Amphibian secretions for drug discovery studies: A search for new antiparasitic and antifungal compounds

The antiparasitic and antifungal activities of nine amphibian skin secretions were studied in different in vitro models. Seven secretions presented a considerable antiprotozoan activity and one showed promising results against Candida sp. These results can be the basis for the development of new drugs, especially for neglected parasitic diseases. © 2007 Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.

The effect of type of vaginal insert and dose of pLH on embryo production, following fixed-time AI in a progestin-based superstimulatory protocol in Nelore cattle

The objective was to analyze and report field data focusing on the effect of type of progesterone-releasing vaginal insert and dose of pLH on embryo production, following a superstimulatory protocol involving fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) in Nelore cattle (Bos taurus indicus). Donor heifers and cows (n = 68; 136 superstimulations over 2 years) received an intravaginal, progesterone-releasing insert (CIDR® or DIB®, with 1.9 or 1.0 g progesterone, respectively) and 3-4 mg of estradiol benzoate (EB) i.m. at random stages of the estrous cycle. Five days later (designated Day 0), cattle were superstimulated with a total of 120-200 mg of pFSH (Folltropin-V®), given twice daily in decreasing doses from Days 0 to 3. All cattle received two luteolytic doses of PGF2α at 08:00 and 20:00 h on Day 2 and progesterone inserts were removed at 20:00 h on Day 3 (36 h after the first PGF2α injection). Ovulation was induced with pLH (Lutropin-V®, 12.5 or 25 mg, i.m.) at 08:00 h on Day 4 with FTAI 12, 24 and in several cases, 36 h later. Embryos were recovered on Days 11 or 12, graded and transferred to synchronous recipients. Overall, the mean (±S.E.M.) number of total ova/embryos (13.3 ± 0.8) and viable embryos (9.4 ± 0.6) and pregnancy rate (43.5%; 528/1213) did not differ among groups, but embryo viability rate (overall, 70.8%) was higher in donors with a DIB (72.3%) than a CIDR (68.3%, P = 0.007). In conclusion, the administration of pLH 12 h after progesterone removal in a progestin-based superstimulatory protocol facilitated fixed-time AI in Nelore donors, with embryo production, embryo viability and pregnancy rates after embryo transfer, comparable to published results where estrus detection and AI was done. Results suggested a possible alternative, which would eliminate the need for estrus detection in donors. © 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Azul de metileno no tratamento da síndrome vasoplégica em cirurgia cardíaca. quinze anos de perguntas, respostas, dúvidas e certezas

Objective: There is strong evidence that methylene blue (MB), an inhibitor of guanylate cyclase, is an excellent therapeutic option for vasoplegic syndrome (VS) treatment in heart surgery. The aim of this article is to review the MB's therapeutic function in the vasoplegic syndrome treatment. Methods: Fifteen years of literature review. Results: 1) Heparin and ACE inhibitors are risk factors; 2) In the recommended doses it is safe (the lethal dose is 40 mg/ kg); 3) The use of MB does not cause endothelial dysfunction; 4) The MB effect appears in cases of nitric oxide (NO) up-regulation; 5) MB is not a vasoconstrictor, by blocking of the GMPc system it releases the AMPc system, facilitating the norepinephrine vasoconstrictor effect; 6) The most used dosage is 2 mg/kg as IV bolus followed by the same continuous infusion because plasmatic concentrations strongly decays in the first 40 minutes; 7) There is a possible window of opportunity for the MB's effectiveness. Conclusions: Although there are no definitive multicentric studies, the MB used to treat heart surgery VS, at the present time, is the best, safest and cheapest option, being a Brazilian contribution for the heart surgery.

Estimativas das exigências de lisina de frangos de corte pelos métodos dose resposta e fatorial

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems and herbal medicines: a review

Herbal medicines have been widely used around the world since ancient times. The advancement of phytochemical and phytopharmacological sciences has enabled elucidation of the composition and biological activities of several medicinal plant products. The effectiveness of many species of medicinal plants depends on the supply of active compounds. Most of the biologically active constituents of extracts, such as flavonoids, tannins, and terpenoids, are highly soluble in water, but have low absorption, because they are unable to cross the lipid membranes of the cells, have excessively high molecular size, or are poorly absorbed, resulting in loss of bioavailability and efficacy. Some extracts are not used clinically because of these obstacles. It has been widely proposed to combine herbal medicine with nanotechnology, because nano-structured systems might be able to potentiate the action of plant extracts, reducing the required dose and side effects, and improving activity. Nanosystems can deliver the active constituent at a sufficient concentration during the entire treatment period, directing it to the desired site of action. Conventional treatments do not meet these requirements. The purpose of this study is to review nanotechnology- based drug delivery systems and herbal medicines.

Cellular and molecular studies of the effects of a selective COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib in the cardiac cell line H9c2 and their correlation with death mechanisms

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Low Dose of the Anesthetic Propofol Does Not Induce Genotoxic or Mutagenic Effects in Nile Tilapia

We demonstrate the efficacy of propofol (2,6-diisopropylphenol) as an anesthetic when administered to fish in an immersion bath and show the absence of genetic side effects following short-term exposure to the drug. All tested fish were anesthetized (as indicated by loss of posture and lack of response to physical stimulation), and both the comet assay (tail intensity) and the micronucleus assay revealed that propofol does not induce primary DNA damage or chromosome damage in the fish Nile Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus. Our results should be considered in light of our particular test conditions, including the water temperature (similar to 25 degrees C), the life stage and size of the fish, and the single exposure to the anesthetic. We suggest that propofol is a promising anesthetic in terms of its lack of genotoxic effects, at least in low dosages in adult Nile Tilapia.Received June 25, 2013; accepted October 15, 2013

Avaliação dos efeitos promovidos pela sibutramina, associadas ou não à nicotina, nos tecidos reprodutivos de ratas albinas

Sibutramine is a drug recommended clinically for the treatment of obesity, but there are women that use the drug for maintenance of body weight. Many time this use occur associate to habit of tabagism, being the nicotine the main toxic compound in the cigarette. The goal of study was to evaluate the side effects promoted by sibutramine, associated or not to nicotine, in the reproductive tissue of adult female rats. Wistar animals (n = 30), were distributed in the groups: a) Control A (0.3 mL of distilled water; oral); b) Sibutramine (15 mg/kg of body weight; oral); c) Control B (0.3 mL of saline solution; intraperitoneal); d) Nicotine (4.0 mg/kg of body weight; intraperitoneal); e) sibutramine + nicotine. The treatments were conducted during 30 consecutive days (single dose, daily). Sibutramine, associated or not to nicotine, affected the folliculogenesis and luteogenesis. There were significant alterations (p<0.05) in the thickness of uterine layers, considerate each treatment. In conclusion, the administration isolated of sibutramine or nicotine promoted deleterious effects in the reproductive tissues of female rats and these effects were potential in the group that received both drugs.

Cálculo das funções de anisotropia e radial de dose para braquiterapia com semente de 192Ir em diferentes materiais de interesse em radiologia com o auxílio do programa baseado no método de Monte Carlo MCNPX

The brachytherapy braquiterapia is an x-ray modality radiotherapy in which stamped or halfstamped radioactive sources in format of seeds are used, wires or to one short distance, in contact or implanted to the fabric to be treated. All the treatment modalities require a previous planning. The formalism recommended for calculation of dose was considered by the AAPM for the first TG-43 Report. In it distributions of dose of isolated seeds measured and calculated by Monte Carlo method in water instead of with models half-empiricists. In this work we in accordance with present some preliminary results of the calculation of functions of radial anisotropy and of dose in the distance for seed of 192Ir, wide used in brachytherapy treatments of high tax of dose (HDR), with the aid of the program based on the Monte Carlo method MCNPX v2.50 (Mount Carlo N ParticleeXtended). The materials chosen in the simulation beyond water, had been MS20 and estriado muscle

Estudo teórico das funções de anisotropia e radial de dose para braquiterapia com semente de Ir192 em diferentes materiais de interesse em radiologia

The brachytherapy braquiterapia is an x-ray modality radiotherapy in which stamped or halfstamped radioactive sources in format of seeds are used, wires or to one short distance, in contact or implanted to the fabric to be treated. All the treatment modalities require a previous planning.The formalism recommended for calculation of dose was considered by the AAPM for the first TG-43 Report. In it distributions of dose of isolated seeds measured and calculated by Monte Carlo method in water instead of with models half-empiricists.In this work we in accordance with present some preliminary results of the calculation of functions of radial anisotropy and of dose in the distance for seed of 192Ir, wide used in brachytherapy treatments of high tax of dose (HDR), with the aid of the program based on the Monte Carlo method MCNPX v2.50 (Mount Carlo N ParticleeXtended).The materials chosen in the simulation beyond water, had been MS20 and estriado muscle

Immunomodulatory effects of low dose chemotherapy and perspectives of combanation with immunotherapy

Nowadays cancer is one of the main causes of death and many efforts worldwide have been driven to find out new treatments and approaches in order to extinguish or reduce this group of disorder. Chemotherapy is the main treatment for cancer, however, conventional schedule based on maximum tolerated dose (MTD) show several side effects and frequently allow the development of drug resistance. In this review we present the evidence that metronomic chemotherapy, based on the frequent administration of low or intermediate doses of chemotherapeutics is as efficient as MTD and works better in some situations. Finally, we present some data indicating that noncytotoxic concentrations of antineoplastic agents are able to both up-regulate the immune system and increase the susceptibility of tumor cells to cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Taken together, data from the literature provide us the evidence that low concentrations of selected chemotherapeutics agents, rather than conventional high doses, should be chosen for combination with immunotherapy

Avaliação dos efeitos promovidos pela sibutramina, associada ou não à nicotina, nos tecidos reprodutivos de ratas albinas

Sibutramine is a drug recommended clinically for the treatment of obesity, but there are women that use the drug for maintenance of body weight. Many time this use occur associate to habit of tabagism, being the nicotine the main toxic compound in the cigarette. The goal of study was to evaluate the side effects promoted by sibutramine, associated or not to nicotine, in the reproductive tissue of adult female rats. Wistar animals (n =30), were distributed in the groups: a) Control A (0.3 mL of distilled water; oral); b) Sibutramine (15 mg/kg of body weight; oral); c) Control B (0.3 mL of saline solution; intraperitoneal); d) Nicotine (4.0 mg/kg of body weight; intraperitoneal); e) sibutramine + nicotine. The treatments were conducted during 30 consecutive days (single dose, daily). Sibutramine, associated or not to nicotine, affected the folliculogenesis and luteogenesis. There were significant alterations (p<0.05) in the thickness of uterine layers, considerate each treatment. In conclusion, the administration isolated of sibutramine or nicotine promoted deleterious effects in the reproductive tissues of female rats and these effects were potential in the group that received both drugs.

Toxicidade do cloridrato de doxorrubicina na dose de 120mg/m², em cadelas com tumor venéreo transmissível

Pós-graduação em Cirurgia Veterinária - FCAV

Nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems for melanoma antitumoral therapy: a review

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Oil-in-water biocompatible microemulsion as a carrier for the antitumor drug compound methyl dihydrojasmonate

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)