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Controlled release caffeine dosage forms are applied in order improve bioavailability to enhance ergogenic and thermogenic actions. High-performance liquid chromatographic separation was achieved using a C18 reversed phase column, a binary mixture of 0.1 % phosphoric acid and acetonitrile with a flow rate of 0.8 ml/min. UV detection was at 220 nm. Water produced the best extraction efficiency in comparison with other solvents. Retention time observed for caffeine was 4.5 min. The method is selective, reliable, reproducible with a linear range over 1.0-20.0 µg/ml of caffeine (r>0.9987). The proposed method allows to distinguish caffeine from sibutramine, p-octopamine, p-synephrine, tyramine and hordenine. The limit of detection and limit of quantifications were 10 and 30 ng/ml, respectively. The proposed method could be used for the routine analysis of caffeine in time-release dietary supplements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The aim of this study was to verify whether the in situ supply of soybean as a fish attractant bears any influence on the length–weight relationship and condition factor of the omnivorous fish species, Brycon falcatus. In addition, estimated was the length–weight relationship, standard and total length, condition factor, and size of B. falcatus in the spawning period in the Teles Pires River Basin. In the experimental design, rivers of the Teles Pires Basin containing soybean attractant (Verde River, Celeste River, Teles Pires River and the Tapaiuna River) were mapped. Fish were also collected from the Cristalino River, which contained no soybean attractant (treatment control). Samples were collected from August 2012 to July 2013. Length–weight relationship of B. falcatus in the Teles Pires River Basin can be obtained by the expression: Wt = 0.0091*SL3.376, r2 = .97, n = 102, and length‐length relationship: TL = 1.128*SL + 3.978, r2 = .96. The condition factor of all specimens collected in the Teles Pires Basin was k = 1.055. Size at capable phase (L50) of spawning was estimated at 23 cm standard length. Results showed no significant difference in the length–weight relationship or condition factor of B. falcatus collected from rivers with or without soybean attractant. Concluded is that the in situ supply of soybean as a fish attractant does not interfere with the wellbeing of B. Falcatus in the Teles Pires River Basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of Hyphessobrycon from the upper Rio Tapajós basin, in the Tapajós-Juruena ecoregion, is described. Hyphessobrycon pinnistriatus n. sp. is distinguished from its congeners by having a black, oblique stripe extending from the origin of the second branched ray to the distal end of the third branched anal-fin ray, lacking a conspicuous black midlateral stripe on the body, inner premaxillary teeth with up to seven cusps, and fins normally hyaline or with scattered chromatophores. The description of a new species that is restricted to the Tapajós-Juruena ecoregion is consistent with this region being an area of high endemism of freshwater fishes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Chemokines are chemotactic cytokines that are mainly involved in the migratory patterns of immune cells. Few studies have evaluated the levels of chemokines in children with acute bacterial infections. The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum levels of chemokines MCP-1, RANTES, MIG and IP-10 in children with sepsis, community-acquired pneumonia ( CAP) and skin abscess. Serum levels of MCP-1, RANTES, MIG and IP-10 were measured in 37 children with sepsis, 27 children with CAP, 25 children with skin abscess and 20 controls with no signs of infection. Patients with sepsis, CAP and skin abscess had higher concentrations of RANTES compared to controls ( P = 0.0057, P = 0.0004 and P = 0.0108, respectively). IP-10 values were higher in patients with sepsis compared to children with skin abscess ( P = 0.0075). However, MCP-1 levels were lower in septic patients compared to controls ( P = 0.0136). There was no difference on MIG concentrations between the groups. Our original findings observed that RANTES was consistently elevated in all types of infections suggesting this chemokine may play an important role in the pathogenesis of bacterial infection. Additionally, patients with sepsis had a unique pattern of response with high levels of IP-10 but low levels of MCP-1, which should be further explored as the markers of disease severity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of fresh soybeans as an attractant in fishing has been altering the diet of the characiform Brycon falcatus, which are thriving at fishing spots. This has subsequently affected the amount of abdominal fat in the species from the Tapajós River basin, Southern Amazon. In the Teles Pires River basin region, one of the most common capture techniques employed by fishermen is the use of attractant feeds (soybeans, corn, cassava) at certain locations to attract mostly omnivorous fish. Tourists also feed fish chips and breadcrumbs. In the experimental design, rivers were mapped according to attractant availability to develop an attractant-density classification system comprising four rivers with different attractant densities (low, medium, and high), plus a river serving as control (no attractants). Monthly collections were carried out during the 2012 and 2013 dry seasons. For diet analyses, methods of frequency of occurrence and relative volume were used to calculate the feeding index ( IAi) of 97 specimens. For analyses of abdominal fat, an index was calculated by dividing the wet weight of the abdominal fat by the total wet weight of each individual. Standard length ranged from 15.0 to 48.5 cm, and weight between 0.18 and 4.40 kg. Composition and diversity of diet items changed with the increasing density of attractants. In the river with a high attractant density, fresh soybeans and corn were dominant diet items; in the control river, the diet was natural (e.g. seeds, fruits, leaves, and insects) and therefore similar to those described for B. falcatus in undisturbed environments. Fish collected from rivers with high attractant densities were in better condition than those from the river with no attractants. Although use of attractants is prohibited by State legislation, there are no inspections. This study clearly shows an alteration in the natural diet and abdominal fat of B. falcatus resulting from an imbalanced, high-calorie feed via an attractant. It is recommended that these areas be monitored for the preservation of B. falcatus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The clinical expression of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is influenced by genetic and environmental factors and therefore varies between ethnicities. Information on the epidemiology of SLE in Brazil is scarce and practically limited to studies conducted in socioeconomically developed regions (South and Southeast). The objective of this study was to describe the clinical and immunological aspects and outcome of a cohort of patients with SLE treated at a university hospital in northeastern Brazil and compare patterns related to age at onset: childhood (cSLE), adult (aSLE), and late (lSLE). A random sample of 414 records (women: 93.5%) were reviewed. The mean age at SLE onset and the mean disease duration were 28.9 ± 10.9 years and 10.2 ± 6.6 years, respectively. Most patients had aSLE (n = 338; 81.6%), followed by cSLE (n = 60; 14.5%) and lSLE (n = 16; 3.9%). The female/male ratio was 6.5:1 in cSLE and 16.8:1 in aSLE; in lSLE, all patients were female (p = 0.05). During follow-up, the cSLE group presented higher rates of nephritis (70% vs. 52.9% vs. 12.5%; p = 0.0001) and leuko/lymphopenia (61.7% vs. 43.8% vs. 56.2%; p = 0.02). No significant differences were found for anti-dsDNA, anti-Sm, and antiphospholipid antibodies. Treatment with immunosuppressants was significantly more common, and higher doses of prednisone were used, in cSLE. The prevalence of cardiovascular diseases were more frequent in lSLE (p = 0.03). No significant differences were found between the three groups with regard to mean damage accrual (SDI), remission, and mortality. Although cSLE presented higher rates of nephritis and leuko/lymphopenia, more frequent use of immunosuppressants and higher prednisone doses than aSLE and lSLE, the three groups did not differ significantly with regard to damage accrual, remission, and mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]