51 research outputs found
Biological Assays and Chemical Composition of Volatile Oils of Bupleurum fruticosum L. (Apiaceae)
The composition of supercritical CO 2 extracts and essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation of Bupleurum fruticosum L., growing spontaneously in Italy and Portugal, and its antifungal activity is reported. The collected extracts were analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS methods. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimal lethal concentration (MLC) were used to evaluate the antifungal activity of the oils against Candida albicans, C. tropicalis, C. krusei, C. guillermondii, C. parapsilosis, Cryptococcus neoformans, Trichophyton rubrum, T. mentagrophytes, Microsporum canis, M. gypseum, Epidermophyton floccosum, Aspergillus niger, A. fumigatus and A. flavus
Determination of Na, K, Mg and Ca in biodiesel by LS F AAS and HR-CS F AAS: studies that supported the proposal of the ABNT NBR 15556 norm
G6PD deficiency alleles in a malaria-endemic region in the Western Brazilian Amazon.
BACKGROUND: Plasmodium vivax parasites are the predominant cause of malaria infections in the Brazilian Amazon. Infected individuals are treated with primaquine, which can induce haemolytic anaemia in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD)-deficient individuals and may lead to severe and fatal complications. This X-linked disorder is distributed globally and is caused by allelic variants with a geographical distribution that closely reflects populations exposed historically to endemic malaria. In Brazil, few studies have reported the frequency of G6PD deficiency (G6PDd) present in malaria-endemic areas. This is particularly important, as G6PDd screening is not currently performed before primaquine treatment. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of G6PDd in the region of Alto do Juruá, in the Western Brazilian Amazon, an area characterized by a high prevalence of P. vivax infection. METHODS: Five-hundred and sixteen male volunteers were screened for G6PDd using the fluorescence spot test (Beutler test) and CareStart™ G6PD Biosensor system. Demographic and clinical-epidemiological data were acquired through an individual interview. To assess the genetic basis of G6PDd, 24 SNPs were genotyped using the Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR assay. RESULTS: Twenty-three (4.5%) individuals were G6PDd. No association was found between G6PDd and the number of malaria cases. An increased risk of reported haemolysis symptoms and blood transfusions was evident among the G6PDd individuals. Twenty-two individuals had the G6PDd A(-) variant and one the G6PD A(+) variant. The Mediterranean variant was not present. Apart from one polymorphism, almost all SNPs were monomorphic or with low frequencies (0-0.04%). No differences were detected among ethnic groups. CONCLUSIONS: The data indicates that ~1/23 males from the Alto do Juruá could be G6PD deficient and at risk of haemolytic anaemia if treated with primaquine. G6PD A(-) is the most frequent deficiency allele in this population. These results concur with reported G6PDd in other regions in Brazil. Routine G6PDd screening to personalize primaquine administration should be considered, particularly as complete treatment of patients with vivax malaria using chloroquine and primaquine, is crucial for malaria elimination
Bacterial cellulose-lactoferrin as an antimicrobial edible packaging
Bacterial cellulose (BC) films from two distinct sources (obtained by static culture with Gluconacetobacter xylinus ATCC 53582 (BC1) and from a commercial source (BC2)) were modified by bovine lactoferrin (bLF) adsorption. The functionalized films (BC+bLF) were assessed as edible antimicrobial packaging, for use in direct contact with highly perishable foods, specifically fresh sausage as a model of meat products. BC+bLF films and sausage casings were characterized regarding their water vapour permeability (WVP), mechanical properties, and bactericidal efficiency against two food pathogens, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Considering their edibility, an in vitro gastrointestinal tract model was used to study the changes occurring in the BC films during passage through the gastrointestinal tract. Moreover, the cytotoxicity of the BC films against 3T3 mouse embryo fibroblasts was evaluated.
BC1 and BC2 showed equivalent density, WVP and maximum tensile strength. The percentage of bactericidal efficiency of BC1 and BC2 with adsorbed bLF (BC1+bLF and BC2+bLF, respectively) in the standalone films and in inoculated fresh sausages, was similar against E. coli (mean reduction 69 % in the films per se versus 94 % in the sausages) and S. aureus (mean reduction 97 % in the films per se versus 36 % in the case sausages). Moreover, the BC1+bLF and BC2+bLF films significantly hindered the specific growth rate of both bacteria. Finally, no relevant cytotoxicity against 3T3 fibroblasts was found for the films before and after the simulated digestion. BC films with adsorbed bLF may constitute an approach in the development of bio-based edible antimicrobial packaging systems.The authors would like to acknowledge Portuguese Foundation
for Science and Technology (Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia)
for the research grants: Jorge Padrão SFRH/BD/64901/2009, Sara
Gonçalves SFRH/BD/63578/2009, João Pedro Silva SFRH/BPD/
64958/2009, Ana Cristina Pinheiro SFRH/BPD/101181/2014. V.
Sencadas thanks support from the COST Action MP1206: “Electrospun
nano-fibres for bio inspired composite materials and innovative
industrial applications” and MP1301: “New Generation
Biomimetic and Customized Implants for Bone Engineering”. The
authors would also like to thank the co-funded by the Programa
Operacional Regional do Norte (ON.2 e O Novo Norte), QREN,
FEDER Projects “BioHealth e Biotechnology and Bioengineering
approaches to improve health quality”, Ref. NORTE-07-0124-
FEDER-000027; “BioInd e Biotechnology and Bioengineering for
improved Industrial and Agro-Food processes”, REF. NORTE-07-
0124-FEDER-000028; Strategic Project PEST-C/FIS/UI607/2014;
Matepro eOptimizing Materials and Processes”, ref. NORTE-07-
0124-FEDER-000037; Strategic Project PEst-OE/EQB/LA0023/2013
and project ref. RECI/BBB-EBI/0179/2012 (project number FCOMP-
01-0124-FEDER-027462). Finally, the authors thank the Fundação
para a Ciência e Tecnologia for the strategic funding from the UID/
BIO/04469/2013 unit
TRATAMENTO COM CLORETO DE CÁLCIO NA PÓS-COLHEITA RETARDA O DESVERDECIMENTO E A PERDA DE FIRMEZA DO MAMÃO UENF/CALIMAN01
Torularhodin and Torulene: Bioproduction, Properties and Prospective Applications in Food and Cosmetics - a Review
Widespread nasal carriage of Mycobacterium lepraeamong a healthy population in a hyperendemic region of northeastern Brazil
Depletion study and estimation of the withdrawal period for enrofloxacin in pacu ( <i>Piaractus mesopotamicus</i> )
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