Lipopolysaccharide-induced expression of cell surface receptors and cell activation of neutrophils and monocytes in whole human blood

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) activates neutrophils and monocytes, inducing a wide array of biological activities. LPS rough (R) and smooth (S) forms signal through Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), but differ in their requirement for CD14. Since the R-form LPS can interact with TLR4 independent of CD14 and the differential expression of CD14 on neutrophils and monocytes, we used the S-form LPS from Salmonella abortus equi and the R-form LPS from Salmonella minnesota mutants to evaluate LPS-induced activation of human neutrophils and monocytes in whole blood from healthy volunteers. Expression of cell surface receptors and reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) generation were measured by flow cytometry in whole blood monocytes and neutrophils. The oxidative burst was quantified by measuring the oxidation of 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate and the NO production was quantified by measuring the oxidation of 4-amino-5-methylamino-2',7'-difluorofluorescein diacetate. A small increase of TLR4 expression by monocytes was observed after 6 h of LPS stimulation. Monocyte CD14 modulation by LPS was biphasic, with an initial 30% increase followed by a 40% decrease in expression after 6 h of incubation. Expression of CD11b was rapidly up-regulated, doubling after 5 min on monocytes, while down-regulation of CXCR2 was observed on neutrophils, reaching a 50% reduction after 6 h. LPS induced low production of ROS and NO. This study shows a complex LPS-induced cell surface receptor modulation on human monocytes and neutrophils, with up- and down-regulation depending on the receptor. R- and S-form LPS activate human neutrophils similarly, despite the low CD14 expression, if the stimulation occurs in whole blood.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Disciplina de InfectologiaMax-Planck-Institute for ImmunobiologyUNIFESP, Disciplina de InfectologiaFAPESP: 2006/58744-1SciEL

Avaliação sócio-ambiental do kit Embrapa de ordenha manual na produção de leite de cabra.

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo fazer uma avaliação dos impactos sócio-ambientais, exante e ex-post, resultante do kit de ordenha manual em produtores da agricultura familiar. O estudo foi realizado em 14 propriedades do município de Monteiro/PB. A avaliação de desempenho sócio-ambiental ocorreu através da aplicação do Sistema de Avaliação de Impacto Ambiental de Inovações Tecnológicas Agropecuárias (Ambitec-Agro), o qual foram aplicados dois módulos: Ambitec-Produção Animal e Ambitec-Social. A adoção do kit gerou impactos sociais e ambientais positivos em todas as propriedades

Sealing Capability and SEM Observation of the Implant-Abutment Interface

To evaluate the sealing capability of external hexagon implant systems and assess the marginal fit, two groups (n = 10 each) were employed: SIN (Sistema de Implantes Nacional, Brazil) and Osseotite, (Biomet 3i, USA). Sealing capability was determined by placing 0.7 μL of 1% acid-red solution in the implant wells before the torque of their respective abutments. Specimens were then placed into 2.5 mL vials filled with 1.3 mL of distilled water with the implant-abutment interface submerged. Three samples of 100 μL water were collected at previously determinate times. The absorbance was measured with a spectrophotometer, and the data were analyzed by Two-way ANOVA (P < .05) and Tukey's test. Marginal fit was determined using SEM. Leakage was observed for both groups at all times and was significantly higher at 144 hrs. SEM analysis depicted gaps in the implant-abutment interface of both groups. Gaps in the implant-abutment interface were observed along with leakage increased at the 144 hrs evaluation period

Distribuição radicular da lima acida Thaiti sob molhamento parcial do sistema radicular.

A produtividade das culturas está diretamente relacionada à quantidade e disponibilidade de água no solo. Segundo (REICHARDT & TIMM, 2004), a água tem um papel importante no que diz respeito ao desenvolvimento das culturas, contudo, somente 1 a 2% da água é absorvida para a dinâmica metabólica e os 98% restantes somente passa pela planta sendo perdida para a transpiração. O método do molhamento parcial do sistema radicular (MPSR) foi concebido para expor parte do sistema radicular à secagem do solo e para produzir o sinal de déficit hídrico, enquanto que as raízes expostas ao solo molhado mantêm o abastecimento de água para que as folhas mantenham-se hidratadas , sendo que a alternância dos lados molhados, e a exposição prolongada das raízes a secagem do solo pode causar alterações anatômicas nas raízes, como suberificação da epiderme, o colapso do córtex, e perda de raízes secundárias (Norte e Nobel, 1991). Dessa forma objetivou-se através da presente pesquisa, avaliar a distribuição do sistema radicular da Lima ácida Tahiti, submetida a déficits de irrigação através do molhamento parcial do sistema radicular.pdf 242

Antibacterial and antiproliferative activities of the fresh leaf essential oil of Psidium guajava L. (Myrtaceae)

This study evaluated the antibacterial and antiproliferative activities of the essential oil of Psidium guajava leaves (PG-EO), traditionally used in folk medicine. The essential oil was obtained from fresh leaves by hydrodistillation, using a modified Clevenger apparatus. The major PG-EO chemical constituents were identified by GC-MS and GC-FID as being β-caryophyllene (16.1%), α-humulene (11.9%), aromadendrene oxide (14.7%), δ-selinene (13.6%), and selin-11-en-4α-ol (12.5%). The antibacterial activity of the essential oil of P. guajava leaves was determined in terms of its minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) using the broth microdilution method in 96-well microplates. PG-EO had moderate activity against Streptococcus mutans (MIC = 200 µg/mL), S. mitis (MIC = 200 µg/mL), S. sanguinis (MIC = 400 µg/mL), S. sobrinus (MIC = 100 µg/mL), and S. salivarius (MIC = 200 µg/mL). The antiproliferative activity was evaluated against different tumor cell lines: breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7), human cervical adenocarcinoma (HeLa), and human gliobastoma (M059J). A normal human cell line (GM07492A, lung fibroblasts) was included. The antiproliferative activity was evaluated using the XTT assay and the results were expressed as IC50. The essential oil showed significantly lower IC50 values against MCF-7 and M059J lines than that obtained for the normal line, showing selectivity. Our results suggest that the essential oil of Psidium guajava L. has promising biological activities and can be considered a new source of bioactive compounds.Este estudo avaliou as atividades antibacteriana e antiproliferativa do óleo essencial das folhas frescas de Psidium guajava (PG-OE), tradicionalmente utilizadas na medicina popular. O óleo essencial foi obtido por hidrodestilação das folhas frescas, utilizando aparelho do tipo Clevenger. Os principais constituintes químicos de PG-OE identificados por CG-EM e CG-DIC foram: β-cariofileno (16,1%), α-humuleno (11,9%), óxido de aromadendreno (14,7%), δ-selineno (13,6%) e selin-11-en-4α-ol (12,5%). A atividade antibacteriana do óleo essencial das folhas de P. guajava foi determinada em termo de sua concentração inibitória mínima (CIM) utilizando o método de microdiluição de caldo em microplacas de 96 poços. PG-OE apresentou moderada atividade contra Streptococcus mutans (CIM = 200 μg/mL), S. mitis (CIM = 200 μg/mL), S. sanguinis (CIM = 400 μg/mL), S. sobrinus (CIM = 100 μg/mL) e S. salivarius (CIM = 200 μg/mL). A atividade antiproliferativa foi avaliada frente a diferentes linhagens de células tumorais como: adenocarcinoma de mama (MCF-7), adenocarcinoma cervical humano (HeLa) e gliobastoma humano (M059J). Foi incluída uma linhagem celular humana normal (GM07492A, fibroblastos pulmonares). A atividade antiproliferativa foi avaliada utilizando o ensaio XTT e os resultados foram expressos como CI50. As linhagens MCF-7 e M059J mostraram valores significativamente mais baixos de CI50 do que os obtidos para a linhagem normal, mostrando seletividade. Nossos resultados sugerem que o óleo essencial das folhas frescas de Psidium guajava L. possui atividades biológicas promissoras e pode ser considerado como uma nova fonte de compostos bioativos

Waste sorting social technology in Brazilian informal Materials Recovery Facilities

It is commonly accepted that the recycling and reuse of solid waste materials in developing countries has the potential to create many social, environmental and financial benefits. Given that the majority of recycling in these locations is carried out informally by waste pickers, it is also recognised that their inclusion into formal service provision could be the most efficient way of maintaining and increasing the recycling rates of a city. In the absence of sophisticated equipment, the informal recycling sector (IRS) has developed a wealth of self-taught knowledge and skills for manually identifying and processing waste materials. Using primary and secondary data gathered from a materials recovery facility (MRF) in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, this study describes the so called ‘social technology’ techniques used to sort municipal waste materials by a cooperative of informal sector recycling workers. This involves identifying and separating 17types of plastic polymers by visual and tactile sorting skills. The methods presented are compared and contrasted with manual sorting techniques used mainly in the near past in the UK. To conclude, the study discusses whether these techniques provide a viable method for increasing recycling rates at scale in the Global South

Atividade antinociceptiva e estudo toxicológico de extrato aquoso de Egletes viscosa Lessa (Asteraceae)

Egletes viscosa Less (Asteraceae), popularmente conhecida como "macela" ou "macela-da-terra", é uma planta largamente usada na medicina popular devido as suas propriedades: anti-inflamatória, bactericida, antidiarréica, mio-relaxante, anti-espasmódica, antinociceptiva, digestiva e anti-viral. Análise fitoquímica do extrato aquoso da Egletes viscosa (AEEV) mostrou elevada presença de flavonóides. Este estudo examinou o potencial antinociceptivo do AEEV em roedores usando diferentes concentrações (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg, p.o.). Os resultados mostraram significante efeito antinociceptivo quando testadas as doses (200 mg/kg-pEgletes viscosa Less (Asteraceae), popularly known as "macela" or "macela-da-terra", is a plant widely used in popular medicine due to its anti-inflammatory, bactericidal, antidiarrhoea, mio-relaxant, antispasmodic, antinociceptive, digestive, and anti-viral properties. Phytochemical screening of aqueous extract of Egletes viscosa (AEEV) revealed the high presence of flavonoids. This study examined the oral antinociceptive potential of AEEV in rodents using different concentrations (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg, p.o.). The results showed significant antinociceptive action when tested in writhing (200 and 400 mg/kg-