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Background Penile prostheses are the third option in the treatment of erectile dysfunction, however, despite their proven effectiveness, the occurrence of infections, advanced age of patients and comorbidities are the main limiting factors for this treatment modality. In the continuous search for biointegrated, clinically durable and minimally invasive treatment options, a possible model of penile prosthesis was sought through the use of intracavernous bacterial cellulose (BC) gel, in an experimental model of orchiectomized rabbits. Methods Thirty adult New Zealand rabbits were equally distributed into three groups: BC; vehicle and control. Each group was then subdivided according to the follow-up time of 3 and 6 months. Bilateral orchiectomy was performed 3 weeks before injection in the BC and vehicle groups. Pachymetry measurements of the penile axis, diameter and length were performed in situ. Histomorphometry analyzes of the corpora cavernosa (CC), thickness of the tunica albuginea, cell density, collagen and elastic fibers post-injection were also performed, in addition to immunohistochemistry for newly formed vessels. Results The implant of BC increased both the length and thickness of the penis three and six months after the last injection, with a consequent increase in the diameter of the CC. On the other hand, the filling effect was not observed in the control and vehicle groups, confirming the degradation of this tissue after orchiectomy and the effectiveness of BC as a filling agent. Histomorphometry analyzes corroborate the mass effect of BC integrated into the tissue, permeated by predominantly lymphomononuclear inflammatory infiltrate, multinucleated giant foreign body cells, fibroblasts, elastic fibers and newly formed vessels, without degradation or loss of volume, even after six months of implantation. Conclusions Biocompatibility and biointegration to the host tissue make BC a prosperous penile filling material, with local application and minimally invasive.

A hydrogel of bacterial cellulose of 0.8%, biopolymer produced from sugarcane molasses and synthesized from a bacteria called Zoogloea sp., was analyzed for its composition and tested by two routes of administration, subcutaneous and intraperitoneal, to clarify the local and systemic adverse effects after skin implantation in Wistar rats (24 males, 24 females, 55 days old). Analysis of two samples of BC films indicates carbon (42.94%; 43.43%), hydrogen (6.73%; 6.76%), nitrogen (0.28%, 0.23%) and oxygen (50.05%, 49.58%). No abnormal behavior, clinical signs of chronic toxicity or inflammation were observed. There was no change in liver injury biomarker levels (ALT, AST and ALP), as well as in renal histology, where it was evaluated to signs of tubular cell injury, glomerular or vascular damage, and renal morphometry, in which it was quantified the number of renal corpuscles, the number of cells per glomerulus and the capsular space area. Thus, the absence of signs and symptoms of toxicity suggests that subcutaneous or intraperitoneal injections of these polymers may be used in clinical situations. Se analizó un hidrogel de celulosa bacteriana del 0,8%, biopolímero producido a partir de melaza de caña de azúcar y sintetizado a partir de las bacterias Zoogloea sp., para su composición y probado por dos vías de administración, subcutánea e intraperitoneal, para aclarar los efectos adversos locales y sistémicos después de la implantación en la piel de ratas Wistar (24 machos, 24 hembras, 55 días de edad). El análisis de dos muestras de película cb indica carbono (42,94%; 43,43%), hidrógeno (6,73%; 6,76%), nitrógeno (0,28%, 0,23%) y oxígeno (50,05%, 49,58%). No se observaron comportamientos anormales, signos clínicos de toxicidad crónica o inflamación. No hubo cambios en los niveles de biomarcadores de lesión hepática (ALT, AST y ALP), en histología renal, donde se evaluó el análisis de signos de lesión de células tubulares, daño glomerular o vascular, o morfometría renal, donde se evaluaron los corpus renales y el área del espacial capsular. Por lo tanto, la ausencia de signos y síntomas de toxicidad sugiere que las inyecciones subcutáneas o intraperitoneales de estos polímeros pueden utilizarse en situaciones clínicas. Um hidrogel de celulose bacteriana a 0,8%, biopolímero produzido a partir do melaço de cana-de-açúcar e sintetizado a partir de bactéria Zoogloea sp., foi analisado quanto à sua composição e testado por duas vias de administração, subcutânea e intraperitoneal, para esclarecer os efeitos adversos locais e sistêmicos após implante na pele de ratos Wistar (24 machos, 24 fêmeas, 55 dias de idade).A análise de duas amostras de filmes CB indica carbono (42,94%; 43,43%),hidrogênio (6,73%; 6,76%), nitrogênio (0,28%, 0,23%) e oxigênio (50,05%, 49,58%).Nenhum comportamento anormal, sinais clínicos de toxicidade crônica ou inflamação foram observados.Não houve alteração nos níveis de biomarcadores de lesão hepática (ALT, AST e ALP), na histologia renal, onde se fez avaliação a procura de sinais de lesão celular tubular, dano glomerular ou vascular, nem na morfometria renal, onde foram quantificados os corpúsculos renais e a área do espaço capsular.Assim, a ausência de sinais e sintomas de toxicidade sugere que injeções subcutâneas ou intraperitoneais desses polímeros possam ser utilizadas em situações clínicas.&nbsp

Indigofera suffruticosa Mill (Fabaceae) ocorre em abundância no nordeste do Brasil e tem intenso uso popular no tratamento de processos infecciosos e inflamatorios. Diversas atividades biologicas, como anti-inflamatoria, anticâncer, antitumoral, protetor do figado e baixa toxicidade sao relatados para esta planta. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar a fragilidade osmotica e propriedade citotoxica do extrato aquoso de folhas de I. suffruticosa. O extrato aquoso de folhas de I. suffruticosa foi obtido por maceracao, filtracao e posteriormente liofilizado, sendo utilizados no ensaio de fragilidade osmotica com sangue de carneiro e efeito citotoxico no ensaio Allium cepa. A fragilidade osmotica eritrocitaria apresentou baixo nivel de hemolise, tanto pela avaliacao qualitativa do sobrenadante quanto pelo resultado do percentual hemolitico. Para a avaliacao citotoxica com Allium cepas nao foram identificadas anormalidades cromossomicas como tambem diferencas no processo de divisao celular (interfase, profase, metafase anafase e telofase) entre o grupo controle e os grupos submetidos as diferentes concentracoes do extrato aquoso de folhas de I. suffruticosa (50 µg/mL, 500 µg/mL e 1000 µg/mL). Contudo, o extrato na concentracao de 50 µg/mL em relacao as concentracoes de 500 µg/mL e 1000 µg/mL apresentou maior desenvolvimento radicular. Concluindo-se que o extrato aquoso de folhas de I. suffruticosa demonstrou baixo indice de hemolise e ausencia de anormalidade cromossomica ou alteracao nas fases das divisoes celulares, sugerindo integridade da membrana celular e baixo nivel de toxicidade.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of the cellulosic exopolysaccharide membrane (CEM) as a urethral reinforcement for urethrovesical anastomosis. Methods: Twenty eight rabbits were submitted to urethrovesical anastomosis with or without CEM reinforcement. The animals were divided into 4 groups: C7, CEM7, C14 and CEM14: (C= only anastomosis or CEM = anastomosis + CEM), evaluated after 7 weeks, and 14 weeks. The biointegration and biocompatibility of CEM were evaluated according to stenosis, fistula, urethral wall thickness, urethral epithelium, rate of inflammation and vascularization. Results: Between the two experimental groups, the difference in the number of stenosis or urinary fistula was not statistically significant. The morphometric analysis revealed preservation of urethral lumen, well adhered CEM without extrusion, a controlled inflammatory process and implant vascularization. The urothelium height remained constant over time after CEM reinforcement and the membrane wall was thicker, statistically, after 14 weeks. Conclusion: The absence of extrusion, stenosis or urinary fistula after 14 weeks of urethrovesical anastomosis demonstrates cellulosic exopolysaccharide membrane biocompatibility and biointegration with tendency to a thicker wall.

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) images of living cells in physiological solution were used to monitor the different stages involved in the interaction between Escherichia coli and the antimicrobial peptide PGLa. Damage on bacterial membranes was observed in the past using standard electron microscopy; stiffness measurements and images scanned in physiological solution demonstrate the advantage of AFM for such studies. From force versus separation curve measurements it is possible to determine the variation of the cellular stiffness. PGLa action on components of the cell structure like the outer membrane, the bacterial pili, the peptidoglycan wall and the inner membrane was determined by the comparison of AFM images of bacteria before and after PGLa addition. The interaction of Escherichia coli with PGLa in the culture medium has two stages. The first is characterized by the loss of surface stiffness and the formation of micelles probably originating from the disruption of the outer membrane and the loss of the bacteria’s ability to adhere to the substrates. In the second stage there is further damage, which resulted in total cell rupture. AFM images of bacteria in air and surface roughness measurements were also used to estimate peptide damage.

PW2 (HPLKQYWWRPSI) was selected from phage display libraries through an alternative panning method using living sporozoites of Eimeria acervulina as target. Synthetic PW2 shows anticoccidial activity against E. acervulina and Eimeria tenella with very low hemolytic activity. It also displays antifungal activity but no activity against bacteria. We present the solution structure of the PW2 bound to SDS micelles. In the absence of an interface, PW2 is in random coil conformation. In micelles, structural calculation shows that Trp-7 forms the hydrophobic core that is important for the peptide folding. Lys-4, Tyr-6, Trp-8, and Arg-9 are in the same surface, possibly facing the micelle interface. This possibility was supported by the fact that chemical shift differences for these residues were more pronounced when compared with PW2 in water and in SDS. PW2 gains structure upon binding to SDS micelles. Lys-4, Tyr-6, Trp-8, and Arg-9 were found to bind to the micelle. Trp-7, Trp-8, and Arg-9 composed the WW+ consensus found in the sequence of the peptides selected with the phage display technique against E. acervulina sporozoites. This suggested that Trp-7, Trp-8, and Arg-9 are probably key residues not only for the peptide interaction with SDS micelles but also for the interaction with E. acervulina sporozoites surface.

In the present work, we describe the discovery of PW2, a novel peptide presenting in vitro activity against Eimeria acervulina and E. tenella sporozoites. PW2 was selected from phage display (Ph.D.) peptide libraries by an alternative method of panning using living purified E. acervulina sporozoites as targets. Our results showed that the peptide disrupts the sporozoite pellicle, resembling the effect caused by most natural antimicrobial peptides. PW2 peptide was also effective against fungi and showed low activity against Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites, but no activity against Trypanosoma cruzi, Crithidia fasciculata epimastigotes, and bacteria. Additionally, the parasiticidal concentrations of PW2 produced a very low lytic effect on mammalian and avian cells. The effectiveness against Eimeria sporozoites and the absence of adverse effects to host cells indicates that PW2 may be used as a model to generate new drugs for the control of avian coccidiosis.

Inquérito entomológico transversal foi conduzido na área urbana no Município de Anajás/PA, para verificar o risco de transmissão malárica. Embora a densidade de Anopheles tenha sido baixa, a taxa de infectividade de 6% e o encontro de espécimes positivos em todos os bairros indicam alto risco de contrair a doença.

Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro Tecnológico, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia Civil, Florianópolis, 2013. O Código Civil Brasileiro em vigor estabelece para todos os imóveis do país um erro máximo de 5 % para a indicação de áreas em contratos de compra e venda. Para os imóveis rurais existe desde 2001 uma "lei de georreferenciamento" exigindo que um erro nos vértices dos imóveis não exceda o limite de 50 centimetros. Com essa medida o Brasil deu mais um passo importante na direção para um cadastro territorial moderno, ainda limitado à esfera rural. Na área urbana, apesar do Código Civil regulamentar a precisão para a área de todos os imóveis urbanos, nunca foi estabelecida uma precisão específica para as coordenadas dos pontos limites dos imóveis urbanos. Esta pesquisa tem por finalidade encontrar uma relação formal entre a precisão especificada na legislação, a área do imóvel e as coordenadas dos seus limites. Para tanto foram abordadas, por simulação, uma série de situações relativas à geometria e ao número de vértices dos imóveis analisados, utilizando o cálculo de áreas pelo método de Gauss e a lei de propagação das variâncias. Desta pesquisa foi derivada uma proposta de precisão posicional, para os imóveis urbanos, compatível com o atual Código Civil Brasileiro e em defesa dos interesses dos proprietários na identificação dos imóveis. Abstract : The Brazilian Civil Code in force establishes for all properties in the country a maximum error of 5% for the indication of areas of purchase and sale contracts. Since 2001 the law of "Georeferincing" requires the error at the vertices of a rural property not to exceed 50cm. With this measure, Brazil has taken another important step in the direction for modern land registry, but it is still limited to the rural sphere.In urban areas, although the Civil Code regulates the precision for the area of all urban properties, never a specific accuracy was established for the coordinates of the limit points of urban real estate. This research aims to find a formal relationship between the precision specified by law, the area of the property and its coordinates. With this in mind, by simulation, a number of situations relating to geometry and number of vertices of the analyzed properties, using the calculation of areas by the Gauss law and the propagation of variances. A proposal was derived from this research for the positional accuracy for urban properties, consistent with the current legislation of the Civil Code and in the interests of the identified property owners.

We reanalyzed and compared current prevalence estimates of Alzheimer's disease in Europe. Studies characterized as follows qualified for comparison: dementia defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, 3rd edition, or equivalent criteria; Alzheimer's disease diagnosed by the National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke-Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association or equivalent criteria; case-finding through direct individual examination; appropriate sample size; and inclusion of institutionalized persons. Of the 23 European surveys of dementia considered, six fulfilled the inclusion criteria. When age and sex were considered, there were no major geographic differences in the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease across Europe. Overall European prevalence (per 100 population) for the age groups 30 to 59, 60 to 69, 70 to 79, and 80 to 89 years was, respectively, 0.02, 0.3, 3.2, and 10.8. Prevalence increased exponentially with advancing age and, in some populations, was consistently higher in women. Prevalence remained stable over 15 years in one study.

Dissertação de Mestrado apresentada à Universidade Fernando Pessoa como parte dos requisitos para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Qualidade. Submitted by Leonor Sottomayor (leonor@ufp.pt) on 2009-09-25T10:10:38Z No. of bitstreams: 1 AVISO.docx: 10568 bytes, checksum: 21e91462c336b58980e38f76f26402e2 (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2009-09-25T10:45:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 AVISO.docx: 10568 bytes, checksum: 21e91462c336b58980e38f76f26402e2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008 Made available in DSpace on 2011-10-06T14:39:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license.txt: 1871 bytes, checksum: 8c92267ec64e68a1b3b613ac3c0edcfc (MD5) Agostinho Cardoso.pdf: 1249946 bytes, checksum: dff3b73b9a8a2e08bc96db2422b1613e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a duração do efeito residual de piretróides sobre a mortalidade de anofelinos e verificar sua efetividade na borrifação intradomiciliar em regiões da Amazônia Brasileira. OBJETIVO: O estudo foi desenvolvido no conjunto habitacional, município de Belém, Pará, em 2003. Foram sorteadas 12 casas, três de cada uma das quatro áreas estabelecidas. Foram aplicados nas paredes internas das casas os inseticidas: piretróides cipermetrina pó molhável, deltametrina suspensão concentrada, lambdacialotrina pó molhável e etofemprox pó molhável. Seu efeito sobre a mortalidade de anofelinos foi avaliado durante os meses de julho a novembro. Utilizou-se a técnica de prova biológica de parede com a utilização de cones plásticos e mosquitos selvagens do município de Peixe Boi. RESULTADOS: A taxa de mortalidade variou de acordo com o tipo de parede e inseticida aplicado. Os aplicados em madeira e paredes de tijolo sem reboco foram mais estáveis e duradouros. O lambdacialotrina apresentou efeito mais curto que os demais inseticidas e o etofemprox apresentou efeito residual de quatro meses e foi mais efetivo em paredes de tijolo sem reboco. Não houve diferença estatística entre deltametrina e cipermetrina em todas as superfícies testadas, e a duração do efeito residual foi satisfatória até três meses após a borrifação. CONCLUSÕES: Os inseticidas deltametrina e etofemprox apresentaram melhor desempenho quando comparados aos demais. Para esses inseticidas e formulações, deve considerar-se seguro o intervalo de três meses entre aplicações sucessivas. Em comunidades com predomínio de casas de alvenaria rebocadas, deve ser considerada a menor efetividade das formulações, bem como a pertinência do emprego da borrifação residual como método para o controle vetorial na área. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the residual effect of pyrethroids on the mortality rates of Anopheles in order to check their efficacy in indoor residual spraying in the Amazon Region, Brazil. METHODS: The study was conducted in public housing unities in the city of Belem, Northern Brazil, in 2003. Twelve houses were randomly chosen, three in each of the four established areas. Pyrethroids cypermethrin wettable powder, deltamethrin suspension concentrate, lambda-cyhalothrin wettable powder, and etofenprox wettable powder, were sprayed on the indoor wall surface of local houses. Their effects on the mortality of Anopheles were assessed from July to November. Wall bioassay was performed using plastic cones attached to insecticide and wild mosquitoes from the town of Peixe Boi. RESULTS: Mortality rate varied according to the type of wall that received the insecticide. Those inseticides applied to wood and non-plastered brick surfaces were more stable and lasted longer. Lambda-cyhalothrin presented shorter effect than the other insecticides, and Etofenprox had residual effects up to four months and was more effective in non-plastered brick surfaces. There was no statistical difference between the effect of deltamethrin and cypermethrin in all surfaces tested, and the duration of the residual effect was satisfactory up to three months after spraying. CONCLUSIONS: Deltamethrin and Etofenprox presented grater performance when compared to the others. For these insecticides and formulations, a three- month interval between successive applications can be considered safe. In communities with predominance of houses with plastered brick surfaces, the smaller effectiveness of formulations should be considered, together with the importance of residual spraying as a vector control method in the area.

To evaluate the residual effect of pyrethroids on the mortality rates of Anopheles in order to check their efficacy in indoor residual spraying in the Amazon Region, Brazil.The study was conducted in public housing units in the city of Belem, Northern Brazil, in 2003. Twelve houses were randomly chosen, three in each of the four established areas. Pyrethroids cypermethrin wettable powder, deltamethrin suspension concentrate, lambda-cyhalothrin wettable powder, and etofenprox wettable powder, were sprayed on the indoor wall surface of local houses. Their effects on the mortality of Anopheles were assessed from July to November. Wall bioassay was performed using plastic cones attached to insecticide and wild mosquitoes from the town of Peixe Boi.Mortality rate varied according to the type of wall that received the insecticide. Those insecticides applied to wood and non-plastered brick surfaces were more stable and lasted longer. Lambda-cyhalothrin presented shorter effect than the other insecticides, and etofenprox had residual effects up to four months and was more effective in non-plastered brick surfaces. There was no statistical difference between the effect of deltamethrin and cypermethrin in all surfaces tested, and the duration of the residual effect was satisfactory up to three months after spraying.Deltamethrin and etofenprox presented greater performance when compared to the others. For these insecticides and formulations, a three-month interval between successive applications can be considered safe. In communities with predominance of houses with plastered brick surfaces, the smaller effectiveness of formulations should be considered, together with the importance of residual spraying as a vector control method in the area.

Inquérito entomológico transversal foi conduzido na área urbana no Município de Anajás/PA, para verificar o risco de transmissão malárica. Embora a densidade de Anopheles tenha sido baixa, a taxa de infectividade de 6% e o encontro de espécimes positivos em todos os bairros indicam alto risco de contrair a doença. An entomological survey was conducted in the urban area of Anajás municipality, Pará State, in order to verify the risk of malaria transmission. Although the density of Anopheles species was low, the anopheline infectivity rate of 6% demonstrated there is a high risk of infection by the malaria parasites.

The activity of PGLa, an antimicrobial peptide isolated from hemocytes of frog skin and its secretions on living Escherichia coli, was investigated by imaging the cells with atomic force microscopy (AFM) in physiological conditions and by measuring its cellular stiffness. The treatment of bacteria with the antimicrobial peptide PGLa in the culture medium had two stages. The first was characterized by the loss of surface stiffness and consequent loss of bacteria topographic features and the formation of micelles probably originating from the disruption of the outer membrane. The formation of outer membrane originated micelles is in agreement with the carpet-like mechanism of action proposed for antimicrobial peptides of the magainin family. The peptide action also resulted in the removal of bacterial pili. In a second stage there was further damage which resulted in total cell rupture. The addition of Mg2+ ions prior to peptide treatment partially inhibited the effects of PGLa on bacteria. This result suggests that PGLa interacts with the outer membrane by displacing Mg2+ from LPS, inserting itself into the bilayer and cross-bridging the negative charges of LPS lipids as proposed in the self-promoted pathway mechanism. The peptide effect on the bacteria was compared to the activity of the chelating agent EDTA that damages the bacterial outer membrane by removing Mg2+ ions.

PW2 (HPLKQYWWRPSI) was selected from phage display libraries through an alternative panning method using living sporozoites of Eimeria acervulina as target. Synthetic PW2 shows anticoccidial activity against E. acervulina and Eimeria tenella with very low hemolytic activity. It also displays antifungal activity but no activity against bacteria. We present the solution structure of the PW2 bound to SDS micelles. In the absence of an interface, PW2 is in random coil conformation. In micelles, structural calculation shows that Trp-7 forms the hydrophobic core that is important for the peptide folding. Lys-4, Tyr-6, Trp-8, and Arg-9 are in the same surface, possibly facing the micelle interface. This possibility was supported by the fact that chemical shift differences for these residues were more pronounced when compared with PW2 in water and in SDS. PW2 gains structure upon binding to SDS micelles. Lys-4, Tyr-6, Trp-8, and Arg-9 were found to bind to the micelle. Trp-7, Trp-8, and Arg-9 composed the WW+ consensus found in the sequence of the peptides selected with the phage display technique against E. acervulina sporozoites. This suggested that Trp-7, Trp-8, and Arg-9 are probably key residues not only for the peptide interaction with SDS micelles but also for the interaction with E. acervulina sporozoites surface.

Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro Tecnológico. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia Civil