Coprecipitation is one of the most practical methods used to synthesize ferrite nanoparticles. Fine characteristics of these materials can be improved by means of a series of modifications in the synthesis method. In this paper we present a study of influence of glycerol as structure directing and stabilizing agent in the synthesis of zinc ferrite nanoparticle, exploring its chelating capacity and oxidation. The studied materials include two series of zinc ferrite samples and its precursors obtained with or without glycerol throughout different stages during the synthesis process. The structural and morphological characteristics were evaluated by means of different techniques such as X-ray diffraction, Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy and thermal analysis. The oxidation of glycerol was determined by high-performance liquid chromatograph. The obtained results demonstrate that zinc ferrite crystals synthesized in the presence of glycerol are initially bigger than those synthesized in absence of it, but according to the oxidation process they tend to decrease giving rise to intermediate phases. Interestingly, these samples grow back during more advanced stages and become structurally better organized, compared to the series of samples produced in absence of glycerol. These results indicate that glycerol is capable to modify the synthesis route of zinc ferrite nanoparticles via coprecipitation, acting directly over the size and morphology of the crystals.

As pesquisas na área de Química Medicinal têm envolvido diversos aspectos focando o tratamento de doenças tais como câncer, em especial, a combinação de potenciais terapêuticos apresentados por moléculas distintas. Visando isso, realizou-se um estudo computacional combinando a pirazinamida (PZA), um imprescindível tuberculostático com a cisplatina, importante antitumoral, para obter as melhores características de ambas. Foi feita a busca por uma estrutura mais estável para o complexo de estequiometria PZA:platina(II) 2:1 cis-[PtCl2(PZA)2], ou cis-diclorobis(pirazinamido)-platina(II), utilizando para isso a teoria do funcional densidade (DFT) associada ao uso de um planejamento fatorial misto de dois fatores do tipo 5 × 3, para um total de 15 experimentos. Através da avaliação da superfície de resposta e da realização de sete experimentos para validação do modelo, inferiu-se que a estrutura de maior estabilidade refere-se àquela com o diedro 2Cl/1Pt/5O/7C sob um ângulo de 18,9°.

Research in Medicinal Chemistry has involved numerous aspects focusing on the treatment of several kinds of diseases, such as cancer, especially by the combination of therapeutic potentials by using different molecules. With this aim, a computational study combining pyrazinamide (PZA), an indispensable tuberculostatic drug, and cisplatin, an important antitumoral agent, was conducted to combine the best features of both compounds. A search for the most stable structure of the platinum(II)-PZA complex at a 2:1 stoichiometry: diclorodi(pyrazinamido)platinum(II), or cis-[PtCl2(PZA)2], was performed, using functional theory (DFT) associated to a mixed-level factorial design of two factors type 5 × 3, totaling 15 experiments. After evaluating the response surface and following the performance of seven experiments to validate the area identified as optimal, the most stable structure is that in which the dihedral 2Cl/1Pt/5O/7C is at an 18.9° angle.

INTRODUÇÃO: A eficácia e a segurança do stent farmacológico (SF) de segunda geração liberador de everolimus XienceTM V (Abbott Vascular, Santa Clara, Estados Unidos) já foram estabelecidas no tratamento de pacientes selecionados com lesões coronárias. No entanto, o impacto do stent XienceTM V em populações da prática clínica com lesões complexas ainda não está totalmente definido. MÉTODOS: O Registro BRAVO foi um estudo prospectivo, não-randomizado, multicêntrico, que avaliou os resultados clínicos tardios de pacientes minimamente selecionados tratados com o SF XienceTM V na prática diária brasileira. No total, foram incluídos 535 pacientes em 25 centros clínicos entre setembro de 2008 e setembro de 2010. Eventos cardíacos adversos maiores (ECAM) foram definidos como morte cardíaca, infarto agudo do miocárdio (IAM) e revascularização do vaso-alvo (RVA). RESULTADOS: A média de idade dos pacientes era de 62,7 ± 11,1 anos, 40% dos quais tinham diabetes, 24,9% apresentavam IAM prévio e 41,9% apresentaram-se com síndrome coronária aguda. Cerca de dois terços dos pacientes tinham lesões tipo B2/C e 46,1% trataram a artéria descendente anterior. Implante de múltiplos stents ocorreu em 13,8% dos casos, e o sucesso angiográfico foi > 99%. Na fase intra-hospitalar, a taxa de IAM periprocedimento foi de 1,9%. Já no seguimento de 6 meses, as taxas cumulativas de óbito cardíaco, IAM e RVA foram de 1,1%, 2,2% e 1,3%, respectivamente (taxa de ECAM de 4,3%). Com relação à trombose de stent (definida de acordo com os critérios do Academic Research Consortium ARC), foram reportados 4 casos até 6 meses, representando taxa de evento de 0,75% (0,4% definitiva/provável). CONCLUSÕES: Neste Registro, que incluiu pacientes e lesões complexos tratados em múltiplos centros nacionais, o SF de segunda geração XienceTM V demonstrou excelentes resultados imediatos e efetividade clínica e segurança sustentadas até o seguimento a médio prazo (6 meses). Os resultados do seguimento a longo prazo são aguardados.

BACKGROUND: The XienceTM V everolimus-eluting stent (Abbott Vascular, Santa Clara, USA), a second-generation drug-eluting stent (DES) has demonstrated sustained efficacy and safety in the treatment of selected patients with coronary lesions. However, the impact of the XienceTM V stent in populations from daily clinical practice with complex lesions has not yet been fully determined. METHODS: The BRAVO Registry was a prospective, non-randomized, multicenter study that evaluated the late clinical outcomes of minimally selected patients treated with XienceTM V DES in the Brazilian daily clinical practice. Overall, 535 patients were included in 25 clinical sites between September/2008 and September/2010. Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were defined as cardiac death, acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and target vessel revascularization (TVR). RESULTS: Mean age was 62.7 + 11.1 years, 40% had diabetes, 24.9% had a previous AMI and 41.9% presented with acute coronary syndrome. About two thirds of the patients had type B2/C lesions and 46.1% treated the left anterior descending artery. Multiple stenting procedures were performed in 13.8% of cases and angiographic success was > 99%. During hospitalization, periprocedural AMI rate was 1.9%. At the 6-month follow-up, cumulative rates of cardiac death, AMI and TVR were 1.1%, 2.2% and 1.3%, respectively (MACE rate: 4.3%). There were 4 cases of stent thrombosis (defined according to the Academic Research Consortium ARC) reported within 6 months, representing an event rate of 0.75% (0.4% definite/probable). CONCLUSIONS: In this Registry including complex patients and lesions treated at multiple sites in Brazil, the XienceTM V second generation DES demonstrated excellent immediate results and sustained clinical efficacy and safety at mid-term follow-up (6 months). Long-term results are expected.

No presente artigo, métodos teóricos foram utilizados para o estudo da interação entre o complexo 5a,6-anidrotetraciclina-dicloro-platina(II) (AHTC-Pt) e os nucleófilos adenina (A), guanina (G), cisteína (Cys) e metionina (Met). A espécie [Pt(AHTC)Cl(H2O)]+ foi considerada como reagente em todos os processos investigados. Os valores calculados para ΔGa,aq no nível B3LYP/6-311+G(2d,p) foram 21,7 e 20,7 kcal mol-1 para as interações com A e G, respectivamente, os quais estão em acordo com o comportamento esperado, sendo a reação com G mais rápida (ΔGa expt = 18,5 kcal mol-1 para G). Para os processos envolvendo os aminoácidos, as barreiras de energia calculadas foram 17,6 (Cys) e 18,5 kcal mol-1 (Met), as quais são ligeiramente menores do que os valores experimentais para a cisplatina (20,5 e 20,2 kcal mol-1, respectivamente). Esses resultados mostram que a reatividade do complexo AHTC-Pt é comparável a da cisplatina e, portanto, o mesmo pode ser considerado um sistema relevante para o desenvolvimento de novos agentes antitumorais.

This paper describes a theoretical analysis of the interaction between 5a,6-anhydrotetracycline platinum(II) complex (AHTC-Pt) and some biological nucleophiles; adenine (A), guanine (G), cysteine (Cys) and methionine (Met). The aquated species [Pt(AHTC)Cl(H2O)]+ was taken as reagent for the processes studied here. For DNA bases (A and G), the calculated values for ΔGa,aq at the B3LYP/6-311+G(2d,p) level were 21.7 and 20.7 kcal mol-1 for interaction with A and G, respectively, which are in accordance with the expected behavior of faster process involving G. These values are higher than the experimental activation energy for the parent compound cisplatin (18.5 kcal mol-1 for interaction with G). For the process involving the amino-acids, the barriers were 17.6 (Cys) and 18.5 kcal mol-1 (Met), which are lower than the observed values for cisplatin (20.5 and 20.2 kcal mol-1, respectively). These outcomes show that AHTC-Pt hybrid complex may be considered a promising lead compound in the development of novel anticancer drugs based on platinum complex.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is responsible for annual respiratory infection outbreaks in infants and young children worldwide, frequently causing bronchiolitis and pneumonia. We evaluated clinical and epidemiological features of acute respiratory infections (ARIs) caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in children less than five years old. Nasopharyngeal aspirate samples from children with ARI symptoms, attended at the 'Hospital das Clínicas' - Federal University of Uberlândia, MG, Brazil, were collected and tested for RSV by the immunofluorescence assay (IFA). Patients' clinical and epidemiological data were also obtained. From April 2000 to June 2003, 317 nasopharyngeal samples were collected from children less than 54 months old. Seventy-six samples (24.0%) were positive for RSV, with 53% (40/76) obtained from male patients. Hospitalization occurred in 50% (38/76) of the cases, with an average period of 10.6 days, in most cases (87%, 33/38) occurring in children less than 12 months of age. Although an association between this age group and the presentation of more severe clinical symptoms was observed, such as bronchiolitis in 51% (27/53) of the patients and pneumonia in 19% (10/53), no patients died. RSV was found from February to August, with the highest incidence in May. Conclusions: RSV is an important agent that causes ARIs; the clinical manifestations varied from mild to severe and patients frequently required hospitalization; RSV mostly affected children less than one year old.

Muito se discute sobre as desvantagens que sofre o gêmeo que nasce por derradeiro, em relação às condições de seu nascimento. Neste estudo foram revistos 90 casos de partos gemelares ocorridos na Maternidade da Encruzilhada (CISAM) em Recife, entre Janeiro de 1992 e Dezembro de 1993, com o objetivo de comparar variáveis perinatais entre o 1º e o 2º gemelar. Foram pesquisados a estática fetal, a via de parto, o peso ao nascer, o Apgar do 1º e 5º minutos, a ocorrência de complicações neonatais como a síndrome da membrana hialina, taquipnéia transitória e infecção neonatal e, finalmente, o prognóstico de cada um dos gemelares. Não houve diferença estatisticamente significativa na incidência de apresentações não cefálicas, operação cesariana, baixo peso ao nascer, Apgar < 7 no 1º e 5º minutos ou das complicações neonatais acima referidas. Não houve também diferença na mortalidade perinatal entre os gêmeos. Nossos resultados sugerem ser iguais as condições de nascimento dos gemelares de uma mesma gestação, devendo ser prestada uma assistência igualmente apurada a ambos pela equipe de perinatologia.

The disadvantages of the second twin in respect of his birth conditions are of great concern. In this study we have reviewed 90 twin births occurred at the Maternidade da Encruzilhada (CISAM) in Recife, from January/92 to December/93, in order to compare perinatal variables between the first and second twin. Fetal presentation, way of delivery, birth weight, Apgar of the 1st and 5th minutes, occurrence of perinatal complications such as hyaline membrane syndrome, transitory tachypnea, and neonatal infection and, finally, the prognosis of each of the twins were evaluated. There was no statistical difference between the incidence of non-vertex presentation, cesarean section, low birth weight, Apgar < 7 in the 1st and 5th minutes and neonatal complication cited above. There was also no difference in perinatal mortality between the first and the second twin. Our results suggest a similar birth condition for both twins of a same pregnancy, therefore, the same perinatal care must be provided for each one.

Com o objetivo de estudar a susceptibilidade de Lymnaea (pseudosuccinea) columella de Minas Gerais, Estado onde ainda não se registraram casos autóctones de fasciolose hepática, foram utilizadas as amostras MG 1, MG 2, MG 3 e MG 4, provenientes de diferentes regiões deste Estado, para estudo comparativo com as amostras RJ e RGS procedentes dos Estados do Rio de Janeiro e Rio Grande do Sul, áreas de focos de fasciolose. A amostra de Fasciola hepatica utilizada era procedente de ovinos abatidos no município de Camapuã, no Rio Grande do Sul, e foi mantida em coelhos. Os moluscos foram infectados com 6, 8 e 10 miracídos por molusco, sendo estudadas as incidências de infecção e de mortalidade. Nas condições que se realizou o trabalho diante dos resultados obtidos, foram tiradas as seguintes conclusões: 1. A mortalidade dos caramujos parece não estar diretamente relacionada com a percentagem de infecção; 2. As amostras de Lymnaea (pseudosuccinea) columella de Minas Gerais, do Rio de Janeiro e do Rio Grande do Sul mostraram-se identicamente susceptíveis à infecção por Fasciola hepatica; 3. A população humana e os rebanhos bovino, ovino e suíno de Minas Gerais, particularmente aqueles do Vale do Rio Paraíba, podem ser considerados sujeitos à infecção por Fasciola hepatica.

With the purpose of studying the susceptibility of Lymnaea (pseudosuccinea) columella, from Minas Gerais state in Brazil, to infection by Fasciola hepatica, four samples from different regions in the state of Minas Gerais were tested in comparison with one sample from Rio de Janeiro state and another from Rio Grande do Sul state, using a sample of F. hepatica isolated from sheep in Rio Grande do Sul and maintained in rabbits in laboratory conditions. The Lymnaea were exposed to infections with six, eight and ten miracidia by molusca and studied the occurrence of infection and the deathrate. In this conditions the conclusions were: 1- the deathrate of the Lymnaea (pseudosuccinea) columella seems do not be in relation with the occurrence of infections by Fasciola hepatica; 2- the samples of L. (Pseudosuccinea) columella from Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro and Rio Grande do Sul had similar susceptibility to infection by F. hepatica; 3- the Minas Gerais human population and the cattle, sheep and swine herds may be considered in risk of F. hepatica infection, specially those that live in Rio Paraíba valley, by the fact that nowadays F. hepatica infection is common in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, Rio Paraíba valley.