ABSTRACT Plants are valuable sources of pharmacologically active substances against many diseases, including cancer. The extracts of Sapindus saponaria L. contain saponins which concentration can be measured and correlated with their pharmacological activity. Numerous studies have been published on the in vitro cytotoxic action of extracts of S. saponaria L. against cell lines of different types of tumors. The saponins of other plants are used as components of adjuvants for vaccines. Our objectives were to evaluate different parts of the plant S. saponaria L., as a source of saponins by measuring the hemolytic activity of aqueous extracts of fruits, seeds and stems and to explore their in vitro antiproliferative potential in the cell line of human prostate cancer PC3. The quantitative determination of saponins in the extracts was carried out using the modified Pape W. technique that measures the hemolytic potential in red blood cells. The concentration of hemoglobin released by lysis of erythrocytes was measured spectrophotometrically. The effect of the extracts, rich in saponins, on the viability of the human tumor line of prostate cancer PC3, was determined by the High Cell Density Test. The concentration of saponins in terms of μg/ml of extract was: 757.0 ± 1.34 in the fruits, reaching the highest values; 173.0 ± 1.11 in seeds and 30.5 ± 0.13 in stems. The extracts of the three sources studied had a marked cytotoxic-antiproliferative effect against the human tumor line PC3. The inhibition of cell proliferation was similar to that shown by the positive control, paclitaxel. Very low concentrations of the extract (0.01 μg/mL) exerted antiproliferative action. It is possible to conclude that fruits, seeds and stems of Sapindus saponaria L. are good sources of saponins and that their extracts can stop the proliferation of the tumor cell line PC3, even at low levels of concentration and hemolytic potential. Analysing together that saponins themselves are important substances as vaccine adjuvants and that they show an antitumor potential, the authors believe that the plant Sapindus saponaria L. has a potential antitumor effect to take into account .

RESUMEN Las plantas son fuentes valiosas de sustancias farmacológicamente activas contra muchas enfermedades, incluido el cáncer. Los extractos de Sapindus saponaria L. contienen saponinas cuya concentración se puede medir y correlacionar con su actividad farmacológica. Se han publicado numerosos estudios sobre la acción citotóxica in vitro de extractos de S. saponaria L. contra líneas celulares de diferentes tipos de tumores. Además, las saponinas de otras plantas se usan como adyuvantes para vacunas. Los objetivos de este trabajo fueron evaluar diferentes partes de la planta de S. saponaria L., como fuente de saponinas mediante la medición de la actividad hemolítica de extractos acuosos de frutas, semillas y tallos, y explorar su potencial antiproliferativo en la línea del cáncer de próstata humano PC3 in vitro. La determinación cuantitativa de las saponinas en los extractos se llevó a cabo utilizando la técnica Pape W. modificada que mide el potencial hemolítico en los glóbulos rojos. La concentración de hemoglobina liberada por la lisis de eritrocitos se midió espectrofotométricamente. El efecto de los extractos, ricos en saponinas, sobre la viabilidad de la línea tumoral humana de cáncer de próstata PC3, se determinó mediante la prueba de densidad celular alta. La concentración de saponinas en términos de μg/ml de extracto fue: 757,0 ± 1,34 en los frutos, donde alcanzó los mayores valores; 173,0 ± 1,11 en las semillas y 30,5 ± 0,13 en los tallos. Los extractos de las tres fuentes estudiadas tuvieron un marcado efecto citotóxico-antiproliferativo, contra la línea tumoral humana PC3. La inhibición de la proliferación celular fue similar a la mostrada por el control positivo, paclitaxel. Muy bajas concentraciones del extracto (0.01 μg/mL) ejercieron acción antiproliferativa. Se puede concluir que los frutos, semillas y tallos de Sapindus saponaria L. constituyen fuentes buenas de saponinas y que sus extractos pueden detener la proliferación de la línea celular tumoral PC3, incluso a bajos niveles de concentración y potencial hemolítico. Analizando de conjunto que las saponinas en sí mismas son sustancias importantes como adyuvantes de vacunas, con un potencial como antitumorales, los autores consideran que la planta Sapindus saponaria L. tiene un efecto antitumoral potencial que debe tenerse en cuenta.

RESUMO Este trabalho investigou a eficiência do método de quimioluminescência para obtenção das concentrações séricas de hormônios tireoidianos em 23 exemplares de araras [Ara ararauna (n=12) e Ara chloropterus (n=11)], de ambos os sexos [machos (n=11) e fêmeas (n=12)], mantidas em cativeiro. Os valores de T4 total, T4 livre, T3 livre e TSH variaram, respectivamente, de 0,3 a 2,5µg/dL (média=0,94µg/dL), 0,11 a 0,46ɳg/dL (média=0,28ɳg/dL), 1,46 a 3,59pg/mL (média= 2,42pg/mL) e 0,01 a 0,12µUI/mL (média=0,04µUI/mL). Houve interação entre espécie e sexo (P<0,05) sobre as concentrações de T4 total: os machos possuem maiores valores do que as fêmeas de Ara ararauna, enquanto as fêmeas de Ara chloropterus dispõem de níveis mais altos do que os machos desta espécie. Efeito de sexo não foi observado (P>0,05) para os valores de T4 livre, T3 livre e TSH, mas o efeito de espécie foi constatado (P<0,05) para as concentrações de T3 livre. Neste caso, as concentrações de T3 livre são menores em Ara ararauna do que em Ara chloropterus. Os intervalos de referência obtidos sugerem que é possível mensurar as concentrações séricas de hormônios tireoidianos em araras pelo método de quimioluminescência, devendo-se considerar variações relevantes entre diferentes espécies e sexos.

ABSTRACT This paper investigated the efficiency of chemiluminescence in obtaining serum concentrations of thyroid hormones in twenty-three macaws kept in captivity, from two sexes [male (n=10) and female (n=12)] and two species [Ara ararauna (n=12) and Ara chloropterus (n=11)]. Reference intervals for the hormones sampled were indicated and the effects of species and sex on these values were analyzed. Concentration values of total T4, free T4, free T3 and TSH varied respectively from 0,3 to 2,5µg/dL (average =0,94µg/dL), 0,11 - 0,46ɳg/dL (average = 0,28ɳg/dL), 3,59 - 1,46pg/mL (average =2,42pg/mL), and 0,01 - 0,12µUI/mL (average= 0,04µUI/mL). There was interaction between species and sex (P<0.05) on total T4 concentrations. Males had higher values than females in Ara ararauna, while females had higher values than males in Ara chloropterus. Sex effect was not observed (P>0.05) for concentrations of free T4, free T3 and TSH, but species effect was observed (P<0.05) for free T3 concentrations. In this case, concentrations of free T3 were lower in Ara ararauna than in Ara chloropterus. The results of this study suggest that it is possible to measure serum concentration of thyroid hormones in macaws by means of chemiluminescence method, as long as relevant variations between different species and sexes are taken into account.

Cadmium sulphide (CdS) thin films deposited on indium tin oxide (ITO) substrates were prepared by the chemical bath deposition technique at different values of pH and pNH3. This was made in order to analyze the influence of the initial chemical composition of the bath on some physical properties of the final CdS films, used as optical windows for solar cells. The mechanism proposed in the literature for this deposition involves the tetra-ammonium cadmium (II) complex, Cd(NH$_{3})_{4}^{2+}$, at the start of the reaction. Following this mechanism, the change in the concentration of Cd(NH$_{3})_{4}^{2+}$ gives a variation in the rate of deposition with the corresponding modification in the quality of the film. Therefore, the predominance zone diagram of Cd2 + species in solution as a function of the values of pH and pNH3 was used to analyze the reasons why the CdS/ITO thin films are favored in just a narrow range of ammonium and hydroxide concentrations. To obtain useful films, the results showed that low ammonium concentrations must be avoided at high pH values as well as high ammonium concentrations at lower pH values.

Desenvolveu-se um modelo matemático para analisar a dinâmica das populações de indivíduos e mosquitos infectados quando as populações de mosquitos são periódicas no tempo. Pela determinação de um parâmetro lambda (o raio espectral de uma matriz de monodromia) pode-se estabelecer que a infecção termina naturalmente (lambda <= 1) ou se lambda > 1 que a infecção torna-se endêmica. O modelo generaliza, para o caso de coeficientes periódicos, modelos anteriores para malária; como também é uma variação de modelo para a gonorréia. A principal motivação para a consideração do modelo proposto foram os recentes estudos sobre mosquitos numa estação experimental de arroz irrigado, na região Sudeste do Brasil.

A mathematical model for the purpose of analysing the dynamic of the populations of infected hosts anf infected mosquitoes when the populations of mosquitoes are periodic in time is here presented. By the computation of a parameter lambda (the spectral radius of a certain monodromy matrix) one can state that either the infection peters out naturally) (lambda <= 1) or if lambda > 1 the infection becomes endemic. The model generalizes previous models for malaria by considering the case of periodic coefficients; it is also a variation of that for gonorrhea. The main motivation for the consideration of this present model was the recent studies on mosquitoes at an experimental rice irrigation system, in the South-Eastern region of Brazil.

Desenvolveu-se um modelo matemático para analisar a dinâmica das populações de indivíduos e mosquitos infectados quando as populações de mosquitos são periódicas no tempo. Pela determinação de um parâmetro lambda (o raio espectral de uma matriz de monodromia) pode-se estabelecer que a infecção termina naturalmente (lambda <= 1) ou se lambda > 1 que a infecção torna-se endêmica. O modelo generaliza, para o caso de coeficientes periódicos, modelos anteriores para malária; como também é uma variação de modelo para a gonorréia. A principal motivação para a consideração do modelo proposto foram os recentes estudos sobre mosquitos numa estação experimental de arroz irrigado, na região Sudeste do Brasil.

A mathematical model for the purpose of analysing the dynamic of the populations of infected hosts anf infected mosquitoes when the populations of mosquitoes are periodic in time is here presented. By the computation of a parameter lambda (the spectral radius of a certain monodromy matrix) one can state that either the infection peters out naturally) (lambda <= 1) or if lambda > 1 the infection becomes endemic. The model generalizes previous models for malaria by considering the case of periodic coefficients; it is also a variation of that for gonorrhea. The main motivation for the consideration of this present model was the recent studies on mosquitoes at an experimental rice irrigation system, in the South-Eastern region of Brazil.