INTRODUÇÃO: A biópsia do neuroepitélio olfatório (NeuO) oferece perspectivas para aplicações terapêuticas tanto em doenças do olfato como doenças neurodegenerativas. Uma coleta bem sucedida desse tecido in vivo ainda não é rotina, devido á carência de estudos sobre a distribuição do NeuO em conchas superior (CS) e média (CM). Neste trabalho, descrevemos a distribuição do NeuO na CS e CM em cadáveres a partir da retirada integral dessas estruturas e posterior análise histológica por coloração de hematoxilina e eosina (HE) e imunoistoquímica. Além disso, também analisamos a influência do sexo, idade e lateralidade no grau de presença do NeuO nas CS e CM. CASUÍSTICA E MÉTODOS: Estudo anatômico prospectivo realizado de março de 2006 a janeiro de 2008. A CS e a CM foram endoscopicamente retiradas de um total de 25 cadáveres frescos com menos de 12 horas de óbito. Cada concha foi seccionada na metade de seu comprimento ântero-posterior. Assim, cada um dos 25 cadáveres deu origem a oito fragmentos de mucosa de regiões anatômicas distintas, totalizando 200 lâminas para análise tanto por coloração de HE como por reação de imunoistoquímica. Nas lâminas coradas por HE, classificamos a distribuição do NeuO em graus 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, sendo que a análise foi realizada por 3 patologistas de forma cega. Para imunoistoquímica, só obtivemos positividade com a proteína S-100. A concordância entre os três patologistas foi avaliada aos pares utilizando-se o coeficiente de Kappa. A distribuição do NeuO foi analisada de acordo com a idade, sexo, tempo de óbito, simetria entre as fossas nasais e acurácia da imunoistoquímica. RESULTADOS: Pela HE na CS, o NeuO esteve presente em 82,9% das vezes e, na CM, em 17,1%. Na CS, o NeuO foi detectado em 82,9 % das lâminas, 4,9 vezes a prevalência na CM, que foi de 17,1 % das lâminas (p < 0,001). Pela imunoistoquímica, foi possível encontrar NeuO em um total de 15 fragmentos. Desses, 10 (20%) eram da metade posterior da CS e cinco (7,6%) da metade anterior da CS. Pelo cálculo da razão de prevalência, temos que a chance de encontrar NeuO é 4,9 vezes maior na CS do que na CM (IC95%: 3,3 7,4). Dos 15 fragmentos com marcação positiva para proteína S-100, sete corresponderam aos que tinham uma distribuição grau 3 (>50% e 75%) pela HE e outros sete aos que tinham uma distribuição grau 4 (acima de 75%). Somente um fragmento teve marcação positiva para imunoistoquímica no grupo 2 (entre 26 e 50%) na HE. A proteína S-100 apresentou uma sensibilidade de 13,5% e especificidade de 100% para detecção de NeuO. Não houve diferença estatisticamente significante na prevalência de NeuO quando os fragmentos foram divididos de acordo com o sexo, idade de óbito e lado da fossa nasal. No entanto, ao analisarmos a presença de NeuO de acordo com o grau de distribuição entre cada lado, não se percebe uma concordância. CONCLUSÕES: A quantidade total de NeuO foi simetricamente distribuída entre as fossas nasais, mas não houve uma concordância entre os lados quanto à maneira como o NeuO está distribuído. O NeuO apresenta maior probabilidade de ser encontrado na metade posterior de CS. A HE é um método eficaz para distinção entre NeuO e epitélio respiratório, devido a grande concordância entre três patologistas distintos. / INTRODUCTION: Olfactory neuroepithelium (ON) biopsy provides perspectives for several therapeutic applications, both in disorders of olfaction and in neurodegenerative diseases. Successful in vivo collection of ON is still not routine, due to a dearth of studies on ON distribution in the superior and middle turbinate (ST and MT respectively). This study describes the distribution of ON in cadaver ST and MT as determined by complete endoscopic removal of turbinates and histological analysis with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and immunohistochemical staining. We also analyzed the influence of gender, age, and naris side on the extent to which ON is present in the superior and middle turbinate. CASE SELECTION AND METHODS: We conducted a prospective anatomical study from March 2006 to January 2008. The superior and middle turbinates of 25 fresh cadavers (less than 12 hours post-mortem) were removed endoscopically. Each turbinate was halved into anterior and posterior fragments. Eight anatomically distinct fragments were therefore obtained from each of the 25 cadavers for a total of 200 specimens, which were analyzed through H&E staining and immunohistochemistry. Hematoxylin and eosin-stained slides were subjected to blind examination by three independent pathologists; ON distribution was graded on a fivepoint numeric scale (grade 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4). Immunohistochemistry was only positive through S-100 staining. Pairwise agreement between pathologists was assessed by means of the Kappa coefficient. The distribution of ON was analyzed regarding age, gender, time elapsed between death and specimen harvesting, symmetry between nares, and accuracy of immunohistochemistry results. RESULTS: In H&E-stained slides, olfactory neuroepithelium was present in 82.9% of ST and 17.1% of MT specimens; prevalence in the superior turbinate was therefore 4.9-fold greater (p < 0.001). Immunohistochemical analysis was able to identify ON in 15 fragments, 10 of which (20%) were from the posterior half of the superior turbinate; the remaining five specimens (7.6%) were from the anterior ST. According to prevalence ratio, the odds of finding ON are 4.9 times greater in superior turbinate than in the middle turbinate (CI, 95%; 3.37.4). Of the 15 immunohistochemistry-positive fragments, seven were assigned distribution grade 3 (>50% and 75% presence of ON) on H&E staining seven others were graded 4 (>75% presence of ON). A single immunohistochemistrypositive fragment was found to have grade 2 ON distribution (i.e., it contained 26% to 50% olfactory neuroepithelium) on H&E staining. S-100 staining showed a sensitivity of 13.5% and specificity of 100% for ON detection. There was no statistically significant difference in ON prevalence when fragments were compared according to gender, age at time of death, and naris side. However, when we analyzed ON presence according to the degree of ON distribution in each side, we found no concordance. CONCLUSIONS: Total ON was distributed symmetrically between nares, but we found no concordance between sides in the manner in which ON is distributed. ON is most likely to be found in the posterior half of the superior turbinate. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining is an effective method for distinguishing ON from respiratory epithelium, as shown by high inter-rater agreement among three independent pathologists

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-10T19:25:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Cristiane.pdf: 2244710 bytes, checksum: 7f1fb544f09e13f94b271e1202243132 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-02-13 / In this study, it was evaluated the operational conditions, the organic matter, nitrogen and phosphorus removal efficiency and the hydrodynamic behavior of a continuously up-flow combined anaerobic-aerobic fixed bed reactor (RAALF), operated in bench-scale, filled with expanded clay and polyurethane foam cubic arrays as means of biomass immobilization support, in the treatment of raw effluent from a cattle slaughterhouse. Three different operational conditions were tested: Step I, characterized by the operation of RAALF in anaerobic condition; Step II, in combined condition (anaerobic-aerobic), and Step III, in combined condition with recirculation. In each operational step three different hydraulic retention times (14, 11 and 8 h) were tested. The hydrodynamics assays were determined using stimulus-response type pulse, with Eosina Y as a tracer to obtain the curves of residence time distribution (RTD). The results from the RAALF in the Step I, under anaerobic condition, indicated that operational conditions ensured the process of anaerobic digestion, with keeping of the pH and the RAALF s buffering, promoting a biochemical balance between acidogenic/acetogenic and methanogenic archaea. In this operational step, the HRT of 11 h showed better result, with removal efficiency of raw COD, filtered COD, TS, TSS and N-amon of 59, 60, 56, 76 and 16%, respectively. In Step II, the HRT of 14 h showed better results in terms of organic matter and solids removal efficiency, with 58, 66, 66 and 84% for raw COD, filtered COD, TS and TSS, respectively. The overall efficiency of nitrogen removal achieved in this study was 0, 17 and 7% at Step I; 37, 22 and 22% in Step II for the HRT 14, 11 and 8 h, respectively, and 50 and 29% for the HDT of 11 and 8 h in Step III. Therefore, there was an evolution in the overall nitrogen removal efficiency in Steps II and III when compared to Step I, due to the partial nitrification and denitrification. Denitrification has been compromised by factors such as liquid temperature, pH, and DQO/N-NO3- ratio. The efficiency of phosphorus removal was 0, 0 and 15% in Step I and 46, 0 and 0% in Step II for HRT 14, 11 and 8 h, respectively, and 10 and 0 % removal HRT to 11 and 8 h, respectively, in Step III. The ANOVA and Tukey tests indicated that the operational stages I, II and III were statistically different for all physical-chemical parameters evaluated, except for phosphorus, for which it can be stated that the efficiency of organic matter and nitrogen removal was affected by the operating condition. The hydrodynamic study conducted at RAALF indicated behavior tending to a complete mixing and deviations from ideality were found, such as dead zones, recirculation and long tail effect. The dispersion degrees were probably influenced by insertion of the aerobic phase, which improved the liquid mixture inside the reactor. The RAALF presented similar kinetic behavior in the operational steps I, II and III, represented by the first order model, with increase of k and vr parameters along the height of the anaerobic phase and decrease of the kinetic constant and degradation rate in the aerobic phase / Neste trabalho foram avaliadas as condições operacionais, a eficiência de remoção de matéria orgânica, nitrogênio e fósforo e o comportamento hidrodinâmico de um reator anaeróbio aeróbio de leito fixo (RAALF) e fluxo ascendente, vertical, operado de modo contínuo, em escala de bancada, preenchido com argila expandida e matrizes cúbicas de espuma de poliuretano como meio suporte para imobilização da biomassa, no tratamento de efluente bruto proveniente de um matadouro bovino. Foram testadas três condições operacionais distintas, sendo a Etapa I caracterizada pela operação do RAALF em condição anaeróbia, a Etapa II em condição combinada (anaeróbia-aeróbia) e a Etapa III em condição combinada com recirculação. Em cada etapa operacional foram testados três tempos de detenção hidráulicos diferentes (14, 11 e 8 h). O comportamento hidrodinâmico foi avaliado utilizando ensaios de estímulo-resposta, tipo pulso, com o uso de Eosina Y como traçador para obtenção das curvas de distribuição do tempo de residência (DTR). Os resultados da avaliação do RAALF na Etapa I, sob condição anaeróbia, indicaram que as condições operacionais garantiram o processo de digestão anaeróbia, com a manutenção do pH e tamponamento do sistema, promovendo um equilíbrio bioquímico entre microrganismos acidogênicos/acetogênicos e arqueas metanogênicas. Nesta etapa operacional, o TDH de 11 h apresentou melhores rendimentos, com eficiência de remoção de DQO bruta, DQO filtrada, ST, SST e N-amon de 59, 60, 56, 76 e 16%, respectivamente. Na Etapa II, o TDH de 14 horas apresentou melhores resultados em termos de eficiência de remoção de matéria orgânica e sólidos, com valores de 58, 66, 66 e 84% para DQO bruta, DQO filtrada, ST e SST, respectivamente. A eficiência global de remoção de nitrogênio alcançada neste estudo foi de 0, 17 e 7% na Etapa I, 37, 22 e 22% na Etapa II, para o TDH de 14, 11 e 8 h, respectivamente, e de 50 e 29% para o TDH de 11 e 8 h na Etapa III; portanto, verifica-se evolução da eficiência global na remoção de nitrogênio das Etapas II e III se comparada à Etapa I, decorrente do processo de nitrificação e desnitrificação parcial. A desnitrificação foi comprometida por fatores como temperatura do líquido, pH e relação DQO/N-NO3-. As eficiências de remoção de fósforo total foram de 0, 0 e 15% na Etapa I e de 46, 0 e 0% na Etapa II para os TDHs de 14, 11 e 8 h, respectivamente, e de 10 e 0% de remoção para o THD de 11 e 8 h, respectivamente, na Etapa III. O teste ANOVA e o teste Tukey indicaram que as etapas operacionais I, II e III foram estatisticamente diferentes entre si, para todos os parâmetros físico-químicos avaliados, com exceção do fósforo, podendo-se afirmar que a eficiência de remoção de matéria orgânica e nitrogenada foi afetada pela condição operacional. O estudo hidrodinâmico realizado no RAALF indicou comportamento tendendo ao de mistura completa e foram constatados desvios de idealidade, como zonas mortas, recirculações e efeito de cauda longa. Os graus de dispersão foram possivelmente influenciados pela inserção da fase aeróbia, que promoveu uma melhor mistura do líquido no interior do reator. O RAALF apresentou comportamento cinético similar nas etapas operacionais I, II e III, representado pelo modelo de primeira ordem, com aumento dos parâmetros k e vr ao longo da altura da fase anaeróbia, e diminuição da constante cinética e da velocidade de degradação na fase aeróbia

Submitted by PPG Pediatria e Sa?de da Crian?a (pediatria-pg@pucrs.br) on 2018-11-01T18:12:18Z No. of bitstreams: 1 disserta??o Josiane Silva Silveira vers?o final corrigida.pdf: 4036302 bytes, checksum: cdea806bf90b79da9a4047282152d203 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Sheila Dias (sheila.dias@pucrs.br) on 2018-11-05T12:55:20Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 disserta??o Josiane Silva Silveira vers?o final corrigida.pdf: 4036302 bytes, checksum: cdea806bf90b79da9a4047282152d203 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-11-05T13:36:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 disserta??o Josiane Silva Silveira vers?o final corrigida.pdf: 4036302 bytes, checksum: cdea806bf90b79da9a4047282152d203 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-10-26 / Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Cient?fico e Tecnol?gico - CNPq / INTRODUCTION: asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by secretion of elevated levels of cytokines (interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5 and IL-13), reactive oxygen species (ROS), autophagy and eosinophil extracellular traps (EETs) release in airway. Moreover, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection may facilitate allergic sensitization development as well as exacerbate asthma symptoms. Recently, studies have demonstrated an increase of autophagy in eosinophils of asthmatic patients, contributing to an increase in inflammatory response. In asthma, an increase in EETs release may cause tissue damage and an increase in mucus viscosity, which contribute to airway obstruction and reduction of lung function. However, the mechanism of EETs formation and its pathophysiologic role in asthma are poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: the aim of this dissertation was to elucidate some mechanisms involved in EETs release in asthma. We investigated whether the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) could induce EETs in vitro in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) eosinophils of an experimental asthma model. Moreover, we evaluated ROS and autophagy participation in mechanisms involved in EETs formation. METHODS: in order to perform the experimental model of asthma, BALB/cJ mice were sensitized with two subcutaneous injections of ovalbumin (OVA) on days 0 and 7, followed by three intranasal challenges with OVA on days 14, 15 and 16 of the protocol. In paper 1, BALF eosinophils of OVA group and control group were stimulated with RSV (103 PFU/mL) in vitro for 3 hours. After that, culture supernatant was collected in order to perform the analyses proposed in this study which were evaluated according to the specific objectives of this paper. In paper 2, during the experimental asthma protocol, mice were treated intranasally with a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase (NDPH oxidase) inhibitor, diphenyleneiodonium (DPI), or a glutathione precursor, N-acetylcysteine (NAC). In paper 3, mice were treated intranasally with an autophagy inhibitor, 3-Methyladenine (3-MA). Treatments were performed 45 minutes before of the three intranasal administrations with OVA. At the end of the protocol, BALF and lung tissue were collected to perform the techniques discribed in each of the papers, according to their specific objectives. RESULTS: in paper 1, we verified an increase in EETs release in BALF eosinophils from OVA group stimulated with RSV in vitro. RSV in vitro decreased IFN-? in BALF cells when compared to the OVA group. In paper 2, we showed that in NAC-treated OVA group there was a decrease in the inflammatory cells in BALF and lung tissue. DPI or NAC treatments reduced EPO activity, goblet cells hyperplasia, inflammatory cytokines and NF?B p65 immunocontent in lung, and they helped in decreasing ROS production in lung. Furthermore, NAC increased catalase (CAT) activity in lung. However, only NAC treatment improved mitochondrial energy metabolism in lung. We showed that DPI or NAC reduced EETs formation in BALF from the OVA group. In paper 3, we showed that in 3-MA-treated OVA group there was a decrease in the inflammatory cells, EPO activity, goblet cells hyperplasia, inflammatory cytokines, NF?B p65 immunocontent, and oxidative stress in airway. Moreover, 3-MA was able to improve mitochondrial energy metabolism and increase Na+,K+-ATPase activity. We also demonstrated that 3-MA decreased light chain 3B (LC3B) in BALF cells and lung tissue as well as reduced EETs formation in BALF. CONCLUSION: our results verified an important role for RSV in the induction of EETs release. Moreover, DPI, NAC and 3-MA treatments decreased airway inflammation, oxidative stress and EETs release in asthma. Our data suggested that RSV, ROS and autophagy participate in the mechanisms for EETs release in asthma. Thus, identification of mechanisms that regulate EETs formation in asthma may contribute to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of this chronic inflammatory disease which damages patients? quality of life and is responsible for a high economic cost for the Brazilian Single Health System (SUS). / INTRODU??O: a asma ? uma doen?a inflamat?ria cr?nica caracterizada pela secre??o de elevados n?veis de citocinas do perfil T helper 2 (Th2) como interleucina (IL)-4, IL-5 e IL-13, esp?cies reativas de oxig?nio (EROs), aumento da autofagia e forma??o redes extracelulares de eosin?filos (EETs). A infec??o pelo v?rus sincicial respirat?rio (VSR) pode facilitar o desenvolvimento da sensibiliza??o al?rgica bem como exacerbar os sintomas da doen?a. Recentemente, estudos t?m demonstrado o aumento da autofagia em eosin?filos das vias de pacientes asm?ticos, contribuindo para o aumento da resposta inflamat?ria nas vias a?reas. Na asma, a produ??o excessiva de EETs pode causar dano tecidual e aumento da viscosidade do muco, podendo contribuir para o aumento da obstru??o da via a?rea e redu??o da fun??o pulmonar. Entretanto, os mecanismos de forma??o das EETs e seu papel fisiopatol?gico na asma s?o pouco compreendidos. OBJETIVO: esta disserta??o teve como objetivo elucidar alguns mecanismos envolvidos na libera??o de EETs na asma. Avaliamos a participa??o do VSR in vitro, das EROs e da autofagia nos mecanismos envolvidos na libera??o das EETs em eosin?filos do lavado broncoalveolar (LBA) em um modelo experimental de asma. METODOLOGIA: para o desenvolvimento do modelo experimental de asma, camundongos BALB/cJ foram sensibilizados com duas inje??es subcut?neas de ovalbumina (OVA) nos dias 0 e 7 seguidos por tr?s desafios intranasais com OVA nos dias 14, 15 e 16 do protocolo. No artigo cient?fico 1, eosin?filos do LBA de animais do grupo OVA e do grupo controle foram estimulados com VSR (103 PFU/mL) in vitro por 3 horas. Ap?s este per?odo, o sobrenadante da cultura foi coletado para a realiza??o das t?cnicas avaliadas conforme os objetivos espec?ficos deste artigo cient?fico. No artigo cientifico 2, durante o protocolo experimental de asma, os animais foram tratados via intranasal com um inibidor da nicotinamida adenina dinucleot?deo fosfato oxidase (NADPH oxidase), difenileno-iod?nio (DPI), ou com um precursor da glutationa, N-acetilciste?na (NAC), 45 minutos antes dos tr?s desafios intranasais com OVA. J? no artigo cientifico 3, os animais foram tratados via intranasal com um inibidor de autofagia, 3-metiladenina (3-MA), 45 minutos antes dos tr?s desafios intranasais com OVA. Ao final do protocolo o LBA e o tecido pulmonar foram coletados para a realiza??o das t?cnicas avaliadas em cada um dos artigos cient?ficos, conforme seus objetivos espec?ficos. RESULTADOS: no artigo cientifico 1, observamos um aumento na libera??o de EETs em eosin?filos do LBA de animais submetidos ao modelo experimental de asma e estimulados com VSR in vitro. Por outro lado, o VSR in vitro foi capaz de diminuir os n?veis de IFN-? no sobrenadante da cultura de eosin?filos do LBA. Em rela??o aos resultados do artigo cient?fico 2, verificamos que no grupo OVA tratado com NAC ocorreu uma diminui??o no n?mero de c?lulas inflamat?rias no LBA bem como uma redu??o no infiltrado inflamat?rio pulmonar. Al?m disso, os animais do grupo OVAM tratados com DPI ou NAC apresentaram uma redu??o da enzima EPO, hiperplasia de c?lulas caliciformes, citocinas inflamat?rias e da prote?na fator nuclear kappa B (NF?B p65). Os tratamentos com DPI ou NAC foram capazes de reduzir a forma??o de EROs, aumentar a atividade da enzima catalase antixidante (CAT). Por outro lado, par?metros do metabolismo energ?tico mitocondrial aumentaram somente com o tratamento com NAC. Por fim, demonstramos que os tratamentos com DPI ou NAC foram capazes de reduzir a forma??o de EETs do LBA. No artigo cient?fico 3, observamos que no grupo OVA tratado com o inibidor de autofagia, 3-MA, ocorreu uma diminui??o no n?mero de c?lulas inflamat?rias no LBA bem como uma redu??o do infiltrado inflamat?rio pulmonar. Al?m disso, os animais tratados com 3-MA apresentaram uma redu??o nos n?veis da enzima EPO, hiperplasia de c?lulas caliciformes, citocinas inflamat?rias e da prote?na NF?B p65. O tratamento com 3-MA foi capaz de reduzir a forma??o de EROs bem como aumentar os n?veis da enzima antioxidante CAT. O tratamento com 3-MA tamb?m melhorou par?metros do metabolismo energ?tico mitocondrial e a atividade da enzima Na+,K+ATPase. Demonstramos tamb?m que o tratamento com 3-MA diminuiu o imunoconte?do da prote?na light chain 3B (LC3B) em eosin?filos do LBA e no tecido pulmonar e reduziu a forma??o de EETs no LBA. CONCLUS?O: Nossos resultados demonstram um importante papel do VSR na indu??o da libera??o de EETs. Al?m disso, verificamos que os tratamentos com DPI, NAC e 3-MA foram capazes de reduzir a inflama??o das vias a?reas, o estresse oxidativo e a libera??o de EETs no LBA. Demonstramos que o VSR, as EROs e a autofagia participam dos mecanismos que regulam o processo de libera??o das EETs na asma. Assim, a identifica??o de alguns desses mecanismos envolvidos na libera??o de EETs na asma pode contribuir para uma melhor compreens?o da patog?nese desta doen?a inflamat?ria cr?nica que prejudica a qualidade de vida dos pacientes e ? respons?vel por um alto custo econ?mico para o Sistema ?nico de Sa?de (SUS).

Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-12T14:48:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Cristiane.pdf: 2244710 bytes, checksum: 7f1fb544f09e13f94b271e1202243132 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-02-13 / In this study, it was evaluated the operational conditions, the organic matter, nitrogen and phosphorus removal efficiency and the hydrodynamic behavior of a continuously up-flow combined anaerobic-aerobic fixed bed reactor (RAALF), operated in bench-scale, filled with expanded clay and polyurethane foam cubic arrays as means of biomass immobilization support, in the treatment of raw effluent from a cattle slaughterhouse. Three different operational conditions were tested: Step I, characterized by the operation of RAALF in anaerobic condition; Step II, in combined condition (anaerobic-aerobic), and Step III, in combined condition with recirculation. In each operational step three different hydraulic retention times (14, 11 and 8 h) were tested. The hydrodynamics assays were determined using stimulus-response type pulse, with Eosina Y as a tracer to obtain the curves of residence time distribution (RTD). The results from the RAALF in the Step I, under anaerobic condition, indicated that operational conditions ensured the process of anaerobic digestion, with keeping of the pH and the RAALF s buffering, promoting a biochemical balance between acidogenic/acetogenic and methanogenic archaea. In this operational step, the HRT of 11 h showed better result, with removal efficiency of raw COD, filtered COD, TS, TSS and N-amon of 59, 60, 56, 76 and 16%, respectively. In Step II, the HRT of 14 h showed better results in terms of organic matter and solids removal efficiency, with 58, 66, 66 and 84% for raw COD, filtered COD, TS and TSS, respectively. The overall efficiency of nitrogen removal achieved in this study was 0, 17 and 7% at Step I; 37, 22 and 22% in Step II for the HRT 14, 11 and 8 h, respectively, and 50 and 29% for the HDT of 11 and 8 h in Step III. Therefore, there was an evolution in the overall nitrogen removal efficiency in Steps II and III when compared to Step I, due to the partial nitrification and denitrification. Denitrification has been compromised by factors such as liquid temperature, pH, and DQO/N-NO3- ratio. The efficiency of phosphorus removal was 0, 0 and 15% in Step I and 46, 0 and 0% in Step II for HRT 14, 11 and 8 h, respectively, and 10 and 0 % removal HRT to 11 and 8 h, respectively, in Step III. The ANOVA and Tukey tests indicated that the operational stages I, II and III were statistically different for all physical-chemical parameters evaluated, except for phosphorus, for which it can be stated that the efficiency of organic matter and nitrogen removal was affected by the operating condition. The hydrodynamic study conducted at RAALF indicated behavior tending to a complete mixing and deviations from ideality were found, such as dead zones, recirculation and long tail effect. The dispersion degrees were probably influenced by insertion of the aerobic phase, which improved the liquid mixture inside the reactor. The RAALF presented similar kinetic behavior in the operational steps I, II and III, represented by the first order model, with increase of k and vr parameters along the height of the anaerobic phase and decrease of the kinetic constant and degradation rate in the aerobic phase / Neste trabalho foram avaliadas as condições operacionais, a eficiência de remoção de matéria orgânica, nitrogênio e fósforo e o comportamento hidrodinâmico de um reator anaeróbio aeróbio de leito fixo (RAALF) e fluxo ascendente, vertical, operado de modo contínuo, em escala de bancada, preenchido com argila expandida e matrizes cúbicas de espuma de poliuretano como meio suporte para imobilização da biomassa, no tratamento de efluente bruto proveniente de um matadouro bovino. Foram testadas três condições operacionais distintas, sendo a Etapa I caracterizada pela operação do RAALF em condição anaeróbia, a Etapa II em condição combinada (anaeróbia-aeróbia) e a Etapa III em condição combinada com recirculação. Em cada etapa operacional foram testados três tempos de detenção hidráulicos diferentes (14, 11 e 8 h). O comportamento hidrodinâmico foi avaliado utilizando ensaios de estímulo-resposta, tipo pulso, com o uso de Eosina Y como traçador para obtenção das curvas de distribuição do tempo de residência (DTR). Os resultados da avaliação do RAALF na Etapa I, sob condição anaeróbia, indicaram que as condições operacionais garantiram o processo de digestão anaeróbia, com a manutenção do pH e tamponamento do sistema, promovendo um equilíbrio bioquímico entre microrganismos acidogênicos/acetogênicos e arqueas metanogênicas. Nesta etapa operacional, o TDH de 11 h apresentou melhores rendimentos, com eficiência de remoção de DQO bruta, DQO filtrada, ST, SST e N-amon de 59, 60, 56, 76 e 16%, respectivamente. Na Etapa II, o TDH de 14 horas apresentou melhores resultados em termos de eficiência de remoção de matéria orgânica e sólidos, com valores de 58, 66, 66 e 84% para DQO bruta, DQO filtrada, ST e SST, respectivamente. A eficiência global de remoção de nitrogênio alcançada neste estudo foi de 0, 17 e 7% na Etapa I, 37, 22 e 22% na Etapa II, para o TDH de 14, 11 e 8 h, respectivamente, e de 50 e 29% para o TDH de 11 e 8 h na Etapa III; portanto, verifica-se evolução da eficiência global na remoção de nitrogênio das Etapas II e III se comparada à Etapa I, decorrente do processo de nitrificação e desnitrificação parcial. A desnitrificação foi comprometida por fatores como temperatura do líquido, pH e relação DQO/N-NO3-. As eficiências de remoção de fósforo total foram de 0, 0 e 15% na Etapa I e de 46, 0 e 0% na Etapa II para os TDHs de 14, 11 e 8 h, respectivamente, e de 10 e 0% de remoção para o THD de 11 e 8 h, respectivamente, na Etapa III. O teste ANOVA e o teste Tukey indicaram que as etapas operacionais I, II e III foram estatisticamente diferentes entre si, para todos os parâmetros físico-químicos avaliados, com exceção do fósforo, podendo-se afirmar que a eficiência de remoção de matéria orgânica e nitrogenada foi afetada pela condição operacional. O estudo hidrodinâmico realizado no RAALF indicou comportamento tendendo ao de mistura completa e foram constatados desvios de idealidade, como zonas mortas, recirculações e efeito de cauda longa. Os graus de dispersão foram possivelmente influenciados pela inserção da fase aeróbia, que promoveu uma melhor mistura do líquido no interior do reator. O RAALF apresentou comportamento cinético similar nas etapas operacionais I, II e III, representado pelo modelo de primeira ordem, com aumento dos parâmetros k e vr ao longo da altura da fase anaeróbia, e diminuição da constante cinética e da velocidade de degradação na fase aeróbia

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Magister Scientiae (Medical Bioscience) - MSc(MBS) / This study investigated the effects of TKIs on the growth and proliferation of MCF-7 breast carcinoma cells in culture. MCF-7 cells were exposed to different concentrations of TKIs alone and in combination with each other. Inhibition of cell growth by TKIs used individually occurred in a dose- and time-dependent manner. When EGFR Inhibitor I, EGFR Inhibitor II/BIBX1382 and the multi-specific EGFR/ErbB-2/ErB-4 Inhibitor were used in combination with each other at equimolar log dose concentrations, the combined effects on cell growth was significantly different to inhibitors used individually as reflected in a decreased EC50 (IC50) during combination treatments. Generally, for the combinations with DOX, CPL and the TKIs, synergistic as well as antagonistic effects were observed at isoeffective concentrations with resultant decreases in dose reduction indices (DRIs) implying greater efficacies with the respective combinations. In this study, conventional PCR was used to detect and illustrate the presence of the EGFR gene in the samples, while RT-qPCR was used to determine the mRNA expression levels of this gene in MCF-7 breast carcinoma cells

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Hydrogels prepared from photopolymerization have been used for a variety of tissue engineering and controlled release applications. Polymeric biomaterials with high cytocompatibility, versatile degradation behaviors, and diverse material properties are particularly useful in studying cell fate processes. In recent years, step-growth thiol-ene photochemistry has been utilized to form cytocompatible hydrogels for tissue engineering applications. This radical-mediated gelation scheme utilizes norbornene functionalized multi-arm poly(ethylene glycol) (PEGNB) as the macromer and di-thiol containing molecules as the crosslinkers to form chemically crosslinked hydrogels. While the gelation mechanism was well-described in the literature, the network properties and degradation behaviors of these hydrogels have not been fully characterized. In addition, existing thiol-ene photopolymerizations often used type I photoinitiators in conjunction with an ultraviolet (UV) light source to initiate gelation. The use of cleavage type initiators and UV light often raises biosafety concerns. The first objective of this thesis was to understand the gelation and degradation properties of thiol-ene hydrogels. In this regard, two types of step-growth hydrogels were compared, namely thiol-ene hydrogels and Michael-type addition hydrogels. Between these two step-growth gel systems, it was found that thiol-ene click reactions formed hydrogels with higher crosslinking efficiency. However, thiol-ene hydrogels still contained significant network non-ideality, demonstrated by a high dependency of hydrogel swelling on macromer contents. In addition, the presence of ester bonds within the PEGNB macromer rendered thiol-ene hydrogels hydrolytically degradable. Through validating model predictions with experimental results, it was found that the hydrolytic degradation of thiol-ene hydrogels was not only governed by ester bond hydrolysis, but also affected by the degree of network crosslinking. In an attempt to manipulate network crosslinking and degradation rate of thiol-ene hydrogels, different macromer contents and peptide crosslinkers with different amino acid sequences were used. A chymotrypsin-sensitive peptide was also used as part of the hydrogel crosslinkers to render thiol-ene hydrogels enzymatically degradable. The second objective of this thesis was to develop a visible light-mediated thiol-ene hydrogelation scheme using a type II photoinitiator, eosin-Y, as the only photoinitiator. This approach eliminates the incorporation of potentially cytotoxic co-initiator and co-monomer that are typically used with a type II initiator. In addition to investigating the gelation kinetics and properties of thiol-ene hydrogels formed by this new gelation scheme, it was found that the visible light-mediated thiol-ene hydrogels were highly cytocompatible for human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) and pancreatic MIN6 beta-cells. It was also found that eosin-Y could be repeatedly excited for preparing step-growth hydrogels with multilayer structures. This new gelation chemistry may have great utilities in controlled release of multiple sensitive growth factors and encapsulation of multiple cell types for tissue regeneration.