CARACTERIZAÇÃO QUÍMICA DE ÓLEOS ESSENCIAIS DE PLANTAS MEDICINAIS

Os óleos essenciais são substâncias naturais de grande importância econômica, sendo utilizados como medicamentos, perfumarias, alimentos e cosméticos. São obtidos por diferentes métodos de extração e encontrados em diferentes partes das plantas. Desta forma o trabalho teve como objetivo a coleta, preparação e a extração do óleo essencial de várias espécies realizada através de hidrodestilação durante 4 horas utilizando o aparelho Clevenger. Foi avaliado o rendimento de extração do óleo essencial e a sua composição química por cromatografia a gás com detectores FID e Espectrometria de Massas. A identificação dos constituintes dos óleos essênciais foi realizada através de comparação com dados da biblioteca do equipamento de Espectrometria de Massas e os cálculos do Índice de Kovats. Os teores em % (massa/massa) dos óleo essenciais foram: alecrim 1,13%, levante 0,58%, manjericão 0,24%, hortelã 0,25% e hortelã pimenta 0,75%. Foram identificados vários compostos majoritários tais como:alfa-pineno, o-cimene, germacreno-D, Linalol, Acetato de linalila e cariofileno

Efeito do tipo de corte e sanificantes no amaciamento de pequi (Caryocar brasiliense Camb.) minimamente processado Effect of the cut type and sanitizers on the softening of fresh cut pequi fruit (Caryocar brasiliense Camb.)

Frutos e hortaliças minimamente processados devem apresentar atributos de conveniência e qualidade do produto fresco. Com o presente trabalho, objetivou-se avaliar a influência dos sanificantes hipoclorito de sódio (NaClO) 50 ppm e 100 ppm e peróxido de hidrogênio (H2O2) 4% e 6%, sobre os processos envolvidos no amaciamento de pequi (Caryocar brasiliense Camb.) minimamente processado submetido a dois tipos de processamento: "caroço fatiado" e "caroço inteiro" e armazenado a 6 ± 1ºC e 90% a 95% UR, durante 15 dias. A cada três dias foram avaliados: perda de massa, firmeza, pectina total, pectina solúvel, atividade de pectinametilesterase (PME) e atividade de poligalacturonase (PG). O pequi minimamente processado apresentou perda de massa e decréscimo de firmeza ao longo do período de armazenamento, concomitante ao aumento da atividade da enzima poligalacturonase, bem como solubilização de substâncias pécticas. Não foi verificada atividade de PME no pequi minimamente processado avaliado. Os caroços fatiados apresentaram maior teor de pectina solúvel, do 3° ao 6° dia e atividade da enzima poligalacturonase, do 3° ao 12° dia de armazenamento, em relação aos caroços inteiros. A sanificação com NaClO 50 ppm e 100 ppm, H2O2 4% e 6% determinou maior solubilização péctica em pequis minimamente processados, ao longo do armazenamento, não sendo observada influência dos sanificantes sobre as variáveis firmeza, perda de massa e atividade de poligalacturonase.<br>Fresh cut fruits and vegetables should present convenience and quality features of the fresh produce. The present work aimed to evaluate the influence of the sanitizers 50ppm and 100ppm sodium hypochloride (NaClO) and 4% and 6% hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) on the involved processes in the softening of fresh cut pequi fruit (Caryocar brasiliense Camb.) submitted to two types of processing: "sliced stone" and "whole stone" stored at 6 ± 1°C and 90% to 95% of RH during 15 days. Every three the days mass loss, firmness, total pectin, soluble pectin, pectinmethylesterase activity (PME) and polygalacturonase activity (PG) were evaluated. The fresh cut pequi fruit presented mass loss, firmness decrease along the period of storage, concomitant to the increase of the activity of the enzyme polygalacturonase, as well as the solubilization of substances pectics. Activity of PME was not detected in fresh cut pequi fruit evaluated. The sliced stone showed, higher content of soluble pectins, from 3rd to 6th day and activity of the enzyme polygalacturonase, of 3rd to 12th day of storage, in relation to the whole stones. The sanification with NaClO 50ppm and 100ppm, H2O2 4% and 6% presented greater solubilization of pectic substances in fresh cut pequi fruit, during the storage, but it did not influence of the sanitizers on the variable firmness, loss of mass and activity of polygalacturonase

Piccolipi\uf9, a multicenter birth cohort in Italy: protocol of the study.

Background: The fetal and infant life are periods of rapid development, characterized by high susceptibility to exposures. Birth cohorts provide unique opportunities to study early-life exposures in association with child development and health, as well as, with longer follow-up, the early life origin of adult diseases. Piccolipi\uf9 is an Italian birth cohort recently set up to investigate the effects of environmental exposures, parental conditions and social factors acting during pre-natal and early post-natal life on infant and child health and development. We describe here its main characteristics. Methods/design: Piccolipi\uf9 is a prospective cohort of expected 3000 newborns, who will be recruiting in six maternity units of five Italian cities (Florence, Rome, Trieste, Turin and Viareggio) since October 2011. Mothers are contacted during pregnancy or at delivery and are offered to participate in the study. Upon acceptance, their newborns are recruited at birth and followed up until at least 18 years of age. At recruitment, the mothers donate a blood sample and complete a baseline questionnaire. Umbilical cord blood, pieces of umbilical cord and heel blood spots are also collected. Postnatal follow-up currently occurs at 6, 12, and 24 months of age using on-line or postal self administered questionnaire; further questionnaires and medical examinations are envisaged. Questionnaires collect information on several factors, including mother\u2019s and/or child\u2019s environmental exposures, anthropometric measures, reproductive factors, diet, supplements, medical history, cognitive development, mental health and socioeconomic factors. Health promotion materials are also offered to parents. Discussion: Piccolipi\uf9 will broaden our understanding of the contribution of early-life factors to infant and child health and development. Several hypotheses on the developmental origins of health can be tested or piloted using the data collected from the Piccolipi\uf9 cohort. By pooling these data with those collected by other existing birth cohorts it will be possible to validate previous findings and to study rare exposures and outcomes

Histiocytosis: a review focusing on neuroimaging findings

Objective: Histiocytosis is a systemic disease that usually affects the central nervous system. The aim of this study is to discuss the neuroimaging characteristics of Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH), the most common of these diseases; and the non-Langerhans cells histiocytosis (NLCH), which includes entities such as hemophagocytic syndrome, Erdheim-Chester and Rosai-Dorfman diseases. Method: Literature review and illustrative cases with pathologic confirmation. Results: In LCH, the most common findings are 1) osseous lesions in the craniofacial bones and/or skull base; 2) intracranial, extra-axial changes; 3) intra-axial parenchymal changes (white and gray matter); 4) atrophy. Among the NLCH, diagnosis usually requires correlation with clinical and laboratory criteria. The spectrum of presentation includes intraparenchymal involvement, meningeal lesions, orbits and paranasal sinus involvement. Conclusion: It is important the recognition of the most common imaging patterns, in order to include LCH and NLCH in the differential diagnosis, whenever pertinent