Em pacientes portadores de insuficiência coronariana com prognóstico desfavorável pela presença de disfunção ventricular significativa, a pesquisa de viabilidade miocárdica traz contribuições ao predizer a possibilidade de recuperação contrátil após revascularização. Os segmentos miocárdicos com disfunção contrátil por hipoperfusão podem melhorar o desempenho contrátil restabelecido o aporte sanguíneo local, indicando que a revascularização miocárdica, quando bem indicada, é capaz de melhorar a sobrevida deste grupo de pacientes. Realizou-se pesquisa de tese de doutoramento do Departamento de Radiologia da Universidade de São Paulo na unidade de medicina nuclear da Nuclear Medcenter/Hospital SOCOR em Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais. O objetivo do estudo foi verificar se a cintilografia de perfusão miocárdica com duplo-isótopo (99mTcsestamibi/ cloreto de tálio-201) como método radioisotópico para identificação do músculo viável, tem sua especificidade aumentada com a inclusão de informações sobre reserva contrátil miocárdica obtidas simultaneamente através do gatedSPECT (imagens tomográficas do coração sincronizadas ao eletrocardiograma) na vigência de baixas doses de dobutamina de forma semelhante ao ecocardiograma. Estudou-se 54 pacientes com infarto do miocárdio prévio, encaminhados ao serviço de medicina nuclear para realização de pesquisa de viabilidade miocárdica. Foram excluídos do estudo os pacientes que no seguimento não foram revascularizados ou que não realizaram controle cintilográfico pós-cirúrgico, uma vez que considerouse como critério de viabilidade a melhora da contratilidade miocárdica após a revascularização. Avaliou-se os parâmetros de viabilidade (integridade celular e reserva contrátil) e o desempenho contrátil pós-cirúrgico de 260 segmentos miocárdicos de treze pacientes revascularizados. Os pacientes estudados foram submetidos a cintilografia de perfusão miocárdica duoisotópica em protocolo de dois dias com imagens tomográficas do coração obtidas em gamma-camera de duas cabeças, modelo Varicam (Elscint) e processadas em estação de trabalho eNTEGRA(GE). As imagens de estresse foram adquiridas em sincronia com o ECG (gated SPECT) em condições basais e na vigência de baixa dose de dobutamina (10 a 15g/Kg/min) 45 minutos após a administração endovenosa do 99mTcsestamibi no pico do exercício isotônico (esforço) ou da ação de agentes farmacológicos (estresse farmacológico) e nas etapas de repouso e redistribuição do cloreto de tálio-201, 20 minutos e quatro a seis horas após a administração endovenosa do radioisótopo em condições basais. Os pacientes operados foram submetidos a um segundo estudo cintilográfico de perfusão miocárdica com gated SPECT, no período mínimo de três meses após o procedimento, para avaliação da performance contrátil pós-cirúrgica. Para análise dos achados cintilográficos, dividiu-se o coração em 20 segmentos que receberam diferentes escores, permitindo a quantificação da perfusão e função miocárdica pelo Cedars Sinai Quantitative Pefusion SPECT QPS/QGS(GE),. Analisou-se o padrão perfusional nas etapas de estresse, repouso e redistribuição e de função (análise do espessamento sistólico, motilidade parietal, valores de fração de ejeção e volumes cardíacos do ventrículo esquerdo) em condições basais e sob estímulo inotrópico. No tratamento estatístico a análise do espessamento sistólico foi o parâmetro considerado significativo para avaliação da reserva contrátil miocárdica pelo método. Houve incremento na especificidade da pesquisa de viabilidade miocárdica pelo método radioisotópico realizado, demonstrando valores de especificidade superiores aos encontrados na literatura. As contribuições do método se mostraram efetivas / In patients with coronariopathy in the setting of ventricular dysfunction having an unpromising prognostic, the myocardial viability must be assessed thus, bringing contribution as it can predict the myocardial dysfunction recovery after revascularization. The myocardial segments with contractile dysfunction as a consequence of hypoperfusion can improve wall motion after perfusion recovery, demonstrating that myocardial revascularization, whenever suggested, can improve survival to this group of patients. This research is a PHD thesis from Radiology Department of São Paulo University and was performed at a nuclear medicine unit - Nuclear Medcenter/SOCOR hospital - in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais. The aim of the study was to check if dual isotope perfusion myocardial gated SPECT (99mTc-sestamibi/thallium-201) as a nuclear medicine procedure to the identification of viable myocardium, can improve the method specificity with addition of contractile reserve information obtained simultaneously by gated SPECT with low dose of dobutamine, similar to the echocardiogram. 54 patients with myocardial stroke, referred to the nuclear medicine unit to seek myocardial viability have been studied. Patients that do not have been submitted to revascularization or that did not undergo the post surgery control were excluded, as the parameter considered for viability was the wall motion recovery after revascularization. 260 myocardial segments in 13 patients had their viability parameters (cellular integrity and contractile reserve) as the contractile performance after surgery evaluated. The images were acquired by a Varicam (Elscint) double head gamma camera and processed by eNTEGRA (GE) workstation. The gated SPECT stress images were performed in baseline conditions and with low-dose dobutamine (10 a 15g/Kg/min) 45 minutes after intravenous injection of 99mTc-sestamibi.on the peak of isotonic exercise or pharmacologic stress. The rest and redistribution images were acquired , 20 minutes and 4 or 6 hours after intravenous injection of thallium-201 at rest. The revascularizated patients were also submitted to a second gated SPECT study at least 3 months after surgery for evaluation of the contractile performance. In order to analyze the scintigraphic findings, the heart was divided into 20 segments that received different scores for quantification of myocardial perfusion and function by Cedars Sinai Quantitative Perfusion SPECT QPS/QGS(GE),. The perfusion pattern of stress, rest and redistribution and the parameters of function (wall thickening and motion, ejection fraction and cardiac volumes analysis) at baseline conditions and by inotropic effect. By the statistics analysis wall thickening was considered significant to evaluate the myocardial contractile reserve by this method. There was improvement in the specificity of the radioisotopic research showing specificity values larger than those found in literature. These method contributions were effective

O desenvolvimento da nanociência e nanotecnologia promoveu uma nova fronteira no estudo da matéria, permitindo que materiais já conhecidos tivessem suas propriedades redescobertas ao serem manipulados em nível molecular. Vários materiais vêm apresentando relevância na nanociência e nanotecnologia, como os nanotubos de carbono (CNTs), nanopartículas (NPs) e óxido de grafeno, uma vez que os CNTs e óxido de grafeno são dotados de propriedades mecânicas, térmicas e elétricas que os tornam apropriados para o desenvolvimento e a aplicação em dispositivos, especialmente na área biotecnológica e de sensores. Diversas áreas se beneficiam com o uso da tecnologia em nanopartículas (NPs), por exemplo: alimentícia, médica, agronegócio, cosmética, etc. Uma possível perspectiva na utilização desses nanomateriais em sistemas biológicos torna muito interessante investigar como tais materiais interagem em nível molecular com modelos de membranas celulares e com células. Esta tese tem como objetivos: i) investigar detalhadamente a interação entre nanopartículas (Fe3O4/Dextran; Fe3O4/PDAC; PDAC; Dextran) e nanotubos de carbono com modelos de membranas celulares; e ii) desenvolver nanofibras poliméricas pela técnica de electrospinning para ser utilizada com óxido de grafeno como modelos mimetizados (scaffolds) para a diferenciação de células-tronco neurais. Os filmes ultrafinos foram fabricados utilizando as técnicas de Langmuir e Langmuir-Blodgett. Esses nanomateriais foram avaliados através da técnica de Espectroscopia vibracional por Geração de Soma de Frequências. A espectroscopia SFG é sensível a interfaces. Nanofibras de Poli(ε-Caprolactone) foram fabricadas pela técnica de electrospinning. Scaffolds com óxido de grafeno/Nanofibras de Poli(ε-Caprolactone) foram desenvolvidos como suportes sólidos para a diferenciação de células-tronco neurais de rato. Óxido de grafeno em diferentes concentrações foi incorporado nas nanofibras poliméricas. Os modelos deste sistema foram investigados por imagens de Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura. Os resultados mostraram que a carga eletrostática de cada fosfolipídio utilizado pode influenciar nas interações com os nanomateriais (nanopartículas ou nanotubos de carbono), podendo resultar em uma desestruturação no modelo de membrana celular. Scaffolds contendo nanofibras de Poli(ε-Caprolactone) com óxido de grafeno representaram um eficiente modelo mimetizado para a interação/diferenciação de células-tronco neurais de rato conforme revelado por imagens de Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura. Estas imagens mostraram que o sistema de nanofibras de Poli(ε-Caprolactone) com 1,0 mg/mL de óxido de grafeno foram ideais para a diferenciação de oligodendrócitos em células-tronco neurais de rato. / The development of nanoscience and nanotechnology promoted a new frontier on the study of matter, allowing conventional materials to exhibit novel or improved properties. Several materials show relevance in nanoscience and nanotechnology, such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs), nanoparticles (NPs) and graphene oxide. CNTs and graphene oxide, for example, exhibit unique mechanical, thermal and electrical properties, which make them appropriate to the development and application in devices, especially in biotechnology and sensors areas. Many areas are benefited from the use of nanoparticles (NPs), such as food, medical, agrobusiness, cosmetic etc. The perspective regarding the use of nanomaterials in biological systems requires the understanding on how these materials interact at the molecular level with cell membrane models and with cells. The objectives of this thesis are: i) to investigate the interaction between nanoparticles (Fe3O4/Dextran; Fe3O4/PDAC; PDAC; Dextran) and carbon nanotubes with cell membrane models; and ii) to develop polymeric nanofibers via electrospinning technique, to be used with graphene oxide as mimic models (scaffolds) in the differentiation of neural stem cells. The cell membrane models were manufactured using Langmuir and Langmuir-Blodgett techniques. These nanomaterials were evaluated through Sum Frequency Vibrational Spectrosocopy (SFG). Poly(ε-Caprolactone) nanofibers were manufactured by electrospinning technique. Scaffolds with graphene oxide/Poly(ε-Caprolactone) were developed as solid supports for differentiation of rats neural stem cells. This biosystem was investigated via Scanning Electron Microscopy and biochemical essays. The results showed that the charge of each phospholipid influenced the interactions with the nanomaterials (nanoparticles or carbon nanotubes), in some cases, resulting in a disruption of the cell membrane model. Scaffolds with Poly(ε-Caprolactone) nanofibers obtained via electrospinning with graphene oxide represented an efficient mimic model for interaction/differentiation of neural stem cells as shown via Scanning Electron Microscopy. The images revealed that the PCL nanofibers system with 1.0 mg/mL of graphene oxide were ideal to the differentiation of oligodendrocytes in neural stem cells.

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / O efeito da L-alanil-glutamina foi testado numa situaÃÃo de estresse oxidativo induzida por um modelo experimental de isquemia/reperfusÃo testicular atravÃs de torÃÃo do cordÃo espermÃtico. Oitenta e quatro ratos Wistar jovens foram distribuÃdos aleatoriamente em 6 grupos da seguinte forma: Grupo Salina 1h (GSa1) e Grupo Ala-Gln 1h (GAg1), tendo sido os animais submetidos à 1 hora de isquemia e 6 horas de reperfusÃo, tratados 30 minutos antes da torÃÃo, por via intravenosa, com soluÃÃo salina e L-alanil-glutamina (0,75g/Kg) respectivamente; Grupo Salina 3h (GSa3) e Grupo Ala-Gln 3h (GAg3), tendo sido os animais submetidos a 3 horas de isquemia e 6 horas de reperfusÃo, tratados 30 minutos antes da torÃÃo, por via intravenosa, com soluÃÃo salina ou L-alanil-glutamina (0,75g/Kg) respectivamente; cada grupo, constituÃdo por 18 ratos, foi distribuÃdo equitativamente, , em 3 subgrupos (T-0, T-2, T-6), cada um com 6 animais, os quais representavam os tempos de coleta do testÃculo, sendo T-0 o tempo mÃximo de isquemia, T-2 apÃs 2 horas de reperfusÃo e T-6 apÃs 6 horas de reperfusÃo. Dois grupos simulados (Sham), cada um com 6 animais, mimetizava o procedimento de induÃÃo de isquemia por 1 ou 3 horas, seguido de um perÃodo de pÃs-trauma de 2 horas, sendo a coleta realizada neste momento. Foram determinadas as concentraÃÃes das substÃncias reativas ao Ãcido tiobarbitÃrico (TBARS) e glutationa reduzida (GSH) nas amostras de tecido (testÃculo) obtidas nos diversos subgrupos. As comparaÃÃes entre os grupos foram realizadas utilizando-se o teste de Mann-Whitney e Kruskal-Wallis com comparaÃÃes temporais pelo teste de Dunn. A significÃncia estatÃstica foi com valores de p<0,05. Houve aumento significante das concentraÃÃes de GSH, no testÃculo dos ratos submetidos à 1 hora de isquemia seguida de 6 horas reperfusÃo, tratados com L-Ala-Gln em todos os tempos estudados, quando comparados ao grupo controle; nos animais submetidos à 3 horas de isquemia, demonstrou-se aumento significativo de GSH no tempo mÃximo de isquemia e apÃs 6 horas de reperfusÃo. Houve reduÃÃo significante nas concentraÃÃes de TBARS, no testÃculo dos ratos submetidos à 3 horas de isquemia seguida de reperfusÃo, nos animais tratados L-Ala-Gln no tempo mÃximo de isquemia e apÃs 2 horas de reperfusÃo. Estes resultados demonstram um efeito protetor que a glutamina exerce no testÃculo durante a isquemia/reperfusÃo, mostrando-se eficaz na manutenÃÃo dos nÃveis teciduais de GSH nos dois modelos de torÃÃo do cordÃo espermÃtico, reduzindo a magnitude do estresse oxidativo e tambÃm reduzindo a peroxidaÃÃo lipÃdica nos animais submetidos à 3 horas de isquemia, atà a segunda hora de reperfusÃo. / The effect of L-alanil-glutamine was tested in a situation of oxidative stress induced by torsion of the spermatic cord. Eighty four male young Wistar rats were distributed randomly in 6 groups: Saline group 1h (GSa1) and Ala-Gln Group 1h (GAg1), animals of these groups were submitted to 1 hour of ischemia and 6 hours of reperfusion and were treated 30 minutes before the torsion, by intravenous way, with saline solution and L-alanil-glutamine (0,75g/Kg) respectively; Saline group 3h (Gsa3) and Ala-Gln Group 3h (Gag3), animals of these groups were submitted to 3 hours of ischemia and 6 hours of reperfusion, had been treated, 30 minutes before the torsion, by intravenous way, with saline solution and L-alanil-glutamine (0,75g/Kg) respectively; each group, consisting of 18 rats, was distributed equitable, in 3 sub-groups (T-0, T-2, T-6), each one with 6 animals, which represented the times that testis were colected, being T-0 the maximum time of ischemia, T-2 after 2 hours of reperfusion and T-6 after 6 hours of reperfusion. Two groups (Sham 1h and Sham 3h) were submitted to sham operation, being the testis colected two hours after simulated trauma. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and reduced glutathione levels were assayed in testis. Comparasion between groups were made using Mann-Whitney e Kruskal-Wallis tests, and temporal comparations were made using Dunn test. P values of <0,05 were considered to indicate statistical significance. GSH concentration was significantly increased in testis of the rats submitted to 1 hour of ischemia, followed by 6 hours of reperfusion, treated with L-Ala-Gln in all the studied times, when compared with the control group; in the animals submitted to the 3 hours of ischemia, significant increase of GSH was demonstrated in the maximum time of ischemia and 6 hours of reperfusion time. Significant decrease of TBARS levels were seen in rats submitted to 3 hours of ischemia followed by reperfusion, treated with L-alanil-glutamine, in maximum time of ischemia and after 6 hours of reperfusion. These results demonstrates that glutamine may play a role in the maintenance of the tecidual levels of GSH in two models of ischemia/reperfusion of the testis studied, by an antioxidant effect, and may promote cell membrane protection during the ischemia (3h)/reperfusion by decreasing lipid peroxidation

No description available.

The aim of this work is to make a literature search in the measurement of membrane voltage using voltage-sensitive dyes and suggest a method for measuring the membrane voltage on the available cells using the voltage-sensitive dye di 4 ANEPPS and its further implementation. The work contains an introduction to electrophysiology of cells, and explains typical fluorescence characteristics. The thesis contains the description of a fluorescence microscope. The document presents characteristics of voltage-sensitive dyes and their distribution. A large part of the work describes the implementation and measurement of the experiment. The document also includes different methods for measuring and processing of all results.

The aim of this work is to realize measurements of membrane potential with voltagesensitive dye Di-4-ANEPPS and the data processed and analyzed. The work includes theoretical basis in the form of electrophysiology animal cells, explains fluorescence and describes the fluorescence microscope. The document is largely devoted to the characterization and distribution of voltage-sensitive dyes (VSD). The practical part deals with the various components necessary to perform the experiment as a pulse generator, high-speed camera and camera’s acquisition and describes experiment. The conclusion will be compared with results from theoretical assumptions.

The diploma thesis is focused on the analysis of the electrical properties of the heart cells membranes. The main goal of this work is to answer to what extent it is possible to infer from experimental data on the detailed mechanism of interaction of substances with channels. The work also presents a detailed description of methods of measurement of membrane voltage and current, which are used in the experimental measurements. There are also discussed the individual channels of the cell membrane and ion currents, which arise as a response to the rectangular pulse voltage. There is also described the effect of various substances on the properties of ion currents flowing through the cell membrane.

Over millions of years evolution has optimized the properties of materials via natural selection for many specific purposes. Indeed, natural materials have unique properties which come very close to perfection. Cells, for instance, are able to carry out intricate sequences of chemical reactions that are difficult or impossible to carry out ex vivo, cell membranes are the most complex selective and responsive semipermeable membranes that exist, and animal shells exhibit a clever nanostructure that renders them hard and tough at the same time. In short, materials scientists can learn a lot from nature’s materials. The perfection and performance of nature’s materials not only spark fascination, but also trigger the question as to why certain structures or surfaces exhibit outstanding properties and inspire research towards new materials. While the materials of living nature impressively serve dedicated purposes, they are formed under restricted conditions. For instance, they have to be designed to function under a narrowly defined set of physiological conditions, and can only be composed of building blocks an organism has available. Without these restrictions, material scientists can design entirely new materials or surfaces.

Understanding molecular interactions at the surfaces of cellular membranes, including adsorption and transport, is of fundamental importance in both biological and pharmaceutical studies. At present, particularly with respect to small and medium size (drug-like) molecules, it is desirable to gain an understanding of the mechanisms that govern membrane adsorption and transport. To characterize drug-membrane interactions and mechanisms governing the process of molecular uptake at cellular membranes in living organisms, we need to develop effective experimental techniques to reach quantitative and time-resolved analysis of molecules at the membrane surfaces. Also, we preferably want to develop label-free optical techniques suited for single-cell and live cell analysis. Here, I discuss the nonlinear optical technique, second-harmonic light scattering (SHS), for studying molecule-membrane interactions and transport of molecules at the membrane of living cells with real-time resolution and membrane surface-specificity. Time-resolved SHS can quantify adsorption and transport of molecules, with specific nonlinear optical properties, at living organisms without imposing any mechanical stress onto the membrane. This label-free and surface-sensitive technique can even differentiate molecular transport at individual membranes within a multi-membrane cell (e.g., bacteria). In this dissertation, I present our current research and accomplishments in extending the capabilities of the SHS technique to study molecular uptake kinetics at the membranes of living cells, to monitor bacteria membrane integrity, to characterize the antibacterial mechanism-of-action of antibiotic compounds, to update the molecular mechanism of the Gram-stain protocol, to pixel-wise mapping of the membrane viscosity of the living cells, and to probe drug-induced activation of bacterial mechanosensitive channels in vitro. / Chemistry

This thesis describes stereospecific fluorination reactions, and addresses the synthesis of fluorosugars. In Chapter 1, the influence of fluorine on the physical properties of organic molecules, as well as its stereoelectronic effects, are introduced. Furthermore, an overview of nucleophilic and electrophilic fluorination reactions is given. Chapter 2 describes the dehydroxyfluorination of allylic alcohol diastereoisomers 155a and 155b, which can proceed either by direct or allylic fluorination. The regio- and stereo- selectivities were also assessed. Chapter 3 outlines the synthesis of the novel trifluoro D-glucose analogue 193 and trifluoro D-altrose analogue 216. The transport of these hexose analogues across the red blood cell membranes was then explored, to investigate the influence of polarity versus hydrogen bonding ability in carbohydrate-protein interactions. Chapter 4 describes the development and optimisation of Bio’s methodology, to promote stereospecific dehydroxyfluorination of benzylic alcohols (R)-213 and (R)-227 by addition of TMS-amine additives 226 and 229. And finally Chapter 5 reports the experimental procedures as well as the characterisation and the crystallographic data of the molecules prepared in this thesis.