Serum levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D in psoriatic patients

Studies have shown a relationship between vitamin D and psoriasis. We compared serum levels of vitamin D of 20 psoriasis patients and 20 controls. The median vitamin D level was 22.80 +/- 4.60 ng/ml; the median in the cases was 23.55 +/- 7.6 ng/ml, and in controls 22.35 +/- 3.10 ng/ml (p = 0.73). Only 2 cases and 4 controls had sufficient levels of vitamin D, although without statistical significance between the groups (p = 0.608). Levels were lower in women with psoriasis compared with those in male patients (20.85 +/- 6.70 x 25.35 +/- 2.90 ng/ml, p = 0.03), a finding that was not observed among controls.

Serum and placental plgf expression in women with different levels of hyperglycemia

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Serum DHEA-S increases in dogs naturally infected with Ehrlichia canis

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

BtoxDB: a comprehensive database of protein structural data on toxin-antitoxin systems

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

An impedimetric biosensor to test neat serum for dengue diagnosis

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Elevated serum folic acid concentrations were associated with higher mRNA expression of DHFR gene in patients with hereditary spherocytosis

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Determination of salicylate in blood serum using an amperometric biosensor based on salicylate hydroxylase immobilized in a polypyrrole-glutaraldehyde matrix

The use of an amperometric biosensor for the salicylate determination in blood serum is described. The biosensor is based on salicylate hydroxylase (EC 1.14.13.1) electropolymerized onto a glassy carbon-working electrode with polypyrrole and glutaraldehyde, to improve the biosensor lifetime. The hexacyanoferrate (II) was also incorporated to work as a redox mediator to minimize possible interferences. The salicylate is enzymatically converted to catechol, which is monitored amperometrically by its electrooxidation at +0.170 V versus SCE (saturated calomel electrode). Salicylate determination was carried out maintaining the ratio between β-NADH and salicylate at 4:1 (30°C). The amperometric response of the biosensor was linearly proportional to the salicylate concentration between 2.3 x 10-6 and 1.4 x 10-5 mol l- 1, in 0.1 mol l-1 phosphate buffer (pH 7.8), containing 0.1 mol l-1 KCl and 5.0 x 10-4 mol l-1 Na2H2EDTA, as supporting electrolyte. The recovery studies, in the presence of several interfering compounds, showed recoveries between 96.4 and 104.8%. The useful lifetime of the biosensor in the concentration range evaluated was at least 40 days, in continuous use. Blood serum samples analyzed by this biosensor showed a good correlation compared to the spectrophotometric method (Trinder) used as reference, presenting relative deviations lower than 7.0%. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V.

Effect of inhaling cymbopogon martinii essential oil and geraniol on serum biochemistry parameters and oxidative stress in rats

The effects of the inhalation of Cymbopogon martinii essential oil (EO) and geraniol on Wistar rats were evaluated for biochemical parameters and hepatic oxidative stress. Wistar rats were divided into three groups (n = 8): G1 was control group, treated with saline solution; G2 received geraniol; and G3 received C. martinii EO by inhalation during 30 days. No significant differences were observed in glycemia and triacylglycerol levels; G2 and G3 decreased (P < 0.05) total cholesterol level. There were no differences in serum protein, urea, aspartate aminotransferase activity, and total hepatic protein. Creatinine levels increased in G2 but decreased in G3. Alanine aminotransferase activity and lipid hydroperoxide were higher in G2 than in G3. Catalase and superoxide dismutase activities were higher in G3. C. martinii EO and geraniol increased glutathione peroxidase. Oxidative stress caused by geraniol may have triggered some degree of hepatic toxicity, as verified by the increase in serum creatinine and alanine aminotransferase. Therefore, the beneficial effects of EO on oxidative stress can prevent the toxicity in the liver. This proves possible interactions between geraniol and numerous chemical compounds present in C. martinii EO.

Serum vitamin A and inflammatory markers in individuals with and without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Tick-borne agents in domesticated and stray cats from the city of Campo Grande, state of Mato Grosso do Sul, midwestern Brazil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

The subdomain structure of human serum albumin in solution under different pH conditions studied by small angle X-ray scattering

Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) was used to study structural characteristics of human serum albumin (HSA) in solution under different pH conditions. Guinier analysis of SAXS results yielded values of the molecular radius of gyration ranging from 26.7 Å to 34.5 Å for pH varying from 2.5 to 7.0. This suggests the existence of significant differences in the overall shape of the molecule at different pH. Molecular models based on subdomains with different spatial configurations were proposed. The distance distribution functions associated with these models were calculated and compared with those determined from the experimental SAXS intensity functions. The conclusion of this SAXS study is that the arrangement of molecular subdomains is clearly pH dependent; the molecule adopting more or less compact configuration for different pH conditions. The conclusions of this systematic study on the modification in molecular shape of HSA as a response to pH changes is consistent with those of previous investigations performed for particular pH conditions.

Avaliação sorológica de vacinas comerciais polivalentes contra a enterotoxemia em caprinos

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Protein phosphatase activities in the serum and saliva of healthy children

The purpose of this study was to investigate the activities of the total acid phosphatase (TAP), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), low molecular weight protein tyrosine phosphatase (LMW-PTP) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) enzymes, as well as the possible correlation in the serum and in unstimulated whole saliva of children. Enzymatic activities were measured in pairs of concurrently obtained serum and salivary samples from 32 children in good oral and systemic health (16 of each sex) with a median age of 6.4 ± 3.3 years (range 1.08 – 12.92 years). All collections were made between the hours of 08:00 – 10:00 a.m. We used p-nitrophenyl phosphate as the substrate in the enzymatic assay for TAP, TRAP and LMW-PTP, and thymolphthalein monophosphate as the substrate for ALP. The enzymatic activities of all the studied enzymes were higher in serum than in saliva. The mean of enzymatic activities of serum TAP, TRAP, LMW-PTP and ALP were 36.51 ± 8.21, 23.99 ± 5.73, 11.16 ± 5.65 and 76.50 ± 17.32 U/L, respectively, while the mean salivary TAP, TRAP, LMW-PTP and ALP enzymatic activities were 9.60 ± 5.04, 1.36 ± 0.87, 5.65 ± 3.07 and 4.08 ± 1.83 U/L in this order. The TRAP revealed a positive linear correlation between its activity in the serum and saliva (Spearman r = 0,4685, p < 0,05). We concluded that the salivary TRAP has a potential to be use as biomarkers of pathologies and states that modify its activity in the serum.

Daily intake of pasteurized orange juice decreases serum cholesterol, fasting glucose and diastolic blood pressure in adults

Previous studies have shown that fresh squeezed orange juice or juice from reconstituted concentrate can help prevent the development of atherosclerosis. Pasteurized orange juice presently represents the major orange juice available in the market, and because of this, it becomes necessary to determine the healthy benefits associated with this product. In this study we investigated the effect of regular consumption of pasteurized orange juice on the nutritional status, biochemical profile, and arterial blood pressure in healthy men and women. Men and women volunteered to consume pasteurized orange juice (500 mL·d–1 and 750 mL·d–1, respectively), for 8 weeks. Anthropometric, biochemical, hemodynamic, and dietary assessments were evaluated at baseline and at the end of the experimental period. Total cholesterol and LDL-C significantly decreased in both men and women after the consumption of orange juice, and an increase in HDL-C level was detected exclusively in women. Fasting glucose, diastolic blood pressure, and triglyceride levels dropped in men after the consumption of orange juice. Anthropometric variables did not change with orange juice consumption, only waist circumference decreased significantly in women. Consumption of orange juice increased the energy and carbohydrate intake for women; however, vitamin C and folate increased after the orange juice period for both men and women. Regular consumption of pasteurized orange juice by men (750 mL·d–1) and women (500 mL·d–1) reduced the risk of developing atherosclerosis, and increased the nutritional quality of their diets.

Serum myeloperoxidase level is Increased in heavy smokers

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