Abstract Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have extensive applications in nanomedicine due to their physicochemical properties and interactions with biomolecules. One way of obtaining them is through green synthesis with plant extracts containing reducing and capping agents, such as Catharanthus roseus (L.) G Don. This plant has pharmacological applications due to its phytocompounds with biological activity. The C. roseus flowers are rich in alkaloids and phenolic compounds, and have the potential to synthesize AgNPs but have never been used with this purpose. In this study, AgNPs were synthesize with the aqueous extract from the C. roseus flowers, and their cytotoxicity evaluated on A549 lung tumor cells through MTT assay. The AgNP synthesis could be seen visually from the solution's color change and through UV-visible spectroscopy to detect a peak between 400 - 530 nm. FEG microscopy showed AgNPs with variable shapes and sizes. In vitro cytotoxicity assay against A549 cells showed that the C. roseus extract have low toxicity to the lineage, and AgNPs reduced half the viable cells at the 1.5% concentration, demonstrating high cytotoxicity. Therefore, AgNPs from C. roseus were successfully obtained and showed significant cytotoxic activity on A549 lung cancer cells.

Abstract The aim of this study was check the effects of sugar, yacon pulp and skimmed milk powder in the aroma, flavour, texture, appearance, overall impression and intent to purchase on synbiotic yogurts to optimize the formulation using Response Surface Methodology. The most accepted formulations were subjected to viability tests during 21 days by counting traditional and probiotic bacteria. Were constructed a complete 23 factorial design, totalling 17 experiments, and considered independent variables (percentage of ingredients) and dependent variables (sensory attributes). All attributes were graded using an acceptability assessment, for this balanced incomplete block was applied. The number of viable cells was determined using specific culture medium for each species. The percentage of yacon pulp had a pronounced negative influence on flavour, texture, appearance, overall impression and intent to purchase. Model predictions adjusted to the variables aroma, flavour, texture, appearance, overall impression and intent to purchase exhibited good predictive ability and hence could be used as tools for process control. Traditional bacterial strains and probiotic remained viable throughout the storage period. The counts of probiotic bacterial in the formulations were above 6 log CFU/g. The addition of Lactobacillus paracasei ssp. paracasei LBC 81 and yacon pulp to yogurt increased product acceptability.

RESUMO O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a manutenção da qualidade pós-colheita de flores de goiabeira-serrana (Acca sellowiana Berg), em resposta ao tratamentocom soluções conservantes e 1-metilciclopropeno (1-MCP). As flores recém-abertas de goiabeira-serrana foram colhidas no início da manhã (entre 8 e 10 h) e submetidas a “pulsing” com soluções conservantes de ácido salicílico, ácido ascórbico e sacarose, todas nas doses de 0 (testemunha), 2, 5 e 10%, e aplicação de 1-MCP nas doses de 0 (testemunha), 250; 500 e 1.000 nL L-1. Cada ensaio com solução conservante ou de tratamento com 1-MCP consistiu em experimento distinto, segundo delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado, com quatro repetições, cada repetição com quatro flores. Após o tratamento, as flores foram armazenadas durante 12 dias a 10±1 oC e 85±5% UR, e as pétalas avaliadas visualmente, em intervalos de dois dias, quanto a murcha e escurecimento, em uma escala de 1 (pouco acentuado) a 5 (muito acentuado), e de cor, numa escala de 1 (rosa intenso) a 5 (branco). O 1-MCP na dose de 500 nL L-1 e o ácido salicílico, independentemente da dose, prolongaram a manutenção da cor das pétalas por oito e seis dias de armazenamento, respectivamente. A murcha das pétalas também foi menor nos tratamentos com ácido salicílico, 1-MCP ou ácido ascórbico; flores tratadas com ácido salicílico passaram para 2 na escala evolutiva, no sexto dia nas doses de 5 e 10%, e no oitavo dia na dose de 2%; enquanto em flores tratadas com 1-MCP nas doses de 500 e 1.000 nL L-1 e ácido ascórbico nas doses de 2 e 5%, isto ocorreu no quarto dia de armazenamento. O maior retardo no escurecimento das pétalas (até o quarto dia de armazenamento) foi obtido com 500 nL L-1 de 1-MCP.

ABSTRACT This study was carried out to assess the postharvest quality preservation of feijoa(Acca sellowiana Berg) flowers in response to treatments with different preservative solutions and 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP). Recently opened feijoa flowers were harvested in the morning (between 8h and 10h) and immediately after pulsed with preservative solutions of salicylic acid, ascorbic acid and sucrose, all at doses of 0 (control), 2, 5 or 10%, and treated with 1-MCP at doses of 0 (control), 250, 500 or 1,000 nL L-1. Each trial with preservative solutions or 1-MCP treatment was a distinct experiment conducted in a completely randomized design with four replicates, each replicate with four flowers. After the treatment, the flowers were stored for 12 days at 10±1 oC and 85±5% RH. At every two-days intervals the flower petals were visually evaluated for wilting and darkening according to a hedonic scale varying from 1 (less intense) to 5 (more intense). Petal color was ranked from 1 (intense pink) to 5 (white). The 1-MCP at 500 nL L-1 and the salicylic acid (regardless of the dose) delayed the changes of petal color for up to eight and six days of storage, respectively. Flowers treated with salicylic acid, 1-MCP or ascorbic acid had a more substantial delay in petal wilting. Flowers treated with salicylic acid had wilting rank of 2 after six days of storage when treated with doses of 5% or 10%, and after eight days when treated with the dose of 2%, while flowers treated with 1-MCP at 500 and 1,000 nL L-1 and ascorbic acid at 2% and 5% had wilting rank of 2 after four days of storage. The most substantial delay of petal darkening (until the fourth day of storage) was achieved with 1-MCP at 500 nL L-1.

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the prognostic factors correlated with survival of patients with acute myeloid leukemia at the Hospital de Clínicas, Universidade Federal do Paraná between 2003 and 2009, as well as to investigate the clinical and epidemiological profile. Methods: The overall survival and disease-free survival were statistically evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method, the log-rank test and multivariate evaluation by Cox regression analysis. Results: The study population was predominantly younger than 60 years old (81,6%), had intermediate cytogenetic risk (40.8%), in first complete remission after induction chemotherapy (46.9%), with a white blood count at diagnosis of less than 30 × 109 /L (57.1%) and de novo acute myeloid leukemia (62.2%). Survival curves showed that better prognosis was related to age below 60 years (median:12,4 months; p-value = 0,2227; Odds Ratio = 0,6676), good pro- gnostic cytogenetic markers (median: 97.7 months; p-value = 0.0037; Odds Ratio = 0.4239) and white blood cell count at diagnosis of less than 30 × 109 /L (median survival: 23.6 months; p- value = 0.0001; Odds Ratio = 0.3651). Regarding the French-American-British subgroups, the median overall survival was 23.5 months for M0, M1 and M2, 97.7 months for M3 and 7.4 months for M4, M5, M6, and M7 (p-value = 0.0288). Conclusion: Prognostic factors strongly influenced patient survival, as well as guided treat- ment. Moreover, these factors were consistent with the available literature adjusted for the population in question.

Estudo de revisão integrativa da literatura com o objetivo de buscar evidências que subsidiem a incorporação do ozônio como agente esterilizante de produtos para saúde. A busca foi realizada nas bases MEDLINE, SCOPUS, COCHRANE, COMPENDEX, INSPEC E ENGINEERING RESEARCH DATABASE, utilizando-se os descritores ozone e sterilization. Foram obtidas cinco publicações, entre 1990 e 2008, que testaram o ozônio como esterilizante. Todas utilizaram o mesmo tipo de investigação (experimental laboratorial) e alcançaram esterilização pelo ozônio, porém com variados escopos e produtos testados, além de diversos procedimentos metodológicos. Tendo em vista a incessante tecnologia de novos produtos, com ampla variedade de conformações e matéria-prima, os achados denotam o ozônio um método promissor, porém ainda em fase inicial de investigação. Mais estudos experimentais ainda são necessários, de maneira a subsidiar evidências mais amplas sobre suas possibilidades e limitações.

The objective of this integrative literature review was to find evidence to support using ozone as a sterilizing agent for health products. The search was performed on the following bases: MEDLINE, SCOPUS, COCHRANE, COMPENDEX, INSPEC and ENGINEERING RESEARCH DATABASE; using ozone and sterilization as descriptors. Five articles were found between 1990 and 2008, which tested ozone as a sterilizer. All studies used the same type of investigation (experimental laboratory study) and achieved sterilization with ozone, but with different scopes and products, besides using different methodological procedures. Considering the ever-growing technology for new products, with the vast range of forms and materials, the findings point at ozone sterilization as a promising method, but still in an initial phase of investigation. Further experimental studies are needed to provide broader evidence regarding the possibilities and limitations of ozone sterilization.

Estudio de revisión integradora de literatura objetivando buscar evidencias que respalden la incorporación del ozono como agente esterilizante de productos para la salud. La búsqueda se realizó en las bases MEDLINE, SCOPUS, COCHRANE, COMPENDEX, INSPEC y ENGINEERING RESEARCH DATABASE, utilizándose los descriptores ozone y sterilization. Se rescataron cinco publicaciones entre 1990 y 2008 que testearon al ozono como esterilizante. Todas utilizaron el mismo tipo de investigación (experimental laboratorial) y consiguieron la esterilización mediante el ozono; sin embargo, con variados objetivos y productos probados, además de diversidad de procedimientos metodológicos. Teniendo en cuenta la alta tecnología de nuevos productos, con amplia diversidad de conformaciones y materias primas, los hallazgos determinan al ozono como método promisorio, no obstante que aún esté en fase inicial de investigación. Se necesitan más estudios experimentales, para respaldar con evidencias ampliadas sus posibilidades y limitaciones.

The objective of this integrative literature review was to find evidence to support using ozone as a sterilizing agent for health products. The search was performed on the following bases: MEDLINE, SCOPUS, COCHRANE, COMPENDEX, INSPEC and ENGINEERING RESEARCH DATABASE; using ozone and sterilization as descriptors. Five articles were found between 1990 and 2008, which tested ozone as a sterilizer. All studies used the same type of investigation (experimental laboratory study) and achieved sterilization with ozone, but with different scopes and products, besides using different methodological procedures. Considering the ever-growing technology for new products, with the vast range of forms and materials, the findings point at ozone sterilization as a promising method, but still in an initial phase of investigation. Further experimental studies are needed to provide broader evidence regarding the possibilities and limitations of ozone sterilization.

Estudio de revisión integradora de literatura objetivando buscar evidencias que respalden la incorporación del ozono como agente esterilizante de productos para la salud. La búsqueda se realizó en las bases MEDLINE, SCOPUS, COCHRANE, COMPENDEX, INSPEC y ENGINEERING RESEARCH DATABASE, utilizándose los descriptores ozone y sterilization. Se rescataron cinco publicaciones entre 1990 y 2008 que testearon al ozono como esterilizante. Todas utilizaron el mismo tipo de investigación (experimental laboratorial) y consiguieron la esterilización mediante el ozono; sin embargo, con variados objetivos y productos probados, además de diversidad de procedimientos metodológicos. Teniendo en cuenta la alta tecnología de nuevos productos, con amplia diversidad de conformaciones y materias primas, los hallazgos determinan al ozono como método promisorio, no obstante que aún esté en fase inicial de investigación. Se necesitan más estudios experimentales, para respaldar con evidencias ampliadas sus posibilidades y limitaciones.

Estudo de revisão integrativa da literatura com o objetivo de buscar evidências que subsidiem a incorporação do ozônio como agente esterilizante de produtos para saúde. A busca foi realizada nas bases MEDLINE, SCOPUS, COCHRANE, COMPENDEX, INSPEC E ENGINEERING RESEARCH DATABASE, utilizando-se os descritores ozone e sterilization. Foram obtidas cinco publicações, entre 1990 e 2008, que testaram o ozônio como esterilizante. Todas utilizaram o mesmo tipo de investigação (experimental laboratorial) e alcançaram esterilização pelo ozônio, porém com variados escopos e produtos testados, além de diversos procedimentos metodológicos. Tendo em vista a incessante tecnologia de novos produtos, com ampla variedade de conformações e matéria-prima, os achados denotam o ozônio um método promissor, porém ainda em fase inicial de investigação. Mais estudos experimentais ainda são necessários, de maneira a subsidiar evidências mais amplas sobre suas possibilidades e limitações.