No description available.

Transfusion of platelet concentrates (PC) can be necessary for patients to maintain coagulability. It is vital that the platelets maintain viability and function during processing and storage to obtain enhanced coagulability in the transfused patient. Today, no test is used to verify platelet function in either donors or in PC’s. Observing swirling effect is the only test applied to control platelets before transfusion but the method is based on platelet morphology and does not directly evaluate platelet function.Impedance aggregometry (IA) (Multiplate analyzer, Roche Diagnostic) is a promising method for measuring platelet function, measuring changes in impedance over time when platelets adhere to electrodes. IA has been well evaluated for the purpose of analyzing whole blood but analyzing PC’s is a relatively new application of the method.Samples from platelet donors and PC’s were analyzed with IA to evaluate correlation in function between donors and PC’s, in the hope of being able to predict function in PC. Different platelet concentrations were also analyzed to evaluate the impact of varying concentration on impedance. Adenosine diphosphate (ADP), collagen and thrombin receptor activating peptide 6 (TRAP-6) were used to induce aggregation. Platelet function was measured in PC’s on day 1 and 4 after donation.A significant correlation was observed between platelet function in donors and in PCs on day 1, measured with ADP. An important finding was also that platelet concentration does affect impedance, in collagen-induced aggregation more than ADP-induced. It is therefore possible that a correlation would also have been found between donors and PC’s analyzed with collagen if the platelet concentration would have been standardized.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-17T17:39:01Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DISSERTACAO_ELYJANY MORAIS LIMA SENA.pdf: 1561186 bytes, checksum: 888156a1b9f61af2c114710a272cf739 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-10-17 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / Protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) plays an important role in platelet aggregation involving thiol containing surface proteins in both dependent pathways and independent of ADP. Recently it has been shown that one dodecapeptide (CXXC) containing the catalytic motif PDI was able to decrease the reductase activity of PDI opening the perspective of using the same as antithrombotic therapeutic agent. This study aimed to investigate the effects of peptides PDI - like on platelet aggregation in vitro and molecular mechanism of action of the same. For in silico analysis using a molecular docking program, it was observed that the CXXC peptide as well as its control peptide, scrambled (SCR) and AXXA were all capable of binding to the substrate site of the lligação PDI. Posteriorly, Western blot, it was demonstrated that the peptide CXXC (25  M) induced a slight but significant reduction of free thiols marking PDI suggesting physical association between the peptide and the protein. The same was not observed in samples incubated with Scr and AXXA peptides at the same concentration. In platelet aggregation assays, the platelet-rich plasma (PRP) was pre-incubated with the CXXC, Scr and AXXA peptides using ADP (5  M) as aggregating agent. CXXC found that the peptide reduced the maximum aggregation by 14%, 27% and 30% at concentrations of 3, 10 and 30μM, respectively. The Scr AXXA peptide and the peptide had no effect on platelet aggregation induced by ADP in the same concentrations. Thus, all the data presented here suggest that the CXXC peptide is associated with PDI surface and partially inhibits platelet aggregation via mechanisms mediated by thiol-disulfide exchange. / A Proteína dissulfeto isomerase (PDI) desempenha um importante papel na agregação de plaquetas, envolvendo proteínas tiólicas de superfície tanto em vias dependentes, quanto independentes de ADP. Recentemente foi demostrado que um dodecapeptídeo (CxxC), contendo o motivo catalítico da PDI, era capaz de diminuir a atividade redutase da PDI, abrindo a perspectiva do uso do mesmo como agente terapêutico antitrombótico. Assim, este trabalho teve como objetivo investigar os efeitos de peptídeos PDI símile sobre a agregação plaquetária in vitro e o mecanismo molecular de ação dos mesmos. Por análises in silico utilizando um programa de ancoragem molecular, observou-se que o peptídeo CxxC, bem como os seus peptídeos controle, scrambled (Scr) e AxxA, foram todos capazes de se ligar ao sítio de lligação do substrato na PDI. Posteriomente, por western blot ,demonstrou-se que o peptídeo CxxC (25 M) promoveu uma discreta, mas importante, redução da marcação de tióis livres da PDI sugerindo associação física entre o peptídeo e a proteína. O mesmo não foi observado nas amostras incubadas com os peptídeos Scr e AxxA, na mesma concentração. Nos ensaios de agregação plaquetária, o plasma rico em plaquetas (PRP) foi pré-incubado com os peptídeos CxxC, Scr e AxxA utilizando ADP (5M) como agente agregante. Encontramos que o peptídeo CxxC reduziu a agregação máxima em 14%, 27% e 30% nas concentrações de 3, 10 e 30μM, respectivamente. O peptídeo Scr e o peptídeo AxxA, não afetaram a agregação plaquetária induzida por ADP nas mesmas concentrações. Sendo assim, o conjunto dos dados aqui apresentados sugerem que o peptídeo CxxC associa-se à PDI de superfície e inibe parcialmente a agregação plaquetária via mecanismos mediados por trocas tiol-dissulfeto.

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo produzir comprimidos de liberação controlada de difosfato de primaquina baseados em polímeros hidrofílicos e otimizar a liberação do fármaco por meio do planejamento estatístico de mistura (DOE). Na seleção dos componentes da formulação foram realizados estudos de calorimetria exploratória diferencial (DSC) para verificar a compatibilidade entre o fármaco/excipientes e avaliação do fluxo dos pós das formulações por meio da determinação do ângulo de repouso. As 20 formulações obtidas no planejamento experimental continham misturas de hidroxipropilmetilcelulose de diferentes graus de viscosidade (K15M, K4M e K100LV) e polietilenoglicol 4000 como polímeros para controle da liberação. Os comprimidos de 30 mg de primaquina foram produzidos por compressão direta em máquina de punção simples de 9 mm e foram avaliados quanto à dureza, friabilidade, peso médio, teor do fármaco e dissolução. A cinética de liberação do fármaco foi estudada segundo os modelos de ordem zero, Higuchi e Korsmeyer-Peppas. Os ensaios de DSC permitiram verificar algum tipo de interação entre o fármaco e os excipientes lactose e estearato de magnésio. Os pós das formulações demonstraram boas propriedades de fluxo de acordo com os valores de ângulo de repouso. Os dados de regressão obtidos pelos modelos matemáticos aplicados com o DOE não permitiram verificar se a mistura de polímeros influenciou no ângulo de repouso dos pós e nas características físicas como dureza, friabilidade e peso médio dos comprimidos. No entanto, foi observada influência significativa da composição polimérica na dissolução dos comprimidos nos intervalos de 2, 4, 6 e 8 horas de ensaio. A partir desses dados e dos gráficos de superfície de resposta gerados pelo programa Design Expert® 6.0, foi possível otimizar as formulações restringindo a quantidade de cada polímero de forma a obter uma formulação com mecanismo de liberação duplo, por difusão e relaxamento das cadeias de polímero. O transporte anômalo foi o mecanismo de liberação de fármaco apresentado pela maioria das formulações, inclusive da formulação otimizada. / The objective of the present work was to produce primaquine diphosphate controlled release tablets based on hydrophilic polymers and use the mixture statistical experimental design (DOE) to optimize drug release. In selecting the components of the formulations, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were carried out to verify the compatibility between drug/excipients and evaluating flow properties of the powders by determining the angle of repose. The 20 formulations obtained in the experimental design contained mixtures of hydroxylpropylmethylcellulose of different degrees of viscosity (K15M, K4M and K100LV) and polyethylene glycol 4000 as polymers to control drug release. Tablets containing 30 mg of primaquine were produced by direct compression in a 9 mm single punch tablet press and were evaluated for hardness, friability, average weight, drug content and dissolution. The kinetics of drug release was studied applying Zero Order, Higuchi and Korsmeyer-Peppas models. DSC tests allowed verifying some kind of interaction between the drug and the excipients lactose and magnesium stearate. The values of angle of repose obtained demonstrated that the powders of the formulations presented good flow properties. The regression data obtained by the mathematical models failed to verify the influence of the mixture of polymers in the angle of repose of the powders and physical characteristics such as hardness, friability and average weight of the tablets. However, there was a significant influence of polymers composition in the dissolution of the tablets at intervals of 2, 4, 6 and 8 hours of testing. Most formulations showed anomalous transport as the mechanism of drug release. From these data and response surface plots generated by Design Expert® 6.0 software, it was possible to optimize the formulations by restricting the amount of each polymer to obtain a formulation with a double release mechanism, diffusion and relaxation of the hydrated matrix chains.

The juvenile hormones (JHs) are sesquiterpenoid compounds that play a central role in insect reproduction, development and behavior. They are synthesized and secreted by a pair of small endocrine glands, the corpora allata (CA), which are intimately connected to the brain. The enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of JH are attractive targets for the control of mosquito populations. This dissertation is a comprehensive functional study of five Aedes aegypti CA enzymes, HMG-CoA synthase (AaHMGS), mevalonate kinase (AaMK), phosphomevalonate kinase (AaPMK), farnesyl diphosphate synthase (AaFPPS) and farnesyl pyrophosphate phosphatase (AaFPPase). The enzyme AaHMGS catalyzes the condensation of acetoacetyl-CoA and acetyl-CoA to produce HMG-CoA. The enzyme does not require any co-factor, although its activity is enhanced by addition of Mg2+. The enzyme AaMK is a class I mevalonate kinase that catalyzes the ATP-dependent phosphorylation of mevalonic acid to form mevalonate 5-phosphate. Activity of AaMK is inhibited by isoprenoids. The enzyme AaPMK catalyzes the cation-dependent reversible reaction of phosphomevalonate and ATP to form diphosphate mevalonate and ADP. The enzyme AaFPPS catalyzes the condensation of isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) and dimethylallyl pyrophosphate (DMAPP) to form geranyl diphosphate (GPP) and farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP). The enzyme AaFPPS shows an unusual product regulation mechanism, with chain length final product of 10 or 15 C depending on the metal cofactor present. The enzymes AaFPPase-1 and AaFPPase-2 efficiently hydrolyze FPP into farnesol, although RNAi experiments demonstrate that only AaFPPase-1 is involved in the catalysis of FPP into FOL in the CA of A. aegypti. This dissertation also explored the inhibition of the activity of some of the JH biosynthesis enzymes as tools for insect control. We described the effect of N-acetyl-S-geranylgeranyl-L-cysteine as a potent inhibitor of AaFPPase 1 and AaFPPase-2. In addition, inhibitors of AaMK and AaHMGS were also investigated using purified recombinant proteins. The present study provides an important contribution to the characterization of recombinant proteins, the analysis of enzyme kinetics and inhibition constants, as well as the understanding of the importance of these five enzymes in the control of JH biosynthesis rates.

No description available.

During development, neurons must find their way to and make connections with their appropriate targets. Growth cones are dynamic, motile structures that are integral to the establishment of appropriate connectivity during this wiring process. As growth cones migrate through their environment, they encounter guidance cues that direct their migration to their appropriate synaptic targets. The gaseous messenger nitric oxide (NO), which diffuses across the plasma membrane to act on intracellular targets, is a signaling molecule that affects growth cone motility. However, most studies have examined the effects of NO on growth cone morphology when applied in large concentrations and to entire cells. In addition, the intracellular second messenger cascade activated by NO to bring about these changes in growth cone morphology is not well understood. Therefore, this dissertation addresses the effects that a spatially- and temporally-restricted application of physiological amounts of NO can have on individual growth cone morphology, on the second messenger pathway that is activated by this application of NO, and on the calcium cascades that result and ultimately affect growth cone morphology. Helisoma trivolvis, a pond snail, is an excellent model system for this type of research because it has a well-defined nervous system and cultured neurons form large growth cones. In the present study, local application of NO to Helisoma trivolvis B5 neurons results in an increase in filopodial length, a decrease in filopodial number, and an increase in the intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i). In B5 neurons, the effects of NO on growth cone behavior and [Ca2+]i are mediated via sGC, protein kinase G, cyclic adenosine diphosphate ribose, and ryanodine receptor-mediated intracellular calcium release. This study demonstrates that neuronal growth cone pathfinding in vitro is affected by a single spatially- and temporally-restricted exposure to NO. Furthermore, NO acts via a second messenger cascade, resulting in a calcium increase that leads to cytoskeletal changes. These results suggest that NO may be a signal that promotes appropriate pathfinding and/or target recognition within the developing nervous system. Taken together, these data indicate that NO may be an important messenger during the development of the nervous system in vivo.

Dans un site de stockage de déchets nucléaires, la température devrait rester supérieure à 25°C pendant plusieurs milliers d'années. Dans ce contexte, l'objectif de ce travail est d'étudier l'influence de ce paramètre sur les mécanismes d'interaction entre les ions europium (III) et uranyle et le diphosphate de zirconium, ainsi que l'influence d'un milieu complexant (nitrique) sur la sorption du lanthanide. La définition expérimentale de ces équilibres a été réalisée en associant aux données macroscopiques de sorption une étude structurale. Les complexes de surface ont été caractérisés à toutes les températures (25°C à 90°C) par des expériences de SLRT sur des échantillons secs et in situ en utilisant un four. Cette caractérisation a été complétée par des données obtenues par XPS à 25°C sur des échantillons préparés à 25°C et à 90°C. Les constantes de réaction (hydratation de la surface et sorption des cations) ont été déterminées par simulation des données expérimentales en utilisant le modèle de complexation de surface à capacité constante. La dépendance en température des constantes a permis de caractériser l'aspect thermodynamique des différentes réactions par application de la relation de van't Hoff. La validité de cette loi a été testée en réalisant des mesures microcalorimétriques de chaleurs de sorption des deux cations.

No description available.

Le but de ce travail était d'étudier et de caractériser la luminescence de l'argent dans les matériaux phosphatés, qu'ils soient cristallisés ou vitreux. Trois types de centres photoluminescents ont été mis en évidence : le premier centre, appelé (A) est caractéristique des transitions dans les phases AgM(PO3)3 (M = Mg, Zn, Ba) et Na2-xAgxZnP2O7 dont les structures ont été complètement déterminées. La dynamique de son émission peut être expliquée dans la plupart des cas par un système à trois niveaux. Le centre (C) est attribué à des "paires" d'argent. En effet, lorsque les structures cristallines le permettent, des interactions indirectes Ag+--Ag+ peuvent se développer entre deux cations voisins, chacun occupant son propre site cristallochimique. Un type particulier d'interaction d10--d10 a pu être rencontré, il s'agit des associations Ag+--Zn2+ dont l'existence est suggérée pour expliquer la présence de l'émission (C) détectée dans le polyphosphate AgZn(PO3)3. La fluorescence (B) est détectée à la périphérie des agrégats micrométriques d'argent métallique dans les verres phosphosilicate du système "P2O5-SiO2-ZnO-Ag2O". Ses caractéristiques spécifiques ont permis de l'associer à un type d'interaction différent, en l'occurence à des interactions Ag0--Ag+.