Thermal and spectroscopy investigation of cyclopalladated compounds of the type [Pd(C(1)3H(1)0N)(mu-X)](2), (X=H3CCOO, NCO, SCN, CN)

The dimeric compound [Pd(bzan)(mu-OOCCH3)](2) (1) (bzan=N-benzylideneaniline) reacts with KX, in methanol/acetone (2:1), affording the analogous dimeric pseudohalogen-bridged species [Pd(bzan)(mu-X)](2) [X=NCO(2), SCN(3), CN(4)]. The compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy, NMR and thermogravimetric analysis. IR data for 2-4 showed bands typical of coordinated pseudohalogen ligands clearly indicating the occurrence of the exchange reaction. Their thermal behaviour was investigated and suggested that their stability is influenced by the bridging ligand. The thermal stability decreased in the order [Pd(bzan)(mu-CN)](2)>[Pd(bzan)(mu-SCN)](2)>[Pd(bzan)(mu-OOCCH3)](2)>[Pd(bzan)(mu-NCO)](2). X-ray results showed the formation of Pddegrees as final decomposition product.

In vivo embryo production in cows superovulated 1 or 2 days after ovum pick-up

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

Formation of 1,N-6-etheno-2 '-deoxyadenosine adducts by trans,trans-2,4-decadienal

trans,trans-2,4-Decadienal (DDE) is an important breakdown product of lipid peroxidation. This aldehyde is cytotoxic to mammalian cells and is known to be implicated in DNA damage. Therefore, attempts were made in this work to assess the reactivity of DDE with 2'-deoxyadenosine (dAdo). It was shown that DDE is able to bind to 2'-deoxyadenosine, yielding highly fluorescent products. Besides 1,N-6-etheno-2'-deoxyadenosine (epsilon dAdo), two other related adducts, 1-[3-(2-deoxy-beta-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl)3H-imidazo[2,1-i]purin-7-yl]-1,2,3-octanetriol and 1-[3-(2-deoxy-beta-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl)-3H-imidazo[2,1-i]purin-7-yl]-1,2-heptanediol, were isolated by reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography and characterized on the basis of their UV, fluorescence, nuclear magnetic resonance, and mass spectrometry features. The reaction mechanism for the formation of the DDE-2'-deoxyadenosine adducts involves 2,4-decadienal epoxidation and subsequent addition to the N-2 amino group of 2'-deoxyadenosine, followed by cyclization at the N-1 site. Adducts differ by the length of carbon side chain and the number of hydroxyl groups. The present data indicate that DDE can be epoxidized by peroxides, and the resulting products are able to form several adducts with 2'-deoxyadenosine and/or DNA. Endogenous DNA adduct formation can contribute to the already reported high cytotoxicity of DDE to mammalian cells.

Host-guest system of 4-nerolidylcatechol in 2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin: preparation, characterization and molecular modeling

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Purification and characterization of the biological effects of phospholipase A(2) from sea anemone Bunodosoma caissarum

Sea anemones contain a variety of biologically active substances. Bunodosoma caissarum is a sea anemone from the Cnidaria phylum, found only in Brazilian coastal waters. The aim of the present work was to study the biological effects of PLA(2) isolated from the sea anemone B. caissarum on the isolated perfused kidney, the arteriolar mesenteric bed and on insulin secretion. Specimens of B. caissarum were collected from the Sao Vicente Channel on the southern coast of the State of São Paulo, Brazil. Reverse phase HPLC analysis of the crude extract of B. caissarum detected three PLA(2) proteins (named BcPLA(2)1, BCPLA(2)2 and BcPLA(2)3) found to be active in B. caissarum extracts. MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry of BcPLA(2)1 showed one main peak at 14.7 kDa. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of BcPLA(2)1 showed high amino acid sequence identity with PLA(2) group III protein isolated from the Mexican lizard (PA23 HELSU, HELSU, PA22 HELSU) and with the honey bee Apis mellifera (PLA(2) and 1POC_A). In addition, BcPLA(2)1 also showed significant overall homology to bee PLA(2). The enzymatic activity induced by native BCPLA(2)1 (20 mu g/well) was reduced by chemical treatment with p-bromophenacyl bromide (p-BPB) and with morin. BcPLA(2)1 strongly induced insulin secretion in presence of high glucose concentration. In isolated kidney, the PLA(2) from B. caissarum increased the perfusion pressure, renal vascular resistance, urinary flow, glomerular filtration rate, and sodium, potassium and chloride levels of excretion. BcPLA(2)1, however, did not increase the perfusion pressure on the mesenteric vascular bed. In conclusion, PLA(2), a group III phospholipase isolated from the sea anemone B. caissarum, exerted effects on renal function and induced insulin secretion in conditions of high glucose concentration. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Influência do 1-MCP na conservação pós-colheita de rosas cv. Vega

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

Crystal structure, DNA binding studies, nucleolytic property and topoisomerase I inhibition of zinc complex with 1,10-phenanthroline and 3-methyl-picolinic acid

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Adsorption of CuX2 (X = Cl-, Br-, and ClO4-) on a silica gel surface chemically modified with thiazolidine-2-thione from acetone and ethanol solutions

The isotherms of adsorption of CuX2 (X = Cl-, Br, ClO4-,) by silica gel chemically modified with thiazolidine-2-thione were studied in acetone (ac) and ethanol (eth) solutions at 25 degrees C. The following equilibrium constants (in 1 mol(-1)) were determined: a) CuCl2, 1.9 x 10(3) (ac), 1.6 x 10(3) (eth); b) CuBr2, 1.7 x 10(3) (ac), 1.2 x 10(3) (eth); c) Cu(ClO4)(2), 1.1 x 10(3) (ac), 1.0 x 10(3) (eth). The electron spin resonance spectra of the surface complexes indicate a tetragonal distorted structure in the case of lower degrees of metal loading on the chemically modified surface. The d-d electronic transition spectra show that for the ClO4- complex, the peak of absorption did not change for any degree of metal loading, and for Cl- and Br complexes, the peak maxima shift to higher energy with lower metal loading.

Administration of beta(2)-adrenergic agonists during the peri-implantation period does not improve implantation or pregnancy rates in intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles

Purpose: the objective of the present investigation was to determine implantation and pregnancy rates in patients undergoing ICSI and treated with beta(2)-adrenergic agonists, considering the uterine-relaxing action of these agents.Methods: A total of 225 women undergoing ICSI at the Center for Human Reproduction, Sinha Junqueira Maternity Foundation, entered the study. Patient participation in each group was random, by drawing lots, using a randomization table previously elaborated for the study (2:2:1). The group I (90 women) received 10 mg of terbutaline daily for 15 days starting on the day of oocyte retrieval; group II (90 women) received 20 mg of ritodrine daily during the same period of time as group I; group III (45 patients) received no treatment and was used as control. The evaluation was interrupted in 3 patients of group I and in 30 patients of group II because of a high incidence of side effects.Results: Pregnancy, implantation, and miscarriage rates were not significantly different (p>0.05) between the three groups: 29.88%, 13.25%, and 26.9% for group I; 33.33%, 17.5%, and 10.0% for group II; 28.88%, 15.07%, and 15.38% for group III, respectively.Conclusions: the results of this study do not support the routine use of beta(2)-adrenergic agonists during the peri-implantation period in assisted reproductive technology cycles.

Natriorexigenic effect of baclofen is reduced by AT(1) receptor blockade in the lateral parabrachial nucleus

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

Intermittent Therapy with 1,25 Vitamin D and Calcitonin Prevents Cyclosporin-Induced Alveolar Bone Loss in Rats

Bone loss associated with cyclosporin A (CsA) therapy can result in serious morbidity to patients. Intermittent administration of 1,25 Vitamin D and calcitonin reduces osteopenia in a murine model of postmenopausal osteoporosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of this therapeutic approach on CsA-induced alveolar bone loss in rats. Forty male Wistar rats were allocated to four experimental groups according to the treatment received during 8 weeks: (1) CsA (10 mg/kg/day, s.c.); (2) 1,25 Vitamin D (2 mu g/kg, p.o.; in weeks 1, 3, 5, and 7) plus calcitonin (2 mu g/kg, i.p.; in weeks 2, 4, 6, and 8); (3) CsA concurrently with intermittent 1,25 Vitamin D and calcitonin administration; and (4) the control treatment group (vehicle). At the end of the 8-week treatment period, serum concentrations of bone-specific alkaline phosphatase, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP-5b), osteocalcin, interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) were measured and an analysis of bone volume, bone surface, number of osteoblasts, and osteoclasts was performed. CsA administration resulted in significant alveolar bone resorption, as assessed by a lower bone volume and an increased number of osteoclasts, and increased serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase, TRAP-5b, IL-1 beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha concentrations. The intermittent administration of calcitriol and calcitonin prevented the CsA-induced osteopenic changes and the increased serum concentrations of TRAP-5b and inflammatory cytokines. Intermittent calcitriol/calcitonin therapy prevents CsA-induced alveolar bone loss in rats and normalizes the production of associated inflammatory mediators.

Effect of incorporation of 2-tert-butylaminoethyl methacrylate on flexural strength of a denture base acrylic resin

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

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic studies of a Lys49-phospholipase A(2) homologue from Bothrops pirajai venom complexed with rosmarinic acid

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

Influence of moderate physical training on the GH/IGF-1 axis in diabetic rats

The influence of moderate physical training on serum growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor -1 (IGF-1) and binding protein ( IGFBP-3) in experimental diabetic rats was investigated. Male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups, sedentary control (SC), trained control (TC), sedentary diabetic (SD) and trained diabetic (TD). Experimental diabetes was induced of Alloxan (35mg/b.w.) the training program consisted by swimming 5 days/week, 1 h/day, supporting a load of 2.5% b.w., during 6 weeks. Then, the rats were sacrificed and blood was collected for determinations of serum glucose, insulin, GH, IGF-1 and IGFBP-3. Samples of liver were used to evaluate glycogen, protein and DNA contents. The results were analyzed by ANOVA, and Bonferroni test and the significance level was set at 2.5%. Diabetes decreased serum GH, IGF-1, IGFBP-3 and liver glycogen stores in SD group. Physical training promoted increase in serum IGF-1 in both TC and TD groups (SC=82 +/- 15; TC= 1 03 +/- 13; SD=77 +/- 16; TD= 112 +/- 29 ng/ml) and liver glycogen store in TD group when compared to SD (SC=5.2 +/- 1.2; TC= 6.2 +/- 1; SD=2 +/- 0.5; TD=5 +/- 1.8 mg/100mg). Therefore, physical training contributes to the increase in liver glycogen content and to rise of insulin-like growth factor level in diabetic rats. It was concluded that moderate physical training promotes important adaptations related to GH-IGF-1 axis in diabetic organisms.

Crystallization of the Lys49 PLA(2) homologue, myotoxin II, from the venom of Atropoides nummifer

Myotoxin H, a Lys49 catalytically inactive phospholipase A(2) homologue from Atropoides nummifer venom, was purified, characterized and crystallized. The crystals belongs to the tetragonal system, space group P4(3)2(1)2, with unit cell parameters (a=b=68.66 and c=63.87 Angstrom). Diffraction data were collected to a resolution of 2.32 Angstrom. The crystal structure is currently being determined using molecular replacement techniques. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.