In this work, some of the synthesis methods already reported for aluminum(III) hydroxide polymorphs with layered structure like gibbsite are revisited. Gibbsite was synthesized with high purity and yield by a simple route developed from modifications of a heating method proposed in the literature, making it possible to prepare gibbsite in regular glassware, avoiding the use of hydrothermal reactor and oven, as described in the literature. The proposed synthesis was conducted with a heating system under reflux conditions in a glass heating flask, using an oil bath, without the need for more sophisticated equipment. This is an accessible alternative method for crystalline gibbsite synthesis, with yield (76 wt.%). The obtained gibbsite was used as a precursor for the synthesis of a lithium/aluminum layered double hydroxide (LDH) from the intercalation method of Al(OH)3 in aqueous solution of lithium chloride. Gibbsite and the obtained LDH Li/Al were used for the immobilization of an anionic porphyrin with a loading on the order of 10-5 mol g-1 of solid, thus being alternative solid supports for catalytic species such as porphyrins.

RESUMO Introdução: Atualmente, os testes rápidos representam importante ferramenta diagnóstica, fornecendo resultados em curto espaço de tempo e dispensando a utilização de grandes automações. Objetivo: Avaliar o desempenho de cinco kits de testes rápidos para pesquisa sérica de troponina I. Materiais e métodos: Foram selecionadas 100 amostras de pacientes com suspeita de infarto agudo do miocárdio (IAM) de um hospital do município de Barbacena, Minas Gerais, Brasil. As amostras foram testadas nos cinco kits comerciais de teste rápido de troponina I e o resultado foi comparado com o método considerado referência no estudo (imunoensaio quimioluminescente quantitativo). Em seguida, foram definidos níveis de sensibilidade, especificidade, valor preditivo positivo (VPP), valor preditivo negativo (VPN) e coeficiente de correlação dos testes rápidos em relação ao método de referência. Resultados: Os kits Abon®, Interteck®, Medtest® e Wama® apresentaram o mesmo desempenho, atingindo níveis iguais de sensibilidade (98,08%), especificidade (100%), VPP (100%), VPN (97,96%) e coeficiente de correlação (0,99). O kit Eco Diagnóstica® apresentou 82,69% de sensibilidade, 0,91 de coeficiente de correlação e 84,21% de VPN, não atingindo os níveis ideais, mesmo dentro do intervalo de confiança. Discussão: Os resultados obtidos com os kits Abon®, Interteck®, Medtest® e Wama® confirmam dados preexistentes na literatura sobre a exatidão diagnóstica dos testes rápidos para detecção de troponina. Esses testes permitem a tomada de decisão imediata pelo médico e podem ser usados para reduzir tempo e custos de internações desnecessárias na suspeita de IAM. Conclusão: Os kits Abon®, Interteck®, Medtest® e Wama® apresentaram excelente desempenho diagnóstico e constituem importante ferramenta diagnóstica em laboratórios menores, sem equipamentos automatizados.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Rapid tests represent an important diagnostic tool, providing results in a short period of time and eliminating the use of large automated equipment. Objective: To evaluate the performance of five rapid test kits for troponin I detection in serum. Materials and methods: Samples from 100 patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction (AMI) were selected from a hospital in Barbacena, MG, Brazil. They were tested in the five troponin I commercial rapid test kits and the results were compared with the study reference method (quantitative chemiluminescent immunoassay). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and correlation coefficients of the rapid tests against the reference method were defined. Results: The kits from Abon®, Interteck®, Medtest® and Wama® presented the same performance, reaching equal levels of sensitivity (98.08%), specificity (100%), PPV (100%), NPV (97.96%), and correlation coefficient (0.99). The Eco Diagnostica® kit presented lower sensitivity (82.69%), low correlation coefficient (0.91) and NPV (84.21%), not reaching ideal levels even though lying within the confidence interval. Discussion: The results obtained with the Abon®, Interteck®, Medtest® and Wama® test kits corroborate pre-existing literature data on the diagnostic accuracy of rapid tests for troponin detection. These tests are allowed for immediate decision making by physicians and can be used to reduce unnecessary hospitalization time and costs associated with a suspected AMI. Conclusion: The kits from Abon®, Interteck®, Medtest® and Wama® showed excellent diagnostic performance, what makes them an important diagnostic tool in smaller laboratories without automated equipment.

RESUMEN Introducción: Hoy en día, las pruebas rápidas representan importante herramienta diagnóstica, ofrecen resultados en corto espacio de tempo y dispensan el uso de equipos automatizados. Objetivo: Evaluar el desempeño de cinco kits de pruebas rápidas para detectar troponina I en suero. Material y métodos: Se eligieron 100 especímenes de pacientes sospechosos de infarto agudo de miocardio (IAM) de un hospital en el municipio de Barbacena, Minas Gerais, Brasil. Los especímenes fueron testados en los cinco kits comerciales de prueba rápida de troponina I y el resultado se comparó con el método considerado referencia en el estudio (inmunoensayo quimioluminiscente cuantitativo). Luego, se establecieron los niveles de sensibilidad, especificidad, valor predictivo positivo (VPP), valor predictivo negativo (VPN) y coeficiente de correlación de las pruebas rápidas con respecto al método de referencia. Resultados: Las marcas Abon®, Interteck®, Medtest® y Wama® tuvieron el mismo desempeño, alcanzando niveles iguales de sensibilidad (98,08%), especificidad (100%), VPP (100%), VPN (97,96%) y coeficiente de correlación (0,99), mientras la marca Eco Diagnóstica® presentó 82,69% de sensibilidad, 0,91 de coeficiente de correlación y 84,21% de VPN, no alcanzando los niveles ideales, aunque dentro del intervalo de confianza. Discusión: Los resultados obtenidos con las marcas Abon®, Interteck®, Medtest® e Wama® confirman datos preexistentes en la literatura sobre la precisión diagnóstica de las pruebas rápidas para detectar troponina. Esas pruebas permiten a los médicos adoptar decisiones de forma inmediata y pueden ser usados para reducir tiempo y costos de internaciones innecesarias cuando hay sospecha de IAM. Conclusión: Las marcas Abon®, Interteck®, Medtest® e Wama® presentaron excelente desempeño diagnóstico y representan importante herramienta diagnóstica en laboratorios menores, sin equipos automatizados.

INTRODUCTION: Activating mutations in exon 3 of the β-catenin gene are involved in the pathogenesis of adamantinomatous craniopharyngiomas. Recently, the interaction between β-catenin and PROP1 has been shown to be responsible for pituitary cell lineage determination. We hypothesized that dysregulated PROP1 expression could also be involved in the pathogenesis of craniopharyngiomas OBJECTIVES: To determine whether dysregulated gene expression was responsible for tumor pathogenesis in adamantinomatous craniopharyngiomas, the β-catenin gene was screened for mutations, and the expression of the β-catenin gene and PROP1 was evaluated. β-catenin gene was amplified and sequenced from 14 samples of adamantinomatous craniopharyngiomas. PROP1 and β-catenin gene expression was assessed by real-time RT-PCR from 12 samples, and β-catenin immunohistochemistry was performed on 11 samples. RESULTS: Mutations in the β-catenin gene were identified in 64% of the adamantinomatous craniopharyngiomas samples. Evidence of β-catenin gene overexpression was found in 71% of the tumors with β-catenin mutations and in 40% of the tumors without mutations, and β-catenin immunohistochemistry revealed a nuclear staining pattern for each of the analyzed samples. PROP1 expression was undetectable in all of the tumor samples. CONCLUSION: We found evidence of β-catenin gene overexpression in the majority of adamantinomatous craniopharyngiomas, and we also detected a nuclear β-catenin staining pattern regardless of the presence of a bcatenin gene mutation. These results suggest that WNT signaling activation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of adamantinomatous craniopharyngiomas. Additionally, this study was the first to evaluate PROP1 expression in adamantinomatous craniopharyngiomas, and the absence of PROP1 expression indicates that this gene is not involved in the pathogenesis of this tumor, at least in this cohort.

Este estudo teve por objetivo traçar o perfil imunológico, pela marcação imunocitoquímica e quantificação de linfócitos T e B, de bovinos da raça Curraleiro. Para tal, foram utilizados 116 animais entre machos e fêmeas, de diferentes faixas etárias, provenientes de duas propriedades de criação de gado Curraleiro do Estado de Goiás, sendo alocados em grupos conforme a faixa etária, sexo e origem. As amostras de sangue foram colhidas e processadas para a realização da técnica de imunocitoquímica, sendo utilizados os marcadores linfóides espécie-específicos, anti-CD3 (MM1A-BoCD3) e anti-LB (LCTB16A-clone B-B14), para a quantificação de linfócitos T e B, respectivamente. Inicialmente os dados foram submetidos à estatística descritiva e, posteriormente, aos testes de Kruskall Wallis e Mann-Whitney. Verificou-se que, com o avançar da idade, os níveis de leucócitos, linfócitos, linfócitos T e B diminuíram. Os valores absolutos de leucócitos, linfócitos totais e linfócitos T foram maiores nos machos. Nenhum dos parâmetros avaliados sofreu influência em relação à qualidade do manejo nas propriedades.

The aim of this study was to establish an immunological profile by marking and quantification of T and B lymphocytes in Curraleiro breed by immunocytochemistry. A total of 116 cattle was used, males and females of different ages, from two farms situated in the Goiás State, Brazil. The animals were allotted into groups according to age, sex and origin. Blood samples were collected and processed in accordance with immunocytochemistry standard technique using lymphoid markers species-specific, as anti-CD3 (MM1A - BoCD3) and anti-LB (LCTB16A-clone B-B14), for T and B lymphocyte counting, respectively. The data were submitted to descriptive statistics, and to Kruskall Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests. The results showed decreased levels of leukocytes, lymphocytes, T lymphocytes and B lymphocytes along the age advance. Absolute values of leukocytes, lymphocytes and T lymphocytes were higher in males than females. None of the evaluated parameters were affected by differences of the management carried out at the two farms.