmonella strains were isolated from raw tomatoes purchased in public markets in Mexico and challenged with roselle Hibiscus sabdariffa calyx extracts, sodium hypochlorite and acetic acid. On tomatoes, the extracts caused a greater reduction in the concentration of antibiotic-resistant Salmonella strains than sodium hypochlorite and acetic acid. Roselle calyx extracts are a potentially useful addition to disinfection procedures of raw tomatoes in the field, processing plants, restaurants and homes.
Assuntos
Ácido Acético/farmacologia , Desinfetantes/farmacologia , Hibiscus/metabolismo , Extratos Vegetais/farmacologia , Salmonella typhi/efeitos dos fármacos , Salmonella typhimurium/efeitos dos fármacos , Hipoclorito de Sódio/farmacologia , Solanum lycopersicum/microbiologia , Antibacterianos/farmacologia , Desinfecção/métodos , Farmacorresistência Bacteriana Múltipla , Doenças Transmitidas por Alimentos/microbiologia , Doenças Transmitidas por Alimentos/prevenção & controle , México , Testes de Sensibilidade Microbiana , Salmonella typhi/isolamento & purificação , Salmonella typhimurium/isolamento & purificaçãoRESUMO
Autoimmune hepatitis is an immune cell-mediated chronic liver disease of unknown cause that leads, when untreated, to cirrhosis and liver failure. Importantly, this disease affects not only adults but children as well. Genetic susceptibility is clearly important and the major susceptibility factor identified up to now is the HLA-DRB1 locus, but other genes may play a role as well. HLA-DRB1 alleles present in South American patients differ from those found in patients in other parts of the world. In addition, we have recently identified two chromosomal regions where additional susceptibility factors may be found in Brazilian patients, namely, the class III MHC region and the 5q31 region where the IL-4 and IL-13 genes are located. This review discusses the current knowledge of the pathogenesis of this autoimmune disease occurring in the setting of an immune-privileged organ, the liver, and compares the data on gene polymorphisms studied in Brazil and in other parts of the world.
Assuntos
Hepatite Autoimune/epidemiologia , Hepatite Autoimune/imunologia , Brasil/epidemiologia , Hepatite Autoimune/classificação , Hepatite Autoimune/genética , HumanosRESUMO
The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I chain-related A (MICA) gene, located near HLA-B, codes for protein products with structural similarities to those of classical MHC class I genes, but which neither bind beta(2)-microglobulin nor present peptide. Expressed predominantly on gastrointestinal and tumour epithelial cells, they are stress-induced and interact with C-type lectin like receptor (NKG2D) on gammadelta, alphabeta CD8+ T cells and natural killer (NK) cells. MICA is highly polymorphic, with 54 extracellular allelic sequences described. We typed 200 healthy subjects in a sample of the São Paulo population by extended polymerase chain reaction-sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP) to characterize the MICA polymorphism and analysed MICA/HLA-B linkage disequilibrium. The MICA*008 group (g) was predominant (47%), with several HLA-B associations. Rare combinations MICA*008g-HLA-B37, MICA*008g-B72 and MICA*010-HLA-B52 were detected. Given the extent of this polymorphism and its possible relevance for disease association, we determined MICA and HLA-B alleles in 33 Behçet's patients, in an attempt to clarify the associated genetic marker. Our results showed an increase of MICA*006, but not MICA*009, in the patient group (6/33) compared with controls (3/200) (18.2% vs. 1.5%; P(c) = 0.005). Both alleles were always in association with HLA-B51, suggesting that HLA-B is indeed the primary susceptibility locus (P = 0.00008) and that MICA*006 may be an additional risk factor.
Assuntos
Antígenos de Histocompatibilidade Classe I/genética , Polimorfismo Genético , Brasil , Frequência do Gene , Genética Populacional , Antígenos HLA-B/genética , Haplótipos , Humanos , Desequilíbrio de Ligação , Fenótipo , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase/métodosRESUMO
AIM: The aim was to demonstrate the efficacy of two materials for bone regeneration during periradicular surgery and their effects on the healing of periapical tissues. METHODOLOGY: Twenty-eight patients (30 surgical sites) were selected and distributed into three groups:group A, conventional technique; group B, conventional technique plus nonbioabsorbable GoreTex R Augmentation membrane; and group C, conventional technique plus the same membrane placed over a synthetic bioactive resorbable graft of a hydroxylapatite (OsteoGen) product in the bony defect. Clinical and radiological evaluations were completed immediately prior to surgery, a week later and every 3 months after surgery up to 12 months. Two histological evaluations were performed (at the beginning and at 12 months). RESULTS: The results showed complete clinical and radiographic healing (eight cases) for group C, with histologic evidence of trabecular bone in all cases. For group B, six out of nine cases showed complete radiographic healing, incomplete in one case and uncertain in two cases, with histologic evidence of trabecular bone in five out of eight cases, scar tissue in one case and granuloma in two cases. For group A, there was complete radiographic healing in four out of nine cases, incomplete in four and unsuccessful in one case, with evidence of granuloma in four out of eight, scar tissue in two cases and trabecular bone in two cases. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that the conventional technique was less predictable in its healing response during the 12 months of this study. The use of bone regeneration materials, such as nonbioabsorbablemembranes and resorbable hydroxylapatite improved the predictability of clinical, radiographic and histological healing.
Assuntos
Perda do Osso Alveolar/cirurgia , Regeneração Óssea , Regeneração Tecidual Guiada Periodontal/métodos , Procedimentos Cirúrgicos Bucais/métodos , Implantes Absorvíveis , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Substitutos Ósseos , Durapatita , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Membranas Artificiais , Pessoa de Meia-IdadeRESUMO
Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) has been demonstrated to be a useful tool in the determination of additives in polymeric materials. This paper describes the determination of some citrates and benzoates in poly(vinyl chloride) blended with 33-34% of plasticizer using off-line SFE followed by gas chromatography. Experimental factors affecting SFE have been studied by gravimetric analysis, followed by analysis of the extracts using a gas chromatograph equipped with a flame ionization detector. The extraction process is governed by the solubility of the plasticizers in the supercritical fluid or by their diffusion through the polymer matrix, which depend on the pressure and temperature used. Maximum extraction (>99%) is obtained at pressures and temperatures higher than 40 MPa and 80 degrees C, respectively. Due to purge losses, the collection efficiency of plasticizers into a liquid solvent ranges from 85 to 90%. The applicability of the SFE method is demonstrated using real samples and comparing the results with those obtained by conventional Soxhlet extraction.
Assuntos
Benzoatos/análise , Cromatografia Gasosa/métodos , Cromatografia com Fluido Supercrítico/métodos , Citratos/análise , Cloreto de Polivinila/químicaRESUMO
UNLABELLED: The hospital pharmacy in large and advanced institutions has evolved from a simple storage and distribution unit into a highly specialized manipulation and dispensation center, responsible for the handling of hundreds of clinical requests, many of them unique and not obtainable from commercial companies. It was therefore quite natural that in many environments, a manufacturing service was gradually established, to cater to both conventional and extraordinary demands of the medical staff. That was the case of Hospital das Clínicas, where multiple categories of drugs are routinely produced inside the pharmacy. However, cost-containment imperatives dictate that such activities be reassessed in the light of their efficiency and essentiality. METHODS: In a prospective study, the output of the Manufacturing Service of the Central Pharmacy during a 12-month period was documented and classified into three types. Group I comprised drugs similar to commercially distributed products, Group II included exclusive formulations for routine consumption, and Group III dealt with special demands related to clinical investigations. RESULTS: Findings for the three categories indicated that these groups represented 34.4%, 45.3%, and 20.3% of total manufacture orders, respectively. Costs of production were assessed and compared with market prices for Group 1 preparations, indicating savings of 63.5%. When applied to the other groups, for which direct equivalent in market value did not exist, these results would suggest total yearly savings of over 5 100 000 US dollars. Even considering that these calculations leave out many components of cost, notably those concerning marketing and distribution, it might still be concluded that at least part of the savings achieved were real. CONCLUSIONS: The observed savings, allied with the convenience and reliability with which the Central Pharmacy performed its obligations, support the contention that internal manufacture of pharmaceutical formulations was a cost-effective alternative in the described setting.
Assuntos
Composição de Medicamentos/economia , Custos de Medicamentos , Hospitais Universitários/economia , Serviço de Farmácia Hospitalar/economia , Brasil , Controle de Custos , Estudos ProspectivosRESUMO
We have evaluated the immune responses of individuals living in a malaria endemic area of Brazil to the (T1B)4, a multiple antigen peptide (MAP) from Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite (CS) protein and the related monoepitope MAPs, B4 and (T1)4, and the linear peptides, T1B and B. The highest antibody frequencies were against MAPs containing the B cell epitope sequence (T1B)4 (42.2%) and B4 (28.8%), while the highest lymphoproliferative response frequencies were against the MAPs containing the T cell epitope sequence (T1)4 (47%) and (T1B)4 (36.4%). We analysed individual responses considering lymphoproliferative response to (T1)4 MAP and IgG antibody titre to (T1B)4 as patterns of ideal cellular and humoral responses, respectively. The frequency of responders, cellular and/or humoral was 66.6%, significantly higher than non responders (P = 0.003). We also determined the HLA class II haplotype of each individual but no association between these and immune response patterns to the MAPs was observed. The results showed that individuals primed against P. falciparum in their natural habitat, present a very diverse array of responses against the same peptide antigens, varying from no response in one-third of the individuals to cognate B and T cell responses. Our study underlines the importance of previous studies of vaccine candidates to guarantee that the immunization will be capable of reverting inefficient or absent responses to malaria epitopes.
Assuntos
Linfócitos B/imunologia , Malária Falciparum/prevenção & controle , Plasmodium falciparum/imunologia , Proteínas de Protozoários/imunologia , Vacinas Protozoárias/imunologia , Linfócitos T/imunologia , Animais , Anticorpos Antiprotozoários/sangue , Formação de Anticorpos , Brasil , Epitopos/imunologia , Humanos , Imunidade Celular , Ativação Linfocitária , Malária Falciparum/sangue , Malária Falciparum/imunologia , Peptídeos/síntese química , Peptídeos/imunologia , Plasmodium falciparum/química , Proteínas de Protozoários/isolamento & purificação , Vacinas Protozoárias/química , Vacinas Sintéticas/imunologiaRESUMO
A previous screening of 17 mutations in 130 Brazilian patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency did not identify mutations in 20% of the alleles. To diagnose these alleles we sequenced the entire CYP21 gene of one Mulatto patient with the simple virilizing form, who had only the R356W mutation in a heterozygous state. We identified a heterozygous G-A transition in codon 424. This mutation leads to a substitution of glycine by serine in a conserved region where glycine is conserved in at least 4 species. This novel mutation eliminates 1 of the restriction sites of the BanI enzyme, which made its screening possible for the whole series. The G424S mutation was found in a compound heterozygous state in 5 families; 4 presented the simple virilizing form, and 1 presented the nonclassical form. Interestingly, 3 of 5 families have a Mulatto origin. This mutation was not identified in 118 CYP21 alleles of normal individuals, ruling out the possibility of a polymorphism, or in 80 pseudogenes, indicating a casual mutagenic event and not a microconversion event. All patients with the G424S mutation presented CYP21P and C4A gene deletions and human leukocyte antigen DR17 on the same haplotype, suggesting a linkage disequilibrium and a probable founder effect. Search for the G424S mutation in other populations will reveal whether it is restricted to the Brazilian patients or if it has a wider ethnic distribution.
Assuntos
Hiperplasia Suprarrenal Congênita/genética , Mutação de Sentido Incorreto , Esteroide 21-Hidroxilase/genética , Feminino , Humanos , Desequilíbrio de Ligação , Masculino , Reação em Cadeia da PolimeraseRESUMO
Uma análise do perfil dos antígenos HLA de classe II numa amostra da populaçäo de Säo Paulo é descrita neste trabalho. Os dados foram obtidos através de técnicas de amplificaçäo gênica utilizando-se iniciadores seqüências-específicos para HLA-DRB (PCR-SSP) ou amplificaçäo gênica seguida de hibridaçäo com oligonucleotídeos específicos (PCR-SSOP) para HLA-DQA e DQB. Foram calculadas as freqüências gênicas e as freqüências haplotípicas DRB-DQB e DQA-DQB e a populaçäo mostrou estar em equilíbrio genético de acordo com a lei de Hardy-Weinberg. Finalmente, comparamos também os dados obtidos com os da populaçäo de Porto Velho, Rondônia, salientando a importância da obtençäo de dados regionais para os controles quando se estuda este complexo sistema genético.