Performance evaluation of a novel open trickling filter for the post-treatment of anaerobic effluents from small communities.

The objective of the work is to evaluate the performance of an innovative design of a trickling filter for small population sizes, which has been implemented for the post-treatment of sanitary effluent from a UASB (upflow anaerobic sludge blanket) reactor. The unit, named open trickling filter (OTF), operates with no side walls, no perforated bottom slab and no secondary settler. The OTF packing was 3.5 m high, composed of crushed stone, with a fixed distribution system made of channels with V-notch weirs. The OTF was operated with mean surface hydraulic loading rates of 4.1 and 9.3 m³ m⁻² d⁻¹, corresponding to population equivalents of approximately 250 and 550 inhabitants, respectively. For the surface hydraulic loading rate of 4.1 m³ m⁻² d⁻¹, the median removal efficiencies obtained by the OTF and overall system (UASB + OTF) were, respectively, 24 and 83% for total suspended solids (TSS), 44 and 79% for chemical oxygen demand (COD), 42 and 82% for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), 40 and 40% for N-ammonia. For the surface hydraulic loading rate of 9.3 m³ m⁻² d⁻¹, the median removal efficiencies obtained by the OTF and global system (UASB + OTF) were 14 and 76% for TSS, 28 and 76% for COD, 25 and 86% for BOD, 15 and 15% for N-ammonia. Considering the great simplicity, no mechanization and small footprint of the system, these results can be considered satisfactory, suggesting that the OTF is suitable for small communities, especially in developing countries.

Should oral chlorhexidine remain in ventilator-associated pneumonia prevention bundles?

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is related with high mortality, duration of mechanical ventilation and costs. Recent studies have questioned the safety and effectiveness of oral chlorhexidine to prevent VAP. We sought to verify whether the adverse effects of this substance outweigh its benefits. We searched several databases and selected studies that investigated the use of oral chlorhexidine and its impact on mortality. No association between oral chlorhexidine and lower VAP rates was found on meta-analyses of double-blind randomized trials, however significant increase in mortality was reported. It is speculated that chlorhexidine can cause damage to several organic sectors and cytotoxicity. Although it still can be beneficial in specific settings, robust evidence to recommend its routine application for all mechanically ventilated patients is lacking; therefore, given the possibility of harm, it would be better to follow the principle of non-maleficence until more studies becomes available.

Should oral chlorhexidine remain in ventilator-associated pneumonia prevention bundles?

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is related with high mortality, duration of mechanical ventilation and costs. Recent studies have questioned the safety and effectiveness of oral chlorhexidine to prevent VAP. We sought to verify whether the adverse effects of this substance outweigh its benefits. We searched several databases and selected studies that investigated the use of oral chlorhexidine and its impact on mortality. No association between oral chlorhexidine and lower VAP rates was found on meta-analyses of double-blind randomized trials, however significant increase in mortality was reported. It is speculated that chlorhexidine can cause damage to several organic sectors and cytotoxicity. Although it still can be beneficial in specific settings, robust evidence to recommend its routine application for all mechanically ventilated patients is lacking; therefore, given the possibility of harm, it would be better to follow the principle of non-maleficence until more studies becomes available.

In vitro cytotoxicity activity on several cancer cell lines of acridone alkaloids and N-phenylethyl-benzamide derivatives from Swinglea glutinosa (Bl.) Merr.

The methanol extract from the stems and fruits of Swinglea glutinosa (Rutaceae) afforded 11 known acridone alkaloids and three N-phenylethyl-benzamide derivatives, glycocitrine-IV, 1,3,5-trihydroxy-4-methoxy-10-methyl-2,8-bis(3-methylbut-2-enyl)acridin-9(10H)-one, 1,3,5- trihydroxy-2,8-bis(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-10-methyl-9-acridone, citbrasine, citrusinine-II, citrusinine-I, 5-dihydroxyacronycine, pyranofoline, 3,4-dihydro-3,5,8-trihydroxy-6-methoxy-2,2,7-trimethyl-2H-pyrano[2,3-a]acridin-12(7H)-one, 2,3-dihydro-4,9-dihydroxy-2-(2-hydroxy-propan-2-yl)-11-methoxy-10-methylfuro[3,2-b]acridin-5(10H)-one, bis-5-hydroxyacronycine, N-(2-{4-[(3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dien-1-yl)oxy]phenyl}ethyl)benzamide, N-(2-{4-[(3,7-dimethyl-4-acethyl-octa-2,6-dien-1-yl)oxy]phenyl}ethyl)benzamide, and severine acetate. All compounds isolated were examined for their activity against three cancer cell lines: human lung carcinoma (COR-L23), human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF7), human melanoma (C32), and normal human fetal lung cell line, MRC-5. The acridones tested exhibited weak cytotoxicity but the amides showed moderate nonselective cytotoxic activity.

Screening of Leishmania APRT enzyme inhibitors.

Adenine phosphoribosyltransferase (APRT) enzyme from Leishmania tarentolae has been proposed as a target for the rational search of new leishmanicidal drugs. In this paper, we describe the evaluation of the inhibitory activity on L. tarentolae APRT enzyme of 46 crude extracts of Meliaceae and Rutaceae plants, besides three furoquinolone alkaloids. The results showed that 21 extracts were able to decrease the APRT enzymatic activity (IA% > or = 50). The methanolic extracts from roots and leaves of Cedrela fissilis and from fruits, branches and leaves of Cipadessa fruticosa have showed strong activities. Therefore, these species could be a promising source of lead compounds for the rational design of new leishmanicidal drugs. The phytochemical investigation of an active fraction from Almeidea rubra afforded the alkaloids isodutaduprine, isoskimmianine and isokokusagine, which showed low to moderate activity on APRT.

Structure of Trypanosoma cruzi glycosomal glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase complexed with chalepin, a natural product inhibitor, at 1.95 A resolution.

The structure of the glycosomal glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (gGAPDH) from Trypanosoma cruzi complexed with chalepin, a natural product from Pilocarpus spicatus, has been determined by X-ray crystallography to 1.95 A resolution. The structure is in the apo form without cofactors in the subunits of the tetrameric gGAPDH in the asymmetric unit. Unequivocal density corresponding to the inhibitor was clearly identified in one monomer. The final refined model of the complex shows extensive conformational changes when compared with the native structure. The mode of binding of chalepin to gGAPDH and its implications for inhibitor design are discussed.

A limonoid from Trichilia estipulata.

The limonoid 21,24,25,26,27-pentanor-15,22-oxo-7alpha,23-dihydroxy-apotirucalla(eupha)-1-en-3-one was isolated from the dichloromethane extract of the stem bark of Trichilia estipulata. Its structure was established by spectroscopic methods (UV, EIMS, 1H and 13C NMR, HMQC and HMBC).

Sesquiterpene pyridine alkaloids from Peritassa campestris.

An investigation of the methanol and ethyl acetate extracts from the roots of Peritassa campestris (Hippocrateaceae) afforded the sesquiterpene pyridine alkaloid, 4-hydroxy-7-epi-chuchuhuanine E-V, and nine known alkaloids, forrestine, euonimine, ebenifoline E-I, wilforine, euojaponine F, euonine, wilforjine, neowilforine, and wilforzine. The structures of the isolates were elucidated on the basis of spectral data, particularly HMQC and HMBC experiments.

Anthrone and oxanthrone C,O-diglycosides from Picramnia teapensis.

Two C,O-diglycosylated compounds, the anthrone picramnioside F, and the oxanthrone mayoside C, were isolated from the stem bark of Picramnia teapensis, along with the previously reported anthraquinones, 1-O-beta-D- and 8-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl emodin. The compounds were separated by recycling-HPLC, and their structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic analysis. CD measurements were used to establish the absolute configuration of the anthrone and oxanthrone. The antifungal activity of 1-O-beta-D- and 8-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl emodin against Leucoagaricus gongilophorus was shown to be similar to that of the lignan sesamin.

Pyrano chalcones and a flavone from Neoraputia magnifica and their Trypanosoma cruzi glycosomal glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase-inhibitory activities.

The fruits of Neoraptua magnifica var. magnifica afforded three new flavonoids: 2'-hydroxy-4,4',-dimethoxy-5',6'-(2'',2''-dimethylpyrano)chalcone, 2'-hydroxy-3,4,4'-trimethoxy-5',6'-(2'',2''-dimethylpyrano)chalcone, and 3',4'-methylenedioxy-5,7-dimethoxyflavone which were identified on the basis of spectroscopic methods. The known flavonoids 2'-hydroxy-3,4,4',5-tetramethoxy-5',6'-(2'',2''-dimethylpyrano)chalcone, 2'-hydroxy-3,4,4',5,6'-pentamethoxychalcone, 3',4'-methylenedioxy-5,6,7-trimethoxyflavone, 3',4'-methylenedioxy-5',5,6,7-tetramethoxyflavone, 3',4',5',5,7-pentamethoxyflavanone and 3',4',5'5,7-pentamethoxyflavone were also identified. The latter flavone was the most active as glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase-inhibitor.

Aurapten, a coumarin with growth inhibition against Leishmania major promastigotes.

Several natural compounds have been identified for the treatment of leishmaniasis. Among them are some alkaloids, chalcones, lactones, tetralones, and saponins. The new compound reported here, 7-geranyloxycoumarin, called aurapten, belongs to the chemical class of the coumarins and has a molecular weight of 298.37. The compound was extracted from the Rutaceae species Esenbeckia febrifuga and was purified from a hexane extract starting from 407.7 g of dried leaves and followed by four silica gel chromatographic fractionation steps using different solvents as the mobile phase. The resulting compound (47 mg) of shows significant growth inhibition with an LD50 of 30 microM against the tropical parasite Leishmania major, which causes severe clinical manifestations in humans and is endemic in the tropical and subtropical regions. In the present study, we investigated the atomic structure of aurapten in order to determine the existence of common structural motifs that might be related to other coumarins and potentially to other identified inhibitors of Leishmania growth and viability. This compound has a comparable inhibitory activity of other isolated molecules. The aurapten is a planar molecule constituted of an aromatic system with electron delocalization. A hydrophobic side chain consisting of ten carbon atoms with two double bonds and negative density has been identified and may be relevant for further compound synthesis.

In vitro activity of Rutaceae species against the trypomastigote form of Trypanosoma cruzi.

The activity of crude plant extracts of nine species of Rutaceae against the trypomastigote form of Trypanosoma cruzi was evaluated at 4 mg/ml. Thirty-two crude extracts were tested and eight of them showed significant activity (>80%). The most active extract was obtained from the stems of Pilocarpus spicatus (97.3%). Fractionation of the active crude extracts provided 25 fractions which were tested against the trypomastigote form of T. cruzi at 2 mg/ml. Of these six showed significant activity (>80%). The most active fractions (100%) were obtained from the leaves of Almeidea coerulea (butanol fraction) and Conchocarpus inopinatus (dichloromethane fraction).

Toxicity of synthetic piperonyl compounds to leaf-cutting ants and their symbiotic fungus.

The development of Leucoagaricus gongylophorus, the fungus cultured by the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens was inhibited in vitro by synthetic compounds containing the piperonyl group. In addition, worker ants that were fed daily on an artificial diet to which these compounds were added had a higher mortality rate than the controls. The inhibition of the fungal growth increased with the size of the carbon side chain ranging from C1 through C8 and decreasing thereafter. 1-(3,4-Methylenedioxybenzyloxy)octane (compound 5) was the most active compound and inhibited the fungal development by 80% at a concentration of 15 micrograms ml-1. With worker ants the toxic effects started with compound 5 and increased with the number of carbons in the side chain. Thus, for the same concentration (100 micrograms ml-1) the mortality rates observed after 8 days of diet ingestion were 82%, 66% and 42%, for 1-(3,4-methylenedioxybenzyloxy)decane, 1-(3,4-methylenedioxybenzyloxy)dodecane and compound 5, respectively, whereas with commercial piperonyl butoxide the mortality was 68%. The latter compound, which is known as a synergist insecticide, was as inhibitory to the symbiotic fungus as the synthetic compound 5. The possibility of controlling these insects in the future using compounds that can target simultaneously both organisms is discussed.

Limonoids from the endemic Brazilian species Raulinoa echinata.

Phytochemical survey of stems and leaves of the South Brazilian endemic Raulinoa echinata Cowan, Rutaceae led to the isolation of five limonoid derivatives: the widespread limonin, limonexic acid, kihadalactone B, a methoxylated limonexic acid derivative and a degraded limonoid structurally related to fraxinellone. The two latter compounds have been isolated for the first time. These compounds displayed weak inhibitory activity when assayed in vitro against trypomastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi. In this paper, the isolation, structure elucidation and bioactivity of these compounds are reported.

Tropical Plant Extracts as Sources of Grain-Protectant Compounds Against Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).

The toxicity of organic plant extracts to Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) was assessed for three tropical plant species: branches, leaves, and seeds of Annona montana (Annonaceae), branches of Aristolochia paulistana (Aristolochiaceae), and leaves and branches of Casearia sylvestris (Salicaceae). The screening assay resulted that the extracts of A. montana seeds obtained with hexane (LC50 = 534.75 mg kg(-1) and LT50 = 6.10 days) and with dichloromethane (LC50 = 424.67 mg kg(-1) and LT50 = 5.03 days) were the most promising treatments, followed by the extract prepared from A. montana leaves with hexane (LC50 = 837.70 mg kg(-1) and LT50 = 4.90 days). Moreover, extracts (at 1,500 mg kg(-1)) prepared from C. sylvestris branches with dichloromethane and A. paulistana with hexane caused significant mortality (37% and 41.5%, respectively) beyond sublethal effects on S. zeamais. Therefore, based on the biological assays, extraction yield, and evaluation of the chromatographic profile of the crude extracts by TLC, the hexane extract of A. montana seeds was selected and fractioned using liquid-liquid partitioning. The hydroalcoholic fraction caused mortality of 55.5%, significantly superior to dichloromethane fraction, which caused 35.5% of mortality. Chemical analyses ((1)H NMR, HPLC, and TLC) were performed, and the results showed the presence of alkaloids and acetogenins in both active fractions, which have been associated with bioactivity. Therefore, extracts prepared from A. montana seeds (especially) is an interesting source of new compounds with promising grain-protectant properties.

[The anatomical-functional characteristics of the pelvic floor and quality of life of women with stress urinary incontinence subjected to perineal exercises]. / Las características anatomofuncionales del suelo pélvico y la calidad de vida de mujeres con incontinencia urinaria de esfuerzo sometidas a ejercicios perineales.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of exercise in anatomic abnormalities of the pelvic floor (SP) and the quality of life (QOL) of women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI). METHOD: An experimental study with 50 women with SUI, distributed randomly into two groups, experimental (GE, 49.24±7.37 years) and control group (CG; 45.25±5.60 years). The groups performed ultrasound evaluation of the SP, evidence of pelvic floor muscle strength by palpation bidigital, surface EMG motor activity and replied to the CV before and after treatment. The GE had 16 sessions of pelvic floor exercises twice a week for 30min. RESULTS: Comparison between the GE and GC revealed significant differences in favor of GE, namely: mobility of the bladder neck (Δ=-0.79mm, p=0.00), thickness of pelvic floor muscle (Δ=-0.04mm, p=0.00), EMG (Δ=0.05.V, p=0.00), muscle strength by the AFA (Δ=0.05 level, p=0.00), DOMI1 (Δ%=5.67%, p=0.00), DOMI2 (Δ%=18.00%, p=0.00), DOMI3 (Δ%=18.22%, p=0.00), DOMI4 (Δ%=4.45%, p=0.00), DOMI5 (Δ%=0.22%, p=0.00), DOMI6 (Δ%=2.00%, p=0.00), DOMI7 (Δ%=3.78%, p=0, 00), DOMI8 (Δ%=6.33%, p=0.00), DOMI9 (Δ%=4.03%, p=0.00). CONCLUSION: It was modified and improved anatomic features of the pelvic floor of women from GE through perineal exercises, which will positively influence the CV of these women.

Unequivocal NMR assignments: O-methoxy-methyl esters derivatives of acid chromanones from Calophyllum brasiliense CAMB. (Guanandi).

The present work describes the fractionation of the crude hexane extract (EBHEX) from Calophyllum brasiliense (Clusiaceae) stem bark. Derivatization of DCM(2-9) fraction with diazomethane afforded the chromanones inophylloidic acid, isobrasiliensic acid, as well as, a mixture containing isobrasiliensic and brasiliensic acids, in the form of their more stable O-methoxy-methyl esters derivatives 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The isolation of 1 from C. brasiliense is described for the first time herein. The use of two-dimensional NMR methods ((1)H-COSY, HMQC, and HMBC) allowed the precise determination of (13)C and (1)H chemical shifts of compounds 1, 2, and 3.

Self-reported oral hygiene habits among institutionalised elderly and their relationship to the condition of oral tissues in Taubaté, Brazil.

OBJECTIVES: To record self-reported hygiene habits, examine the oral conditions of a sample group of institutionalised elderly, and examine possible relationships between these habits and conditions. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: All the institutions for the elderly in Taubaté, Brazil. SUBJECTS: The entire population of these institutionalised elderly people (n = 553). INTERVENTION: The subjects were interviewed and underwent an oral examination. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Oral hygiene habits, oral conditions and statistical relationships between habits and oral conditions were recorded. RESULTS: The average age of the subjects who knew their age (n = 364) was 74.9 years (+/-12.9), and 64.7% of the sample group were females. Denture-related stomatitis was found in 19.5%, impaired manual dexterity in 40%, dry mouth sensation in 36.3%, difficulty in performing oral hygiene in 20%, no oral hygiene-related orientation in 54.1%, no periodic oral examinations in 59.5%, and no tongue cleaning in 68.3% was declared. Among dentate subjects, 73.3% had periodontal disease, 54.7% had caries, 26% reported no toothbrushing, and 7.3% reported flossing. Of the denture wearers, 7% did not brush their dentures. Denture-related stomatitis showed a statistical relationship with impaired manual dexterity (p = 0.012) and an inverse statistical relationship with denture brushing frequency (p = 0.006). Periodontal disease showed an inverse relationship to flossing (p < 0.001) and tongue cleaning (p = 0.0026). Caries showed an inverse relationship with tooth-brushing (p = 0.043), flossing (0.022), proper oral hygiene orientation (p = 0.041) and periodical check-ups (p = 0.007). CONCLUSION: Oral hygiene practices in this sample group were found to be inadequate, and statistically significant relationships were verified between the lack of good oral hygiene practices and the deleterious oral conditions.