Search

Dengue viral (DENV) infections can lead to acute pancreatitis and associated tissue damage. This study examined the pancreas from two fatal cases of DENV for histopathological changes as well as for the detection of cytokines, and other inflammatory mediators. Tissue sections were prepared for examination by ultrastructural and histopathological techniques. Sections from the pancreas of non-infected individuals were prepared in parallel as a control. The presence of viral replication in macrophages was detected by co-staining for the proteins NS3 and CD68 by immunofluorescence. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect cells that expressed cytokines and inflammatory mediators to characterize the inflammatory response. Edema, acinar necrosis and fibrosis areas associated with a mononuclear infiltrate were found in infected tissues. The major site of virus replication appeared to be macrophages based on their exclusive presentation of the viral protein NS3. Pancreatic tissues from the infected individuals also displayed increased levels of high mobility group box-1, caspase-3, gelatinase B and tumor necrosis factor alpha compared to controls. The presence of virus replicating macrophages in the pancreas was associated with multiple changes in tissue structure that included elevated levels of cytokines and inflammatory markers that may differentiate acute pancreatitis due to DENV infections from other causes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perovskite-type oxides such as La1− x Ca x NiO3 ( x = 0.0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5 and 0.8) have been prepared from citrate precursors and characterized by XRD, TPR, TG-H2 and XPS. Catalytic experiments in the reforming of CH4 with CO2 have been carried out in a tubular reactor at 750 °C and atmospheric pressure. After the catalytic tests the catalysts were studied by TPO and SEM. Partial substitution of La by Ca was performed to stabilize Ni particles and to prevent carbon deposition. The XRD profiles showed that the perovskite structure is the only compound identified within the 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.05 range, whereas for x ≥ 0.1 compounds such as spinel-type La2NiO4, NiO and CaO were observed in addition to the perovskite oxide. On the other hand, segregation of NiO, even in the unsubstituted perovskite ( x = 0.0), was confirmed by TPR and XPS. The catalytic tests showed that the replacement of La by Ca, which has a lower ionic radius, favored a higher activity and stronger resistance to carbon deposition. However, this coking resistance depended on the Ca-loading and the catalysts with x = 0.05 and x = 0.8 were the most stable against deactivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mineralized dermal layer (MDL) is found in most terrestrial anurans. Its thickness represents on average up to 8% of that of the entire skin. It has been proposed that it may reduce body water loss, act on homeostasis, support skin structure, or conversely, it may be a currently functionless trait constrained by groups' evolutionary history. We described the MDL morphology of 11 Brachycephalus species, terrestrial, miniaturized and microendemic anurans, and tested for its relationship with climate of higher latitude regions of the Atlantic Rainforest of Brazil. All species presented MDL, described with two distinct morphological patterns: homogeneous or heterogeneous MDL, the latter distinguishable by MDL with dorsal or lateral expansion, sometimes up to the limit of the epidermis and comprising up to 50% of the thicknesses of the entire skin. Climate differed between locations by MDL morphological group, less rainy or seasonally less rainy where species with heterogeneous MDL occur. Our results indicate that the abundance of calcium in MDL and its heterogeneous condition suggest its adaptive function in reduce water loss. Such adaptations in anurans in very humid highlands reinforce the mountains' propensity for rapid loss of humidity, demystifying them as an extremely abundant source of water. This is the third study that tested the relationship between the MDL morphology and the environment where species occur and the first that correlated this structure with the climate of anurans of the same habit and distributed in a single habitat, the Atlantic Rainforest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emulsion polymerisations are mostly carried out as (semi-)batch processes in stirred tanks. In ab-initio emulsion polymerisation the product properties in terms of particle concentration and particle size distribution strongly depend on the course of the nucleation stage. The course of the nucleation stage is strongly related to the quality of emulsification and the temperature of the reaction mixture. The influence of temperature on the particle size distribution was investigated for completely isothermal as well as for non-isothermal operation. Reaction calorimetry has been chosen as a tool to define an operating window for control of the nucleation stage in emulsion polymerisation. It was demonstrated that reaction calorimetry is a very poweful tool to define operational details for complete control of the nucleation process in emulsion polymerisation in stirred tanks accurately and quickly. Colloidal stability of the latex is an important issue during the stage of particle growth by simultaneous polymerisation and monomer absorption from the monomer droplets. It was demonstrated that a proper recipe for the production of a colloidally stable latex can be developed in a short time with reaction calorimetry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work describes the physicochemical characterization of the fruit pulp oil of Caryocar coriaceum (Wittm), "pequi." The Chemical composition was assessed by GLC, which demonstrated the following fatty acid contents: oleic (55.79%), palmitic (34.18%), heptadecenoic (5.86%), linoleic (1.80%), stearic (1.73%), eicosenoic (0.37%) and palmitoleic (0.27%). The vibrational spectroscopy results were typical of an edible oil, and are in accordance with the high unsaturated fatty acid content. Physical properties such as water content, acidity, peroxide index, saponification Index, relative density, viscosity and refraction index are reported for the first time for this species. Pequi fruits have a high nutritional value, and are rich in protein and vitamins. In addition, their composition includes essential fatty acids, which accounts for the popular use of the fruit oil for antioxidant and antiinflammatory activity. There is great interest in extending the use of this natural product by exploiting the combined social, economic and therapeutic values of its derivatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polycrystalline specimens of Cu-Al-Be shape memory alloys were homogenized at 1123K during 12h and water-quenched at room temperature. The phase transformation temperatures were determined via optical microscopy technique, using a cooling/heating device attached to the microscope stage. Comparisons have been made with data obtained via differential scanning calorimetry. The data show that the former technique can be successfully applied to the determination of typical transition temperatures occurring in shape memory alloys. As far as sample related problems are concerned, the former technique can also represent an advantageous alternative over the latter given the fact that the analyses can be performed in more representative area. The Mf and As temperatures precise detection depend on the chosen resolution of the optical microscope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The replication of hepatitis A virus (HAV) is via a complementary negative-strand RNA. Each negative strand may serve as a template for the synthesis of many positive strands. The aim of this study was to detect the intermediate replicative (negative strand) of HAV in order to monitor its replication in vitro and in vivo. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was standardized to detect the intermediate replicative of HAV in cell culture and liver from non-human primates infected experimentally. HAV primers from the 5′ non-translated region and VP3 were used in the cDNA synthesis of negative-strand RNA. The negative strand was detected in the infected cell lines and liver by highly strand-specific rT th recombinant Thermus thermophilus DNA polymerase reverse transcription followed by quantitative PCR. The results indicate that the negative-strand HAV RNA can be detected in vivo and in vitro. This model is an approach for assessing the dynamic patterns of replication and should represent a valuable tool for the monitoring of HAV replications in cell cultures and for the evaluation of experimental infections in animal models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the larvicidal activity and chemical composition of Lantana camara and Lantana montevidensis' essential oils. It states that Lantana camara and Lantana montevidensis originates from the rain forest of America and are poisonous to ruminants however culminated as ornamental plants and uses as medicine to treat flu, fever, and asthma. It mentions that the chemical analysis revealed sesquiterpenoids and terpenoids predominance.