Atividade antioxidante in vitro de plantas medicinais da Amazônia Ocidental.

Dissertação apresentada ao Programa de Pós- Graduação: Mestrado em Desenvolvimento Regional e Meio Ambiente (PGDRA) da Fundação Universidade Federal de Rondônia (UNIR) como requisito final para a obtenção do título de Mestre em Desenvolvimento Regional e Meio Ambiente. Orientadora: Profa. Dra. Mariangela Soares de Azevedo.O presente trabalho procurou avaliar a atividade antioxidante do extrato etanólico e das frações, de plantas encontradas na Amazônia Ocidental. As plantas testadas para a atividade antioxidante foram: Bertholletia excelsa, Eleutherine bulbosa, Piper obliquum, Protium subserratum e Protium trifoliolatum. Atualmente há muitos estudos voltados a inibição dos radicais livres, estes são muitos importantes devidos as várias doenças relacionadas à estes. O método utilizado para essa avaliação foi o de sequestro do radical livre DPPH (2,2-difenil-1-pricril-hidrazil). O DPPH em solução apresenta uma coloração roxa e ao reagir com um antioxidante perde essa coloração e ganha uma cor amarelada. Foi utilizada a técnica da espectroscopia de absorção na região de UV-Visível para a realização da leitura das amostras, obtendo-se assim as porcentagens da atividade antioxidante das mesmas, em variadas concentrações. Os resultados foram apresentados na forma de porcentagem e índice de inibição do radical livre DDPH (EC50). As plantas Piper obliquum, Protium subserratum, Protium trifoliolatum e casca da Bertholletia excelsa apresentaram valores de inibição do DPPH menores ou aproximados quando comparados com os resultados do padrão utilizado Ginkgo biloba, exceto as frações clorofórmio dessas plantas que apresentaram altos valores de EC50. As plantas Eleutherine bulbosa e ouriço da Bertholletia excelsa não apresentaram valores expressivos

Uma análise dos precedimentos técnicos sob a ótica da legislação ambiental e a gestão das qualidade nos postos de revendedores de combustível em Porto Velho-RO

Dissertação de Mestrado apresentado ao Programa de Mestrado em Desenvolvimento Regional e Meio Ambiente da Universidade Federal de Rondônia – UNIR, como requisito para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Desenvolvimento Regional e Meio Ambiente. Orientadora: Dra. Mariangela Soares de AzevedoO presente trabalho procurou avaliar os aspectos normativos que envolvem as questões ambientais nos postos revendedores de combustíveis (PRCs) com foco na gestão da qualidade. A resolução CONAMA nº 273/2000, foi essencial para balizar a construção do questionário de campo. O método desenvolvido para aplicação dos questionários associado a entrevistas e visitas in loco em todos os postos de revenda de combustíveis na área urbana do Município de Porto Velho/RO possibilitou a obtenção de resultados consistentes com a realidade física e operacional desses postos. Os dados obtidos foram submetidos a tratamento estatístico visando mensurar os postos que já atendem a resolução, assim como aqueles que ainda não se adequaram as normas estabelecidas pela mesma. Foi observado que existe uma tendência crescente de adequação a resolução supracitada por parte de alguns empresários do ramo. Porém, foi possível diagnosticar um número expressivo dos postos apresentando inconformidade com base na mesma resolução e demais normatizações que doutrinam essa matéria, o que faz com que esses empreendimentos tornem potenciais agentes de contaminação ambiental, comprometendo principalmente o solo e aqüíferos. Apesar dessas irregularidades identificadas nos postos, foi possível perceber que essas não impedem o seu funcionamento, pois todos os postos que apresentaram algum tipo de não conformidade ambiental relevante continuam operando de forma regular no mercado. Portanto, caso haja autuações e/ou multas por parte dos órgãos ambientais responsáveis pela fiscalização desses empreendimentos, essas ações não consolidam efetivamente na correção dessas irregularidades. É possível afirmar que os PRCs, em sua maioria são agentes passíveis de contaminação e tem representado risco para saúde da comunidade, principalmente por falhas na gestão dos resíduos produzidos, estrutura física, aliado a um sistema de caráter ainda ineficiente no gerenciamento de recursos hídricos

Contaminação de aqüífero por hidrocarbonetos: estudo de caso na Vila Tupi, Porto Velho - Rondônia

Underground storage tanks (UST) are widely used in the Porto Velho area. A large number of these USTs are in bad condition due to corrosion processes causing groundwater contamination. A large number of these leaking underground fuel tanks (LUFT) are in urban areas but due to the lack of water quality monitoring, they are only detected when there is a high contamination level. This study identified petroleum hydrocarbons, derived from a LUFT, by a silica gel/petroleum ether partitioning gravimetric method and by gas chromatographic analysis of samples collected in wells dug in a gas station and in houses in the aforementioned neighborhood

Sensory evaluation of gluten-free chicken pasty made with cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz)

Celiac disease is a condition in which genetically predisposed people have an autoimmune reaction to gluten proteins found mainly in wheat. Celiac disease patients have few and expensive options of gluten-free food products. The aim of this study was to produce a gluten-free alternative to the wheat chicken pasty, a food largely consumed in South American countries. The main ingredient used for the elaboration of gluten-free pasty was cassava, a cheap and quite available raw ingredient, which after cooked results in a soft mass. This product was compared to the traditional wheat version by means of a sensory analysis, considering general aspects, consistency, flavor and aroma, and also a comparison of the production costs of the two products. General aspects, flavor and aroma did not differ significantly between the two products. Consistency was the only characteristic that differed significantly between them, the evaluation being more favorable to the cassava pasty. These results validate the gluten-free product regarding its sensory acceptability. The cost of production of the gluten-free product was lower than that of the traditional one. This product can be a cheap and attractive alternative for celiac disease patients

Profile of patients with rheumatic diseases undergoing treatment with anti-TNF agents in the Brazilian Public Health System (SUS), Belo Horizonte - MG

The aim of this study was to describe the baseline demographic and clinical characteristics as well as the functional status of a prospective cohort of patients with rheumatic diseases assisted by the Brazilian Public Health System (SUS). Data for 302 patients receiving tumor necrosis factor α inhibitors (anti-TNF agents) was collected through a standard form. Among patients, 229 (75.8%) were female and 155 (51.3%) were Caucasian; the mean age was 50.3 ± 12.8 years, and the mean disease duration was 9.9 ± 8.7 years. Among them 214 patients (70.9%) received adalimumab, 72 (23.8%) etanercept, and 16 (5.3%) infliximab. Mean Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI) was 1.37 ± 0.67 for all participants. Poor functional response was associated with female gender, married patients and with a score of < 0.6 on the EuroQoL-5 dimensions (EQ-5D). Significant correlation was found between the HAQ-DI values, disease activity and quality of life (QOL). The results obtained in this study contribute to a better understanding of the clinical and demographic characteristics of patients with rheumatic diseases at the beginning of anti-TNF-agent treatment by SUS. Furthermore, our findings are consistent with another Brazilian and foreign cross-sectional investigations. This knowledge can be of great importance for further studies evaluating the effectiveness of biological agents, as well as, to contribute to improve the well-being of the patients with rheumatic diseases

The complete genome sequence of Chromobacterium violaceum reveals remarkable and exploitable bacterial adaptability

Chromobacterium violaceum is one of millions of species of free-living microorganisms that populate the soil and water in the extant areas of tropical biodiversity around the world. Its complete genome sequence reveals (i) extensive alternative pathways for energy generation, (ii) ≈500 ORFs for transport-related proteins, (iii) complex and extensive systems for stress adaptation and motility, and (iv) wide-spread utilization of quorum sensing for control of inducible systems, all of which underpin the versatility and adaptability of the organism. The genome also contains extensive but incomplete arrays of ORFs coding for proteins associated with mammalian pathogenicity, possibly involved in the occasional but often fatal cases of human C. violaceum infection. There is, in addition, a series of previously unknown but important enzymes and secondary metabolites including paraquat-inducible proteins, drug and heavy-metal-resistance proteins, multiple chitinases, and proteins for the detoxification of xenobiotics that may have biotechnological applications

The Genome of Anopheles darlingi, the main neotropical malaria vector

Anopheles darlingi is the principal neotropical malaria vector, responsible for more than a million cases of malaria per year on the American continent. Anopheles darlingi diverged from the African and Asian malaria vectors ∼100 million years ago (mya) and successfully adapted to the New World environment. Here we present an annotated reference A. darlingi genome, sequenced from a wild population of males and females collected in the Brazilian Amazon. A total of 10 481 predicted protein-coding genes were annotated, 72% of which have their closest counterpart in Anopheles gambiae and 21% have highest similarity with other mosquito species. In spite of a long period of divergent evolution, conserved gene synteny was observed between A. darlingi and A. gambiae. More than 10 million single nucleotide polymorphisms and short indels with potential use as genetic markers were identified. Transposable elements correspond to 2.3% of the A. darlingi genome. Genes associated with hematophagy, immunity and insecticide resistance, directly involved in vectorhuman and vectorparasite interactions, were identified and discussed. This study represents the first effort to sequence the genome of a neotropical malaria vector, and opens a new window through which we can contemplate the evolutionary history of anopheline mosquitoes. It also provides valuable information that may lead to novel strategies to reduce malaria transmission on the South American continent. The A. darlingi genome is accessible at www.labinfo.lncc.br/index.php/anopheles- darlingi. © 2013 The Author(s)

Development and characterisation of polymeric microparticle of poly(d,l-lactic acid) loaded with holmium acetylacetonate

CNPQ - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOBiodegradable polymers containing radioactive isotopes such as Holmium 166 (166Ho) have potential applications as beta particle emitters in tumour tissues. It is also a gamma ray emitter, allowing nuclear imaging of any tissue to be acquired. It is freque353281291CNPQ - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOCNPQ - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO550598/2010–3310227/2010–0381405/2011–7111795/2011–