Submitted by Nadir Basilio (nadirsb@uninove.br) on 2017-01-26T14:23:11Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Carolina Alencar Nigro.pdf: 2818971 bytes, checksum: 28e22d17de09be4877cd56b9c4f53d76 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-01-26T14:23:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Carolina Alencar Nigro.pdf: 2818971 bytes, checksum: 28e22d17de09be4877cd56b9c4f53d76 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-12-09 / In Brazil, investments in Science and Technology have increased considerably, being considered an evolution in the field of scientific knowledge. Following this enrichment and in order to monitor the productivity of the researchers and research groups, CNPq (National Council for Scientific and Technological Development) has created a comprehensive curriculum base, called Lattes Platform, as well as a Directory of Research Groups in Brazil. Also, regarding the aspects of development and knowledge, patents are seen as a way to express the country’s technological and financial growth, and these documents are deposited in databases such as Espacenet. Such platforms, which are considered non-reference databases, allow information view, but do not provide direct access to massive extraction of such data, especially because they are allocated in a region of internet called deep web. This region cannot be accessed by common search engines, but by special data mining programs, known as crawlers. Thus, the aim of this research was to use computational tools Scriptlattes, ScriptGP and Patent2net, respectively, for: 1 – mining data regarding Brazilian research competencies in dengue; 2 - checking the evolution of Brazilian research groups on dengue; 3 – analyzing the progress of patents on dengue worldwide. These aims can enable a critical evaluation of the progress of academic and technological productivity on a neglected disease of particular relevance as dengue, being considered a major public health problem in Brazil and in other countries around the world. The results confirmed the effectiveness of the crawlers Scriptlattes, ScriptGP and Patent2net: 1 - in the compilation of performance indicators of the researchers, allowing the analysis of the progress of bibliographic, technical and technological productions on dengue; 2 - to identify the main poles of dengue research in the country, comparing the historical series of the disease with the history of creation of the research groups; 3 – in the identification of dengue patents deposited worldwide. In conclusion, the data of this work enabled an accurate analysis of the progress of dengue research in the country, in the field of health management. Furthermore, it has provided information that could be used to create or reformulate strategies concerning the planning of research related to the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of dengue. / No Brasil, os investimentos na área da Ciência e Tecnologia têm aumentado consideravelmente, o que se considera uma evolução no âmbito do conhecimento científico. Acompanhando esse enriquecimento, o CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico) criou uma base curricular completa, denominada Plataforma Lattes, além do Diretório dos Grupos de Pesquisa no Brasil, para acompanhamento da produtividade dos pesquisadores e grupos de pesquisa. Ainda com relação aos aspectos do desenvolvimento e conhecimento, as patentes são vistas como uma forma de expressar ao mercado o crescimento tecnológico e financeiro de um país, estando estes documentos depositados em bases como a Espacenet. Tais bases de dados, consideradas não referenciais, permitem visualizar as informações nelas contidas, mas não permitem a extração maciça desses dados, especialmente por estarem alocadas em uma região da internet denominada deep web, inacessível aos mecanismos de busca comuns, mas acessível a programas especiais de mineração de dados conhecidos como crawlers. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi utilizar os crawlers Scriptlattes, ScriptGP e Patent2net para extrair das bases não referenciais informações relativas: 1 - às competências em pesquisa em dengue no Brasil; 2 – à evolução dos grupos de pesquisa brasileiros sobre a dengue; 3 - às patentes em dengue depositadas mundialmente. Pretendeu-se realizar uma avaliação crítica da evolução da produtividade bibliográfica e técnica brasileira e mundial sobre uma doença negligenciada importante no contexto nacional, a dengue, considerada um enorme problema de saúde pública no Brasil e em outros países do mundo. Os resultados confirmaram a eficácia dos crawlers Scriptlattes, ScriptGP e Patent2net: 1 – na compilação de indicadores de desempenho dos pesquisadores, permitindo analisar o andamento das produções bibliográficas, técnicas e tecnológicas sobre dengue; 2 – na identificação dos principais polos de pesquisa em dengue no país, comparando a série histórica da doença com o histórico de criação dos grupos de pesquisa, permitindo especular sobre as causas da baixa efetividade das campanhas de prevenção contra a dengue instituídas nas últimas décadas; 3 – identificação das patentes em dengue depositas mundialmente. Em conclusão, os dados deste trabalho, possibilitaram a realização de uma análise apurada, no âmbito da Gestão em Saúde, do andamento das pesquisas em dengue no país, fornecendo informações que poderão ser utilizadas para criação ou reformulação de estratégias voltadas ao planejamento de pesquisas relacionadas ao diagnóstico, tratamento e prevenção da dengue.

INTRODUÇÃO: A leishmaniose visceral (LV), pertence ao grupo de endemias consideradas prioritárias no mundo. É uma doença grave e com poucas opções de tratamento e, mesmo quando adequadamente tratada, possui um nível de letalidade de 5 a 7%. Apesar da expansão da doença, o tratamento para leishmaniose visceral não obteve avanços. O tratamento da leishmaniose possui apenas dois grupos de medicamentos utilizados: os antimonoiais e os não-antimoniais. Os compostos nitroheterocíclicos foram utilizados pois acredita-se que a eficácia desta classe de compostos está na habilidade desses compostos inibirem a tripanotiona redutase. Os compostos foram obtidos por via sintética e refinados pelo método QSAR por remodelagem molecular. Foram obtidos séries de compostos nitroheterocíclicos, onde a série BSF (derivados 5-nitro-2-furfurilideno - azometínicos) foi utilizada para avaliar a bioatividade in vitro destes compostos frente à Leishmania. Para avaliação da atividade anti-Leishmania foram usadas formas promastigotas de Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum. Os métodos utilizados para determinar a atividade anti-Leishmania dos compostos da série BSF foram os métodos colorimétrico 3-[4,5-dimetiltiazol-2-il] 2,5 brometo de difeniltetrazólio (MTT), apoptose por Anexina V e reação de Griess (dosagem de NO). Ao comparar os resultados com os respectivos controles positivos e com a Anfotericina B, foi observado que a atividade anti-Leishmania em formas promastigotas de L. L. infantum dos compostos foi menos significativa quando comparado com anfotericina B. Porém, ao comparar os resultados de macrófagos infectados e citotoxicidade com a anfotericina B, os compostos mostraram resultados expressivos, ao apresentarem baixa taxa de citotoxicidade e significativa diminuição da proliferação intracelular. A expressiva produção de nitrito pelos macrófagos infectados tratados com os compostos da série BSF sugere-se que estes compostos possuam uma ação indireta de potencialização de produção de NO nas células hospedeiras. Os resultados in vitro utilizando derivados nitroheterocíclicos mostraram atividade destes sobre formas promastigotas e amastigotas intracelulares, e são compostos em potencial para avaliação de efeito in vivo contra leishmaniose visceral / INTRODUCTION: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) belongs to the group of endemics prioritized worldwide. It is a serious disease with few treatment options, and even when adequately treated, it has a lethality level of 5 to 7%. Despite the expansion of the disease, treatment for visceral leishmaniasis has not made progress. Treatment of leishmaniasis has used only two groups of drugs: antimonial and non-antimonial. Nitro-heterocyclic compounds were used in this study because it is believed that the effectiveness of this class of compounds is the ability to inhibit trypanothione reductase. The compounds were obtained synthetically and refined by QSAR method molecular remodeling. Nitro-heterocyclic series of compounds were obtained, where the BSF series (derived from 5-nitro-2-furfurylidene - azometínicos) was used to evaluate the in vitro bioactivity of these compounds against the Leishmania. To evaluate the anti-Leishmania activity, promastigotes of Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum were used. The methods used to determine the anti-Leishmania activity of the BSF series compounds were colorimetric methods 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl] 2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), apoptosis by Annexin V, and Griess reaction (IN dosage). By comparing the results with the respective positive controls and with amphotericin B, it was observed that the anti-Leishmania activity of L. L. infantum promastigotes of the compounds was less significant when compared with amphotericin B. However, comparing the results of infected macrophages and cytotoxicity with amphotericin B, compounds showed significant results, presenting low cytotoxicity rate and significant decrease in intracellular proliferation. The significant nitrite production by infected macrophages treated with the BSF series compounds suggested that these compounds have an indirect potentiation action in the NO production in the host cells. In vitro results using nitro-heterocyclic derivatives showed their activity on these promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes, and presented them as potential compounds for in vivo effect evaluation against visceral leishmaniasis

A dor neuropática decorre do acometimento das vias somatossensitivas por lesão ou doença e afeta 7% da população geral. No entanto, apenas uma proporção dos doentes com neuropatia desenvolve este tipo de dor. Diversos estudos tentaram comparar doentes acometidos por lesões aparentemente semelhantes do sistema somatossensitivo em busca dos fatores determinantes para a ocorrência e características da dor neuropática, com resultados conflitantes. Parte deste insucesso deriva do fato de que indivíduos diferentes podem ter lesões de nervo semelhantes, mas diferem quanto ao perfil psicológico, epigenético, de polimorfismos de receptores de neurotransmissores, e de catastrofismo. Estas características e uma série de outros fatores interindividuais podem enviesar a interpretação dos achados locais sobre a área de neuropatia e dor. Assim, o estudo de um mesmo indivíduo que possua áreas diferentes de neuropatia com e sem dor neuropática concomitantes serviria para reduzir os vieses interindividuais nas suas avaliações, e poderia revelar alterações locais que se relacionem com a ocorrência de dor neuropática. A hanseníase é uma doença que afeta o sistema nervoso periférico com o padrão de mononeuropatia múltipla frequente. Uma grande proporção de doentes apresenta dor neuropática crônica que ocorre, na maior parte das vezes, após o fim do tratamento farmacológico antibioticoterápico, e que representa intenso impacto negativo na qualidade de vida. Assim, a hanseníase é um modelo de estudo em que um mesmo doente apresenta neuropatia periférica com dor neuropática (D+) em uma área do corpo (n+d+) e em outra parte do corpo (contralateral homóloga) pode apresentar neuropatia sem dor neuropática (n+d-). Ainda, há indivíduos que podem compor um grupo controle de doentes acometidos pela hanseníase, mas que não tem dor neuropática (D-), apresentando áreas de neuropatia sem dor neuropática (n+d-) e áreas corpóreas sem neuropatia (n-d-). O objetivo do presente estudo foi investigar fatores periféricos que poderiam implicar na ocorrência de dor neuropática avaliando doentes com antecedente de hanseníase e mononeuropatia múltipla como modelo. Foram avaliados 37 doentes com hanseníase e dor crônica (D+) e 22 doentes com hanseníase sem dor crônica (D-), grupo-controle. Realizou-se a caracterização sociodemográfica e clínica, exame neurológico padronizado e utilizou-se escalas de avaliação da dor padronizadas e validadas (Inventário Breve de Dor - IBD, Questionário de dor neuropática 4 (DN4), Questionário Breve de Dor McGill e Inventário de Sintomas de Dor Neuropática - ISDN). Sobre cada uma das quatro áreas presentes possíveis (n+d+; n+d-; n+d-; n-d-), realizou-se aferição da sensibilidade exteroceptiva e proprioceptiva por meio de limiares de sensibilidade dolorosa e não dolorosa pelo teste quantitativo de sensibilidade (TQS) e análise morfológico-quantitativa da densidade de fibras nervosas intraepidérmicas (DFNIE), associados à aferição da presença de fatores inflamatórios na neuropatologia cutânea. As formas paucibacilar e dimorfa da hanseníase apresentaram menor limiar de dor ao quente (LDoQ) em comparação com a forma multibacilar (-2,66?C e -4,25?C, p = 0,002, respectivamente). As áreas com dor neuropática apresentaram sinais de disfunção de fibras nervosas do tipo C e hiperestesia em comparação com áreas com neuropatia sem dor neuropática. O LDoQ foi maior em áreas com neuropatia e dor neuropática (47,5 ± 3,4) em comparação com áreas com neuropatia sem dor neuropática (45,9 ± 3,6), p = 0,010, enquanto o limiar de detecção mecânica (LDM) foi menor (1,5 ± 3,6) em áreas com neuropatia e dor neuropática em comparação com áreas com neuropatia sem dor neuropática (5,8 ± 29,6), p = 0,047. Os doentes hansênicos apresentaram diagnóstico de neuropatia de fibras finas grave em todas as áreas de pele amostradas, a média das densidades variaram entre 2,1 a 3,2 fibras por milímetro (abaixo do percentil 5%). Não houve diferença estatisticamente significativa entre as quatro diferentes áreas quanto à DFNIE e quanto a fatores inflamatórios como contagens de macrófagos, linfócitos, células de Langerhans e medida da citocina fator de necrose tumoral alfa. Na modelagem matemática das variáveis significativas, as áreas com neuropatia sem dor tiveram LDoQ 2,30?C mais altos do que as áreas sem neuropatia e sem dor (n-d-). As áreas com neuropatia com dor (n+d+) tiveram LDoQ 3,45 C mais altos do que as áreas sem neuropatia e sem dor (n-d-). Nas análises de modelagem da relação dos dados entre LDoQ e DFNIE, verificou-se que áreas totalmente desnervadas (DFNIE = 0/mm apresentaram aumento do LDoQ estimada de 4,03 C, enquanto as amostras parcialmente inervadas (DFNIE = 1-5fibras/mm) apresentaram um aumento estimado de LDoQ de 1,54 C em comparação às áreas de referência (DFNIE >- 5fibras/mm). Encontrou-se uma relação entre o tempo e o agravamento da neuropatia. A cada mês, decorrido entre o término do tratamento com antibióticos da hanseníase e a avaliação atual, o LDoQ aumentou em 0,03?C, reforçando teorias de que a presença de debris bacterianos podem estar relacionados à ocorrência de neuropatia ativa e vigente, assim como, um potencial papel das reações hansênicas na ocorrência de neuropatia e dor neuropática a longo prazo. As alterações do LDoQ e do LDM foram relacionadas à ocorrência da dor neuropática no presente estudo e podem ter valor prognóstico e de rastreio se esses achados forem replicados em coortes maiores no futuro / Neuropathic pain arises from a lesion or disease of the somatosensory system and affects 7% of the general population. However, only a proportion of patients with neuropathy develop this type of pain. Several studies have attempted to compare patients with apparently similar lesions to the somatosensory system in search of the factors determining the occurrence and characteristics of neuropathic pain, yielding conflicting results. Part of the challenge in such assessment stems from the fact that different individuals may have similar nerve lesions, but may differ in their psychological, epigenetic, neurotransmitter receptor polymorphisms and catastrophism profiles. These features and several other interindividual factors may bias the interpretation of local findings in the area of neuropathy and pain. Thus, the study of the same individual who presents with different areas of neuropathy with and without neuropathic pain concomitantly would reduce the interindividual bias of these assessments, and could reveal local changes related to the occurrence of neuropathic pain. Leprosy is a disease that affects the peripheral nervous system with the frequent pattern of multiple mononeuropathy distribution. A large proportion of patients present chronic neuropathic pain, which occurs most often after the end of the antibiotic therapy drug treatment, and which poses an intense negative impact on the quality of life. Thus, leprosy is a \"model\" in which the same patient presents peripheral neuropathy with neuropathic pain (P+) in one area of the body (n+p+) and in another part of the body (contralateral homologous) presents neuropathy without neuropathic pain (n+p-). In addition, there are individuals who may constitute a control group, who are affected by leprosy but who do not have neuropathic pain (P-), and have body areas with neuropathy without neuropathic pain (n+p-) and body areas without neuropathy (n-p-). The aim of the present study was to investigate peripheral factors that could be related to the occurrence of neuropathic pain by assessing patients with leprosy and multiple mononeuropathy. We evaluated 37 patients with leprosy and chronic pain (P+) and 22 patients with leprosy without chronic pain (P-) (control group). Sociodemographic and clinical characterization were performed, as well as, standardized neurological examination and assessment of pain and related symptoms with validated pain assessment scales (Brief Pain Inventory - BPI, Neuropathic Pain Questionnaire 4 - DN4, McGill Brief Pain Questionnaire and Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory - NPSI). On each of the four possible body areas (n+p+; n+p-; n+p-; n-p-), exteroceptive and proprioceptive sensitivity were assessed by means of thresholds of painful and non-painful sensory stimuli by quantitative sensitivity test (QST), as well as, morphological-quantitative analysis of intraepidermal nerve fiber density (IENFD), and assessment of inflammatory factors in cutaneous neuropathology. Paucibacillary and dimorphic forms of leprosy presented lower heat pain threshold (HPT) compared to the multibacillary form (-2.66?C and -4.25 C, p=0.002; respectively). Areas with neuropathic pain had signs of defective C nerve fiber dysfunction and hyperesthesia compared to areas with neuropathy without neuropathic pain. HPT was higher in areas with neuropathy and neuropathic pain (47.5 ± 3.4) compared to areas with neuropathy without neuropathic pain (45.9 ± 3.6), p=0.010), while mechanical detection threshold (MDT) was lower (1.5 ± 3.6) in areas with neuropathy and neuropathic pain compared to areas with neuropathy without neuropathic pain (5.8 ± 29.6), p=0.047. Leprosy patients had a diagnosis of severe small-fiber neuropathy in all areas of skin sampled, the mean densities ranged from 2.1 to 3.2 fibers per millimeter (below 5% percentile). There was no statistically significant difference between the four different areas concerning IEFND and for inflammatory factors such as presence of number of macrophages, lymphocytes, Langerhans cells and cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha. In the mathematical modeling of significant variables, areas with painless neuropathy (n+p-) had a HPT 2.30?C higher than areas without neuropathy and without pain (n-p-). Areas with neuropathy with pain (n+p+) had a HPT 3.45 C higher than areas without neuropathy and without pain (n-p-). In the modeling analyses between the relationship of HPT and IEFND data, it was found that totally denervated areas (IEFND=0/mm) presented an increase in estimated HPT of 4.03 C, while scarcely innervated samples (IEFND=1-5fibers/mm) presented an estimated increase of HPT of 1.54?C compared to reference areas (IEFND >- 5fibers/mm). We found a relationship between time and worsening of neuropathy. Each month between the termination of the leprosy antibiotic treatment and the present assessment, HPT increased by 0.03°C, supporting theories relating the presence of bacterial debris and the occurrence of active and ongoing neuronal damage, as well as, a potential role of leprosy reactions in the occurrence of neuropathy and neuropathic pain in the long-term. HPT and MDT changes were related to the occurrence of neuropathic pain in the present study and may have prognostic and screening value should these findings be replicated in larger cohorts in the future

Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2017-04-27T19:41:04Z No. of bitstreams: 1 gustavosenragoncalvesdecarvalho.pdf: 7312351 bytes, checksum: 619ab5b1846a289b3dd2a2d56e459c0c (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2017-05-13T13:06:35Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 gustavosenragoncalvesdecarvalho.pdf: 7312351 bytes, checksum: 619ab5b1846a289b3dd2a2d56e459c0c (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-13T13:06:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 gustavosenragoncalvesdecarvalho.pdf: 7312351 bytes, checksum: 619ab5b1846a289b3dd2a2d56e459c0c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-07-16 / CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Este trabalho tratou da pesquisa para a descoberta de potenciais fármacos contra doenças negligenciadas e foi divido em três partes. A primeira parte apresenta uma nova metodologia para síntese de ciclo-nucleosídeos, a partir de carboidratos (D-glicose e D-xilose), mais especificamente análogos N3,2’-ciclo-nucleosídeos até então inéditos na literatura. Essa metodologia desenvolvida foi aplicada na obtenção de um análogo da 5’-metil-tioadenosina (MTA), um importante regulador metabólito, controlador da 5’-metil-tioadenosina/S-adenosilhomocisteína (MTA/SAH) nucleosidase. A segunda parte deste trabalho trata, da síntese de bioisósteros do resveratrol, um importante metabólito encontrado em plantas superiores. Desde a descoberta de seus efeitos como cardioprotetor e antioxidantes, várias pesquisas associam este composto a novas potencialidades medicinais. Desta forma utilizando-se da ferramenta do isosterismo clássico, onde a ligação C=C entre os anéis foi substituída por uma ligação C=N, sintetizou-se uma série de análogos do resveratrol. O terceiro e último assunto tratado neste trabalho foi a preparação e avaliação biológica de compostos heterocíclicos contendo o nitrogênio como heteroátomo. Realizou-se a síntese de três séries distintas de heterociclos nitrogenados, mais especificamente imidazolidinas, hexahidropirimidinas e benzimidazóis que foram obtidos através de sínteses rápidas e eficientes. Os compostos obtidos foram caracterizados por diferentes técnicas espectroscópicas, a saber, infravermelho, RMN 1D e 2D, espectrometria de massas de alta resolução e análise elementar e foram submetidos a ensaios biológicos com o intuito de se testar seus potenciais como leishmanicida, antibacteriano, antitubercular, antioxidante, antimalárico e antichagásico. / This work deals with the research for discovery of potential drugs against neglected diseases and has been divided into three parts. The first part presents a new methodology for synthesis of cyclo-nucleosides from carbohydrate (D-glucose and D-xylose) analogues specifically N3, 2'-cyclo-nucleosides until then unpublished in literature. This methodology was applied to obtain an analogue of 5'-methyl-tioadenosina (MTA), an important metabolite regulator, controller of 5'-methyl-tioadenosine/Sadenosylhomocysteine (MTA / SAH) nucleosidase. The second part of this work concerns the synthesis of resveratrol bioisosters, a major metabolite found in higher plants. Since the discovery of its cardioprotective and antioxidants effects and several research associates this compound for new potential medicines. Thus, using the tool of classical isosteric, where C=C bond between the rings is replaced by a C=N bond, summed up a series of analogues of resveratrol. The third and final issues addressed in this work were the preparation and biological evaluation of heterocyclic compounds containing nitrogen as heteroatom. We carried out the synthesis of three distinct series of nitrogen heterocycles, specifically imidazolidines, hexahydropyrimidines and benzimidazole were obtained through rapid and efficient syntheses. The compounds were characterized by different spectroscopic techniques, namely infrared, 1D and 2D NMR, high resolution mass spectrometry and elemental analysis and were bioassayed in order to test their potential as antileishmanial, antibacterial, antitubercular, antioxidant, antimalarial and anti-Chagas agents.

Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2017-05-08T17:25:12Z No. of bitstreams: 1 elgteelminborgesdepaula.pdf: 3070841 bytes, checksum: 4405f18ee4db96eba54abf3c61692232 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2017-05-17T14:03:07Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 elgteelminborgesdepaula.pdf: 3070841 bytes, checksum: 4405f18ee4db96eba54abf3c61692232 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-17T14:03:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 elgteelminborgesdepaula.pdf: 3070841 bytes, checksum: 4405f18ee4db96eba54abf3c61692232 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-08-08 / FAPEMIG - Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais / Este trabalho compreende um estudo de sistemas supramoleculares estabilizados por interações não covalentes, formados entre substâncias utilizadas no tratamento de doenças negligenciadas, como as leishmanioses e a malária, com β-ciclodextrina (βCD). Investigou-se a associação do antileishmanico Isotionato de Pentamidina (PNT), do antimalárico Artesunato (AS) e do potencial antimalárico 1-(7-cloroquin-4-il)-tiossemicarbazida (CQT) com βCD. Os compostos envolvendo βCD e PNT foram obtidos pelo método de liofilização, ao passo que os compostos envolvendo AS e CQT foram obtidos por secagem por nebulização. Os compostos foram caracterizados por técnicas no estado sólido por espectroscopia vibracional da região do infravermelho (IV), análise térmica (TG/DTA) e microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV). Em solução, utilizou-se espectrometria de massas com ionização por eletrospray (IES-EM), ressonância magnética nuclear uni e bidimensional (1H e ROESY) e titulação calorimétrica isotérmica (ITC) (apenas o sistema envolvendo PNT). Além disso, os compostos tiveram sua atividade biológica investigada. Combinando técnicas termodinâmicas e estruturais como ITC, IES-EM e RMN, o processo de inclusão e os parâmetros termodinâmicos foram identificados. Os dados experimentais obtidos por ITC e IES-EM sugerem a formação simultânea de diferentes complexos supramoleculares em solução. Além disso, os dados de RMN sugerem uma inclusão profunda de PNT na cavidade de βCD. Os testes biológicos realizados in vivo, evidenciaram a atividade por via oral do composto de inclusão estudado (βCD:PNT)1:1, em relação ao fármaco livre, o qual é inativo. Tais resultados foram promissores no que se refere à investigação de uma alternativa terapêutica para o tratamento da Leishmaniose. Para o sistema formado entre AS e βCD, as caracterizações indicaram a formação de um sistema supramolecular envolvendo as duas espécies. Experimentos do tipo DOSY, indicaram o mesmo coeficiente de difusão para fármaco e macromolécula, evidenciando assim que os precursores evoluem juntos. Para CQT, verificou-se que o composto de inclusão (βCD:CQT) não foi formado. Deste modo, preparou-se o composto (αCD:CQT)1:1, o qual foi devidamente caracterizado. Os resultados obtidos por ROESY indicaram interações entre os hidrogênios benzênicos, H5, H6 e H8, com os hidrogênios H-3 e H-5 situados na cavidade da molécula hospedeira, envidenciando a formação do composto de inclusão com αCD. Os ensaios biológicos para os antimaláricos AS e CQT foram realizados in vivo. A toxicidade aguda do composto de inclusão (βCD:AS)1:1 não apresentou toxicidade aos camundongos após 5 dias de administração. Adicionalmente, realizou-se ensaios para avaliar a atividade citotóxica de AS, (βCD:AS)1:1 e CQT. Os resultados indicaram que as moléculas não apresentaram toxicidade in vitro para células renais e hepáticas. A atividade in vivo de CQT foi testada contra P. berghei, constatando-se o potencial antimalárico foi ativo no quinto e sétimo dias, reduzindo aproximadamente 66 % da parasitemia. / This work includes a study of supramolecular systems stabilized by non-covalent interactions, formed between the substances used in the treatment of neglected diseases such leishmaniasis and malaria, with β-cyclodextrin (βCD). We investigated the association of antileishmanial pentamidine isethionate (PNT), the antimalarial artesunate (AS) and potential antimalarial 1,7-chloroquinolinyl-thiosemicarbazide (CQT) with βCD. The compounds involving PNT were obtained by lyophilization, while compounds involving AS and CQT were obtained by spray drying. The compounds were characterized by standard solid state methods such as vibrational spectroscopy in the infrared regiond (IR), thermal analysis (TG/DTA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In solution, we used mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization (ESI-MS), nuclear magnetic resonance (1H and ROESY) and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) (only the system involving PNT). Furthermore, the compounds have biological activity investigated. Combining thermodynamic and structural techniques such as ITC, ESI-MS and NMR, the inclusion process and the thermodynamic parameters were identified. The experimental data obtained by ESI-MS and ITC suggest the simultaneous formation of different supramolecular complexes in solution. Also, NMR data suggest a deep inclusion of PNT in βCD cavity. The biological tests performed in vivo showed the oral activity of inclusion compound studied (βCD:PNT)1:1, compared to free drug which is inactive. These results are promising with regard to the investigation of alternative therapeutic alternatives for leishmaniasis treatment. For the system formed between AS e βCD the characterizations indicated the formation of a supramolecular system involving two species. DOSY experiments indicated the same diffusion coefficient for the drug and the macromolecule, showing the formation of inclusion compound (βCD:AS)1:1. It was verified that (βCD:CQT) inclusion compound was not formed. Thus the compound (αCD:CQT)1:1 was prepared, which was properly characterized. The ROESY results indicated interactions between the aromatic hydrogens, H5, H6 and H8 with H-3 and H-5 located in the cavity of host molecule, showing the formation of inclusion compound with αCD. The biological tests for antimalarials AS and CQT were performed in vivo. Acute toxicity of the inclusion compound (βCD:AS)1:1 showed no toxicity to mice after 5 days of administration. Additionally, tests were conducted to evaluate the cytotoxic activity of AS, (βCD:AS)1:1 and CQT. The results indicated that the molecules showed no toxicity in vitro in renal and hepatic cells. The in vivo activity of CQT was tested against P. Berghei, noting the potential antimalarial was active in the fifth and seventh days, reducing approximately 66% parasitemia.

Exploring the cycloid temperament has been attempted throughout the ages by various pioneers in psychiatry, psychology and psychoanalysis. Contemporary psychiatric approaches have estimated that cycloid pathology, most evident as Bipolar Disorder, accounts for more than 1% of the population and is seen as the sixth leading cause of all illnesses. Despite the latter it is remains a desperately understudied area psychologically. Theoretically, BD is known for (1) its complex epidemiology, (2) costly treatment, (3) occupational impairment; (4) its negative interpersonal implications, (5) negative domestic effects, (6) forensic consequences, (7) death due to suicide and accidents, (8) cost in treatment, and finally, and most importantly from a humanistic perspective, (9) BD's diminished quality of life. Given the various realities faced by those suffering from Bipolar disorder the current study aimed at describing, through the use of the Rorschach Comprehensive system (CS), the self and object-representations, as well as the affect experiences of fifty, predominantly Bipolar I inpatients. The patients were selected through opportunity sampling at two provincial psychiatric hospitals in South Africa and included Caucasian, African and Colored respondents. All protocols were administered and scored by trained CS clinicians and re-scored by both the author and supervisor. Fifteen protocols were thereafter randomly assigned to three inter-raters and a high level of inter-rater reliability seemed evident. Given various inherent limitations of the study, that is, (a) a study of limited scope, (b) the heterogeneous nature of the sample and the reliance on opportunity sampling, (c) the small sample size, (d) lack of a control group, and (d) the focus of the study as exploratory-descriptive in nature, basic descriptive statistic were relied upon. Despite the various limitations, the results obtained seemed to hint at the possibility of a Neglected Self, characterised by difficulties in modulating affect in moderation, lack of self-esteem and positive self-regard, difficulties in introspection and self-inspecting behaviour, a general lack of interpersonal comfort and feelings of threat, as well as affectional and representational constriction. The presence of impaired self-regulation and reflection, possible perceptual differences in sensory-affective reactivity and processing, as well as difficulties in representational elaboration and differentiation needs further research and comparison to other psychiatric disorders. Basic therapeutic inferences were also discussed that may support those who treat cycloid patients. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Psychology / unrestricted

In the north-western corner of inner-city Pretoria, South Africa, the business district of Marabastad stands as a prime example of the lack of humanised public space making in marginalised urban areas. Amidst the vibrant and spontaneous local community the open spaces in this urban landscape are left derelict and insufficient in providing for the needs of their users. In response to the obvious and unseen deficiencies of the area, this landscape architectural study aims to shape platforms of opportunity to support the struggling local community by building on existing social networks and, formal and informal, economical practices. The investigation and subsequent design of this dissertation are focussed around the making of an urban square that will encourage interaction between individuals as well as between the individual and his/her surroundings. / Dissertation (ML(Prof))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Architecture / unrestricted

Over one billion people in developing countries are afflicted by parasitic infections caused by soil-transmitted helminths. These infections are treatable with cheap and safe medicine that is widely available. However, diagnosis of these infections has proven to be a bottleneck by the fact that it is time-consuming, requires expensive equipment and trained personnel to be consistent and accurate. This study aimed to investigate the viability and performance of five machine learning models and a 'modular neural network' approach to localize and classify the following parasite eggs in microscopic images: Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichuria, Hookworm and Schistosoma mansoni. These models were implemented and evaluated on the Nvidia Jetson AGX Xavier to establish that they fulfilled the specifications of 95\% specificity and sensitivity, but also a speed requirement of 40000 images per 24 hours. The results show that R-FCN ResNet101 was the best model produced in this study, which performed the best on average. However, it did not fulfill the specifications entirely but is still considered a success due to being an improvement to the current implementation at Etteplan. Evaluation of the modular neural network approach would require further investigation to verify the performance of the system, but the results indicate it could be a possible improvement to the off-the-shelf machine learning models. To conclude, the study showed that the data and data infrastructure provided by Etteplan has proven to be a very powerful tool in training machine learning models to classify and localize parasite eggs in stool samples. However, expansion of the data to reduce the imbalance between the representations of the classes but also include more patient information could improve the training and evaluation process of the models.

Syftet med studien var att se i vilken utsträckning mellantvånget tillämpades i Sverige och om det fanns några samband gällande tillämpning, kunskap och/eller ställningstagande kring mellantvånget. Studien utgår från en kvantitativ metod genom en webbenkät som besvarades av 109 socialsekreterare. Den insamlade data analyserades utifrån teorin om gräsrotsbyråkrater. Resultatet visade att majoriteten av socialsekreterarna aldrig hade tillämpat mellantvånget. Det erhölls signifikanta samband gällande socialsekreterarnas tillämpning, kunskap och ställningstagande kring mellantvånget. Socialsekreterarna hade bristfällig kunskap om mellantvånget och ett önskat behov om ett förändrat mellantvång, vilket gav en indikation på varför det tillämpades i den utsträckning det gör. Tidigare forskning belyste vikten av tidiga insatser i form av mellantvånget för att tillgodose barnets rättigheter och förebygga att de far illa. / The aim of this study was to analyze how frequent coercive measures were applied in Sweden and if there were any connections regarding practice, knowledge and/or their standpoint. A quantitative method was used with a web survey which 109 social workers answered. The collected data was analyzed based on the theory of street-level bureaucrats. The result showed that the majority of the social workers never had applied coercive measures. There were significant connections regarding the social workers application, knowledge or their standpoint regarding coercive measures. The social worker's knowledge of coercive measures was inadequate and indicated that they desired to increase it. That gave an indication of why it is applied to the extent that it does. Previous research illuminated that early action is needed to cater the child’s rights and prevent them from getting hurt.

This research, with the main focus on HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, was based on data from the literature, and on questionnaire and interview surveys with the main stakeholders: authorities, drug-developers and NGOs/foundations. It revealed the following determinants, which contributed to the occurrence of drug pricing conflicts in Brazil, Thailand and South Africa: governmental constitutional commitments to supply medicines to poor people, the existence of a local pharmaceutical industry capable of producing generic versions of patented medicines and long histories of disease treatment programmes. The research documented the preferred approaches to increase global access to life-saving medicines for the next decade, which were found to be: public-private-partnerships, prevention measures, dedication of >0.5% of GNP to poor countries, and improvement of national healthcare/insurance systems. Those approaches were integrated into a conceptual framework, which could enable country-level organizations to move beyond the conflict mentality via a ¿Public-Private-Partnership for gradual Self-Sufficiency and Sustainability Model,¿ (P3S3). Within this framework, rich countries should invest >0.5% of their GNP to help to alleviate poverty in poor countries. With these funds, national governments should implement programmes to expand implementation of disease prevention measures and improve national - 4 - healthcare/insurance systems and the quality of the medicines involved. Public-private-partnerships should act as ¿steering-and-controlling¿ organizations to guide the process and to minimise corruption. As a positive message to all who currently lack access to these medicines, the thesis author¿s conclusion is that the use of this model could help to turn the current unsustainable development policies into sustainable ones, and as a consequence, it would contribute to improvements in the quality of life of millions of people in poor countries. / Tibotec-Virco BVBA