Toxicity effects of ethanol extract of Simarouba versicolor on reproductive parameters in female Wistar rats

Simarouba versicolor is popularly known as pau-paraiba. It belongs to the Simaroubaceae family and is found in the Northeast of São Paulo and in some parts of the states of Pará and Mato Grosso do Sul. It is known that this and other species from this genus have several activities: insecticides, antiinflammatory, antitumor, anthelmintic, among others. The effects of ethanolic extract of the bark of S. versicolor (Sv-EtOH) on the reproductive system of rats were investigated; also the influence of estrogenic and/or antiestrogenic activity, estrous cycle, pregnancy, lactation and offspring development was observed. In the experimental protocols with ethanolic extract of S. versicolor, the doses were 10, 20 and 40 mg/kg. To evaluate estrogenic and anti-estrogenic activity, uterotrophic assay and histopathology of the uterus were performed. In the estrous cycle tests, animals were treated daily, for 30 days, to count number of cycles and record the biochemical profile. During pre-implantation and post-implantation, the effect of the extract on pregnancy, lactation and development of the progeny was observed. Uterotrophic assay exhibited anti-estrogenic activity at extract doses of 10, 20 and 40 mg/kg. The animals exposed to all doses had no changes in their estrous cycle, pregnancy, lactation and biochemical profile. All results were within normal range; however, creatinine concentration increased significantly at all doses as compared to the control. The ethanol extract of S. versicolor presented antiestrogen activity, low systemic toxicity and had no reproductive toxicity at investigated doses.Key words: Simarouba versicolor, reproduction, rats

Batch and fed-batch growth of Pichia pastoris under increased air pressure

Pichia pastoris CBS 2612 behavior under air pressures of 1 bar, 3 bar and 5 bar in culture media of glycerol (pure and crude) and methanol was studied. Generally, the increase in oxygen transfer rate due to the increase of total pressure improved cellular growth for all carbon sources and for batch and fed-batch processes with different feeding rate strategies. In batch cultures, 1.4-fold, 1.2-fold, and 1.5-fold improvement in biomass production was obtained with the increase of air pressure up to 5 bar, using methanol, pure glycerol, and crude glycerol, respectively. The raise of air pressure to 5 bar using exponential feeding rate leaded to 1.4-fold improvement in biomass yield per glycerol mass consumed, for crude and pure glycerol. The current low cost of crude glycerol from the biodiesel production together with the present results shows the possibility of improving cell mass production of P. pastoris using increased air pressure.The authors acknowledge the financial support provided by "Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia" (Grant SFRH/BD/47371/2008)

Effect of infill pattern in Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) 3D Printing on materials performance

Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) is an Additive Manufacturing process popularized in the last decade due to its easiness of use and lower costs. However, despite its increasing popularity, the process itself has several gaps in knowledge, hindering further uses on more advanced objects. Also, the freedom of design allows significant variances in the printed parts, many influencing production and mechanical properties. This work studies the influences of the infill patterns in the mechanical response of printed parts. Using poly (lactic acid) (PLA), a widely used polymer in FFF process, the mechanical responses of parts printed with different infill patterns were analyzed. Rectilinear, Honeycomb, Triangle and Grid patterns were tested on impact resistance and tensile strength. Additionally, samples masses were measured and compared to the mechanical response. Results shown significant differences in the on tested properties. Tensile strength varied from 2.4 to 1.1 MPa, and impact resistance from 3.8 to 1.5 kJ/m² Also, measured mass was found to be significantly higher on the Honeycomb pattern. Considering mechanical response from both tensile and impact tests along with printed mass, Rectilinear pattern can be considered the most advantageous from the economic point of view

Dislipidemias e alguns fatores de risco associados em uma população periférica da Região Metropolitana de São Paulo, SP - Brasil. um estudo piloto Lipemic disorders and some associated risk factors in a population on the outs kirts of Greater S. Paulo, SP, Brazil

Realizou-se levantamento da prevalência de dislipidemias e alguns fatores de risco (hipertensão, obesidade e alcoolismo), em uma população típica da periferia do Município de São Paulo, SP (Brasil). A prevalência de um ou mais fatores de risco foi maior do que 50% em todos os grupos etários. No que concerne às dislipidemias propriamente ditas, foi de aproximadamente 49%, 58% e 57% nos grupos etários de 20 a 39 anos, 40 a 59 anos e 60 anos e mais, respectivamente. A dislipidemia mais freqüente foi devido a baixos níveis de HDL-colesterol, principalmente nos mais jovens, entre 29 e 39 anos. Nos outros dois grupos etários houve prevalência maior de "outras dislipidemias". A obesidade isolada ou associada foi o fator de risco mais relevante na população estudada. Levanta-se a hipótese de que as dislipidemias podem constituir-se em grave problema de Saúde Pública nas populações periféricas da cidade de São Paulo.<br>A survey of the prevalence of lipemic disorders and some risk factors associated with them (obesity, hypertension and alcoholism), in a representative sample of the population of 20 years of age and over in a locality typical of the peripheral zone of the Greater S. Paulo Region, Brazil, both in terms of the poverty of the population and with regard to the lack of public sources such as sewage, transport and housing, is undertaken. The following results were obtained: a) the prevalence of one risk factor was of about 55%, and of two or more associated risk factors was of approximately 9% in the age group from 20 to 39. There was found to be a prevalence of about 51% and 57%, respectively of two or more associated risk factors for the age groups from 40 to 59 and 60 years of age and over; b) the prevalence of lipemic disorders proper was of about 49%, 58% and 57% respectively, for the age groups of 20 to 39, 40 to 59 and 60 years of age and over. In these cases the most prevalent risk factors among men were alcoholism and hypertension, either isolatedly or associated with obesity, and among women the most prevalent was obesity, alone or associated with hypertension; c) the most prevalent lipemic disorder was due to HDL-cholesterol, mainly among the younger people. The prevalence lower-than-normal HDL-cholesterol, was of about 28% and of "other lipemic disorders" was of 22% in the age group between 20 and 39 years of age. For those between 40 and 59 years of age the prevalence of low HDL-cholesterol and "other lipemic disorders" was of about 20% and 38% respectively. Among those above 60 years of age, the prevalence of HDL-cholesterol below normal was of about 7% and "other lipemic disorders" was of aproximately 50%; d) obesity whether isolated or associated, was the most significant with higher "prevalence risk ratio". The lipemic disorders and risk factors studied probably represent a severe public health problem for the population of the peripheral zone of the city of S. Paulo