A new microfabrication process based on a xerographic process is described. A laser printer is used to selectively deposit toner on a polyester film, which is subsequently laminated against another polyester film. The toner layer binds the two polyester films and allows the blank regions to become channels for microfluidics. These software-outlined channels are approximately 6 microm deep. Approximately twice this depth is obtained by laminating two printed films. The resulting devices were not significantly damaged after 24 h of exposure to aqueous solutions of H3PO4, NaOH, methanol, acetonitrile, or sodium dodecyl sulfate. Electric tests with an impedance analyzer and microchannels filled with KCl solution demonstrated that (1) wide channels suffer from deformation of the top and bottom walls due to the lamination of the polyester films and (2) the toner walls are somewhat porous. Although these drawbacks limit the maximum width of a channel and the minimum distance between two channels, the process is an attractive option to other expensive, laborious, and time-consuming methods for microchannels fabrication. The process has been used to implement devices for electrospray tip and capillary electrophoresis with contactless conductivity detection.

No abstract

No abstract

Diacetyl is a flavoring that imparts a buttery flavor to foods, but the use or exposure to diacetyl has been related to some diseases. We investigated the effect of oral intake of diacetyl in male and female C57/Bl mice. We performed a target metabolomics assay using ultraperformance liquid chromatography paired with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) for the determination and quantification of plasmatic metabolites. We observed alterations in metabolites present in the urea and tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycles. Peroxynitrite plasmatic levels were evaluated by a colorimetric method, final activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) was evaluated by an enzymatic method, and mouse behavior was evaluated. Majority of the assay showed differences between control and treatment groups, as well as between genders. This may indicate the involvement of sex hormones in the regulation of a normal metabolic profile, and the implication of sex differences in metabolite disease response.

No abstract

Organic agro-industrial residues have been successfully used as biosorbents and promoting new uses from agricultural wastes benefits the economy. However, the allocation of a solid waste biosorbent after the sorption of contaminants has limited their effective application on a large scale as an alternative treatment of water and wastewaters. One solution could be degradation to convert the biosorbent material and adsorbed organic contaminants into environmental friendly compounds suitable for discharge. This study used an experimental design to evaluate the Fenton degradation of yeast biomass (YB) from the alcohol industry as a potential biosorbent. The efficiency of degradation was monitored according to the degraded mass (DM) and total organic carbon (TOC) remaining in the solution. The ANOVA showed an error of 9.7% for the effects and the media of interaction for the employed model for DM. Conducting the experiments with the best-predicted conditions (60 min, 25 g of YB, pH 3, 8,000 mg L-1 H2O2 and 40 mg L-1 Fe2+) with 30 W UV irradiation resulted in a YB reduction of 72 ± 2% with a TOC of 30 ± 2%. This suggests that an advanced oxidative process is an alternative for degradation of a biosorbent after sorption.

Aiming to alter and/or improve permeation of active compounds in the skin, many strategies have been developed, including biophysical methods. One of the physical absorption techniques, currently known as Cryo Laser Phoresis (CLP), consists of an apparatus that emits radiation on polar or nonpolar molecules of the active substance, resulting in faster penetration when in comparison to the standard topical application. The goal of this work was to evaluate the efficacy of a method that proposes to increase cutaneous permeation of diclofenac sodium by using CLP technique. The influence on permeation was evaluated ex vivo, using Franz cell and human skin obtained from cosmetic surgery. The results were evaluated using statistical methods and data exploratory analysis: clusters, k-means and Principal Component Analysis. The results showed a larger increase in the concentration of diclofenac sodium in the dermis with the use of laser. In all samples (with or without laser application) it was observed that skin surface showed an amount of diclofenac sodium and that there was no active passage to the receptor liquid, suggesting that diclofenac sodium was not absorbed. These results indicate that CLP, when used under the conditions described in this study, is able to increase diclofenac sodium penetration and its retention into deeper layers. Uniterms:Cryo Laser Phoresis/dematologic use. Cutaneous permeation. Diclofenac sodium/cutaneous permeation. Franz cell.No sentido de alterar e/ou melhorar a penetração de substâncias na pele, diversas estratégias têm sido desenvolvidas, variando desde a aplicação de novos veículos e ativos encapsulados, até equipamentos que atuam por métodos biofísicos. Uma das técnicas de absorção física, atualmente conhecida como Crio Laser Forese (CLF), consiste em um aparato que emite radiação sobre moléculas polares ou apolares da substância ativa, tornando sua penetração mais rápida, se comparada à administração tópica comum. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a eficácia de um método que propõe aumentar a permeação cutânea do diclofenaco de sódio incorporado a um gel, por meio do uso da CLF. A influência sobre a permeação foi avaliada ex vivo, utilizando célula de Franz e pele humana obtida de cirurgia plástica. Os resultados foram balizados mediante aplicação de métodos estatísticos e análise exploratória de dados: clusters, k-means e Análise por Componentes Principais. Os resultados demonstraram aumento na concentração do diclofenaco de sódio na derme com o uso do laser. Em todas as amostras (com ou sem aplicação de laser), observou-se, uma quantidade de diclofenaco de sódio na superfície da pele e que não houve passagem de ativo para o líquido do receptor, sugerindo que o diclofenaco de sódio não foi absorvido. Estes resultados indicam que CLF usada sob as condições descritas neste estudo é capaz de aumentar a penetração do diclofenaco de sódio e sua retenção em camadas mais profundas da pele Unitermos: Crio Laser Forese/uso em dermatologia. Permeação cutânea. Diclofenaco de sódio/perme...

Cri du Chat or 5p minus (5p−) syndrome is characterized by a deletion located on the chromosome 5 short (−p) arm and has an incidence rate of 1 in 50,000 individuals worldwide. This disease manifests in disturbances across a range of systems biochemicals. Therefore, a targeted metabolomics analysis was evaluated in patients with 5p− syndrome to help unravel the biochemical changes that occur in this disease. Urine samples were collected from people of both sexes aged 1–38 years old and analyzed by ultra‐performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Student' statistical test, metabolomic pathway analysis and metabolite set enrichment analysis were applied to the data. Alterations of some amino acids and amine biogenics levels were found in Cri du Chat Syndrome individuals. The alteration of most of these metabolites is associated with energy recuperation and glycolysis. In general, we found the catabolism of some metabolic pathways to be affected in 5p− patients.