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Amazon mosses, such as Holomitriopsis laevifolia and Leucobryum sp. are naturally exposed to high levels of solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Theoretically, under environmental stress conditions these mosses have developed protective chemical and metabolic strategies against UV damage, by way of biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, such as flavonoids. The present paper aimed to evaluate the free-radical scavenging activity, and the photoprotective, mutagenic and photomutagenic potencies of the methanolic (ME), aqueous (AE), hydroalcoholic (HE), ethanolic (EE) extracts of H. laevifolia and Leucobryum sp. The phenolic contents were evaluated by spectrophotometry and by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The present findings showed that the AE and HE of H. laevifolia and the AE of Leucobryum sp. presented the highest phenolic contents. The HPLC analysis indicated the presence mainly of phenolic and cinnamic acids, flavonols, flavones and flavanones. The AE and EE of H. laevifolia and the AE and HE of Leucobryum sp. efficiently scavenged the 2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical. All extracts showed significant values of in vitro Sun Protection Factor alone, and HE of Leucobryum sp. showed a synergistic effect in association with benzophenone-3. None of the extracts induced mutagenicity in the auxotrophic strains for histidine of Salmonella typhimurium, and photomutagenicity of the TA102 and TA104 strains was not detected after exposure to UV-A radiation. Besides, all extracts showed photoprotective activity against UV-A radiation for the TA104 strain, including synergistic protection in association with BP-3. Thus, the constituents in H. Laevifolia and Leucobryum sp. could be good candidates for cosmetic and dermatological applications, particularly in association with synthetic UV filters, since the concentration of the filters in the final product could be reduced.

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Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages throughout the world. So far, many studies have shown the properties of coffee beverages, but little is known about its impacts on human and environmental health from its discard in the environment. So, the present work aims to investigate the mutagenic, genotoxic, cytotoxic and ecotoxic effects of leached (LE) and solubilized (SE) extracts from coffee waste, simulating the disposal of this residue in landfills and via sewage systems, respectively. Chemical analyses were also carried out. LE and SE induced mutagenicity in the TA98 Salmonella strain with and without exogenous metabolization (S9). In the TA100 only SE induced mutagenicity, what was observed without S9. An increase in the frequency of micronuclei was observed in HepG2 cell line after 3 and 24h of exposure to both extracts. No cytotoxic effects were observed in HepG2 cells by WST-1 assay. The EC50 values for the LE and SE were 1.5% and 11.26% for Daphnia similis, 0.12% and 1.39% for Ceriodaphnia dubia and 6.0% and 5.5% for Vibrio fischeri, respectively. Caffeine and several transition metals were found in both extracts. Coffee waste discarded in the environment may pose a risk to human and environmental health, since this compound can cause DNA damage and present toxicity to aquatic organisms.

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Antarctica moss Sanionia uncinata (Hedw.) Loeske is exposed in situ to damaging levels of ultraviolet (UV) radiation. This moss has the ability to respond to UV radiation exposure producing secondary metabolites such as flavonoids, and has been recommended as a potential source of photoprotective compounds and antioxidants. The aim of the present paper was to investigate the free-radical scavenging activity and mutagenic and photomutagenic properties of methanolic (ME), hydroethanolic (HE) and ethanolic (EE) extracts of S. uncinata. The phenolic contents were evaluated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and spectrophotometry. The findings showed that ME and EE presented the highest phenolic contents and inhibited free radical-scavenging activity against 2,2'-diphenyl-1 picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and the HPLC analysis indicated several classes of phenolic acids and flavonoids. The sun protection factors (SPF) were determined by an in vitro method and the results showed significant values. The SPF values of BZ-3 at 50µg/mL increased significantly in association with ME, HE and EE. The extracts did not induce mutagenicity in auxotrophic Salmonella typhimurium histidine and photomutagenicity was not detected in the TA102 and TA104 strains after exposure to UV-A at doses of up to 6.5J/cm2 for the TA102 strain and up to 0.24J/cm2 for the TA104 strain. In addition, with the exception of ME, all the extracts induced photoprotective effects in the presence of the TA104 strain at 0.04J/cm2. The present results suggest that S. uncinata extracts did not induce photomutation and showed promise for photoprotection against the photobiological and ROS-inducing effects of the UV-A radiation.

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Triclosan is a broad-spectrum biocide used in personal-care products that is suspected to be linked to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In the present work, the enzymes horseradish peroxidase and laccase from Trametes versicolor were evaluated for the conversion of triclosan in an aqueous matrix. The removal of antibacterial activity by the enzymatic processes was evaluated by an assay based on the growth inhibition of Escherichia coli K12. The horseradish peroxidase (HRP) process appears more advantageous than the laccase process in removing triclosan from an aqueous matrix, considering the reaction parameters pH, temperature, catalytic efficiency, and enzyme concentration. The highest conversion of triclosan catalysed by laccase was observed at pH 5.0, that is, lower than the typical pH range (6.5-7.5) of sewage treatment plants' effluents. The efficiency of laccase process was much more impacted by variations in the temperature in the range of 10-40°C. Kinetic studies showed that triclosan is a substrate more specific for HRP than for laccase. The protein content for the HRP-catalysed process was 14 times lower than that for the laccase process. Decay kinetics suggest that reaction mechanisms depend on enzyme concentration and its concentration. Both processes were able to reduce the antibacterial activity, and the residual activity of the treated solution is probably due to non-converted triclosan and not due to the reaction products. The laccase-catalysed conversion of triclosan in an environmental relevant concentration required a higher amount of enzyme than that required in the HRP process.

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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Alcohol intake may interfere with bone metabolism; however, there is a lack of information about the outcomes of regenerative approaches in the presence of alcohol intake. Enamel matrix derivative (EMD) has been used in periodontal regenerative procedures resulting in improvement of clinical parameters. Thus, the aim of this histomorphometric study is to evaluate the healing of periodontal defects after treatment with EMD under the influence of alcohol intake. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty Wistar rats were randomly assigned to two groups: G1 = alcohol intake (n = 10) and G2 = non-exposed to alcohol intake (n = 10). Thirty days after initiation of alcohol intake, fenestration defects were created at the buccal aspect of the first mandibular molar of all animals from both groups. After the surgeries, the defects of each animal were randomly assigned to two subgroups: non-treated control and treated with EMD. The animals were killed 21 d later. RESULTS: G1 showed less defect fill for non-treated controls. Bone density (BD) and new cementum formation were lower for G1 when compared to G2, for EMD-treated and non-treated sites. EMD treatment resulted in greater BD and new cementum formation in both groups and defect fill was not significantly different between groups in the EMD-treated sites. The number of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive osteoclasts was significantly higher in G1 when compared to G2 and in EMD-treated sites of both groups. CONCLUSION: Alcohol intake may produce a significant detrimental effect on BD and new cementum formation, even in sites treated with EMD. A limited positive effect may be expected after EMD treatment under this condition.

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This study aimed to determine the activity of carbonic anhydrase isoenzyme VI (CAVI) in the saliva of preschool children with caries and to investigate the relationship between caries and salivary CAVI activity, salivary flow rate and biofilm pH before and after a 20% sucrose rinse. Thirty preschool children aged 45.3-80.3 months were divided into two groups: a caries-free group and a caries group. Clinical examinations were conducted by one examiner (κ = 0.95) according to WHO criteria (dmfs) and early caries lesions. From each subject, CAVI activity, salivary flow rate and plaque pH were determined before and after a sucrose rinse. The results were submitted to Wilcoxon, Mann-Whitney and Spearman correlation tests (α = 0.05). The results showed that prerinse CAVI activity and its variation were higher in the saliva from caries children than from caries-free children. No difference was found between the two groups in postrinse salivary CAVI activity. After rinsing, biofilm pH differences were lower in both groups (p = 0.0012 and p = 0.0037 for the caries and caries-free groups, respectively). Also, after the sucrose rinse, salivary flow rate significantly increased in caries and caries-free groups (p = 0.0003, p = 0.0037). The variation of salivary CAVI activity was negatively correlated with caries (r = -0.501, p = 0.005). Child's age showed a positive correlation with caries (r = 0.456, p = 0.011). These results suggest that variation of salivary CAVI activity and child's age are associated with dental caries in preschool children.

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A presença do vírus da síndrome da mancha branca (em inglês WSSV) nas principais espécies de camarões, siris e caranguejos de cinco lagoas que recebem o efluente de fazendas afetadas pela enfermidade foi detectada por nested PCR, e inclusões virais nos camarões por histologia. Pela nested PCR encontrou-se a presença de WSSV em 13 de 16 (81,2 por cento) amostras de camarões da espécie Farfantepenaeus paulensis, em 13 de 14 (92,8 por cento) de Litopenaeus schmitti, em uma de duas de Farfantepenaeus brasiliensis (50 por cento), em 13 de 15 (86,6 por cento) de siri da espécie Callinectes danae e em 11 de 12 (91,6 por cento) de Callinectes sapidus, e não foi detectada no caranguejo Chasmagnathus granulata em 10 amostras. Inclusões características de WSSV foram observadas em três amostras histológicas de 50 (6,0 por cento) no epitélio gástrico e cuticular e nas brânquias de dois exemplares de F. paulensis e um de L. schmitti. É o primeiro relato da presença de WSSV em camarões L. schmitti e no siri C. danae silvestres. As principais espécies de camarões e siris dos ambientes de entorno das fazendas foram contaminadas pelo WSSV, constituindo-se em vetores potenciais do vírus.

The presence of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) in the main species of shrimps, blue crabs, and burrowing crabs of five lagoons where shrimp farm effluents are discharged, was analyzed by nested PCR and the presence of virus inclusions in the shrimps was analyzed through histopathology. The nested PCR analysis indicated the presence of WSSV in 13 of 16 (81.2 percent) samples of the shrimp species of Farfantepenaeus paulensis, in 13 of 14 (92.8 percent) of Litopenaeus schmitti, in one of two of Farfantepenaeus brasiliensis (50 percent), in 13 of 15 (86.6 percent) of blue crab species of Callinectes danae and in 11 of 12 (91.6 percent) of Callinectes sapidus and none was detected in the 10 samples of the burrowing crab Chasmagnathus granulata. The inclusion characteristics of WSSV were observed in three samples of 50 (6.0 percent) in the gastric and cuticular epithelium and in the gills of two specimens of F. paulensis and one of L. schmitti. The presence of WSSV in L. schmitti wild shrimp and in the C. danae blue crab is reported for the first time in the present work. The results indicate that the main species of shrimps and blue crabs of the environment surrounding the farms were infected by WSSV, and they may be considered potential vectors of the virus.

RESUMO

A presença do vírus da síndrome da mancha branca (em inglês WSSV) nas principais espécies de camarões, siris e caranguejos de cinco lagoas que recebem o efluente de fazendas afetadas pela enfermidade foi detectada por nested PCR, e inclusões virais nos camarões por histologia. Pela nested PCR encontrou-se a presença de WSSV em 13 de 16 (81,2 por cento) amostras de camarões da espécie Farfantepenaeus paulensis, em 13 de 14 (92,8 por cento) de Litopenaeus schmitti, em uma de duas de Farfantepenaeus brasiliensis (50 por cento), em 13 de 15 (86,6 por cento) de siri da espécie Callinectes danae e em 11 de 12 (91,6 por cento) de Callinectes sapidus, e não foi detectada no caranguejo Chasmagnathus granulata em 10 amostras. Inclusões características de WSSV foram observadas em três amostras histológicas de 50 (6,0 por cento) no epitélio gástrico e cuticular e nas brânquias de dois exemplares de F. paulensis e um de L. schmitti. É o primeiro relato da presença de WSSV em camarões L. schmitti e no siri C. danae silvestres. As principais espécies de camarões e siris dos ambientes de entorno das fazendas foram contaminadas pelo WSSV, constituindo-se em vetores potenciais do vírus.(AU)

The presence of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) in the main species of shrimps, blue crabs, and burrowing crabs of five lagoons where shrimp farm effluents are discharged, was analyzed by nested PCR and the presence of virus inclusions in the shrimps was analyzed through histopathology. The nested PCR analysis indicated the presence of WSSV in 13 of 16 (81.2 percent) samples of the shrimp species of Farfantepenaeus paulensis, in 13 of 14 (92.8 percent) of Litopenaeus schmitti, in one of two of Farfantepenaeus brasiliensis (50 percent), in 13 of 15 (86.6 percent) of blue crab species of Callinectes danae and in 11 of 12 (91.6 percent) of Callinectes sapidus and none was detected in the 10 samples of the burrowing crab Chasmagnathus granulata. The inclusion characteristics of WSSV were observed in three samples of 50 (6.0 percent) in the gastric and cuticular epithelium and in the gills of two specimens of F. paulensis and one of L. schmitti. The presence of WSSV in L. schmitti wild shrimp and in the C. danae blue crab is reported for the first time in the present work. The results indicate that the main species of shrimps and blue crabs of the environment surrounding the farms were infected by WSSV, and they may be considered potential vectors of the virus.(AU)

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Large-bodied arthropods, such as cicadas, can be able to reallocate significant amounts of nutrients during adult emergence. Evidence suggests that Quesada gigas Olivier emergence constitutes an important nutrient flux from belowground to aboveground. The purpose of this study was to estimate the amount of nitrogen, proteins, and lipids resulting from the emergence of Q. gigas in an urban ecosystem in Central Brazil. Adult specimens captured from September to November 2006 were weighed and submitted to biochemical analysis. Population density was approximately 4,200 individuals per hectare. Mean individual dry mass was 1.03 g and contained 12.6% proteins, 8.4% lipids, and 5% nitrogen. Total biomass input from the species was 4.3 kg ha(-1) y(-1), with a consequent annual reallocation of approximately 545 g of proteins, 363 g of lipids, and 216 g of nitrogen per hectare. The data obtained suggest that Q. gigas emergence can cause significant translocation of nutrients from belowground to aboveground, and is therefore an important biological event for ecosystem function.

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