Bioassays for detecting residues of fungitoxic compounds through bioautography, bioelectrophoresis and thin-laver diffusion

Comparou-se a técnica de bioautografia em camada fina com bioeletroforese e difusão em camada fina na detecção de resíduos de fungicidas, tendo como fungo-teste, o Thielaviopsis paradoxa. O método de bioeletroforese e a técnica de difusão em camada fina modificada são descritos e utilizados pela primeira vez. Os métodos foram comparados em bioensaios empregando-se os fungicidas mancozeb, captafol, benomil e triadimefon em diferentes concentrações. As concentrações mínimas detectadas não variaram com as técnicas utilizadas, mas sim com os fungicidas. Obtiveram-se concentrações mínimas de 0,04, 0,06, 1,25 e 1,90 ppm para benomil, captafol, triadimefon e mancozeb, respectivamente. A técnica de bioeletroforese proporcionou maior zona de inibição do fungo-teste quando se empregou alta concentração de fungicidas. A técnica de difusão em camada fina, por não demandar aparelhagem sofisticada, foi tão eficiente como a bioautografia, constituindo-se em método simples e rápido para a detecção e avaliação de resíduos de compostos fungitóxicos.The bioautographic technique on thin-layer chromatograms was compared to bioelectrophoresis and thin-layer diffusion for detecting fungitoxic compound by using Thielaviopsis paradoxa as test fungus. The bioelectrophoresis and thin-layer diffusion methods were described and employed for the first time. The methods were illustrated by bioassaying the fungicides mancozeb, captafol, benomyl and triadimefon in different concentrations. The minimum concentration of fungitoxic compounds detected was the same for three techniques employed, but it did vary with the fungicides. The minimum concentrations detected of benomyl, captafol, triadimefon and mancozeb were 0.04, 0.06, 1.25 and 1.90 ppm, respectively. The bioelectrophoresis technique gave the highest inhibition zone of the test fungus by using higher concentrations of the fungicides. The thin-layer diffusion technique may be of great value, because it is a simple, rapid, sensitive as the bioautographic technique on the detection of fungitoxic compounds

Correlação do Escore de Oxford Modificado com as Medidas Perineométricas em Pacientes Incontinentes

Introdução: diversas técnicas foram propostas para avaliação da musculatura do assoalho pélvico, porém, nenhum método mostrou-se capaz de medir as duas funções desses músculos: elevação e força de compressão. Na rotina de avaliação clínica é comumente empregada a palpação vaginal e, especialmente, o escore de Oxford modificado; entretanto, alguns trabalhos questionam a sensibilidade da escala de Oxford e sua correlação com medidas objetivas de força de contração muscular.Objetivo: neste estudo, propõe-se correlacionar as variáveis medidas na perineometria com o escore de Oxford modificado.Métodos: foram incluídas no estudo 45 pacientes com incontinência urinária que procuraram o ambulatório de Uroginecologia do Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre. As pacientes foram submetidas à palpação vaginal, realizada por uma fisioterapeuta treinada na escala de Oxford, e a medição da força de compressão da musculatura pélvica por meio de balonete conectado a transdutor de pressão. As duas avaliações foram realizadas no mesmo dia.  Resultados: encontrou-se correlação significativa (

Correlation between the modified oxford scale and perineometry measurements in incontinent patients

Introdução: Diversas técnicas foram propostas para avaliação da musculatura do assoalho pélvico, porém, nenhum método mostrou-se capaz de medir as duas funções desses músculos: elevação e força de compressão. Na rotina de avaliação clínica é comumente empregada a palpação vaginal e, especialmente, o escore de Oxford modificado; entretanto, alguns trabalhos questionam a sensibilidade da escala de Oxford e sua correlação com medidas objetivas de força de contração muscular. Objetivo: Neste estudo, propõe-se correlacionar as variáveis medidas na perineometria com o escore de Oxford modificado. Métodos: Foram incluídas no estudo 45 pacientes com incontinência urinária que procuraram o ambulatório de Uroginecologia do Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre. As pacientes foram submetidas à palpação vaginal, realizada por uma fisioterapeuta treinada na escala de Oxford, e a medição da força de compressão da musculatura pélvica por meio de balonete conectado a transdutor de pressão. As duas avaliações foram realizadas no mesmo dia. Resultados: Encontrou-se correlação significativa (P <0,001) entre o escore de Oxford e as variáveis pressão máxima de contração e tempo de ativação muscular com coeficientes de Pearson de 0,69 e -0,532, respectivamente. Contudo, observa- se uma superposição entre as medidas perineométricas e do escore de Oxford entre categorias adjacentes. Conclusões: Os resultados mostram que apesar de estar incorporada a rotina clínica de avaliação, deve haver restrições quanto ao uso do escala de Oxford com propósitos científicos.Background: Several techniques have been proposed for the assessment of pelvic floor muscles; however, none of them were able to measure the two main functions of these muscles: lifting and compressive force. Vaginal palpation and especially the Modified Oxford Scale (MOS) are frequently used during routine clinical evaluation, but some studies have questioned the sensitivity of the MOS and its correlation with objective measurements of muscle contraction force. Aim: The objective of this study is to correlate perineometry measurements with the MOS. Methods: Forty-five patients with urinary incontinence treated at the Urogynecology Outpatient Clinic of Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre were included. The patients were submitted to vaginal palpation performed by a physical therapist trained in the MOS. The compression force of their pelvic muscles was measured by means of an air-filled ballonet connected to a pressure transducer. Both tests were carried out on the same day. Results: We found significant correlation (P <0.001) between the MOS and the variables maximum contraction pressure and muscular activation time with Pearson's coefficients of 0.69 and -0.532, respectively. However, we found overlapping results between the perineomtry measurements and the MOS scores in neighboring categories. Conclusions: These findings show that, although incorporated into routine clinical evaluation, there should be restrictions to the use of the MOS for scientific purposes

Protective Effect of Baccharis trimera Extract on Acute Hepatic Injury in a Model of Inflammation Induced by Acetaminophen

Background. Acetaminophen (APAP) is a commonly used analgesic and antipyretic. When administered in high doses, APAP is a clinical problem in the US and Europe, often resulting in severe liver injury and potentially acute liver failure. Studies have demonstrated that antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents effectively protect against the acute hepatotoxicity induced by APAP overdose. Methods. The present study attempted to investigate the protective effect of B. trimera against APAP-induced hepatic damage in rats. The liver-function markers ALT and AST, biomarkers of oxidative stress, antioxidant parameters, and histopathological changes were examined. Results. The pretreatment with B. trimera attenuated serum activities of ALT and AST that were enhanced by administration of APAP. Furthermore, pretreatment with the extract decreases the activity of the enzyme SOD and increases the activity of catalase and the concentration of total glutathione. Histopathological analysis confirmed the alleviation of liver damage and reduced lesions caused by APAP. Conclusions. The hepatoprotective action of B. trimera extract may rely on its effect on reducing the oxidative stress caused by APAP-induced hepatic damage in a rat model. General Significance. These results make the extract of B. trimera a potential candidate drug capable of protecting the liver against damage caused by APAP overdose

Eficiência da colagem em madeira de kiri japonês (Paulownia tomentosa)

The collage on pieces of wood using adhesives has been performed since the Pharaoh era. Over the years, technologies have been developed especially for adhesives and different species of wood, adapting to the desired diverse uses. In this context we can also infer the methods of analysis and its efficiency. The aim of this study was to evaluate the resistance in the glue-line by using adhesives in Paulownia tomentosa wood (Japanese kiri). The bonded joints were prepared with resorcinol formaldehyde and melamine urea formaldehyde adhesives. The wood-adhesive interface was evaluated by means of the thickness of the main and secondary glue-lines using photomicrographs, shear strength, and percentage of wood imperfections. The adhesives presented non-uniform behavior in the glue-line. It was possible to observe that the adhesives penetrated in the wood anatomical structures (elements of vessels and rays). The resorcinol formaldehyde adhesive had higher penetration values. The kiri wood imperfection percentage was greater than 92%, independent of the adhesive. The high efficiency observed in bonding with both adhesives allows the use of wood of Paulownia tomentosa in Brazil for furniture and civil construction.A colagem em peças de madeira por meio de adesivos é realizada desde a época dos faraós. Com o passar dos anos as tecnologias foram desenvolvidas sobretudo nos adesivos e nas diferentes espécies madeireiras existentes, adaptando-se aos diversos usos pretendidos. Neste contexto também se pode inferir sobre os métodos de análises de sua eficácia. O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar a resistência na linha de cola mediante o uso de dois adesivos em madeira de Paulownia tomentosa (kiri japonês). As juntas coladas foram preparadas com adesivos resorcinol formaldeído e melamina ureia formaldeído. Avaliou-se a interface madeira-adesivo por meio da espessura da linha de cola principal e secundária com uso de fotomicrografias, resistência ao cisalhamento e percentagem de falha na madeira. Os adesivos apresentaram comportamento desuniforme ao longo da linha da cola. O adesivo resorcinol formaldeído penetrou de forma mais incisiva nos elementos de vasos e raios. A madeira de kiri apresentou percentual de falha superior a 92%, independente do adesivo. A eficiência na colagem com ambos adesivos testados possibilita o uso da madeira de Paulownia tomentosa no Brasil em movelaria e construção civil

Post-intervention Status in Patients With Refractory Myasthenia Gravis Treated With Eculizumab During REGAIN and Its Open-Label Extension

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether eculizumab helps patients with anti-acetylcholine receptor-positive (AChR+) refractory generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) achieve the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) post-intervention status of minimal manifestations (MM), we assessed patients' status throughout REGAIN (Safety and Efficacy of Eculizumab in AChR+ Refractory Generalized Myasthenia Gravis) and its open-label extension. METHODS: Patients who completed the REGAIN randomized controlled trial and continued into the open-label extension were included in this tertiary endpoint analysis. Patients were assessed for the MGFA post-intervention status of improved, unchanged, worse, MM, and pharmacologic remission at defined time points during REGAIN and through week 130 of the open-label study. RESULTS: A total of 117 patients completed REGAIN and continued into the open-label study (eculizumab/eculizumab: 56; placebo/eculizumab: 61). At week 26 of REGAIN, more eculizumab-treated patients than placebo-treated patients achieved a status of improved (60.7% vs 41.7%) or MM (25.0% vs 13.3%; common OR: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.1-4.5). After 130 weeks of eculizumab treatment, 88.0% of patients achieved improved status and 57.3% of patients achieved MM status. The safety profile of eculizumab was consistent with its known profile and no new safety signals were detected. CONCLUSION: Eculizumab led to rapid and sustained achievement of MM in patients with AChR+ refractory gMG. These findings support the use of eculizumab in this previously difficult-to-treat patient population. CLINICALTRIALSGOV IDENTIFIER: REGAIN, NCT01997229; REGAIN open-label extension, NCT02301624. CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE: This study provides Class II evidence that, after 26 weeks of eculizumab treatment, 25.0% of adults with AChR+ refractory gMG achieved MM, compared with 13.3% who received placebo

Minimal Symptom Expression' in Patients With Acetylcholine Receptor Antibody-Positive Refractory Generalized Myasthenia Gravis Treated With Eculizumab

The efficacy and tolerability of eculizumab were assessed in REGAIN, a 26-week, phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody-positive (AChR+) refractory generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG), and its open-label extension