Chemical fingerprinting of the Brazilian medicinal plant Calea pinnatifida (R. Br.) Less. (Asteraceae) collected at different altitudes.

Calea pinnatifida (R. Br.) Less. is a plant of Brazilian folk medicine. We evaluated the influence of environmental factors on the chemical profile of C. pinnatifida collected during the winter season. C. pinnatifida leaves, alongside soil samples, were collected from two sites of different altitude. Plant samples were sequentially extracted, while soil samples were subject to compositional analysis. Plant extracts were compared using HPTLC-UV, using chemometric analyses to compare samplings harvested at both altitudes. Two marker metabolites, calein A (1) and acetylportentol (2), were isolated from samples collected at the respective altitudes. The differing metabolic profiles observed may be a result of the influence of environmental factors.

Detection of the Hepatitis C virus in a population of adults.

UNLABELLED: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) in adults from Criciuma-SC and to search factors associated with the viral transmission. METHODS: During a health campaign, a questionnaire about factors associated to HCV transmission and tests to detect HCV were applied. A representative sample of the population was considered with 300 voluntaries. Fisher's Exact test, Mann-Whitney and Kappa tests were performed (p values < 0.05 were considered significant). RESULTS: HCV was detected in 7/ 457 (1.53 %) voluntaries. Subjects with positive HCV had a mean of 5.7 (+/- 4.1 SD) sexual partners in the last 10 years, which was significantly higher than those with negative anti-HCV (mean sexual partners 2 +/- 2.5 SD) (p= 0.01). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of HCV in a voluntary population of adults from Criciuma-SC was high and there was significant association between positive anti-HCV and higher number of sexual partners.

Detection of the Hepatitis C virus in a population of adults / Detección del virus de la Hepatitis C en una población de adultos / Detecção do vírus da Hepatite C em uma população de adultos

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) in adults from Criciuma-SC and to search factors associated with the viral transmission. METHODS: During a health campaign, a questionnaire about factors associated to HCV transmission and tests to detect HCV were applied. A representative sample of the population was considered with 300 voluntaries. Fisher's Exact test, Mann-Whitney and Kappa tests were performed (p values < 0.05 were considered significant). RESULTS: HCV was detected in 7/ 457 (1.53 percent) voluntaries. Subjects with positive HCV had a mean of 5.7 (+/- 4.1 SD) sexual partners in the last 10 years, which was significantly higher than those with negative anti-HCV (mean sexual partners 2 +/- 2.5 SD) (p= 0.01). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of HCV in a voluntary population of adults from Criciuma-SC was high and there was significant association between positive anti-HCV and higher number of sexual partners.

El estudio tuvo como objetivo determinar la presencia del virus de la Hepatitis C (VHC) en adultos de la ciudad de Criciúma-SC y buscar factores relacionados a la transmisión viral. MÉTODOS: en una campaña de salud sobre Hepatitis C fue aplicado un cuestionario sobre factores relacionados a la transmisión del VHC; se realizaron pruebas para detectar el virus. Se estableció, como muestra representativa, la participación de 300 individuos de la población. Fueron aplicadas los pruebas Exato de Fischer, Mann-Whitney y Kappa (con valores significativos de p<0,05). RESULTADOS: La Hepatitis C fue detectada en 7/457 participantes (1,53 por ciento). Los individuos con VHC positivo tuvieron un promedio de 5,7 (+/- 4,1 DE) compañeros sexuales en los últimos 10 años y ese valor fue significativamente más elevado que los que presentaron el resultado de VHC negativo (promedio de 2 compañeros +/- 2,5 DE) (p= 0,01). CONCLUSIÓN: La seropresencia de VHC en una población voluntaria de adultos de Criciúma-SC fue elevada, habiendo una asociación entre la presencia del VHC y el mayor número de compañeros sexuales.

O estudo objetivou determinar a prevalência de vírus da hepatite C (HCV) em adultos de Criciúma, SC, e procurar fatores relacionados à transmissão viral. MÉTODOS: em uma campanha de saúde sobre hepatite C foi aplicado questionário sobre fatores relativos à transmissão de HVC e testes de detecção viral. Estabeleceu-se 300 participantes como amostra representativa da população. Foram aplicados os testes Exato de Fischer, Mann-Whitney e Kappa (significativos valores de p<0,05). RESULTADOS: hepatite C foi detectada em 7/457 participantes (1,53 por cento). Indivíduos com HCV positivo tiveram média de 5,7 (+/-4,1 DP) parceiros sexuais nos últimos 10 anos e esse valor foi significativamente mais elevado do que para aqueles com HCV negativo (média de 2 parceiros +/-2,5 DP) (p=0,01). CONCLUSÃO: a soroprevalência de HCV em uma população voluntária de adultos de Criciúma, SC, foi elevada, havendo associação entre a presença de HCV e maior número de parceiros sexuais.

Emprego de coberturas secas no controle da drenagem ácida de mina: estudos em campo / Use of dry cover systems to control acid mine drainage: field studies

No sul catarinense, cristais de pirita associados a rejeitos de beneficiamento de carvão mineral, quando alterados, desencadeiam o processo conhecido como drenagem ácida de mina (DAM). Este trabalho objetivou avaliar a eficiência de três sistemas de coberturas secas sobre estes rejeitos, como uma opção para o controle da DAM. Agentes neutralizantes da DAM como a cinza pesada e o calcário foram misturados com os rejeitos ou dispostos acima destes. Para reduzir a infiltração de água e difusão de oxigênio no meio, foi empregada uma camada de 50 cm de solo silte-argiloso compactado. Os experimentos foram monitorados por um ano, sendo analisados nos lixiviados alguns parâmetros indicadores da DAM, além da presença de bactérias ferro-oxidantes e sulfato-redutoras. Os resultados obtidos indicaram uma boa eficiência na prevenção da DAM de dois dos três sistemas de coberturas pesquisados.

In the southern of the Santa Catarina state, the weathering and oxidation of pyrite-containing coal has been the major agent of Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) production. The purpose of this study was to verify the efficiency of three different cover systems to inhibit AMD. Experiments were built in field lysimeters with alkaline agents - bottom ash and limestone - placed over or mixed with fresh coal waste. To reduce the water infiltration rates and oxygen diffusion 50 cm of compact mud soil layer was put over waste. The top cover was constituted by 10 cm of the same soil, mixed with bottom ash. During one year, these experiments have been monitored through chemical (pH, Eh, Fe2+, Fe total, Al, Ca, Mg, Zn, Pb and Mn) and microbiological (Thiobacilus ferroxidans presence) composition of effluents. The results indicated that two of three cover systems employed were efficient on AMD prevention.