Zero-valent iron mediated degradation of ciprofloxacin - assessment of adsorption, operational parameters and degradation products.

The zero-valent iron (ZVI) mediated degradation of the antibiotic ciprofloxacin (CIP) was studied under oxic condition. Operational parameters such as ZVI concentration and initial pH value were evaluated. Increase of the ZVI concentration from 1 to 5gL(-1) resulted in a sharp increase of the observed pseudo-first order rate constant of CIP degradation, reaching a plateau at around 10 g L(-1). The contribution of adsorption to the overall removal of CIP and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) was evaluated after a procedure of acidification to pH 2.5 with sulfuric acid and sonication for 2 min. Adsorption increased as pH increased, while degradation decreased, showing that adsorption is not important for degradation. Contribution of adsorption was much more important for DOC removal than for CIP. Degradation of CIP resulted in partial defluorination since the fluoride measured corresponded to 34% of the theoretical value after 120 min of reaction. Analysis by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry showed the presence of products of hydroxylation on both piperazine and quinolonic rings generating fluorinated and defluorinated compounds as well as a product of the piperazine ring cleavage.

Production of TNF-α, nitric oxide and hydrogen peroxide by macrophages from mice with paracoccidioidomycosis that were fed a linseed oil-enriched diet

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) can modulate the immune system and their primary effect is on macrophage function. Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is an endemic systemic mycosis in Latin America that is caused by the dimorphic fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (Pb). Macrophages are the main defence against this pathogen and have microbicidal activity that is dependent on interferon-Γ and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α. These cytokines stimulate the synthesis of nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), leading to the death of the fungus. To study the effect of n-3 PUFA on the host immune response during experimental PCM, macrophages that were obtained from animals infected with Pb18 and fed a diet enriched by linseed (LIN) oil were cultured and challenged with the fungus in vitro. The macrophage function was analysed based on the concentrations of TNF-α, NO and H2O2. LIN oil seems to influence the production of TNF-α during the development of disease. A diet enriched with LIN oil influences the microbicidal activity of the macrophages by inducing the production of cytokines and metabolites such as NO and H2O2, predominantly in the chronic phase of infection.

Production of TNF-α, nitric oxide and hydrogen peroxide by macrophages from mice with paracoccidioidomycosis that were fed a linseed oil-enriched diet.

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) can modulate the immune system and their primary effect is on macrophage function. Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is an endemic systemic mycosis in Latin America that is caused by the dimorphic fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (Pb). Macrophages are the main defence against this pathogen and have microbicidal activity that is dependent on interferon-Γ and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α. These cytokines stimulate the synthesis of nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), leading to the death of the fungus. To study the effect of n-3 PUFA on the host immune response during experimental PCM, macrophages that were obtained from animals infected with Pb18 and fed a diet enriched by linseed (LIN) oil were cultured and challenged with the fungus in vitro. The macrophage function was analysed based on the concentrations of TNF-α, NO and H2O2. LIN oil seems to influence the production of TNF-α during the development of disease. A diet enriched with LIN oil influences the microbicidal activity of the macrophages by inducing the production of cytokines and metabolites such as NO and H2O2, predominantly in the chronic phase of infection.

Ácidos graxos poli-insaturados n-3 e n-6: metabolismo em mamíferos e resposta imune / Omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids: metabolism in mammals and immune response

A experimentação animal apresenta uma grande importância para o desenvolvimento da ciência. O uso de camundongos em experimentos ocorre devido à semelhança destes animais com os seres humanos, fácil criação e manutenção e resposta experimental bastante rápida. Esses animais possuem as mesmas enzimas dessaturases e elongases que os humanos, por isso são usados em pesquisas envolvendo incorporação e síntese de ácidos graxos em tecidos. Os ácidos graxos da família ômega-3 e ômega-6 são de suma importância na dieta humana, pois estes não são sintetizados pela síntese de novo e são precursores dos ácidos graxos poli-insaturados de cadeia muito longa, como os ácidos eicosapentaenóico, docosahexaenóico e araquidônico. Estes desempenham funções importantes no organismo, como a síntese de eicosanóides que estão envolvidos diretamente no sistema imune e nas respostas inflamatórias. A razão entre o consumo de ácidos graxos n-6 e n-3 na dieta é um importante fator para determinar a ingestão adequada de ácidos graxos bem como prevenir o aparecimento de doenças. Este artigo tem como objetivo avaliar a incorporação de ácidos graxos em tecidos de animais e discutir a importância dos ácidos da família n-3 e seus metabólitos no sistema imunológico.

Experiments with animals are very important for the improvement of science. The use of mice in experiments is due to their similarity with humans, the easy of raising and maintaining them and their very fast response. These animals have the same desaturase and elongase enzymes as humans and so they are used in research involving the incorporation and synthesis of fatty acids in tissues. The fatty acids omega-3 and omega-6 are extremely important in the human diet because they are not synthesized de novo and are precursors of very long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as the eicosapentaenoic, docosahexaenoic and arachidonic acids. These acids play important roles in animals, such as precursors of eicosanoids, which are directly involved in the immune system and inflammatory response. The dietary n-3:n-6 intake ratio is important for assessing proper fatty acid intake and for preventing the development of diseases. Thus, this article assessed the incorporation of fatty acids in animal tissues and discussed the importance of n-3 fatty acids and its metabolites for the immune system.

[Different lipid extraction methods on fatty acids composition in cow milk]. / Avaliação de diferentes métodos de extração lipídica sobre a composição de ácidos graxos poliinsaturados em leite de vaca.

Different lipid extraction methods on fatty acids composition in cow milk. Comparative studies among 4 (four) different methods of total lipids extraction were carried out to evaluate the lipid extraction efficiency and fatty acids contents in cow milk. Total lipids extraction methods were Bligh e Dyer (BD), Folch et al. (FLS), Roese-Gottlieb (RG) and Gerber (GB). There were non-significant (p < 0.05) difference, in total lipids content among the extraction methods. The smallest concentrations of omega-3 (n-3) fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) were observed on method GE, possibly due degradation of PUFA immersed in sulfuric acid used during analysis of total lipids. The highest concentrations of n-3 PUFA were observed by BD method, especially to omega-3/omega-6 ratio and alpha-linolenic acid (LNA, 18:3n-3), eicosapentaenoic (EPA, 20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic (DHA, 22:6n-3), significant differences were observed among the methods. The results demonstrate that the different extractions influenced decisively on quantitative fatty acids composition and evaluations indicated the methods BD as better and GE as the worst to polyunsaturated fatty acids determination.

Avaliação de diferentes métodos de extração lipídica sobre a composição de ácidos graxos poliinsaturados em leite de vaca / Different lipid extraction methods on fatty acids composition in cow milk

Avaliação de diferentes métodos de extração lipídica sobre a composição de ácidos graxos poliinsaturados em leite de vaca. Estudos comparativos entre 4 (quatro) diferentes métodos de extração de lipídios totais foram avaliados em relação à eficiência de extração lipídica e as implicações sobre a composição de ácidos graxos no leite de vaca. As extrações de lipídios totais foram realizadas de acordo com métodos convencionalmente utilizados no mundo, essas metodologias incluem os métodos de: Bligh e Dyer (BD), Folch et al. (FLS), Roese-Goottlieb (RG) e Gerber (GE). Os resultados mostram que não houve diferença significativa (p<0,05), no teor de lipídios totais entre os métodos de extração. As menores concentrações de ácidos graxos ômega-6 e ácidos graxos poliinsaturados foram observadas no método GE, possivelmente devido à degradação pelo ácido sulfúrico, o qual foi utilizado na metodologia. As maiores concentrações dos ácidos graxos poliinsaturados da série ômega-3 (n-3) foi observada no método BD, especialmente para a razão ômega-3/ômega-6 e os ácidos alfa-linolênico (LNA, 18:3n-3), eicosapentaenóico (EPA, 20:5n-3) e docosahexaenóico (DHA, 22:6n-3), com diferenças significativas das demais metodologias. Os resultados das diferentes metodologias de extração influenciaram decisivamente nos resultados da composição quantitativa de ácidos graxos e, as avaliações indicaram o método BD como o melhor e a o método de GE como a pior na determinação quantitativas de ácidos graxos poliinsaturados em leite de vaca.

Comparative studies among 4 (four) different methods of total lipids extraction were carried out to evaluate the lipid extraction efficiency and fatty acids contents in cow milk. Total lipids extraction methods were Bligh e Dyer (BD), Folch et al. (FLS), Roese-Gottlieb (RG) and Gerber (GB). There were non-significant (p<0.05) difference, in total lipids content among the extraction methods. The smallest concentrations of omega-3 (n-3) fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) were observed on method GE, possibly due degradation of PUFA immersed in sulfuric acid used during analysis of total lipids. The highest concentrations of n-3 PUFA were observed by BD method, especially to omega-3/omega-6 ratio and alpha-linolenic acid (LNA, 18:3n-3), eicosapentaenoic (EPA, 20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic (DHA, 22:6n-3), significant differences were observed among the methods. The results demonstrate that the different extractions influenced decisively on quantitative fatty acids composition and evaluations indicated the methods BD as better and GE as the worst to polyunsaturated fatty acids determination.