Wax Chemical and Morphological Investigation of Brazilian Crude Oils

The waxes in petroleum can precipitate and form unwanted gels and deposition when exposed to low temperatures. The idea of this chapter is to approach methods of quantification and physicochemical and morphological characterization of waxes and how this information can help in understanding this deposition. Information such as the quantity of waxes and the chemical structures in the oil is fundamental to predict the possible deposition and its ability to aggregate with other crystals. For example, the knowledge about the wax morphology may contribute to explain the nucleation and growth of the deposits. The polarized light microscopy, the most common technique to visualize wax crystals, and the bright-field microscopy, the most simple technique, able to show crystal details that have not been seen on the polarized light, was used

Treatment implications of predominant polarity and the polarity index: a comprehensive review.

Background: Bipolar disorder (BD) is a serious and recurring condition that affects approximately 2.4% of the global population. About half of BD sufferers have an illness course characterized by either a manic or a depressive predominance. This predominant polarity in BD may be differentially associated with several clinical correlates. The concept of a polarity index (PI) has been recently proposed as an index of the antimanic versus antidepressive efficacy of various maintenance treatments for BD. Notwithstanding its potential clinical utility, predominant polarity was not included in the DSM-5 as a BD course specifier. Methods: Here we searched computerized databases for original clinical studies on the role of predominant polarity for selection of and response to pharmacological treatments for BD. Furthermore, we systematically searched the Pubmed database for maintenance randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for BD to determine the PI of the various pharmacological agents for BD. Results: We found support from naturalistic studies that bipolar patients with a predominantly depressive polarity are more likely to be treated with an antidepressive stabilization package, while BD patients with a manic-predominant polarity are more frequently treated with an antimanic stabilization package. Furthermore, predominantly manic BD patients received therapeutic regimens with a higher mean PI. The calculated PI varied from 0.4 (for lamotrigine) to 12.1 (for aripiprazole). Conclusions: This review supports the clinical relevance of predominant polarity as a course specifier for BD. Future studies should investigate the role of baseline, predominant polarity as an outcome predictor of BD maintenance RCTs. Keywords

Synthesis, Solubility, Permeability, and In Vitro Activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Funding Information: This work was supported by FCT-MCTES (PTDC/QUI-QOR/32406/2017, PEst-C/LA0006/2013, RECI/BBBBQB/0230/2012) and by the Associate Laboratory for Green Chemistry-LAQV (FCT-MCTES UIDB/50006/2020 and UIDP/50006/2020). The NMR spectrometers are part of the National NMR Network (PTNMR) and are partially supported by Infrastructure Project N° 022161 (co-financed by FEDER through COMPETE 2020, POCI, PORL, and FCT through PIDDAC). Publisher Copyright: © 2022 by the authors.The development of novel pharmaceutical tools to efficiently tackle tuberculosis is the order of the day due to the rapid development of resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Herein, we report novel potential formulations of a repurposed drug, the antimalarial mefloquine (MFL), which was combined with organic anions as chemical adjuvants. Eight mefloquine organic salts were obtained by ion metathesis reaction between mefloquine hydrochloride ([MFLH][Cl]) and several organic acid sodium salts in high yields. One of the salts, mefloquine mesylate ([MFLH][MsO]), presented increased water solubility in comparison with [MFLH][Cl]. Moreover, all salts with the exception of mefloquine docusate ([MFLH][AOT]) showed improved permeability and diffusion through synthetic membranes. Finally, in vitro activity studies against Mycobacterium tuberculosis revealed that these ionic formulations exhibited up to 1.5-times lower MIC values when compared with [MFLH][Cl], particularly mefloquine camphorsulfonates ([MFLH][(1R)-CSA], [MFLH][(1S)-CSA]) and mefloquine HEPES ([MFLH][HEPES]).publishersversionpublishe

LICAVAL: combination therapy in acute and maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The challenge of Bipolar Disorder (BD) treatment is due to the complexity of the disease. Current guidelines represent an effort to help clinicians in their everyday practice but still have limitations, specially concerning to long term treatment. LICAVAL (e<it>fficacy and tolerability of the combination of <b>LI</b>thium and <b>CA</b>rbamazepine compared to lithium and <b>VAL</b>proic acid in the treatment of young bipolar patients</it>) study aim to evaluate acute and maintenance phase of BD treatment with two combined drugs.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>LICAVAL is a single site, parallel group, randomized, outcome assessor blinded trial. BD I patients according to the DSM-IV-TR, in depressive, manic,/hypomanic or mixed episode, aged 18 to 35 years are eligible. After the diagnostic assessments, the patients are allocated for one of the groups of treatment (lithium + valproic acid or lithium + carbamazepine). Patients will be followed up for 8 weeks in phase I (acute treatment), 6 months in phase II (continuation treatment) and 12 months in phase III (maintenance treatment). Outcome assessors are blind to the treatment. The main outcome is the evaluation of changes in mean scores on CGI-BP-M between baseline and endpoint at the end of each phase of the study.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>LICAVAL is currently in progress, with patients in phase I, II or III. It will extended until august 2012.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Trials comparing specific treatments efficacy in BD (head to head) can show relevant information in clinical practice. Long term treatment is an issue of great important and should be evaluated carefully in more studies as long as BD is a chronic disease.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00976794</p

Anatomopathological changes in laying quails

Abstract The objective of the current study was to carry out a survey of the main anatomopathological alterations in raising quails and evaluate possible interference of these in the bone tissue. To obtain the data, 23 quails were collected from farm in the central Serrana region of Espírito Santo. Necropsies with macroscopic descriptions, microbiological, coproparasitological, radiographic and histomorphometric tests were carried out. It was done data descriptive analysis and average comparision using Student T test. It was found that they presented lesions predominantly in the digestive system, followed by urinary and reproductive, and muscular system, were the altered color of the liver (47%) was the most frequent lesion. In the parasitological exams, it was found oocysts of Eimeira sp. (39.13%). In the microbiological exams, it was detected predominantly Escherichia coli (83%). Moderate osteopenia in quails, but the percentage of trabecular bone on bones was similar between healthy and diseased quails, without bone changes in histology. Microscopically, it was observed lung congestion as predominant lesion. It is concluded that there was predominance of alterations in the digestive system and mild parasitic infection; and although there was moderate level of osteopenia, there wasn’t bone change as a result of the observed infections