Approaches in biotechnological applications of natural polymers

Natural polymers, such as gums and mucilage, are biocompatible, cheap, easily available and non-toxic materials of native origin. These polymers are increasingly preferred over synthetic materials for industrial applications due to their intrinsic properties, as well as they are considered alternative sources of raw materials since they present characteristics of sustainability, biodegradability and biosafety. As definition, gums and mucilages are polysaccharides or complex carbohydrates consisting of one or more monosaccharides or their derivatives linked in bewildering variety of linkages and structures. Natural gums are considered polysaccharides naturally occurring in varieties of plant seeds and exudates, tree or shrub exudates, seaweed extracts, fungi, bacteria, and animal sources. Water-soluble gums, also known as hydrocolloids, are considered exudates and are pathological products; therefore, they do not form a part of cell wall. On the other hand, mucilages are part of cell and physiological products. It is important to highlight that gums represent the largest amounts of polymer materials derived from plants. Gums have enormously large and broad applications in both food and non-food industries, being commonly used as thickening, binding, emulsifying, suspending, stabilizing agents and matrices for drug release in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. In the food industry, their gelling properties and the ability to mold edible films and coatings are extensively studied. The use of gums depends on the intrinsic properties that they provide, often at costs below those of synthetic polymers. For upgrading the value of gums, they are being processed into various forms, including the most recent nanomaterials, for various biotechnological applications. Thus, the main natural polymers including galactomannans, cellulose, chitin, agar, carrageenan, alginate, cashew gum, pectin and starch, in addition to the current researches about them are reviewed in this article.. }To the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientfíico e Tecnológico (CNPq) for fellowships (LCBBC and MGCC) and the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nvíel Superior (CAPES) (PBSA). This study was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UID/BIO/04469/2013 unit, the Project RECI/BBB-EBI/0179/2012 (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-027462) and COMPETE 2020 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006684) (JAT)

Markers of vulnerability for cervical cancer in HIV-infected women

This study identifies the dimensions and markers of vulnerability among women infected with HIV regarding the development of cervical cancer. A total of 76 HIV-infected women cared for in Fortaleza, CE, Brazil from October 2007 to June 2008 participated in the study. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect socio-demographic, clinical, and sexual data, as well as situations related to health care follow-up and the prevention of cervical cancer. Identified situations were grouped according to the dimensions and markers of vulnerability. HIV-infected women experience different situations linked to individual, programmatic and social dimensions that leave them vulnerable to the development of cervical cancer. The conclusion is that this population is vulnerable to cervical cancer and specific preventive actions are necessary to supply information associated with early detection, improve knowledge, encourage self-care, and improve the quality of health services directed to this population.Se objetivó identificar las dimensiones y los marcadores de vulnerabilidad entre mujeres infectadas por el HIV, en el caso del desarrollo del cáncer cérvico uterino. Participaron 76 mujeres, infectadas por el HIV, de octubre de 2007 a junio de 2008, atendidas en Fortaleza, estado de Ceará, en Brasil. La entrevista semiestructurada propició evaluar datos sociodemográficos, clínicos, sexuales y situaciones relacionadas al seguimiento en salud y a la prevención contra cáncer cérvico uterino. Los datos posibilitaron el agrupamiento de situaciones indicadas en las dimensiones y marcadores de vulnerabilidad. Las mujeres infectadas por el HIV presentan diferentes situaciones que las tornan vulnerables al desarrollo del cáncer de cuello uterino, ligadas a las dimensiones individual, programática y social. Se concluye que esta población es vulnerable al cáncer de cuello uterino y que son necesarias acciones preventivas específicas, para ofrecer informaciones asociadas a la detección precoz de la enfermedad, mejorar el nivel de conocimiento, estimular el autocuidado y mejorar la calidad de los servicios de salud destinados a esa clientela.Objetivou-se identificar as dimensões e os marcadores de vulnerabilidade entre mulheres infectadas pelo HIV, para o desenvolvimento do câncer cérvico-uterino. Participaram 76 mulheres, infectadas pelo HIV, de outubro de 2007 a junho de 2008, atendidas em Fortaleza, CE, Brasil. Entrevista semiestruturada propiciou avaliar dados sociodemográficos, clínicos, sexuais e situações relacionadas ao seguimento em saúde e à prevenção contra câncer cérvico-uterino. Os dados possibilitaram o agrupamento de situações indicadas nas dimensões e marcadores de vulnerabilidade. As mulheres infectadas pelo HIV possuem diferentes situações que as tornam vulneráveis ao desenvolvimento do câncer de colo uterino, ligadas às dimensões individual, programática e social. Conclui-se ser essa população vulnerável ao câncer de colo do útero e serem necessárias ações preventivas específicas, para fornecer informações associadas à detecção precoce da doença, melhoria do nível de conhecimento, estímulo ao autocuidado e melhoria da qualidade dos serviços de saúde destinados a essa clientela

Evaluation of neuromotor development by means of the Harris Infant Neuromotor Test

Objective: To investigate the neuromotor development of at-risk children between three and 12 months of life, administering the Brazilian version of the Harris Infant Neuromotor Test (HINT).Method: A longitudinal study, with 78 children and 76 parents/guardians discharged from a neonatal intensive care unit in Fortaleza-CE/Brazil. Two instruments were administered: HINT and a socioeconomic questionnaire, between July/2009 to August/2010. Data from 55 preterm and 23 term children were analyzed. Results: The final mean scores ranged from 14.6 to 25.2 and from 11.2 to 24.7, for preterm and term, respectively, showing that 91% of children demonstrated good neuromotor performance; seven premature infants showed alterations which led to the referral of three children to a specialized clinic for examination and diagnostics.Conclusion: The test allowed nurses to assess infant development, identify deviations early, and plan interventions

Fatores associados ao desenvolvimento neuropsicomotor em crianças de 6-18 meses de vida inseridas em creches públicas do Município de João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brasil

O estudo objetivou verificar a prevalência de alteração no desenvolvimento neuropsicomotor em lactentes inseridos nas creches públicas de João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brasil, e analisar fatores associados ao desenvolvimento infantil. Realizou-se um estudo seccional com o censo de crianças entre 6 e 18 meses de vida inseridas nas creches. O desenvolvimento infantil foi avaliado pelo Teste de Triagem de Denver II. Variáveis de natureza biológica, materna, social, demográfica e relativas à creche foram investigadas através de questionário e formulário. As associações foram ajustadas por regressão logística. A prevalência de alteração no desenvolvimento foi 52,7%. Associou-se à alteração no desenvolvimento a criança ter mais que 12 meses de idade (RC = 4,3), o parto vaginal (RC = 4,4), a fototerapia (RC = 7,9) e a creche não ter apoio da Estratégia Saúde da Família (RC = 2,9). Os achados sugerem que o desenvolvimento infantil é o reflexo das condições familiares, bem como da assistência recebida pelos serviços de educação e saúde

Morphological characteristics of the digestive tract of Schizodon knerii (Steindachner, 1875), (Characiformes: Anostomidae): An anatomical, histological and histochemical study

The digestive tracts of 44 specimens of Schizodon knerii were studied using anatomical, histological and histochemical techniques. The mouth has terminal position, the lip epithelium is squamous stratified with mucous, claviform cells and taste buds, teeth have an incisive form and the tongue has a stratified squamous epithelium with mucous cells and taste buds. The oropharynx cavity is formed by gill apparatus and pharyngeal teeth. The oesophagus presented pleated mucosa, a stratified squamous epithelium with mucous cells, oesophageal glands and taste buds. The stomach presented cardiac, fundic and pyloric regions, simple prismatic epithelium with tubular glands, with none in the pyloric region. The intestine contains 11-15 pyloric caeca, a simple prismatic epithelium with brush border, goblet cells and lymphocytes. Mucosal cells, oesophageal glands and goblet cells reacted positively to PAS, amylase + PAS, Ab pH 2.5 and Ab pH 0.5. Gastric prismatic cells reacted positively to PAS, amylase + PAS, but only those in the pyloric region reacted positively to Ab pH 2.5 and Ab pH 0.5. The results improve the understanding of the anatomy of S. knerii feeding habits and the presence of mucosubstances in the epithelium, highlights the importance of glycoproteins for passing food through the digestive tract