RESUMO Antecedentes: A lesão axonial difusa ocorre em traumas com alta energia de aceleração e desaceleração, determinando desorganização da microestrutura cerebral, levando a algum déficit. A escala de Glasgow Estendida (GOS-E) é indicada na avaliação clínica das vítimas de trauma cranioencefalico. Imagens por tensor de difusão (DTI) estudam a microestrutura cerebral a partir da difusão das moléculas de água. Objetivo: Investigar a microestrutura cerebral no primeiro ano após trauma, avaliar clinicamente os pacientes e testar para correlações entre estes resultados. Métodos: 20 vítimas de TCE moderado e grave foram avaliados 2 meses e 1 ano depois do trauma. O processamento foi feito usando o software FMRIB (FSL) e a análise estatística foi feita com tract-based spatial statistics software para extrair os parâmetros de DTI. Calculamos a diferença da média entre as duas observações de cada sujeito e fizemos um teste-t para uma amostra e threshold-free cluster enhancement. Realizamos correções para múltiplas comparações e determinamos o valor de p < 0.05 como significativo. Um ano após o trauma, a avaliação clínica foi feita usando a GOS-E. Testamos para associações entre os resultados clínicos e os valores médios de FA dos clusters. Resultados: Os clusters significativos foram identificados usando o atlas JHU WM. Observamos aumento de FA predominantemente no hemisfério cerebral direito e cerebelar à esquerda e também extensas áreas de aumento nos demais parâmetros de DTI. A recuperação dos pacientes foi satisfatória. Conclusões: Não encontramos associações entre os resultados, no entanto alguma associação pequena a moderada não pode ser excluída.

ABSTRACT Background: Diffuse axonal injury occurs with high acceleration and deceleration forces in traumatic brain injury (TBI). This lesion leads to disarrangement of the neuronal network, which can result in some degree of deficiency. The Extended Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS-E) is the primary outcome instrument for the evaluation of TBI victims. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) assesses white matter (WM) microstructure based on the displacement distribution of water molecules. Objective: To investigate WM microstructure within the first year after TBI using DTI, the patient’s clinical outcomes, and associations. Methods: We scanned 20 moderate and severe TBI victims at 2 months and 1 year after the event. Imaging processing was done with the FMRIB software library; we used the tract-based spatial statistics software yielding fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (AD), and radial diffusivity (RD) for statistical analyses. We computed the average difference between the two measures across subjects and performed a one-sample t-test and threshold-free cluster enhancement, using a corrected p-value < 0.05. Clinical outcomes were evaluated with the GOS-E. We tested for associations between outcome measures and significant mean FA clusters. Results: Significant clusters of altered FA were identified anatomically using the JHU WM atlas. We found increasing spotted areas of FA with time in the right brain hemisphere and left cerebellum. Extensive regions of increased MD, RD, and AD were observed. Patients presented an excellent overall recovery. Conclusions: There were no associations between FA and outcome scores, but we cannot exclude the existence of a small to moderate association.

ABSTRACT The ability of discriminating carcass characteristics of different fat cover scores of heavy carcasses, according to the European (EUS) and Brazilian (BRS) classification systems, was assessed. Fifty-six lambs, weighing between 26.25 and 46.15 kg, of the Santa Inês and crossbred Santa Inês × Dorper genetic groups were evaluated. The level of adiposity was assessed through color photography of the carcasses after refrigeration according to the EUS and BRS. The carcasses were assigned to four groups by cluster analysis according to 25 variables, namely, cold carcass weight; muscle; bone; fat; and muscle:fat and fat:bone ratios of the carcass and cuts (hindquarter, shoulder, back); kidney, pelvic, and inguinal fat; and subcutaneous fat thickness. Of the four groups obtained by cluster analysis, the scores according to the different classification systems only statistically differed between groups 1 and 4. The BRS had a higher number of variables well correlated with the scores by assessors than the groups classified by the EUS. The BRS was better correlated with tissue composition. However, most variables were better correlated with backfat thickness than the score obtained through the classification systems. Better results were obtained regarding the prediction of carcass fat by the BRS using backfat thickness or cold carcass weight. The Brazilian lamb carcass classification system better predicts tissue composition and is the best method to discriminate intermediate-fat classes when associated with cold carcass weight.

ABSTRACT Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) involves the association of a photosensitizing agent with a light source with the goal of causing apoptosis or microbial lysing. The use of compounds with natural active principles is gaining prominence throughout the world. Several studies from groups that are linked to the development of innovations in the pharmaceutical market have used natural dyes, such as curcumin, the efficacy of which has been demonstrated in aPDT trials. Difficulties related to physicochemical stability, solubility and cell penetration are some of the challenges associated with this field. The present work aimed to prepare, investigate the characteristics and improve the photodynamic activity of PLGA-based nanoparticles loaded with curcumin for use in aPDT therapy. Using the simple technique of emulsion during the evaporation of a solvent, the particles were built, characterized and tested against microorganisms with importance for medicine and dentistry. The results revealed that the particles were able to protect the curcumin against degradation and eliminate some microorganism species at nanomolar concentrations.

Foi feita uma investigação anatômica dos órgãos vegetativos de Plectranthus ornatus, "boldo miúdo" e Plectranthus amboinicus, "malvariço", da família Lamiaceae. Foram estudados o limbo foliar, pecíolo e caule destas duas espécies. Ambas apresentam limbo foliar com tricomas tectores, com tricomas glandulares pedicelados em P. amboinicus e pedicelados e sésseis em P. ornatus. Justifica-se esta investigação, pelo fato de se tratar de espécies utilizadas, popularmente, como fitoterápico.

An anatomical study of the vegetative organs of Plectranthus ornatus, "boldo miúdo" and Plectranthus amboinicus, "malvariço" was made. Both show non-glandular trichomes on the foliar leaf. In P. ornatus, there are pedunculate glandular trichomes and in P. amboinicus, sessile and pedunculate glandular trichomes. This study is justified by the popular utilization of both species as phytotherapeutic agents.

Foi realizado um estudo anatômico de três espécies medicinais da família Bignoniaceae, típicas de cerrado, em risco de extinção, a saber: Anemopaegma arvense, Jacaranda decurrens e Zeyheria montana, provenientes de Botucatu. Para isto, realizaram-se cortes transversais de caule, limbo e pecíolo e paradérmicos de limbo. Os cortes, corados diferencialmente com azul de alcian e fucsina básica, foram objeto de estudo e descrição anatômica. As três espécies mostram adaptações anatômicas a ambiente xerofítico, representadas por mesofilo foliar compactado, cutícula espessa (Anemopaegma e Jacaranda) e abundante aquisição de tricomas tectores (Zeyheria).

The anatomy of three medicinal species belonging to the Bignoniaceae family, from savanna-like formation and in risk of extinction, was studied. They were: Anemopaegma arvense, Jacaranda decurrens and Zeyheria montana, from Botucatu. Hand-made transversal sections of stem, foliar leaf and petiole and paradermal sections of foliar leaf, differentially stained with alcian blue and basic fuchsin, were studied and described anatomically. The three species show anatomical adaptations to xerophytic environment, expressed by compaction of foliar mesophyll, thickened cuticle (Anemopaegma and Jacaranda) and acquisition of abundant non-glandular trichomes (Zeyheria).