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Considering that breast cancer usually begins in the lining of the ducts, local drug administration into the ducts could target cancers and pre-tumor lesions locally while reducing systemic adverse effects. In this study, a cationic bioadhesive nanoemulsion was developed for intraductal administration of C6 ceramide, a sphingolipid that mediates apoptotic and non-apoptotic cell death. Bioadhesive properties were obtained by surface modification with chitosan. The optimized nanoemulsion displayed size of 46.3 nm and positive charge, properties that were not affected by ceramide encapsulation (0.4%, w/w). C6 ceramide concentration necessary to reduce MCF-7 cells viability to 50% (EC50) decreased by 4.5-fold with its nanoencapsulation compared to its solution; a further decrease (2.6-fold) was observed when tributyrin (a pro-drug of butyric acid) was part of the oil phase of the nanocarrier, a phenomenon attributed to synergism. The unloaded nanocarrier was considered safe, as indicated by a score

O Brasil é o segundo país em número de cirurgias plásticas atrás apenas dos Estados Unidos. O ato cirúrgico constitui uma agressão tecidual que mesmo bem direcionado, pode prejudicar a função tecidual cabendo ao Fisioterapeuta Dermato Funcional atuar com todos os recursos disponíveis para minimizar essas alterações sendo um forte contribuinte tanto no pré quanto no pós-operatório. Participaram deste estudo 16 Médicos Cirurgiões Plásticos aos quais foi aplicado um questionário com objetivo de identificar a incidência de cirurgias plásticas, conhecimento e reconhecimento da atuação fisioterapêutica dermato funcional no pós-operatório. Verificou-se que conforme a literatura as cirurgias para aumentar os seios lideram o ranking de cirurgias plásticas. Além disso, concluiu-se que os médicos não apenas conhecem a importância da fisioterapia dermato funcional, mas também encaminham seus pacientes para o tratamento pós-operatório valorizando os recursos fisioterapêuticos empregados e reconhecendo-os como importantes no processo de reabilitação de seus pacientes.

Objective: To investigate the imaging and biodistribution of a novel zirconium-89 (89Zr)-labeled mouse anti-cd20 monoclonal antibody (mAb) in control and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) mice following subcutaneous (s. c.) and intravenous (i.v.) administration.Background: Anti-cd20-mediated B-cell depletion using mAbs is a promising therapy for multiple sclerosis. Recombinant human myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (rhMOG)-induced EAE involves B-cell-mediated inflammation and demyelination in mice.Design/Methods: C57BL/6J mice (n = 39) were EAE-induced using rhMOG. On Day 14 post EAE induction, 89Zr-labeled-anti-cd20 mAb was injected in control and EAE mice in the right lower flank (s.c.) or tail vein (i.v.). Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging and gamma counting (ex vivo) were performed on Days 1, 3, and 7 to quantify tracer accumulation in the major organs, lymphatics, and central nervous system (CNS). A preliminary study was conducted in healthy mice to elucidate full and early kinetics of the tracer that were subsequently applied in the EAE and control mice study.Results:89Zr-labeled anti-cd20 mAb was effectively absorbed from s.c. and i.v. injection sites and distributed to all major organs in the EAE and control mice. There was a good correlation between in vivo PET/CT data and ex vivo quantification of biodistribution of the tracer. From gamma counting studies, initial tracer uptake within the lymphatic system was found to be higher in the draining lymph nodes (inguinal or subiliac and sciatic) following s.c. vs. i.v. administration; within the CNS a significantly higher tracer uptake was observed at 24 h in the cerebellum, cerebrum, and thoracic spinal cord (p < 0.05 for all) following s.c. vs. i.v. administration.Conclusions: The preclinical data suggest that initial tracer uptake was significantly higher in the draining lymph nodes (subiliac and sciatic) and parts of CNS (the cerebellum and cerebrum) when administered s.c. compared with i.v in EAE mice.

Abstract Several studies have demonstrated that sugar-based nanocarriers are recommended to develop drug delivery systems since they are biocompatible and biodegradable and might improve the therapeutic index of currently used drugs by reducing their toxicity and enhancing their bioavailability. Therewith, this work studied the processing conditions to formation of a sugar-based nanocarrier denominated polymeric colloidal nanocarriers (PCN). It reports the impact of emulsifiers types and concentration, salt concentration and copolymers addition on physical stability and particle size distribution of a maltodextin-based PCN. In order to define the most stable formulation to produce the maltodextrin nanocarriers, 13 PCN formulations were evaluated in respect to kinetic stability, particle size distribution and morphology. The results demonstrated that to have a stable sugar-based PCN in silicone for at least 3 days, it is necessary to work with Poloxamer 188 as a copolymer, SF 1540 surfactant in a concentration proportional to the solid content and a salt concentration of 0.4 %.

ABSTRACT An experiment was conducted to evaluate the addition of the oil resins ofsucupira (Pterodon emarginatus Vog.) and copaiba (Copaifera langsdorffii) to broiler diets on chicken meat composition, quality, and lipid peroxidation. 350 one-d-old broiler chicks were submitted to seven treatments, consisting of the diets supplemented with copaiba (COP) or sucupira (SUC) resin oils at three different concentrations (500, 900, and 1300 ppm) plus a negative control diet (CONT). At 37 days of age, 10 birds per treatment were selected according to the average weight of the experimental unit and slaughtered to collect breast and thigh meat, which was stored at 4°C for 24 hours to evaluate pH, color (L*, a*, b*), cooking weight loss (CWL), and shear force (SF). Raw meat was vacuum packed and stored frozen until lipid peroxidation analysis. Meat samples were pooled to prepare pre-cooked meatballs (30 ± 0.5g), stored under refrigeration (eight days), and analyzed every two days for TBARS concentration. Results were analyzed using the PROC GLM and MIXED procedures (SAS statistical software). Plant oils increased (p

We describe the species richness, distribution and composition of mesozooplankton over the continental shelf and slope, and in the water masses in the Campos Basin, southwest Atlantic Ocean. We analyzed the mesozooplankton from two oceanographic cruises (rainy and dry seasons, 2009) with samples taken in five different water masses from the surface to 2,300 m depth. In the Subsurface Water (SS), in both sampling periods, more species were recorded over the slope (rainy: 100; dry: 128) than the continental shelf (rainy: 97; dry: 104). Over the slope, species richness decreased with increasing depth: the highest values were observed in the South Atlantic Central Water (SACW), and the lowest values in the North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW), in both sampling periods. We recorded 262 species in 10 groups (Hydrozoa, Siphonophora, Ctenophora, Branchiopoda, Copepoda, Euphausiacea, Decapoda, Chaetognatha, Appendicularia e Thaliacea), with 13 new occurrences for the southwest Atlantic. Copepoda was the group with the highest species richness, containing 138 species. In both periods, the samples from SS, SACW and Antarctic Intermediate Water (AAIW)/Upper Circumpolar Deep Water (UCDW) were clustered in different faunistic zones, based on species composition. This study confirmed that zooplankton richness in the southwest Atlantic Ocean is underestimated, and suggests that additional efforts must be directed toward a better understanding of this fairly unknown region.

The life cycles of many marine taxa are still unknown, especially those species with indirect development and long-lived larval stages. Life cycles of cnidarians are relatively well known for most groups except Ceriantharia. This taxon presents taxonomic problems stemming from the lack of association between planktonic larval forms, often described as distinct species, with the corresponding adult benthic stages. Our study focused on the development of larvae with peculiar external morphology that could be linked to a described species established from adult specimens. Through cultivation of these larvae to juveniles with adult-like morphology and also with the use of DNA barcoding, it was possible to link the stages observed to a known species, Isarachnanthus nocturnus. Based on life span of the larva in the plankton (63-118 days), the larvae could potentially drift for about 2000-4000 km along the coast. Because rearing larvae in the laboratory may be complex and time-consuming and also because morphological data may have limited distinguishing power for specific identification of larvae collected in the field, we suggest and discuss the use of DNA barcoding as a tool to connect life stages of species of cerianthids and invertebrates in general., Author(s): Sergio N. Stampar[sup.1] , Andre C. Morandini[sup.2] , Laura C. Branco[sup.3] , Fabio Lang da Silveira[sup.2] , Alvaro E. Migotto[sup.3] Author Affiliations: (1) Departamento de Ciências Biologicas, Faculdade de [...]

The study of biological invasions can be roughly divided into three parts: detection, monitoring, mitigation. Here, our objectives were to describe the marine fauna of the area of the port of São Sebastião (on the northern coast of the state of São Paulo, in the São Sebastião Channel, SSC) to detect introduced species. Descriptions of the faunal community of the SSC with respect to native and allochthonous (invasive or potentially so) diversity are lacking for all invertebrate groups. Sampling was carried out by specialists within each taxonomic group, in December 2009, following the protocol of the Rapid Assessment Survey (RAS) in three areas with artificial structures as substrates. A total of 142 species were identified (61 native, 15 introduced, 62 cryptogenic, 4 not classified), of which 17 were Polychaeta (12, 1, 1, 3), 24 Ascidiacea (3, 6, 15, 0), 36 Bryozoa (17, 0, 18, 1), 27 Cmdana (2, 1, 24, 0), 20 Crustacea (11, 4, 5, 0), 2 Entoprocta (native), 16 Mollusca (13, 3, 0, 0). Twelve species are new occurrences for the SSC. Among the introduced taxa, two are new for coastal Brazil. Estimates of introduced taxa are conservative as the results of molecular studies suggest that some species previously considered cryptogenic are indeed introduced. We emphasize that the large number of cryptogenic species illustrates the need for a long-term monitoring program, especially in areas most susceptible to bioinvasion. We conclude that rapid assessment studies, even in relatively well-known regions, can be very useful for the detection of introduced species and we recommend that they be carried out on a larger scale in all ports with heavy ship traffic.

The exoskeleton is an important source of characters for the taxonomy of Hydroidolina. It originates as epidermal secretions and, among other functions, protects the coenosarc of the polypoid stage. However, comparative studies on the exoskeletal tissue origin, development, chemical, and structural characteristics, as well as its evolution and homology, are few and fragmented. This study compares the structure and composition of the exoskeleton and underlying coenosarc in members of “Anthoathecata” and some Leptothecata, but does so mainly in bougainvilliid polyps histological analyses. We also studied the development of the exoskeleton under experimental conditions. We identified three types of glandular epidermal cells related to the origin of the exoskeleton and the secretion of its polysaccharides component. The exoskeleton of the species studied is either bilayered (perisarc and exosarc, especially in bougainvilliids) or corneous (perisarc). The exoskeleton varies in chemical composition, structural rigidity, thickness, extension, and coverage in the different regions of the colony. In bilayered exoskeletons, the exosarc is produced first and appears to be a key step in the formation of the rigid exoskeleton. The exoskeleton contains anchoring structures such as desmocytes and “perisarc extensions.”