The aim this research is to develop a HS-SPME/GC-MS method to analyze the carbaryl in blood plasma samples of the rural workers, who live round the perimeter of Chapada do Apodi-CE. This was achieved by chromatographic signal of the 1-naftol, degradation product of carbaryl with the intention of evaluating the degree of exposure of the workers to pesticides, causing chromosome abnormalities as already evidence in appropriate literature. Three different types of covered SPME fibers were tested and a full factorial design with central point in two levels. The variables optimized were temperature and ionic strength and temperature was the response in the design. Study was undertaken to determinate the equilibrium time. The thermal degradation of carbaryl in SPME headspace was analyzed by 1H-NMR. Proposed method achieved low limits of detection and quantification (1.5 and 5 ng mL-1, respectively) with good precision and accuracy, using the method of weighted least squares. However, the proposed method can be considered a good alternative way of monitoring carbaryl in blood plasma by analytical signal of 1-naftol. None of the plasma analyzed presented a concentration of 1-naftol compound higher than limit of detection of the method proposed here.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from ten endophytic fungal species belonging to the Botryosphaeriaceae family were extracted by headspace-solid phase micro-extraction (HS-SPME) and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Thirty-four VOCs were identified. Most of the compounds are sesquiterpenes (14 non-oxygenated and 10 oxygenated), and two linear ketones and eight alcohols were also identified. Multivariate data analysis (PCA and HCA) allowed the differentiation of all investigated species, and proved to be efficient for the differentiation of Neofusicocum parvum and N. ribis, which are considered very similar species. α-Bisabolol, α-selinene, α-cedrene epoxide and guaiol acetate were suggested as biomarkers.

Brazil is one of the three largest producers of fruits in the world, and among those fruit trees, the cashew tree stands out due to the high nutritional and commercial value of its products. During its fruit processing, there are losses in some compounds and few studies address this issue. Over the last decade the conventional system of food production has been substituted for the organic cultivation system, which is a promising alternative source of income given the global demand for healthy food. Therefore, this research aimed to characterize and quantify the prevalent fatty acids found in cashew nuts obtained from conventional and organic cultivation during various stages of processing. The prevalent fatty acids found were palmitic, linoleic, oleic, and stearic acid. The average of these fatty acids were 6.93 ± 0.55; 16.99 ± 0.61; 67.62 ± 1.00 and 8.42 ± 0.55 g/100 g, respectively. There was no reduction in the palmitic, oleic and stearic fatty acid contents during processing. Very little difference was observed between the nuts obtained from conventional and organic cultivation, indicating that the method of cultivation used has little or no influence on the content of cashew nut fatty acids.

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: A Medicina Intensiva foi implantada no Estado do Acre no ano de 1998. O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar as características clínico-epidemiológicas de adultos e idosos internados em unidade de terapia intensiva (UTI) pública da Amazônia. MÉTODO: Em 2004, um estudo prospectivo avaliou pacientes com idade igual ou maior a 20 anos internados através da aplicação de questionário, contendo variáveis sócio-econômicas, procedimentos invasivos, ventilação mecânica, suporte nutricional, intervenções cirúrgicas e tratamento dialítico. A gravidade foi estabelecida pelo APACHE II aplicado após 24 horas de internação. O acompanhamento prosseguiu até o destino final na unidade: alta ou óbito. Para a análise estatística foi utilizado o programa SPSS. As diferenças foram consideradas significativas quando p < 0,05. RESULTADOS: Foram avaliados 79 pacientes; 67,1% homens; 59,5% brancos; 59,5% casados; 50,4% encaminhados de outros hospitais; 41,8% do interior do Acre e 13,9% de Estados e País (Bolívia) fronteiriços. A idade variou de 20 a 104 anos (53,3 ± 18,6); 30 (36,1%) idosos (60 anos ou mais); 35 (44,3%) em tratamento cirúrgico. O APACHE II médio foi 18,4 ± 9,1. A permanência na UTI foi de 10,2 ± 9,6 dias; óbito ocorreu em 30 (38%) pacientes. Houve associação entre mortalidade e tratamento dialítico, internação clínica, ventilação mecânica, uso de fármacos vasoativos, número de intervenções cirúrgicas, hipoalbuminemia, linfocitopenia e gravidade. CONCLUSÕES: O atendimento de pacientes com elevada gravidade provenientes de todo o Estado do Acre e regiões fronteiriças refletiu a carência de leitos de UTI na região.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The intensive care Medicine was initiated in the State of the Acre in 1998. The aim of the present study was to establish clinical-epidemiological characteristics of adults and aged interned in a public intensive care unit (ICU) in the Amazon. METHODS: In 2004, a prospective study evaluated patients interned through the application of a questionnaire containing socioeconomics variables, invasive procedures, mechanical ventilation, nutritional support, surgical interventions and dialitic treatment. The gravity was established by APACHE II applied after 24 hours of internment. The follow up continued until the final destination in the unit: discharge or death. The statistical analysis used program SPSS, considering differences significant when p < 0.05. RESULTS: A total of 79 patients were assessed; 67.1% men; 59.5% white; 59.5% married; 50.4% came from other hospitals; 41.8% from the interior and 13.9% from others States and country (Bolivia) in frontier. The age varied from 20 to 104 (53.3 ± 18.6) years old; 30 (36.1%) aged (60 y old or more); 35 (44.3%) in surgical treatment; the median APACHE II was 18.4 ± 9.1. The stay in the UCI was of 10.2 ± 9.6 days; death occurred in 30 (38%) patients. Association between mortality and dialitic treatment, clinical indication, mechanical ventilation, vasoactive therapy, number of surgical interventions, hypoalbuminemia, lymphocytopenia and gravity was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The admission of severely ill patients coming from all over the State of Acre and frontier regions reflects the lack of ICU beds in the region.