Preparation of catalysts based on iron(III) porphyrins heterogenized on silica obtained by the Sol-Gel process for hydroxylation and epoxidation reactions

Solid catalysts have been prepared by chemical interaction of iron(III) porphyrins with the surface of the pores of a silica matrix obtained by the sol-gel method. The presence of the complexes in the silica matrix and the morphology of the obtained particles were studied by UV-Vis spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffractometry, infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, electron paramagnetic resonance and thermogravimetric analysis. The catalytic activity of the immobilized iron(III) porphyrins in the oxidation of (Z)-cyclooctene, cyclohexene and cyclohexane was evaluated in dichloromethane/acetonitrile 1:1 solvent mixture (v/v) using iodosylbenzene as oxidant. Results were compared with those achieved with the homogeneous counterparts

Carrera dual en Brasil: análisis sobre el nivel académico de los jugadores de futsal de elite

Developing an elite sport career requires efforts, being a challenge combining it with education in a con-text of dual career. Considering the futsal’s high social relevance in Brazil, this study aimed to analyse the aca-demic degree of men elite futsal players in São Paulo state. Data collection occurred based on a questionnaire application to 145 Brazilian men elite futsal players, re-lated to their own and their parents’ academic degree, and information on types of school/universities they attended. Statistical analysis was based on Chi-square, Cramer’s V and Spearman correlation tests. Discussion was based on categories from Pierre Bourdieu’s Re-flexive Sociology, with emphasis on familial cultural inheritance. Main results are: most of participants were not harmed on dual career; players that earned sport scholarships completed the basic education degrees; there was not influence from parents’ institutionalized cultural capital on players’ academic career. Concluding, majority of the participants presented better academic degree than the correspondent Brazilian stratified po-pulation. The investment on sport career seems facilita-ted this process, especially through sport scholarshipsDesarrollar una carrera deportiva de élite requiere esfuerzos, siendo un desafío combinarla con la educación en un contexto de carrera dual. Considerando la alta relevancia social del futsal en Brasil, este estudio tuvo como objetivo analizar el nivel académico de los jugadores hombres de futsal de élite en el estado de São Paulo. La recopilación de datos se basó en la aplicación de un cuestionario a 145 jugadores brasileños de futsal de élite, relacionado con el nivel académico de ellos y sus padres y madres, e información sobre los tipos de escuelas/universidades a las que asistieron. El análisis estadístico se basó en los testes Chi-cuadrado, V de Cramer y Correlación de Spearman. La discusión se basó en categorías de la Sociología Reflexiva de Pierre Bourdieu, con énfasis en la herencia cultural familiar. Los principales resultados son: la mayoría de los participantes no sufrieron daños en la carrera dual; los jugadores que obtuvieron becas deportivas completaron los títulos de educación básica; no hubo influencia del capital cultural institucionalizado de los padres en la carrera escolar de los jugadores. En conclusión, la mayoría de los participantes presentó mejor nivel académico que la correspondiente población estratificada brasileña. La inversión en carrera deportiva parece facilitar este proceso, especialmente a través de becas deportivasActividad Física y Deport

Serum Levels of Infliximab and Anti-Infliximab Antibodies in Brazilian Patients with Crohn’s Disease

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the quantitative serum level of infliximab (IFX) as well as the detection of anti-infliximab antibodies (ATIs) in patients with Crohn’s disease (CD). METHOD: Forty patients with CD under treatment at a tertiary center in southeastern Brazil were evaluated. Their use of infliximab was continuous and regular. We analyzed and compared the differences in the IFX and ATI levels between the patients with active CD (CDA) and those with CD in remission (CDR). RESULTS: There was no difference in the IFX level between the CDA and CDR groups (p40.05). Eighty percent of all patients had IFX levels above the therapeutic concentration (6-10 mg/mL). Two (9%) of the 22 patients with active disease and four (22.2%) of the 18 patients in remission had undetectable levels of IFX. Four (66.6%) of the six patients with undetectable levels of IFX had positive ATI levels; three of these patients were in remission, and one had active disease. In addition, the other two patients with undetectable levels of IFX presented ATI levels close to positivity (2.7 and 2.8 AU/ml). None of the patients with therapeutic or supratherapeutic IFX levels had positive ATI levels. CONCLUSIONS: The undetectable levels of IFX correlated with the detection of ATIs, which was independent of disease activity. Immunogenicity was not the main factor for the loss of response to IFX in our study, and the majority of patients in both groups (CDA and CDR) had supratherapeutic levels of IFX

Laboratory study of tissue repair of resin-based endodontic sealers in critical surgical defects

Filling materials should be restricted to the root canal space. However, sometimes it is impossible to control the apical extrusion, in this case, the fate of the filling material and the result of the treatment will depend on its physicochemical properties and biocompatibility. Objective: To evaluate the tissue response and bone repair capacity of endodontic sealers that were implanted in the calvaria of Wistar rats, forming the groups (n=16): AH Plus and Sealer Plus, compared to the clot group. Methodology: On days 30 and 60, the animals were euthanized, the calvaria was removed and processed for hematoxylin-eosin, immunohistochemistry for collagen type I, Picrosirus red and microtomographic analysis. Data were subjected to ANOVA and Tuckey tests (p<0.05). Results:At 30 days, all groups showed an intense inflammatory reaction (p>0.05). At 60 days, the AH Plus and Sealer Plus maintained an intense inflammatory infiltrate compared to the clot group (p<0.05). We observed immunopositive areas for type I collagen in all groups at 30 days and 60 days (p>0.05). We observed more red collagen fibers for the Sealer Plus compared to the clot group at 30 days (p<0.05). Considering the total fibers, the clot group at 30 days compared to 60 days after surgery showed an increase in the amount of matrix (p<0.05). There were no statistical differences between groups for green and yellow fibers (p>0.05). Regarding morphometric parameters, at 30 days, the newly formed bone volume and number of bone trabeculae were higher in the groups with sealers compared to the clot group (p<0.05). At 60 days, AH Plus and Sealer Plus showed greater bone neoformation compared to the clot group (p<0.05). Conclusions: Despite AH Plus and Sealer Plus induced an intense inflammatory reaction, they can be considered biocompatible materials, since they allowed bone repair

O DESAFIO DA DUPLA CARREIRA: ANÁLISE SOBRE OS GRAUS ACADÊMICOS DE ATLETAS DE ELITE DO FUTSAL FEMININO BRASILEIRO

Pode-se compreender dupla carreira como a dedicação concomitante entre duas atividades rotineiras, sendo o investimento no esporte e nos estudos um exemplo recorrente. O desenvolvimento de uma carreira esportiva demanda treinamentos intensos, longos confinamentos, viagens e mudanças de cidade e residência, o que provoca dificuldades para adequação aos calendários e atividades esportivas e acadêmicas. Neste cenário, o objetivo deste estudo foi analisar o grau acadêmico de atletas de elite do futsal feminino brasileiro. A análise se fundamentou em categorias da Sociologia Reflexiva de Pierre Bourdieu, relacionadas ao campo acadêmico e à herança cultural familiar. Foi aplicado um questionário a dez atletas da seleção brasileira adulta feminina de futsal. Os dados foram analisados de modo a caracterizar a incidência das respostas através de estatística descritiva e foram submetidos aos testes Qui-quadrado, V de Cramer e de Correlação de Spearman. As atletas participantes apresentaram maior grau acadêmico do que a população brasileira estratificada, com a maioria tendo cursado o ensino superior privado com bolsas de estudo esportivas. As participantes também superaram seus pais e mães, demonstrando uma baixa influência da herança cultural familiar. Conclui-se que o futsal tem colaborado para a inserção e permanência das atletas na carreira acadêmica, principalmente no ensino superior

Teste de marcha fisiológica: um método eficaz para analisar distúrbios de equilíbrio, locomoção e neuromusculares em roedores

A avaliação da atividade locomotora animal é uma ferramenta comportamental bastante utilizada para mensurar os mecanismos subjacentes a uma determinada doença, distúrbio ou lesão e efeitos da exposição a um xenobiótico. Um dos testes mais utilizados em roedores para avaliar o equilíbrio e coordenação motora é o teste da trave elevada que, apesar de ser um teste barato e que exige um aparato simples, é necessário um longo período de treino e habituação dos animais. O desenvolvimento e caracterização de um teste alternativo, chamado de teste da marcha, tem o potencial de contornar o tempo e o esforço necessários ao treino dos animais, considerando-o um método eficaz, barato e rápido para a análise de comportamentos avaliados comparativamente pelo alto teste de feixe. Portanto, o presente estudo concentrou-se em determinar a eficácia e viabilidade do teste de marcha para avaliação da locomoção e equilíbrio de roedores em substituição ao teste da trave elevada. Para isso, ratos machos foram divididos em 3 grupos, sendo 1 grupo controle exposto à solução salina (NaCl 0,9%) e 2 grupos experimentais expostos à dose única de 0,2 e 1,0 mg/kg de ivermectina por via intraperitoneal para indução da alteração locomotora. Os testes de trave elevada e marcha foram realizados 15 min e 24h após a administração da droga. Os resultados mostram que os grupos experimentais tiveram dificuldade em realizar as tarefas de qualquer teste em ambos os momentos analisados em comparação com os grupos de controle. Na trave elevada, os animais experimentais tiveram dificuldade em manter o equilíbrio e andar. No teste de marcha, os animais experimentais apresentaram alterações na marcha, que foram quantificadas por: (a) encurtamento do comprimento da passada, (b) diminuição da passada, (c) alteração da simetria da passada e (d) alteração da área da passada. Tais resultados são indicativos de esforços compensatórios e foram comparáveis entre os dois testes. Em conjunto, os dados indicam que o teste de marcha atende a todos os requisitos para avaliação da coordenação motora em roedores. O teste de marcha é, portanto, validado como um complementar para o teste da trave elevada e para o estudo e análise de comprometimento neurodegenerativo e outros distúrbios envolvendo distúrbios neuromusculares. The evaluation of animal locomotor activity is a behavioral tool widely used to measure the mechanisms underlying a particular disease, disorder, or injury, as well as the effects of exposure to a xenobiotic. The elevated beam test is one of the most used tests in rodents to assess balance and motor coordination. Despite being inexpensive and utilizing a simple apparatus, the high beam test requires a long period of animal training and habituation. The development and characterization of an alternative test, namely the gait test, has the potential to circumvent the time and effort required for animal training, deeming it an effective, inexpensive, and fast method for the analysis of behaviors that are comparably assessed by the high beam test. Therefore, the present study focused on determining the effectiveness and feasibility of the gait test for assessing rodent locomotion and balance as a replacement for the elevated beam test. For this purpose, male rats were divided into three groups: one control group exposed to a saline solution (NaCl 0.9%) and two experimental groups exposed to a single dose of either 0.2 or 1.0 mg/kg of ivermectin intraperitoneally for induction of locomotor disturbance. The high beam and gait tests were performed 15 min and 24 h after drug administration. Results show that the experimental groups had difficulty performing the tasks of either test at both time points analyzed compared to the control groups. At the high beam, experimental animals had trouble maintaining balance and walking. At the gait test, experimental animals showed alterations in gait, which were quantitated by: (a) shortening of step length, (b) decrease of stride, (c) altered step symmetry, and (d) altered stride area. Such results are indicative of compensatory efforts and were comparable between both tests. Altogether, the data indicate that the gait test meets all requirements for assessing motor coordination in rodents. The gait test is therefore validated as a complement to the elevated beam test for the study and analysis of neurodegenerative impairment and other disorders involving neuromuscular disturbances.

Pain, quality of life, self perception of health and depression in patients with fibromyalgia, submited to hydrocinesiotherapy

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of treatment by hydrotherapy on quality of life, perception of pain and the severity of depression in a group of patients with fibromyalgia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated 64 females divided into two groups: hydrocinesiotherapy (n = 33, 58.2 ± 10.6 years) and control group (n = 31 with 59.6 ± 9.4 years) with clinical diagnosis of fibromyalgia. Individuals were assessed by Visual Analog Scale of Pain (VAS), the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) and the Beck Depression Inventory. Participants underwent a treatment in a hydrotherapy pool heated to 33ºC over a period of 15 weeks, two sessions per week of 45 minutes, a total of 30 sessions. The exercises were underwater: cardiovascular conditioning, strength training, mobility, coordination, balance and still, stretching exercises and muscle relaxation. The ANOVA 2×2 and Kruskall-Wallis was used for statistical analysis RESULTS: There were statistically significant improvements in the perception of pain intensity (Δ% = -28.2%, p < 0, 01), quality of life (Δ% = -32.4%, p < 0, 05) and depression symptoms (Δ% = -35.4%, p < 0, 05) in favor of the Hydrotherapy group compared to the control group. CONCLUSIONS: The study suggests that hydrocinesiotherapy was effective as an alternative therapy for fibromyalgia, however further studies are recommended to test the associations between the variables and intervention programs and using the water activities, and the modifiability of the parameters of physical and mental health when these individuals undergo programs of short, medium and long duration.OBJETIVOS: Analisar os efeitos do tratamento hidrocinesioterapêutico na qualidade de vida, percepção de dor e gravidade de episódios depressivos em um grupo de pacientes com fibromialgia. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Foram avaliados 64 indivíduos do sexo feminino, separados em dois grupos: hidrocinesioterapia (n = 33; 58,2 ± 10,6 anos) e grupo controle (n = 31; 59,6 ± 9,4 anos), com diagnóstico de fibromialgia. Os indivíduos foram avaliados através da Escala Analógica Visual de Dor (EVA), o Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), e o Inventário de Beck. Os participantes foram submetidos a um tratamento hidrocinesioterápico numa piscina aquecida a 33ºC com duas sessões de 45 minutos por semana, ao longo 15 semanas, num total de 30 sessões. Os exercícios subaquáticos foram: de condicionamento cardiovascular, de força, de mobilidade, de coordenação, de equilíbrio, de alongamento e de relaxamento muscular. Utilizou-se a ANOVA 2×2 e Kruskal-Wallis para análise estatística. RESULTADOS: Foram observadas melhorias estatisticamente significativas na percepção da intensidade da dor (Δ% = -28,2%, p < 0,01), na qualidade de vida (Δ% = -32,4%, p < 0,05) e nos sintomas de depressão (Δ% = -35,4%, p < 0,05) favoráveis ao grupo hidrocinesioterapia comparado ao grupo controle. CONCLUSÕES: O estudo sugere que a hidrocinesioterapia mostrou-se eficaz como terapia alternativa da fibromialgia. No entanto, recomenda novos estudos que testem as associações existentes entre as variáveis analisadas e os programas de intervenção, utilizando as atividades aquáticas, bem como a modificabilidade dos parâmetros de saúde física e psíquica quando estes indivíduos são submetidos a programas de curta, média e longa duração.Faculdade Católica Rainha do SertãoUniversidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Ciências do Desporto e Educação FísicaCentro Universitário da Fundação Educacional GuaxupéUniversidade Federal do ParanáFederal do Estado do Rio de JaneiroUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)UNIFESPSciEL

Consórcio couve-coentro em cultivo orgânico e sua influência nas populações de joaninhas.

O consórcio de culturas é comumente praticado na produção de hortaliças devido a diversos benefícios econômicos. Em alguns casos, podem reduzir infestações de pragas por favorecer a conservação dos inimigos naturais nos agroecossistemas. Avaliou-se a viabilidade agronômica do consórcio de couve e coentro, sob manejo orgânico, com base em parâmetros fitotécnicos, além de sua influência sobre populações de joaninhas (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), na comparação com os respectivos cultivos solteiros. O coentro, representando a cultura secundária, foi utilizado com a finalidade de fornecer recursos para as joaninhas. O estudo foi realizado em área do Sistema Integrado de Produção Agroecológica em Seropédica-RJ. O experimento consistiu dos consórcios: 1) couve consorciada com coentro, cujas quatro linhas de plantas foram colhidas na fase vegetativa (consórcio I), e 2) couve consorciada com coentro, cujas plantas das duas linhas internas (próximas à linha da couve) foram colhidas na fase vegetativa e as duas linhas externas foram cortadas após floração (consórcio II). Em ambos consórcios foram avaliados os parâmetros fitotécnicos da couve e do coentro na fase vegetativa (padrão comercial), enquanto que no consórcio II, também se avaliou as populações de joaninhas, por meio de coletas semanais de adultos, em comparação com a couve em cultivo solteiro. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos ao acaso com quatro repetições. O coentro não interferiu na produtividade da couve consorciada e sua introdução contribuiu positivamente para a abundância e diversidade de espécies de joaninhas. O índice de equivalência de área para o consórcio I, com referência aos rendimentos de biomassa aérea fresca, foi superior em 92% em relação ao cultivo solteiro. Este resultado demonstra a viabilidade do consórcio I, no manejo orgânico adotado, para plantios de outono nas condições edafoclimáticas da Baixada Fluminense

Induction of CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ Regulatory T Cells during Human Hookworm Infection Modulates Antigen-Mediated Lymphocyte Proliferation

Hookworm infection is considered one of the most important poverty-promoting neglected tropical diseases, infecting 576 to 740 million people worldwide, especially in the tropics and subtropics. These blood-feeding nematodes have a remarkable ability to downmodulate the host immune response, protecting themselves from elimination and minimizing severe host pathology. While several mechanisms may be involved in the immunomodulation by parasitic infection, experimental evidences have pointed toward the possible involvement of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in downregulating effector T-cell responses upon chronic infection. However, the role of Tregs cells in human hookworm infection is still poorly understood and has not been addressed yet. In the current study we observed an augmentation of circulating CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ regulatory T cells in hookworm-infected individuals compared with healthy non-infected donors. We have also demonstrated that infected individuals present higher levels of circulating Treg cells expressing CTLA-4, GITR, IL-10, TGF-β and IL-17. Moreover, we showed that hookworm crude antigen stimulation reduces the number of CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ T regulatory cells co-expressing IL-17 in infected individuals. Finally, PBMCs from infected individuals pulsed with excreted/secreted products or hookworm crude antigens presented an impaired cellular proliferation, which was partially augmented by the depletion of Treg cells. Our results suggest that Treg cells may play an important role in hookworm-induced immunosuppression, contributing to the longevity of hookworm survival in infected people