Effect of starch type on miscibility in poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)/starch blends and cytotoxicity assays

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)This study reports results on the miscibility of polymer blends based on PEO and different starches (unmodified, cationic, and hydrophobic) and their respective cytotoxicity. Films of PEO/starch blends at different weight ratios (95/05, 90/10, 80/20, 70/30, 65/35, and 60/40), as well as films of pure PEO as control, were prepared by casting methodology. Several techniques, such as SEM, WAXS, FTIR, and FT-Raman spectroscopy were used in this study for evaluating blend miscibility. The results revealed that the miscibility of such blends is dependent on the type of starch used. Regarding the PEO/unmodified starch blends, it was concluded that the system is miscible in the ratio range from 90/10 to 65/35. Although the PEO/hydrophobic starch blends are miscible in all the studied range, blends of PEO and cationic starch are immiscible, regardless the blend ratio. The different samples presented distinct cytotoxic behaviors. PEO and hydrophobic starch presented no relevant toxicity (CC(50/72)>2.5 mg/mL). Otherwise, the cationic starch was the most harmful for the cells. The blends presented cytotoxicity values between those of PEO and cationic starch. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.312443451Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)CNPq [308611/2006-3

Avaliação de orientações geradas por sistema computacional a acompanhantes de pacientes pediátricos submetidos à quimioterapia

RESUMO Objetivo Comparar as orientações geradas com o auxílio do Sistema de Apoio à Decisão Clínica – Cuidados em Oncologia e Saúde com Quimioterápicos com as orientações não auxiliadas por tecnologia, destinadas aos acompanhantes de crianças em tratamento quimioterápico. Métodos Pesquisa descritiva, avaliativa, de abordagem quantitativa, realizada na pediatria de um hospital em Curitiba-PR, entre dezembro de 2015 e janeiro de 2016. A amostra foi composta por 58 participantes, divididos em dois grupos: Grupo 1, não apoiado pelo software, e Grupo 2, apoiado pelo software. Na análise dos dados, utilizou-se o teste não paramétrico de Mann-Whitney. Resultados Houve significância estatística nas orientações (p <0,05), prevalecendo maior média de concordância com o auxílio do software no Grupo 2, quando comparada ao Grupo 1. Conclusões Evidenciou-se que as orientações geradas com o auxílio do software consistem em uma forma de apoiar qualitativamente os enfermeiros na geração de orientações

Use of UV-C postharvest treatment for extending fresh whole tomato (Solanum lycopersicum, cv. Zinac) shelf-life

The effect of UV-C treatments (0.32, 0.97, 2.56, 4.16 and 4.83 kJ.m(-2) at 254 nm) on the physical-chemical properties [colour, texture, total phenolic content (TPC), weight loss (WL)], and mesophylic counts of whole tomato, was evaluated during 15 days at 10 A degrees C. During storage, the Ctr samples acquired faster red colour than all UV-C samples (higher a* and lower A degrees h values). Comparing texture of Ctr and UV-C samples at 15(th) storage day, an increase of 9 and 8 % on firmness of treated samples at low UV-C intensities (0.32 and 0.97 kJ.m(-2), respectively) was observed. At the end of the storage, Ctr samples showed ca. 4 Log(10) of mesophylic load, and the samples treated at 0.97 and 4.83 kJ.m(-2) revealed the lowest microbial load (1.9 and 3.2 Log(10), respectively). These results indicate that UV-C radiation, at an appropriate dose, combined with low storage temperature (10 A degrees C) are an effective method to preserve the postharvest life of tomato, without adversely affecting quality parameters.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio