Vineyard Pruning Extracts as Natural Antioxidants for Biodiesel Stability: Experimental Tests and Preliminary Life Cycle Assessment.

The control of the oxidative stability of biodiesel and blends of biodiesel with diesel is one of the major concerns of the biofuel industry. The oxidative degradation of biodiesel can be accelerated by several factors, and this is most critical in the so-called second generation biodiesel, which is produced from low-cost raw materials with lower environmental impacts. The addition of antioxidants is imperative to ensure the oxidative stability of biodiesel, and these are considered products of high commercial value. The antioxidants currently available on the market are from synthetic origin, so the existence/availability of alternative antioxidants of natural origin (less dependent on fossil sources) at a competitive price presents itself as a strong business opportunity. This work describes and characterizes a sustainable alternative to synthetic antioxidants used in the biodiesel market developed from extracts of vineyard pruning waste (VPW), which are naturally rich in phenolic compounds with antioxidant properties. A hydrothermal extraction process was applied as a more efficient and sustainable technology than the conventional one with the potential of the extracts as antioxidant additives in biodiesel evaluated in Rancitech equipment. The VPW extract showed comparable antioxidant activity as the commercial antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) typically used in biodiesel. The stability of the biodiesel is dependent from the amount of the extract added. Further, for the first time, the assessment of the environmental impacts of using natural extracts to control the oxidative stability of biodiesel in the production process is also discussed as a key factor of the process environmental sustainability.

Initial antiretroviral therapy in a 20-year observational cohort of patients followed at a reference center in the city of São Paulo, Brazil / Terapia antiretroviral inicial (ARV) em uma coorte observacional de 20 anos de pacientes em seguimento em um centro de referência na cidade de São Paulo, Brasil

INTRODUÇÃO: A produção e o acesso gratuito e universal aos antiretrovirais (ARV) foram responsáveis pela grande queda na morbi-mortalidade por HIV/Aids no Brasil. OBJETIVO: descrever o tratamento com ARV no Centro de Referência e Treinamento DST/AIDS São Paulo. MÉTODO: Análise longitudinal das características do primeiro tratamento com antirretrovirais de uma coorte retrospectiva de pacientes com 13 anos e mais, matriculados no Centro de Referência, 1985-2005, descrito através de tabelas de frequência e gráficos. RESULTADOS: Foram descritos 4191 pacientes. A maior concentração de iniciação foi no período 1999-2003; 82,7 por cento dos pacientes eram virgens de tratamento. A monoterapia prevaleceu até 1995, o pico da terapia dupla foi 1996-1998, e o período de 1999 a 2005 se caracterizou pela prescrição de terapia tripla. Na terapia tripla, esquemas com inibidores de protease corresponderam a 1.462 (34,9 por cento) de todas as prescrições iniciais. A combinação AZT, 3TC e EFV foi o esquema mais frequentemente prescrito (47,4 por cento) em 2005. CONCLUSÕES: Esse estudo descritivo possibilita o desenvolvimento de análises mais profundas sobre os fatores envolvidos no tratamento de pacientes com HIV/AIDS.

INTRODUCTION: Production and free universal access to ART for patients with HIV/Aids were responsible for a major fall in morbidity-mortality in Brazil. OBJECTIVE: To describe antiretroviral treatment at the São Paulo STD/Aids Training and Reference Center. METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis of the characteristics of the first treatment with antiretroviral drugs of a retrospective cohort of patients 13 years and over, enrolled at the Reference Center, 1985-2005, described by frequency tables and graphs. RESULTS: 4,191 patients were described. The most frequent initiation period was 1999-2003; 82.7% of patients were treatment naïve. Monotherapy prevailed until 1995, the peak of double therapy was 1996-98, and 1999-2005 was characterized by triple therapy. Regarding triple therapy, regimens with protease inhibitors accounted for 1,462 (34.9%) of all first prescriptions. The combination AZT, 3TC and EFV was the most frequently prescribed regimen (47.4%) in 2005.CONCLUSIONS: This descriptive study may enable more in depth analyses on the factors involved in the treatment patients with HIV/AIDS.

Terapia antiretroviral inicial (ARV) em uma coorte observacional de 20 anos de pacientes em seguimento em um centro de referência na cidade de São Paulo, Brasil

INTRODUCTION: Production and free universal access to ART for patients with HIV/Aids were responsible for a major fall in morbidity-mortality in Brazil. OBJECTIVE: To describe antiretroviral treatment at the São Paulo STD/Aids Training and Reference Center. METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis of the characteristics of the first treatment with antiretroviral drugs of a retrospective cohort of patients 13 years and over, enrolled at the Reference Center, 1985-2005, described by frequency tables and graphs. RESULTS: 4,191 patients were described. The most frequent initiation period was 1999-2003; 82.7 percent of patients were treatment naïve. Monotherapy prevailed until 1995, the peak of double therapy was 1996-98, and 1999-2005 was characterized by triple therapy. Regarding triple therapy, regimens with protease inhibitors accounted for 1,462 (34.9 percent) of all first prescriptions. The combination AZT, 3TC and EFV was the most frequently prescribed regimen (47.4 percent) in 2005. CONCLUSIONS: This descriptive study may enable more in depth analyses on the factors involved in the treatment patients with HIV/AIDS.(AU)

INTRODUÇÃO: A produção e o acesso gratuito e universal aos antiretrovirais (ARV) foram responsáveis pela grande queda na morbi-mortalidade por HIV/Aids no Brasil. OBJETIVO: descrever o tratamento com ARV no Centro de Referência e Treinamento DST/AIDS São Paulo. MÉTODO: Análise longitudinal das características do primeiro tratamento com antirretrovirais de uma coorte retrospectiva de pacientes com 13 anos e mais, matriculados no Centro de Referência, 1985-2005, descrito através de tabelas de frequência e gráficos. RESULTADOS: Foram descritos 4191 pacientes. A maior concentração de iniciação foi no período 1999-2003; 82,7 por cento dos pacientes eram virgens de tratamento. A monoterapia prevaleceu até 1995, o pico da terapia dupla foi 1996-1998, e o período de 1999 a 2005 se caracterizou pela prescrição de terapia tripla. Na terapia tripla, esquemas com inibidores de protease corresponderam a 1.462 (34,9 por cento) de todas as prescrições iniciais. A combinação AZT, 3TC e EFV foi o esquema mais frequentemente prescrito (47,4 por cento) em 2005. CONCLUSÕES: Esse estudo descritivo possibilita o desenvolvimento de análises mais profundas sobre os fatores envolvidos no tratamento de pacientes com HIV/AIDS.(AU)