Toxic blooms of the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa, a microcystin producer, have been observed in the past two decades in the Patos Lagoon estuary (southern Brazil). This cyanobacterium reaches the estuary from northern waters and accumulates as toxic blooms in the shallow margins of the environment. Microcystins are phosphatase (PP1 and PP2A) inhibitors and cause animal death via altera...

Using a Technicon SMAC continuous-flow instrument, we compared a liquid quality-control material ("Decision level 3," Beckman) with two different lyophilized quality-control materials. The variances for 19 analytes in the three materials were significantly greater for Decision than for the Ortho Abnormal and the Omega II lyophilized control sera (p less than 0.00001 for each comparison by the o...

Vaginal probiotics have an important role in preventing the colonization of the vagina by pathogens. This study aimed to investigate different formulations with Pediococcus pentosaceus SB83 (lyophilized powder and tablets with and without retarding polymer) in order to verify its stability and antilisterial activity after manufacture and during storage. The bacteriocinogenic activity of P. pent...

OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance and utility of (99m)Tc HYNIC-TOC planar scintigraphy and SPECT/CT in the diagnosis, staging and management of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GPNETs). METHODS 22 patients (median age, 46 years) with histologically proven gastro- entero- pancreatic NETs underwent (99m)Tc HYNIC-TOC whole body scintigraphy and r...

It is an established fact that moderate consumption of alcoholic beverages leads to some positive biochemical changes in blood that are widely regarded as indicators of improved prevention of atherosclerosis. However, at present, there are different opinions regarding the biologically active compounds of alcoholic beverages that bring about these changes. This experiment was conducted on 60 mal...

A variety of patch materials has been used to close large atrial septal defects (ASD). Autologous pericardium and glutaraldehyde-preserved bovine pericardium are the most used. Lyophilized bovine pericardium has not been tested inside the cardiovascular system. The aim of this work was to study the behaviour and effectiveness of lyophilized glutaraldehyde-preserved bovine pericardium in ASD clo...

Possible leakage of 5-fluorouracil from stable plurilamellar vesicles was monitored during storage of the liposomal concentrates, gels and lyophilized powders. Changes in release profile of dibucaine were taken as indicator of instability. Release profiles were obtained using the dialysis technique for a freshly prepared liposomal concentrate, gel or reconstituted lyophilized powder (zero time)...

Background and Aims: The protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania are the causative agents of various clinical diseases. Different methods of cultivation of Leishmania parasites are available. In the present study, the efficacy of the LB broth with rabbit lyophilized anti-sheep red blood cell haemolysin was evaluated in the cultivation of promastigotes of Leishmania major. Materials and Met...