The Gastroprotective Effect of Menthol: Involvement of Anti-Apoptotic, Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities

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

Anti-genotoxicity and anti-mutagenicity of Apis mellifera venom

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Hydroxyquinoline derived vanadium(IV and V) and copper(II) complexes as potential anti-tuberculosis and anti-tumor agents

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

Lipoprotein Lipase and PPAR Alpha Gene Polymorphisms, Increased Very-Low-Density Lipoprotein Levels, and Decreased High-Density Lipoprotein Levels as Risk Markers for the Development of Visceral Leishmaniasis by Leishmania infantum

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Antitumor and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Palladium(II) Complexes on Ehrlich Tumour

Palladium(II) complexes are an important class of cyclopalladated compounds that play a pivotal role in various pharmaceutical applications. Here, we investigated the antitumour, anti-infl ammatory, and mutagenic effects of two complexes: [Pd(dmba)(Cl)tu] (1) and [Pd(dmba)(N3)tu] (2) (dmba = N,N-dimethylbenzylamine and tu = thiourea), on Ehrlich ascites tumour (EAT) cells and peritoneal exudate cells (PECs) from mice bearing solid Ehrlich tumour. The cytotoxic effects of the complexes on EAT cells and PECs were assessed using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-3-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The effects of the complexes on the immune system were assessed based on the production of nitric oxide (NO) (Griess assay) and tumour necrosis factor-Į (TNF-Į), interleukin-12 (IL-12), and interleukin-10 (IL-10) (ELISA). Finally the mutagenic activity was assessed by the Ames test using the Salmonella typhimurium strain TA 98. Cisplatin was used as a standard. The IC50 ranges for the growth inhibition of EAT cells and PECs were found to be (72.8 ± 3.23) µM and (137.65 ± 0.22) µM for 1 and (39.7 ± 0.30) µM and (146.51 ± 2.67) µM for 2, respectively. The production of NO, IL-12, and TNF-Į, but not IL-10, was induced by both complexes and cisplatin. The complexes showed no mutagenicity in vitro, unlike cisplatin, which was mutagenic in the strain. These results indicate that the complexes are not mutagenic and have potential immunological and antitumour activities. These properties make them promising alternatives to cisplatin.

Incorporation of chlorhexidine gluconate or diacetate into a glass-ionomer cement: porosity, surface roughness, and anti-biofilm activity

To evaluate the porosity, surface roughness and anti-biofilm activity of a glass-ionomer cement (GIC) after incorporation of different concentrations of chlorhexidine (CHX) gluconate or diacetate. Methods: For the porosity and surface roughness tests, 10 test specimens were fabricated of the GIC Ketac Molar Easy Mix (KM) and divided into the following groups: Control, GIC and 0.5% CHX diacetate; GIC and 1.0% CHX diacetate; GIC and 2.0% CHX diacetate; GIC and 0.5% CHX gluconate; GIC and 1.0% CHX gluconate; GIC and 2.0% CHX gluconate. To evaluate porosity, the test specimens were fractured. The fragments were photographed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the images analyzed with the aid of the software program Image J. The surface roughness (Ra) was obtained by the mean value of three readouts performed on the surface of each specimen, always through the center. To analyze the anti-biofilm activity, strains of S. mutans ATCC 35688 were used, and the groups control and GIC +CHX diacetate 1% were divided as follows: GIC (1 day); GIC (7 days), GIC (14 days), GIC (21 days); GIC+CHX (1 day), GIC+CHX (7 days), GIC+CHX (14 days), GIC+CHX (21 days); GIC+ CHX (1 day), GIC+ CHX (7 days), GIC+ CHX (14 days) and GIC+ CHX (21 days) using 10 test specimens per group. For biofilm growth, the specimens were placed in a vertical position in 24-well plates and incubated overnight 10 times. The culture medium was renewed every 24 hours. The suspension was diluted and seeded on BHI agar for quantification of the bacteria present. For evaluation of all the tests the two-way ANOVA was used, and if necessary, the Tukey test was applied, with a level of significance of 5%. Results: Regarding GIC porosity, the ANOVA showed that the presence of CHX increased the porosity (P< 0.001) proportionally to the increase in concentrations (P= 0.001), without however, presenting interaction between material and concentration (P= 0.705). Regarding the number of pores, a significant increase in pores was observed with the increase in CHX concentration (P= 0.003). The surface roughness test demonstrated no statistically significant effect as to increase or reduction in roughness at any of the CHX concentrations used (P> 0.05). Anti-biofilm activity analysis pointed out a significant effect of the factors material (P= 0.006) and time (P< 0.001), with CHX diacetate CHX presenting greater effectiveness in reducing microorganisms.

The role of HLA-G molecule and HLA-G gene polymorphisms in tumors, viral hepatitis, and parasitic diseases

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Occurrences of anti-Toxoplasma gondii and anti-Neospora caninum antibodies in sheep from four districts of Tocantins state, Brazilian Legal Amazon Region

Toxoplasmosis and neosporosis have been recognized as economically important diseases with considerable impact on the livestock industry. Little is known concerning the occurrence of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in sheep from Tocantins state, Brazil. Here, we investigated antibodies against these parasites and associated factors in 182 sheep from Araguaina, Santa Terezinha do Tocantins, Arguianopolis and Palmeiras do Tocantins districts, Tocantins. Sheep sera were assayed for T. gondii and N. caninum IgG antibodies by indirect fluorescence antibody test (IFAT), using cut-off point at a dilution of 1: 40 and 1: 25 respectively. The prevalence of seropositive animal for T. gondii was 13.74% and 13.74% for N. caninum. None of the characteristics studied including reproductive problems, presence of cats, presence of dogs and veterinary care (p>0.05) was associated with occurrence of T. gondii or N. caninum infection. Only breed was identified as associated factor for the occurrence of toxoplasmosis in sheep (p<0.05). The present study is the first report on serum occurrence of T. gondii and N. caninum in sheep from the state of Tocantins, Brazil.

Humoral immune responses against the malaria vaccine candidate antigen Plasmodium vivax AMA-1 and IL-4 gene polymorphisms in individuals living in an endemic area of the Brazilian Amazon

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Anti-hyperalgesic and anti-inflammatory activity of Alternanthera maritima extract and 2″-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosylvitexin in mice

Alternanthera maritima are used in Brazilian popular medicine for the treatment of inflammatory and infectious diseases. Species of Alternanthera have demonstrated biological activities in previous scientific studies. The aim of this study was to determine whether the ethanol extract of the aerial parts of A. maritima (EEAM) and the isolated compound 2″-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-vitexin inhibit mechanical hyperalgesia and parameters of inflammation in mice. The oral administration of EEAM significantly inhibited carrageenan (Cg)-induced paw edema and reduced leukocyte migration into the pleural cavity. 2″-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosylvitexin significantly inhibited paw edema and reduced both leukocyte migration and the leakage of protein into the pleural cavity. Both EEAM and 2″-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosylvitexin significantly prevented the Cg-induced hyperalgesia. Local administration of 2″-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosylvitexin significantly prevented the Cg- and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-induced hyperalgesia. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that EEAM is an anti-inflammatory and anti-hyperalgesic agent, and the results suggested that 2″-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosylvitexin is responsible for the effects of EEAM and the mechanism involves the TNF pathway.

Synthesis and evaluation of novel prenylated chalcone derivatives as anti-leishmanial and anti-trypanosomal compounds

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

Antitumour and anti-inflammatory effects of Palladium (II) complexes on Ehrlich Tumour

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Monoclonal antibodies anti-TGF beta 1 and anti-VEGF inhibit the experimental pleurodesis induced by silver nitrate

Background. The mechanisms underlying pleural inflammation and pleurodesis are poorly understood. We hypothesized that the cytokines transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta 1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) play a major role in pleurodesis after intrapleural silver nitrate (SN) injection. Method. Forty rabbits received intrapleurally 0.5% SN alone or 0.5% SN + anti-TGF beta 1, anti-IL-8, or anti-VEGF. After 28 days, the animals were euthanized and macroscopic pleural adhesions, microscopic pleural fibrosis, and collagen deposition were analyzed for characterization of the degree of pleurodesis (scores 0-4). Results. Scores of pleural adhesions, pleural fibrosis, total collagen, and thin collagen fibers deposition after 28 days were significantly lower for 0.5% SN + anti-TGF beta 1 and 0.5% SN + anti-VEGF. Significant correlations were found between macroscopic adhesion and microscopic pleural fibrosis with total collagen and thin collagen fibers. Conclusions. We conclude that both TGF beta 1 and VEGF, but not IL-8, mediate the pleural inflammatory response and pleurodesis induced by SN.