Abstract Exopolysaccharides (EPS) produced by Klebsiella oxytoca are of environmental, pharmaceutical, and medicinal interest. However, studies about the anti-inflammatory activity of EPS produced by this microorganism still remain limited. The aim of this study was to produce, characterize, and evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of EPS from K. oxytoca in a pleurisy model. Colorimetric analysis revealed that precipitated crude exopolysaccharides (KEPSC) and deproteinated exopolysaccharides (KEPS) present high levels of total carbohydrates (65.57% and 62.82%, respectively). Analyses of uronic acid (7.90% in KEPSC and 6.21% in KEPS) and pyruvic acid (3.01% in KEPSC and 1.68% in KEPS) confirm that the EPS are acidic. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses demonstrated that the EPS consisted of rhamnose (29.83%), glucose (11.21%), galactose (52.45%), and mannose (6.50%). The treatment of an experimental pleurisy model in rats through subcutaneous administration of 50, 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg of KEPS decreased both the volume of inflammatory exudate and the number of leukocytes recruited to the pleural cavity. The present data showed that EPS production by K. oxytoca using the method described is easy to perform and results in a good yield. In addition, we show that KEPS exhibit anti-inflammatory activity when administered subcutaneously in rats.

RESUMO A partir da reflexão sobre problemas ambientais recentes no Brasil, o artigo investiga a relação entre arte e pensamento ecológico no país nos séculos XIX e XX. A primeira parte do artigo fala da representação da natureza tropical e de como essas imagens, disseminadas globalmente a partir do século XIX, foram responsáveis pela transformação da natureza brasileira em uma paisagem. A segunda lida com a questão da relação entre natureza local e tradições populares ou vernáculas, que funcionariam como fontes para o pensamento ecológico desenvolvido por artistas modernos brasileiros.

ABSTRACT Based on a reflection on recent environmental issues in Brazil, this article investigates the nexus between art and ecological thinking in the country in the 19th and 20th centuries. The first part of the article deals with the representation of tropical nature and how these images, disseminated globally since the 19th century, were responsible for the transformation of Brazilian nature into a landscape. The second deals with the question of the relationship between local nature and popular or vernacular traditions, which would function as sources for ecological thinking developed by modern Brazilian artists.

RESUMEN A partir de la reflexión acerca de problemas ambientales recientes en Brasil, el artículo investiga la relación entre arte y pensamiento ecológico en el país en los siglos XIX y XX. La primera parte del artículo habla de la representación de la naturaleza tropical y de como esas imágenes, diseminadas globalmente desde el siglo XIX, fueron responsables por la transformación de la naturaleza brasileña en un paisaje. La segunda lida con la cuestión de la relación entre naturaleza local y tradiciones populares o vernáculas, las cuales funcionarían como fuentes para el pensamiento ecológico desarrollado por artistas modernos brasileños

RESUMO Com base em entrevistas com estudantes e docentes do curso de licenciatura em educação física da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro e mediante análise de iniciativa do Centro Acadêmico de Educação Física, o artigo evidencia visões que enfatizam a contribuição dessa entidade estudantil para os processos formativos, bem como sobre hiatos percebidos quanto à formação oferecida no curso. Partindo de breve discussão sobre o papel dos centros acadêmicos na formação política dos/as estudantes e com respaldo nos resultados obtidos, é defendida a pertinência de se assumir a dimensão político-pedagógica da educação e de contemplar no currículo formal as experiências do alunado em instâncias extracurriculares, como as oferecidas pelos centros acadêmicos. Essas experiências poderiam ancorar os conteúdos, dando a estes a devida relevância e propiciando a formação de um/a professor/a que reconheça que a prática docente vai muito além da transmissão de conteúdos.

ABSTRACT Based on interviews with students and professors from the Physical Education teacher certification course at Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro and an initiative of its Academic Center and Physical Education, the present article highlights perspectives that emphasize the contribution of the latter to the formative processes, as well as addresses perceived gaps regarding the training offered in the course. Starting with a brief discussion about the role of academic centers in the political education of students and supported by the results obtained, the relevance of taking on the pedagogical political dimension of education and contemplating the experiences of students in extracurricular instances in the formal curriculum, such as those offered by academic centers is pointed out. These experiences can anchor content, granting proper relevance and providing the formation of professors who recognize that the teaching practice goes far beyond just conveying content.

RESUMEN El artículo destaca, basado en entrevistas con estudiantes y profesores del curso de grado en Educación Física de la Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro y una iniciativa de su Centro Académico e Educación Física, visiones que enfatizan la contribución de este último a los procesos formativos, así como en las carencias percibidas con respecto a la formación ofrecida en el curso. Partiendo de una breve discusión sobre el papel de los centros académicos en la formación política de los estudiantes. En función de los resultados obtenidos, se defiende la pertinencia de asumir la dimensión pedagógica política de la educación y contemplar las experiencias de los estudiantes en instancias extracurriculares en el currículo formal, como ofrecido por los Centros Académicos. Esas experiencias podrían anclar los contenidos, dándoles la debida relevancia y proporcionando la formación de profesores que reconocen que la práctica docente va mucho más allá de la transmisión del contenido.

The membrane-based efflux pump systems are recognized to have an important role in pathogenicity and drug resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis by the extrusion of toxic substrates and drugs from the inner bacillus. This study aimed to investigate the in vitro interaction of Verapamil (VP), an efflux pump inhibitor, with the classical first-line anti-tuberculosis drug isoniazid (INH) in resistant and susceptible M. tuberculosis clinical isolates. Seven multidrug-resistant (MDR), three INH monoresistant and four susceptible M. tuberculosis clinical isolates were tested for the INH and VP combination by modified Resazurin Microtiter Assay Plate (REMA). Fractional Inhibitory Concentration (FIC) and Modulation Factor (MF) were determined. The INH plus VP combination showed no significant change in the Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of INH (FIC≥ 0.5; MF=1 or 2).The use of VP in tuberculosis therapy should be managed carefully, considering the resistance caused by specific mutation in katG and inhA genes, in which the use of these EPIs may have no success. The use of EPIs as an adjunctive drug in the anti-tuberculosis therapy should be further investigated on a larger number of M. tuberculosis clinical isolates with different resistant profile.

Resumo Este estudo está fundamentado em noções dos estudos culturais e nos conceitos foucaultianos de saber, poder e normalização, voltado à análise de significados construídos por estudantes de Medicina da UFRJ sobre a política de cotas em suas possíveis relações com o currículo de Medicina e seus desdobramentos em processos identitários. Em pesquisa com abordagem qualitativa, caracteriza-se a cultura do curso, problematiza-se o seu currículo para então apresentar a análise dos dados obtidos através de oito entrevistas semiestruturadas feitas com alunos cotistas e não cotistas do mencionado curso. Os resultados evidenciam tensionamentos nos discursos entre o “resguardo” da tradição da UFRJ e da faculdade de Medicina, – o que dificulta transformações na cultura e no currículo do curso – e as novas relações constituídas, propicias à revisão de valores e do currículo, sendo os(as) alunos cotistas significados como atores importantes em tal processo.

Abstract Based on cultural studies notions and Foucault's concepts on knowledge, power and normalization, this study aims to analyze the meanings constructed by the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro’s (UFRJ) medical students over the quota policy and its possible relations with the curriculum of medicine and with identity developments. Making use of a qualitative approach, the study characterizes the course culture, problematizes its curriculum and then presents the analysis of eight semi structured interviews with the mentioned students – quota holders and non quota holders –, highlighting tensions in their speeches between the “protection” of the traditions of UFRJ and of the medical school – which makes it difficult to change the course’s culture and curriculum – and the new relationships established, conducive to a revision of values and of the curriculum, in which the quota students are signified as important actors.

ABSTRACT Microscopy and bacterial culture are the main tools in the diagnosis of tuberculosis. Since the slow growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis impairs rapid diagnosis strategies, especially in countries where the latter are the only available resources, the ongoing development of new and inexpensive tools based on mycobacterial metabolism optimizing growth detection with preliminary identification is greatly welcome. When compared to the other species from the M. tuberculosis complex, M. tuberculosis is a strong nitrate reducer. Current assay compares the nitrate reductase activity of M. tuberculosis from pulmonary specimens cultivated in nitrate-supplemented media. Fifty-five sputum samples were decontaminated and inoculated in conventional (Middlebrook 7H9, Ogawa Kudoh-OK) and in nitrate-supplemented media (Middlebrook 7H9-N, Ogawa Kudoh-N). An aliquot from the media directly reacted with Griess reagent (7H9-N and OK-N) every five days, or transferred to a nitrate substrate solution (7H9, OK). Nitrate to nitrite reduction was considered positive, revealed by the pink color, indicating bacterial growth. As reference method, the Mycobacteria Growth Indicator Tube (MGIT) was used for sensitivity calculations and statistical analysis. 7H9-N and OK-N assays proved to perform better in detecting M. tuberculosis than conventional assays (7H9 and OK). Indeed, broth nitrate-supplemented medium (7H9-N) was comparable to MGIT to detect M. tuberculosis, except in growth detection time. Results show that 7H9-N may be used as an alternative tool particularly in low-income countries since it is a simple and cheap technique, and does not restrict diagnosis to single-source products.

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease in which the molecular typing methods allow to have important information about the dynamics of transmission and to assist properly in disease control. Although the ERIC-PCR (Enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus-PCR) assay is fast and easy to perform, scarce studies have reported its use in epidemiological studies in TB outbreaks. In this study, we aimed to genotype Mycobacterium tuberculosis and M. bovis isolates by ERIC-PCR and compare its discriminatory power with two other classically used methods: 12 loci-MIRU (Mycobacterial Interspersed Repetitive Units) and Spoligotyping. The M. tuberculosis isolates studied were from northwestern and southwestern and M. bovis from northwestern Parana, Brazil. ERIC-PCR rendered banding patterns with great diversity (1 to 12 bands) of molecular sizes, ranging from 100 to 1600 bp. ERIC-PCR showed to be fast, simple and affordable to differentiate isolates. ERIC-PCR would be an important tool in the epidemiology of TB as screening in case of outbreak, which demands rapid intervention. However if any doubt persist, as it may occur with the application of only one genotypic method, other genotyping methods should be applied and carefully interpreted, always with additional epidemiological information.

Resumo Recentes investimentos na velhice mostram uma mudança de racionalidade que implica a construção de novas dinâmicas de poder, principalmente o biopolítico. A inauguração do discurso de “envelhecimento ativo e saudável” marca tal deslocamento do âmbito da assistência social ao da saúde, com ações de prevenção e promoção. Este artigo, fundamentado em noções foucaultianas sobre o saber/poder, com ênfase na questão do biopoder, a partir da contextualização de articulações entre processos de subjetivação da velhice acionadas em cenário neoliberal, apresenta um recorte da análise desenvolvida em uma pesquisa maior, concluída em 2013, a respeito de materiais de educação, prevenção e promoção de saúde dirigidos ao público idoso. Examina de que forma uma tecnologia de governamentalidade - a Caderneta de saúde da pessoa idosa, publicada pelo Ministério da Saúde do Brasil - viabiliza práticas de normalização de comportamentos e significados sobre saúde e velhice, atuando como um dispositivo de poder que se relaciona a discursos construídos em um determinado contexto sócio-histórico-cultural.

Abstract Recent investments in the elderly population show a change in the general way of thinking, which implies the construction of new power dynamics, mainly the biopolitical one. The growing discourse of “active and healthy aging” marks a displacement from the scope of social assistance to that of health, with prevention and promotion actions. In this article, backed by Foucauldian notions on power/knowledge, emphasizing the biopower matter, we put into context some articulations between old age subjectivation processes triggered in a neoliberal scenario, presenting part of an analysis made in a 2013 research, about materials of education and health prevention and promotion directed to the elders. From this, we examine the means through which a governmentality technology - the Elderly Health Handbook, of the Brazilian Ministry of Health - enables normalization practices of the behaviors and meanings concerning health and old age, acting as a power dispositive related to discourses constituted within a given sociohistorical and cultural context.

Resumo Recentes investimentos na velhice mostram uma mudança de racionalidade que implica a construção de novas dinâmicas de poder, principalmente o biopolítico. A inauguração do discurso de “envelhecimento ativo e saudável” marca tal deslocamento do âmbito da assistência social ao da saúde, com ações de prevenção e promoção. Este artigo, fundamentado em noções foucaultianas sobre o saber/poder, com ênfase na questão do biopoder, a partir da contextualização de articulações entre processos de subjetivação da velhice acionadas em cenário neoliberal, apresenta um recorte da análise desenvolvida em uma pesquisa maior, concluída em 2013, a respeito de materiais de educação, prevenção e promoção de saúde dirigidos ao público idoso. Examina de que forma uma tecnologia de governamentalidade - a Caderneta de saúde da pessoa idosa, publicada pelo Ministério da Saúde do Brasil - viabiliza práticas de normalização de comportamentos e significados sobre saúde e velhice, atuando como um dispositivo de poder que se relaciona a discursos construídos em um determinado contexto sócio-histórico-cultural.

Abstract Recent investments in the elderly population show a change in the general way of thinking, which implies the construction of new power dynamics, mainly the biopolitical one. The growing discourse of “active and healthy aging” marks a displacement from the scope of social assistance to that of health, with prevention and promotion actions. In this article, backed by Foucauldian notions on power/knowledge, emphasizing the biopower matter, we put into context some articulations between old age subjectivation processes triggered in a neoliberal scenario, presenting part of an analysis made in a 2013 research, about materials of education and health prevention and promotion directed to the elders. From this, we examine the means through which a governmentality technology - the Elderly Health Handbook, of the Brazilian Ministry of Health - enables normalization practices of the behaviors and meanings concerning health and old age, acting as a power dispositive related to discourses constituted within a given sociohistorical and cultural context.

resumo O artigo parte da análise do balé O homem e seu desejo, criado por Paul Claudel (poema plástico), Darius Milhaud (música) e Audrey Parr (cenografia e figurino) quando estavam no Rio de Janeiro entre 1917 e 1918. A ideia básica é pensar essa obra como parte integrante dos diálogos interculturais que fundam a modernidade global do início do século XX, investigando o papel desempenhado pela cultura e pela natureza brasileira no projeto de Claudel de articulação entre vanguarda, classicismo e primitivismo.

abstract This article analyses the ballet Man and his desire, created by Paul Claudel (poème plastique), Darius Milhaud (music) and Audrey Parr (set and costume design), when they were in Rio de Janeiro, in 1917 and 1918. The essential idea is to think this work as part of the cross-culture dialogues that founded the global modernity of the early 20th century, investigating the role of Brazilian culture and nature in Claudel’s project of articulation between avant-garde, classicism and primitivism.

RESUMO O presente artigo trata de compreender como a modernidade dos jardins de Roberto Burle Marx se forma por meio do recurso a estratégias que poderiam ser qualificadas como conservadoras ou mesmo regressivas caso fossem analisadas a partir da tradicional perspectiva da história do modernismo brasileiro. A análise de um de seus procedimentos formais peculiares - o uso de elementos arquitetônicos adquiridos em demolições na composição dos seus jardins -, em conexão com sua prática de colecionador de plantas e de arte, deve servir à construção de novos instrumentos críticos de abordagem de sua obra paisagística.

ABSTRACT The present article aims to understand how the modernity of the gardens designed by Roberto Burle Marx is created through the use of strategies that could be qualified as conservative or even regressive if they were analyzed from the traditional perspective of the Brazilian modernism history. The analysis of one of his peculiar formal procedures - the use of architectural elements acquired in demolitions in the composition of his gardens - in connection with his practice as a botanical and art collector, should provide new critical apparatus to approach his landscape oeuvre.

ABSTRACT The present study evaluated the antimicrobial susceptibility profile, β-lactamase production, and genetic diversity of Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter spp. using phenotypic identification, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and β-lactamase phenotypic detection. Isolates were obtained from patients in an intensive care unit in a hospital in southern Brazil. Bacterial genomic DNA was extracted, followed by the genotypic detection of carbapenemases and enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus-polymerase chain reaction (ERIC-PCR). Fifty-six isolates (26 Klebsiella pneumoniae, five Escherichia coli, three Enterobacter aerogenes, nine P. aeruginosa, and 13 Acinetobacter spp.) were evaluated. The phenotypic extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) test was positive in 53.8% of the K. pneumoniae isolates, 100.0% of the E. coli isolates, and 100.0% of the E. aerogenes isolates. Phenotypic and genotypic testing of K. pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) was positive in 50.0% of the K. pneumoniae isolates. Phenotypic and genotypic testing showed that none of the P. aeruginosa or Acinetobacter spp. isolates were positive for metallo- β-lactamase (MBL). The bla OXA gene was detected only in Acinetobacter spp. The lowest genetic diversity, determined by ERIC-PCR, was observed among the KPC-producing K. pneumoniae isolates and OXA-producing Acinetobacter spp. isolates, indicating the inadequate dissemination control of multidrug-resistant bacteria in this hospital environment.

RESUMO A hanseníase é uma doença tropical negligenciada e ainda um importante problema de saúde pública, especialmente nos países em desenvolvimento. É uma doença infecciosa crônica causada pelo Mycobacterium leprae, que tem predileção pela pele e nervos periféricos. Embora com baixa sensibilidade, o esfregaço de linfa (SSS) continua sendo o método laboratorial convencional auxiliar no diagnóstico clínico da hanseníase. A biologia molecular representada pela Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase (PCR) trouxe a expectativa de ser uma ferramenta diagnóstica simples e sensível. No presente estudo, o desempenho de dois métodos de PCR usando alvos diferentes, PCR-P e PCR-LP, foi comparado com SSS no diagnóstico da hanseníase em um laboratório de referência. DNA de M. leprae foi extraído de 106 amostras de linfa de 40 pacientes que apresentavam suspeita clínica de hanseníase. As amostras foram submetidas tanto a PCR como SSS. A amplificação do gene humano β-globina foi usada como controle de inibição da PCR. A especificidade de ambas as técnicas de PCR foi de 100% e a sensibilidade foi de 0,007 μg/mL e 0,015 μg/mL para a PCR-P e PCR-LP, respectivamente. Não se observou diferença estatística entre os resultados da PCR-LP e PCR-P, quando comparado com SSS (p > 0,05). Apesar de a PCR ainda não substituir o SSS no diagnóstico da hanseníase, esta técnica pode ser usada como ferramenta auxiliar eficiente para a detecção precoce da doença, especialmente em regiões endêmicas. Esta estratégia pode também ser útil nos casos em que os resultados de SSS forem negativos (ex. em pacientes paucibacilares) e em casos onde a biópsia da pele não pode ser realizada.

ABSTRACT Leprosy is a neglected tropical disease and an important public health problem, especially in developing countries. It is a chronic infectious disease that is caused by Mycobacterium leprae, which has a predilection for the skin and peripheral nerves. Although it has low sensitivity, slit-skin smear (SSS) remains the conventional auxiliary laboratory technique for the clinical diagnosis of leprosy. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a molecular biology technique that holds promise as a simple and sensitive diagnostic tool. In the present study, the performance of two PCR methods, using different targets, PCR-LP and PCR-P, were compared with SSS with regard to leprosy diagnosis in a reference laboratory. M. leprae DNA was extracted from 106 lymph samples of 40 patients who had clinical suspicion of leprosy. The samples were subjected to both PCR techniques and SSS. Amplification of the human b-globin gene was used as PCR inhibitor control. The specificity of both PCR techniques was 100%, and sensitivity was 0.007 and 0.015 µg/ml for PCR-LP and PCR-P, respectively. No significant difference was found between either the PCR-LP or PCR-P results and SSS results (p > 0.05). Although PCR is not yet a replacement for SSS in the diagnosis of leprosy, this technique may be used as an efficient auxiliary tool for early detection of the disease, especially in endemic regions. This strategy may also be useful in cases in which SSS results are negative (e.g., in paucibacillary patients) and cases in which skin biopsy cannot be performed.

We evaluated the in vitro anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis activity and the cytotoxicity of dichloromethane extract and pure compounds from the leaves of Calophyllum brasiliense. Purification of the dichloromethane extract yielded the pure compounds (-) mammea A/BB (1), (-) mammea B/BB (2) and amentoflavone (3). The compound structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic and spectrometric data. The contents of bioactive compounds in the extracts were quantified using high performance liquid chromatography coupled to an ultraviolet detector. The anti-M. tuberculosis activity of the extracts and the pure compounds was evaluated using a resazurin microtitre assay plate. The cytotoxicity assay was performed in J774G.8 macrophages using the 3-(4,5-dimethyl thiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide colourimetric method. The quantification of the dichloromethane extract showed (1) and (2) at concentrations of 31.86 ± 2.6 and 8.24 ± 1.1 µg/mg of extract, respectively. The dichloromethane and aqueous extracts showed anti-M. tuberculosis H37Rv activity of 62.5 and 125 µg/mL, respectively. Coumarins (1) and (2) showed minimal inhibitory concentration ranges of 31.2 and 62.5 µg/mL against M. tuberculosis H37Rv and clinical isolates. Compound (3) showed no activity against M. tuberculosis H37Rv. The selectivity index ranged from 0.59-1.06. We report the activity of the extracts and coumarins from the leaves of C. brasiliense against M. tuberculosis.