Abstract Xylose is the most abundant pentose sugar in lignocellulosic biomass and can be biologically converted into economically important products by microorganisms such as yeasts. This study aimed to characterize the bioconversion of xylose into xylitol and ethanol using four strains of Candida materiae belonging to the Spathaspora clade, which includes yeast species with the potential to convert D-xylose to xylitol and ethanol. Fermentation assays were performed in YPX medium (yeast extract, peptone, xylose 5%) under two oxygen-limiting conditions at inoculum concentrations of 1, 5 and 10 g L-1. The best results were obtained using a 5 g L-1 inoculum under moderate oxygen-limiting conditions. C. materiae UFMG-CM-Y480 produced 32.23 g L-1 of xylitol, yielding 0.743 g g-1 within 36 h. Different combinations of xylose and glucose (25/25 g L-1, 40/10 g L-1, 10/40 g L-1) were also used to verify the influence of sugars on C. materiae metabolism. Xylitol was preferentially produced in medium containing 40 g L-1 xylose. C. materiae UFMG-CM-Y480 produced 26.20 g L-1 of xylitol with a yield of 0.646 g g-1 in 36 h. Our results showed that C. materiae UFMG-CM-Y480 may convert D-xylose to xylitol with a better fermentative performance than other xylitol-producing yeasts. yeasts clade Dxylose D extract peptone 5% oxygenlimiting oxygen limiting 1 L1. L1 L 1. L- C UFMGCMY480 UFMGCMY UFMG CM Y480 Y UFMG-CM-Y48 3223 32 23 32.2 0743 0 743 0.74 g1 g- 3 h 25/25 2525 25 (25/2 L1, 4010 40/1 1040 10/4 metabolism 4 2620 26 20 26.2 0646 646 0.64 xylitolproducing producing UFMGCMY48 Y48 UFMG-CM-Y4 322 2 32. 074 74 0.7 25/2 252 (25/ 401 40/ 104 10/ 262 26. 064 64 0.6 UFMGCMY4 Y4 UFMG-CM-Y 07 7 0. 25/ (25 06 6 (2 (

Himatanthus drasticus (Mart.) Plumel belongs to the Apocynaceae family and the latex from its trunk bark (Hd) is known as “janaguba milk”. This latex is widely used in Northeast Brazil, mainly in the Cariri region, for its gastroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor properties. The objective of this study was to investigate a triterpene-rich fraction (FJNB) from H. drasticus latex on acute models of nociception and inflammation and to clarify its mechanisms of action. Wistar rats or Swiss mice were subjected to the carrageenan-induced paw edema test or the formalin test, respectively, after the acute oral treatment with FJNB. The inflamed paws from the carrageenan-induced paw edema and formalin tests were processed for histological and immunohistochemical assays, respectively. The results were analyzed by ANOVA and considered significant at P<0.05. FJNB (10 mg/kg) decreased the paw edema by 25% at the 3rd h after the carrageenan injection. Indomethacin, used as reference, inhibited the paw edema by 59% at the same time-point. In the formalin test, FJNB inhibited the 1st phase by 27, 49, and 52% and the 2nd phase by 37, 50, and 67%, at the doses of 1, 5, and 10 mg/kg, respectively. In addition, FJNB significantly inhibited the expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and the inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha. The histone deacetylase (HDAC) expression and the transcription factor nuclear factor kappa (NF-kB) were also inhibited at the same doses. In conclusion, the FJNB inhibitory actions on iNOS, COX-2, TNF-α, HDAC, and NF-kB could be involved with the drug anti-inflammatory activity.

Foram avaliadas 386 radiografias da articulação coxofemoral, sendo 220 de cães da raça Pastor Alemão, 112 machos e 108 fêmeas, e 166 da raça Labrador Retriever, 69 machos e 97 fêmeas. As radiografias foram classificadas segundo o grau de displasia coxofemoral (DCF), e foram mensurados o ângulo de inclinação, o ângulo de Norberg, o índice cortical e o percentual de cobertura da cabeça femoral de ambos os lados. As variáveis foram associadas mediante análise estatística multivariada de componentes principais. As variáveis índice cortical e ângulo de inclinação foram inversamente associadas. A raça Pastor Alemão apresentou valores de índice cortical e graus de DCF mais baixos em relação à raça Labrador Retriever. Maior ângulo de inclinação foi associado a menor ângulo de Norberg e menor percentual de cobertura. Animais mais velhos apresentaram menor ângulo de Norberg, menor porcentagem de cobertura e maior grau de DCF. Nas fêmeas, foram observados menor porcentagem de cobertura, menor ângulo de Norberg e maior grau de DCF. Pode-se concluir que o ângulo de inclinação e o índice cortical não demonstraram associação com a DCF.

A total of 386 radiographs of the pelvis were evaluated, being 220 of German Shepherd dogs (112 males and 108 females) and 166 of Labrador Retrievers (69 males and 97 females). The radiographs were degree classified regarding the of hip dysplasia (DHD). The Norberg and inclination angles, the cortico-medullary index, and the percentage coverage of the femoral head were measured and associated using multivariate statistical technique (principal component analysis). The cortico-medullary index and the inclination angle were inversely associated. The results indicated that German Shepherd Dogs showed lower cortico-medullary index and DHD compared with Labrador Retrievers. The higher the inclination angle, the lower the Norberg angle and percentage coverage of the femoral head. It was observed that with age, animals showed lower Norberg angles and percentage coverage of the femoral head, thus more hip dysplasia severity. Females were associated to lower femoral head coverage and Norberg angles, and more severe DHD. Femoral inclination angle and cortico-medullary index did not demonstrate a correlation to DHD.

We evaluated genetic variants of apolipoprotein E (APOE HhaI) and their association with serum lipids in colorectal cancer (CRC), together with eating habits and personal history. Eight-seven adults with CRC and 73 controls were studied. APOE*2 (rs7412) and APOE*4 (rs429358) were identified by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. APOE gene polymorphisms were similar in both groups, but the ε4/ε4 genotype (6%) was present only in controls. The patients had reduced levels (mean ± SD) of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol fraction (180.4 ± 49.5 and 116.1 ± 43.1 mg/dL, respectively) compared to controls (204.2 ± 55.6, P = 0.135 and 134.7 ± 50.8 mg/dL; P = 0.330, respectively) indicating that they were not statistically significant after the Bonferroni correction. The APOE*4 allele was associated with lower levels of total cholesterol, low- and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol fraction and increased levels of very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol fraction and triglycerides only among patients (P = 0.014). There was a positive correlation between the altered lipid profile and increased body mass indexes in both groups (P < 0.010). Moreover, a higher rate of hypertension and overweight was observed in controls (P < 0.002). In conclusion, the presence of the ε4/ε4 genotype only in controls may be due to a protective effect against CRC. Lower lipid profile values among patients, even those on lipid-rich diets associated with the APOE*4 allele, suggest alterations in the lipid synthesis and metabolism pathways in CRC.

One hundred twenty-three radiographs of German Shepherd dogs (47 females and 76 males) from Military Police of Minas Gerais State were studied from April 2001 to july 2004, with the purpose of establishing the frequency and asymmetry of hip displasia. The radiographs were taken with the animals in the ventrodorsal position, with the limbs parallel and the pelvis symmetric. The average age of the dogs was 33.8±23.5 months-old. The study indicated that 89.4% of them had hip dysplasia (91.5% of females and 88.2% of males), being 6.3% unilateral, 17.3% bilateral asymmetric, and 76.4% bilateral symmetric. The frequency of hip displasia in the studied population was high, indicating the necessity of an efficient control program of the disease.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi o duplo pico observado no perfil farmacocinético plasmático da ranitidina após administração oral a voluntários sadios através de análise compartimental. Uma dose simples de 300 mg de ranitidina foi administrada a dez voluntários sadios (5 homens e 5 mulheres). Amostras de sangue foram coletadas em diferentes tempos e analisadas por HPLC. Os perfis plasmáticos foram avaliados pela abordagem compartimental e nãocompartimental. Os parâmetros não compartimentais determinados foram k (0,0054 ± 0,001 min¹), t² (2,2 ± 0,4 h), Vd/F (265,3 ± 70,6 L), Cl/F (84,8 ± 24,3 L/h) e AUC (225916 ± 54099 ng*min/mL). A análise compartimental foi conduzida utilizando-se o modelo de dois compartimentos corporais com constantes de absorção de primeira ordem a partir de dois sítios de absorção diferentes. Os parâmetros determinados foram k21 (0,0149 ± 0,0133 min¹), k a1 (0,0117 ± 0,0073 min¹), k a02(0,1496 ± 0,1699 min¹), Vc (128 ± 75,2 L), a (0,0299 ± 0,0319 min¹), b (0,0074 ± 0,0014 min¹) e o tempo para o início da absorção no segundo sítio (126,7 ± 58,1 min). O modelo usado na análise compartimental foi adequado para descrever o duplo pico no perfil plasmático da ranitidina e para determinar os parâmetros farmacocinéticos.

The aim of this study was to describe the double peak plasma pharmacokinetic profile of ranitidine after oral administration to healthy volunteers using non-compartmental and compartmental analysis. A single 300 mg dose of ranitidine was given to ten healthy volunteers (5 male and 5 female). Blood samples were drawn at different times and analyzed by HPLC. Plasma profiles were evaluated by non-compartmental and compartmental approaches. The non-compartmental parameters determined were k (0.0054 ± 0.0010 min-1), t1/2ss/F (265.3 ± 70.6 L), Cl/F (84.8 ± 24.3 L/h) and AUC (225916 ± 54099 ng*min/mL). The compartmental analysis was carried out using a two compartments body model, with first order absorption from two different sites. The parameters determined were k21 (0.0149 ± 0.0133 min-1), k a1(0.0117 ± 0.0073 min-1), k a2 (0.1496 ± 0.1699 min-1), Vc (128 ± 75.2 L), a (0.0299 ± 0.0319 min-1), b (0.0074 ± 0.0014 min-1) and time for the beginning of the absorption from the second site (126.7 ± 58.1 min). The model used in the compartmental analysis was adequate to describe the double peak of ranitidine plasma profile and to determine the pharmacokinetic parameters.

Eggplant (Solanum melongena) is consumed extensively in Brazil. It has been believed that infusion of a powdered preparation of the fruit may reduce serum cholesterol. However, there are few documented reports on its effects on cholesterol metabolism and its possible hypocholesterolemic effect has not been proved by well-controlled studies. The aim of the present study was to observe the effects of S. melongena on the serum cholesterol and triglycerides of 38 hypercholesterolemic human volunteers ingesting S. melongena infusion for five weeks. Thirty-eight hypercholesterolemic subjects receiving either S. melongena infusion (N = 19) or placebo (N = 19) participated in two clinical experiments in which the effect of S. melongena infusion was studied with (N = 16) or without (N = 38) dietary orientation. Total cholesterol and its fractions, triglycerides, and apolipoproteins A and B were measured in blood at the beginning of the experiment and three and five weeks thereafter. No differences were observed compared to control. Intraindividual analysis showed that S. melongena infusion significantly reduced the blood levels of total and LDL cholesterol and of apolipoprotein B. After dietary orientation, no intra- or intergroup differences were seen for any of the parameters analyzed. The results suggest that S. melongena infusion had a modest and transitory effect, which was not different from that obtained with standard orientation for dyslipidemia patients (diet and physical activities).

Numa série de pesquisas sobre a epidemiologia da Doença de Chagas no Ceará, muitas espécies de mamíferos foram examinadas, dentre elas algumas espécies de quirópteros. Já antes, no Brasil, 15 espécies foram encontradas infectadas com tripanosomo tipo cruzi, dentre as 30 encontradas infectadas na América, de 1931 a 1964. Esses estudos se fizeram aproveitando o material do Censo Relativo de Morcegos na área da Serra de Maranguape (realizado por dois autores), abrangendo os municípios de Maranguape e Caucaia. Em 141 exemplares (18 espécies e 5 famílias) foram feitos xenos com 5 ninfas de Rhodnius prolixus. Examinando o material 30 a 45 dias depois, foram encontrados infectados 9 exemplares, todos da família Phyllostomidae: 7 Artibeus jamaicensis, 1 Glossophaga soricina e 1 Trachops cirrhosus. O primeiro já havia sido encontrado infectado na Colombia e no Panamá; o segundo o foi na Colombia e no Brasil (Estado do Pará); o terceiro o é pela primeira vez. As duas primeiras espécies são insetívoras e frugívoras; a terceira é carnívora, além de frugívora e insetívora. Os parasitos isolados apresentaram características morfológicas e de cultura que permitem colocá-los no grupo dos tripanosomos tipo cruzi.' infectaram triatomíneos e produziram parasitemia (baixa) e lesões típicas em camundongos brancos. A cepa de T. cirrhosus não foi isolada, mas as formas metacíclicas em triatomíneos eram semelhantes.

Several regions in the state of Ceará are being/surveyed for epidemiological studies on Chagas disease; in this program the AA. have made xenodiagnosis in many species of mammals, induding bats. In the paper they referred that in America, from 1931 to 1964, 30 species of bats have presented infected by trypanosome cruzi-like, and from these 15 are found in Brasil. The AA. have examined by xenodiagnosis 141 bats (from 18 species of 5 families), using 5 V instar of Rhodnius prolixus. Of these 9 have shown trypanosomes cruzi-like: 7 Artibeus jamaicensis, 1 Glossophaga soricina and 1 Trachops cirrhosus. The first species was seen infected also in Colombia and Panamá; the second, in Colômbia and Brasil (State of Pará) and the third is referred for the first time.