Multilabeled classification approach to find a plaint source for terpenoids

Recently, we have built a classification model that is capable of assigning a given sesquiterpene lactone (STL) into exactly one tribe of the plant family Asteraceae from which the STL has been isolated. Although many plant species are able to biosynthesize a set of peculiar compounds, the occurrence of the same secondary metabolites in more than one tribe of Asteraceae is frequent. Building on our previous work, in this paper, we explore the possibility of assigning an STL to more than one tribe (class) simultaneously. When an object may belong to more than one class simultaneously, it is called multilabeled. In this work, we present a general overview of the techniques available to examine multilabeled data. The problem of evaluating the performance of a multilabeled classifier is discussed. Two particular multilabeled classification methods-cross-training with support vector machines (ct-SVM) and multilabeled k-nearest neighbors (M-L-kNN)were applied to the classification of the STLs into seven tribes from the plant family Asteraceae. The results are compared to a single-label classification and are analyzed from a chemotaxonomic point of view. The multilabeled approach allowed us to (1) model the reality as closely as possible, (2) improve our understanding of the relationship between the secondary metabolite profiles of different Asteraceae tribes, and (3) significantly decrease the number of plant sources to be considered for finding a certain STL. The presented classification models are useful for the targeted collection of plants with the objective of finding plant sources of natural compounds that are biologically active or possess other specific properties of interest.

Chronic Acetonemia Alters Liver Oxidative Balance and Lipid Content in Rats. A Model of Nash?

Acetone is considered to be a substance that can disturb cellular oxidative status, being also associated with the production of glucose during its metabolization. The objective of the present study was to determine the effects of chronic treatment with acetone in oxidative stress and metabolic parameters in rats. Twenty male Wistar rats were divided into two groups: control (CG) and chronic acetone group (CAG). After 28 days of acetone ingestion in a 5% aqueous solution (CAG) or water (CG) the animals were euthanized and urine, plasma and liver were collected for the determination of acetone, glucose, lipemia, hepatic fat, malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), and vitamin E. As expected, urinary and plasma acetone levels were higher in CAG. There was no difference in hepatic MDA values between groups, whereas hepatic GSH was lower in CAG than in CG and hepatic vitamin E was higher in CAG than in CG. There was also an increase in glycemia, cholesterolemia and hepatic fat in CAG compared to CG. Chronic treatment with a 5% acetone solution produced an increase in acetonemia that was able to promote changes in hepatic oxidative metabolism and in lipid content in rats similar to those observed in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

Low-Carbohydrate and High-Fat Diets on the Promotion of Hepatic Steatosis in Rats

Aim: The present work looked for to evaluate in rats the impact of different diets (high-lipid and high-lipid + high-protein) on liver, verifying the occurrence of oxidative stress and steatosis. Methods: The animals were treated with the respective diets (Group HLS: high-lipid diet with 50% of saturated fat; Group HPLS: high-lipid and high-protein diet with 50% of saturated fat and 40% of protein; Group Control: control diet AIN-93) for 28 days. After this period the animals were sacrificed for hepatic determinations of MDA, reduced GSH, vitamin E, steatosis and glycemia. Results: The results showed higher glycemia in the group HPLS, high concentration of MDA and GSH in the group Control and decreased hepatic vitamin E concentration in the groups that received the high-lipid diets. The hepatic fat was higher in the groups HPLS and HLS in relation to the Group Control, however HPLS presenting high level of fat concentration, showing similar results as the steatosis. Conclusion: the fat increase in the diet promoted increase of the oxidative stress, evidenced by the decrease in the hepatic concentration of vitamin E, showing its antioxidant role against the probable generated free radicals, the ones which possibly exercised a role in the steatosis occurrence.

The characteristics of NDM-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae from Canada

After recent hospitalization in India (New Delhi and Mumbai), 2 patients, on their return to Canada, presented with lower urinary tract infections due to multiresistant Klebsiella pneumoniae that produced New Delhi metall-beta-lactamase and CTX-M-15. The organisms belonged to clones ST147 and ST340, and were positive for aac(6`)-Ib-cr, as well as for the ccdAB and vagCD addiction systems. The bla(NDM) plasmid was located on the IncFIIA and IncA/C replicon groups of plasmids. Clones ST147 and ST340 are also responsible for harbouring bla(KPC), and it is possible that they played an important role in the intercontinental spread of antimicrobial resistance. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Immunohistochemical study of GLUT-1 in oral peripheral nerve sheath tumors

AIM: To investigate the immunoexpression and diagnostic applicability of human erythrocyte-type glucose transporter protein (GLUT-1) in oral peripheral nerve sheath tumors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Specimens diagnosed as oral peripheral nerve sheath tumors archived in the Oral Pathology Service of Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais from 1966 to 2006 were evaluated. Thirty-four lesions were included: 15 traumatic neuromas, 11 neurofibromas, four neurilemmomas, and four malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST). One case of neurofibroma was associated with neurofibromatosis type I. Immunohistochemistry for S-100 and GLUT-1 was performed. S-100 was immunopositive in all lesions. RESULTS: Benign lesions were immunopositive for GLUT-1 except in two (18.2%) cases of neurofibromas. In the traumatic neuroma, the perineuriums were immunopositive for GLUT-1. In the neurofibroma, the immunoreactivity was heterogeneous. Immunopositivity was observed at levels of 54.5% in the periphery of the lesion, 9.1% in the center, and 18.2% in both. The neurilemmoma demonstrated immunopositivity in the capsule. One case (25%) of MPNST presented GLUT-1 positive stain in occasional cells distributed homogeneously in all the tumor area. CONCLUSION: GLUT-1 is a useful marker for perineurial cells and should be included in the oral peripheral nerve sheath tumors immunophenotyping thus aiding in the correct diagnosis of these lesions.