In Vitro Activity Of Artemisia Annua L (asteraceae) Extracts Against Rhipicephalus (boophilus) Microplus [atividade In Vitro De Extratos De Artemisia Annua L (asteraceae) Sobre Rhipicephalus (boophilus) Microplus]

The activity of plant extracts on parasites may indicate groups of substances that are potentially useful for controlling Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. The aim of the present study was to investigate the in vitro action of Artemisia annua extracts on this tick. The concentrations of the sesquiterpene lactones artemisinin and deoxyartemisinin present in plant extracts were quantified via high-performance liquid chromatography. Four extracts produced from the concentrated crude extract (CCE) were evaluated on larvae using the impregnated paper method, with readings after 24 hours of incubation. The engorged females were immersed in the CCE and in its four derived extracts for five minutes, with incubation for subsequent analysis of biological parameters. The extracts were not effective on the larvae at the concentrations tested (3.1 to 50 mg.mL-1). The CCE showed greater efficacy on engorged females (EC50 of 130.6 mg.mL-1 and EC90 of 302.9 mg.mL-1) than did the derived extracts. These results tend to confirm that the action of artemisinin on engorged females of R. (B.) microplus is conditional to their blood intake. In this case, in vitro methods would be inadequate for effective evaluation of the action of A. annua on R. (B.) microplus.2013135Amaral, N.K., Guidelines for the evaluation of ixodicides against the cattle tick Boophilus microplus (Canestrini, 1887) (Acari: Ixodidae) (1993) Revista Brasileira De Parasitologia Veterinária, 2 (2), pp. 144-151(2009) Anuário Da Pecuária Brasileira, p. 360. , ANUALPEC, Sao Paulo: Angra FNP PesquisasBorges, L.M.F., Acao do extrato hexanico de frutos maduros de Melia azedarach (Meliaceae) sobre Boophilus microplus (Acari: Ixodidae) em bezerros infestados artificialmente (2005) Revista De Patologia Tropical, 34 (1), pp. 53-59Cala, A.C., (2010) Avaliação Da Atividade De Artemisia Annua L., Melia Azedarach L. E Trichilia Claussenii C. Sobre Nematódeos Gastrintestinais De Ovinos, p. 64. , Dissertacao (Mestrado)- Universidade Estadual Paulista, Faculdade de Ciencias Agrarias e Veterinarias, JaboticabalCeleghini, R.M.S., Desenvolvimento e validacao de metodologia analitica por CLAE-IR para determinacao de artemisinina em Artemisia annua L (2009) Química Nova, 32 (4), pp. 875-878Chagas, A.C.S., Efeito acaricida de oleos essenciais e concentrados emulsionaveis de Eucalyptus em Boophilus microplus (2002) Brazilian Journal of Veterinary Research and Animal Science, 39 (5), pp. 247-253Chagas, A.C.S., Sensibilidade do carrapato Boophilus microplus a solventes (2003) Ciência Rural, 33 (1), pp. 109-114Creek, D.J., Kinetics of ironmediated artemisinin degradation:Effect of solvent composition and iron salt (2005) Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 94 (8), pp. 1820-1829Drummond, R.O., Boophilus annulatus and B. 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Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency with recurrent infections: case report

OBJECTIVE: To report a case of rare neutrophil functional disorder with clinical and laboratory findings similar to those of chronic granulomatous disease. METHODS: Patient with extremely reduced level of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and recurrent infections that improved after continuous use of cotrimoxazole. The patient presented leukocytes with defective respiratory burst, similar to what occurs in chronic granulomatous disease. COMMENTS: The diagnosis of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in neutrophils should be considered in any patient with hemolytic anemia whose level of G6PD is extremely low or in any patient that presents recurrent infections as differential diagnosis of chronic granulomatous disease.OBJETIVO: relatar a ocorrência de uma deficiência funcional de neutrófilos rara, com quadro clínico e laboratorial semelhante ao da doença granulomatosa crônica. MÉTODOS: relato de caso de paciente com deficiência acentuada da glicose-6-fosfato desidrogenase e infecções de repetição. Realizada pesquisa bibliográfica utilizando as bases de dados Medline e Lilacs, abrangendo o período de 1972 a 2000. RESULTADOS: paciente com nível da glicose-6-fosfato desidrogenase extremamente reduzido e quadro de infeções graves com melhora clínica após uso de cotrimoxazol contínuo. Os leucócitos do paciente apresentam defeito no metabolismo oxidativo, similar ao da doença granulomatosa crônica. CONCLUSÕES: o diagnóstico da deficiência da glicose-6-fosfato desidrogenase em neutrófilos deve ser considerado em qualquer paciente com anemia hemolítica não esferocítica congênita no qual o nível da glicose-6-fosfato desidrogenase esteja anormalmente baixo ou apresente infeções de repetição. É diagnóstico diferencial da doença granulomatosa crônica.Univ. Federal de São Paulo Depto. de Pediatria Disc. de Alergia, Imunologia ClínicaUniv. Federal do Rio de Janeiro Fac. de Medicina Depto. de Medicina PreventivaUNICAMP Faculdade de Ciências Médicas Depto. de PediatriaUniv. de São Paulo Fac. de MedicinaUNIFESP-EPM Depto. de PediatriaUSP Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Depto. de ImunologiaUFRJ Fac. Med. Depto. de Medicina PreventivaUFRJ Fac. de Medicina Depto. de PediatriaUNIFESP, EPM, Depto. de PediatriaSciEL

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency with recurrent infections: case report

OBJECTIVE: To report a case of rare neutrophil functional disorder with clinical and laboratory findings similar to those of chronic granulomatous disease. METHODS: Patient with extremely reduced level of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and recurrent infections that improved after continuous use of cotrimoxazole. The patient presented leukocytes with defective respiratory burst, similar to what occurs in chronic granulomatous disease. COMMENTS: The diagnosis of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in neutrophils should be considered in any patient with hemolytic anemia whose level of G6PD is extremely low or in any patient that presents recurrent infections as differential diagnosis of chronic granulomatous disease.OBJETIVO: relatar a ocorrência de uma deficiência funcional de neutrófilos rara, com quadro clínico e laboratorial semelhante ao da doença granulomatosa crônica. MÉTODOS: relato de caso de paciente com deficiência acentuada da glicose-6-fosfato desidrogenase e infecções de repetição. Realizada pesquisa bibliográfica utilizando as bases de dados Medline e Lilacs, abrangendo o período de 1972 a 2000. RESULTADOS: paciente com nível da glicose-6-fosfato desidrogenase extremamente reduzido e quadro de infeções graves com melhora clínica após uso de cotrimoxazol contínuo. Os leucócitos do paciente apresentam defeito no metabolismo oxidativo, similar ao da doença granulomatosa crônica. CONCLUSÕES: o diagnóstico da deficiência da glicose-6-fosfato desidrogenase em neutrófilos deve ser considerado em qualquer paciente com anemia hemolítica não esferocítica congênita no qual o nível da glicose-6-fosfato desidrogenase esteja anormalmente baixo ou apresente infeções de repetição. É diagnóstico diferencial da doença granulomatosa crônica.33133

Anisotropy studies around the galactic centre at EeV energies with the Auger Observatory

Data from the Pierre Auger Observatory are analyzed to search for anisotropies near the direction of the Galactic Centre at EeV energies. The exposure of the surface array in this part of the sky is already significantly larger than that of the fore-runner experiments. Our results do not support previous findings of localized excesses in the AGASA and SUGAR data. We set an upper bound on a point-like flux of cosmic rays arriving from the Galactic Centre which excludes several scenarios predicting sources of EeV neutrons from Sagittarius $A$. Also the events detected simultaneously by the surface and fluorescence detectors (the `hybrid' data set), which have better pointing accuracy but are less numerous than those of the surface array alone, do not show any significant localized excess from this direction.Comment: Matches published versio

The Fluorescence Detector of the Pierre Auger Observatory

The Pierre Auger Observatory is a hybrid detector for ultra-high energy cosmic rays. It combines a surface array to measure secondary particles at ground level together with a fluorescence detector to measure the development of air showers in the atmosphere above the array. The fluorescence detector comprises 24 large telescopes specialized for measuring the nitrogen fluorescence caused by charged particles of cosmic ray air showers. In this paper we describe the components of the fluorescence detector including its optical system, the design of the camera, the electronics, and the systems for relative and absolute calibration. We also discuss the operation and the monitoring of the detector. Finally, we evaluate the detector performance and precision of shower reconstructions.Comment: 53 pages. Submitted to Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section

Atmospheric effects on extensive air showers observed with the Surface Detector of the Pierre Auger Observatory

Atmospheric parameters, such as pressure (P), temperature (T) and density, affect the development of extensive air showers initiated by energetic cosmic rays. We have studied the impact of atmospheric variations on extensive air showers by means of the surface detector of the Pierre Auger Observatory. The rate of events shows a ~10% seasonal modulation and ~2% diurnal one. We find that the observed behaviour is explained by a model including the effects associated with the variations of pressure and density. The former affects the longitudinal development of air showers while the latter influences the Moliere radius and hence the lateral distribution of the shower particles. The model is validated with full simulations of extensive air showers using atmospheric profiles measured at the site of the Pierre Auger Observatory.Comment: 24 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in Astroparticle Physic

The exposure of the hybrid detector of the Pierre Auger Observatory

The Pierre Auger Observatory is a detector for ultra-high energy cosmic rays. It consists of a surface array to measure secondary particles at ground level and a fluorescence detector to measure the development of air showers in the atmosphere above the array. The "hybrid" detection mode combines the information from the two subsystems. We describe the determination of the hybrid exposure for events observed by the fluorescence telescopes in coincidence with at least one water-Cherenkov detector of the surface array. A detailed knowledge of the time dependence of the detection operations is crucial for an accurate evaluation of the exposure. We discuss the relevance of monitoring data collected during operations, such as the status of the fluorescence detector, background light and atmospheric conditions, that are used in both simulation and reconstruction.Comment: Paper accepted by Astroparticle Physic

Update on the correlation of the highest energy cosmic rays with nearby extragalactic matter

Data collected by the Pierre Auger Observatory through 31 August 2007 showed evidence for anisotropy in the arrival directions of cosmic rays above the Greisen-Zatsepin-Kuz'min energy threshold, \nobreak{$6\times 10^{19}$eV}. The anisotropy was measured by the fraction of arrival directions that are less than $3.1^\circ$ from the position of an active galactic nucleus within 75 Mpc (using the V\'eron-Cetty and V\'eron $12^{\rm th}$ catalog). An updated measurement of this fraction is reported here using the arrival directions of cosmic rays recorded above the same energy threshold through 31 December 2009. The number of arrival directions has increased from 27 to 69, allowing a more precise measurement. The correlating fraction is $(38^{+7}_{-6})$, compared with $21$ expected for isotropic cosmic rays. This is down from the early estimate of $(69^{+11}_{-13})$. The enlarged set of arrival directions is examined also in relation to other populations of nearby extragalactic objects: galaxies in the 2 Microns All Sky Survey and active galactic nuclei detected in hard X-rays by the Swift Burst Alert Telescope. A celestial region around the position of the radiogalaxy Cen A has the largest excess of arrival directions relative to isotropic expectations. The 2-point autocorrelation function is shown for the enlarged set of arrival directions and compared to the isotropic expectation.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astroparticle Physics on 31 August 201