Cutaneous leishmaniasis is caused by different species of theLeishmania genus. Leishmania(Leishmania) infantum, causing cutaneous leishmaniasis, has been described in patients living in areas where visceral leishmaniasis is endemic. In this study, it was possible to characterize this species in seven slides from cutaneous tissue imprints from patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.

RESUMOA espécie Bombax malabaricum, popularmente conhecida por paineira-vermelha, apresenta metabólitos secundários de interesse medicinal. Como outras espécies da família Malvaceae, suas sementes possuem dormência tegumentar, o que dificulta sua propagação sexuada. Assim, o presente trabalho objetivou superar a dormência de sementes de B.malabaricum por métodos físicos e químicos. Os métodos utilizados na escarificação mecânica foram: abrasão do tegumento com lixa e corte com tesoura na região oposta ao hilo. Para a escarificação química foram utilizados: ácido clorídrico (HCl), ácido nítrico (HNO3), ácido sulfúrico (H2SO4), hidróxido de sódio (NaOH) e hidróxido de potássio (KOH) por um período de 30 minutos. Também houve imersão de sementes em 40 mg L-1 de GA3 pelo mesmo período. Foram utilizadas quatro repetições por tratamento, constituídas de 25 sementes por placa e conduzidas em Câmara de Germinação. Os dados obtidos foram utilizados para o cálculo da Germinabilidade, Índice de Velocidade de Germinação, Tempo Médio de Germinação, e Porcentagem de Sementes Deterioradas. O HNO3 mostrou-se como o melhor tratamento na variável Germinabilidade (83,5%), seguido do HCl (71,5%) e das técnicas de escarificação mecânica, com lixa (71,5%) e tesoura (67,5%). O HNO3também apresentou o menor número de sementes deterioradas (3,5%); o H2SO4 foi o tratamento que mais causou danos às sementes (36,5%).

ABSTRACTThe species Bombax malabaricum, popularly known as red-cotton tree, presents secondary metabolites of medicinal interest. Like other species of the Malvaceae, their seeds have tegumentary dormancy, which hinders their sexual propagation. Thus, this study aimed to break the dormancy of B. malabaricum through physical and chemical strategies. For mechanical scarification of the seeds it were employed: abrasion of the tegument with sandpaper and cut with scissors in the region opposite to the hilum. For chemical scarification: hydrochloric acid (HCl), nitric acid (HNO3), sulphuric acid (H2SO4), sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and potassium hydroxide (KOH) for a period of 30 minutes. The seeds were also subjected to immersion in 40 mg L-1 of GA3 for the same period. Four replicates of 25 seeds were used for each treatment and then they were conducted for calculation in a B.O.D. germination Chamber. The results obtained were applied in order to calculate: Germination, Germination Speed Index, Average Time of Germination and Percentage of Damaged Seeds. The HNO3proved to be the best treatment in the Germination trials (83.5%), followed by the HCl (71.5%) and the mechanical scarification techniques with sandpaper (71.5%) and scissors (67.5%). The HNO3 also showed the lowest percentage of damaged seeds (3.5%); The H2SO4 was the treatment that caused more damage to the seeds (36.5%).

C-phycocyanin is a natural blue dye extracted from Spirulina platensis, which has many applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries. In this paper the effect of pH and temperature on the adsorption of C-phycocyanin onto two different ion exchange resins (Streamline DEAE and Streamline Q XL) for expanded bed adsorption chromatography was investigated. Moreover, the kinetics and adsorption isotherm were evaluated. The equilibrium for the Q XL matrix was reached after 60 min, while for DEAE it was only reached after 140 min. C-phycocyanin showed the highest partition coefficient at pH 7.5 for both resins at 25 ºC. The C-phycocyanin adsorption isotherm was very well represented by the Langmuir, Freundlich and Langmuir-Freundlich models, where the estimated values for Qm and Kd obtained by the Langmuir isotherm were, respectively, 33.92 mg.mL-1 and 0.123 mg.mL-1 for DEAE, and 28.12 mg.mL-1 and 0.082 mg.mL-1 for the Q XL matrix. A negative cooperativity was observed for C-phycocyanin binding when the Q XL matrix was used, while the cooperativity was purely independent using the DEAE matrix.

O presente trabalho teve por objetivo determinar a capacidade antioxidante de Oeceoclades maculata. A atividade foi determinada de acordo com a capacidade do extrato hidroalcoólico das folhas reduzir o radical DPPH. Os resultados obtidos permitem concluir que os conteúdos de polifenóis e flavonas/flavonóis são maiores no extrato preparado a frio (EBHF) do que no extrato preparado a quente (EBHQ), sugerindo que o aquecimento usado na preparação do extrato altera esses componentes ativos. Portanto, para esta espécie deve ser realizado o método de extração a frio para conservar as substâncias que possuem atividade antioxidante.

This work aimed to determine the antioxidant capacity of Oeceoclades maculata. The antioxidant activity was determined in accordance with the ability of the hydroalcoholic extract of the leaves to reduce the DPPH radical. The results showed that the polyphenol and flavonoid contents are greater in the cold extract (EBHF) than in the hot extract (EBHQ), which suggests that the heating effect in the preparation of the extract modifies these active compounds. Therefore, for this species, the cold extraction method must be carried in order to conserve the substances with antioxidant activity.

O uso de fungos em programas de controle de plantas daninhas depende da produção de conídios em larga escala. Assim, este trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar meios de cultura líquidos e sólidos, bem como o cultivo pelo sistema bifásico, para a produção de conídios de Bipolaris euphorbiae Muchovej & Carvalho patógeno específico de Euphorbia heterophylla. O meio líquido foi preparado a partir de resíduos ou subprodutos da agroindústria, e o meio sólido foi obtido de misturas de grãos e derivados. O meio líquido feito com melaço de cana-de-açúcar destacou-se dos demais por ter proporcionado maior esporulação (23 x 10(4) conídios mL-1 de meio), viabilidade dos conídios (99,7%) e formação de biomassa micelial do fungo (1,26 g 100 mL-1 de meio). Nos meios sólidos a produção de conídios foi acentuadamente maior que nos meios líquidos, com destaque para o meio composto pela mistura de sorgo em grão (40%) e casca de soja (60%), onde o fungo produziu 2,3 x 10(7) conídiosg-1 de meio. O cultivo de B. euphorbiae em sistema bifásico não promoveu aumento significativo na produção de conídios. Os meios sólidos mostraram-se mais eficazes para a produção massal de fungo, e as misturas de grãos e derivados foram eficientes para aumentar a produção de conídios.

The use of fungi in weeds control programs depends upon the conidia production in large scale. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate liquid and solid culture media and the cultivation by biphasic system for the conidia production of Bipolaris euphorbiae Muchovej & Carvalho a specific pathogen of Euphorbia heterophylla. The liquid media were obtained from agro-industrial waste or by-products, and the solid media were prepared with mixtures of grains and grain derivatives. The liquid medium made with sugar cane molasses stood out from the others because it provided great sporulation (23 x 10(4) conidia mL-1 of medium), conidial viability (99.7%), and formation of mycelial fungal biomass (1.26 g 100 mL-1 of medium). On solid media conidial production was markedly higher than in liquid media, especially the medium composed by a blend of sorghum grain (40%) and soybean hulls (60%) where the fungus produced 2.3 x 10(7) conidia g-1 of medium. The cultivation of B. euphorbiae in biphasic system not promoted a significant increase in the production of conidia. The solid media were more effective for the mass production of fungus and mixtures of grains and derivatives were effective for increasing conidia production.

Na região norte do Brasil são encontradas grandes reservas minerais, as quais tem sido exploradas nas últimas décadas gerando normalmente grande volume de rejeito para o meio ambiente. No caso específico do caulim, o principal produto exportado é para cobertura de papel (commodity) que apresenta baixo valor agregado. Sua produção, também gera um rejeito volumoso composto essencialmente de caulinita, de elevada pureza, porem fora de especificação para cobertura de papel que é descartado e ou utilizado em outras aplicações menos nobre. Como as zeólitas são materiais mais nobres e apresentam na sua estrutura cristalina sílica e alumina este trabalho teve como um dos objetivos o desenvolvimento de processo de produção da zeólita analcima a partir de um rejeito de caulim menos nobre, diatomito e solução de hidróxido de sódio. Por outo lado, os métodos descritos na literatura para obtenção de zeólitas são desenvolvidos em meio alcalino e utilizam normalmente um excesso de hidróxido de sódio no meio reacional ocasionado problema econômico e ambiental. Assim este trabalho descreve o processo de síntese da zeólita analcima semi-contínuo, no qual o excesso de hidróxido utilizado foi recuperado e reutilizado em um novo ciclo de processo. O processo foi desenvolvido em cinco ciclos consecutivos em autoclave através da reação de caulim calcinado, diatomito como fonte de sílica adicional, solução aquosa de hidróxido de sódio fresco e solução de hidróxido de sódio reciclada. A reação do processo foi desenvolvida a 210 °C por 24 h. O produto obtido no final de cada ciclo foi a zeólita analcima caracterizada por fluorescência de raios X, difração de raios, análise termogravimétrica-térmica diferencial, e microscopia eletrônica de varredura. O processo de produção de analcima apresentou elevado rendimento e o reaproveitamento do hidróxido de sódio por meio de reciclo mostrou-se tecnicamente viável.

In the north of Brazil large mineral reserves are found, which have been exploited in recent decades typically generating large volumes of waste to the environment. In the specific case of the kaolin is the main product exported is for paper coating (commodity) with low value. Its production also generates a massive waste composed mainly of high purity kaolinite, but with no specification to cover paper, being discarded or used in other less noble application. As zeolites are more noble materials and present silica and alumina, one of the goals of this work was the development of the production process of the zeolite analcime from kaolin waste, diatomite and sodium hydroxide solution. In the other hand, the methods described for obtaining zeolites are developed in an alkaline medium, typically using an excess of sodium hydroxide in the reaction, causing environmental and economic problems. The synthesis process of zeolite analcime semi-continuous is described, using excess of sodium hydroxide to be recovered and reused in a new process cycle. The process consisted in five consecutive cycles in an autoclave by reaction of calcined kaolin, diatomaceous earth as a source of additional silica, aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide, and fresh sodium hydroxide solution, and recycled. The reaction process was developed at 210 °C for 24 h. The product obtained at the end of each cycle was analcime zeolite characterized by XRF, XRD, DTA / TG, SEM. The production process of analcime showed high yield and reuse of sodium hydroxide through recycle to be technically feasible.

C-Phycocyanin is a natural blue dye used in food and pharmaceutical industry. In the present study, a simple and efficient method to extract C-phycocyanin from Spirulina platensis wet biomass is reported. The extractions were carried out using six different methods, including chemical (organic and inorganic acid treatment), physical (freezing and thawing, sonication, homogenization) and enzymatic (lysozyme treatment) methods. The extraction using ultrasonic bath in the presence of glass pearls in the biomass proved to be the most efficient method, 56% higher than using freezing and thawing (the method most frequently used), and presented a extraction yield of 43.75 mg.g-1 and a C-phycocyanin concentration of 0.21 mg.mL-1.

Avaliaram-se o comprimento do infundíbulo, do magno, do istmo, do útero e da vagina e o número de pregas do magno e do istmo do oviduto de 20 marrecas Ana boschas na fase reprodutiva. O infundíbulo apresenta mucosa com pregas longitudinais e baixas, revestidas por epitélio pseudoestratificado cilíndrico ciliado, com células caliciformes. O magno, compartimento mais longo do oviduto, 25,38cm±3,20, encontra-se constituído por uma camada mucosa com pregas altas e espessas revestidas por células cilíndricas ciliadas e abundantes células caliciformes. O istmo é formado por uma mucosa com pregas estreitas e curtas e numerosas glândulas tubulares que se estendem para o interior da lâmina própria. O útero, região curta do oviduto, 5,25cm±1,26, apresenta parede com pregas e cristas baixas e numerosas glândulas tubulares enoveladas, dirigidas para o interior da lâmina própria. A vagina, um estreito tubo muscular, está constituído por oito anéis circulares, em média, e uma camada muscular altamente desenvolvida e espessa. A morfologia do oviduto da marreca apresenta características morfológicas e histológicas distintas dos galiniformes, observando-se que a vagina e a porção cranial do infundíbulo apresentam pregas e células caliciformes, respectivamente, sendo estas últimas estruturas ausentes nos galiniformes.

The length of infundibulum, magnum, isthmus, uterus, vagina, and the number of oviduct, magnum, and isthmus folds were evaluated in 20 Ana boschas female ducks in the reproductive phase. The infundibulum presented mucous membrane with longitudinal and short folds, covered by ciliated columnar pseudostratified epithelium, with goblet cells. Magnum, the longest oviduct compartment, 25.38cm±3.20, is constituted by mucous membrane with high and thick folds that are covered by ciliated columnar cells and many goblet cells. Isthmus is formed by mucous membrane with narrow and short folds, and many tubular glands that extend inside lamina propria. Uterus, an oviduct short region, 5.25cm±1.26, presented surface with short folds and crests, and numerous reeled tubular glands, that are directed inside lamina propria. Vagina, a strait muscular tube, is constituted by, approximately, eight circular rings, and a very developed and thick muscular layer. The oviduct morphology of female ducks presented different morphological and histological characteristics from Galliformes, because vagina and infundibulum cranial portion present folds and goblet cells, respectively, and the last cited structures are absent in Galliformes.

Imaturos de Sarsina violascens (Herrich-Schäffer) (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Lymantriinae). Sarsina violascens é uma espécie polífaga que eventualmente se alimenta de P. cattleianum Sabine (Myrtaceae) durante sua fase larval. Neste estudo são descritas a morfologia e o comportamento dos imaturos, com ilustrações, fotografias e imagens de microscopia eletrônica de varredura.

Sarsina violascens is a polyphagous species that also feeds on P. cattleianum Sabine (Myrtaceae) during the larval stages. In this study the morphology and the behaviour of the immature stages of this species are described and illustrated, including scanning electronic microscopy photographs.

Objective: Determine the incidence of clinical and histological chorioamnionitis on extremely low birth weight infants and its correlation with perinatal outcome. Method: Descriptive and prospective study carried out between May 2004 and April 2005. All newborns weighting between 500 - 1 000 g and with placental histopathological study were included. Results: A total of 52 infants fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Histological study of the placenta was performed in 44 patients (84.6%). The average birth weight was 822.3 g (SD 127 g) and the mean gestational age was 26 weeks (SD 2 weeks). Preterm labour was recorded in 28 mothers (63.6%), where 18 (40.9%o) had premature membrane rupture. Histological diagnosis of chorioamnionitis was done in 27 cases (61.4%), where 12 (27.2%) had a clinical diagnosis of chorioamnionitis previously. In 13 of 27 cases with histological chorioamnionitis, no premature membrane rupture was recorded. 75%> (9) of patients with clinical diagnosis presented chorioamnionitis with fetal response in the placenta at the histological study. In 5 cases, histological chorioamnionitis with fetal response was found in absence of clinical diagnosis. Early neonatal mortality was observed in 15 (34%) cases and mortality during hospitalization in 23 (52.2%). Neonatal sepsis developed in 2 patients (4.5%), but 11 cases (25%) presented early clinical sepsis, all of them associated to histological chorioamnionitis (*p = 0.02). In 5 cases, necrotizing enterocolitis was observed (11.3%) and intraventricular hemorrhage in 12 (27.2%), in which 7 were grade 3 to 4 (16.2%). Finally, 9 had bronchopulmonary dysplasia, associated to histological chorioamnionitis with fetal response (*p = 0.01). Conclusions: Histological chorioamnionitis has a high incidence; 44% of cases, it was possible to confirm that it preceded membrane rupture. Chorioamnionitis is often clinically silent and is diagnosed by the pathologist after birth. Clinical diagnosis of chorioamnionitis presents low sensitivity and high specificity in relation to histological chorioamnionitis. Clinical suspicion of ovular infection is highly suggestive of advanced infection with histological fetal response. Histological choriamnionitis is statistically associated to preterm labour and early clinical sepsis. Histological chorioamnionitis with fetal response is statistically associated with bronchopulmonary dysplasia and necrotizing enterocolitis

Evaluar la incidencia de corioamnionitis clínica e histológica en los neonatos menores de 1 000 gramos y su correlación con los resultados perinatales. Sujetos y Método: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo prospectivo entre mayo de 2004 y abril de 2005. Se incluyen recién nacidos con un peso al nacer entre 500 y 1 000 g con estudio histopatológico de la placenta. Resultados: En el período analizado nacieron 52 menores de 1 000 g, se realizó estudio de la placenta en 44 (84,6%). El peso al nacer promedio fue de 822,3 g (DE 127 g); la edad gestacional promedio 26 semanas (DE 2 semanas). Presentaron trabajo de parto pretérmino 28 madres (63,6%) y rotura prematura de membranas 18 (40,9%). Se observó corioamnionitis histológica en 27 casos (61,4%); 12 pacientes (27,2%) presentaban corioamnionitis clínica. En 13 de los 27 casos de corioamnionitis histológica no se consignó ruptura de membranas ovulares. 75% de los casos con clínica de coriamnionitis presentaron, en el estudio histopatológico, corioamnionitis con respuesta fetal. En cinco casos se constató corioamnionitis histológica con respuesta fetal en ausencia de diagnóstico clínico. Se produjo muerte neonatal temprana en 15 (34,0%) y durante la internación en 23 (52,2%). Dos pacientes presentaron sepsis neonatal temprana (4,5%), y 11 sepsis clínica temprana (25,0%) que se asoció a corioamnionitis histológica (*p = 0,02). Cinco pacientes presentaron enterocolitis necrotizante (11,3%). Se observó hemorragia intraventricular en 12 (27,2%), siete grados 3-4 (16,2%). En nueve pacientes se comprobó displasia broncopulmonar, que se asoció a corioamnionitis histológica con compromiso fetal (*p = 0,01). Conclusiones: La corioamnionitis histológica tiene elevada incidencia en la población estudiada, y en 44% de los casos se pudo comprobar que precede a la rotura de membranas. El diagnóstico clínico de corioamnionitis se correlaciona con la lesión histológica con baja sensibilidad y elevada especificidad. Se trata de una lesión que con mayor frecuencia es clínicamente silenciosa y que se diagnostica por el patólogo luego del nacimiento. La sospecha clínica de infección ovular es altamente sugestiva de lesión histológica avanzada con respuesta fetal. La corioamnionitis histológica se asocia a trabajo de parto pretérmino y sepsis clínica temprana. Cuando hay respuesta fetal histológica en el estudio de la placenta, se asocia a broncodisplasia pulmonar y enterocolitis necrotizante

Snake venom metalloproteases (SVMPs) comprise a family of snake venom toxins responsible for most of local and systemic effects observed during envenomation by snakes from the Viperidae family. The vascular system and more specifically the endothelium seem to be the preferential targets of these proteins. This work describes the effects of rACLF, a recombinant SVMP from Agkistrodon contortrix laticinctus on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in vitro. Our results showed that rACLF activates HUVECs by the release of mediators involved in inflammation and hemostasis such as prostacyclin and interleukin-8. We also demonstrated that rACLF increased the expression of ICAM-I and decay accelerating factor (DAF). Moreover, rACLF protects the HUVECs against apoptosis induced by serum deprivation. These results suggest that the endothelial cell activation induced by SVMPs may have a significant role in the development of the local inflammatory lesion observed in Viperidae envenomation.

The authors repport in this paper, the results of trials by means of which were determined the composition and nutritive value of Capim Jaraguá, Hyparrhenia rufa (Nees) Stop/, cultivated in Piracicaba, in State of São Paulo, Brazil. The experiments were made with hay, silage and also the grass at three different stages: before, during and after blooming. The digestion trials were carried out with sheep, following the technique of MEAD and GUILBERT. The chemical analysis of the forages were made by methods usually employd. The results are in the table XXIV e XXV of this paper.

The authors repport in this paper, the results of trials by means of which were determined the composition and nutritive value of three grasses, that are cultivated in Piracicaba, in State of São Paulo, Brazil: Capim jaragaá, Hyparrhenia rufa, (Nees.) Stapf. (hay); capim de Rhodes, Chloris gayana, Kunth. (hay), and milho Santa Rosa, Zea mays, L. (silage). The digestion trials were carried out with sheep, following the technique of MEAD and GUILBERT. The chemical analysis of the forages were made by methods usually employed. The results are in the tables I and II, of this paper.