Orientador: Devaney Ribeiro do Carmo / Banca: Newton Luiz Dias Filho / Banca: Regina Massako Takeuchi / Resumo: O presente trabalho apresenta a preparação de um silsesquioxano nanoestruturado, o cloropropilsilsesquioxano (S) que foi organofuncionalizado com os seguintes agentes modificadores: 4-amino-3-hidrazinico-5-mercapto-1,2,4-triazol (Purpald®) e o 4-amino-5-4(piridil)-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-tiol (APTT), os materiais obtidos dessa funcionalização foram descritos como SP e SA, respectivamente. Os materiais SP e SA foram caracterizados por diversas técnicas espectroscópicas: Espectroscopia na região do infravermelho (FT-IR), Ressonância magnética nuclear 29Si e 13C no estado sólido (RMN), Difração de Raios- X (DRX), Espectroscopia de Energia Dispersiva de Raios X (EDX), Termogravimetria e Análise Térmica Diferencial (TG - DTA). Após a devida caracterização, realizaram-se estudos de adsorção de íons metálicos (Cu2+, Cd2+ e Ni2+) nos sítios ativos do SA, porém, curiosamente não se observou a mesma capacidade de sorção pelo SP. Diferentes meios foram estudados no processo de adsorção dos íons metálicos supracitados: aquoso, etanólico 99% e etanólico 42%, determinando-se o tempo de equilíbrio de adsorção, que para ambos os meios e metais esse tempo máximo foi em média 35 min. Determinado o tempo de equilíbrio de adsorção dos íons metálicos em cada sistema, determinou-se a capacidade específica de sorção (Nfmax) através de isotermas de adsorção. Para o Cu2+, os valores de Nf foram: meio aquoso (3,09 × 10-4 mol g-1), etanólico 42% (1,03 × 10-4 mol g-1) e etanólico 99% (1,86 × 10-4 mol g-1), com concentrações de íons Cu2+ variando de 1,74 a 29,64 mol L-1. Os valores encontrados para o Ni2+ foram: em meio aquoso (2,11 × 10-4 mol g-1), etanólico 42% (0,97 × 10-4 mol g-1) e etanólico 99% (1,05 × 10-4 mol g-1), com concentrações de íons Ni2+ variando de 2,25 a 33,18 mol L-1. Para os íons cádmio não foram... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: This work presents the preparation of a nanostructured silsesquioxane, the cloropropilsilsesquioxano (S) that was organofunctionalised with the following modifying agents: 4-amino-3-hydrazino 5 - mercapto 1,2,4 triazole (Purpald ®) and 4- amino-5-4 (pyridyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiol (APTT), the materials obtained of the functionalization were described as SP and SA, respectively. The materials SA and SP were characterized by various spectroscopic techniques such as spectroscopy in the region of infrared (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance 29Si and 13C solid-state (NMR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy Rays (EDS), Thermogravimetry and Differential Thermal Analysis (TG - DTA). After proper characterization, were carried studies on adsorption of metallic ions such as Cu2+, Ni2+ and Cd2+ in the active sites of SA, but curiously did not observe the same sorption capacity of the SP. Different methods were studied in the adsorption of metal ions above: aqueous, 99% ethanolic and 42% ethanolic, determining the adsorption equilibrium time, which for both means and metals the maximum time averaged 35 min. After determining the adsorption equilibrium time of metal ions in each system, we determined the specific sorption capacity (Nfmax) through adsorption isotherms. For Cu2+, the values of Nf were: aqueous solution (3.09 × 10-4 mol g-1), 42% ethanolic (1.03 × 10-4 mol g-1) and 99% ethanolic (1.86 × 10-4 mol g-1), with Cu2 + ion concentrations ranging from 1.74 to 29.64 mol L-1. The values obtained for the Ni2+ were: aqueous solution (2.11 × 10-4 mol g-1), 42% ethanolic (0.97 × 10-4 mol g-1) and 99% ethanolic (1.05 × 10-4 mol g-1), with Ni2 + ion concentrations ranging from 2.25 to 33.18 mol L-1. For the cadmium ions were not observed saturation of adsorption sites in the concentration range studied, not getting the maximum... (Summary complete electronic access click below) / Mestre

[pt] A modelagem do acoplamento entre os fenômenos mecânicos e térmicos em sólidos inelásticos é considerada neste trabalho. O acoplamento termomecânico é importante em determinadas situações, como por exemplo, no estudo de problemas envolvendo deformações inelásticas cíclicas em estruturas metálicas. Um procedimento sistemático para obtenção de equações constitutivas termodinamicamente admissíveis é apresentado. Através deste procedimento, baseado na Termodinâmica dos Processos Irreversíveis, foi possível obter uma teoria constitutiva para modelar o comportamento anisotérmico de metais e ligas metálicas. Dois tipos de acoplamentos termomecânicos foram identificados: o acoplamento interno, associado à dissipação interna do processo mecânico, e o térmico, associado à dependência dos parâmetros das equações constitutivas com a temperatura. A teoria foi particularizada para materiais elasto-viscoplásticos. Simulações com barras foram realizadas para estudar fenômenos como o aquecimento de metais provocado por solicitações mecânicas complexas e o comportamento de metais submetidos a grandes gradientes de temperatura. Uma variável de dano foi incorporada ao modelo, permitindo estudar a influência do acoplamento termodinâmico em processos de degradação do material como fadiga de baixo ciclo. / [en] The present work is concerned with the modeling of the coupling between mechanical and termal phenomena. The thermomechanical coupling is important in some problems like those involving inelastic cyclic deformation in metallic structures. A systematic procedure to obtain thermodynamically admissible constitutive equations is presented. Such procedure has a strong thermodynamic basis and is used to obtain a constant theory to model the anisothermal behavior of metals and alloys. Two kinds of thermomechanical couplings can be identified: the internal coupling, related with the internal dissipation in the mechanical process and the thermal coupling, related with the dependence of the material parameters in the constitutive equations on temperature. The theory is particularized to elasto-viscoplastic materials. Uniaxial simulations were performed to study the heating of metals due to complex mechanical loadings and the behavior of metals subjected to high temperature gradients. A damage variable is introduced in the model to study the influence of the thermomechanical coupling in processes involving the degradation of the material like in low-cycle fatigue.

Esta tese consiste do estudo de reações de ciclofuncionalização de compostos β-enamino carbonílicos e β-dicarbonílicos, contendo uma cadeia alquenílica nas posições α ou γ. Os eletrófilos empregados para este fim foram: iodo, brometo de fenilselenenila e tricloreto de p-metóxifeniltelurio. Os iodo-β-enamino ésteres e cetonas cíclicas, após desidroiodação mediada por base, levaram à formação dos correspondentes pirróis, indóis e aminobenzofuranos. A ciclização dos β-ceto ésteres e β-dicetonas levou a enol éteres e benzofuranos funcionalizados. Estes resultados, juntamente com outros obtidos em nosso grupo de pesquisa, foram utilizados em um estudo comparativo entre reagentes de iodo, selênio e telúrio frente a reações de ciclização eletrofílica de substratos β-dicarbonílicos. / This thesis presents a study of the cyclofunctionalization of β-enamino carbonyl and β-dicarbonyl compounds, substituted by an alkenyl group at the α or γ positions. Iodine, phenyl-selenenyl bromide and p-methoxyphenyltellurium trichloride were employed as the electrophilic reagent. The cyclic iodo-β-enamino esters and ketones, after base-promoted dehydroiodination, led to the corresponding pyrroles, indoles and aminobenzofurans. The cyclization of the β-keto esters and β-diketones afforded five- and six-membered enol ethers and benzofuranones. These results, together with others previously obtained in our research group, allowed us to compare the behavior of the three above mentioned electrophiles toward the cyclofunctionalization of β-dicarbonyl substrates.

Cyclic peptides possess desirable characteristics as potential pharmaceutical scaffolds. The cyanobactin family of cyclic peptide natural products boast diverse structures and bioactivity. Exemplars are the patellamides, which have attracted attention due to their ability to reverse the effects of multi-drug resistance in human leukemia cells. In addition to their macrocyclic architecture patellamides contain azol(in)e heterocycles and d-amino acids. This structural complexity makes them challenging targets for chemical synthesis. Understanding their biosynthesis will enable the development of a biotechnological ‘toolkit' for the synthesis of new pharmaceutical compounds. Patellamides are ribosomally-synthesised and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) and much of their biosynthesis has been elucidated, however there are still elements of their biosynthesis that are not yet fully understood. PatA and PatG contain C-terminal domains of unknown function (DUFs). The crystal structure of PatG-DUF has been solved and subsequent to biochemical and biophysical investigation PatG-DUF was found not to constitute an essential part of the biotechnological ‘toolkit' and can be excluded from in vitro enzyme-based synthesis of cyanobactin-like cyclic peptides. The cyanobactin heterocyclases are able to introduce heterocycles into a peptide backbone, seemingly irrespective of the neighbouring residues; however a molecular rational governing substrate recognition is unknown. Additionally the mechanism of heterocyclisaton is disputed. Analysis of crystal structures of LynD in complex with cofactor and substrate (solved by Dr Jesko Koehnke) enabled the active site and substrate recognition site to be located. A new mechanism for heterocyclisation has been proposed. Guided by the substrate recognition observed in complex structures a constituently active heterocyclase (AcLynD) has been engineered, which is able to process short, leaderless peptide substrates. Epimerisation in cyanobactin biosynthesis is believed to be spontaneous, but its precise timing is uncertain. NMR analysis of selectively labelled peptide substrates processed by the modifying enzymes, identified epimerisation to be spontaneous on the macrocycle, regardless of whether the neighbouring heterocycles have been oxidised. A one-pot in vitro synthesis of cyanobactins has been developed, and employed to create a number of patellamide D analogues to ascertain structural-activity relationships.

Purpose: We aim to characterize a large cohort of CVS patients seen at MGH in order to better understand this disorder. In addition, as CVS patients are known to have a higher cannabis use than those with other functional disorders, characteristics specific to CVS marijuana user patients have yet to be determined. Therefore, we aim to determine the variables that are patient specific predictors of cannabis use in CVS. Methods: All patients with a CVS diagnosis were seen at our facility as inpatient, outpatient or in the emergency department and medical record numbers were identified via Research Patient Data Registry (RPDR) query search tool. From the medical records, we verified a diagnosis of CVS based on Rome III criteria and collected information on demographics, co-morbidities, health care utilization and substance abuse history over a 16 year time period (1997-2013). We then proposed patient specific predictor variables of marijuana use based on our experience with CVS patients and incorporated these variables into a model for predicting marijuana use. We used this model to examine the effect of patient characteristics on marijuana use via logistic regression with estimation of odds ratio and 95% confidence ratio. Results: A total of 91 CVS patients were obtained, 67% of which were male with a mean age of 28 years old, average age of first attack of 20.2 years and employment or full time student status in 62% of patients. Psychiatric conditions were present in 73% of individuals with anxiety present in 50% and depression in 47%. The presence of a chronic pain syndrome was found in 40%. Marijuana use was present in 76% of our cohort, daily alcohol use 53%, and narcotic use 27%. Men with CVS were at significantly greater risk for marijuana use compared to women (OR .23, 95% CI .07-.77) as well as daily alcohol use (OR 5.26, 95% CI 1.469-18.828). Individuals with a chronic pain syndrome were at significantly lower risk for cannabis use (OR .15, 95% CI .039-.575) and psychiatric illness, age and narcotic use were found not to be associated with marijuana use. On average, individuals presented to the ED 1.6 times/year with one patient having a high of 208 ED visits/year. Of those that presented more than once during the time period in study there was a median interval between visits of 103.6 days. Conclusion: We found that CVS patients had significant psychiatric co-morbidities, chronic pain syndromes, and history of substance abuse. We found male gender and alcohol use to be two variables that were predictors of marijuana use in the CVS population while the presence of a chronic pain syndrome decreased the likelihood of marijuana use. The significant employment rate and full time student status of our cohort suggests a higher degree of functionality. Further prospective studies are needed to determine the role of marijuana use in the CVS population in terms of quality of life, health care utilization, and severity of disease.

L'adénosine monophosphate cyclique (AMPc) est une molécule très largement conservée dans le monde du vivant. Chez les bactéries, cette molécule signal est impliquée, entre autres, dans l'adaptation aux changements de milieu, au développement de la virulence, à la sporulation et la compétence. Bien qu'il fut démontré dans les années 1970 que cette molécule nécessitait un transporteur afin de traverser la membrane cellulaire, l'identité de celui-ci restait jusqu'à très récemment inconnue. Ce n'est qu'en 2011 que Hantke et ses collègues démontrèrent l'implication de la protéine TolC dans l'export de l'AMPc. Au cours de ma thèse, j'ai démontré le rôle prépondérant du complexe Opp dans l'import d'AMPc chez Escherichia coli. Ce complexe, formé des protéines OppABCD et F, est connu pour transporter des oligopeptides et se trouve dans la membrane interne de nombreuses bactéries. Pour arriver à la conclusion de son implication dans le transport d'AMPc, une banque de mutants a été créée dans une souche ne produisant pas d'AMPc (cyaA-). Afin d'identifier le transporteur responsable de l'import de l'AMPc, différents cribles qui testent la présence de cette molécule dans la cellule, ont ensuite été réalisée sur ces clones. Après analyse des résultats obtenus, l'opéron opp a été pressenti comme étant nécessaire à l'entrée de l'AMPc dans la cellule. Le double mutant cyaA-oppA- a été créé et de nouvelles expériences sont venues confirmer notre hypothèse. La protéine OppA a ensuite était surexprimée et purifiée pour nous permettre de faire des tests biochimiques d'interaction entre AMPc et OppA, basés sur la fluorescence émise par la protéine elle-même ou un homologue de l'AMPc, l'ε-AMPc. Ces expériences nous ont permis de confirmer l'interaction entre la protéine OppA et l'AMPc. Le système Opp est donc le principal importateur d'AMPc chez Escherichia coli, mais il ne semble pas être l'unique transporteur impliqué. Un autre candidat très intéressant est le complexe Dpp, connu pour transporter les dipeptides. En effet, les expériences préliminaires effectuées démontrent une diminution de la concentration intracellulaire d'AMPc dans une cellule cyaA-dppA- comparée à celle observée dans une souche cyaA-. Les travaux réalisés pendant ces trois dernières années permettent de conclure que le complexe Opp est le principal importateur d'AMPc, très probablement secondé par le complexe Dpp. / Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) is a signalling molecule conserved in all reigns of life. In bacteria, cAMP plays an important role in processes as diverse as the adaptation to a changing environment, the control of virulence, sporulation and competence. Although it has been proven in the 1970s that this molecule needs an active transporter to traverse the plasma membrane, the first one of these transporters was discovered only a few years ago. In 2011, Hantke et al have shown that the TolC protein is involved in the efflux of cAMP. During my PhD work I have identified the Opp complex as a major player of cAMP import into Escherichia coli. This complex, composed of proteins called OppABCD and F, is known to transport oligopeptides across the inner membrane of numerous bacterial species. To prove the involvement of the Opp complex in cAMP transport, I have used transposon mutagenesis to generate a collection of random mutants in a strain that does not produce cAMP (cyaA-). Different screens were used to detect mutants with impaired transport of extracellular cAMP into the cell. The opp operon emerged as the most promising candidate from this screen. The double mutant cyaA-oppA- was constructed and experiments designed to test the function of OppA confirmed our hypothesis. Subsequently, I overexpressed and purified OppA in order to perform biochemical experiments destined to measure the physical interaction between cAMP and OppA. I show that the Opp system is the major importer of cAMP in Escherichia coli. However, it seems that Opp is not the unique importer of cAMP. The other, very interesting candidate is the complex Dpp, known to transport dipeptides. Preliminary experiments revealed a decreased amount of cAMP in strain cyaA-dppA- compared to strain cyaA-. The experiments carried out during the last three years allow us to conclude that the Opp complex is the major importer of cAMP into E. coli and that the Dpp complex is probably a secondary transporter.

Magister Scientiae - MSc / Various dermatological disorders, such as formation of black pigmented patches on the surface of the skin arise from the over-activity of tyrosinase enzyme's degenerative action. This enzyme is further implicated in the involvement of melanin in malignant melanoma, the most lifethreatening skin tumors. Although, synthetic products were found effective to combat this menace, nevertheless, overtime detrimental effect on human skin is a challenge. Investigation of natural tyrosinase inhibitors from methanol extracts of medicinal plants of Lamiaceae family using L-tyrosine as substrate on three different complementary assays (TLC bio-autography, spectrophotometry and cyclic voltammetry) was carried out accordingly. The result indicated Salvia chamelaeagnea, Salvia dolomitica, Plectranthus ecklonii, Plectranthus namaensis, and Plectranthus zuluensis, with significant zone of inhibition against tyrosinase on TLC bio-autography, spectrophotometry result showed that extracts of Plectranthus ecklonii (IC50 = 21.58 μg/mL), Plectranthus zuluensis (IC50 = 23.99 μg/mL), Plectranthus madagascariensis (IC50 = 23.99 μg/mL) and Salvia lanceolata (IC50 = 28.83) demonstrated good anti-tyrosinase activity when compared with kojic acid (IC50 = 3.607 μg/mL). On the other hand, cyclic voltammetry are in consonant with above results thereby supported the nomination of some of the extracts as strong anti-tyrosinase agents. Salvia chamelaeagnea showed strong activity in cyclic voltammetry and clear zone of inhibition on TLC bioautography, these reasons gave us justification for further chemical study to isolate the bioactive constituents. Phytochemical investigation of the bioactive extract of Salvia chamelaeagnea using different chromatographic methods including column chromatographic and semi preparative HPLC afforded six (6) known compounds viz carsonol (C1), carnosic acid (C2), 7- ethoxylrosmanol (C3), ursolic acid (C4), rosmanol (C5) and ladanein (C6). Their chemical structures were elucidated by analyses of spectroscopic (1H and 13C NMR) data as well as correlations with existing literature. The methanolic extract of S. chamelaeagnea (SC) showed moderate antityrosinase (IC50 = 267.4 μg/mL) activity, total antioxidant capacities measured as: Oxygen radicals absorbance capacity (ORAC; 14970 ± 5.16 μM TE/g), ferric-ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP; 9869.43 ± 7.87 μM AAE/g) and trolox equivalent absorbance capacity (TEAC; 13706.5 ± 0.95 μM TE/g). Excellent total antioxidant capacities were demonstrated by C1 and C5 respectively as FRAP (9338.92 ± 1.72; 8622.73 ± 1.92) μM AAE/g; TEAC (16505 ± 0.86; 10641.5 ± 0.52) μM TE/g; ORAC (14550.5 ± 3.65; 14633.90 ± 3.84) μM TE/g and including the inhibition of Fe2+ -induced lipid peroxidation (IC50 = 32.5; 30.25) μg/mL. All the compounds except C4 are electro-active with well-defined oxidation-reduction peaks while C1 demonstrated the highest tyrosinase inhibitory activity by strongly decreased the inhibition current with time using cyclic voltammetry method. The isolated compounds especially C1, C2 and C5 are well known to combat with ageing problems and documented for their powerful activity against oxidative stress and alzheimer's diseases, which are ageing related symptoms. The isolation of such bioactive compounds indicated the synergetic effect of the results of the three methods used in this thesis. This is the first report on the evaluation of both anti-tyrosinase and total antioxidant capacities of the isolated compounds from S. chamelaeagnea. The findings therefore can be used as background information for exploitation of skin depigmentation and antioxidant agents from natural source.

>Magister Scientiae - MSc / Pollution of water sources, aquifers and wetland systems caused by industry, agriculture, and municipally treated wastewater is a worldwide problem that contributes to the scarcity of clean and potable water. Rivers, channels, lakes, oceans, and ground water are often contaminated by a variety of organic substances that can affect aquatic life and threaten human health. Organic compounds such as antibiotics that are not effectively removed by modern day water treatment technology are a growing threat to water quality and health. The emergence of antibiotics in the environment particularly aquatics have become a matter of concern as they may result in induction and spread of bacterial resistance which may be harmful to humans or animals. After administration, antibiotics for human use or their metabolites are excreted into the effluent and reach the sewage treatment plant (STP). Not all Antibiotics in sewage treatment plants are eliminated. Consequently they can pass through the sewage system and may end up in environmental and even potable water systems. Antibiotic residues have been reportedly found in places such as hospital wastewaters, wastewater treatment plants and surface waters all over the world with concentrations ranging from approximately 60-120000 ng/, 2-580 ng/L and 5-1300 ng/L respectively. The current methods that are used to detect antibiotics can be quite expensive and time consuming due to sample preparation (necessary for detection of very low concentrations of antibiotics in water) and technology used in the instruments. Electrochemical sensors and biosensors are simple systems, with high selectivity and sensitivity for individual measurements and cost effectiveness. The development of composites based on conductive phases dispersed in polymeric matrices has led to important advances in analytical electrochemistry. Polyamic acid and graphene oxide are both materials with well-defined electrochemistry and are easily processable in the design of various sensor formats. In this study we present a novel polyamic acid - graphene oxide (PAA/GO) electrode which was prepared for electrochemical screening of antibiotic residues in aqueous systems. Polyamic acid (PAA) and graphene oxide (GO) were successfully synthesized independently and characterized using SEM which was used to study the morphology of the PAA, FTIR spectroscopy to confirm chemical structures and functional groups as well as CV and SWV which were used to identify the unique electrochemical behavior of PAA and GO respectively. Polyamic acid-graphene oxide nanocomposite was prepared and characterized by CV, SWV, FTIR and SEM. The novel electrode (PAA/GO/SPCE) was prepared by electrochemically depositing PAA/GO (0.03 mg/mL) onto SPCE electrodes using 5 cycles between −1000 mV and 1000 mV at 50 mVs. The analytical performance of the electrochemical sensor towards detection of neomyxin and norlfoxacin was compared to standard Uv-vis spectroscopy method. The Uv-vis spectroscopy showed LOD of 1.61x10-5 M and 1.41x10-5 M for norfloxacin and neomycin respectively. The PAA/GO electrochemical sensor had a LOD of 3.37x10-7 M for norfloxacin and 1.066x10-6 M for neomycin. Sensitivity of the UV/vis method was comparable to electrochemical sensor sensitivity for neomycin and norfloxacin.

Magister Scientiae - MSc (Biotechnology) / It has been estimated that the world population will reach about 10 billion by the year 2050 and in order to accommodate the increased demand of food, the world agricultural production needs to rise by 70 % in the year 2030. However, the realisation of the goal in food production is hindered by limited arable land caused by urbanisation, salinisation, desertification and environmental degradation. Furthermore, abiotic and biotic stresses affect plant growth and development, which lead to major crop losses. The long term goal of this study is to improve food security by producing genetically engineered agricultural crops that will be tolerant to diverse stresses. This research aims at developing stress tolerant crops through the determination of important signalling molecules and second messengers, such as nitric oxide (NO), carbon monoxide (CO) and calcium ion (Ca2+), which can bind to plant proteins such as AtNOGC1 in order to induce stress tolerance in plants.

Introdução: O Padrão Alternante Cíclico (“CAP”, do inglês - Cyclic Alternating Pattern) é um ritmo fisiológico do sono NREM, que corresponde aos períodos de ativação cíclica expressos por eventos fásicos do sono. O aumento na expressão de taxa do CAP tem sido considerado uma medida de instabilidade e fragmentação do sono. O CAP representa uma condição favorável para a ocorrência de descargas interictais e/ou ictais. A modulação do CAP em pacientes com Epilepsia do Lobo Temporal (ELT) não está bem definida. Objetivos: Analisar a expressão do CAP em pacientes com ELT e comparar com o grupo de controle. Selecionar o grupo de pacientes sem distúrbios do sono que possam influenciar a organização do sono. Métodos: Foi realizado estudo transversal com grupo de controle de comparação. A seleção foi pareada em sexo e idade entre pacientes com ELT e o grupo de controle, obedecendo aos critérios de inclusão e exclusão. Os parâmetros do sono e CAP foram analisados em 13 pacientes com ELT (6 do sexo masculino e 7 do sexo feminino; idade média: 33,8 ± 8,5 anos) e 13 indivíduos sadios (8 do sexo masculino e 5 do sexo feminino; idade média: 26,1 ± 9,2 anos), os quais não apresentaram distúrbios do sono. A comparação dos dois grupos foi realizada através do “teste t” de Student e confirmada pelo “teste U” de Mann-Whitney. Resultados: Os pacientes com ELT apresentaram aumento na taxa de CAP (44,02 ± 5,23 % versus 31,83 ± 3 %; p<0,001) e maior duração do tempo de CAP (133,77 ± 15,56 min. versus 99,38 ± 9,6 min.; p<0,001) em relação aos indivíduos sadios. Não houve diferença na média da duração da fase A (9,27 ± 1,15 seg. versus 8,7 ± 0,61 seg.; p<0,131), e a média da duração da fase B não atingiu diferença significativa (22,92 ± 1,71 seg. versus 21,54 ± 1,78 seg.; p<0,054) entre os dois grupos. A comparação dos parâmetros de sono e de CAP dentro de cada grupo, mostrou não haver diferença entre os gêneros. A análise estatística dos parâmetros do sono em pacientes com ELT evidenciou uma diferença significativa das seguintes variáveis: menor latência ao sono (5,8 ± 2,4 min. versus 14,2 ± 7,6 min.; p=0,002); aumento do número da troca de estágios com média de 91,1 ± 25,7 versus 68,2 ± 12,8; p=0,008; menor duração de estágio IV (30,8 ± 14,8 min. versus 51,4 ± 12,5 min.; p=0,001); maior percentual do estágio III (7,7 ± 2,8% versus 5,7 ± 1,7%; p=0,035); menor percentual do estágio IV (7,9 ± 4% versus 12,9 ± 3,3%; p=0,002) em pacientes com ELT, comparando com o grupo de controle. A análise dos despertares breves demonstrou em pacientes com ELT: maior número de despertares breves em sono (66,5 ± 20 versus 41,8 ± 9; p=0,001); maior número de despertares breves em sono NREM (52,9 ± 19,6 versus 31 ± 9,5; p=0,002); maior duração total de despertares breves em sono (549,1 ± 170,3 seg. versus 357,2 ± 88,5 seg.; p=0,002); maior duração total de despertares breves em sono NREM (436,8 ± 165,7 seg. versus 271,9 ± 95,2 seg.; p=0,006); aumento do índice de despertar breve em sono (10,2 ± 2,9 versus 6,3 ± 1,7; p=0,001); aumento do índice de despertar breve em sono NREM (10,3 ± 3,4 versus 6 ± 2; p=0,001). Não houve diferença significativa de número (13,6 ± 5,6 versus 10,8 ± 3,7; p=0,149), duração total (112,3 ± 48,3 seg. versus 85,3 ± 25,2 seg.; p=0,091) e índice de despertar breve (9,7 ± 3,8 versus 7,4 ± 2,4; p=0,075) em sono REM entre os dois grupos. Todos os pacientes comELT tiveram uma eficiência do sono normal e similar ao grupo de controle (90,4 ± 2,9 % versus 90,6 ± 2,9 %). Conclusões: Os pacientes com ELT apresentam aumento da taxa de CAP e da duração de tempo de CAP em relação ao grupo controle, demonstrando um aumento na instabilidade e fragmentação do sono. O aumento na expressão da taxa de CAP, alterações nos parâmetros de fragmentação e descontinuidade do sono, expressos pelo aumento de número, duração e índice de despertares breves em sono NREM e o número de mudanças de estágios, associados à eficiência normal do sono em nosso grupo de pacientes com ELT, podem sugerir que o CAP tem um papel na modulação do sono. A fragmentação e a instabilidade do sono em pacientes com ELT, provavelmente, ocorrem devido à própria epilepsia e podem refletir a interação do foco epiléptico com os sistemas responsáveis pela manutenção e estabilidade de sono. / Introduction: Cyclic Alternating Pattern (“CAP”) is a NREM sleep physiological rhythm corresponding to periods of cyclical activation expressed by phasic events of sleep. The increase in the CAP rate expression has been considered a measure for sleep instability and fragmentation. CAP offers a favorable condition for interictal and/or ictal discharges. The CAP modulation in patients with Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (TLE) is not well defined. Objectives: Analyze the CAP expression in patients with TLE comparing it with a control group. Select the group of patients without sleep disorders which may interfere with sleep organization. Methods: A transversal study was conducted with a comparing control group. The selection was paired on gender and age between patients with TLE and the control group, in accordance with inclusion and exclusion criteria. The sleep parameters and CAP were analyzed in 13 patients (6 males and 7 females; mean age: 33,8 ± 8,5 years) and 13 healthy individuals (8 males and 5 females; mean age: 26,1 ± 9,2 years) who did not present sleep disorders. The comparison of the two groups was made through Student’s t-test and was confirmed by the Mann-Whitney U test. Results: Patients with TLE showed an increase in the CAP rate (44,02 ± 5,23% versus 31,83 ± 3%; p<0,001) and CAP time was longer (133,77 ± 15,56 min. versus 99,38 ± 9,6 min.; p<0,001) as compared to healthy individuals. There was no difference in the duration average of stage A (9,27 ± 1,15 sec. versus 8,7 ± 0,61 sec.; p<0,131), and the duration average of stage B did not show a significant difference (22,92 ± 1,71 sec. versus 21,54 ± 1,78 sec.; p<0,054) between both groups. The comparison of sleep parameters and CAP within the group showed that there is no difference between the genders. The statistical analysis of sleep parameters in patients with TLE showed a significant difference in the following variables: lower sleep latency (5,8 ± 2,4 min. versus 14,2 ± 7,6 min.; p=0,002); increase in the number of stage shifts with an average of (91,1 ± 25,7 versus 68,2 ± 12,8; p=0,008); lower duration of the stage IV (30,8 ± 14,8 min. versus 51,4 ± 12,5 min.; p=0,001); higher percentage of the stage III (7,7 ± 2,8% versus 5,7 ± 1,7%; p=0,035); lower percentage of the stage IV (7,9 ± 4% versus 12,9 ± 3,3%; p=0,002) in patients with TLE as compared to the control group. The analysis of arousals in patients with TLE showed: a higher number of arousals during sleep (66,5 ± 20 versus 41,8 ± 9; p=0,001); a higher number of arousals during NREM sleep (52,9 ± 19,6 versus 31 ± 9,5; p=0,002); a longer total duration of arousals during sleep (549,1 ± 170,3 sec. versus 357,2 ± 88,5 sec.; p=0,002); a longer total duration of arousals during NREM sleep (436,8 ± 165,7 sec. versus 271,9 ± 95,2 sec.; p=0,006); an increase of arousal index during sleep (10,2 ± 2,9 versus 6,3 ± 1,7; p=0,001); an increase of arousal index during NREM sleep (10,3 ± 3,4 versus 6 ± 2; p=0,001). There was not a significant difference in number (13,6 ± 5,6 versus 10,8 ± 3,7; p=0,149), total duration (112,3 ± 48,3 sec. versus 85,3 ± 25,2 sec.; p=0,091) and arousal index (9,7 ± 3,8 versus 7,4 ± 2,4; p=0,075) during REM sleep between the two groups. All patients with TLE showed a sleep efficiency that is normal and similar to the control group (90,4 ± 2,9% versus 90,6 ± 2,9%).Conclusions: Patients with TLE showed an increase in CAP rate and a longer CAP duration in relation to the control group, demonstrating an increase in the instability and fragmentation of sleep. The increase in the CAP rate expression, alterations in the parameters of sleep fragmentation and discontinuity that as expressed by increase in the number, duration, arousal index during NREM sleep and number of stage shifts, associated with normal sleep efficiency in our group of patients with TLE may suggest that CAP may have influence in the modulation of sleep. Sleep fragmentation and instability in patients with TLE may occur probably due to epilepsy itself, reflecting the interaction of the epileptic foci with the systems responsible for the maintenance and stability of sleep.