Case report: Cyclophosphamide pulse therapy for chronic recalcitrant erythema nodosum leprosum

Chronic recalcitrant erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) or type 2 reaction (T2R) is a severe condition found in approximately 50% of multibacillary leprosy subjects. T2R is associated with important morbidities and may lead to several disabilities, not only due to nerve damage but also due to the prolonged use of corticosteroids, thalidomide, or immunosuppressors. We describe here four leprosy patients with chronic recalcitrant ENL treated with cyclophosphamide pulse therapy. All subjects had been on prednisone and thalidomide therapy for at least 30 months but showed inflammatory activity when doses were reduced. Pulse therapy with 1.0 g of cyclophosphamide was used every 4–6 weeks for a minimum of three applications. After pulse therapy, all cases presented total or partial regression of symptoms, and we were able to taper thalidomide and prednisone doses, with better control of ENL, avoiding further hospital admissions and disabilities. No side effects were observed during or after infusion therapy. Cyclophosphamide pulse therapy may be useful and safe to control chronic recalcitrant ENL

PIBID Química/UESC: Uma perspectiva de ensino e aprendizagem por meio da Situação de Estudo “Nutrição Consciente”

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Chuva Ácida: a abordagem temática em um curso técnico de Biotecnologia

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Nanostructured Systems Containing Rutin: In Vitro Antioxidant Activity and Photostability Studies

The improvement of the rutin photostability and its prolonged in vitro antioxidant activity were studied by means of its association with nanostructured aqueous dispersions. Rutin-loaded nanocapsules and rutin-loaded nanoemulsion showed mean particle size of 124.30 ± 2.06 and 124.17 ± 1.79, respectively, polydispersity index below 0.20, negative zeta potential, and encapsulation efficiency close to 100%. The in vitro antioxidant activity was evaluated by the formation of free radical ·OH after the exposure of hydrogen peroxide to a UV irradiation system. Rutin-loaded nanostructures showed lower rutin decay rates [(6.1 ± 0.6) 10−3 and (5.1 ± 0.4) 10−3 for nanocapsules and nanoemulsion, respectively] compared to the ethanolic solution [(35.0 ± 3.7) 10−3 min−1] and exposed solution [(40.1 ± 1.7) 10−3 min−1] as well as compared to exposed nanostructured dispersions [(19.5 ± 0.5) 10−3 and (26.6 ± 2.6) 10−3, for nanocapsules and nanoemulsion, respectively]. The presence of the polymeric layer in nanocapsules was fundamental to obtain a prolonged antioxidant activity, even if the mathematical modeling of the in vitro release profiles showed high adsorption of rutin to the particle/droplet surface for both formulations. Rutin-loaded nanostructures represent alternatives to the development of innovative nanomedicines

Significant genetic differentiation among populations of Anomalocardia brasiliana (Gmelin, 1791): A bivalve with planktonic larval dispersion

Four Brazilian populations of Anomalocardia brasiliana were tested for mutual genetic homogeneity, using data from 123 sequences of the mtDNA cytochrome oxidase c subunit I gene. A total of 36 haplotypes were identified, those shared being H3 (Canela Island, Prainha and Acupe) and both H5 and H9 (Prainha and Acupe). Haplotype diversity values were high, except for the Camurupim population, whereas nucleotide values were low in all the populations, except for that of Acupe. Only the Prainha population showed a deviation from neutrality and the SSD test did not reject the demographic expansion hypothesis. Fst values showed that the Prainha and Acupe populations represent a single stock, whereas in both the Canela Island and Camurupim stocks, population structures are different and independent. The observed structure at Canela Island may be due to the geographic distance between this population and the remainder. The Camurupim population does not share any haplotype with the remaining populations in northeastern Brazil. The apparent isolation could be due to the rocky barrier located facing the mouth of the Mamanguape River. The results highlight the importance of wide-scale studies to identify and conserve local genetic diversity, especially where migration is restricted