Purification of antileukemic drugs through silica-based supported ionic liquids

L-asparaginase (LA) is an enzyme used as a biopharmaceutical for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. LA can be produced via fermentation and its purification usually comprises several steps including precipitation, liquid-liquid extraction and chromatography techniques. Among these, ion exchange chromatography, which is often preceded by precipitation with salts as a first pre-chromatographic step, is the most used. However, theses common strategies for protein purification result in low yields and purity, requiring long processing times, while leading to a consequent increase of the process costs. Therefore, the demand for new cost-effective production/purification processes play now a priority role. This work aims the development of cost-effective technologies to purify LA from the complex fermentation medium from Bacillus Subtillis. Silica-based supported ionic liquids (SILs) are investigated as cost-effective purification materials for the target enzyme. The concentration of the extract from the fermentation, material/ extract from fermentation ratio and contact time effects in the purity and yield of LA were optimized. With this strategy, process costs, energy consumed, and waste generated, may be significantly decreased, which may lead to this biopharmaceutical price decrease and wider application.publishe

Purification of antileukemic drugs through silica-based supported ionic liquids

L-asparaginase (LA) is an enzyme used as a biopharmaceutical for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. LA can be produced via fermentation and its purification usually comprises ion exchange chromatography, which is often preceded by precipitation with salts as a first pre-chromatographic step. However, this purification strategy result in low yields and purity, requires long processing times, while leading to a consequent increase of the process costs. Therefore, the demand for new cost-effective purification processes play now a priority role. In this work silica-based supported ionic liquids (SILs) are investigated as an alternative technology to purify LA from the complex fermentation medium from Bacillus subtillis. The concentration of the extract from the fermentation, material/ extract from fermentation ratio and contact time effects in the purity and yield of LA were optimized. With this strategy, process costs, energy consumed, and waste generated, may be significantly decreased, which may lead to this biopharmaceutical price decrease and wider application.publishe

Global burden of chronic respiratory diseases and risk factors, 1990–2019: an update from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background: Updated data on chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) are vital in their prevention, control, and treatment in the path to achieving the third UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a one-third reduction in premature mortality from non-communicable diseases by 2030. We provided global, regional, and national estimates of the burden of CRDs and their attributable risks from 1990 to 2019. Methods: Using data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019, we estimated mortality, years lived with disability, years of life lost, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), prevalence, and incidence of CRDs, i.e. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, pneumoconiosis, interstitial lung disease and pulmonary sarcoidosis, and other CRDs, from 1990 to 2019 by sex, age, region, and Socio-demographic Index (SDI) in 204 countries and territories. Deaths and DALYs from CRDs attributable to each risk factor were estimated according to relative risks, risk exposure, and the theoretical minimum risk exposure level input. Findings: In 2019, CRDs were the third leading cause of death responsible for 4.0 million deaths (95% uncertainty interval 3.6–4.3) with a prevalence of 454.6 million cases (417.4–499.1) globally. While the total deaths and prevalence of CRDs have increased by 28.5% and 39.8%, the age-standardised rates have dropped by 41.7% and 16.9% from 1990 to 2019, respectively. COPD, with 212.3 million (200.4–225.1) prevalent cases, was the primary cause of deaths from CRDs, accounting for 3.3 million (2.9–3.6) deaths. With 262.4 million (224.1–309.5) prevalent cases, asthma had the highest prevalence among CRDs. The age-standardised rates of all burden measures of COPD, asthma, and pneumoconiosis have reduced globally from 1990 to 2019. Nevertheless, the age-standardised rates of incidence and prevalence of interstitial lung disease and pulmonary sarcoidosis have increased throughout this period. Low- and low-middle SDI countries had the highest age-standardised death and DALYs rates while the high SDI quintile had the highest prevalence rate of CRDs. The highest deaths and DALYs from CRDs were attributed to smoking globally, followed by air pollution and occupational risks. Non-optimal temperature and high body-mass index were additional risk factors for COPD and asthma, respectively. Interpretation: Albeit the age-standardised prevalence, death, and DALYs rates of CRDs have decreased, they still cause a substantial burden and deaths worldwide. The high death and DALYs rates in low and low-middle SDI countries highlights the urgent need for improved preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic measures. Global strategies for tobacco control, enhancing air quality, reducing occupational hazards, and fostering clean cooking fuels are crucial steps in reducing the burden of CRDs, especially in low- and lower-middle income countries

The PREDICTS database: a global database of how local terrestrial biodiversity responds to human impacts

Biodiversity continues to decline in the face of increasing anthropogenic pressures such as habitat destruction, exploitation, pollution and introduction of alien species. Existing global databases of species’ threat status or population time series are dominated by charismatic species. The collation of datasets with broad taxonomic and biogeographic extents, and that support computation of a range of biodiversity indicators, is necessary to enable better understanding of historical declines and to project – and avert – future declines. We describe and assess a new database of more than 1.6 million samples from 78 countries representing over 28,000 species, collated from existing spatial comparisons of local-scale biodiversity exposed to different intensities and types of anthropogenic pressures, from terrestrial sites around the world. The database contains measurements taken in 208 (of 814) ecoregions, 13 (of 14) biomes, 25 (of 35) biodiversity hotspots and 16 (of 17) megadiverse countries. The database contains more than 1% of the total number of all species described, and more than 1% of the described species within many taxonomic groups – including flowering plants, gymnosperms, birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, beetles, lepidopterans and hymenopterans. The dataset, which is still being added to, is therefore already considerably larger and more representative than those used by previous quantitative models of biodiversity trends and responses. The database is being assembled as part of the PREDICTS project (Projecting Responses of Ecological Diversity In Changing Terrestrial Systems – www.predicts.org.uk). We make site-level summary data available alongside this article. The full database will be publicly available in 2015

Estudo da adequabilidade dos EPI às tarefas associadas à produção de resinas que envolvem a manipulação de produtos químicos

A Bresfor - Indústria do Formol S.A, é uma empresa do setor químico pertencente ao grupo Finsa – Financiera Maderera, S.A. O presente trabalho foi realizado na Bresfor, conhecida por ser produtora de formaldeído, concentrado de ureia-formaldeído, resinas, AdBlue e soluções aquosas de ureia, vendendo também metanol e ureia sólida. Desta forma, algumas das matérias-primas, matérias subsidiárias e produtos finais produzidos pela Bresfor são classificados como perigosos para a saúde humana e/ou para o ambiente. Assim, o trabalho realizado na empresa partiu da necessidade da Bresfor em possuir uma metodologia para avaliação de risco químico no processo de produção de resinas, uma vez que as metodologias implementadas se revelaram ineficientes. O procedimento proposto para chegar à avaliação de riscos permitiu reconhecer e analisar os riscos químicos no processo de produção de resinas pois tem em conta o acompanhamento dos trabalhadores nas variadas tarefas e também analisa a perigosidade das substâncias presentes, e os perigos associados ao seu manuseamento e contacto. Assim, tornou-se possível fazer uma avaliação de riscos mais coerente, tendo sido estudados três metodologias: método da matriz (método em vigor), método William T. Fine e método NTP30. Concluiu-se que o método NTP30 é o que se adequa melhor às necessidades e realidade da Bresfor, revelando eficácia em distinguir corretamente os riscos associados a cada tarefa, e tal foi possível validar pois todas as tarefas foram acompanhadas. Seguidamente tornou-se possível reconhecer as medidas de proteção mais adequadas, nomeadamente a nível de Equipamentos de Proteção Individual (EPI) estudando cada um desses produtos químicos e tarefas associadas. Na escolha dos EPI foram tidas em consideração as características necessárias para proteger contra todos os produtos químicos que haja possível contacto, mas também foi tida em conta a opinião dos trabalhadores para levar a uma maior aceitação do uso dos EPI. Conclui-se que foi um trabalho bem sucedido pois de agora em diante a Bresfor vai poder aplicar o procedimento e o método proposto em todos os processos produtivos da instalação e seguir o mesmo raciocínio para a adequação dos EPI.Bresfor - Indústria do Formol S.A. is a chemical company belonging to the Finsa Group - Financiera Maderera, S.A. This study was conducted at Bresfor, known for being a producer of formaldehyde, urea-formaldehyde concentrate, resins, AdBlue, and aqueous urea solutions. They also sell methanol and solid urea. Therefore, some of the raw materials, subsidiary materials, and final products produced by Bresfor are classified as hazardous to human health and/or the environment. As a result, the work carried out in the company arose from the need for Bresfor to have a methodology for chemical risk assessment in the resin production process since the implemented methodologies proved to be ineffective. The proposed procedure for risk assessment allowed for the recognition and analysis of chemical risks in the resin production process by considering the workers' involvement in various tasks and analyzing the hazardous nature of the substances present, as well as the dangers associated with their handling and contact. Thus, it became possible to conduct a more coherent risk assessment, and three methodologies were studied: the matrix method (current method), the William T. Fine method, and the NTP30 method. It was concluded that the NTP30 method is the most suitable for the needs and reality of Bresfor, proving to be effective in accurately identifying the risks associated with each task, which was validated by observing all the tasks. Subsequently, it became possible to recognize the most appropriate protective measures, particularly in terms of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), by studying each of these chemicals and their associated tasks. When choosing PPE, the necessary characteristics to protect against all potentially contacted chemicals were taken into consideration, and the workers' opinions were also considered to increase acceptance of PPE usage. It can be concluded that it was a successful work because from now on, Bresfor will be able to apply the proposed procedure and method in all production processes at the facility and follow the same reasoning for the adequacy of PPE.Mestrado em Biotecnologi

The database of the PREDICTS (Projecting Responses of Ecological Diversity In Changing Terrestrial Systems) project

The PREDICTS project—Projecting Responses of Ecological Diversity In Changing Terrestrial Systems (www.predicts.org.uk)—has collated from published studies a large, reasonably representative database of comparable samples of biodiversity from multiple sites that differ in the nature or intensity of human impacts relating to land use. We have used this evidence base to develop global and regional statistical models of how local biodiversity responds to these measures. We describe and make freely available this 2016 release of the database, containing more than 3.2 million records sampled at over 26,000 locations and representing over 47,000 species. We outline how the database can help in answering a range of questions in ecology and conservation biology. To our knowledge, this is the largest and most geographically and taxonomically representative database of spatial comparisons of biodiversity that has been collated to date; it will be useful to researchers and international efforts wishing to model and understand the global status of biodiversity

Núcleos de Ensino da Unesp: artigos 2008

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq