Ana M. F. Oliveira Campos

A new antifeedant clerodane diterpenoid from Tinospora cordifolia.

Phytochemical investigation of the chloroform extract of Tinospora cordifolia yielded a new clerodane diterpenoid tincordin (1) along with tinosporide (2), 8-hydroxytinosporide (3), columbin (4), 8-hydroxycolumbin (5) and 10-hydroxycolumbin (6). The structure of the new compound was elucidated comprehensively using 1D and 2D NMR methods. All major clerodane diterpenoids isolated were tested for their efficacy as insect antifeedants against Earias vitella, Plutella xylostella and Spodoptera litura.

Synthesis of novel derivatives of 4-amino-3,5-dicyanopyrazole

Diazotisation of substituted arylamines followed by reaction with malononitrile gave substituted arylazomalononitriles. Cyclisation of these intermediates with chloroacetonitrile and triethylamine, as base, gave the corresponding new aminodicyanopyrazoles, in 22–80% yields.

Improvement on Hydrophobicity of Synthetic Textiles by Plasma Treatment – A Review

Microencapsulated organic thermochromic pigments may have varied industrial applications, such as in windows and greenhouse roofs. Two black coloured commercial microencapsulated pigments from A and B brands are used in this work. The study is conducted with UVA irradiation, and simulation of atmospheric conditions (weathering tester QUV). After a few degradation cycles, the colour of the substrate becomes a yellowish hue, which suggests that chemical degradation of the components of the microcapsule has occurred. Some tests that include DSC are carried out in order to obtain information on the composition of the microcapsules. Extraction with organic solvents provides several fractions that are analysed by 1H-NMR and IR. It is concluded that the material of the microcapsules is melamine formaldehyde and two of the core components are probably crystal violet and benzotriazole, which are assumed to act as a UV absorber and promoter of proton transfer. SEM analyses of the pigments before and after degradati...

DOENÇA DE HANSEN E GRAVIDEZ

A Doenca de Hansen e uma doenca infecciosa causada pelo microrganismo Mycobacterium leprae. No passado, a gravidade da apresentacao desta doenca e a inexistencia de terapeutica adequada, levou a estigmatiza- cao destes doentes. Felizmente, a forma com se olha esta patologia melhorou nas ultimas decadas gracas a terapeu- tica multipla que agora temos ao nosso dispor. Com o fenomeno da imigracao de regioes do globo onde esta doenca ainda tem uma prevalencia significativa, assis- timos ao surgimento de novos casos de Lepra em Portugal, nomeadamente em mulheres em idade fertil. A doenca de Hansen na gravidez coloca questoes quer no que respeita as consequencias da terapeutica (durante a gravidez e amamentacao), quer no que se refere ao momento do parto. A gravidez causa uma diminuicao relativa da imunidade celular, o que permite a proliferacao do bacilo com possivel agravamento da doenca. A escolha dos farmacos adequados impede a lesao nervosa permanente. Relatam-se tres casos seguidos na Maternidade Dr. Alfredo da Costa, em conjunto com o servico de Dermatologia do Hospital Curry Cabral, que pretendem ilustrar a vigilância da gravidez nestas situacoes. Em todos eles as gravidas foram medicadas com rifampicina e clofazimina. Esta reflexao sobre Gravidez e Lepra visa desmistificar a patologia e sublinhar a importância do seguimento multidis- ciplinar destas gestacoes. PALAVRAS-CHAVE – Gravidez; Clofazimina; Rifampicina; Lepra.