Substrate Coating Produced via Additive Manufacturing with Conducting Polymers: Assessment in The Development of Electrodes

The production of conductive and organic devices from a 3D printer represents a promising strategy for several areas. In particular, the synthesis of polypyrrole-coated acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) composites can be considered an important step to produce conductive supports for 3D printing. Herein, it is reported the production of ABS samples through the additive manufacturing process (3D printing) accordingly to the Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) method. The hydrophilic behavior was controlled by the surface treatment using air plasma for the following step of coating with polypyrrole (PPy) via an in situ polymerization, using two different oxidants: ferric chloride (FeCl3.6H2O) and ammonium persulfate (APS). The chemical, optical, surface, and electrical properties of these materials were characterized through Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), contact angle measurements, cyclic voltammetry, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), 4-probe electrical measurement, and mechanical tensile testing. The ABS/PPy (FeCl3) composite exhibited a low electrical contact resistance and better performance for applications that require electrodes with a good conductance level

Syzygium jambolanum treatment improves survival in lethal sepsis induced in mice

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The leaves and the fruits from <it>Syzygium jambolanum </it>DC.(Myrtaceae), a plant known in Brazil as sweet olive or 'jambolão', have been used by native people to treat infectious diseases, diabetes, and stomachache. Since the bactericidal activity of <it>S. jambolanum </it>has been confirmed <it>in vitro</it>, the aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of the prophylactic treatment with <it>S. jambolanum </it>on the <it>in vivo </it>polymicrobial infection induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) in mice.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>C57Bl/6 mice were treated by the subcutaneous route with a hydroalcoholic extract from fresh leaves of <it>S. jambolanum </it>(HCE). After 6 h, a bacterial infection was induced in the peritoneum using the lethal CLP model. The mice were killed 12 h after the CLP induction to evaluate the cellular influx and local and systemic inflammatory mediators' production. Some animals were maintained alive to evaluate the survival rate.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The prophylactic HCE treatment increased the mice survival, the neutrophil migration to infectious site, the spreading ability and the hydrogen peroxide release, but decreased the serum TNF and nitrite. Despite the increased migration and activation of peritoneal cells the HCE treatment did not decrease the number of CFU. The HCE treatment induced a significant decrease on the bone marrow cells number but did not alter the cell number of the spleen and lymph node.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We conclude that the treatment with <it>S. jambolanum </it>has a potent prophylactic anti-septic effect that is not associated to a direct microbicidal effect but it is associated to a recruitment of activated neutrophils to the infectious site and to a diminished systemic inflammatory response.</p

Quantificação de fenóis, flavonoides totais e atividades farmacológicas de geoprópolis de Plebeia aff. Flavocincta do Rio Grande do Norte

Resumo: Esse estudo objetivou avaliar a composição química e potencial terapêutico do extrato hidroalcóolico de geoprópolis produzidas por abelhas Plebeia aff. flavocincta no semiárido do Rio Grande do Norte. Oito amostras (A-H) foram submetidas a quantificação dos teores de fenóis e flavonoides totais e avaliação da atividade antioxidante através do método DPPH (2,2-difenil-1-picril-hidrazilo). Além disso, foram investigadas as atividades antibacteriana, através do método de difusão em ágar, e a cicatrizante, através da indução de feridas cirúrgicas experimentais em Rattus norvegicus Berkenhout, 1769, linhagem Wistar, tratados com creme à base de geoprópolis. Duas amostras (F e G) se destacaram por apresentar altos valores de fenóis e flavonoides totais. A capacidade antioxidante acima de 90% foi observada em cinco amostras. Os extratos foram considerados eficazes no que se refere a atividade antibacteriana, pois das oito amostras, cinco promoveram a formação de halos de inibição ≥9mm para todas as cepas testadas. Duas amostras (D e G) se destacaram em relação as demais por apresentar excelentes resultados, uma vez que, promoveram a formação de halos de inibição para as bactérias Staphylococcus epidermidis e Escherichia coli, superiores estatisticamente aos valores dos antibióticos controles, quando na concentração de 100%. As amostras A e G promoveram, respectivamente, a formação de halos de inibição, que não diferiram significativamente dos halos produzidos pelos antibióticos controles em todas as concentrações testadas para E. coli e Staphylococcus aureus. A análise do processo de cicatrização sob os pontos de vista clínico, macroscópico e histológico permitiu concluir, que o uso do creme à base de geoprópolis apresentou influência positiva na cicatrização de feridas cutâneas experimentais, por promover reação inflamatória menos intensa e fechamento mais rápido das feridas em relação ao grupo controle

DataSheet_1_Intracranial non-germinomatous germ cell tumors in children and adolescents: how can the experience from an uppermiddle-income country contribute to the worldwide effort to improve outcomes?.pdf

BackgroundNon-germinomatous germ cell tumors (NGGCT) accounts for one third of intracranial GCT. While the germinoma group have an excellent overall survival, the standard of practice for children with NGGCT is still under evaluation.AimsDescribe the results of the of the Brazilian consortium protocol.MethodsSince 2013, 15 patients with a diagnosis of NGGCT by histopathology and/or serum/cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tumor markers, βHCG >200mlU/ml and/or positive alpha-fetoprotein were treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy with carboplatin, cyclophosphamide and etoposide followed by ventricular radiotherapy (RTV) of 18Gy with boost (32Gy) to the primary site. Metastatic patients underwent craniospinal irradiation (CSI) and “slow responders” to the four initial cycles of CT, to autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) followed by CSI.ResultsMean age, 13.1 years. Thirteen males. Primary sites: pineal (n=12), suprasellar (n=2) and bifocal (n=1). Four patients were metastatic at diagnosis. Eight patients had CSF and/or serum alpha-fetoprotein levels > 1,000ng/ml. Tumor responses after chemotherapy demonstrated complete in six cases and partial in seven, with “second-look” surgery being performed in five cases, and two patients presenting viable lesions being referred to ASCT. The main toxicity observed was hematological grades 3/4. Two patients with metastatic disease, one with Down Syndrome and AFP > 1,000ng/ml and the other with choriocarcinoma and pulmonary metastases, developed progressive disease resulting in death, as well as two other patients without evidence of disease, due to endocrinological disorders. Event-free and overall survival at 2 and 5 years were 80% and 72.7%, respectively, with a mean follow-up of 48 months (range, 7-107).ConclusionsDespite the small number of patients, in our series, treatment with six cycles of chemotherapy and RTV with focal boost for localized disease (n=11) and ACST for identified slow responders (n=2) seem to be effective strategies contributing to the overall effort to improve outcomes of this group of patients.</p