Several species of Passiflora have been employed widely as a folk medicine because of sedative and tranquillizer activities. In this study, we evaluate the effects on anxiety and memory process of two popularly used Passiflora species. To this aim, male Wistar rats (weighing 250-300 g) were intraperitoneally injected with the aqueous extract of Passiflora alata or Passiflora edulis (25, 50, 100, or 150 mg/kg; single injection) 30 minutes prior to the elevated plus-maze test, inhibitory avoidance test, or habituation to an open-field apparatus. The effects of both species of Passiflora were compared with that of diazepam (1 mg/kg), a standard anxiolytic drug. Our findings revealed that, similar to diazepam, the treatment with P. alata (100 and 150 mg/kg) and P. edulis (50, 100, and 150 mg/kg) induced anxiolytic-like effects in rats. Memory was not affected by the treatment with any dose of P. alata or P. edulis, but diazepam disrupted memory process in rats. Phytochemical analysis showed that the content of flavonoids of the aqueous extract of P. edulis is almost twice that of P. alata. These differences in contents of flavonoids could explain the lower active doses of the aqueous extract of P. edulis in inducing anxiolytic-like effects compared to P. alata. In conclusion, our findings suggest that, distinct from diazepam, the aqueous extract of both species of Passiflora induced anxiolytic-like effects in rats without disrupting memory process.

Enteropathogens were investigated in 94 children with diarrhea and 45 age-matched controls, 0 to 5 years old, attending an outpatient unit in Criciúma, Santa Catarina State, Brazil. Cryptosporidium (85.1%) topped the list of parasite isolates, followed by Entamoeba histolytica (56.4%) and Giardia lamblia (4.3%). Four samples contained enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (4.3%). Samonella and Shiguella were not detected. Only one sample contained rotavirus (1.1%).

We evaluated the activities of mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes in the brain of rats after renal ischemia and the effect of administration of the antioxidants N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and deferoxamine (DFX). The rats were divided into the groups: sham (control) or renal ischemia treated with saline, NAC 20 mg/kg, DFX 20 mg/kg or both antioxidants. Complex I activity was inhibited in hippocampus, striatum, prefrontal cortex and cerebral cortex of rats 1 and 6 h after renal ischemia and that the treatment with a combination of NAC and DFX prevented such effect. Complex I activity was not altered in hippocampus, striatum, prefrontal cortex and cerebral cortex of rats 12 h after renal ischemia. Complexes II and III activities were not altered in hippocampus, striatum, prefrontal cortex and cerebral cortex of rats 1, 6 and 12 h after renal ischemia. Complex IV activity was inhibited in hippocampus, striatum, prefrontal cortex and cerebral cortex of rats 1 h after renal ischemia, but the treatment with the combination of NAC and DFX was able to prevent this inhibition. Complex IV activity was not altered in hippocampus, striatum, prefrontal cortex and cerebral cortex of rats 6 and 12 h after renal ischemia. These results suggest that the inhibition of mitochondrial respiratory chain after renal ischemia might play a role in the pathogenesis of uremic encephalopathy.

A presença de Aedes albopictus (Skuse) em área urbana representa um risco potencial do inter-relacionamento dessa espécie de mosquito com a população. Este estudo teve como objetivo identificar as formas imaturas de Ae. albopictus encontradas nos depósitos e imóveis do município de Miguel Pereira. O estudo foi realizado no período de 12 meses, ano de 2007, em 27 locais do município de Miguel Pereira, Estado do Rio de Janeiro. As larvas encontradas foram identificadas em laboratório e a análise dos dados foi calculada pelos índices de infestação predial e índice de Breteau. Os tipos de imóveis positivos foram residências (79,44% do total); terrenos baldios (2,56%); comércios (2,56%) e outros tipos de imóveis (15,04%) para Ae. albopictus, e residências (72,72% do total); comércios (6,06%); terrenos baldios (3,03%); e outros tipos de imóveis (18,18%) para Aedes aegypti (L.). Das 3731 larvas, 3562 (95,5%) eram de Ae. albopictus e 169 (4,5%) de Ae. aegypti. O mosquito Ae. albopictus mostrou-se mais presente nos criadouros que Ae. aegypti. A média do índice de infestação predial (IFP) e índice de Breteau (IB) para Ae. albopictus foi 1,0 e 1,9 e para Ae. aegypti de 0,1 e 0,1, respectivamente. As formas imaturas mais abundantemente encontradas no Município de Miguel Pereira no ano de 2007 foram de Ae. albopictus podendo futuramente se tornar um problema de saúde pública. Incidence of Aedes albopictus (Skuse) Immature Form in Miguel Pereira, RJ, Brazil. Abstract. The presence of Aedes albopictus (Skuse) in urban areas represents a potential risk of inter-relationship of this species of mosquito with the population. This study aimed to evaluate the presence of the Ae. albopictus immature forms in deposits and building at Miguel Pereira city, Rio de Janeiro State. The study was carried in the last 12 months, 2007, in 27 locations in Miguel Pereira city. The larvae were identified in laboratory and data analysis was calculated by indicators of building infestation index and the Breteau index. The positive buildings were: residential (79.44% of total); waste land (2.56%), shopping (2.56%) and other types of buildings (15.04%) to Ae. albopictus, and homes (72.72% of total), shopping (6.06%); waste land (3.03%) and other types of buildings (18.18%) to Ae. aegypti (L.). The larvae (3731) collected, 3562 (95.5%) were Ae. albopictus and 169 (4.5%) were Ae. aegypti. The Ae. albopictus are more present in breeding that Ae. aegypti. The average rate of building infestation index (IFP) and Breteau index (IB) for Ae. albopictus was 1.0 and 1.9 and for Ae. aegypti was 0.1 and 0.1, respectively. The Ae. albopictus immature larvae forms were more abundantly found in the Miguel Pereira city in 2007; in future it may become a public health problem.

The coefficient of friction (COF) and slurry abrasive wear were reduced by laser treatment on the surface of 22MnB5 steel.