RESUMEN Jules Lefort (1816-1889) fue un farmacéutico y químico francés que se dedicó a la toxicología y ensayos forenses, especialmente de la morfina y el fósforo. Reportó la coloración generada por diversos reactivos con la morfina, narcotina, brucine y estricnina, así como los efectos químicos y toxicológicos producidos por la morfina durante su pasaje por la economía animal. La morfina resistía sin alteración la putrefacción más activa y extensa del material animal. Las sales del sesquióxido de fierro eran el mejor reactivo para asegurar la presencia de morfina en polvo o en soluciones concentradas. El ácido yódico con amoníaco era capaz de detectar morfina en un líquido conteniendo 1/10.000 partes de alcaloide, y la morfina, consumida en forma continua y en dosis variable, aparecía en la orina y no en el sudor. Demostró que el HCl gaseoso era el mejor reactivo para detectar la presencia de digitalina en un líquido incoloro y que este compuesto podía ser separado en forma nítida por diálisis. Leroy reportó las diferencias entre la ipecacuanha proveniente de Brasil y la de Nueva Granada; esta última contenía 23% menos de emetina. También desarrolló un proceso muy eficiente para separar este principio. Leroy encontró que el olor desprendido por los cuerpos en putrefacción, así como su débil fosforescencia, se debían a un derivado sulfurado y a una combinación de fósforo e hidrógeno. También determinó la cantidad de atropina presente en las hojas y las raíces de la belladona y propuso un método eficiente para su extracción.

ABSTRACT Jules Lefort (1816-1889) was a French pharmacist and chemist who did extensive research on toxicology and forensic tests, particularly for morphine and phosphorus. He studied the coloration produced by different reagents with morphine, narcotine, brucine, and strychnine, and the chemical and toxicological effects produced by morphine during its passage through the animal economy. Morphine resisted without alteration the most active and extended putrefaction of animal matter. Salts of iron sesquioxide were the best reagent for assuring the presence of morphine in powder or concentrated solution; iodic acid with ammonia could detect morphine in a liquid containing 1/10,000 part of the alkaloid, and morphine ingested in a continuous manner and in variable doses, would appear in the urine but not in the sweat. He proved that HCl gaseous was the best reagent for detecting the presence of digitaline in colorless liquids and that this compound could be neatly separated by dialysis. Leroy reported the differences between the ipecacuanhas originating from Brasil and from New Granada; the latter contained 23% less emetine. He also developed a very efficient procedure for the separation of this principle. Leroy found that the odor released by putrefying bodies, as well as their slight emission of light, were caused by a sulfur derivative and a combination of hydrogen and phosphorus. He also determined the amount of atropine present in the leaves and roots of belladonna and proposed an efficient method for its extraction.

ABSTRACT Jules Lefort (1816-1889) was a French pharmacist and chemist who did extensive research on toxicology and forensic tests, particularly for morphine and phosphorus. He studied the coloration produced by different reagents with morphine, narcotine, brucine, and strychnine, and the chemical and toxicological effects produced by morphine during its passage through the animal economy. Morphine resisted without alteration the most active and extended putrefaction of animal matter. Salts of iron sesquioxide were the best reagent for assuring the presence of morphine in powder or concentrated solution; iodic acid with ammonia could detect morphine in a liquid containing 1/10,000 part of the alkaloid, and morphine ingested in a continuous manner and in variable doses, would appear in the urine but not in the sweat. He proved that HCl gaseous was the best reagent for detecting the presence of digitaline in colorless liquids and that this compound could be neatly separated by dialysis. Leroy reported the differences between the ipecacuanhas originating from Brasil and from New Granada; the latter contained 23% less emetine. He also developed a very efficient procedure for the separation of this principle. Leroy found that the odor released by putrefying bodies, as well as their slight emission of light, were caused by a sulfur derivative and a combination of hydrogen and phosphorus. He also determined the amount of atropine present in the leaves and roots of belladonna and proposed an efficient method for its extraction.

RESUMEN Jules Lefort (1816-1889) fue un farmacéutico y químico francés que se dedicó a la toxicología y ensayos forenses, especialmente de la morfina y el fósforo. Reportó la coloración generada por diversos reactivos con la morfina, narcotina, brucine y estricnina, así como los efectos químicos y toxicológicos producidos por la morfina durante su pasaje por la economía animal. La morfina resistía sin alteración la putrefacción más activa y extensa del material animal. Las sales del sesquióxido de fierro eran el mejor reactivo para asegurar la presencia de morfina en polvo o en soluciones concentradas. El ácido yódico con amoníaco era capaz de detectar morfina en un líquido conteniendo 1/10.000 partes de alcaloide, y la morfina, consumida en forma continua y en dosis variable, aparecía en la orina y no en el sudor. Demostró que el HCl gaseoso era el mejor reactivo para detectar la presencia de digitalina en un líquido incoloro y que este compuesto podía ser separado en forma nítida por diálisis. Leroy reportó las diferencias entre la ipecacuanha proveniente de Brasil y la de Nueva Granada; esta última contenía 23% menos de emetina. También desarrolló un proceso muy eficiente para separar este principio. Leroy encontró que el olor desprendido por los cuerpos en putrefacción, así como su débil fosforescencia, se debían a un derivado sulfurado y a una combinación de fósforo e hidrógeno. También determinó la cantidad de atropina presente en las hojas y las raíces de la belladona y propuso un método eficiente para su extracción.

ABSTRACT Herbicides are one of the most widely used agrochemical classes around the world. They help farmers to protect their crops against weeds. However, they can move through the soil profile polluting water resources and adversely affect human health. Groundwater is an important source for the production of drinking water in many places of the world and the presence of pesticide residues in groundwater is a serious threat to the health of consumers of drinking water. In this work, the behavior of two herbicides Atrazine and Trifluralin were study in an agricultural soil: Alhue soil and this soil modified whit clay (Kaolinite) and organic matter (Humus). The original soil and modified soil samples were characterized by their physicochemical properties: pH, EC, OC and texture. The analytical method was optimized for the quantification of Atrazine and Trifluralin by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The contact time, adsorption/desorption isotherms, persistence of both compounds in the soil samples and modified soil samples with clay and/or organic matter was studied. In general, all sorption curves for Trizine and Trifuralin in the modified soil samples were similar with relatively low adsorption for Trifuralin indicating that the soil modifications were not significant. The kinetic of sorption process was described by Elovich model. Both herbicides present a low Koc value, however, they present different types of adsorption, being for Atrazine a moderate adsorption and for Trifluralin a weak adsorption, which implies that both herbicides could be distributed in bodies of water as they are not fixed by organic matter. However, it should be noted that Atrazine presents higher Koc values than Trifluralin in all soil samples, which could mean that Atrazine would be less bioavailable than Trifluralin. Values obtained in the Pearson correlation of CO (%) and % of clay are expected since, when observing the results obtained in the Kd parameters for soils modified by both herbicides, they show that the higher the % of the physicochemical parameter, the higher the adsorption of the compound by the soil. The persistence of the pesticides showed that with both the addition of Kaolinite and Humus to the soil increases the half-life time for both herbicides. The results of the GUS index showed that both Atrazine and Trifluralin would be classified as leachable compounds in all soil samples.

RESUMO As demências neurodegenerativas caracterizam-se pelo acúmulo anormal de proteínas mal dobradas. Entretanto, os seus critérios diagnósticos ainda se baseiam no fenótipo clínico. O desenvolvimento de biomarcadores permitiu a detecção in vivo do processo fisiopatológico. O objetivo deste artigo é fazer uma revisão não-sistemática sobre o papel da neuroimagem molecular como biomarcador. A neuroimagem molecular baseia-se no uso de radiotraçadores para aquisição da imagem. O mais usado no PET é o 18F-fluorodeoxiglicose (FDG), com o qual é possível estudar o metabolismo regional de glicose cerebral. O padrão de hipometabolismo regional fornece uma informação neuroanatômica do processo neurodegenerativo que, por sua vez, tem uma boa especificidade para cada tipo de proteinopatia. O PET-FDG é muito útil no diagnóstico diferencial das demências neurodegenerativas através do padrão de acometimento regional, incluindo a demência com corpos de Lewy e o espectro das demências frontotemporais. Mais recentemente, radiotraçadores com ligantes específicos a algumas das proteínas patológicas têm sido desenvolvidos. O composto B de Pittsburgh (PIB) com 11C e os ligantes dos que usam 18F (florbetapir, florbetaben e flutemetamol) são os radiotraçadores mais usados para a detecção de peptídeo β-amiloide insolúvel na doença de Alzheimer (DA). Uma primeira geração de ligantes para proteína tau foi desenvolvida, mas apresenta alguma afinidade a outros agregados proteicos não-tau. Uma segunda geração tem a vantagem de apresentar uma maior afinidade à proteína tau hiperfosforilada, incluindo nas taupatias primárias.

ABSTRACT Neurodegenerative dementias are characterized by the abnormal accumulation of misfolded proteins. However, its diagnostic criteria are still based on the clinical phenotype. The development of biomarkers allowed in vivo detection of pathophysiological processes. This article aims to make a non-systematic review of the use of molecular neuroimaging as a biomarker. Molecular neuroimaging is based on the use of radiotracers for image acquisition. The radiotracer most used in PET is 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG), with which it is possible to study the regional brain glucose metabolism. The pattern of regional hypometabolism provides neuroanatomical information on the neurodegenerative process, which, in turn, has a good specificity for each type of proteinopathy. FDG is very useful in the differential diagnosis of neurodegenerative dementias through the regional pattern of involvement, including dementia with Lewy bodies and the spectrum of frontotemporal dementia. More recently, radiotracers with specific ligands to some of the pathological proteins have been developed. Pittsburgh compound B (PIB) labeled with 11C and the ligands that use 18F (florbetapir, florbetaben and flutemetamol) are the most used radiotracers for the detection of insoluble β-amyloid peptide in Alzheimer's disease (AD). A first generation of ligands for tau protein has been developed, but it has some affinity for other non-tau protein aggregates. A second generation has the advantage of having a higher affinity for hyperphosphorylated tau protein, including in primary tauopathies.

The contamination of water bodies by pesticide residues through direct flow, leaching and other methods has motivated the development of analytical methods for the determination of these compounds in water. A vortex-assisted liquid-liquid microextraction method followed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry for the determination of anilazine, linuron, prothiofos, and tebuconazole residues in water samples from the culture and processing of potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) was optimized. The complete factorial design and the central rotational compound design combined with the desirability function were used to evaluate and optimize the parameters of the method. The optimized conditions for extracting the pesticides were as follows: 316 µL of toluene, no sodium chloride addition, and a stirring time of 187 s. The method presented an enrichment factor of 142.4 times and good linearity, precision and accuracy, with limits of detection (LOD) of 0.005 - 0.007 mg L-1 and limits of quantification (LOQ) of 0.016 - 0.022 mg L-1. The co-extractives of the wastewater samples caused the suppression of the chromatographic response of linuron and prothiofos by 7.82 and 27.63%, respectively. The analyte concentrations in the wastewater samples from the industrial shing process, manual potato washing, and dam water were either lower than the LODs of the method or were absent.

ABSTRACT The need to increase food production in the world is creating more extensive agricultural systems, featured by large scales of production, where the control of pest and weeds are made through the application of chemical products. Many of them belong to a technological package that is the case of glyphosate in the cultivation of transgenic soy; given its high efficiency in the control of invasive plants, however, residues of this product can contaminate several compartments of the ecosystem, the aquatic ecosystem being the most affected. Therefore, several adverse effects of this compound will be addressed to organisms that inhabit this ecosystem

RESUMEN La necesidad de incrementar la producción de alimentos en el mundo está haciendo con que los sistemas agrícolas estén siendo más extensivos, caracterizándose por sistemas de producción a gran escala, donde el control de plagas y de malezas se hace mediante la aplicación de productos químicos. Muchos de los cuales son parte fundamental de un paquete tecnológico como es el caso del glifosato en el cultivo de soja transgénica; dada su alta eficacia en el control de malezas. Sin embargo, residuos de este producto puede contaminar varios compartimientos del ecosistema, siendo el ecosistema acuático el más perjudicado. Por lo que, serán abordados varios efectos adversos de este compuesto en organismos que habitan estos ecosistemas

The paper discusses the conceptualising of the presence of women in the Copperbelt mine compound in Zambia during the period 1920 -1954. Like many other mining companies across Southern Africa, The British South African Company which owned the mining rights on the Copperbelt imposed certain restrictions on women who came to the copperbelt province. Initially mine owners did not favour the idea of allowing women to live in the mine compound for the fact that women were seen as a distraction to production in the mines. The outcome of this decision was that as time went by most of the men left their jobs to return to the villages to be with their spouses. Those who were single took advantage of the neighbouring villages during weekends and stayed on with their girlfriends and sometimes only returned back for work later in the week. This affected production in the mines and made the mine bosses to propose rules on how to incorporate women in the mine compounds. The aim of this study is to demonstrate how patriarchy played an important role in excluding women from participating in the economic development that took place on the copperbelt during that period. The paper further highlights ways in which the colonial government displayed some ambiguities in the exclusion and inclusion of women in the economic development of the copperbelt mines. The article will also show how labour markets exploited women's rights to participate in the economic development in the copperbelt and how when access was granted women's productive and reproductive labour was used as a form of economic drive. The paper further argues that when it comes to women' s bodies, throughout history, religion has played an important role in defiling women' s bodies. It is this negative perception that was also perceived in the mining company in the copperbelt during the period under study. While women were seen as a threat to economic development, their presence in the copperbelt also played a significant role in the economic development of the copperbelt mining companies. Therefore, women' s contribution during the foundation of modern African life in Zambia needs to be acknowledged in our discussion of the development of the copperbelt mines.

Abstract Background Major drawbacks of the available treatment against Chagas disease (American trypanosomiasis) include its toxicity and therapeutic inefficiency in the chronic phase of the infection, which makes it a concern among neglected diseases. Therefore, the discovery of alternative drugs for treating chronic Chagas disease requires immediate action. In this work, we evaluated the mushroom Pleurotus salmoneostramineus in the search for potential antiparasitic compounds. Methods Fruit bodies of the basidiomycete Pleurotus salmoneostramineus were triturated and submitted to organic solvent extraction. After liquid-liquid partition of the crude extract, three fractions were obtained and the bioguided fractionation study was conducted to isolate the active metabolites. The elucidation of the chemical structure was performed using GC-MS and NMR techniques. The biological assays for antiparasitic activity were carried out using trypomastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi and murine macrophages for mammalian cytotoxicity. The mechanism of action of the isolated compound used different fluorescent probes to evaluate the plasma membrane permeability, the potential of the mitochondrial membrane and the intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Results The most abundant fraction showing the antiparasitic activity was isolated and chemically elucidated, confirming the presence of ergosterol. It showed anti-Trypanosoma cruzi activity against trypomastigotes, with an IC50 value of 51.3 μg/mL. The compound demonstrated no cytotoxicity against mammalian cells to the maximal tested concentration of 200 μg/mL. The mechanism of action of ergosterol in Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigotes resulted in permeabilization of the plasma membrane, as well as depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential, leading to parasite death. Nevertheless, no increase in ROS levels could be observed, suggesting damages to plasma membrane rather than an induction of oxidative stress in the parasite. Conclusions The selection of naturally antiparasitic secondary metabolites in basidiomycetes, such as ergosterol, may provide potential scaffolds for drug design studies against neglected diseases.

La presencia de compuestos farmacéuticos en cuerpos de agua y sus potenciales efectos ecotoxicológicos se han convertido en un tema de interés mundial. Después de su ingestión y absorción en el organismo, los fármacos son metabolizados y excretados, lo que lleva a una descarga de mezclas complejas de ingredientes activos y metabolitos en las redes cloacales y finalmente en las plantas de tratamiento de aguas residuales. El objetivo del trabajo fue estimar, a través del análisis de los valores reportados, la concentración media de compuestos farmacéuticos de consumo humano en plantas de tratamiento a nivel mundial, así como su eficiencia de remoción. Para ello se realizó una revisión de 100 publicaciones científicas para un total de 23 fármacos. Los analgésicos y anti-inflamatorios no esteroides representan el grupo farmacológico más analizados, debido a su amplio uso a nivel mundial, con concentraciones medias más altas en el afluente de las plantas de tratamientos (entre 1 y 96 μg/L) y porcentajes de remoción mayores a 65%, a excepción del diclofenaco con 38%. Los antibióticos presentan concentraciones medias menores a 1μg/L en el efluente y eficiencias de remoción variables (42-76%), siendo la eritromicina el antibiótico con menor remoción (15%). Las concentraciones medias más bajas corresponden a las hormonas con alta tasas de remoción (>78%), mientras que los betabloqueadores y reguladores de lípidos presentan menores frecuencias de detección. Reviste especial atención la carbamazepina, que presenta muy baja eficiencia de remoción (<10%) siendo el compuesto farmacéutico más reportado en aguas residuales. Esta revisión permite elaborar un listado de fármacos de interés ambiental para establecer un plan de muestreo de estas sustancias en aguas residuales en el país, lo cual constituye un área de investigación emergente en Venezuela.

The presence of pharmaceutical compounds in water bodies and its potential ecotoxicological effects has turned into a world interest topic. After their ingestion and absorption in the organism, the medicaments are converted due to metabolic reactions, where a fraction of the active molecule and a mixture of metabolites, as unaltered or conjunct substances, are excreted and conducted to the wastewater systems and finally sent to the wastewater treatment plants. The objective of this work was to determine the average concentration of pharmaceutical compounds of human consumption in worldwide treatment plants, as well as their removal efficiency. To do this objective, it was reviewed 100 scientific publications for a total of 23 medicaments. The analgesics and not steroid anti-inflammatories represent the most studied pharmacological group, due to their ample use worldwide, with the highest average concentrations in the affluent streams of the treatment plants (between 1 and 96 μg/L) and removal percentages higher than 65 %, with the exception of the diclofenac, which showed values of 38%. The antibiotics showed average concentrations lower than 1μg/L in the effluent and variable removal efficiencies (42-76%), while the antibiotic erythromycin showed the lower efficiency (15%). The lowest average concentrations correspond to the hormones with higher removal rates (>78%), whereas the beta-blockers and lipids metabolism regulators showed lower detection frequencies. The carbamazepine takes special attention because showed very low removal efficiency (<10%) being the pharmaceutical compound most reported in wastewaters. This review allows the elaboration of a medicament list of environmental attention to establish the sampling plan of these substances in wastewaters on the country, which will become into an emergent investigation area in Venezuela.

The contamination of water bodies is a major concern on the part of scientists from different parts of the world. Domestic and industrial activities are the cause of the daily pouring of various types of pollutants which are in most cases resistant to conventional treatments of waters. Among the contaminants, especially noteworthy are the drugs in which it is found that 50% to 90% are discarded without treatment. The concerns about these substances are the adverse effects to human health and animals, especially in aquatic environments. The advanced oxidation processes (AOP) have been studied and applied as an efficient alternative treatment, in order that it can be applied to the degradation of the different pollutants, considering that can generate hydroxyl radicals, highly reactive even somewhat selective. This study evaluated the efficiency of the photo-Fenton process using UV-C radiation and sunlight to degradation of the drug dipyrone in aqueous solution contaminated with the active ingredient of the drug at a concentration of 20 mg.L-1. Assays were performed with 50 mL aliquots of the solution following 23 factorial designs with central point, and the variables studied: addition of H2O2, adding FeSO4.7H2O and time. The detection and quantification of dipyrone before and after the AOP was performed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and verified that about DE100% degradation of the compound was obtained.

La contaminación de los cuerpos de agua constituye una gran preocupación para muchos científicos de diferentes partes del mundo. Producto de las actividades domésticas e industriales se vierten de contaminantes que en la mayoría de los casos son resistentes a los tratamientos convencionales de aguas. Dentro de los contaminantes, merece la atención los fármacos, en los cuales se verifica que del 50% a 90% son descartados sin tratamiento. Los efectos adversos causados a la salud humana y a los animales especialmente aquellos que viven en ambientes acuáticos merecen toda la atención de la comunidad científica. Los procesos de oxidación avanzada (POA) se han estudiado y aplicado como alternativa eficiente en la degradación de los más diversos tipos de contaminantes, considerando que consiguen generar radicales hidroxilos, altamente reactivos y pocos selectivos. El caso que ocupa fue realizado el estudio de degradación de uno de estos fármacos la Dipirona, mediante dos métodos, degradación solar y degradación Foto fenton. Los ensayos fueron realizados con alícuotas de 50 mL de la solución siguiendo el diseño experimental 2³ con punto central y las variables estudiadas: adición de H2O2, adición de FeSO4 7H2O y tiempo. La detección y cuantificación de la Dipirona antes y después de POA se realizó por Cromatografía Líquida de Alta Eficiencia (CLAE se verifico que el POA usando radiación ultravioleta fue más eficaz que la radiación solar, con 100 % de degradación en la mayoría de los experimentos del diseño experimental.

Spitz nevus is a benign melanocytic lesion and also one of the main differential diagnosis of melanoma. A descriptive and retrospective study of surgical specimens from patients with a diagnosis of Spitz nevus was conducted at two institutions in Niterói - RJ. 32 cases were analyzed. The most frequent histological subtype was compound (60 %), with a predominance of epithelioid cells (17 cases - 53%). Pagetoid spread was observed in 21 cases (68%). Maturation of melanocytes was present in 13 cases (81%). Kamino bodies were found in eight cases (25%). Atypical melanocytes were present in 18 cases (56%). Mitoses were present in 11 cases (34%). Detailed knowledge of the classical form of Spitz nevi is essential for the differential diagnosis with melanoma. However, no single criterium is definitive in the differential diagnosis between Spitz nevus and melanoma.

Introduction: ß-hydroxy-ß-methylbutyrate (HMB) is a leucine metabolite produced from α-ketoisocaproic acid. HMB supplementation has been used as a dietary supplement in sports since 1997, with the aim of decreasing muscle proteolysis. In recent years, positive effects have been reported in different pathologies, which suggests potential health benefits. Aims: The objectives of this review are: to know both HMB metabolism and toxicity, and to identify HMB cellular and molecular mechanisms of action when used as a dietary supplement. Methods: A search was performed in the Web of Science, Pubmed and SportDiscus data bases. Results were divided into two parts; this article presents the results about both HMB metabolism and possible toxicity. Results: Studies show that HMB is related to cholesterol metabolism in skeletal muscle, which could reduce proteolysis, through hydroxy-methyl-glutaryl-coenzy-me A and mevalonate as a precursor in the synthesis of cholesterol. However, HMB could also be transformed from acetoacetate to beta-hydroxybutyrate by beta-hy-drozybutyrate dehydrogenase. The calcium salt of HMB is the most used chemical form in dietary supplements, being the most common dose 3 g of HMB/day. Studies in humans and animals provide evidence that there are no adverse effects associated with HMB supplementation. Conclusion: Metabolic effects and lack of toxicity of HMB make it an adequate compound to be used as a dietary supplement.

Introducción: El ß-hidroxi-ß-metilbutirato (HMB) es un metabolito de la leucina producido a partir del ácido α-cetoisocaproico. El HMB se utiliza como suplemento nutricional en el deporte desde 1997, atribuyéndosele una disminución de la proteólisis muscular. En los últimos años, se han descrito efectos positivos del HMB en diversas patologías, lo cual aumenta su probable utilidad para la mejora de la salud. Objetivos: Los objetivos de la presente revisión son: conocer el metabolismo del HMB, así como su absorción y excreción; estudiar la posible toxicidad del HMB; e identificar los mecanismos celulares y moleculares de acción del HMB cuando se utiliza como suplemento nutricional. Métodos: Se utilizaron las bases de datos Web of Science, Pubmed y SportDiscus para realizar la búsqueda de artículos. Los resultados se dividieron en dos partes; en este artículo se abordan el metabolismo y la posible toxicidad del HMB. Resultados: Diversos estudios relacionan al HMB con el metabolismo del colesterol en el músculo esquelético, probablemente reduciendo la proteólisis, a través del 3-hidroxi-3-metilglutaril-coenzima A, que se transforma a mevalonato, actuando como precursor en la síntesis de colesterol. Sin embargo, el HMB podría transformarse en beta-hidroxi-butirato a través del metabolismo del acetoacetato, por medio de la beta-hidroxibutirato dehi-drogenasa. Por otra parte, la forma química más habitual en los suplementos nutricionales es la sal de calcio de HMB y la dosis más utilizada, de 3 g de HMB/día. Los estudios realizados en humanos y en animales muestran que no existen efectos adversos por el consumo de HMB. Conclusiones: Los efectos metabólicos y la ausencia de toxicidad del HMB lo hacen adecuado para su uso como suplemento nutricional.

Decayed-wood samples were collected from a naturally-infected bridge made of Quercus robur. Fruiting bodies of the white-rot basidiomycetes Hymenochaete rubiginosa and Stereum hirsutum were sampled. The white-rot fungus Fuscoporia ferrea and the secondary saprobiont Mycena galericulata were identified from the rotten wood by means of rDNA-ITS sequencing. The topochemistry of lignin degradation within individual cell-wall layers was determined by cellular UV-microspectrophotometry (UMSP) at 278 nm wavelength. Increased delignification occurred in compound middle lamella regions (CML), secondary wall layers of fibres (S2), longitudinal and ray parenchyma cells as well in vessels. The highest lignin content at initial and medium decay was recorded in the CML, whereas in advanced decay secondary wall layers of the vessels exhibited the highest content of residual lignin. In all stages of degradation, the S2 layers of fibres had the lowest lignin amount.

Indigofera suffruticosa é uma planta invasora, ção. Em um caprino e um ovino foram realizados os testes que causa anemia hemolítica com hemoglobinúria em bo-de fragilidade osmótica, determinação de hemoglobina e vinos e, experimentalmente, anemia sem hemoglobinúria metemoglobina e pesquisa de corpúsculos de Heinz. Foi em cobaios. O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar a comprovado que em caprinos e ovinos, I. suffruticosa cautoxicidade de I. suffruticosa para caprinos e ovinos. Par-sa anemia hemolítica sem hemoglobinúria com formação tes aéreas da planta foram administradas a seis caprinos de corpúsculos de Heinz. Os animais recuperaram-se da e quatro ovinos em doses diárias de 10, 20 e 40g por kg anemia, total ou parcialmente, mesmo com a continuidade de peso vivo, durante períodos de 2 a 24 dias. Foram ava-da administração da planta. Oito a 12 horas após a coleliados os parâmetros hematológicos (hematócrito, níveis ta observa-se pigmento azulado na urina. Sugere-se que o de hemoglobina e contagem de hemácias) e foi coletada pigmento seja anilina ou algum metabolito dessa substânurina para urinálise e observação de variações na coloracia e que a anilina seja o princípio ativo responsável pela hemólise causada por I. suffruticosa.

Indigofera suffruticosa is a weed, which causes hemolytic anemia and hemoglobinuriain cattle and, experimentally, anemia without hemoglobinuria in guinea pigs. With the objective to determinate the toxicity of I. suffruticosa to sheep and goats aerial parts of the plant were administrated to six goats and four sheep at daily doses of 10, 20 and 40g of fresh plant per kg body weight, during two to 24 days. Blood samples were collected daily for the determination of packed cell volume, hemoglobin concentrations, and red blood cells count. Urine was also collected daily for urine examination and observation of color changes. Osmotic fragility and blood concentrations of hemoglobin and methemoglobin were determined in one goat and one sheep. Anemia due to extravascular hemolysis, without hemoglobinuria, was observed in the experimental sheep and goats. Heinz bodies were observed in brilliant cresyl blue stained blood smears. There was total or partial recovery of the anemia in spite of the continued plant administration. Eight to 12 hours after collection a bluish pigment was observed in the urine. It is suggested that aniline is thetoxic compound of I. suffruticosa responsible for the hemolysis.

Este estudo descreve as diferenças ultra-estruturais entre os olhos compostos de rainhas de abelhas de genótipo ch li/ch li e Ch/ch li. Foram registradas diferenças na organização do omatídeo e na pigmentação geral dos dois tipos de olhos. As abelhas heterozigotas apresentaram organização ultra-estrutural dos omatídeos praticamente normal. Contudo, foram observadas algumas alterações nos cones cristalinos, particularmente a presença de pequenos vacúolos nas células dos cones e perda de pigmento pelas células pigmentares primárias. Nas abelhas homozigotas foram encontrados vários omatídeos com cones cristalinos muito deformados e alguns omatídeos com rabdoma bipartido. A quantidade de pigmento nas células pigmentares primárias e secundárias, bem como nas células receptoras (retinulares) do olho mutante, foi menor. Contudo, os olhos das rainhas heterozigotas e homozigotas apresentaram o mesmo tipo de grânulos de pigmento. Estruturas limitadas por membranas contendo grânulos de pigmento e material eletro-denso, aparentemente de natureza lisossomal, também foram observadas. Como elas foram vistas nas células retinulares dos olhos mutantes, foram interpretadas como corpos multivesiculares responsáveis pela redução do rabdoma, sob a presença de luz. A redução de pigmento nas células pigmentares e retinulares e as alterações morfológicas observadas no rabdoma dos omatídeos podem dar origem a deficiências visuais, que poderiam explicar as modificações comportamentais relatadas para rainhas de Apis mellifera mutantes para a cor dos olhos.

This study describes the ultrastructural differences between the compound eyes of ch li/ch li and Ch/ch li honeybee queens. Heterozygous "limão" bees had an almost normal ultrastructural organization of the ommatidia, but there were some alterations, including small vacuoles in the crystalline cones and a loss of pigment by primary pigmentary cells. In homozygous bees many ommatidia had very deformed crystalline cones and there were some bipartite rhabdoma. There was a reduction in the amount of pigment in the primary and secondary pigmentary cells and receptor cells (retinulae) of mutant eyes. However, the eyes of both heterozygous and homozygous queens had the same type of pigment granules. Certain membrane-limited structures containing pigment granules and electron-dense material appeared to be of lysosomal nature. Since these structures occurred in the retinular cells of mutant eyes, they were considered to be multivesicular bodies responsible for the reduction in rhabdom volume in the presence of light, as a type of adaptation to brightness. The reduction of pigment in the pigmentary and retinular cells and the morphological changes seen in the rhabdom of the ommatidia may originate visual deficiencies, which could explain the behavioral modifications reported for Apis mellifera queens with mutant eye color.